South Africa: All roads lead to Moses Mabhida Stadium

The streets of eThekwini and surrounding areas are abuzz with activity, with many heading to Moses Mabhida Stadium to witness President Cyril Ramaphosa officially hand over a certificate of recognition to AmaZulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini.

President Ramaphosa issued the certificate to His Majesty earlier this year, and will, in accordance with a wish expressed by the Royal Family, formally hand over the certificate of recognition in todays ceremony.

Cabinet Ministers, KwaZulu-Natal senior government officials, politicians and ordinary citizens are already at the stadium, as scores more stream into the venue.

Although the King has made several public appearances, for many, this is the day they have been waiting for to see their King.

The certificate handover ceremony of the ninth AmaZulu King takes place after King Misuzulu ascended to the throne following the passing of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini Zulu in March last year and the subsequent passing away of the Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini in 2021.

Misuzulu was recognised as the King-elect of the AmaZulu nation by President Cyril Ramaphosa after consultation with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the then Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.

His Majesty King Misuzulu officially ascended to the throne of the Zulu Kingdom at the coronation held at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in Nongoma on 20 August 2022. The occasion included the customary ceremony of ukungena esibayeni. Before the ceremony, he took part in a ritual where he hunted and killed a lion.

One of King Misuzulus first official public event was the Battle of iSandlwana in January this year, where he addressed the commemoration of the Battle in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal.

He also visited areas affected by floods. In September, he hosted the Umkhosi Womhlanga, the Reed Dance at EmaChobeni Royal Palace.

Jabulani Sikhakhane, from KwaMashu, told SAnews that today it is an important day for the AmaZulu nation.

Today we are happy as a nation because we now have king and a leader. A nation without a leader is a lost nation, Sikhakhane said.

Sikhakhane said every nation needs to have a king, as they lead and give direction to their decendants.

Echoing the same sentiments, Siyamthanda wa kaMagwaza said it is indeed a big day for their nation.

I felt I should leave everything behind and come witness this big day, Magwaza said.

For Gugulethu Sibanyoni, a street vendor from Inanda, who sold fresh fruit and sweets at the stadium, appreciated the opportunity presented by the occasion for small business.

For us small business people, it is a big day because this is where our businesses flourish.

The certificate recognises His Majesty King Misuzulu Ka Zwelithini as the King of the AmaZulu in terms of Section 8(1) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, No.3 of 2019.

Today s ceremony takes place under the theme, 'Liphumile ilanga KwaZulu  The sun has risen on the Zulu nation. Current and former Heads of State and Government, and traditional dignitaries from across the African continent and the world at large are expected to attend.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
UN Mideast envoy worried about increased violence in West Bank

Xinhua) 10:10, October 29, 2022

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland (on screens) is seen at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 28, 2022. Wennesland on Friday expressed grave concern over increased violence in the West Bank. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Friday expressed grave concern over increased violence in the West Bank.

"I brief you today as the security situation in the occupied West Bank is caught in a downward spiral. Too many people, overwhelmingly Palestinians, have been killed and injured in daily violence," he told the UN Security Council.

Mounting hopelessness, anger and tension have once again erupted into a deadly cycle of violence that is increasingly difficult to contain. Decades of violence and its toll on both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as a prolonged absence of meaningful negotiations and a failure to resolve the key issues fueling conflict, have created fertile ground for this dynamic, he said.

So far, 2022 is on course to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs began systematically tracking Palestinian fatalities in 2005, he said.

"I am alarmed by the intensity of violence in the occupied West Bank, including the high number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces, numerous armed attacks by Palestinians against Israelis, including killings, and settler violence," said Wennesland. "I reiterate that perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life."

The immediate priority is to work to calm the situation and reverse the negative trends on the ground. This will require determined actions by both parties, supported by the international community. Efforts are also urgently needed to empower and strengthen the Palestinian Authority and build toward a return to a political process. A failure to implement strategies to address both the symptoms and the root causes of violent escalation will only worsen an already explosive situation, he said.

Despite the overall deteriorating situation, there were some positive developments. On Oct. 13, following an inter-factional dialogue hosted by the government of Algeria, 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed the Algeria Declaration. In the declaration, the factions agreed to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and to hold elections for the presidency of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council, and the Palestinian National Council, he noted.

Wennesland called on the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to recognize what is at stake and to take the necessary steps to restore calm with the full support of the international community. At the same time, efforts must be made to address the root causes of conflict.

The United Nations remains actively engaged with all relevant parties and is committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict by ending the occupation and realizing a two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, he said.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
A statue of the Buddha stands among burnt debris in the village of Baghaichhari after destruction by Muslim Bengali settlers amid communal violence with ethnic Chakma, a Buddhist tribal group indigenous to the Chittagong Hill Tracts in southeastern Bangladesh, March 23, 2010.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts is a sparsely populated but volatile region in southeastern Bangladesh that borders India and Myanmar. The heavily militarized hilly region consists of three districts  Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban  and is generally dominated by ethnic tribal communities who say they are indigenous to the region.

After Bangladeshs independence in the early 1970s, Manabendra Narayan (M.N.) Larma, the only lawmaker from Hill Tracts at the time, demanded greater self-control for the local ethnic communities, but his passionate calls were rebuffed by the countrys founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

When Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed in a military coup detat in 1975, Larma reportedly fled to neighboring India. In the years that followed, his party, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), launched an armed wing and waged an insurgency against the Bangladesh government.

The military rulers responded by deploying a massive army contingent and sending a sizable number of Bengali settlers to the Hill Tracts in a bid to alter the regions demography.

The protracted insurgency claimed hundreds, if not thousands, of lives and displaced a large number of ethnic people, with both sides  mostly the army  accused of rampant human rights abuses.

The insurgency formally ended in December 1997, not long after Mujiburs daughter, Sheikh Hasina, came to power as prime minister for the first time. Hasinas government struck a peace treaty with the rebels, now led by Larmas brother, Shantu Larma.

Ever since, the younger Larma has been the ceremonial head of the Regional Council, the supposedly all-powerful board with significant executive powers, but the central government has never formally vested it with such powers.

Today, the 1997 treaty is seen as a travesty by ethnic communities because the government hasnt implemented its key provisions. But at that time, it was the military establishment that viewed the treaty with intense skepticism and allegedly helped create a new rival ethnic group to undermine it.

The United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) appealed that the peace treaty did not sufficiently address the concerns of the indigenous communities and called for greater autonomy instead. Its cadres engaged violently with PCJSS, leading to numerous casualties on both sides.

In 2007, when a military-backed interim government ruled Bangladesh, the PCJSS saw itself divided again.

Several of its bigwigs left the party and formed a new faction they called PCJSS (M.N. Larma)  as opposed to Shantu Larmas PCJSS  and that was actively supported by the UPDF.

M.N. Larma, who was killed by a fellow rebel in 1983, is still a revered figure, and the new faction sought to capitalize on his image.

Spasms of inter-communal violence have also gripped the Hill Tracts region in more recent years, such as deadly rioting that took place between ethnic Jumma Buddhists and Bengali Muslims in 2010.

Bangladeshi Jumma Buddhist student monks hold up placards during a rally outside the United Nations building in Bangkok, March 5, 2010. The monks urged the Bangladesh military and Bengali Muslim settlers to stop attacks on the Jumma indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and asked the U.N. to help victims of the attacks. [Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom]

More lately, a faction has been carved out of UPDF, too. That led the organization to reconcile with its former nemesis, PCJSS, holding to a fragile non-aggression pact.

At the same time, their respective breakaway factions have also forged an alliance of convenience and routinely attack  or defend themselves from  the original PCJSS and UPDF.

None of these formal ethnic parties publicly acknowledge maintaining an armed branch. Authorities often make arrests but never target their political heads, such as Larma, a move which might threaten overall peace.

Larmas PCJSS has also been stuck in a rivalry with the local branches of the ruling Awami League party since its candidate in Rangamati defeated Awamis incumbent in the 2014 general election.

That was an embarrassment for the Awami League because the party otherwise won the general election mostly unopposed due to a boycott by mainstream opposition parties.

Police investigate the scene where gunmen shot and killed five people who were traveling to a funeral in Rangamati, Bangladesh, May 4, 2018. [BenarNews]

The enigma of Bandarban

While Rangamati and Khagrachari have always been turbulent due to the insurgency and recent factional violence, Bandarban district remained somewhat unscathed.

The Marma community is the largest in the district, which also boasts a diverse group of smaller ethnic populations.

In contrast, in Khagrachari and Rangamati, the largest ethnic communities would be Chakma and Tripura, who also dominate the two major ethnic organizations, PCJSS and UPDF, both of which originated in Khagrachari, and their breakaway factions. Some observers credited Bandarbans somewhat different ethnic demographic characters for its relative peacefulness.

That all began to change in recent years when PCJSS attempted to assert its control in Bandarban, an Awami League stronghold. Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, an influential Awami League leader of Marma origin, has retained the districts sole parliamentary seat since 1996 and commands strong support even among the non-ethnic Bengali population. He currently serves as the Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs.

But as PCJSS made inroads in Bandarban, new armed groups with narrow ethnic undertones began to pop up.

For example, one of these recently formed groups was known as the Mogh Party, as if to represent the Mogh people, which mostly inhabit Bandarban, against the supposedly Chakma-dominated PCJSS.

The Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), against which the Bangladeshi security forces have launched a crackdown in recent weeks, is known as the Bawm Party, as if they represent the Bawm people, also indigenous to Bandarban.

With alleged support from security elements and local ruling party politicians, these groups have essentially acted as a shield against PCJSSs advances.

But whats unique about KNF is that they also reportedly collaborated with an alleged Islamic extremist group. While reports that Muslim extremist groups used the CHT as a sanctuary arent new, they were understood to be acting alone.

That was why a group with strong ethnic non-Muslim connotations aligning itself with an Islamist group came as a surprise to most observers.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
We need to pay better attention to employees, especially those with slipping productivity, according to columnist Allen Harris. You dont have to be a mental health expert; by normalizing checking-in, you normalize discussions that detect concerns.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
What the increasing political power of the Massachusetts Latino population means for the midterm election
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years, coming home a year ago.
OLYMPIA - Washington Governor Jay Inslee has announced that all of the state's remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations will be rescinded on Monday, October 31, 2022. Inslee first declared a statewide emergency in response to the pandemic on February 29, 2020.

While we are grateful for the thousands of lives we saved together, thousands of lives were also lost, and many more were changed forever, Inslee said. The past two and a half years have been some of the hardest anyone can remember. Through the loss and suffering, we did not lose faith and we did not abandon each other. Working together, we saved countless thousands of lives.

The governors emergency orders contributed to Washington having one of the lowest COVID death rates across all 50 states for the pandemic.

After October 31, vaccination requirements for health care and education workers will end, but employers will continue to be able to require them if they choose. Inslee has already announced that COVID-19 vaccination will remain a condition of employment for most Washington state agencies.

According to Inslee, the statewide Face Covering Order issued by the state Department of Health will remain in place for health care and long-term care sittings, as well as correctional facilities under certain circumstances after the state of emergency ends.

I cant express enough how grateful I am for all the health care workers, public health teams, and other frontline workers who have helped save thousands of lives during the past two years and will continue to support our communities in staying safe and healthy, Inslee said.
CALDWELL  In September, Gov. Brad Little convened a special legislative session that included a bill directing $410 million annually for public schools.

But some familiar with education policy are wondering whether lawmakers will let a large portion of that funding go to public schools.

Panelists broached the subject as part of an Idaho Policy and Politics Forum held at the College of Idaho on Thursday afternoon. Part of the discussion about education in Idaho included what to expect in the coming legislative session.

The three panelists were Rep. Scott Syme, Idaho School Board Association Deputy Director Quinn Perry, and Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy Director Alejandra Cerna Rios.

Of the $410 million approved during the special session, $330 million will be for the Legislature to allocate as it sees fit, Syme said.

Syme expressed interest in some of that money being used to pay down school bonds, an idea that has been floated in recent discussions of how to appropriately fund school construction. The statewide cost for the bonds is about $200 million, he said.

If we took that, and either paid off those bonds, and put money aside for those school districts that dont have funds for facility improvements or capital improvements, to me, that helps a (property owner) who was paying those property taxes, and it also frees up that money for the school district, Syme said.

Syme will not be returning to the Legislature next year following a loss to fellow incumbent Judy Boyle by six votes.

However, Perry said, we will certainly have our battles ahead of us as it comes to this legislative session because there are some people who do not believe that that money should be going to public schools.

Aside from how the $330 million will be spent, Perry said she expects there to be some discussion of creating a school voucher system in Idaho. School vouchers are a scholarship, a credit, or a direct government payment for parents to be able to take their K-12 child and enroll them in a private or parochial school, Perry said. The idea has grown in popularity across the country.

Perry is not buying it.

I think that is a very astounding way to spend your tax dollars, and that is because those institutions have no accountability to policymakers, to the public, and to the taxpayers, she said. That would be a very drastic shift as to how we as a state have decided to spend our taxpayer dollars.

Arizona already has a voucher system, and 80% of applicants receiving the voucher had no prior enrollment in public school, which means that its essentially providing a tax break for wealthy individuals who are already able to pay for tuition to private school, Perry said.

Cerna Rios agreed that discussion of school vouchers would be on the table. She said she would be concerned about such a program because private schools dont necessarily have the same guarantees for students with disabilities, or students that need additional or different kinds of approaches when it comes to succeeding in the school system.

It really is a question of radically changing how we ensure this public, uniform education for our citizenry, with a lot of serious implications, Cerna Rios said.
`You deserve freedom:' Carol Anderson receives Brandeis Gittler Prize

Photo/Ashley McCabe Scholar and author Carol Anderson speaks with African American Studies department chair Chad Williams, in a discussion after she received the 2022 Gittler Prize

Carol Anderson, a leading scholar of African American studies and award-winning author, received the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize on Wednesday, Oct. 26 as part of a three-day on campus residency.



In introducing Anderson, Chad Williams, Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies, noted that Andersons work comes at a critical time when American democracy is in crisis.



In her award-winning books, Anderson tackles the history and impact of white supremacy, Black voter suppression, and unequal educational opportunities in communities of color, among other topics related to the Black struggle for civil rights in the U.S.



With these remarkable books, Dr. Anderson is engaged in nothing less than the work of trying to save American democracy, Williams said.



The Gittler Prize was created by the late Professor Joseph B. Gittler to recognize outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and/or religious relations. The award includes a cash prize of $25,000 and a medal. Gittler Prize winners spend two to three days on campus meeting with students and faculty, and participating in other activities such as public talks, interviews and class discussions.



In her Gittler Prize lecture White Rage: From Reconstruction to the January 6th Insurrection, Anderson traced the connections from failing schools and unequal policing of Black communities to police killings of unarmed Black men, to efforts at disenfranchisement of Black voters, and ultimately to the January 6, 2020 armed assault on The Capitol.



Anderson, a professor of African American Studies at Emory University, defined white rage as invisible violence. It works its way silently through the court system, through legislatures, through the mayor's office, through bureaucracies. It wreaks havoc subtly and invisibly. She authored the 2016 book on the concept, White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide, which became a New York Times bestseller and was recognized with a National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.



She said she first began developing the concept while watching television coverage of angry protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after the police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. On every cable channel she viewedfrom MSNBC to Fox she recalled hearing the persistent narrative of the pathology of Black people.



As Anderson reflected on Browns death, and the events that followed, it hit her: I said, `this isnt Black rage, this is white rage. She first wrote about the concept in a Washington Post opinion piece.



What I came to understand in my research is the trigger for white rage is not the presence of Black folk. Its Black people who have ambition, who have drive, who have ambitions, who refuse to be subjugated. Who demand their rights. Its Black folks who have purpose. Its Blackness that refuses to give up, she said.



As part of receiving the Gittler Prize, Anderson came to campus for class visits and panel discussions, as well as the screening of I, Too, a documentary featuring her and her work.



After the lecture, an audience member asked Anderson why she keeps believing in democracy.



One of the things about oppression is that it is designed to make you give up its designed to make you collapse. When you look at history though, part of what you see is folks refuse to accept subjugation, she said. You deserve freedom. You deserve to live in your full humanity. And you never cede your power.

Recent recipients of the prize, which was established in 2007, include Beverly Daniel Tatum, author and former Spelman College president; Columbia Law School professor Kimberle Crenshaw, leading authority in the area of civil rights, Black feminist legal theory, and race, racism and the law; and University of Pennsylvania professor Howard C. Stevenson, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist and researcher of racial stress and trauma.



The Gittler Prize is hosted by the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life on behalf of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In any classroom in Australia, theres a fair chance at least one child will have been conceived through IVF. One in 100 Australians born today was in a freezer before it was born, says Dr Peter Illingworth, medical director of IVF Australia. I think its bizarre, even as someone whos been doing this for a long time. In the early days of IVF, in the 1950s and 1960s, ideas circulated that children born from the treatment would be inherently damaged; and yet, 43 years after the first IVF baby was born (Louise Brown, in England), misinformation and controversy about fertility treatments still abound. Amid the ubiquity of IVF babies today, the cutting edge of research in artificial reproduction has moved beyond enabling previously infertile couples to have their own (genetic) kids. And some breakthroughs have entered our everyday language. So, can a woman really give birth to a baby now using a uterus from a donor? How close are we to growing babies in artificial wombs? Credit: What is atiny organ transplant? Its an innovation in IVF: maternal DNA donation used to avoid debilitating and sometimes fatal mitochondrial diseases. In Australia, about 56 children are born each year with a severe form of the disease; globally, about 10,000. Mothers with the disease automatically pass it on to their children whereas men who have it do not.

Advertisement

In March this year, a bill put forward to allow the technology to be practised in Australia was passed in the Senate, becoming known as Maeves Law, making Australia only the second country in the world to pave the way for clinical trials of this procedure. It works by replacing the mothers faulty mitochondrial gene in an egg cell, with a working mitochondrial gene from a donor egg. Dr Katie Allen, who trained in genetics at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and represented the Melbourne seat of Higgins from 2019 to 2022, likened it to a tiny organ transplant into the egg. That [donor] DNA material only codes for the energy supply, not for other characteristics or traits, not for the colour of your eyes or the colour of your hair, she said. Allen helped educate parliamentary colleagues about the technical aspects of it before the law was passed in 2022. At the beginning of this technology, it was a bit controversial, says Catherine Mills, director of Monash Universitys Bioethics Centre. Its basically the same technology youd use for human cloning but for a different purpose. Reports surfaced in 2016 about the first baby believed to have been born using the technology. A Unites States fertility specialist reportedly performed the treatment in Mexico; its banned in the US.

Advertisement

Concerns over safety remain. Some scientists wonder whether donated mitochondrial DNA, when working with a foreign nucleus, will still work in the same way. Down the track, Mills says its possible that mitochondrial donation might also be useful for lesbian couples, for instance, who want to both be genetically related to their child, if the technology advances in that direction. How do uterus transplants work? In Philadelphia in 2017, Jennifer Gobrecht underwent 10 hours of surgery to have a deceased donors uterus transplanted into her body. She was one of 5 per cent of women who have uterine factor infertility: born without a uterus or without one that functions, or having had theirs surgically removed. Gobrecht later conceived a child, through IVF, and gave birth. One of the hardest days of my life was when I was 17 years old and learned I would never be able to carry my own child, she said. My husband and I have always wanted to grow our family but we knew the limited options meant it might never happen. And now here we are, in spite of everything, holding our beautiful baby boy ... My hope is that through this research, others with similar struggles will have the same opportunity. After a birth, the organ is removed. For it to stay in, a woman has to take medication for the rest of her life. There have been an estimated 70 uterus transplants globally, with varying reports about the number of live births that have resulted (between 17 and 24). After a birth, the organ is removed. For it to stay in, a woman has to take medication for the rest of her life so the body doesnt reject the organ.

Advertisement

Approval for Australias first uterine transplant trial using known live donors was granted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney in 2019, with a notice posted on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry last year that participants were expected to begin undergoing the process this year. (The protocol for exactly how the procedure would be performed was also approved last year. The hospital has not responded to queries asking for confirmation that participants have started undergoing the process.) According to Dr Evie Kendal, an expert in cutting-edge fertility technology and bioethics at Swinburne University, its still a risky procedure because the way that wombs are transplanted, there are no nerves that come with it. You cant actually feel the organ in the way you would be able to feel your own organic womb. So if something goes catastrophically wrong with a pregnancy in your womb in your body, you could probably feel it but with a transplanted uterus, you cant. So if its rejected, theres not the same kind of biomarkers that would show up in a blood test, like it does in liver transplant fails. Kendal hasnt heard of anyone dying as a result of the transplant. But if the body rejects the transplanted uterus, or the transplanted uterus dies  which has happened in a number of cases, often resulting from a lack of bloody supply  the repercussions can be life-threatening. If a body rejects an organ, the bodys immune cells attack it. And [if it] gets out of control, your body can start attacking lots of things, which is obviously what happens with auto-immune disorders. An organ that dies releases toxins into the bloodstream. Are artificial wombs a thing? Until very recently, I had to always say, There are no human trials for artificial womb technology  but thats no longer true, says Kendal. In 2020, researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands announced they hoped to have a working prototype of a fake womb in clinics within five years. The wombs, developed to continue gestation for extremely prematurely born infants, would hold fluids to surround the baby  a crucial component for the development of premature lungs  and enable the baby to receive nutrients through an artificial placenta, which would connect to the babys umbilical cord. Loading

Advertisement

What the researchers did not say was that their technology could be used by couples who create an embryo through IVF then implant it in an artificial womb for its entire gestational period, notes Professor Lisa Wynn, an expert on artificial womb technology at Macquarie University. But, says Wynn, I think that eventually its going to happen. Its the next level of fertility advances  after the pill and IVF  that, says Wynn, will disrupt society as people debate what is kinship and who has the right to reproduce, and under what circumstances. And also, what is the relationship between religious or moral authorities and medical authorities and individuals. Who has the right to decide who can get access to these technologies and who shouldnt be allowed these technologies? By all indications, it will be in a decade or two, says Wynn. She supervises a PhD student who recently conducted a survey of 526 people comparing attitudes to artificial womb technology in Australia and Canada. In both places theyre open to it, she says, although the Canadians have a slightly more egalitarian approach. (They felt people should be allowed access to it regardless of income; Australians felt like it should be available if a person can afford it, as an elective procedure.) Canada has a universal healthcare system somewhat like Australias Medicare. Would they use that to pressure people into putting the fetus into an artificial womb, so that somebody else could raise that child? If Kendal is wary about the pressure that could result from womb transplants particularly sisters and mothers, to donate their uteruses  because we can take them post-menopause and then we just revitalise them [with hormones] then the implications of artificial wombs are game-changing, to say the least.

Advertisement
Where the f--- are they? Up in the lead chopper, the pilots and crew strain their eyes, looking for a sign of where Delta Company HQ can be found. Yes, there is clearly a battle going on, as witness the criss-crossing of tracer bullets, glimpses of the awful aftermath of artillery cratered beneath them, but to narrow their position down to the precise point they will need before dropping their load right now looks to be impossible. Bob Grandins heart sinks, even as he makes a conscious effort to suck himself into his armour-plated seat so that his penis and testicles are not exposed, on the reckoning that might give them a tiny bit more protection against the bullets that are surely about to come crashing into their chopper from below once they properly descend. He had always known this was going to be a dangerous mission  and had bloody well told Frank it would be like this!  but, fair dinkum, this is just ridiculous. They are a slow-moving target, visible to VC surely, a giant whirling bird, slow and exposed. Exposed! They make Lady Godiva look modest. They arent tempting fate, they are taunting it.

For his part, Flight Lieutenant Frank Riley barely blinks. He is a picture of concentration, focusing every fibre of his being on trying to find them. Their one hope is that, somewhere below, Delta Company HQ will see them and follow through on the promised plan, smoke grenades. Nine-four, throw smoke, Grandin radios. Roger. Smoke thrown, comes the crackling reply, from a Delta Company just holding on as the enemy masses to attack once more, now that the Nui Dat artillery is no longer tearing them apart. Lt Dave Sabben inspecting his damaged Armalite rifle after the Battle of Long Tan. Credit:AWM

And now it is those at Delta Company HQ who are confused, as the choppers have gone right over them, despite them having thrown red smoke grenades. Lance Corporal Graham Smith, the Delta Company HQ signaller, barks into the radio: Smoke thrown. Over. It is Flight Lieutenant Bob Grandin in the lead chopper who replies: Roger that. I see orange smoke. Smith cant believe it, and immediately barks back. No! No! Wrong! Wrong! Look for bloody red smoke! That is us!

Frank Riley wheels around again, his eyes scanning for some sign of where the besieged Delta Company is. Harry Smith has the red smoke grenades thrown again. Pushing his joy-stick over, Frank Riley is able to bank the chopper and wheel it to the south, before returning to give it another go. Barely daring to breathe, Bob Grandin is convinced that they must shortly be hit by a furious fusillade of bullets from the VC. Still, Frank brings her back in for another go, until they are approximately over the mark. Nine-four, throw smoke, Grandin radios again. Smoke thrown.

I see red! Gold. Gold. Gold. Flight Lieutenants Riley and Grandin see it first. Initially it is just a wisp of red against the billowing green, but now it looks like torn crimson ribbons stretching up and over the canopy. They head back west to guide the others to the spot.

As planned, Riley and Grandin strain for every foot of altitude they can get  about 1000 feet  so they can guide Cliffy Dohle and Bruce Lanes chopper through this downpour, calling out instructions as they go. The key is to get the second Huey in and out in a flash, even as Hughie himself sends er down so fast and thick the chopper blades are like giant windscreen wipers, beating a momentary clearing in the sky. Albatross two, come forward! Bob Grandin calls over the radio. And Cliffy no doubt has done exactly that, they just cant see him in the murk. Well, Bob and Frank found their way here via red smoke, so maybe a little more red might do the trick? Turn on your anti-collision light, says Frank Riley. And there it is! Down below they can now clearly see a rotating little red light coming from the top of the chopper, but invisible to the VC below! Bloody hell, Cliffys right there! Bring him in!

Maintain heading. A little to your right . . . (It is amazing how many thoughts can race through your mind in a few seconds, but one keeps revolving in Bob Grandins head. They are carrying a huge amount of ammo, right? And they are currently circling within easy range of any VC rifle, right? So, if one well-placed bullet goes into the chopper and hits the huge amount of ammo, arent they really a huge flying bomb? Round and round it goes: what the hell are they doing here? They have to be here or the men on the ground are as good as dead. But if one bullet from one of the enemy hits the right spot then . . . What the hell are we doing here?) Frank continues giving Cliffy directions. Turn left . . . roll out now . . . he intones. Coming up . . . overtop . . . drop now.

Can you see it? We can see it! Nine-four, prepare for first drop, Grandin yells into his comms. Just below, Delta Company HQ is suddenly engulfed by the massive backwash of air as the choppers rotors blow off hats and knock over the remnants of rubber trees. Everyone stand clear!

In the moment, Frank Riley calls: Roll now! and watches as Dohles chopper rolls on its side like a well-trained pooch, giving the chopper the sloping floor they need. In Dohles chopper, those in the back dont have to bend their backs and heeaaavvve, as the angle and gravity does the work for them and a swift kick of a boot does the trick as the ammo boxes fall out the side, joining the rain itself in a downpour of destruction. Done! And in a moment  pulling off what the pilots refer to as a split arse turn, yanking the joystick to the right even as he kicks the pedal, to rotate the chopper 180 degrees under the rotor  Cliffys chopper has vanished west into the rain. Frank Riley dives from on high towards the spot Cliff just left, they roll onto their side, and crewmen Bluey Collins and George Stirling, together with the two 6RAR men, George Chinn and Owen OBrien, start furiously kicking their own boxes to get them tumbling out the open door . . . tip, kick, the ammo falls out; as if it is one motion; as though it were careful choreography not chaotic combat. And DROP . . . And DROP . . . And DROP . . . The boxes vanish into the canopy as the chopper  released from the terrible weight  surges upwards. Frank flicks the joystick to take them west to Nui Dat, even as they hear the three sweet words through the crackling radio: Beauty! Right on! Riley grins and replies, All part of the service! It is not quite that they are home and hosed, but they are certainly wet all right. All they have to do now is get through this storm  the nearly overpowering rain from above, the fire from below and the pounding in their chests  high-tail it back to base without getting shot down, and then fill out the forms to apply to the Vatican to have it declared an official miracle.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For six years, Pitcairn descendant Neil Snowy Tavener didnt tell anyone that he believed he had found evidence of an ancient Polynesian settlement on Norfolk Island that could solve part of the Pacifics most enduring enigma. Did the Polynesians ever live there for long periods? And if so, why did they leave? Archaeologists describe Norfolk as one of the Polynesian mystery islands because it was uninhabited when discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774. Describing the island as a paradise, with distinctive pine trees once thought to be useful for ship masts, Cook declared it for the British Crown. Neil Snowy Tavener with Dr Amy Mosig Way (left) and Nicola Jorgensen (right) at the new dig site on Norfolk Island. Credit:Wolter Peeters Snowy, as Tavener likes to be called, waited years to find someone he trusted with his secret. That paid off this week when Norfolk Island woman Nicola Jorgensen, who is undertaking a masters in archaeology at the University of Sydney, embarked on a dig funded by the Australian Museum Foundation with local volunteers. Before anyone even began digging, Jorgensens mother Deb  one of many locals volunteering  found the edge of an adze (a type of ancient cutting tool) lying in the soil in plain sight. Along with other finds at the dig, Jorgensen said the new site provided evidence of extensive occupation by Polynesian ancestors across the island, solving part of the mystery. It is more than just a fleeting settlement, she said.

Advertisement

The dig is part of the Australian Museums first in-depth scientific expedition to Norfolk, a comprehensive health check on the islands biodiversity that involves dozens of scientists studying its flora and fauna over several years. We were blown away, said Jorgensen. It is a tangible link to the islands Polynesian heritage, and it is cool that it was sparked by local knowledge. There is so much mystery, in terms of Polynesian settlement. We dont know where they came from or where they went after they left Norfolk. There are just a lot of questions that need answers. Dr Amy Mosig Way, an Australian Museum archaeologist who specialises in stone artefacts and who lectures in archaeology at the University of Sydney, said the find was conclusive. It confirms without a doubt that we are sitting on a Polynesian settlement. And whats really exciting is up to this point, weve only had one other site. This weeks discovery, located in the hills of the national park, was a long way from the first site found in 1995 in the sand dunes of Emily Bay. It was in a completely different context, she said. It extends and expands on what we know.

Advertisement

The Australian Museum expedition, the first phase of an ongoing program, includes a comprehensive survey of the island, which is 1700 kilometres north-east of NSW. The local community was playing an essential role helping scientists, said the Australian Museums chief scientist Professor Kris Helgen. When Norfolk was colonised as a penal settlement in 1788, the presence of feral bananas and Polynesian rats suggested prior occupation. Over time there were other clues, including a skull, a burial site and other stone chips and adzes. But not enough to suggest continuous occupation. Dr Amy Mosig Way, an archaeologist at the Australian Museum, documents her finds. Credit:Wolter Peeters During the 1995 dig at Emily Bays sand dunes, Australian archaeologists discovered the first signs of pre-European settlement: a Polynesian house and prayer centre, a marae, and a hearth. This first site seemed to disprove claims that the Polynesians had been accidental callers, but it was not quite enough to suggest continual settlement. Jorgensen and Mosig Way believe the new site could date back to 1250-1300 AD, when New Zealand was settled by the Polynesians, who sailed the Pacific using the stars, winds and currents to navigate. Carbon dating over the next few months is expected to provide more information.

Advertisement

The new adze was so sharp it cut the plastic bag in which Jorgensen had stored it. Snowy said he had a spooky reaction when he picked it up. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my blood ran cold, to think of the significance, and that it had lain there undisturbed for someone to find and explain. Snowy Tavener holds a Polynesian adze at the archaeological dig site. Credit:Wolter Peeters The new site continued to yield more finds, including another adze made of basalt, a volcanic stone. Polynesians used these small axes to make canoes and for other woodwork. Most visitors come to the island to see the Georgian colonial buildings built during successive penal settlements but most Norfolk residents regard themselves as Polynesian rather than English, and the Indigenous owners of the land. The dig is part of the Australian Museums first in-depth scientific expedition to Norfolk. Credit:Wolter Peeters We connect very strongly with our Polynesian foremothers, said Arthur Evans, an island elder whose great-grandmother was three when she arrived on Norfolk from Pitcairn Island.

Advertisement

Were a very matriarchal society, he said. Even though Australians and New Zealanders are interested in our Bounty history, Im not. I am interested in my Polynesian history. The most important history on Norfolk today is that of the Indigenous people, and that is us. There was the British arriving here, thats part of the oldest history, but it is not part of our history. If we ever asked about the buildings here, family would say, Oh, thats just the convicts. Most Norfolk Islanders are descended from Fletcher Christian, who led the mutiny on His Majestys Armed Vessel Bounty under William Bligh, and nine mutineers, who sailed to Pitcairn to escape retribution. They arrived on the empty Pitcairn with five Polynesian men, one boy, 12 women and a baby girl. Nearly three generations later in 1856, the entire Pitcairn community of 194 people sailed another 3700 kilometres to settle on Norfolk, after the penal colony was abolished. Today, there is a strong push on the island for self-determination and recognition of Pitcairners as Polynesian, and the traditional owners of the land. Theres also a resurgence in Maori-style drumming, and the revival of the Pitcairn language in schools and traditional navigation. Snowys find was inspired by a trip to Pitcairn, where he had seen evidence of similar axe-making techniques. Walking the track back home in Norfolk, he spotted basalt chips, enough to tink two together that looked like those near toolmaking sites on Pitcairn where people would gather to chip away at a chunk of rock. Theyve got a real distinctive clink, almost like a metal. They dont go clunk, but tink tink tink.

Advertisement
Four Australian wives of Islamic State fighters are expected to spend several days being questioned by authorities after arriving in Sydney in the first stage of a highly sensitive operation to repatriate a group of 60 women and children from a northern Syrian refugee camp.

The women and their 13 children arrived at Sydney Airport early on Saturday morning and were taken to a secure location where they will be questioned by authorities about their activities while abroad.

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 group are the first Australian family members of IS fighters to be repatriated since 2019, when eight orphans from the conflict were returned home.

A further 43 women and children being held in the al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria are scheduled to be repatriated in the coming months.
Unions will have veto power over multi-employer pay deals in a legal change foreshadowed by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke, even if bosses strike an agreement with workers without union involvement.

Consultations over the Secure Jobs, Better Pay reforms have been likened to wrestling with smoke by Australian Industry Group head Innes Willox, while Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry head Andrew McKellar described the bill tabled on Thursday as a Trojan horse for strikes.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has foreshadowed changes to the new Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Burke foreshadowed an amendment in his second reading speech on Thursday that would ensure workplace agreements cannot be put to a vote of employees without the agreement of employee organisations who are bargaining representatives.

Willox said during a press conference on Friday that this had set off alarm bells across industries.
London: Northern Ireland is heading towards a fresh election after negotiations to restore a power-sharing executive at Stormont, the countrys devolved legislature, failed by Fridays deadline.

The province has been without a functioning devolved government since February when the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party began a boycott of power-sharing in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris speaks to the media outside Erskine House, Belfast, Britain. Credit:AP

The pro-Irish unity Sinn Fein party took the most seats for the first time in Mays election, but the DUP has vetoed the formation of an executive and refused to sit in the Stormont assembly until its demand to scrap an Irish Sea customs border  the so-called Northern Ireland protocol  is heeded.

The UKs Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, on Friday promised to call a fresh election of the assembly within the next 12 weeks in a bid to break a political stalemate that could eventually leave the region facing direct rule from London.
Abrasives and industrial ceramics-maker Ltd (CUMI) has reported a standalone net profit of Rs 71.75 crore for the quarter ending September 30, 2022, the company said on Saturday.

The Chennai-based Murugappa Group company registered a standalone net of Rs 62.95 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, a press release said.

For the six-month period ending September 30, the standalone net profit grew to Rs 144.59 crore from Rs 126 crore a year ago.

The standalone total income for the quarter under review rose to Rs 623.76 crore from Rs 565.36 crore.

For the half-year ending September 30, the standalone total income increased to Rs 1,242.93 crore from Rs 1,050.50 crore last fiscal, the company 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.)
Inc. will form a content-moderation council that includes widely diverse viewpoints, and big decisions on content and account reinstatements are on hold until the group is convened, new owner said, addressing speculation that he might restore banned users to the social network immediately.

Musk, whose $44 billion deal to take the social network private was completed Thursday, had indicated previously that he thought Twitters content moderation standards were too strict and that he didnt believe in lifetime bans. Users and advertisers are waiting to see if the new owners views mean that high-profile personalities who were blocked from the site, including former US President Donald Trump, will be allowed back on. Musks tweet on Friday indicates that no reinstatements are imminent.

In most other ways, the billionaire wasted no time taking complete control. Musk appointed himself chief executive officer, dismissed senior management and immediately began reshaping strategy at one of the worlds most influential platforms.

Musk, 51, is replacing Parag Agrawal, who was fired along with three other top executives, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. The mercurial entrepreneur, who also leads Tesla Inc. and SpaceX, may eventually cede the CEO role in the longer term, the person added. representatives declined to comment.

Musks acquisition puts the worlds richest man in charge of a struggling social network after six months of public and legal wrangling. Among Musks first moves: changing the leadership. Departures include Vijaya Gadde, the head of legal, policy and trust; Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, who joined Twitter in 2017; and Sean Edgett, who has been general counsel at Twitter since 2012. Edgett was escorted out of the building, Bloomberg reported.

Musk intends to do away with permanent bans on users because he doesnt believe in lifelong prohibitions, the person said.

Twitter banned Trump days after the 2021 Capitol insurrection, citing the risk of further incitement of violence. With the former president widely expected to make another run for the White House in 2024, a return to Twitter could grant him an opportunity to turbocharge his message.

In response to a Twitter user complaining about being shadowbanned, ghostbanned, searchbanned, as well as having followers removed, Musk said in a tweet on Friday that he will be digging in more today.



But the same day, he also tweeted that major decisions about restoring banned accounts wont happen ahead of the formation of the new council. San Francisco-based Twitter already convenes a group of outside experts that advises the company on content moderation, called the Trust and Safety Council.

The takeover caps a convoluted saga that began in January with the billionaires quiet accumulation of a major stake in the company, his growing exasperation with how it was run and an eventual merger accord that he later spent months trying to unravel. Musks buyout marks the end of nine years of public trading. Twitter debuted with a bang on the New York Stock Exchange in 2013 but failed to match the rocket ride achieved by some other tech heavyweights.

The change in leadership will bring immediate disruption to Twitters operations, in part because many of Musks ideas for how to change the company are at odds with how it has been run for years. Hes said he wants to ensure free speech on the social network.

More broadly, Musks initiatives threaten to undo years of Twitters efforts to reduce bullying and abuse on the platform.

The prospect of less restrictive content moderation under Musks leadership has prompted concerns that dialogue on the social network will deteriorate, eroding years of efforts by the company and its trust and safety team to limit offensive or dangerous posts. On Thursday, Musk posted a note to advertisers seeking to reassure them he doesnt want Twitter to become a free-for-all hellscape.



Still, overnight and into Friday, racist slurs, antisemitic speech and memes directing hate at various underrepresented groups poured forth on the platform, egged on and organized by far-right message boards such as The Donald and on messaging apps like Telegram and on internet forums like 4chan.

As the Oct. 28 deadline neared, Musk began putting his stamp on the company, posting a video of himself walking into the headquarters and changing his profile descriptor on the platform he now owns to Chief Twit.



He arranged meetings between Tesla engineers and product leadership at Twitter. Twitters engineers could no longer make changes to code as of noon Thursday in San Francisco, part of an effort to ensure that nothing about the product changed ahead of the deal closing, the people familiar with the matter said.

On Friday, Twitter engineers were being invited to meetings to pair up with Tesla engineers to review the social networks code, a person familiar with the matter said. In some cases, the meetings can be 20 people or so, and Twitter engineers are being asked to bring paper printouts of their source code from last 30 days to show the Tesla engineers.

Twitter employees, meanwhile, have been bracing for layoffs since the transaction was announced in April, and Musk floated the idea of cost cuts to banking partners when he was initially fundraising for the deal. Some potential investors were told Musk plans to cut 75% of Twitters workforce, which now numbers about 7,500, and expects to double revenue within three years, a person familiar with the matter said earlier this month.

While visiting Twitter headquarters on Wednesday, Musk told employees that he didnt plan to cut 75% of the staff when he takes over the company, according to people familiar with the matter.

The past six months have been challenging for Twitter employees, who have primarily followed the ups and downs of the roller-coaster deal through the headlines.

Many have been unhappy with Musks involvement and some have questioned his qualifications to run a social networking company. His support of a far-right political candidate in Texas, plus sexual harassment accusations from a former SpaceX flight attendant in May, have raised additional concerns. During a video Q&A with Musk in June, some employees mocked Musk on internal Slack channels. Others have ridiculed or chided him publicly on Twitter throughout the deal process.
The number of cases of XBB subvariant of in has reached 36, the health department said on Saturday, adding that in most of these cases patients recovered in home isolation.

The experts on the state government's COVID-19 Task Force, however, expressed concern about rising cases of 'long COVID' at a recent meeting, it said.

Pune district has reported 21 XBB cases to date, followed by 10 in Thane, two in Nagpur and one each in Akola, Amravati and Raigad.

Two of the XBB patients were in the 11-20 age group, 13 in the 21-40 segment, 14 in the 41-60 category and seven were over 60. The patients comprised 22 males and 14 females.

"Nine of the 36 patients had some symptoms, while others displayed mild symptoms or were asymptomatic. A total of 32 patients recovered in home isolation and the rest four had to be hospitalised as a precautionary measure or due to lack of necessary conditions for home isolation," the release said.

No "atypical" symptoms were found in any of these 36 patients and none of them required oxygen or ventilatory support, it added.

Barring two of the 36 patients, all had been vaccinated, and five had taken the booster dose as well. Six XBB patients had been diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier.

Against the backdrop of the XBB detections, a meeting of the State COVID-19 Task Force was held on October 24.

"After studying the XBB variant found in Maharashtra, Singapore and elsewhere, (it has been observed that) even if the infections increase, the new variant seems mild and most patients could be treated in home isolation. Minimal number of patients may need hospitalization," the release said.

However, experts on the task force expressed concerns about 'long COVID'.

"Incidence of conditions such as diabetes, brain fog and heart diseases seem to be increasing. Therefore, monitoring and follow-up of COVID-recovered patients is necessary, the release said.

The experts instructed that it would be beneficial to wear masks in hospitals and clinics by health workers and others.

'Long COVID' is the term used for mid- and long-term effects that persist after a person recovers from the initial infection.

(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 Law and Justice Minister on Saturday said that protection of jobs in India is a concern while safeguarding the during economic progress.

The per capita GDP in India is still very less compared to other mid-level and developed nations, Rijiju said after inaugurating a seminar here.

"When we talk about growth of the economy, we only talk about protection of the . But we are also concerned about protection of jobs," he said.

Addressing the seminar on ' and Sustainable Development - Role of Judiciary' and 'Digitisation of Indian Judiciary - its Impact in Dispensation of Justice', Rijiju said all stakeholders must come together to deliberate on the issues.

"Today, the per capita GDP of India is 2,100 dollars and it is very less, but India as a whole, when we calculate, it's close to a 3.23 trillion dollar economy. It is the fifth largest economy (in the world)," he said.

The international standard of development for "middle-level countries" is a per capita income of USD 12,000, the Union minister said in presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior Supreme Court and High Court judges.

"So, we have to reach the position of a middle-level country before attaining developed status. While climbing from 2,100 dollars to 12,000 dollars, you can imagine the impact on the environment and the growth which we would be embarking upon," he added.

Claiming that India is currently one of the fastest-growing economies in the world despite the global impact of the pandemic, Rijiju said the country has never seen such a growth rate in its history.

"India is not a mineral-rich nation, especially in the oil and gas sectors, as we import these," he said, adding that the role of the judiciary is going to be extremely crucial in the growth and development of India.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Gauhati High Court and the Assam government.

(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.)
BJP's IT cell chief on Saturday filed a criminal complaint against news and opinion website 'The Wire' and its senior editors with the Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, alleging that the portal "forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish his reputation".

The complaint has been filed against 'The Wire' founder Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor Sidharth Bhatia, editor M.K. Venu, deputy editor and executive news producer Jahnavi Sen, Foundation for Independent Journalism and other unknown persons for offence punishable under Sections 420, 468, 469, 471, 500 r/w 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

On Thursday, Malviya had said that he will file a case against 'The Wire', claiming that the media outlet tried to tarnish his image and reputation.

"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 had said in a statement.

'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.

--IANS

ssh/arm

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP leader and Union Home Minister will address six rallies in two days in poll-bound starting from November 1.

He will also hold closed-door organisational meetings during his two-day visit to the hill state, his office said in a statement.

Shah will stay the intervening night of November 1 and 2 in Shimla and is likely to hold a meeting with the senior leaders of the BJP's state unit, sources said.

He will hold a rally each in Bhattiyat, Karsog and Kusumpatti assembly segments on November 1. The next day, he will hold a rally each in Dhramshala, Nandon and Nalagarh.

(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 chairperson of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Sangeeta Beniwal on Saturday held a meeting at the Collectorate in Bhilwara following reports of girls auctioned on stamp papers in the area.

The District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other officials were present for the meeting.

"I came to know from DSP and Collector that this case is from 2019. At that time, police presented a challan of 25 people in court. Out of 6 girls, 4 have been rehabilitated & 2 are in girls' homes as they're from other states. I'll reach them soon and get complete information," said RSCPCR chief, Sangeeta Beniwal.

Earlier, Rajasthan, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress party had exposed such cases which had been happening during the previous regime of the BJP in the state.

"The incident happened in 2005 when BJP was in power. In 2019, we came and exposed it. ...21 accused were arrested, three died and one is absconding. Two children died, and the rest went to their homes. It was turned into national news," Gehlot said addressing a press conference here.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Commission for Women (NCW), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commission for Women (RSCW) have all sought reports into the allegations.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal had also written to Gehlot seeking action against the culprits for auctioning of girls on stamp papers to settle disputes over loan repayments in the Bhilwara district of .

"It is reported in the newspaper that girls as young as 8 years old are being openly auctioned on a stamp paper in over half a dozen districts of the state. The report has stated that whenever there is a dispute between two parties particularly involving financial transactions and loans, people approach caste-based panchayats to settle the matter, the DCW chief wrote.

"These panchayats settle financial disputes and recover the money by auctioning young girls belonging to the lender families. The girls are then sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and even abroad and subjected to physical abuse, torture and sexual assault. If the families refuse to sell their girls, their mothers are subjected to rape on the diktats of the local caste panchayats!," Maliwal's letter read.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested the Director of a Ludhiana-based private company in an ongoing investigation of a case related to an alleged bank fraud of Rs 1,530.99 crore, an official said.

The accused was identified as Neeraj Saluja, Director of SEL Textiles Ltd.

The had registered a case immediately in 2020 against SEL Textiles Ltd. and others, including its Director Saluja, unknown public servants and private persons on the allegations of bank fraud.

SEL Textiles Ltd. having its units at Malout, Nawanshahr (Punjab), Nemrana (Rajasthan) and Hansi (Haryana) was into the business of manufacturing of yarns and fabrics.

"The accused had cheated the consortium of 10 banks, led by Central Bank of India to the tune of Rs 1,530.99 crore. Huge amount of bank loans were diverted by the the accused to its related parties and subsequently adjustment entries were made. It was also alleged that the accused had shown procurement of machineries from non-reputed suppliers and thereby over-invoiced the bills. Huge amount of primary security against cash credit limit i.e. stock, finished goods etc. were allegedly disposed off by the accused to misappropriate bank money as sale proceeds of goods sold were not deposited with the bank," the official added.

Searches were earlier conducted at the premises of the accused which led to recovery of several incriminating documents. LOCs against the accused had been opened. During investigation, the had examined several persons.

Saluja was found to be evasive in his replies during investigation.

The accused was produced on Saturday before the competent court at Mohali (Punjab).

--IANS

atk/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader on Saturday alleged that the Chief Election Commission (CEC) is "intentionally" holding back the announcement of the Gujarat Assembly poll dates, so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can address more and more meetings and inaugurate or dedicate projects to the state to woo electorate.

However, at the same time, he also said that election dates are likely to be announced soon, for which the Congress party and workers are ready and reaching out to all sections of the society.

Addressing media persons here, he challenged the BJP government to restore the old pension scheme for government employees as the Rajasthan government did.

If the Congress comes to power in Gujarat, it will implement all the good schemes in the state too, he claimed.

He condemned the Gujarat government's action of arresting Congress workers who protested with black flags during the Prime Minister's visit to Surat and arrested them under Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).

Taking a jibe at the BJP-ruled Gujarat government, the Congress leader said, "Showing black flag or protesting is a crime in Gujarat."

--IANS/

har/svn/

(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 festival of Chhath which gives the message of human beings' connection with the nature is a living example of the country's rich tradition and culture of conservation of natural resources, Chief Minister said on Saturday.

Extending warm greetings and good wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Chhath, Adityanath said it is an important festival in which the Sun god is worshipped with spiritual purification and pure mind, according to an official statement.

He said, "Our country has a rich tradition and culture of conservation of natural resources. Chhath Festival, which gives the message of human connection with nature, is a living example of this rich tradition."



The chief minister has appealed to people to celebrate festival taking all COVID-19-related precautions.

Chhath Puja, which involves the offering of 'arghya' to the Sun god by fasting women in knee-deep water, will be celebrated on October 30 and 31.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the country moving towards clean fuels, Union Minister on Saturday urged IITians to focus their research on the use of biotechnology for the production of bio-CNG, bio-LNG and green hydrogen from biomass.

Green hydrogen will be used in various industries like chemicals, fertilizers, and also in the transportation sector in the future, Gadkari said, urging the young engineering man-power of the country to do research on manufacturing green hydrogen from electrolysis of sewage water and bio-digestion of organic wastes.

This will also help municipalities of the country in implementing the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' along with value-addition in the form of waste to wealth, the minister said while speaking at Alankar-2022, a global leadership summit organised by Shailesh J Mehta School of Management in IIT Bombay.

"We require prioritising needs-based research... research should come up with import substitute, cost-effective, pollution free, indigenous solutions. We need to identify the commodities being imported into the country and then focus on developing 'Swadeshi' alternatives for those. This will lead to a decrease in imports, increase in exports and making our economy stronger," the minister said.

Proven technology, economic viability, availability of raw materials and marketability should be considered for all research projects, Gadkari added.

The minister also said 65 per cent of the country's population depends on agriculture, though agriculture GDP is only 12 per cent.

He urged the IITians to focus on research for forest-based industries, agriculture and rural technology, and tribal sectors in those districts.

"We need to identify the rural, agricultural raw materials which have the potential to bring about a revolution. It will bring about a lot of development and create employment opportunities," he added.

Stating that research organisations should not work in silos, urged that research papers should be made public.

"This calls for cooperation, coordination and communication between the stakeholders," he added.

A lot of successful start-ups have started from IITs, Gadkari said, adding that young talents should focus their research more for the upliftment of villages, poor, workers and farmers.

"Work to develop technologies to bring an end to poverty, hunger and unemployment in the country, because that will be beneficial to the country for socio-economic transformation," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Environment Minister will chair a high-level meeting on Sunday to discuss measures to be implemented under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan, officials said here.

A layer of pungent smog enveloped Delhi-NCR on Saturday as air pollution in the region neared the "severe" zone amid adverse meteorological conditions. This prompted the Centre's air quality panel to direct authorities in the National Capital Region to immediately implement curbs, such as a ban on construction and demolition activities, under the Graded Response Action Plan stage III.

Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 397 at 4 pm, the worst since January. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali).

GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation.

It classifies the air quality in the Delhi-NCR under four different stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450).

The restrictions on construction and demolition activities will not be applicable on essential projects concerning national security, defence, railways and metro rail among others. Mining activities will also not be allowed in the region.

The CAQM further said states might impose restrictions on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in the NCR considering the worsening air quality. This direction is non-binding on authorities.

The ban on construction activities is likely to affect housing projects in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and other areas.

(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.)
Health Ministers of the G20 members launched a "Call to Action on Financing for Tuberculosis Response" to tackle the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases after Covid-19.

The launch was carried out on Thursday during the second G20 Health Ministerial Meeting held on October 27-28 in Indonesia's Bali, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have taken concrete actions to increase financing to combat tuberculosis (TB). We are very serious about it," Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin told a press conference on Friday.

The initiative calls on G20 members to mobilise resources to close capacity gaps, accelerate the development of new tuberculosis vaccines, and control infections.

Suvanand Sahu, Deputy Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership of the UN, said the biggest challenge to ending tuberculosis is the lack of funding, both domestically in each country and internationally.

"Because of the lack of funding, existing tools to fight tuberculosis are not reaching all those who need them and new tools are not fast-tracked through the research pipeline," said Sahu, who was present virtually at a press conference on Thursday before the opening of the meeting.

The initiative of the G20 members has great potential to pursue the world's target to end tuberculosis by 2030, he added.

This is the first time in history that tuberculosis became a topic at the . It is being discussed in detail since March at the Indonesian presidency and will be continued next year under the host India.

The WHO estimates that 10.6 million people will fall ill with tuberculosis worldwide in 2021, including 1.6 million who will die. Nearly 50 per cent of the global tuberculosis cases are from G20 members.

--IANS

int/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 9th annual India Innovation Day 2022 concluded successfully on October 27. The day-long event was organised in association with the Embassy of India to & Latvia, Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The event was a massive success with over 1,000 participants from across the globe. About 350 esteemed delegates attended the Innovation Day 2022 in person while more than 700 marked their presence online.

The main highlight of the event was the implementation of the partnership, principles of co-funding, co-development, co-creation towards mutual benefits, and making full use of complementary strengths.

The 9th India Innovation Day also encompassed comprehensive sessions with relevant stakeholders in domains such as sustainable urban development and safe transportation, life science, energy, environment, health, and science and technology.

Since industry 4.0 is at the forefront of driving sustainable industrial growth across the globe, the event laid considerable emphasis on exploring its potential in the development and adoption of smart technologies for enhanced efficiency and socio-environmental sustainability.

The keynote speakers during the inauguration included Tanmaya Lal, India's Ambassador to Sweden; Martin Lundstedt CEO, Volvo Group; Jitendra Singh, Indian Minister for Science and Technology; Peter Carlsson Founder and CEO, Northvolt; Anna Kinberg Batra Chairman, Swedish Space Corporation & Senior Executive Advisor, Sweden-India Business Council and Jan Thesleff, Ambassador of Sweden to India.

Speaking on the occasion the new Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, said: "It's an honour to inaugurate the 9th India & Sweden innovation day & as a minister for energy business & Industry. I will look forward to future discussions on how to deepen the collaboration between our countries. The relationship between India & Sweden is stronger than ever and innovation partnership has really become a cornerstone of our bilateral collaboration. This collaboration aims to solve bigger challenges in areas such as green transition, clean energy, health & transportation."

"India is rapidly becoming an innovation powerhouse climbing from rank 81 to 40 global innovation index in just a few years. Also, Swedish companies have been operating in India for many decades employing over 200 thousand people directly and 2.2 million indirectly. Swedish companies continue to invest and partner with the Indian research and innovation ecosystem," added Busch.

Commenting on strengthening the ties between the two nations, Tanmaya Lal, Ambassador of India to Sweden and Latvia said, "Innovation is the key for not only growth and sustainability but also to manage global challenges such as pandemics to climate change. Sweden is the leader of innovation and sustainability and India too is climbing rapidly in the global innovation ratings. India is the reservoir of engineering, Research and development and entrepreneurial talent. The scale and speed of innovative technological solutions for that are now coming out of India offers huge possibilities of collaborations. In this context this annual day series brought together the researchers, businesses and investors and government agencies. We thank all the participants for joining this discussion and accelerating an inclusive green transition for our collective sustainable future."

The India Sweden association will not only help analyse and develop technology and solutions that sustainably impact humanity in the greatest way, but will also address health, and safe transport to security and better quality of life through acceleration, innovation, and solutions between the countries with the power of technology.

Jitendra Singh, Minister for Science and Technology, said: "The continuation of this event for the last 8 years itself reflects an effective partnership between India and Sweden. Both the governments and industries in the two nations are developing a technology-oriented ecosystem for a win-win situation.

"I am delighted that innovation cooperation is the fastest growing element in the world today along with bi-lateral relationship between India and Sweden. In 2018, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Sweden to deepen the collaboration through joint declaration on innovation partnership for a sustainable future. This partnership aims to increase the impact of bilateral collaboration in innovation science and technology.

"The partnership highlights several areas including smart cities, transportation e-mobility energy, green technology, new materials, space, circular economy, bio-waste economy, health and life sciences. India Sweden innovation partnership bridges institutions, R&D industry and also creates entrepreneurs to address global challenges in line with the UN goals," he further added.

Speaking on lowering down the carbon footprints, Hakan Kingstedt Chairman, Sweden-India Business Council stated: "Accelerating green transitioning and driving innovation partnership to the next level is the most important agenda of this association. We are here today to tie one more knot, taking the friendship of India and Sweden ahead. Furthermore, Sweden is a leader in innovation in Europe. We are in a transition mode to lower the carbon footprints and it is quite interesting to see that our industries are redeveloping all over Sweden. From green steel technology, hydrogen storage, electric battery systems to electric buses, cars and new traffic systems, Sweden is an exciting place to be in right now. At last, I would like to take an opportunity to wish both the countries in this association."

Commenting on the successful completion of the 9th edition of the Innovation Day, 2022, Jan Thesleff, Sweden Ambassador to India said: "The vast and powerful political administrations, agencies, corporate sector, and academic sector in the event today were excellent examples of the Swedish Indian collaboration. We are moving towards a relationship that will be driven by both parties. We assessed our accomplishments, and now, with assistance from Indian organisations and the Indian government, we are examining the possibilities of the built-up areas for future collaboration. Our objective places a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability. This event's goal is to create projections on how we can connect these alliances and facilitate cooperation between Indian partners and Swedish investors.

Pressing on the importance on sustainable solutions, Martin Lundstedt, CEO, Volvo Group stated: "With innovation in transportation being a long-term goal of both Sweden and India, we are moving in the direction of being considerably more sustainable. It is an important factor in prosperity. Infrastructure, transportation, and logistics are essential to the plan's effective execution.

"We are aware that a developing society's GDP, per capita, and economic growth are closely related to these factors. Our goal is to provide long-term solutions to development problems, such as more efficient transportation and infrastructure logistics. The two nations also agreed to fund the joint innovation projects within AI, Health, Clean Tech, Smart Cities and Safe Mobility," added Lundstedt.

Commenting on the strengthening ties between India and Sweden, Robin Sukhia, President, Sweden-India Business Council SIBC said: "India Sweden Innovation Day 2022 is a testament to the commitment of both the nations to promote sustainable industrial development and green transition via technological excellence. With the world grappling with climate change today, it is imperative for governments and industry to strategically collaborate and foster innovation and technology adoption to ensure green economic development. The India Sweden Innovation Day serves as the stepping stone in this direction to strengthen government and industry collaboration for green transition."

Elaborating more on the importance of green transition and the importance of strategic events like India Sweden Innovation Day, Ludvig Lindstrom, Head of Innovation Accelerator, said: "The India Sweden innovation accelerator has been in existence for 10 years reflecting our commitment to sustainability and green transition. This is constantly being strengthened through the flow of new companies, industries and academic partners joining our initiative. We at Sweden Business center are working constantly with organisations like CII to deliver high impact value to reflect our commitment towards green transition and sustainable economic development."

Commenting on the collaboration of Index, Per-Olof Marklund, CTO, SAAB, Business Area Aeronautics said: "The defence industry has been a bit conservative, but the technology which is needed today in a fighter jet is more available in the open market within the defence industry. Collaborating with a start-up and finding ideas that may be used in the defence industry and applying them in our industry is the key to be successful in the future. Index in itself is about cooperating with three other companies that are vastly different from our industry. We have a logistics industry, an agricultural company, and a defence company.

"We don't have that much in common on paper but if you look at the idea that come in then we have a lot in common and we always get new ideas from each other and boost each other in this process," added Per-Olof Marklund.

The one-day event acknowledged the importance of the various facets of climate change, and both countries laid out specific actions to quicken the transition to a greener economy by putting cutting-edge digital technology and artificial intelligence to use.

Furthermore, both countries had extensive discussions and used technology to develop climate-friendly solutions. The summit also concentrated on fostering rapid economic expansion and addressing the pandemic's residual consequences.

This year the summit provided an opportunity to discuss the international situation and response to the challenges towards sustainability as well as regional and global issues of mutual importance including climate action, technological development and economic growth.

The event also addressed the need of rigorous work towards the UN goals with innovation, radically improved technology, business models and work practices to bring the transformative change.

Sanjoo Malhotra, Chief Executive Director of India Unlimited, provided additional information about the 9th India Sweden Day Innovation Day 2022, stating: "The 9th Innovation Day brought together the prominent industry leaders from different verticals to connect and co-create ideas and solutions on driving green transition via digital transformation, green-oriented technologies, supportive government policies, and extensive studies on benefits of a sustainable and green future for the industry".

The event was themed ''Accelerating India Sweden's Green Transition'', under which both the countries discussed the prospects of accelerating green transition via innovation and by harnessing the power of climate-positive technology, next-generation digitalization. India Sweden Innovation Day 2022 was hosted by India Unlimited.

--IANS

san/pgh

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Saturday held a meeting with the representatives of Uber, Ola and Rapido over high auto-rickshaw prices.

However, the union cried foul and dubbed the meeting just an "eye wash".

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary N.V Prasad and Transport Department Commissioner THM Kumar of the Transport Department.

Though the details of the meeting were not made public, sources said that requests have been placed before the department to fix Rs 100 per kilometre for auto rickshaws.

The government is all set to fix the fares for in the wake of allegations of charging exorbitant prices. The High Court had also given directions for the government to fix the price within 15 days.

Sources say that the cab service providers are pressing for a 30 per cent hike of fares. However, the Transport Department is maintaining that they have not got any such demands.

The High Court is taking up the matter of fixing fares on November 7.

However, senior advocate Amruthesh, who represents auto unions stated after the meeting that it's just an eye wash. The meeting ended without fixing fares.

He further stated that the meeting was held only to inform the court on November 7 that they had held a meeting in this regard. "For five to six years have been looting the public's money. It was explained in detail in the meeting, but it ended without taking any decision, he added.

The Transport Department has given the cab aggregators a free ride without any restrictions. No auto union leaders have been invited for the meeting, he charged.

--IANS

mka/shb/

(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 here on Saturday lashed out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling him "a symbol of anarchy".

The Union minister of information and broadcasting was responding to a query during his press conference regarding Kejriwal's appeal to incorporate images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on currency notes.

" who used to oppose (construction of a grand) Ram temple is a symbol of anarchy. He does fake talking. He does new propaganda to divert attention of the people from his fakeness," Thakur said.

The Union minister further asked supremo Kejriwal that will his government also provide Rs 18,000 to temple priests, gurudwara granthis and church priests on the pattern of maulvis in Delhi.

Regarding "chargesheet" of Congress against Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP government in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, Thakur said "Those whose national leadership is on bail have no moral right to issue "chargesheet" against others.

He further said that the "double engine government" has taken all necessary steps for the all-round development of Himachal Pradesh and it is necessary for the BJP government to come to power again to carry forward the pace of development.

The Union minister said that the power of double engine government is visible in every sector.

(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 (MHA) is all set to announce 'Union Home Minister's Special Operation Medal-2022' on the occasion of National Unity Day on October 31, the birth anniversary of .

The award will be declared on October 31 morning when the country will be celebrating a large-scale 'Run For Unity' event to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is known as the Iron Man of India.

An official internal order issued by the Police Division-I of the MHA earlier this week mentioned that "Union Home Minister's Special Operation Medal" for the year 2022 will be declared on October 31, 2022 as per schedule".

In this regard, the order reads, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been requested to depute a suitable representative on October 31 to upload the declared award on MHA's website by 9.30 am.

Instituted by the MHA on July 23, 2018, 'Union Home Minister's Special Operation Medal' is conferred to state and Union Territory (UT) Police Forces, Central Police Organizations (CPOs), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Security organizations throughout India to recognize only those operations, which have a high degree of planning, high significance for the security of the country, state and UT and have a significant impact on the security of large sections of the society.

The award is conferred for special operations in the areas such as terrorism, border action, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.

All recommendations for the award is sent to the MHA within three months of the special operation.

A committee in MHA screen all the nominations and recommend for award. Director Intelligence Bureau is a member of the selection committee under the Chairmanship of Home Secretary, and two Directors General of Police of states and UTs by rotation in alphabetical order and one Director General of a CAPF by rotation (the larger organisation are given preference) in the committee every year. The Union Home Minister is the competent authority to approve the final list of awardee recommended by the Selection Committee of MHA.

A certificate (Scroll) signed by the Union Home Minister is awarded to each winner alongwith the medal.

In a year, only three Special Operations are considered for award. In exceptional circumstances, the award may be given to five Special operations only to encourage state and UT police.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Pakistani civilian allegedly trying to enter Indian territory was killed by Border Security Force personnel in Anupgarh sector of Sriganganagar district here, police said.

On Friday night, Border Security Force personnel patrolling the area saw a Pakistani civilian trying to enter the Indian side. When he did not stop despite being alerted by the jawans, they opened fire, Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Anand Sharma said.

A case has been registered at Anupgarh police station and the body kept in a mortuary.

The police said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained and added that nothing was found from him.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister will be on a three-day visit to and from October 30 during which he will lay the foundation stone of a C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility and pay tributes to India's first home minister Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said Modi will launch the aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara on Sunday and pay homage to Patel at the Statue of Unity on his birth anniversary on Monday in the poll-bound state.

He will also participate in the National Unity Day celebrations to mark Patel's birth anniversary and address the officer trainees at the culmination of the 97th common foundation course, 'Aarambh 4.0'.

"Digital Governance: Foundation & Frontiers" was chosen as the theme for the fourth edition of 'Aarambh' with a view to help officer trainees learn how to leverage technological solutions to strengthen public service delivery and make the last-mile delivery transparent, effective and efficient, according to the PMO.

On November 1, the PMO said, Modi will reach Rajasthan's Banswara district where he will attend a public programme to pay homage to the "unsung" tribal heroes of the freedom struggle.

He will then launch various development projects at Jambughoda in Panchmahal district of before returning to the national capital, it said.

The PMO said the C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility, the first such private sector facility in the country, will be utilised for manufacturing 40 such transport planes for the Indian Air Force through a collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space, Spain.

The facility will be a key step towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector and will also help unlock the potential of the private players in the sector, it said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister on Saturday while speaking on the amendments to the IT intermediary Rules 2021 said protection of Constitutional rights of Indian citizens is a must, adding India is a trustee of rights of its citizens and Digital Nagriks.

In a major push towards an Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable Internet, the Ministry of Electronics and IT notified these amendments aimed at protecting the rights of "Digital Nagriks".

It also enhances due diligence requirements and ensuring accountability of social media and other intermediaries. They have been notified against the backdrop of complaints regarding the action/inaction on the part of the intermediaries on user grievances regarding objectionable content or suspension of their accounts.

The intermediaries now will be expected to ensure that there is no uploading of content that intentionally communicates any misinformation or information that is patently false or untrue hence entrusting an important responsibility on intermediaries.

The rules also have made it explicit for the intermediary to respect the rights accorded to the citizens of India under the Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Elaborating on the new sets of rules, Chandrasekhar said these amendments have been made to ensure that internet is open, safe and trusted and accountable for our "digital nagriks".

The amendments were notified after the Ministry followed an exhaustive public consultation process involving all stakeholders.

Sharing the government's vision and intent to work along with intermediaries for achieving the common goal of keeping the internet safe and trusted, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship affirmed that "these rules marks new partnership between the government and intermediaries in making and keeping our internet safe, trusted and accountable".

Currently, intermediaries are only required to inform users about not uploading certain categories of harmful/unlawful content.

These amendments impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to take reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading such content.

The new provision will ensure that the intermediary's obligation is not a mere formality.

--IANS

kvm/pgh

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Many people including two journalists were injured when a rally taken out here on Friday by the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) turned violent, the police said.

The police are yet to confirm how many people were injured during the rally organised against unemployment in Meghalaya.

The violence began as soon as the rally started to march on the Guwahati- road leading to Khyndailad.

According to an eyewitness, while it looked like any other normal rallies, some members of the FKJGP, many of them masked, punched, kicked and pushed passers by indiscriminately, causing panic and huge traffic jams.

At Dhankheti junction, people were beaten up with flag poles while shopkeepers downed shutters as panic gripped the hill city.

Mostly non-tribals were targeted in the attacks.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that police have been asked to take necessary action.

FKJGP President Dundee Khongsit while apologising for the incident said he did not expect that such an untoward incident would take place.

"We have told our members before the rally that this is a peaceful rally. Our demand is to fill up vacant posts in the government departments as there are more than 7,000 posts lying vacant in different departments," the tribal leader told the media.

"However, the state government is not paying attention to the serious unemployment problem in the state," he added.

--IANS

sc/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ukraine conflict and the situation in Indo-Pacific figured prominently in talks between External Affairs Minister and visiting British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Cleverly arrived in India on Friday on a two-day visit primarily to attend a special meeting of the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee.

"Delighted to welcome UK Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly on his first India visit; shortly after our meeting in New York last month," Jaishankar tweeted.

"Noted the progress in our Roadmap 2030. Also discussed the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific," he added.

It is the first visit by a top-ranking official from Britain after Rishi Sunak took charge as the UK's first Indian-origin prime minister on Tuesday.

During the visit, the British foreign secretary announced further collaboration between the UK and India through British International Investment.

This included 11 million Pound of UK funding invested in Kinara Capital, a woman-led fintech company, according to the British High Commission.

British International Investment is designed to strengthen trade ties with the UK's partners and generate economic growth.

The high commission said Cleverly also announced a 22 million pounds investment by the UK-backed Neev II Fund into Hygenco which will help India's green energy transition by pioneering green hydrogen.

India hosted the meeting of the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee in its capacity as its chair.

While the first day's meeting took place in Mumbai on Friday, second day's deliberations were in Delhi on Saturday.

(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 Home Minister Amit Shah's proposed visit to on November 5 for a meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council has been postponed for the time being, a top official here said.

The official also said that the letter received from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), apprising the state government of the development, had no mention of any fresh date.

He maintained that the reason behind the postponement was not clear.

"The proposed meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council has been postponed for now. It will now take place on a different date. Union Home Minister will not be visiting the city next week. We have no idea why it was postponed," the bureaucrat told PTI, when contacted, referring to the MHA communication.

"We have not been given another date for the meeting as yet," he stated.

Apart from Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah, who is the chairman of the council, was scheduled to meet her counterparts from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Sikkim to discuss various issues, including those related to inter-state boundaries, the official said.

Banerjee is the vice-chairman of the council. The meeting would have focussed on unsettled issues among these states, including those related to boundaries, besides work for completion of the eastern freight corridor," the top official added.

In 2018, Bengal had hosted a meeting of the council chaired by then Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

Notably, Banerjee, who is also in-charge of the home portfolio in the state, recently skipped the 'Chintan Shivir' convened by the Centre at Surajkund in Haryana.

Besides Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 'Chintan Shivir', where he mooted the idea of 'one nation, one uniform', which drew much criticism from opposition leaders.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In wake of the World Health Organisation's Global TB Report 2022, released on October 27, that notes the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, treatment and burden of disease for TB all over, India on Friday said that the country has, in fact, performed far better on major metrics as compared to others.

"India's TB incidence for the year 2021 is 210 per 100,000 population - compared to the baseline year of 2015 (incidence was 256 per lakh of population in India); there has been an 18 per cent decline which is 7 percentage points better than the global average of 11 per cent. These figures also place India at the 36th position in terms of incidence rates (from largest to smallest incidence numbers)," the Health Ministry said.

While the Covid-19 pandemic impacted TB programmes across the world, India was able to successfully offset the disruptions caused, through the introduction of critical interventions in 2020 and 2021 - this led to the TB Elimination Programme notifying over 21.4 lakh TB cases - 18 per cent higher than 2020, it said.

It said further that in 2021, over 22 crore people were screened for TB. The aim has been to find and detect more cases to arrest onwards transmission of the disease in the community which has contributed to the decline in incidence. For this purpose, India has also scaled up diagnostic capability to strengthen detection efforts. Indigenously-developed molecular diagnostics have helped expand the reach of diagnosis to every part of the country today. India has over 4,760 molecular diagnostic machines across the country, reaching every district.

Against this backdrop, and prior to the publication of the Global Report, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had communicated to WHO that the Ministry has already initiated domestic studies to arrive at a more accurate estimate of incidence and mortality rates in a systematic manner and India's data will be provided after conclusion of studies in early part of 2023.

The WHO has also acknowledged the Health Ministry's position on this and noted in the Report that "estimates of TB incidence and mortality in India for 2000-2021 are interim and subject to finalisation, in consultation with India's Ministry of Health & Family Welfare".

The WHO Report also notes the crucial role of nutrition and under-nutrition as a contributory factor to the development of active TB disease. In this respect, the ministry said, the TB Programme's nutrition support scheme - Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana - has proved critical for the vulnerable.

On this, the Health Ministry said: "During 2020 and 2021, India made cash transfers of 89 million dollars (INR 670 crores) to TB patients through a Direct Benefit Transfer programme. Moreover, in September 2022, the Honourable President of India has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to provide additional nutritional support to those on TB treatment, through contributions from community including individuals and organizations. Till date, 40,492 donors have come forward to support over 10,45,269 patients across the country."

--IANS

avr/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CBIC seeks details on digital assets from top crypto bourses

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has sought from Indias top cryptocurrency exchanges details such as the type of digital coins and tokens being traded and their valuation, and how they are divisible. Read more...



to form a council to advise on lifting any Twitter bans

Twitter Inc. will form a content-moderation council that includes widely diverse viewpoints, and big decisions on content and account reinstatements are on hold until the group is convened, new owner said, addressing speculation that he might restore banned users to the social network immediately. Read more...



DoT may mandate local purchase of high-quality telecom equipment

The (DoT) might make it mandatory for private telecom service firms to buy some of their telecom equipment from indigenous manufacturers if they do not do so voluntarily, a senior DoT official has told Business Standard. Read more...



RBI governor cautions on backdoor entry in financial space

The use of technology has made financial entities more efficient, but it has also led to backdoor entry of unregulated players into the financial space that often do not abide by norms, (RBI) Governor said on Friday. Read more...

Want to see business plan to tackle arrears, issues: Centre asks Voda Idea

The (DoT) has asked Vodafone Idea (Vi) to come back to it with a business plan soon in light of its decision not to launch 5G services for now (unlike its competitors Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel) and in view of its assessment of the possible impact of BSNLs impending launch of 4G in a few months and then 5G by August 15. Read more...



Govt has its way on social media grievance redress; GACs to be formed

Grievance appellate committees (GACs) to redress content-related complaints of social-media users will be a reality despite the objections of big tech firms. Read more...
The Kerala-based music band Thaikkudam Bridge, which had alleged that the Varaha Roopam song in the acclaimed film Kantara was a plagiarism of their 2017 track Navarasam, has welcomed the interim injunction issued by a Kozhikode Sessions Court restraining the producer, director and music composer of Kantara and online platforms from playing the song in theatres and on the streaming platforms.

The band had approached the Court for relief, and the injunction order was issued on Friday. The hard copy of the injunction order will be issued on Monday.

Our fight is only for acknowledgement and recognition of our hard work by the filmmakers. After submitting all the documentary and video evidence, the Court gave the injunction order, which I feel is a validation of our integrity and hard work, said Sujith Unnithan, the bands manager.

Advocate Satish Murthi, representing Thaikkudam Bridge, said The Court found prima facie, there is substantial similarity between the original song (Navarasam) and the Varaaha Roopam song. It also took notice of the admission of the films music composer that he was inspired by the original song. Hence the injunction, which says the song cannot be played without taking the permission of Thaikkudam Bridge.

Murthi, who practices in the Supreme Court, said this would develop into a landmark case in the field of music copyright.

While the Court has directed the Kantara film distributor in Kerala to remove the song from theatre screenings, Sujith said the band is also alerting distributors in other states on the issue. The injunction order has been sent to major streaming platforms including Google (YouTube), Amazon Music, Spotify, Wynk Music, JioSaavn, etc. These are big players and corporates, so I dont think they will mess with Court orders. I am sure as soon as they receive the injunction order they will remove the song from their platforms, Sujith said, adding that their legal team would monitor the platforms from time to time.

Once the distributor in Kerala gets the hard copy of the order on Monday, they will have to remove the song from the theatre shows. Distributors in other states will also get to know about it through the media. I believe they will all have to remove the song from the shows until further Court orders, he says, adding that the onus is on the filmmakers to get the song removed from theatres in all the states.

Meanwhile, there were reports that the band was in talks with the Kantara makers on this issue. We asked Sujith why Thaikkudam Bridge took recourse to legal action at this juncture. Because the filmmakers are still denying our plagiarism claims, Sujith replied.

The Kantara team which was in Kerala to celebrate the films success, did not comment on the plagiarism issue except to say that their legal team was looking into the matter, the band manager added. He pointed out that plagiarism charges had earlier been levelled against the film's composer B Ajaneesh Loknath for the film, Kirrak Party.

On another front, Mathurbhumi Music has the exclusive streaming rights of the song Navarasam and there were reports that it was negotiating for compensation with the filmmakers. We dont know about Mathurbhumi Music, but our fight is only for due credits, Sujith said, when asked to comment.

So what is the band expecting, in light of the injunction order?

Either the filmmakers will give us the credit for the song and accept our claims or they will appeal against the injunction in a higher Court, said Sujith.
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud Saturday said the Sheikh Hasina government is committed to the safety of Hindus and other and the recent peaceful Durga Puja celebrations in that country are a testimony to it.

Mahamud, who is in the city to inaugurate the Film Festival, spoke on Indo-Bangla relations but said it is not dependent on the Teesta water sharing agreement between the two countries.

"The Sheikh Hasina government is committed to protecting the rights of Hindus and other in . Our country's recent peaceful Durga Puja celebration is a testimony," he told a media conference at the Press Club here.

"This year the number of Durga Pujas held in our country was much higher than that of last year. There were altogether 33000 puja marquees, 700 more than in 2021, he said.

"Why were so many Durga Pujas held in Bangladesh? The answer is it is safe and secure there. There was specific instructions from the top brass of the Awami League to the local level leaders to keep an eye on all puja pandals so that no untoward incidents take place," he said.

The Bangladesh government had been "extra cautious" to avoid any untoward incident in view of the communal violence during Durga Puja last year.

Violence had erupted in pockets of Bangladesh in 2021 over an alleged incident of blasphemy at a Durga Puja pavilion at Cumilla, around 100 km from Dhaka, following which paramilitary forces were deployed in many affected areas.

"Those who had tried to create problems during Durga Puja stand exposed. We have taken special measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place," Mahamud said.

Hitting out at the opposition in his country - the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the minister said, "BNP's politics revolves around hatred towards and India. People associated with BNP were involved in an incident (of violence) that took place (after Durga Puja in Bangladesh) last year,"



Speaking on Indo-Bangla relations, he said more than government-to-government relations, it is the people-to-people associations that have helped strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"Our bilateral relations depend not only on Teesta (water sharing) agreement. Whenever I come to India, I am asked this question. There has been progress in this matter. Our relationship is diverse," he said.

India and Bangladesh were set to ink a deal on Teesta water sharing during the then prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit in 2011, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declined to endorse it citing scarcity of water in her state.

Mahamud declined to comment when asked to comment on newspaper reports that the Bangladesh premier had wanted to meet Banerjee during her New Delhi visit last month.

"I don't want to comment on newspaper reports. If Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, then the meeting would have taken place," he said.

Banerjee had slammed the Centre for not inviting her to be a part of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's India visit. The Centre said had said that chief ministers are not invited to attend the events of a visiting head of another country's government.

On the Bangladesh general election slated to be held in 2023, Mahmud said both the government and the ruling party - Awami League expects the opposition to participate in the polls.

"We (Awami League) expect all political parties to participate in the election. It is not the job of just the ruling party to strengthen democracy, but also that of the opposition parties. We want all political parties, including BNP, to participate in the election. Any political party which believes in people's power cannot boycott elections," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Elon Musks plans for might run into a major hurdle: the European Union.



The continents regulations have been a headache for Silicon Valley for years, and Musk -- a so-called free speech absolutist -- could soon feel the pain.

Hours after tweeted that he had freed the bird, a reference to Twitters logo, the European Commissions Internal Markets Commissioner Thierry Breton warned that in Europe the bird will fly by the EUs content moderation rules.

The EUs Digital Services Act, which officially became law this month, gives the blocs executive arm, the European Commission, unprecedented powers to police tech platforms by requiring them to remove illegal content ranging from terrorist propaganda to ads for unsafe toys.

Breton already warned Musk in the spring that his free-speech approach would have to follow the DSA. I dont care what hes doing outside of Europe, Breton told Bloomberg Television in April. You want to enter into Europe? These are our rules.

The EU has never shied from policing Big Tech. Violating the unions landmark data protection rules, the General Data Protection Regulation, already resulted in a 450,000 ($448,360) fine for back in 2020, while Amazon.com Inc., Meta Platforms Inc.s WhatsApp and Alphabet Inc.s Google have been slapped with fines in the tens of millions of euros.

Soon, the commission will have even more power to police Big Tech. The Digital Markets Act will force tech companies designated as gatekeepers to abide by new antitrust rules. But the biggest problem for Musk will be its sister legislation, the DSA.

Potential Fines

The main goal of the legislation is to ensure companies do better at finding and removing illegal content, but what counts as illegal can differ significantly between the EUs 27 countries. Musks Twitter, like all social media companies, will have to be diligent about removing illegal content regardless of the country it was posted from, or face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover. If repeatedly breaks the rules, the company could be barred from operating in the union entirely.

Content moderation has always been tricky for tech companies, which rely on a mix of algorithms and human monitoring to take down content. Currently Twitter has roughly 1,500 people doing content moderation compared to an estimated 15,000 at Meta and 10,000 for Googles products, according to research from New York University. Experts say these numbers are not enough to properly police social media content.

Musk at one point planned to cut 75% of Twitters staff, according to documents seen by the Washington Post. Although hes walked back on such high figures, any plans to strip the company of content moderators will likely make it even harder to stay on top of illegal posts in EU countries, let alone the rest of the world.

The EUs DSA will also force companies to moderate content in the languages they operate in. On Friday, Musk announced he wants to create a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints but if he reduces headcount in Twitters human content moderation team, the company could rely more on automated systems. However these systems tend to struggle to determine the context of posts and have a history of making high-profile mistakes.

Lifetime Bans

While the EUs tech regulation approach might seem to clash extensively with Musks love of unfettered free speech, there are many points on which the two align. The DSA forces companies to make their algorithms more transparent and requires them to have consistent rules about banning people from the platform.

Following the January 6 attack, it was EU leaders including Breton and former German chancellor Angela Merkel who were vocal against Twitter and Facebooks unlimited bans on former President Donald Trump, a stance Musk agrees with. Getting rid of lifetime bans creates the potential for high-profile people who were blocked, such as Steve Bannon, to return to the platform.

This kind of alignment was on display when Breton visited Musk in Texas in May. At the time, Breton told Bloomberg the two had no disagreement on their approach to content. Musk said in a viral video post that I agree with everything you said, really, talking to Breton. I think were very much on the same line.

That relationship could change as the commission starts to take action against harmful but not illegal content: for example, algorithms that surface eating disorder content. The DSA gives the commission powers to ask companies to carry out risk assessments focused on specific types of harmful material and, if sufficient controls arent put in place, force them to downrank it.

This is where Musk and Bretons approaches might differ. In the context of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the EU took a far more interventionist approach than the US by banning Russian media sites RT and Sputnik in an effort to crack down on misinformation. Musk was explicitly against banning the news sites.
Ways to further enhance cooperation between and Sweden, especially on their path to membership of the NATO, topped the agenda of talks held in Helsinki by Sweden's newly-elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and her host and Finnish counterpart, Sanna Marin.

The two Prime Ministers on Friday highlighted the importance of cooperation between and Sweden, particularly in the future membership, Xinhua news agency reported.

"This relationship plays a particularly important role in the current crises. Concrete areas where cooperation should be strengthened include developing security of supply and countering hybrid threats," the Finnish government said in a statement.

The two leaders agreed that their countries should join in lockstep.

"The trilateral agreement between Finland, and Turkey is valid and we are committed to fulfil our obligations according to that agreement," Kristersson said. The agreement paves the way for the allies to invite and to join their ranks.

This was Kristersson's first visit abroad since becoming Prime Minister last week. He also met with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto.

--IANS

int/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Friday rejected India's criticism of Islamabad's failure to prosecute and punish the LeT terrorists responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying Islamabad would require "irrefutable and legally tenable evidence" for the "efficient disposal" of the case.

Delivering the inaugural address at the special meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee in Mumbai, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the key conspirators of the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks, LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, continue to remain "protected and unpunished" even today.

He was apparently referring to terrorists like LeT chief Hafiz Saeed remaining unpunished for their role in the Mumbai attacks.

While one of the terrorists (Ajmal Kasab) was captured alive, prosecuted and convicted by the highest court in India, the key conspirators and planners of the 26/11 terror attacks continue to remain protected and unpunished," Jaishankar said.

When it comes to sanctioning terrorists, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been "regrettably" unable to act in some cases because of "political considerations", he said, in an apparent swipe at China, a close ally of Pakistan, which has blocked the UNSC sanction of Pakistan-based terrorists on several occasions.

Reacting to Jaishankar's veiled attack on Pakistan, the Foreign Office here said, It is regrettable that India chose to misuse an important Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to mislead the community about Pakistan's role in countering global terrorism.

It said India must remember that the Mumbai attacks case "is in the court of law and rather than relying on anyone's whims or wishes, it would require irrefutable and legally tenable evidence for efficient disposal."



Jaishankar said the "shocking" terror incident was an attack not just on Mumbai, but on the community.

"In fact, this entire city was held hostage by terrorists, who had entered from across the border," he said without naming .

As many as 140 Indian nationals and 26 citizens from 23 countries lost their lives in the Mumbai terror attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists.

Jaishankar delivered his inaugural session at a special meeting in Mumbai on 'Countering the Use of New and Emerging Technologies for Terrorist Purposes. The first leg of the event is being held at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai. This hotel was one of the places attacked by terrorists during the November 2008 attacks.

India has said repeatedly told that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence.

(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.)
Nicosia [Cyprus], October 29 (ANI): The landmark maritime border demarcation deal, achieved with US mediation, signed last Thursday between and Lebanon, could have important ramifications in the relations between the two countries that have technically been at war for decades and could at the same time allow the two countries exploit and export natural gas from their respective gas fields to Europe.

US Special Presidential Coordinator Amos Hochstein has clinched the deal between and - the relevant indirect negotiations have been going on intermittently for more than 10 years- drawing a border between the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the two countries on the basis of a boundary line known as Line 23.

Under the agreement, is awarded 840 square kilometres of the previously disputed area but promises to pay royalties to for a section of its Qana field that extends to Israel's EEZ, and Beirut recognizes Israel's claims to the Karish gas field. In this way, Israel retains full rights to develop the Karish field while retains full rights in nearby Qana.

It is remarkable that the agreement was signed at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in the border Lebanese town of Naqoura, without the two negotiating teams coming into contact. It was previously signed in Beirut by Lebanese President Michel Aoun and later by Israeli Minister Yair Lapid. Amos Hochstein oversaw the signing by the heads of delegations in Naqoura.

Another remarkable point is that the mandate of both Aoun and Lapid expires at the end of this month. Israel on November 1st is having elections and it is extremely difficult to predict who will emerge as the winner and who can garner enough support in the Israeli Parliament to form a government. In Lebanon, the Parliament on October 24 failed for the fourth time to elect a candidate to replace Aoun.

Amos Hochstein said: "What matters today is what will happen after the agreement, and I believe that it will be an economic turning point for Lebanon. Signing such an agreement will bring stability to the region and will allow TotalEnergies to begin its work, which nothing will hinder, and no one will take the oil and gas revenues from the Lebanese. The most important thing in the agreement is that it serves both sides and it is not in their interests to violate it."

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, after signing the maritime demarcation deal at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, stressed that the agreement was just a technical issue with no political meaning. "Lebanon is still in a state of war with Israel," he said and added: "The completion of the demarcation of the southern maritime borders is a technical work that does not have any political dimensions or effects that contradict Lebanon's foreign policy in its relations with other countries."

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid described the deal as a "political achievement" for his country.

"The maritime deal is a political achievement for Israel as we don't see an enemy state like Lebanon recognizing Israel in a written agreement every day," he said. Earlier, Lapid said the maritime agreement "staves off" war with Hezbollah.

It should be noted that last September Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the powerful pro-Iranian Hezbollah Group, upon learning that there would be a test run at the Israeli-operated Karish gas field, called the extraction of gas from that field a "red line". He ominously added: We are following up on the negotiations (aimed at finding a deal between Lebanon and Israel) and all our eyes are on Karish and our missiles are locked on Karish."

After the announcement that a deal was reached between the two countries, Nasrallah said: "We consider what happened a great victory for Lebanon. The resistance's exceptional mobilization against Israel is now over. Mission accomplished."

Undoubtedly, the Israeli Prime Minister scored a big success with the deal, as he has averted a possible clash with Hezbollah over Karish and as well troubles with Lebanon, but on the home front he had to deal with the opposition of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed that the deal could benefit Hezbollah and accused Lapid of evading the scrutiny of the Israeli Parliament.

US President Joseph 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."

Mathios Rigas, the Chief Executive Officer of the London-based Energean hydrocarbon company, said that the first gas from Karish has been delivered after receiving the green light from the Israeli government.

Karish is estimated to contain 2.4 trillion cubic feet (68 billion cubic metres) of natural gas.

"We have delivered a landmark project that brings competition to the Israeli gas market, enhances the security of energy supply in the East Med region and brings affordable and clean energy that will displace coal-fired power generation, making a material impact on the environment," Rigas said.

Experts say that the deal reached between Israel and Lebanon does not specify what royalties Israel will receive in the future from the Lebanese Qana field, after several years when production starts. This could create a serious problem, as it happened in the case of Cyprus and Israel, where negotiations on profit distribution of the Aphrodite-Yishair joint reservoir, have been stalled for years.

Whatever the few detractors of the agreement say, the deal between Israel and Lebanon can be described as 'historic" as it settled an apparently irresolvable dispute that could easily escalate into hostilities.

Moreover, it brings a ray of hope for Lebanon can dream of some economic relief from hydrocarbon revenues and could help Europe alleviate its energy shortages in part.

After all, the US Geological Survey has identified the Eastern Mediterranean seabed as holding some of the vastest fossil fuel deposits in the world.

(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.)
Pivotal elections in and the United States will present an early test to Twitter's new owner and his promise to ease up on the platform's policies on misinformation.

Voters in both nations have already faced a torrent of misleading claims about candidates, issues and voting. That torrent could become a deluge if Musk makes good on his vows to roll back Twitter's rules just as millions of voters prepare to cast a ballot.

This is the most critical time for this work, right before an election," said Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at Harvard Law School's Cyberlaw Clinic who has been monitoring the online response to Musk's purchase. We're going to see a test run with the election in this Sunday, when we'll see how bad things get."



Even if Musk waits until after the elections to make changes, his decision to fire the executive in charge of content moderation raises questions about the company's ability to combat misinformation and extremist content linked to deepening distrust in democracy.

Musk, the world's richest man, hasn't detailed his plans for Twitter, which he purchased this week for $44 billion. But he has called himself a free speech absolutist and has said the platform should tolerate any content that is legally permissible.

That's a threshold that varies widely among countries. In the US, it would cover misleading content about vaccines or elections as well as Holocaust denialism and hate speech.

He's also said he disagreed with Twitter's decision to banish Donald Trump after the ex-president's lies about the 2020 election helped spur the deadly Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Yet Musk has also signalled that he'd consider some level of moderation, as he did this week when he said he didn't want to become a free-for-all hellscape.

On Friday, Musk announced the creation of a committee to review Twitter's policies on content moderation and the reinstatement of suspended accounts. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes, Musk tweeted.

One of Musk's first moves as Twitter's owner was to fire top leaders at the platform, including chief legal counsel Vijaya Gadde, who had overseen Twitter's content moderation and safety efforts.

Gadde's departure is not only a blow to Twitter's current election efforts, but a sign of where Musk may take Twitter, Caraballo said. Musk is also reportedly considering deep layoffs at the company.

began preparing for the elections in and the United States months ago. Over the summer, the platform rolled out a series of policies designed to stop the spread of election-related misinformation while also making it easier for users to find trustworthy sources.

Despite sometimes inconsistent enforcement, at least had rules in place prohibiting hate speech and the most harmful kinds of misinformation. Those guardrails have been shown to be necessary, according to Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a New York-based literary and human rights group.

Our politicians have learned that trafficking in disinformation can pay off big time, Nossel told the AP. Hopefully he (Musk) takes this seriously. Hopefully he's listening and asking questions. If he makes good on some of his more outlandish promises we could be in trouble.

Misinformation can have an even greater impact when delivered right before an election, when officials and independent journalists have little time to push back. Sometimes misleading claims about voting can be part of an intentional campaign to confuse or frighten people into staying home. Other times, it can mislead voters about results.

Brazilians have been bombarded by false political claims ahead of this weekend's presidential election between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Similarly, there's been a significant increase in misleading and deceptive content about the election in the US next month, which will decide control of Congress.

Long-time critics of social media moderation cheered Musk's purchase of Twitter and said it heralded a new day for unfettered online communication.

He has stated he intends to do away with content moderation...that more speech, not censorship, is the best way to arrive at the truth," said Jenin Younes, litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance.

Eager to test the rules under Twitter's new owner, some conservative and far-right Twitter users on Friday posted conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or the 2020 election. In many cases, however, the content was already permitted even under Twitter's old rules.

I can finally speak the truth on Twitter. Joe Biden did not win the 2020 Election, comedian and far-right commentator Terrence K Williams tweeted. Yet on Jan 6, 2021, Williams posted that the election was rigged and blamed liberals for staging the Jan 6 insurrection. That post remains up.

Musk will have to weigh many factors before deciding how to moderate content on his new platform, said A J Nash, vice president for intelligence at ZeroFox, a cybersecurity firm that tracks misinformation. Advertisers, for example, could become reluctant to place ads on the platform if it becomes too extreme, he said.

Musk may also learn that running a platform with 240 million daily users in dozens of nations is harder than criticising it from the sidelines, Nash said.

It's easy to do that from the stands, Nash said. Let's see what happens now.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The community must work together to "starve" of finance and emerging technologies to stop destruction around the world, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday.

In an address at the meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee, Cleverly called on countries to fight "online" terrorism including global terror recruitment campaigns.

"Within the space of two decades, have gone from circulating crackly voice recordings from the depths of Tora Bora, to global online recruitment and incitement campaigns, to live-streaming attacks," he said.

"Online incitement has radicalised vulnerable people in far-off countries who have gone on to use rental vans as weapons of terror," Cleverly said.

"So we must continue to work together to fight terrorist ideologies online," the British foreign secretary added.

Cleverly said the community must "starve of the finance and emerging technologies that will cause death and destruction around the world.

India hosted the meeting of the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee in its capacity as its chair.

While the first day's meeting took place in Mumbai on Friday, second day's deliberations were in Delhi on Saturday.

The UK's Counter Daesh Communication Cell, in partnership with the US and UAE governments, works to challenge Daesh propaganda, according to the British High Commission.

It said the UK is also working to stop terrorists exploiting online platforms and to push technology companies to crack down harder on extremist online content through the G7 and the Global Internet Forum to counter terrorism.

Around the world unmanned aerial systems are being used to inflict terror. The UK is funding new technology to tackle these drones and stop terrorists from misusing them, the high commission said.

During the visit, the British foreign secretary announced further collaboration between the UK and India through British Investment.

This included 11 million pound of UK funding invested in Kinara Capital, a woman-led fintech company.

British International Investment is designed to strengthen trade ties with the UK's partners and generate economic growth.

e high commission said Cleverly also announced a 22 million pound investment by the UK-backed Neev II Fund into Hygenco which will help India's green energy transition by pioneering green hydrogen.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Researchers have identified in humans a pan-variant neutralising antibody, named S2X324, whose neutralizing potency was largely unaffected by any of the strains of the coronavirus, according to a study.

The scientists show that this monoclonal antibody prevents binding to the receptor on host cells that the pandemic usually commandeers. They also suggested that combining this antibody with in a cocktail might reduce the chances of the virus becoming antibody treatment resistant.

The team from University of Washington and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Humabs BioMed SA of Vir Biotechnology in Switzerland looked at several aspects of the effects of exposure to earlier forms of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen or immune-provoking protein -- on the immune system's reaction to the variants.

Their findings have been published in the journal Science.

variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared at the end of 2021 and have marked genetic differences from the ancestral SARS-CoV-2. The many, distinct mutations in their infection machinery have enabled them to escape from antibodies elicited from the original series of vaccines, from a history of infection, or from both of those two immune-system training events.

Past studies from the same team, according to the study, have noted that the BA.1 Omicron variant emerged as a "major antigenic shift due to the unprecedented magnitude of immune evasion associated with this variant of concern".

They explained that mutations in two of the main antibody targets in the virus explain why there is a markedly reduced antibody neutralizing ability against these variants, especially in people who have not received booster doses.

"As a result, an increasing number of reinfections are occurring," the scientists wrote in their paper, "even though these cases tend to be milder than in infections of immunologically nave individuals".

The evasive ability conferred by the mutations, they noted, also helps explain why most monoclonal antibody therapies given to patients in the clinic are less effective against these variants.

Knowing how well vaccination against one SARS-CoV-2 strain (with or without previous infection) counteracts infection with a different strain is a critical research question. The answers could guide strategies to continue to subdue the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the regains ground.

Through their experiments, the scientists learned that vaccine boosters and hybrid immunity, or immunity acquired through a history of an infection and vaccination, both induce neutralizing antibodies in the bloodstream against Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5.

People who had a breakthrough infection after vaccination also produced neutralizing antibodies against these variants in the mucus lining the inside of their noses. However, people who only received the vaccine did not generate antibodies in their nasal mucosa. This finding lends support to efforts to develop and evaluate next-generation COVID vaccines that could be delivered intranasally as the nose is generally the site where the virus first enters the body.

The scientists also determined that antibody responses to the pandemic follows a pattern similar to the way the immune system responds to variations of the influenza virus. This phenomenon is called immune imprinting.

Immune imprinting means that the immune response shows a preference for recalling existing memory B cells specific against parts of the virus present in a strain to which an individual was previously exposed, rather than priming new memory B cells targeting differences present in markedly different strains upon infection.

While this can be helpful in stimulating a cross-variant attack, the scientists explain, having previous exposure to earlier versions of a virus can sometimes hinder a more specific response against a virus that has mutated significantly.

(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.)
Laurus Labs announced that US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) today completed a Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) at its manufacturing facility at Unit-5, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The inspection was conducted from 24 October 2022 to 28 October 2022.

The company has been issued a Form 483 with one observation.

The observation is procedural in nature. The Company will address the observation within stipulated timelines.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The disaster of former British Prime Minister Liz Truss low taxes, high growth framework proves that there is no clear relationship between income tax rates and economic growth. Wealthier economies tend to be relatively highly taxed because they pay for expansive welfare programmes. The successful Asian economies without comparable safety nets tend to have smaller governments and lower levels of deficits in relation to GDP than other economies. All of this suggests that the size of government rather than the peak tax rate is more material for economic growth.

T N Ninan examines what this means for the trajectory of Indian economic policy. Read it here

In other views: Aditi Phadnis says for a party that has barely five months left to face an election the BJP appears remarkably confident about its plans for Karnataka. Read it here

Sandeep Goyal discusses the dispute over an advertisement between ad agency Mullen Lowe Lintas and client Motilal Oswal Financial and what it means for the advertising industry. Read it here
Union fertilisers and chemicals secretary Arun Singhal along with district collector Dr S. Sangeetha Satyanarayana and police commissioner Chandrashekhar Reddy inspects arrangements at the Ramagundam plant of the Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited on Saturday. (Photo By Arrangement)

KARIMNAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi would dedicate the Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) after its inauguration at an event on November 12, according to chemicals and fertiliser secretary Arun Singhal. Modi would also address a public meeting later.

Singhal accompanied by district collector Dr S. Sangeetha Satyanarayana and Police commissioner Chandrashekhar Reddy and senior officials inspected the arrangements in the industrial area.

They visited the RFCL plant, the NTPC helipad and Mahatma Gandhi stadium where the Prime Minister would address a public meeting after dedicating the RFCL to the nation. They inspected the route map and the security arrangements.

The BJP government had taken up the revival of the Fertiliser Corporation of India (FCI) unit at Ramagundam as the RFCL and incorporated it on February 17, 2015, as a gas-based urea manufacturing plant. On August 7, 2016, Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 6,120-crore revival of the plant.

RFCL declared its commercial operations open on March 22 last year. The plant is expected to produce 3,850 metric tonnes of urea and 2,200 metric tonnes of ammonia per day. Of the 12.7 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers produced annually at the Ramagundam plant annually, 6 lakhs metric tonnes are allocated to Telangana State.
had become an eyesore for the government which was harassing him with false cases, Samajwadi Party chief said on Saturday over the veteran leader's disqualification from the assembly.

The decision to disqualify Khan from the Legislative Assembly was announced on Friday a day after the Rampur MP-MLA court convicted him in a 2019 hate speech case and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, in a tweet on Friday, welcomed Speaker Satish Mahana's decision to annul Azama Khan's membership to the Legislative Assembly.

"Whenever bye-elections are held on the vacant seats, the BJP's lotus will bloom," he said.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly threw weight behind the senior party leader and claimed, " is on the target of the government. Every day false cases are being registered against him and he is being harassed. Khan seems to be an eyesore for the as he is a staunch rival of the communal forces, and is committed to democracy and socialism."



"He is a leader, who has struggled for the Constitution and secularism," the Samajwadi Party chief said in a statement.

BJP leaders "used to get uneasy by his irrefutable logic and strong statements in the Assembly". Hence a conspiracy was hatched against him, he alleged.

Yadav claimed that the BJP was annoyed because built a high-end educational institution, the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, in Rampur, which will allow the youth to move forward.

The BJP wants to demolish the university, the SP president alleged.

During Kumbh 2013, Azam Khan as the then state urban development minister had provided ample facilities for the pilgrims which were praised by the saints and seers, Yadav said.

He claimed that even Harvard University had praised the successful organising of the Kumbh.

"The BJP government should remember that there is no place for enmity in . The ruling party and the opposition have an equal role in a democracy. He (Khan) has been MLA from Rampur 10 times and MP thrice. He also held ministerial posts. The BJP's conspiracy to sideline him in will come down heavily on them," he said in the statement.

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 in jail.

(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 opposition on Saturday released a "chargesheet" against the Jai Ram Thakur-led regime in Himachal Pradesh, with a senior party leader terming it a "government of mafias".

The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Mukesh Agnihotri, alleged that a multi-crore pipe purchase scam took place in the IPH Department and jobs were "sold" during the Thakur government.

A commission of inquiry will be constituted if the is voted to power in the hill state, he added as he termed the regime a "government of mafias".

The chairman of the campaign committee for the state Assembly polls, Sukhvinder Sukhu, said anyone, be it a minister or bureaucrat, will be put behind bars if found guilty of the "scams".

Chairman of AICC media and publicity department Pawan Khera accompanied by AICC spokesperson Alka Lamba released a 23-page chargesheet in which several accusations have been levelled against the Thakur government.

It has been alleged in the chargesheet that a Rs 250 crore scam took place in the recruitment of constables. Papers of written test for the recruitment of constables were sold for Rs 6 lakh to 8.25 lakh, it alleged.

Agnihotri said around 225 persons, who had bought these papers, were put behind bars but those who sold the papers are still at large and sitting in the state secretariat or in the Police Department.

He alleged that a multi-crore scam took place while purchasing pipes worth Rs 2,200 crores in the IPH department. Substandard pipes for next 10 years have been purchased and a multi-crore scam took place, he added.

Agnihotri said Rs 500 crore from the state exchequer was spent to hold rallies by the Thakur government right before the announcement of the elections. Bills of such rallies will be sent to the if the Congress voted to power, he added.

He said all decisions taken by the government during last six months will be reviewed.

(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 Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) of indulging in the of appeasement after the latter's mouthpiece 'Saamana' carried an article on "Marathi Muslims" supporting the former chief minister.

'Saamana' carried a front-page article on October 22 about the Marathi Muslim Seva Sangh backing Uddhav Thackeray, adding that the outfit is active in Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and western Maharashtra.

"The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Party wants to garner Marathi and Muslim votes, but it cleverly played with the words by calling them Marathi Muslims," Mumbai president Ashish Shelar said at a press conference.

He said his party would organise 'Jagar Mumbaicha Yatra' in November to spread awareness among the residents of the metropolis about this " of appeasement" as well as "corruption" in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Shelar said Thackeray was getting frustrated as he was staring at defeat in the BMC polls. The city's civic body, currently under an administrator after the terms of corporators ended, has been ruled by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena for several years now.

This is appeasement. Balasaheb (Thackeray) never believed in garnering votes in the name of religion and caste. Why did you (Uddhav) ditch this? Why do you have to seek votes in the name of caste and religion, Shelar questioned.

"Then why can't you (Uddhav) have Marathi Jains, Marathi north Indians? Why the fissure between Marathi and Gujarati? Why did you quit Marathi Hindu? Shelar added.

Asserting that the stood for "Marathi-Mumbaikar", Shelar said his party will not ask for votes in the name of caste and religion but in the name of development.

Shelar also labelled former state environment minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray's tour of rain-affected areas in Maharashtra as "teaser and tokenism".

The leader questioned why farm loans were not cleared by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi despite assurances.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tried to bribe by sending Rs 1 lakh cash gifts to them on Diwali and demanded the registration of a graft case as well as his resignation.

The Pradesh Committee demanded a judicial inquiry into what it called "Chief Minister's Office (CMO) 'sweet box bribe' to journalists".

According to sources in the CMO, Bommai has said he was unaware that "cash" was given to .

Addressing the media in New Delhi, senior leader Randeep Surjewala said, "The Bommai government's bribegate is now out in the open and this time the responsibility lies at the doorstep of the chief minister himself."



"This time, Mr Bommai has surreptitiously, overtly and in a conspiratorial fashion tried to bribe the entire journalistic fraternity by sending 1 lakh cash to every journalist in . Hats off to our journalist friends who openly exposed the bribegate," said Surjewala, who has been looking after the party's affairs in the state.

This is not the first time that the 40 per cent "corrupt Bommai government" has attempted to do so, he alleged.

The BJP government in Karnataka has become infamous for the "PayCM" campaign that the people of Karnataka have launched, Surjewala claimed.

He alleged that under the BJP government in the state, there has been bribery in recruitment, postings and contracts.

"Latest is the CM trying to bribe . Where has the money come from? Was this Rs. 1 lakh withdrawn from the public exchequer and then put in a packet to be sent to journalists on Diwali or has it come from your personal kitty," Surjewala asked.

If the CM is involved in bribery who will protect the state, he asked.

"CM Bommai has been caught red-handed in the bribery to journalists scam. A case of corruption under prevention of corruption act for offering bribes has to be registered against Mr. Bommai and he has to resign immediately," Surjewala said.

Earlier, in a tweet, Surjewala said, "The 40 Percent Sarkar seeks to bribe the journalists with 1 Lakh cash! Will Mr. Bommai answer- 1. Isn't it "bribe" being offered by CM? 2. What is the source of ?1,00,000? Has it come from Public Exchequer or from CM himself? 3. Will ED/IT take note?"



The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee said the people of the state should know how much money was given as bribe, how much was received, how much was returned.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In his speech on the occasion of taking over as President, mentioned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and reminded his audience that he was leading a party once headed by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and .

Kharge also said he will address his first public meeting in Gujarat, where the has assimilated as its own and built a grand statue in his honour.

The has said the wants to use to demean Jawaharlal Nehru. What it was not telling people is that it was Sardar Patel who had banned the . In a letter to Shyama Prasad Mookerji, Patel had stated: "There is no doubt in my mind that the extreme section of the Hindu Mahasabha was involved in this conspiracy [the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi]. The activities of the constituted a clear threat to the existence of the Government and the State."

The banned was revoked on the condition that the would not engage in any political activity, but then, Mookerji formed the Jana Sangh with the help of the RSS.

On September 5, addressing a rally in Gujarat, leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke on Sardar Patel.

Taking on the BJP, he raised a pointed question that if the seriously believed in Sardar Patel's ideology, it would never have introduced and passed anti-farmer laws.

Addressing party workers at a 'Parivartan Sankalp Sabha', Rahul said: "Throughout his life Sardar Patel fought for farmers, labourers, common people, but the BJP government is acting exactly opposite to his ideology. How can they be called Sardar Patel's followers? They have built the tallest statue of the Sardar, but have failed to understand his belief, philosophy and ideology."

He continued: "Have you ever heard that Sardar Patel had taken permission from the British for protest or agitation? The BJP claims it believes in Sardar, but in its regime people have to take permission for agitations and protests, which the Sardar would never have tolerated. Had he been alive, he would have asked you to dethrone the BJP for imposing such restrictions."

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the issue of J&K and blamed Nehru for not being able to resolve it, the Congress was quick to respond.

Even though PM Modi did not refer to Nehru by name, the Congress said that he should have checked the facts first. The party blamed Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of J&K, for not acceding to India soon after Independence. He took the decision only after invaders from Pakistan tried to take over the state.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of the communication department, cited Rajmohan Gandhi's book to point out: "The PM has once again whitewashed REAL history. He overlooks the following facts only to castigate Nehru on J&K. All this has been documented in Rajmohan Gandhi's biography of Sardar Patel. These facts are known to the PM's new man in J&K."

He added: "Maharaja Hari Singh dithered on accession. He harboured dreams of independence. But when Pakistan invaded, Hari Singh acceded to India. Sardar Patel was okay with J&K joining Pakistan till September 13, 1947, when the Nawab of Junagadh acceded to Pakistan."

It was Sheikh Abdullah, Jairam pointed out, setting the record straight, who "championed the state's accession to India entirely because of his friendship with and admiration for Nehru, and his respect for Gandhi."

Jairam continued: "Vallabhbhai's lukewarm stand on Kashmir lasted until September 13, 1947. That morning, in a letter to Baldev Singh, the then Defence Minister, he had indicated that 'if (Kashmir) decides to join the other Dominion', he would accept the fact. His attitude changed later that day when he heard that Pakistan had accepted Junagadh's accession." Jairam was quoting from Rajmohan Gandhi's book.

The BJP, however, has stuck to its guns. On a recent visit to J&K, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declared that the dream of Sardar Patel will be fulfilled only when all the refugees of 1947 will get their land and homes back.

A Parliament resolution passed on February 22, 1994, had demanded that Pakistan must vacate the part of Kashmir under its illegal occupation, the Defence Minister had reminded his audience.

He said the revocation of Article 370 marked a new beginning in J&K. "The people of J&K have supported the full integration of J&K with the Union of India. J&K and Ladakh UTs are flourishing with every section of the society getting its due rights," he maintained.

He said in 1947 that the Indian Army had given a befitting reply to the enemy who tried to play mischief by occupying Kashmir illegally.

Not only J&K, PM Modi has also invoked the issue of Goa in his speeches, saying Goa would not have to wait for 14 more years to be liberated from the Portuguese after India's Independence, if Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had lived longer.

--IANS

miz/srb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Industries Minister Uday Samant on Saturday said the previous Maha Vikas Agahdi government under did not take any decision on the Tata-Airbus military transport aircraft project, the moving of which to neighbouring had started a political slugfest in the state.

Airbus and a consortium of Tata firms have chosen Vadodara in as the site for the 22,000 crore project, leading to the opposition accusing the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government of ensuring yet another big project had moved away from .

Samant said no meeting on the project was held with Industrial Development Corporation, the state government's nodal investment promotion agency, while talks had taken place at the "local level" with MIHAN, also called 'Multi Modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport at Nagpur.

"No discussion was held by the (previous) government with regards to Airbus. I can say with responsibility there is no official mention at the government level with Airbus regarding the (aircraft) plant," Samant reiterated at a press conference here.

Speaking on the Vedanta Foxconn semiconductor project, which too moved to Gujarat, Samant said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had called the joint venture and asked them to execute a memorandum of understanding, while the previous MVA government had done nothing on the issue.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had met officials of the firm in Mumbai, he added.

Attacking the previous government under Uddhav Thackeray, Samant said 74 MOUs were signed but none took off, while approval for a proposal for a Rs 25,638 paper plant in the state was given on October 20 by the Shinde dispensation.

He further said the Shinde government was taking efforts to revive the bulk drugs park project proposed to be set up in Raigad by taking the local population in confidence, while the previous MVA dispensation had done nothing to get the project to take off.

The minister reiterated that a "big project" that will generate employment will be brought to state in the coming months.

He also said the the state government was making efforts to revive a multi-billion dollar refinery project in Barsu in Konkan's Ratnagiri district in place of the Nanar plan that was called off due to protests.

(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.)
Shiv Sena leader on Saturday slammed the Eknath Shinde-led government for the loss of Tata-Airbus project and claimed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had worked perfectly well with the Centre than the current dispensation.

Addressing a press conference, Aaditya, whose father Uddhav Thackeray leads a faction of the Shiv Sena, criticised Chief Minister and stated that Maharashtra was going backwards because of his betrayal and demonic ambition.

When we talk about the double engine governmentDuring the time of the MVA government, our double engine with the Centre worked perfectly well, the former state minister said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) uses the term double engine government for the party or its ally's government at the Centre and the state.

After this unconstitutional government came to power, one engine has failed and whatever investment that was to come to Maharashtra is going to other states, Aaditya said.

He further said that Subhash Desai, who served as the state industries minister from 2014-2022, had brought in investments worth Rs 6.6 lakh crore during his tenure.

When we went to Davos, myself, Desai and Nitin Raut could bring in investment to the tune of Rs 80,000 crore, he said.

The important aspect is that it was the same . So, if the MVA government and the Centre could work and bring investment to Maharashtra, then why did their engine fail? he asked.

The opposition has been attacking the state government after a consortium of European aviation firm Airbus and the Tata group selected Vadodara in Gujarat for a Rs 22,000-crore project to manufacture military aircraft.

Aaditya claimed that this was the fourth major project for which other states were chosen over Maharashtra.

The Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor project, the Medical Device Park, the Bulk Drugs Park and Tata-Airbus projects were planned in Maharashtra, but have now chosen other states, he said.

No investor has any faith in the government. Be it law and order, investment or agriculture, the focus is only on politics, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samajwadi Party president has alleged that the did not follow rules while preparing the voters' list in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

He alleged that there is a "conspiracy" by the BJP government to suppress the voice of the opposition.

"Had the followed rules regarding electoral roll in 2022 Assembly elections, thousands of voters would not have been deprived of voting," Yadav said during a meeting held to discuss preparations for the civic body polls here, according to a press statement issued on Friday.

He said it is the constitutional responsibility of the to conduct elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.

"It is also the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that voting is held without any pressure or fear of the administrative machinery," he added.

The SP chief asked why the Election Commission "has not taken cognisance of all complaints and memorandums related to the 2022 Assembly elections".

Yadav claimed rigging had taken place in the polls and his party had raised objections.

"During the elections, Lucknow DIG Laxmi Singh was not transferred despite repeated complaints while her husband was a BJP candidate in the Sarojini Nagar area of Lucknow," he said.

"Many such officers, who are posted in one place for years, were also not removed. In many places both husband and wife were officers and were handling the charge but they were also allowed to stay there," alleged the SP chief.

Yadav asked, "Why thousands of polling stations were changed in the last assembly elections? This kept many voters astray. The names of many voters were left out of the list. Voting was delayed by the administration, machinery and polling was conducted arbitrarily."



"There was a difference between the list of the presiding officer and the final list at many places. (Even though) the final voter list has not been yet prepared, the process of voting has not even been announced, then how can BJP leaders claim to winning all the 17 places in the municipal corporation election," he asked.

"The returning officer should take cognisance of whether this is the BJP agenda of rigging the civic polls like the 2022 assembly," he said.

During the meeting, Yadav discussed the upcoming civic elections with prominent party leaders.

Describing the civic elections as very important, he said there should not be any laxity in their preparation because the results of the elections will also decide the future of the party.

On Thursday, the Election Commission had asked SP chief to substantiate his allegation against the poll authority of mass deletion of voters from Yadav and Muslim communities from the electoral rolls of every assembly seat during the elections this year.

In a letter to Yadav, the Commission has asked him to submit by November 10 assembly-wise evidence of the wrongful deletions and complaints filed by the Samajwadi Party with the district and state electoral authorities in this regard.

(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.)
HYDERABAD: The BJP has dropped plans for the big final push for votes in Munugode Assembly constituency in the form of the October 31 public meeting to be addressed by party president J.P. Nadda.

We approached the police for permission and were told that a public meeting would not be possible as several rallies have been lined up on the last day of campaign, BJP campaign committee chairman G. Vivek Venkatswamy said.

He said that instead the party will hold mandal-level meetings on October 31.

Cancellation of Naddas meeting comes in the backdrop of no-holds-barred verbal battle between TRS and BJP over alleged attempts by the latter to buyout four ruling party MLAs. It was to be held a day after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos public meeting.

Sources in the BJP said that the change of plans could well have been a strategic move. Meanwhile, Sunil Bansal, BJP state in-charge for organizational affairs will be holding consultations with state leaders.

Party sources said that there was also no word from the BJP central leadership over the October 31 meeting, which possibly led the state party unit not to press for police permission.
Chinese envoy stresses importance of Palestinian-Israeli common security

Xinhua) 10:22, October 29, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday stressed the importance of achieving Israeli-Palestinian common security.

The current situation has, once again, highlighted the importance of achieving common security for Palestinians and Israelis, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

The recent period has seen the continued volatile security situation in the occupied territory. Search-and-arrest operations carried out by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank have resulted in a large number of Palestinian casualties. At the same time, Israelis have been killed in attacks. The escalating violence has given rise to fear and hatred, intensified conflict and turmoil, and may push the situation out of control. This development is deeply unsettling for China, he told the Security Council.

"Israel and Palestine are and will remain each other's neighbor with interdependent and indivisible security. We call on parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any unilateral action that may lead to miscalculation or escalation of tensions, and make every effort to reverse the negative trend on the ground, and to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible," said Geng.

The occupying power should earnestly fulfill its obligations under international law to protect civilians in the occupied territory. The international community should attach equal importance to the security concerns of both Palestinians and Israelis and encourage both sides to find the greatest common denominator through dialogue and cooperation to achieve common security, he said.

The current situation, once again, highlights the need to implement international consensus, said Geng.

The continued expansion of settlement activities, which encroaches on Palestinian land, expropriates Palestinian resources, and violates the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, is making a contiguous, independent and sovereign Palestinian state even more elusive. China calls on Israel to cease all settlement activities and create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, as called for in Security Council Resolution 2334, he said.

The current situation has, once again, highlighted the urgency of advancing the two-state solution, he said.

The Palestinian question remains unresolved for 70-plus years. The flare-ups of violent conflicts, the deteriorating humanitarian situation and spreading hopelessness are a constant reminder that the status quo in the occupied Palestinian territory is unsustainable. The international community cannot replace a comprehensive and just solution with piecemeal crisis management, nor can it make up for what is overdue on political and security fronts with limited economic and humanitarian measures, said Geng.

The international community should facilitate the resumption of peace talks between the two sides as soon as possible, steer the Middle East peace process back on track, and seek a long-term settlement on the basis of the two-state solution. In this regard, the Security Council is duty-bound to take active and robust actions to support the Palestinian people in restoring and exercising their inalienable rights and to live up to the expectations of generations of Palestinians of fairness and justice, he said.

Intra-Palestinian reconciliation is crucial to the cause of independent Palestinian statehood. China welcomes the internal reconciliation agreement reached by the Palestinian political factions in Algiers this month and commends the positive role played by Algeria. China believes that the agreement will be conducive to enhancing intra-Palestinian unity and promoting peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, he said.

Geng reiterated China's support for the establishment of an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and for the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, and the common development of the Arab and Jewish peoples. China, he said, will continue to work with the international community to make relentless efforts for a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian question.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
HYDERABAD: In an interim order, Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court on Saturday deferred further investigation into the alleged poaching of TRS MLAs by three persons who were named as BJP workers, till November 4, on a petition filed by the state BJP.

Justice Reddy said, This court is not inclined to express any opinion on the matter, as the proceedings in Crime No. 455 of 2022 at Moinabad police station are not stayed but investigation is deferred, which would not cause prejudice to any of the parties.

The judge directed the respondents  the Union government, the state government, Telangana police and complainant Pilot Rohit Reddy, TRS MLA  to file counters before November 4.

Additional advocate general J. Ramachandra Rao said that another bench of the High Court, led by Justice Chillakur Sumalatha, had directed the accused to surrender and gave the police the liberty to arrest them. He contended that there could be a conflict between the two orders.

Justice Reddy said that his order would not affect the order passed by the other bench and the police and others were given liberty to seek modification of the order after receiving a copy of the order passed by the other bench.

Earlier, senior counsel J. Prabhakar, appearing for the state BJP, said the investigation was being done with ulterior motives so as to tarnish the image of the petitioner.

Expressing doubts about how Cyberabad police commissioner reached the scene, even before the crime was registered and had given interviews to TV channels, the senior counsel said that the ruling party MLAs had gone to the office of the Chief Minister.

Prabhakar said MLAs were not public servants within the meaning of Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988. Even before preliminary enquiry was conducted, the offence under Section 8 of PC Act was included, which showed that the episode was stage-managed, he argued.

He said that the remand case diary stated that observation panchanama was drafted on October 26 at 12.30 pm and concluded at 2.30 pm on the same day. The signatures of the mediators, who are crucial witnesses, were taken on October 27.

Ramachandra Rao said, An accused or any other person does not have any say in the matter unless consent is given by the state government as required under Section 6 of the Act, for referring the matter to CBI.

He said that an MLA was a public servant within the meaning of Section 2 (c) of the PC Act read with Section 27 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. He referred to judgements of the Supreme Court in Arnab Ranjan Goswami v Union of India and Romila Thapar v. Union of India to state that High Courts have limited powers to transfer the case to another agency. He also mentioned the case of P.V. Narasimha Rao v State (CBI/SPE) wherein it was held that MPs and MLAs were public servants liable to be prosecuted for offences under the PC Act.


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
George Burnham was the religion editor for the Chattanooga News Free Press during the 1950s. He was assigned to cover the 1953 Billy Graham Chattanooga Crusade at the Warner Park Field House and became good friends with Rev. Graham. The evangelist took Mr. Burnham with him on several overseas trips. His stories were not only printed on the front page of the News Free Press, but also distributed by the wire services (AP and UPI) in the United States. His daughter, Lynn, has shared with us several of his original stories. Mr. Burnham died unexpectedly in 1962. Sense of Humor was written sometime in the mid 50s.



Sense of Humor  George Burnham



A sparkling sense of humor seems to be one of the balance wheels that keeps members of the hard-working Billy Graham evangelistic team on an even keel.



They are serious when the occasion calls for seriousness, but when a light word is needed to break the tension; somebody usually comes up with it.



Once, after Billy had delivered a lengthy sermon on the inspiring courage it took for Daniel to enter the lions den, his aide, Dr. Paul Maddox, chief of chaplains for the European Theater during World War II, said:



I want to tell you something, Billy, those lions werent scared either!



A woman in the audience became hysterical with mirth once when the Rev. Grady Wilson, associate evangelist, told about the old southern preacher who began reading his text one Sunday morning, without realizing that some playful boys had glued several pages of his Bible together.

The preacher read:

When old Noah was 120 years old, he took unto himself a wife. Then, turning what he thought was one page, he continued:

She was 140 cubits long and 40 cubits wide, built out of gopher wood and covered with pitch inside and out.



The preacher stopped at this point and said, Now brethren, thats the first time Ive ever seen that in the word of God, but if the Bible says it, I believe it. Scratching his head, he said, That just goes to prove another Scripture passage that says, We are most fearfully and wonderfully made.



On another occasion Grady Wilson told a group about the chicken thief who was converted and joined a church. He said:



This fellow had made a trade out of stealing chickens; He didnt know how to do anything else. After his conversion he searched the Bible for scriptural authority so he could continue stealing chickens. In the New Testament he found a verse that said: Let him that stole, steal no more, but rather let him labor with his hands that which is pleasing under the Lord. With a little ingenuity and changes of punctuations, the chicken thief found his authority. He quoted the verse thusly: Let him that stole steal, no more let him labor with his hands.



Lee Fisher, another aide who helps Billy on research, was sitting nearby and felt compelled to go to her aid when none of the Scots made a move. She was a big woman, with many extra pounds of distinction, and Lee had a hard time lifting her from the chair. He glanced frantically around, pleading with his eyes for help. The Scots sat unmoved, concentrating on the speaker. He finally got the portly woman up in his arms to take her out, and almost dropped her before another member of the Graham team came to his rescue.



As soon as the meeting was over Billy found Lee, who seems to have a knack of getting into embarrassing situations and said:



Well, Lee youve done it again. I was doing fine up there; Had all my thoughts under control when I looked up and saw you staggering around with Lady Whatchamaycallit in your arms. I lost track of everything I was going to say.



Billy, usually one of the most flawless of speakers, has his off moments.



During one sermon, while trying to say, Hail fellow, well met, he said, Fail mellow, hell met. In an attempt to straighten it out he made it worseHail mellow, well fat.



On another occasion, he tried to say, Six of one and a half dozen of the other, but he said, Six and a half-dozen of one or another.



A lady in Texas once protested to Grady Wilson about his use of the words old maid in a sermon.

He begged her pardon and promised in the future he would refer to them as unplucked jewels.

The lady then opened her Bible and showed Grady her Biblical reference for never marrying. She had circled in red pencil part of one verse, which read;

I would not have you ignorant, brethren. She ignored the comma?
Covenant Church, 9259 Hixson Pike, Soddy Daisy, hosted a community-wide Southern Gospel Hymn Sing on Friday night.The public was invited to be a part of incredible music and inspiration led by one of Gospel musics top groups- the Williamsons.With the classic Red Back Church Hymnal, attendees sang songs like Ill Fly Away, Victory in Jesus, When We All Get to Heaven, and more.No is ticket necessary, but love offering was taken for The Williamsons.More information can be found at: https://covenant.family/hymnsing




A reorganized structure to improve customer service and school district efficiency in meeting personnel needs was announced on Friday by Hamilton County Schools Chief Talent Officer Dr. Zac Brown.Building off past successes in the department, Dr. Brown says the restructuring will include some new hires, the transfer of positions from other departments, and a realignment of personnel to work more closely with the five Learning Communities within HCS.Innovation and continuous improvement are two of the Talent team's core values Dr.Brown said. The additional resources and realignment of positions will allow us to be innovative in our recruitment, retention, and development efforts while delivering excellent customer service to all HCS employees.The most visible part of the Talent Department restructuring will be the establishment of a Business Partners Division under Director John Steele. Mr. Steele comes to HCS from CHI Memorial with nearly 30 years of human resources experience, most recently as the Director of HR Operations. During his 27 years at CHI Memorial, he has served in multiple HR roles of increasing responsibility, including overseeing human resources operations for three acute care hospitals.In addition to overseeing the Business Partners Division, Mr. Steele will also serve as an HR Business Partner and work directly with the Rock Point Learning Community as its point of service for human resources matters. He will be supported by four other Business Partners, each working with an assigned Learning Community and assisted by an HR Generalist.HR Business Partners are senior-level positions with a thorough knowledge and understanding of how the Talent Department can assist in making schools or departments successful. They are responsible for hiring, complex matters related to employee relations or investigations, and advising managers on HR-related practices. They are proactive partners responsible for assisting principals and hiring managers. The HR Generalists assist the Business Partners with hiring, onboarding, and employee relations.Three other Learning Communities will be served by existing Talent Department employees assigned to the new Business Partner positions, while the Missionary Ridge Learning Community will be paired with Talent Department newcomer Dr. Saunya Goss. Dr. Goss will transition to the Talent Department from her role as principal at East Brainerd Elementary School, a position she has held since July 2020. Dr. Goss brings a wealth of educational experience to the department, including three years as director of Elementary Schools in the Opportunity Zone and seven years as principal at Battle Academy.According to HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson, restructuring the Talent Department is the next step to ensure the districts success in a competitive job market.Our success as a school district depends on how well we cultivate, attract, retain, and develop a talented and diverse workforce, Dr. Robertson said. Not only do we have to recruit and hire the best available talent, but we also have to be responsive to our current employees. Whether providing advancement opportunities, benefits support, or an overall culture of care, the Talent Department plays a critical role in this effort. The restructuring announced today will align the department with our learning communities and provide a dedicated team that will know their needs and how to meet them.The creation of Business Partners within the Talent Department is the latest step taken by HCS to deliver outstanding customer service and organizational development solutions for the district. Some of the highlights from the past few years include the following:Through iCIMS, HCS has developed a robust careers website, better applicant tracking, and improved user capabilities for hiring managers, employees, and candidates.For the current school year, the Brazen system facilitated teacher recruitment events that resulted in hires joining HCS from 26 states.The Talent Departments three-year Induction Program provides extensive support for new teachers, resulting in 89% retention of last years first-year teachers. Additionally, differentiated compensation has improved the success rate for filling vacancies at hard-to-staff schools.Approximately 65 candidates are in the pipeline or currently serving in hard-to-staff schools and endorsements due to the HCS Grow Your Own teacher development program. Opportunity Culture placements have been made in eight schools across the district, and 100% of pilot Multi-Classroom Leaders returned to Opportunity Culture placement.The LEAD Program provides development opportunities for those teachers aspiring to leadership roles. Thirty participants from the Aspiring Assistant Principal (AAP) LEAD program have been promoted to the assistant principal position (11 from the 2020-21 cohort, 17 from the 2021-22 cohort, and two from 2022-23 cohort). Seventy-four percent of participants who have completed at least one year of the AAP LEAD program (and still work in the district) have been promoted to an AP position.11 participants from the Aspiring Principal LEAD program have been promoted to principal positions (seven from the 2020-21 cohort, and four from the 2021-22 cohort), and 69% of participants who have completed at least one year of the Aspiring Principal LEAD program have been promoted to a principalship.
The head of school at Silverdale Baptist Academy, Becky Hansard, said she still has grave concerns about the opening of a former hotel near the school to house homeless residents.

Mayor Tim Kelly was one of the speakers at a meeting on Wednesday night at the Family Justice Center on the topic.

Ms. Hansard wrote:

Silverdale Family,

I want to thank those of you who attended Wednesday evenings community meeting surrounding the permanent supportive housing project proposed for Lee Hwy. You have likely seen and heard impassioned opinions from many perspectives, whether in print, on social media, or even in person. This is a passionate issue. Caring for the downtrodden and our 1,250+ students will never be mutually exclusive. But it should be apparent to all that our first obligation is to our childrens safety. With that said, safety and a lack of infrastructure in this proposed project gives us the greatest concern.

For over a year, we have asked for transparency from the city concerning this project.

There were numerous inconsistencies stated Wednesday night. Let me be clear on one. The mayor stated that he had met with me numerous times. While I have asked numerous times to meet with him, that only happened last week. And while I do appreciate that meeting and felt it was extremely beneficial, I need to clarify that for you, our stakeholders. Other than last weeks meeting with the mayor, members of SBC and SBA have met only two additional times with the city on this issue. I want to be clear when I say that we are not fighting against the city on this project. At this point, we are simply trying to have crucial questions answered. Our concern is that this project will fail for this vulnerable population unless the city does its due diligence to create an effective infrastructure. We are not convinced an appropriatecan happen in this areas setting.

We have long been in a season of research and fact-checking on this project, talking with industry professionals, numerous local leaders, and other schools in the communities where these facilities exist nationwide. We realize this is a sensitive issue and see merit for both sides of the conversation. We are trying to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

If you want to stay abreast of this project, the Academys involvement, and/or present your own questions, here are the upcoming project dates:

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission

Tuesday, November 1st

A time is not listed yet, but we continue to research and will keep you posted.

Hamilton County Courthouse

625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402

4th floor - room 402





Tuesday, November 1st A time is not listed yet, but we continue to research and will keep you posted. Hamilton County Courthouse 625 Georgia Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402 4th floor - room 402 Chattanooga City Council Meeting

Tuesday, November 8th - 4:00 p.m.

John P. Franklin, Sr. City Council Building

1000 Lindsay Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402

If you plan to attend and/or speak, please remember to be deliberate and on point because that is how our concerns are best heard. Let me encourage us all to follow the precepts of Phillipians 4:5-7: Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. To make this cooperative effort the most beneficial it can be for the Academy and the community, remember these thoughts:

Pray fervently: The Oaks Coffee House upstairs room has been reserved for parents, SBC, SBA, and local businesses and residents to gather to pray concerning this issue on Monday, October 31, 2022 from 11:30 to 12:30.

The Oaks Coffee House upstairs room has been reserved for parents, SBC, SBA, and local businesses and residents to gather to pray concerning this issue on Monday, October 31, 2022 from 11:30 to 12:30. Be positive & kind

Support one another in unity

As always, we encourage you to be involved in our thriving parent community. Parent involvement is crucial to the success of the Silverdale Baptist Academy mission.

Becky Hansard

Head of School
Police responded to a burglary in progress on Tunnel Boulevard. A woman said she was sitting in the living room watching TV and heard someone inside the house. She believed they made entrance through the back door and said they were still inside. Police searched the residence, finding the rear door to be locked, and no one was inside.

* * *

A woman at Sams Club at 6101 Lee Hwy. told police a black female in a white Chevy SUV got angry at her and cursed her. She had no identifying information on the woman, who had left the scene.

* * *

An employee at OReilly Auto Parts at 3140 Cummings Hwy. told police a white male became angry at him for unknown matters and left the store in a violent manner. He said the man got into his vehicle, slammed the door, and sped out of the parking lot. He gave police the mans name.

* * *

The owner of Dynamos General Country Store at 2919 Cummings Hwy. was selling a vehicle and the vehicle sits in the front of his business, close to the main road. He came into work one day and observed a slight crack in his windshield. He didnt want to file a property damage report and only requested a miscellaneous report.

* * *

A woman was caught by Walmart employees at 490 Greenway View Dr. for shoplifting $110 of miscellaneous items. She was trespassed from Walmart. Walmart didnt want to prosecute at this time.

* * *

An officer responded to a delayed accident at 5526 Brainerd Road. A man said he was making a left turn from Eastgate Loop onto Brainerd Road through a green light when a collision occurred with a vehicle that ran the red light at the intersection. They had already exchanged information and notified his insurance company, and the other driver was not there when police arrived.

* * *

A man told police he was the owner of a contract cleaning service for Miller Industries at 8503 Hilltop Dr. The owner said a woman called him saying that one of their trainees had become aggressive and uncooperative while she was walking him through his job details. The owner directed the woman to leave the property for her safety. She returned after police arrived. She said the trainee was fine one minute, but seemed agitated and angry the next. The trainee wasnt there when police arrived.

* * *

A woman on Boriss Drive told police she was receiving harassing text messages and phone calls. She said she had received multiple threatening text messages and phone calls from her sons girlfriends father. The woman said the situation began with her refusing to let her 21-year-old son stay the night with his 20-year-old girlfriend. She said the father had taken offense to this and began harassing her from approximately 1:30 p.m. until approximately 10 p.m. with text messages and phone calls saying she was being ridiculous and annoying. She didnt want to press charges at this time. She only wanted to make note of the incident in case it continued.

* * *

A man at 4400 Rossville Blvd. told police he was traveling north on Rossville Boulevard and crossed over the railroad tracks. When he crossed the tracks, his front passenger tire blew on his Toyota Camry. He needed a report to see if the city of Chattanooga would pay for the damages.

* * *

A woman in an apartment at 518 Latimore St. was in a disorder with the residents of another apartment. She said when a woman in the other apartment has guests over, she becomes aggressive to her neighbors for no reason. The officer spoke with two women in the other apartment who said the first woman was the aggressor. The officer told the two women to leave the other woman alone. The officer also spoke to a resident in the complex who said the people in the other apartment were the ones that started the disorder. Everyone involved agreed to leave one another alone.

* * *

Police were called to Slayton Street multiple times through the night for noise complaints. A neighbor contacted police and wanted to make a report for documentation purposes. While police were on scene speaking with the complainant, there was no notable noise coming from the residence.

* * *

A woman told police she went to pick up her towed vehicle from a wrecker lot on Dayton Boulevard and the owner was very mean to her in front of her kids. He told her he would tow her vehicle again if she doesnt park in the correct parking stall at her new assigned parking space at her apartment complex. She felt as though that was a threat and wanted to make a police report.
The city of Chattanooga has quite a history in their pursuits to help the homeless with public funds. In short, our sales and property taxes will fund the ongoing operations of the new shelters. The magnitude of spending warrants public discussion and input. The Farmers Market homeless shelter that never materialized is a story of the city helping homeless as a veil for the purpose of enriching their political friends. That is exactly what occurred in documentary worth repeating, but not today.

I have read many citizen concerns and reached my own conclusion and very obvious conclusions about the citys motives. I believe the city is purchasing real estate strategically far from the downtown tourism and commerce districts, and not having bus service is a plus in achieving their desired outcome. This is an obvious conclusion to many. The city is enacting a homeless relocation program to move what is viewed as a nuisance and safety concern far away from the downtown area. An open records of city communications with BID officials would shed great light on the motives in play.

My belief is founded in the citys history in their attempts to solve homelessness. In this case, the city has felt collective pressure to remove homeless people from the downtown area, and protect expensive real estate and commerce. These far from downtown real estate purchases have a first order motive of relocating the homeless problem. While the city genuinely wants to help people, their motive is political pressure from the BID and real estate owners in downtown Chattanooga.

The allegation from the stakeholder citizens is that the city paid a million dollars over the market value of these real estate deals to house the homeless. I would say, is that all when compared to literally multi-millions squandered on the Farmers Market homeless shelter that never materialized. This new city effort is all about relocation of safety concerns in downtown Chattanooga.

There is no doubt that we the people should fund a homeless shelter, as no human should be sleeping on the streets. It is our duty as people to help the homeless, largely drug addicted, mentally ill, and bearing emotional scars as veterans. The streets and the jails are the front line of mental illness. Isnt that pathetic for a civil society? It is a fact that some people will require institutional care for life, and the facilities provided by the state of Tennessee have disappeared over decades.

The people impacted by the relocation of the homeless should complain, as they were not allowed to participate in a planning process prior to the purchase of real estate to serve as a shelter. It is way too easy to sit in the Lindsay Street ivory tower and make decisions that have no impact on them. The mayor and his chief of staff took it upon themselves to create homeless hotels in Chattanooga with virtually no planning, input, or dialogue from the home and business owners, or the 1,200-student school in close proximity. It is important for the public to have input, as some mental conditions, coupled with drug use is highly problematic.

I understand why the residents and business owners want their downtown homeless problem solved. The BID officials are highly frustrated, according to sources. There is literally nothing tangible to help the homeless in Chattanooga, called a bed, and no shelter after multi millions of dollars of taxpayer funds were completely wasted on the Farmers Market.

What to do says Mayor Kelly?

His solution moves the downtown problem on other people, including a private school that serves 1200 students and business owners. What a worrisome situation for a large school and all concerned. The idea that the city of Chattanooga can successfully operate a shelter contracted to third parties should be a concern. This is a tough problem with difficult constraints.

Give the neighborhoods seats at the planning table. It is their neighborhood, Mayor Kelly, not yours.

April Eidson
Josh Duggar was sentenced to over 12.5 years in prison due to obtaining child sexual abuse material. His wife, Anna Duggar, publically supports him on social media. But many Duggar family followers wonder if shell eventually make a move to leave. According to a source close to the Duggars, Josh fears Anna might leave him if she moves away from Arkansas. This could point to him distrusting her familys influence.

Where is Anna Duggar now? Rumors suggested shes considering a move to Texas

Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images

Josh Duggar serves his time at FCI Seagoville in Texas, but Anna Duggar remains in Arkansas. Before Joshs arrest, she and Josh (as well as their kids) reportedly lived in a warehouse on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars property. In 2016, the couple purchased a foreclosure, fixed it up, and sold it in 2019. After they sold the home, they allegedly moved on to the Duggar family property into the warehouse.

Anna remains on Duggar family land. But rumors suggest she might be looking to move to Texas to be closer to Josh. During the summer of 2022, Anna visited her sister, Priscilla, in Texas. Priscilla and her husband own unused land and homes in Texas, including a single-family home they built that appears vacant. If Anna were to move, shed be closer to Josh and Priscilla and have a house off of the Duggar family property where she could raise her seven children.

Josh Duggar allegedly fears Anna Duggar may be influenced to leave him

Josh Duggar fears that if Anna is distanced from his family, she might be influenced to leave him, a source exclusively tells In Touch.https://t.co/Z3phNkItlK  In Touch Weekly (@intouchweekly) October 20, 2022

RELATED: Anna Duggars Childhood Friend Gives More Insight Into Josh Duggar and Annas Courtship

Many Duggar family followers likely assume that Josh Duggar would love for Anna Duggar to move closer to FCI Seagoville with their seven children. But, according to a source close to the couple, Josh fears Anna moving away from his family might influence her to leave him.

He thinks it will create too much of a disconnection for her and his kids, an insider told In Touch. He doesnt want anyone but Anna and his immediate family [guiding] his children.

The source added that Josh fears that if Anna is distanced from his family, she might be influenced to leave him.

Annas sister hasnt publicly spoken out against Josh, nor have her parents. But they havent made statements in favor of Joshs innocence. On the other hand, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have done their best to support Josh despite his crimes. In a letter to the judge on the case, Michelle called Josh tender-hearted, and she begged for a lighter sentence.

Her brother encouraged her to leave Josh Duggar in the past

Anna Duggar's brother Daniel bashes Josh Duggar: "I won't stop trying to get that pig out of our family." http://t.co/VI708y6V5N  E! Entertainment (@eentertainment) August 25, 2015

Many of Anna Duggars family members havent spoken out against Josh Duggar. But Annas brother, Daniel Keller, once offered Anna money to move her and the kids far away from Josh back when Joshs cheating scandals came to light.

I have told her I would pay for her to move out here with me and pay for her kids, Daniel wrote on social media. I dont think Josh will see that this is a big deal and be truly broken until that happens. He then added that he would try to get that pig out of our family at all costs, no matter how long it took.

Anna grew up in a tight-knit, Christian family, so theres no way that the rest of Annas family is unaware of Daniels stance. Its possible Josh fears the influence of Annas brother, especially if she moves away from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
The Challenge stars Jordan Wiseley and Tori Deal got engaged during 2019s War of the Worlds 2 but have since split. Around the time they announced the end of their engagement, Tori went on vacation with co-star Fessy Shafaat. She recently revealed she hooked up with him out of spite after her breakup.

Jordan Wiseley and Tori Deal reunited on The Challenge Season 38

Following Turabi Turbo Camkran and Tamara Alfaros elimination, three-time champ Jordan Wiseley joined the competition alongside veteran Aneesa Ferreira.

While Tori Deal was excited to see her best friend and podcast co-host, she had mixed feelings about reuniting with ex-fiance Jordan.

Tori and Jordan met on The Challenge, fell in love on The Challenge, and now they just hit another relationship milestone on The Challenge! ? #TheChallenge34 pic.twitter.com/wUvfcrZ3oW  The Challenge (@TheChallenge) November 10, 2019

RELATED: The Challenge: Jordan Wiseley Launches OnlyFans Account

In a confessional, the three-time finalist revealed they hadnt talked to each other since their breakup over a year ago. Additionally, Jordan gave his backstory on his three-year relationship with Tori in his interview, noting they were very happy at one point.

However, it turned dark in the last few months, ultimately ending their engagement. After returning to the house, Tori shared her mental health journey with Aneesa and how she feels addressing it has helped her deal with the current situation.

Tori admitted she hooked up with Fessy Shafaat out of spite

She revealed in a confessional that she hooked up with Fessy two months after she and Jordan split out of spite, which she knows crushed him.

Therefore, Tori cant help but view the Big Brother star as a walking, living mistake.

As Fessy and Gabby grow closer, Fessy begins reflecting on missed connections with Tori ? NEW #TheChallenge36 continues TONIGHT, at 8PM on @MTV ? pic.twitter.com/DjJyJLGJod  The Challenge (@TheChallenge) March 10, 2021

The Are You the One? star later approached Jordan as the rest of the cast unwound at a club before the third elimination as she had questions. The reality star explained she wanted to continue working on their relationship while he concluded the two were over.

She continued, noting it made her feel abandoned, resulting in her decision to hook up with their co-star. Tori became emotional as she repeatedly apologized and promised she had since changed.

Many fans previously thought Tori cheated on Jordan with Fessy

In December 2021, a year after the couple broke up, alum Jemmye Carroll released a video sharing details about Tori and Jordans split. She claimed the AYTO star went on the vacation to Turks and Caicos with Fessy while still engaged and said Jordan discovered the trip through social media.

After returning, Jemmye said Tori wanted to work on the relationship, while Jordan refused, ultimately leading to the end of their relationship. Tori insisted she never cheated on her then-fiance but admitted to handling the breakup poorly.

Tori is playing her own game so, where does Fessy fit into that?



Find out TOMORROW on The Challenge: Double Agents at 8/7c on @mtv. #TheChallenge36 pic.twitter.com/FK7d8wUsda  The Challenge (@TheChallenge) January 5, 2021

RELATED: The Challenge 36: Tori Deal Denies Cheating on Jordan Wiseley With Fessy Shafaat

According to the MTV star, she and Jordan split in October 2020 but waited until December to announce it. A week after sharing the news, Tori went to Turks and Caicos with Fessy. The three-time champ corroborated her story in his response, noting that it wasnt cheating but a badly timed situation.

Many fans thought something happened between Tori and Fessy before they announced their breakup, as he shared an attraction toward her during an episode of 2021s Double Agents, which began filming in August 2020. The Challenge 38: Double Agents premieres Wednesdays on MTV.
The Good Doctor recently welcomed two new residents. One resident who has caused quite a stir is Dr. Daniel Perez. Heres what we know about the actor who plays Perez during The Good Doctor Season 6.

Dr. Daniel Perez on The Good Doctor

Brandon Larracuente | Image Group LA via Getty Images

Dr. Daniel Perez was introduced during The Good Doctor Season 6 Episode 2, titled Change of Perspective. He caught the attention of a few nurses because hes very attractive. Nurse Hawks took it upon herself to show Perez and the other resident around the hospital. The doctors on staff also noticed his good looks. Park (played by Will Yun Lee) jokingly referred to him as handsome Dan.

It became clear early on that Daniel was very close to his grandmother. He mentions her often and even told Jordan he saved his grandmothers sweaters when she died because they smelled like her tobacco. Jordan told him he was handsome, so he didnt need to talk about how much he loves his grandmother.

Daniel and Jordan grew close during an assignment where they had to wait on the beach for a search and rescue team to locate a patients severed foot. They got to know each other and engaged in playful flirting. At the end of the day, Jordan and Daniel almost kissed, but he pulled away at the last minute. Its unclear whether these two will start a relationship.

Who plays Dr. Daniel Perez on The Good Doctor?

RELATED: The Good Doctor: Lim Pushes Shaun Away and Shaun and Lea Work on Their Marriage

Dr. Perez is played by Brandon Larracuente. One of Larracuentes early roles was in a 2008 short film titled Havana. In 2011, he played Christopher in the movie Missing 48 Hours. His next movie was Pembroke Circle in 2014.

Next, Larracuente appeared on the TV series Bloodline. He played Ben Rayburn for 18 episodes from 2015 to 2017. Larracuente rose to fame after appearing in 13 Reasons Why, during which he played Jeff Atkins for seven episodes from 2017 to 2018. In 2020, he played Emilio Acosta in the Party of Five Reboot. Some of Larracuentes other roles include appearances in The Rookie, Versus, and Baywatch.

Brandon Larracuente on playing Jeff Atkins on 13 Reasons Why

Larracuente spoke about his role on 13 Reasons Why and how he felt about the topics the show covered, such as mental health, suicide, and drunk driving. He says he tried to bring out the kindness in his character, Jeff Atkins. He tells Teen Vogue its great to be popular but its more important to be kind to people.

I always say, its cool to be cool but its more important to be kind to people, Larracuente tells Teen Vogue. The reason why Jeff is the way he is with Clay is because he sees a bit of himself in Clay. We all go through that awkward stage in high school. I know I went through that big time, and I got picked on and I got bullied in high school. So, I wanted [Jeff] to stick up for the people who dont have a voice, because more than anything I know what it feels like to feel alone.

Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter.
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Having a furry friend in your life one day and losing them the next can be one of the most difficult losses to deal with. After all, for many people, their pups are their best friends.

Rather than honoring your beloved dog with a place on the mantel, though, can you imagine laying them to rest amongst other animals who have crossed the rainbow bridge?

Well, in 1928, the celebrity veterinarian Dr. Eugene Jones thought that was a wonderful idea. So, after caring for famous four-legged friends his entire career, Jones decided to extend his care with a mission of providing passed pets with a beautiful final resting place.

So, that year, he launched the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery which is located on over ten acres of land in Calabasas, California.

The cemetery became the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, and after Jones buried his own dog there, much of his celebrity clientele followed suit.

The cemetery has since amassed over forty-two thousand graves and is home to many pets of stars past.

While going for a stroll through its grounds, you might spot the headstones of Boots, Charlie Chaplins cat, or Spot from The Little Rascals.

The cemetery is also home to Jiggs, the chimpanzee who played Cheeta in Tarzan, as well as Tawny, one of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) lions.

Dont get me wrong, though. While the cemetery has attracted many stars over the years, anyone with a dearly departed pet can visit or obtain the cemeterys services.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Evangelists attacked with knives in Uganda after leading Muslims to Christ

NAIROBI, Kenya Two evangelists in eastern Uganda were beaten and slashed with knives after leading several Muslims to Christ, sources said.

Earlier this month Robert Okia, a 43-year-old father of six children, and Wilberforce Mutenga, a father of two, shared the gospel in predominantly Muslim Busakira village, in eastern Uganda, where eight Muslims put their faith in Christ, Mutenga said.

They then continued their outreach in Ikule village, Mayuge District, where they were attacked on Oct. 7, he said.

We were beaten because of taking the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the purely Muslim community of Ikule village, Mutenga, 38, told Morning Star News. We didnt know that Muslims in this place had heard about our successful mission in Busakira village.

After visiting two homes in Ikule, at the second house Muslims surrounded them and began asking questions about Islam that they could not answer, he said.

One shouted the Islamic slogan of Allah Akbar [God is greater] three times, and everyone began to get hold of sticks and started beating us badly, he said.

Mutenga sustained a knife wound on his head and bruises on his legs, dislocating his right knee when one of the assailants knocked him down, an area source said. At this writing, he was receiving treatment at a private clinic in Kampala.

Okia sustained a knife wound on his knee, rib and hand injuries, swelling on his mouth and face and body pain throughout, the source said. Okia was referred to a hospital in Jinja for more specialized treatment.

After beating us, they carried and threw us near the swamp that separates Busakira and Kigandaalo, where a herdsman saw both of us bleeding and screaming for help, Mutenga told Morning Star News. The man rushed and called local authorities, who took us to a nearby clinic for treatment.

The two were able to identify some of the attackers and reported the assault to local authorities; they plan to file a police report when they leave hospital treatment, he said.

We need your prayers all the time, because when we recover, we have to continue with the message no matter the persecution which we have gone through, Mutenga said.

The evangelists were sent to preach Christ by a church, undisclosed for security reasons, in Mayuge Town Council.

The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Ugandas Constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

This article was originally published by Morning Star News.
The left demands that we 'just yay gay!'

When I was a kid, we were told to never talk to strangers. Today, children are told to confide in strangers.

When I was a kid, we were told just say no to drugs. Today, children are told to just say yes to extremely dangerous puberty-blocking drugs.

When I was a kid, most families had a father and mother. Today, they have Parent 1, Parent 2, Parent 3, or more.

When I was a kid, male and female were a thing. Today, 72 genders are a (made up) thing.

When did confusion become a virtue and clarity a vice?

Last summer, the LGBTQPR machine was in full swing. Dont Say Gay was the mantra in response to a common-sense Florida Parental Rights in Education bill. Mainstream media used the phrase to distort and attack the legislation created to reinforce fundamental rights of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing and control of their children. Now, the Left is spreading fear and misinformation about the federal Stop the Sexualization of Children Act. The bill aims to do what needs to be done: protect children and enforce parental rights.

The insanely well-funded LGBTQIA+++ lobby is incredibly powerful. In just a matter of a few years, activists have painted our entire social environment, including crosswalks, with (co-opted) rainbow colors. The Church of Corporate America regularly preaches that it doesnt matter who you love (hence Apple Trailers promoting a vile new movie about the incestual relationship between a mother and her son). The news media has changed our very language in order to bow to the political redefinitions of gender and sexuality. Schools are showing pride in explicit books celebrating homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, and even pedophilia (e.g., Lawn Boy).

The Left demands that we Just Yay Gay! Dont dare challenge any of it. You know, because LGBT privilege.

Youll get branded a homophobe or transphobe or some other silly label to try to silence you. Many do rhetorical and moral acrobatics to contort themselves into an ally who somehow believes the propaganda. Others just keep quiet for fear of angering the gods of gender identity.

Sadly, humanity is worse off because our very core identity is being mangled beyond recognition. Detransitioners, many just youths, are evidence of the tragic consequences of this mutilation of reality. Popular culture tells us to ignore the causes and trauma that lie beneath; we can only be happy for the glitter and sparkles scattered on the surface.

I wont do it. I love the Healer too much. I love people too much to be shamed into silence.

Why are Americans, especially Christians, afraid to call out the obvious? Its way past the days when these issues were cast as a private bedroom issue. They have permeated everything and demand that we sacrifice our children at the altar of the Perpetually Changing Acronym.

Deception

A child cant be given a Tylenol in most schools without parental consent across the country. But increasing numbers of government-run schools want to give access to dangerous carcinogenic puberty blockers without parental involvement. Denying parents natural rights (as well as state and federal rights), some leftist educators are taking matters  and children  into their own hands. These are not isolated incidents (here, here, and here). Leftist mainstream media just covers for the indoctrinators.

To all the teachers who feel like they need to bare their souls to their students  dont. Children are not the testing ground for your sexual affirmation. Theyre not experimental subjects for your treatable internal conflict. Your chaos shouldnt become their confusion.

Distortions

Our sex is not determined at birth. Its determined at fertilization by our DNA. Thats science. Too many schools, however, are not following the science but radicalizing childrens minds to break the binary.

Guys have periods, apparently. The ACLU said so. Tampax tweeted: Not all people with periods are women. Lets celebrate the diversity of all people who bleed. Uhh, ok. In order to achieve menstrual equality, Oregon passed the Menstrual Dignity Act. The bill mandates that period products be placed in all bathrooms including boys bathrooms, you know, because boys have periods.

Taxpayers are forced to fund this lunacy.

Devolution

Family-friendly drag shows? Elementary-aged children are taken to bars and strip clubs to have men who caricaturize women perform sexual routines for money (see here, here, here, and here). Drag Queen Story Hours include grown men, some of them sex offenders, writhing and gyrating on public library floors with children lying on top of them. This. Is. Abuse.

But were told if we dont accept this, were marginalizing LGBTQ+ people. Shouldnt evil acts that groom children to become sexual objects BE marginalized? It doesnt matter what two adults do in the privacy of their own homes turned into adults doing this to our kids in public.

A same-sex married couple in Georgia was arrested for using their adopted children in child pornography they produced. Homosexuals William Zulock and Zachary Zulock recorded themselves as they  I want to vomit  repeatedly abused those precious children. As an adoptee and adoptive father, I am so sickened by the lack of outrage from mainstream media. #MeToo allegations werent even this alarming but got wall-to-wall coverage. What happens when LGBTQ individuals commit the crimes of sexual assault?

Silence.

Determination

Our culture is saturated with the hyper-sexualization of our youth and the deliberate targeting of young children. Its being freely flaunted all around us. You have to be inclusive. You have to be diverse. You have to evolve.

Wrong. You can love every human being and rightfully hate some human doings.

We cannot accept the Just Yay Gay collateral damage of our children in order to boost the self-esteem of those who demand we accept, celebrate, and participate in their activism. There is a societal sickness that can only be cured by courageous Love. It cannot heal without Truth. It starts when people are unwilling to keep Americas children on the frontlines of this spiritual war.
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."
Focus on 'Christian nationalism' is 'smokescreen,' real threat is 'neo-Marxism,' Christian scholars say

As media attention on "Christian nationalism" looms large in American politics heading into the 2022 midterms, Christian scholars this week debated the definition of the term and whether the increased media focus is an attempt to intimidate Christians from sharing their values in the public square.

The Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University held a debate Thursday titled "Is Christian Nationalism a Threat to America?"

Luige DelPuerto, the editor of Colorado Politics in The Denver Gazette, moderated a discussion between Centennial Institute Director Jeff Hunt, whose organization hosts a prominent annual conservative summit, and Scott Wasserman, the president of the left-leaning think tank Bell Policy Center.

The debate comes as a new Pew Research poll released this week finds that 45% of Americans think the United States should be a "Christian nation," compared to 51% who don't believe the U.S. should be a "Christian nation."

While Americans may be divided on whether America should be a Christian nation, they hold differing opinions about what that phrase means.

While nearly a third of respondents (31%) stated that they don't know what Christian nationalism means, 34% of respondents and 48% of those who think the U.S. should be a Christian nation said Christian nationalism means the country is "guided by Christian beliefs/values."

Nearly a third of respondents who don't think the U.S. should be a Christain nation believe the term means the country is run by "Christian-based laws/governance," and 21% said Christian nationalism is defined by negative attributes like "bigotry, authoritarianism, white supremacy."

"I've got a lot of questions about what Christian nationalism is," Wasserman, who identifies as Jewish, said. "Over the past year or so, we have seen the emergence of politicians  notably Marjorie Taylor Greene as well as Congresswoman Lauren Boebert  speak very overtly about this concept of Christian nationalism. ... It seems to me there has been an emergence of Christain nationalism in this country."

"It seems to me that for a long time, its advocates have not wanted to talk about it in the public realm. But I think that we are at a point in our country where we need to have a candid conversation about it," he added. "We can't have a democracy if we can't intellectually trade our thoughts and be honest about what we really believe."

What is Christian nationalism?

Hunt offered his take on the definition of Christian nationalism through the "lens" of the media, saying there isn't a "good definition" because different news outlets have different definitions.



He criticized a recent Denver Post article that he said tried to define the term by providing a "collaboration of scary mischaracterization of conservative policies" and put an "umbrella over it and called it Christian nationalism."

The article addressed remarks from Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., suggesting that the United States has a divine role in the world and calling on the nation to "glorify God."

The article also featured commentary from several religious, political and social experts who disagreed with the freshman congresswoman's statement to The Denver Post, assuring that she was not a Christian nationalist.

Citing the Sept. 14 article titled "Lauren Boebert is part of a dangerous religious movement that threatens democracy," Hunt noted that the publication stated that Boebert has pursued a "pattern of pushing for a religious takeover of America, spreading falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election and warning of an impending judgment day," which the article cites "political and social experts" to say "amounts to Christian nationalism."

"At their core, Christian nationalists believe that America holds a unique and divinely ordained purpose," the article stated. "Christian nationalists also hold a strong sense of moral traditionalism, express comfort with authoritarian control  and embrace strong ethno-racial boundaries."

Hunt also stated that the article claims Christian nationalism is "infiltrating virtually every level of American government and its judiciary" and a "dog whistle for violence."

"Then they say, this is not compatible with democracy, and they top it all off at the end of the article by connecting it with Vladimir Putin," Hunt said. "This is like if you were creating a scary movie right around the holiday season. ... It was just kind of crazy and outlandish."

Hunt also criticized the book Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by University of Oklahoma Professor Samuel Perry and Andrew Whitehead of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

"Here is their definition: 'It's a fusion of Christianity with American civic life that includes assumptions of nativism, white supremacy, patriarchy and heteronormativity, along with the divine sanction of authoritarian control and militarism,'" Hunt recited.

"So they basically create this big scary boogie man, slapped Christian nationalism on it, and then, in the case of the Denver Post, basically say every conservative out there is a Christian nationalist," Hunt said. "Seriously, they say that Ron DeSantis, Rick Scott, Kari Lake, all of them are Christian nationalists. It is just so over the top, and they try to attach it to every conservative out there that holds historically conservative positions that it's just kind of obscene."

Hunt simply defined a Christian nationalist as one who wants a "Christian nation-state" or a Christian theocracy.

"You have religious states all over the world. You have Islamic nation-states, you have Jewish nation-states, and you have Christian nation-states. England is a Christian nation-state. The queen was the head of the Church of England. So there are different levels of connection. A Christian nationalist, properly defined from my perspective, is someone that wants America to be a Christian nation-state."

"I don't think anyone's explicitly calling for America to be a Christian nation-state," he continued.

"I think what Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert are often responding to is this kind of characterization that if you hold conservative values, you are somehow a Christian nationalist. That is not the case."

Hunt outlined some characteristics of a "Christian nation-state" as the "declaration of an official church" in the U.S. and the "repeal of Article VI protections" that ban religious tests for public office holders. He said there lack of appetite for making either of those major changes at this time.

Wasserman defended The Denver Post, saying the outlet was just reacting to comments that political leaders in our country are now saying very overtly.

"I really can't get over Congresswoman Boebert's statement that the Church is supposed to direct the government," Wasserman said.

He read aloud from a document called National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles, a document drafted by thought leaders like Rod Dreher, Peter Thiel, Yoram Hazony and others. Wasserman said that it is becoming apparent that there is a "body of thought coming together" and found a section on religion to be "of interest."

The document declares: "Where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision, which should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private."

"At the same time, Jews and other religious minorities are to be protected in the observance of their own traditions in the free governance of their communal institutions, and in all matters pertaining to the rearing and education of their children," the document added. "Adult individuals should be protected from religious and ideological coercion in their private lives and in their homes."

Wasserman asked Hunt if he believes in the statement, "where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision."

"Christians have been debating how the Church interacts with the state for a long time. I am going back to kind of Calvinist traditions. ... A lot of this language seems scary if you haven't been educated in the role that the Church has debated over these for a long time," Hunt responded.

"We have had a history of people getting in control, one particular denomination and persecuting others. You can say America was founded because they wanted to get away from it."

'A reaction to neo-Marxism'

Hunt believes that the actions that critics deride as Christian nationalism are "a reaction to neo-Marxism, which is seeking to remove any perspective of Christianity from the public square so that they can have total control of the policies that are being made."

Hunt said Boebert's remarks also proclaimed that "the government should not control the Church."

Reiterating his belief that there is no push to create a Christian nation-state, Hunt insisted that "what they're arguing for is the right and the ability to express their Christian principles in the public square in an effort to convince the systems that are set up, that already exist, to reflect their values."

Wasserman rejected Hunt's analysis, labeling what Hunt identified as "neo-Marxism" as "separatist secularism" and an "evolution of thought" informed by "an awakening in this country to the legacy of racism" that amounts to "a critique of what the dominant culture has been."

Wasserman said that even though he is Jewish, he believes religion is a "horrible formula for political governance."



"I am also a historian. If I look back at the last few centuries, I see a lot of bloodshed, and I see a lot of bloodshed around ecumenical questions that I believe have no role in governance," he said. "I think this is a bedrock value in America and has taken different forms."

"We have to be honest, too, as people who are secularly inclined in this nation that you can drive a Mack truck between the Establishment Clause and the Free Expression clause," Wasserman continued. "But nevertheless, this country has never had religion in the driver's seat. If we are turning the page and if there is indeed a Christian nationalist movement in this country, I would like to learn about it and understand what impact it is going to have on my family, my community, and my many friends and neighbors who do not identify as Christians."

Hunt elaborated on his concerns about "neo-Marxism," identifying the prosecution of Christian baker Jack Phillips for refusing to bake a same-sex wedding cake and the hostility Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett faced over her religious views in what he called a "new secularism religious test" that public office holders find themselves subject to.

He maintained that "neo-Marxism" is "placing people in categories" that are "competing against each other" in the form of "oppressors" and "the oppressed."

"We put people in categories based upon their race. We put people in categories based upon their gender. We put people in categories based upon their sexualities. We put people in categories based upon their economics," Hunt said. "And now we've created a system where all these groups are fighting against each other, and if you are a white male Evangelical, you are part of the most oppressive category, and therefore, you must be shut down in every capacity that you can."

Hunt attributed Boebert's comments as a reaction to the "pushout of religion from the public square because [of the view that] it is an oppressive regime that needs to be silenced."

"There is not a threat of Christian nationalism in this country," Hunt concluded. "There is not an effort, either by the elected officials or major conservatives, to try to explicitly align this country through law with Christianity, to prevent other people of faith from being able to hold office."

1

2

Next
Christians 'became obsessed with politics': Michael Brown warns Jan. 6 'hurt our cause deeply'

Are Christian conservatives who support former President Donald Trump confusing the temporal for the eternal?

That question is the focus of The Political Seduction of the Church: How Millions of American Christians Have Confused Politics with the Gospel, a new book from author and radio host Michael Brown that looks at whether the Trumpian political climate has hindered believers in Jesus from carrying out the Great Commission.

Brown says he voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections and wants readers to know there's nothing wrong with being involved in politics, as long as the ultimate goal is advancing God's Kingdom, not man's.

"I do believe Christians should be involved in politics and should have a positive impact on politics, but somehow, especially in the last election cycle, we became obsessed with politics," Brown told The Christian Post. "We became more concerned with winning the election than winning the lost."

And while Brown believes the 2024 presidential election will be just as consequential as the previous two, he says the problem occurs when Christians merge the Gospel with the elections "as if a political party was the key to advancing God's Kingdom on the earth."

Brown, a Messianic Jew, is a familiar voice for CP. He is the author of over 40 books and over 2,000 op-ed pieces. He also hosts the nationally syndicated radio show "The Line of Fire."

With Political Seduction, Brown hopes to take a deliberate and measured approach in assessing the marriage of politics and faith under Trump, including the ongoing national debate over Christian nationalism, both its definition and application.

For Brown, there are three basic versions of Christian nationalism. The first is what he calls the "healthy" version, which essentially says, "I love Jesus, and I love my country," approximating the sentiments of tens of millions of American Christians.

Brown says there's also the "unhealthy" version, which equates America and her destiny with the Kingdom of God, merging Christian identity with Americanism.

But it's the "very dangerous" version of Christian nationalism that most concerns Brown.

Just as the Founding Fathers waged a war against British tyranny in the Revolutionary War, there are modern-day Christians who say, "We're we're going to have to take up arms against the government in the name of Jesus."

"That's what I warn about in the strongest terms" in the book, Brown added.

While he wouldn't completely write off the distant possibility of another Civil War at some point, Brown said he doesn't think that's something that will happen anytime soon.

"I do not believe we are anywhere near that point, and I believe we need to be sober and careful in our rhetoric because there are a lot of irresponsible people  Christians in name only  that could get stirred by this, and it could lead to real harm," he said.

If Christians first begin to look in the mirror and "put emphasis on repenting from sin in our own lives" instead of prioritizing a political movement or political figure, the country will recover from the turmoil of recent years.

"If the Church will be the Church, we can avert bloodshed," said Brown.

It's no surprise that the first chapter of Political Seductiontakes a closer look at the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

As Congress met to certify the election results, hundreds of Trump supporters  many of them Evangelical Christians  violently stormed Capitol Hill, claiming the election was either stolen or fraudulently conducted.

According to the DOJ, hundreds of individuals were charged with various offenses for their alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 riot, including a youth pastor from Colorado Springs.

Five people died during or after the attack, including four protesters and one police officer, while approximately 140 officers suffered injuries.

Unarmed veteran Ashli Babbitt was the only person killed by lethal force during the riot. She was shot trying to climb through a smashed door pane into the House Chamber. U.S. Capitol Police concluded the officer who shot Babbitt acted lawfully when using deadly force.

Three others died of natural causes, and 34-year-old Trump supporter Rosanne Boyland was trampled to death by protesters fighting a police line.

Brown said while "only God knows" whether the 2020 election was fraudulent, Christians across the nation "prayed and prayed" for God's will to be done.

"If this went all the way through the courts, and no one overturned what happened, then we must accept this is the result," he added. "Maybe it's divine discipline. Maybe things were stolen. But we prayed, we cried out, this is what we got."

"I accept this as the will of God," he said.

Despite his personal views, Brown said he understands why some Christians don't agree. He urged them to use "legal means" to expose any alleged fraud, adding: "Just don't break the law."

While he doesn't believe any "organized insurrection" was involved on Jan. 6, Brown said the way Trump handled the rally before the event was "abysmal." He pointed to crowds chanting, "Hang [former Vice President] Mike Pence."

"The rhetoric leading up to it was dangerous," said Brown. "It gave the Left all the ammunition they needed to make all of us who voted for Trump into 'white supremacist insurrectionists.'"

"This hurts our cause deeply, and it was part of the downside of the president," Brown stressed. "He was irresponsible in his actions on that day."
Ministry delivers 225K Bibles to North Macedonia, where many can't access Scripture in their language

A Texas-based Christian ministry that once smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union delivered the largest donation of children's Bibles to the Eastern European country of North Macedonia, where many children don't have access to Scripture in their own language.

Founded in 1961, Eastern European Mission (EEM) prints and distributes free Bibles to Eastern Europe and surrounding nations, delivering them to youth camps, schools, refugee centers and other places in need of the Holy Scripture.

The organization began when a small group of missionaries started sneaking Bibles into the Soviet Union and has continued providing access to Scripture in seemingly unreachable places.

EEM recently delivered over 225,000 children's Bibles to North Macedonia after the nation's government, having heard about EEM's work, gave the group permission to deliver Bibles in the region. The group's Bibles for Kids fundraising campaign made the donation possible.

The government heard that EEM delivered 650,000 bibles to public schools in Croatia last year, with the Bibles carried to the schools via nine semi-trailer trucks.

Bart Rybinski, vice president of EEM's European Operations, said the ministry connected with North Macedonia's government due to the organization's previous work with the Bible Society of North Macedonia. EEM contacted the Bible society to obtain the rights to publish their texts, and the group had connections with the government and Orthodox churches in the region.

EEM President Bob Burckle told The Christian Post that when the organization began, the team was lucky if they could deliver a few hundred to a couple of thousand Bibles a year. But within the last few years, the group has grown and delivered 1.5 million Bibles in over 20 languages to over 30 countries last year.

"God's word is a seed that we've been planting, and we team and come together with a number of different organizations to help us do that," Burckle said in an interview. "We go to major Bible translators like Bible League and then different Bible societies to get their translations. And then they take and they format the books, put them into the printed word, and then we print, publish and distribute."

Burckle said most of the group's funding comes from individuals and churches. At least 1,082 churches in the United States currently support the group's mission, he added.

In July, EEM delivered the Bibles to North Macedonia's Department of Religious Relations, who then distributed the books to churches and individuals. Both Rybinski and Burckle attended a ceremony in Skopje to celebrate the donation and introduce copies of the books they're giving to schoolchildren.

North Macedonia has experienced conflict with many of its neighbors after the fall of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Yugoslavia's collapse resulted in the Republic of Macedonia declaring its independence in 1991.

"For many years, there was conflict with the Greek state about the name of their country," Rybinski said. "They had a conflict, too, recently this year with the Serbian Orthodox Church about being recognized as a national Orthodox Church in its own right. From the Bulgarian side, there's disagreements of culture and history."

The lack of positive influences, Rybinski said, prompted the country's government and church leaders to see the benefit of kids having a Bible in their own language, as such a thing is not widely available there.

"It's more than just the Bible," Rybinski said. "It's the Bible in their national language, and that's very meaningful to them."

Burckle said that North Macedonia's leaders asked EEM to deliver another 225,000 bibles in 2023, a request the organization intends to grant.

He pointed to a "spirit of unity" that binds people together, noting that everyone can agree that all people deserve access to God's word.

The EEM president said his organization wants to ensure everyone has a Bible and hopes people will also engage with the Scripture.

"You've got to get [God's word] in your heart; you got to get it totally within your entire body and soul in order to fully appreciate and understand what God has done for us and what our future hope is for how to manage the difficulties of life, which we all have."
Woman sentenced for beheading friend she met in church group

A 38-year-old woman has been convicted in the beheading of a 67-year-old friend she had met at a church group, becoming the first woman to be sentenced to life in prison live on television in England.

Jemma Mitchell, a former osteopath, assaulted Mee Keun Chong last June with a blunt object at the woman's home in northwest London before removing the victim's head. Chong was last seen alive in June 2021.

Mitchell was found guilty during a hearing on Thursday and sentenced on Friday to life imprisonment with a minimum of 34 years before she becomes eligible for parole.

The court was told how Mitchell met Chong, also known as Deborah, through a church group and were on friendly terms. Mitchell also served as a spiritual healer for Chong.

According to the Metropolitan Police, Mitchell and her mother were in the process of renovating their home but needed funding to finish the job.

Chong initially agreed to help fund the project, estimated at around $232,000, but changed her mind days before she went missing. The decision reportedly led to the friends falling out.

On the morning of June 11, 2021, investigators say Mitchell went to Chong's home in Wembley, where it was believed Mitchell carried out the murder. Mitchell was seen on surveillance footage leaving with two large, wheeled suitcases that appeared to be heavy. Authorities say she got a cab back to her home and likely kept the body on the property for about two weeks before driving to the seaside town of Salcombe in Devon over 200 miles away on June 26 to dump Chong's remains.

Police say Mitchell made a false report via email to a missing-persons charity and claimed that Chong went to spend time with her family for a year "somewhere close to the ocean."



Chong's body was discovered on June 27, with her head removed. Because of decomposition, authorities say the body was not identifiable for several days. Examiners ruled out the possibility that Chong's head was removed by animal activity. Police say Mitchell, with a degree in osteopathy and experience in human dissection, most likely removed Chong's head.

Investigators claim Mitchell also forged a copy of Chong's will, ensuring "95% of the estate was left in her name."

"This was found at Mitchell's property following her arrest, along with various possessions belonging to Deborah," a statement from the Metropolitan Police reads.

Mitchell, who received a first-class degree in human sciences from King's College London, had been unemployed for a long time and lived with her retired mother, The Times reports.

According to the newspaper, Chong was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and told Mitchell's mother she could give money for building a new floor on their home if they allowed the house to be used for "Christian worship."

After Chong changed her mind, prosecutors said Mitchell hit Chong in the head with a weapon, and two weeks later, she drove miles away to the seaside town and threw Chong's remains in the woods.

"Deborah's death was a shock to us all," the victim's sister said in a statement to the court. "I find it difficult to comprehend. It saddened me to think she had to go through this horrifying ordeal and tragic death," she said. "For the first month after Deborah's death I didn't leave my room; I found it impossible to take myself out."

Detective Jim Eastwood told the media that Mitchell refused to accept responsibility for the murder, which leaves many questions unanswered.

"Why she kept her body for a fortnight? Why she decapitated her? Why she deposited her remains in Salcombe?" he asked. "What we do know is that these were evil acts carried out by an evil woman and the only motive clearly was one of financial gain."
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.
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."
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.
Black pastors have failed the black family; how do we plan to restore it?

In the 1960s, 80% of black children were raised in two-parent families. Today in nearly every major city, black children are raised in 80% fatherless homes. This cultural shift has happened without one national initiative to reverse the trend. The one institution that should have led a campaign to reverse the trend was the black church.

Black pastors failed their community and as a result, we are a culture in crisis.

During the worst of times in American history  from post-Civil War to Jim Crow to Red Lining  the black community was comprised mostly of families with a father and a mother. These communities were anchored in our cultural roots of faith, family, and education  getting a better education for our children.

Unfortunately, with the dawn of the welfare age, black pastors did not sound the warning bell loud enough. There were some exceptions, but unfortunately, those exceptions were ignored or drowned out.

LBJs Great Society social welfare programs in the 1960s financially incentivized women to have children outside of marriage for the first time in U.S. history. The programs were heavily marketed in urban communities. The absence of a husband and father seemed a small price to pay for free money and housing.

Sadly, pastors did not band together to warn women about the short and long-term dangers of government dependency or black men about their responsibilities to their wives and children. Politicians and leaders in the black community happily got our people hooked on welfare dependency and after 50 years of collateral damage, they knew the downstream consequences. Booker T. Washington said, A lie doesn't become truth, wrong doesn't become right, and evil doesn't become good, just because it's accepted by a majority.

The health of our community reveals the spiraling decline. Based on CDC annual reports:

Homicide is the #1 cause of death for black male pediatric patients.

Black Americans are #1 for diabetes.

Black Americans are #1 in obesity.

Although we are only 12% of the population, we make up most cases of STDs and most new cases of HIV.

In addition to the destruction of our families, public schools in black communities are failing our children. In many urban schools, over 60% of graduates cannot read and do math or science at grade level. We have not rung alarm bells. Pastors should be on the front lines demanding school vouchers because children who have escaped the failure factories of urban schools are performing at or above national averages in core academic subjects at private and/or charter schools.

It is time to clean our own house and demand that pastors lead or step aside. I call upon objective and solution-oriented leaders from the black community to join me.

It is time for a national appeal amongst all black Christian pastors, leaders, fraternities, and sororities to join together for a day of prayer and fasting. Like the prodigal son, we must begin the journey home with a return to God and our cultural roots of faith, family, and education.

This movement will not require a local, state, or federal grant. It will require grit, a focus on biblical standards, and a desire to teach young people the importance of a strong education, marriage before children, and a love of God and country.

If the black community is ever to be restored, it will require us to come together under the banner of Jesus Christ. Help us give birth to a movement to restore two-parent families and improve our schools. Go to takechargemn.com, click on the Prodigal Project and fill out the requested information.
How does ESG stack up against biblically responsible investing?

Theres a lot of talk today about ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing. Millennials in particular are gravitating toward companies that match their values.

Millennials are nearly twice as likely to invest in companies or funds that target specific environmental or social outcomes, according to a recent Ernst & Young report. The survey also says that 29% of investors in their 20s and 30s seek a financial advisor that provides values-based investing.

Financial advisers are also discovering that even their nonreligious clients are embracing faith-based strategies. InvestmentNews describes it this way: [F]aith-based investing is the original impact investing, so its only natural that the rapidly expanding appeal of ESG and sustainable investing is also raising awareness of faith-based strategies.

Increasingly, more Americans realize that money isnt everything, but its still profoundly important. Jesus told us that where our treasure is, our heart is also. He also warned us not to place it above something even more critical: our relationship with God.

In the same vein, in 1994, I founded the Timothy Plan, which pioneered the concept of Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI).

At the time, BRI fell under the Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) umbrella. In the first few years of Timothy Plan, my daughter Cheryl Mumbert vividly remembers finding an online resource that listed specialty funds similar to ours.

In the early days of the internet, we felt like a fish out of water, Cheryl recalls. I was excited to find Social Investment Forum, established in 1997. My brother Steve Ally and I contacted them to request adding Timothy Plan. Unfortunately, abortion and pornography were not part of their screening database. Therefore, we never were listed. Then, a few years later, I found SocialFunds.com. After several communications, they added a new category, Religious Funds, and included Timothy Plan.

It felt like a victory, Cheryl added. Due to the lack of biblically screened investments in the marketplace, being categorized as a social fund was BRIs best option.

With the growing market of BRI, it is clear that faith-based investments are more than capable of standing on their own. Unfortunately, many feel that values-based investing focused on biblical principles can be squeezed into one of these categories: Socially Responsible, ESG, or Impact Investing. According to the Securities and Exchange Commissions Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Funds  Investor Bulletin article, faith-based issues fit under the S of ESG.

Over the last few years, ESG has grown in popularity. This has prompted several struggling mutual funds to add ESG to their name. They are signaling that they now consider ESG factors in their overall investment process, even though many leave their portfolios unchanged (WealthManagement.com).

So, how does ESG stack up against BRI? There is some overlap between the two philosophies, but there is one, huge difference. BRI adheres to the principles found in the Bible, a book over 3,400 years old and known by many as the unchanging, infallible Word of God. This biblical blueprint specifies seven building blocks  virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love  all of which constitute BRIs standard for a biblical worldview.

In contrast, ESG bases its criteria on a secular worldview created by man. As a result, ESG principles can be changed easily and re-interpreted. Without a solid, permanent foundation, a companys commitment to ESG can mean anything you want it to. The whole thing is very subjective, Mark Tinker, chief investment officer at Toscafund Hong Kong, said of ESG in a recent Reuters interview.

For a recent example of ESGs subjectiveness, we can look at Tesla. The largest manufacturer of electric vehicles globally, Tesla was recently removed from the S&P 500 ESG Index. A furious Elon Musk fired back on Twitter, saying, The ESG movement has been weaponized by phony social justice warriors (Fortune).

Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil, one of the worlds largest oil companies, remains a leading company in the index.

As I mentioned before, there is some overlap in many BRI, ESG and SRI investment strategies. Like BRI, many avoid investing in alcohol, tobacco or gambling. I believe this is where the inaccurate comparison lies. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, urged his followers to shun profiting at the expense of their neighbors. Consequently, they avoided partnering or investing with those who earned their money through alcohol, tobacco, weapons or gambling  essentially establishing social investment screens, wrote William Donovan in The Balance.com. Again, although there are some commonalities, BRI focuses on a biblical worldview, while ESG focuses on a secular worldview.

In addition to screening out companies like fossil fuel producers, ESG and SRI funds are also screening in companies pursuing causes like climate change and gun control, to name a few.

While there can be overwhelming ambiguity in ESG strategies, Biblically Responsible Investing has a clearly defined focus. It is about being obedient to God with the money He has entrusted to us. Christians, including millennials, can choose investments that do not profit from unbiblical cultural influences such as abortion or pornography. By contrast, ESG, SRI and Impact Investing emphasize environmental activism, health, safety, welfare, diversity, inclusion, and other social concerns. While some of these issues have merit, others can be abused to contradict Scripture.

If you are considering an ESG investment, take the time to look into its underlying philosophy. You might find it contradicts your core values. If you seek to invest in a way that honors biblical principles, seek out Biblically Responsible Investments.
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.
Respondents understand the importance of immigration for the economy and believe that Canada should accept more refugees

Study: Canadians are more supportive of immigration than ever Respondents understand the importance of immigration for the economy and believe that Canada should accept more refugees

Study: Canadians are more supportive of immigration than ever Respondents understand the importance of immigration for the economy and believe that Canada should accept more refugees

Study: Canadians are more supportive of immigration than ever Respondents understand the importance of immigration for the economy and believe that Canada should accept more refugees Edana Robitaille Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

Sans Font Size A

A

The Environics Institute of Canada, in partnership with the Century Initiative, has released survey data on Canadians opinions on immigration. The Environics Institute is a research agency that conducts public opinion surveys and collects data on Canadian issues such as the government or economy. Century Initiative is a registered charity run by business leaders and academics that advocates for the population of Canada to reach 100,000,000 by 2100.

The overall finding of the survey is that more Canadians than ever are in favour of increased immigration. Nearly 70% of Canadians were found to disagree or strongly disagree when asked if Canadas immigration levels were too high.

This is the most support shown for immigration in the surveys 45-year history and comes as the 2021 census data shows that immigrants make up 23% of Canadas total population, or 8.3 million people. It projects that this number will increase to 34% by 2041.

Data was collected through telephone interviews conducted with 2,000 Canadians between September 6 and 30, 2022. A sample of this size drawn from the population produces results accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points in 19 out of 20 samples.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

In all responses, as in previous years, the study found that support for immigration and immigrants is often related to an individuals political leanings. Since 2021, overall support for elevated levels of immigration has increased among supporters of the federal Liberal Party (79%, up 4), NDP (85%, up 4) and Green Party (84%, up 19). Conversely, 43% of Conservative supporters believe that immigration levels are too high, but this is still a drop of 1% over the 2021 study.

Support for immigration despite pandemic difficulties

The data comes at a time when Canada is dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a historic labour shortage and a record one million job vacancies. In response, Canada has been raising targets within the Immigration Levels Plan. The current plan has a target between nearly 432,000 and 451,000 new immigrants in Canada by 2024. A new plan is expected by November 1.

Over 50% of surveyed Canadians believe that Canada needs more immigrants to increase its population. The most notable changes over the 2021 data show that people in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have shifted their views, with a 15-point increase over the previous year. Alberta and Ontario are both also up three points.

Atlantic Canada, which has tripled its number of immigrants in the past five years, showed less support for immigration than in the past, dropping nine points.

There is also a prevailing feeling that immigrants are essential for economic growth in Canada. By increasing the population through immigration, Canada also increases its tax base.

The recent census reported that two thirds of new immigrants to Canada are of working age, which means that the majority of new immigrants to Canada will be contributing income tax to the economy and supporting systems such as healthcare and education.

Canadians believe in accepting more refugees

Most respondents were positive regarding Canadas commitment to providing a safe haven for refugees, particularly for those who are fleeing conflict zones. However, the survey shows that some have concerns over refugees ability to integrate into Canadian society and the impact this has on the countrys culture and identity. This was particularly notable in Quebec, which strives to enforce economic immigration policies that promote its unique francophone culture and identity.

However, when asked if Canada accepts too many immigrants from racialized countries, the results show that a growing majority of Canadians, Quebec included, reject that idea.

There is still some belief among Canadians, 37% agree or strongly agree, that some refugees are not legitimate or real refugees. As with all other questions, the percentage of respondents who adhere to this belief is higher among supporters of the Conservatives or Bloc Quebecois. Regionally, Alberta has the largest number of people who believe this, but Atlantic Canadians are increasingly in agreement as well, up eight points from the 2021 survey.

Still, the survey indicates that Canada as a whole rejects the idea that there are too many racial minority immigrants in Canada. Those who agree with that statement are generally over 60 years old or do not hold a high school diploma.

This is a major change from the overall data in the 1990s when public opinion on the issue was divided almost evenly.

Overall, there was little change in opinion about accepting refugees from conflict zones when specific countries were mentioned. Some respondents were given the example of conflict zones such as Ukraine and others were asked about conflict zones such as Afghanistan. The results show a slight, but not substantial difference in support for Ukrainian refugees over those from Afghanistan.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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.
U.S. kids growing up with gun violence: report

Xinhua) 11:11, October 29, 2022

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Today's children in the United States grow up knowing that every day at school their lives could be at risk, reported 59News on Thursday.

"You see it happen at schools, like in Florida, and at Walmarts, in Texas. You just always have to be ready, like whenever and wherever, for that stuff to happen," Joshua Helton, a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School, told the CBS and FOX-affiliated Nexstar Media Group station for southern West Virginia.

Do kids even feel safe in schools? "For the most part, yes. But you always have a little bit of a doubt," said Davon Allard, also a junior at the school. "Especially when, at the beginning of the year, they have you going over ALICE drills."

ALICE is an acronym that stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. "These are the five steps schools take in the event of an active shooter situation," said the report.

Despite growing up in a time when the threat of gun violence is ever-present, these students all agreed that people should still be allowed to own guns, it noted.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
An Iranian Shahed-136 UAV 'suicide drone' achieved its first air-to-air kill by attacking and destroying UAF MiG-29. The suicide drone used by the Russian forces has done a first that will make the Ukrainian Air Force warier when the loitering UAVs are around.

UAV Systems Consequences

Two years back when a Turkish drone attacked a soldier on its own with no operator input.

Almost a week before, one of the delta wing suicide drones killed a jet fighter for the first time in combat. These are incidents circumstances, not how capable the weapon system is, reported the Bulgarian Military.

Shahed-136 is a loitering drone that waits for targets of opportunity, alleged by Ukrainian forces to terrorize them as an attack from the skies comes anytime.

Moscow is accused of using Shahed-136 UAV but denies though more instances of its use raise doubts, the Ukrainians have used drones as well but with no negative feedback.

Last October 12, a UAF MiG-29 collided with an Iranian drone, causing it to crash. It happens at 21:00 during a mission to shoot down a group of dreaded Iranian suicide drones that ended tragically.

Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said the pilot destroyed five of the kamikaze drones close to Torbov village. One version is debris down the jet, not a direct attack, and drone debris fell into the cockpit.

Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth 2022: How Did Facebook Founder Lose $30 Billion in 1 Day?

If somehow the version is proven, it's a direct result of the behavior of the munitions in the air. An implication included the act of aggression of a Turkish drone, Kargu 2, in Libya, due to a mistake in the identification system, which threatened a serviceman by accident.

It is unlikely the Shahed would be used to attack a plane because it has missiles for air or ground assault, even bombs or target acquisition systems. Explosives are onboard to explode when their suicide dives.

Two ways it can kill a plane were explained, either direct collision by detonating on contact. As the SBI says, debris from shot-down drones can make a plane crash. Since it is a suicide drone, the weapon can destroy a target, and achieving the result does not matter.

The plane was destroyed, but the pilot ejected safely, but the SBI won't confirm that the suicide drone was responsible for the crash. The pilot of the Ukrainian fighter jet is fine, managed to eject, and is in the hospital recovering, SBI says. The Bureau confirms that investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the downing of the fighter.

Russia Upgrades Its Drones

Russian military forces have been attacking Ukrainian energy facilities that use foreign equipment recently. It concerns a sequence of Iranian UAVs supplied by Tehran to Moscow, citing EurAsian Times.

Russian sources, primarily from the Russian military-industrial complex, as asserted by Military Monitoring, GLONASS navigation modules have already been incorporated into all versions of Iranian Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles. Such an allegation firmly disproves initial comments from Moscow that it is not using Iranian military hardware.

A Shahed-136 UAV from Iran had allegedly shot down a UAF MiG-29, which is under investigation by Ukrainians.

Related Article: Russian Military Confirms Sukhoi Su-57 Felon Used in Ukraine, Encountered the F-35 in Syria

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Saudi Arabia and China are bolstering ties in energy and economic policies as Beijing seeks to improve damaged relations with the US. The teaming up of these countries comes as the US loses hold in the Middle East, driving the Biden administration to desperate measures over oil cuts.

KSA and Beijing Signifies Closer Relationship

This conclusion comes after the remote conference help with Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman and Chinese National Energy Administration director Zhang Jianhua last Friday, reported SCMP.

During the meeting, both officials signified a closer relationship regarding the energy supply chain via a regional hub. This would improve the reach of Chinese manufacturing by getting access to three continents. Another crucial point of discussion is cooperation and joint investments conducted under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

A key objective of the alliance would be to provide a long-term and dependable oil supply to normalize a global market that continues to experience unpredictability due to its complicated and mutable global context. The Saudi representative added that China would have a steadfast colleague and supplier of crucial crude oil supplies, noted Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the most prolific oil producer, while China is its biggest customer for its oil.

In 2021, Chinese export of Saudi's petroleum would make up about 27% of these energy purchases, or about 1.75 million barrels a day. The Mercator Institute for China Studies, a German think tank, gave the data. Both nations established these energy ties way back in 2016, and since then, Saudi Arabia and China have affirmed cooperating in energy and economic development.

Read Also: Kim Jong-un Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is North Korea's Leader?

KSA was also the largest recipient of belt and road investment opportunities during the first half of this year, luring US $5.5 billion, according to a Fudan University report.

Coming November, the group of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-Opec allies will kick in the start of less oil production by 2 million barrels; to boost the oil market more.

Oil demand grows less the KSA wants to cut back than add more, but the US cannot believe its petrol crisis will worsen. Democrats are popping up and down before the US midterm elections.

Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Production

When the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman snubbed the US president's alleged request to apply oil cut by November, the US imposed consequence on the kingdom . They were threatened with no arms sale for a year but did not relent, citing France 24.

One view is that the KSA meeting with China is a break with the US, and it does not want the US as a close partner.

Li Shaoxian, a Middle East specialist at Ningxia University, said that Beijing and Riyadh would give import as the conflict in Ukraine rages. He added that Riyadh and Washington were bound to break, the US had more control, and Saudis wanted more options.

Russia and China are becoming more influential, and the Eurosphere is in shambles with the Vision 2030 plan is also in play. Joe Biden's threat to make KSA a pariah led to practically begging for oil.

Saudi Arabia and China are blitzing the US by connecting on energy and economic development that could make them dominant.

Related Article: Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov Says Majority of African Leaders Set for Russia-Africa Summit in 2023

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Advertisement

Sex before marriage was unthinkable for a girl from my background, and divorce a shameful admission of failure. As the daughter of the Earl of Leicester, I totally accepted these beliefs.

Like many other 1950s debutantes, I was expected to quickly make what my friends and family would regard as a good match.

I was looking forward to having a conventional marriage that looked very much like that of my parents. Instead, I married Colin Tennant, heir to Lord Glenconner.

We'd met at a debutante dance a year or so after I was maid of honour at the Queen's Coronation, and I soon fell in love. He was so different from my father's dull shooting fraternity  very good-looking, charming, a marvellous dancer and, best of all, he talked about more than shooting and fishing.

He was part of Princess Margaret's set and knew all sorts of glamorous people, writers and artists. When we married in April 1956, I'd known him for less than a year and was totally ignorant about sex. If I'd hoped Colin would help me learn about sex with gentleness and kindness, I was wrong.

On our wedding night in Paris, Colin had a tantrum that left him exhausted, so that was a non-starter, and the consummation, when it happened, was awkward, painful and not particularly enjoyable or romantic. Apparently this was my fault. Pictured: Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner, and his wife Anne, on the island of Mustique, which he owned privately, in March 1973

When we married in April 1956, I'd known him for less than a year and was totally ignorant about sex. If I'd hoped Colin would help me learn about sex with gentleness and kindness, I was wrong. Pictured: Princess Margaret and Lord Glenconner on the Island of Martinique for Weekend magazine

On our wedding night in Paris, Colin had a tantrum that left him exhausted, so that was a non-starter, and the consummation, when it happened, was awkward, painful and not particularly enjoyable or romantic. Apparently this was my fault. Pictured: Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner, and his wife Anne, on the island of Mustique, which he owned privately, in March 1973

On our wedding night in Paris, Colin had a tantrum that left him exhausted, so that was a non-starter, and the consummation, when it happened, was awkward, painful and not particularly enjoyable or romantic. Apparently this was my fault.

When he took me to a brothel a night or two later to watch a private sex show, I felt he was saying: 'You're hopeless at it, but you'll get some good tips from watching this.' It was so humiliating.

He'd had numerous affairs before we met but that didn't mean he regarded it as his role to teach me how to explore this side of life with gentleness or generosity. As long as Colin and I were sleeping together, our sex life was marked by criticism and disappointment. He used to get very cross with me, which of course made things worse and I used to dread going to bed with him. I tried to be enthusiastic but it never worked between us. For a very long time, I felt I must be to blame.

The one time he seemed pleased with me was years later in the Grenadines. I think he arranged for my drink to be spiked and, from what I know now, I suspect it was LSD. I had the most terrifying experience, with visions and hallucinations, but we ended up making passionate love despite my feeling so scared. It was extremely energetic and uninhibited.

The next day, Colin said: 'That was amazing and that's the way I want you to behave all the time.'

'Well, I felt awful and I still do,' I replied.

He didn't lace my drink again but how strange and somehow typical of Colin that, rather than being tender, he decided he could just drug me into doing what he liked.

Sex was by no means our only problem. As I recounted in yesterday's extract from my new book, Colin often had violent rages  one of them so severe that I thought he'd end up killing me.

Not only was his temper on a hair trigger, I was astonished to find myself blamed for everything that went wrong, or everything he felt had gone wrong. I had to learn very quickly how to deal with his sudden demands, defuse difficult situations and move swiftly to repair any damage his behaviour had caused. The trigger for an almighty meltdown could come from the most unpredictable place. He'd lose his temper in an instant and give you very little time to put right whatever he'd objected to. I learned to stay calm, be vigilant and weather the storms.

From the earliest days of our marriage, everything went one way: from me to Colin. His own feelings took precedence in any and every situation.

How exhausting and lonely it could be. I felt as though parts of me were dying with no one to nurture or cherish me when I needed it. It was like having another child, but a particularly large, disruptive one.

He shocked, offended and terrified other people most of the time and I had to sort out the results. Too often I existed just as a buffer between him and everyone else.

Nowadays I always feel nervous around marriages where I sense one party in control. My antennae for that are highly developed and I can often feel when the power is disproportionately weighted to one side. I don't think it's ever healthy. Another side of Colin [who died in 2010] that would test me was his constant restlessness.

Party people: The Glenconners on Mustique in 1973 and Princess Margaret with the couple on the island in 1986

Soon after I gave birth to Charlie, the first of our five children, he announced he'd just bought a mews house in London's Knightsbridge. I was startled as I hadn't even seen it. Nothing ever satisfied Colin for long. Even when we seemed to be settled in one place, I might be told that the house had been sold from under us and there was a week or at most a fortnight to pack the entire contents and leave.

Colin's restlessness meant a lot of travelling. One of the hazards of accompanying him was that I always had to carry his luggage as he claimed he wasn't strong enough. I was like a packhorse, labouring behind him laden with cases.

It was often frightfully embarrassing in airports as there'd be a huge queue of people waiting to check in and Colin would simply march to the front, while I followed, strung with luggage. 'Come on, Anne,' he'd order loudly. 'Put my cases on that conveyor.'

The strange thing was that, apart from a few grumbles, people didn't complain  perhaps because they were so amazed at his effrontery. Not that Colin would have taken any notice if they had. He was so frightfully impatient and his needs were always the priority. Everything had to happen now, now, now! He was always rushing and shouting, 'Keep up! Keep up!' That led to some great expeditions, but was obviously a terrible strain.

The husbands of my generation, who usually held all the financial cards, were often flagrantly unfaithful. Colin was, from the earliest days of our marriage.

The wedding of Lady Anne Coke and Mr Colin Tennant at St Withburga's Church in Holkham, Norfolk

Lady Anne Glenconner (pictured) served as Princess Margaret's lady-in-waiting for three decades

Lady Anne Glenconner (centre) at the book launch of Lord of the Isle - the Extravagant Life and Times of Colin Tennant in Mayfair, London alongside Lady Annunziata Asquith and Countess Davinia Alexander

For the most part, wives simply put up with it and didn't make a fuss but many made arrangements of their own. I am so glad I had that opportunity.

Ten years into my marriage, I took a lover, which did me an enormous amount of good. I had been taught to think of divorce as impossible but I was in great need of some kindness and cherishing, and enjoying some of that affection changed my life.

Our relationship lasted 34 years until my friend died. I was very lucky. It was perfect, though it was only lunch once a week and the occasional magical weekend when we were able to escape together. It was only with my friend that I realised how amazing sex could be and what I had been missing. While I was so grateful to experience that, I couldn't help feeling sad that it had been so difficult with Colin.

It's hard not to feel cross now. I'd finally discovered it takes two to have great sex, so it was always going to be difficult with someone who only considered his own wants. I no longer had to blame myself for those difficulties.

My friend's wife was very generous to me. She knew about our arrangement and, in fact, had one of her own. There was no question of any of us leaving our marriages, though. It simply wasn't done and I don't think we ever considered it.

There was one long-term mistress who was particularly painful for me. He didn't tell me about her but I saw them together at a party and knew at once just by the way they were standing together. Pictured: Lady Anne Coke and Colin Tennant pictured as they announce their engagement, December 16 1955

When my friend was dying, his wife rang me and said he would like to say goodbye to me, so I was able to go to see him. I was always grateful to her for that and that she sent me a memento of him after he died. Colin, however, wasn't pleased. He was terribly jealous. One of the things that annoyed him was that my friend wasn't particularly good-looking and Colin couldn't understand it: he was so good-looking and perfect, how on earth could I want to be with anyone else?

The fact I might enjoy the company, in and out of bed, of someone who was consistently kind to me did not seem to occur to him.

There wasn't much Colin could do about my friendship, considering he was unfaithful all the time and didn't bother hiding it.

There was one long-term mistress who was particularly painful for me. He didn't tell me about her but I saw them together at a party and knew at once just by the way they were standing together.

I said nothing but eventually Colin told me himself. This mistress tried very hard to make him marry her but he never left me.

As long as I could tolerate his extramarital affairs without tears and tantrums, and remain discreet, he would stay with me. And, of course, he could hardly complain when the boot was on the other foot, so he put up with it.

In the late 1960s, Colin  who liked to be ahead of the curve  went 'to see my shrink', as he put it, feeling very fashionable, no doubt. But therapy seemed to make little difference to his mental wellbeing.

One day, he told me he lay in silence for the entire session. 'Don't you say anything?' I asked disbelievingly. This therapist was not cheap and highly recommended. 'Not a word,' Colin said, as though this was a major personal triumph. I think he was pleased with himself for managing to come up with a new take on talking therapy: lying there in furious silence.

Meanwhile, my stress levels were rising and our family doctor referred me to my own therapist. For about a year, I ended up talking a great deal about Colin, and it helped enormously. I realised, crucially, that he couldn't be helped. There was nothing I could solve for him.

Whatever had happened to Colin to make him the way he was had happened in his childhood and I could never change him. I have no idea why he behaved as he did, though I can make some guesses.

After Colin's brother was born, his mother Pamela took to her bed and refused to leave her room. He used to hear his father screaming at her through the closed door. They parted when Colin was nine.

His father, who'd never been affectionate with him, had little contact with him after that. When Colin became a father, he was confused when our sons Charlie and Henry tried to hug or kiss him.

Therapy helped me have a little more sympathy for him  and absolve myself of responsibility for him. Very importantly, it gave me the strength to believe in my worth as my own person.

I began to see clearly how tired I was. Colin was so very exhausting to live with: there was no room for me as a person because I was always so busy looking after him and anticipating his needs as well as protecting the children.

Pictured: Princess Margaret, Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner and Anne Tennant, Lady Glenconner wait on the jetty for Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip's arrival to Mustique on Britannia in 1977

Therapy also helped me see that I needed to stop trying to be the 'good wife' at such a great cost to my own mental wellbeing. However many of Colin's storms and tantrums I prevented or smoothed over, there would always be something that drove him into a frenzy. Pictured: Lord Glenconner in Mustique with life-long friend Princess Margaret

Therapy also helped me see that I needed to stop trying to be the 'good wife' at such a great cost to my own mental wellbeing. However many of Colin's storms and tantrums I prevented or smoothed over, there would always be something that drove him into a frenzy.

Crucially, I also learned to treasure the many moments of joy and laughter we shared with family and friends and appreciate the times Colin was at his best, charming and enthusing the people around us.

Making peace with the situation became easier once we spent more time apart. He'd bought the island of Mustique in 1958, spent a fortune developing it and was eventually living there more than not.

Though we still spent a lot of time together, we no longer shared a permanent home. Even so, I looked after him as much as I could. I was still his wife and that meant being at his side in public at his extravagant parties in the West Indies.

Had I not been living independently in England, I would probably have had to leave Colin entirely. As it was, I was able to stay married. I got on with it, and paradoxically grew more confident.

It was my choice, which I accept would not be everyone's  but I don't regret it.

Colin Tennant and Princess Margaret, at a gold themed 50th Birthday Party of Colin Tennant on Mustique, West Indies, November 22 1976

The one thing that began to change about Colin as he aged was his appearance. Ahead of the curve as always, he embraced cosmetic surgery.

He had his eyelids lifted and his bags done in his 40s, and after that he got a taste for it and started having facelifts. When I asked him why, he said that his job was selling land and houses to people on Mustique and they weren't going to buy anything from a decrepit old man.

I privately thought that they were very unlikely to trust someone who looked weird and surgically altered. Although his facelifts didn't look too bad, he did get that smooth, waxy sheen to his skin and his lifted eyes looked slightly odd.

Later in life, he also had dentures that were a little large for him, so if you weren't used to him, you could find him somewhat startling: smooth skin, lifted eyes and enormous white teeth.

Generally, he seemed to heal quite well from his operations but not always.

He was staying with me in London after one facelift, so that I could look after him while he recovered. I'd gone out for lunch and when I got back he wasn't there.

I went into the bathroom and, to my horror, it was drenched in blood. I nearly fainted on the spot. Off I rushed to the hospital to look for him and there he was, furious. I got an absolute earful.

'Typical!' he shouted. 'You weren't there when I needed you!'

'But, Colin,' I said, jolly relieved to see him alive, and no longer upset by his flashes of temper, 'what on earth happened?' It turned out his stitches had exploded, or that was what he claimed, but I suspect he'd tried to take out one or two himself. I couldn't blame him: he looked like Frankenstein's monster, as if he'd been patched up with thick black thread in a bad blanket stitch.

Colin's nasty experience of exploding stitches didn't put him off. He continued to have cosmetic operations, including several more facelifts and tweaks.

'You should get a facelift, Anne,' he told me sometimes. 'Why don't you get your neck done?'

'After your experience, I hardly want an exploding neck!' I replied.

I'm very glad I stuck to my guns and still look relatively normal.

Colin's temper never improved.

One day I was going to Royal Ascot with my dear friend Tim. He, his partner and I were in my flat in London, just getting ready to leave when Colin arrived unexpectedly. He was wearing something Tim admired. But when my friend went to feel the material of his lapel between his fingers  a perfectly innocuous gesture between such old friends  Colin simply whacked him as hard as he could and threw an absolute fit.

My neighbours knocked on the door to see what on earth was going on. Tim's shock was obvious, but his innate good manners meant he didn't respond angrily.

Now I wonder if part of that violent reaction might have been because Tim is openly gay.

People have often asked me if Colin was gay or bisexual. They were particularly suspicious after his will was read and it was found he'd left everything to Kent, his valet in the West Indies. The innuendo was continual and inescapable.

The truth is, I still don't know.

Colin always had male friends whom he mentored and encouraged, but he never gave me any indication that he was sleeping with them. On the other hand, I was painfully aware of the multiple affairs he had with women.

Perhaps Colin was bisexual but, in his strange way, couldn't bear the idea I might know, and his horror at Tim making even a slight intimate gesture was what had set him off. I remember when I came home that evening, Colin did apologise, saying he hoped he hadn't spoiled my day. I told him he hadn't, because I simply didn't let him upset me in the way he once had.

The christening of baby Charles Edward Pevensey, the son of Colin Tennant and Lady Anne in 1957

Lady Anne, then 23, in her wedding dress as she married Colin Tennant in 1956

In 1987, Colin moved to St Lucia, where he invested in an undeveloped 480-acre estate. He wanted to create somewhere as spectacular as Mustique, but this time his venture failed. He ended up living alone, tended to by Kent.

By 2010, it was clear he was dying of prostate cancer. I spent some time looking after him in the West Indies as he wouldn't come back to England for treatment.

Seeing him so thin and ill was desperately upsetting. One evening, after a session at the clinic we went back to where we were staying. We had separate bedrooms with a communicating door and that night I was crying quietly to myself, thinking Colin couldn't hear me.

He came in and climbed into the bed next to me, hugging me tightly. He hadn't done anything like that for years, and almost with surprise said: 'Oh you're quite slim, aren't you, and your skin is so smooth.'

It had been so long since he'd touched me, he'd forgotten what I was like. Then he said: 'It wasn't all bad, was it, Anne?'

'No, Colin,' I said. 'Of course not.'

I left soon after that to return to England for a week or two, but would never see him again. I was devastated by his death.

I still don't know why he took the awful decision to leave everything to his valet but I experienced it as one last flourish of his sadistic side, the side that revelled in the distress of others and which at times had made any sort of marriage to him seem an impossible burden.

I could not and would not be broken by him from beyond the grave, any more than I would allow it when he was alive. I made a conscious decision not to dwell on that final act of cruelty.

Our marriage had lasted for 54 years. I can now look back and feel proud that I managed to find a way to stay married to Colin  and even to agree with him that it wasn't all bad.
Britain's electronic spy agency, GCHQ, has enjoyed an unrivalled reputation as the pioneer of code-breaking since the days of Alan Turing in the Second World War.

It remained at the cutting edge of intercepting the communications of our adversaries right through the Cold War, and does the same remarkable job today.

But Britain's success in hacking other world leaders' plotting must not blind us to the skills of our rivals, or their ruthless targeting of our own institutions and those who run them.

It is a point made painfully clear by the revelation that Liz Truss  a former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister  has had her phone hacked and it is believed her private information may have been taken by the Russians. Moscow has long sought to steal our secrets. Now we are in a proxy war over Ukraine, its efforts have intensified.

Vladimir Putin's spymasters are targeting Whitehall just as much as Kyiv. Finding out what our leaders are discussing and what information they share with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a key goal. And it might seem less immediate, but we are also in a proxy war with China.

Vladimir Putin's spymasters are targeting Whitehall just as much as Kyiv. Finding out what our leaders are discussing and what information they share with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a key goal. And it might seem less immediate, but we are also in a proxy war with China

It is a point made painfully clear by the revelation that Liz Truss  a former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister  has had her phone hacked and it is believed her private information may have been taken by the Russians, writes Mark Almond

Vladimir Putin's spymasters are targeting Whitehall just as much as Kyiv. Finding out what our leaders are discussing and what information they share with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a key goal. And it might seem less immediate, but we are also in a proxy war with China

This is a state that we know to be adept at stealing military and commercial information  and which is determined to spread its malignant tentacles around the globe.

How much of Putin's information will be passed to China's President Xi, without whose tacit support, there could have been no invasion of Ukraine?

For both of these antagonists, the battleground is digital, and both have invested in spooks who specialise in artificial intelligence.

Armies of well-trained hackers are at work. Bunkers have been filled with the fastest computers scrolling through the whole world's electronic data to snatch key information out of zillions of gigabytes, scrutinising the entire digi-universe to pick out vulnerabilities.Careless WhatsApping costs lives, or reputations at the very least.

Putin has long been an expert in using 'kompromat' to discredit his domestic rivals with any juicy scandal his agents might uncover through bugged phone calls and illicitly obtained video.

Maybe the very success of GCHQ has made our own leaders complacent. But the theft of Ms Truss's data should shake up the rest of us as well. We have been sleeping

Maybe the very success of GCHQ has made our own leaders complacent. But the theft of Ms Truss's data should shake up the rest of us as well. We have been sleeping.

How many of us truly pay attention to digital security? It is a time-consuming bore. But it matters. The truth is, nothing digital is hack-proof. Nothing at all. Putin knows this very well, which is why he is personally reluctant to use a laptop or mobile phone.

It is time for voters and politicians alike to acknowledge that our faith in the breakneck progress of artificial intelligence is naive. So far from making us safer, it is threatening our security.

Then there is the human factor. Would we be surprised if ambitious politicians were the sort of people to assume that tedious security rules are for the lower ranks? I, for one, would not.

As the Russians themselves say: 'The fish rots from the head down.'
A 62-year-old New Yorker remembers how he was punched and shoved in an unprovoked subway attack and begged New York mayor Eric Adams to solve the crime problem there. He was distraught last Tuesday, describing he was a victim of a 'knockout game' when he was in transit.

'Knockout game' Could Be Reason for Subway Attack

The victim, Ronald Baptiste, an electrician and a married grandfather, said no one is doing something about it. Also, the subways are getting dangerous for people doing their thing, preyed on by criminals, reported New York Times.

He said he paid $2.75 for a ride in the MTA only to get struck in the head and hurled to the tracks by the miscreant. Furthermore, he wants to feel the subway is a safe place.

Baptiste explained that deploying cops to the subways will not solve the crimes if the homeless and criminals in the subway are there, it won't be safe. Homeless shelters are pointless if they don't leave the subway, noted Meaww.

Baptiste said that NYC is seen as a hotbed of crime and added that Mayor Eric Adams must do something.

NYC police revealed the assault on Baptiste is a depraved challenge on social media. The objective is to hit random strangers anywhere, and the culprits are mentally ill.

The NYC man was going to work in Manhattan last Sunday when he was assaulted by 21-year-old Deshaun Smith, who crept behind and hit the back of the victim's head in the subway. The suspect shoved Baptiste to the tracks and escaped. Cops caught him and charged him with assault on Monday. An attack at the 149th Street 4-train station is not the first.

Read Also: Joe Biden Uncomfortably Grabs Teen Girl's Shoulder During Administration's Visit in Southern California

The police arrested and charged the assailant last Monday. Deshaun is in Rikers Island with a $20,000 cash bail, said the courts.

Calls to Mayor Eric Adams To Stop Subway Crimes

He stated a plan to make citizens safe when using the subway is a goal, citing Pj Media.

The court papers remarked that Smith attempted to lie to the police when it was apparent it was a demented and unprovoked attack in self-defense. Baptiste felt vindicated his attacker was dealt with. The victim mentioned it was a murder attempt, adding that his head could have gotten a concussion, become a paraplegic, or worse, be crushed by the train.

Furthermore, claims by his guilty assailant of provocation were silly and a lie. Stressing that he was singled out by the surprise assault while walking. Also, such a shocking attack has given his wife great trauma. Baptiste related that when his wife went to work, she got to 149th Street and wept on the train. She told him she could not hold it later. He expressed dismay at her plight.

Violence on the transit is high and with nine crimes in 2022. The democrats claim to be doing something about it, solving the mentally unstable vagrant problem. Mayor Eric Adam expressed that he intends to stop more subway crimes.

Related Article: New York Brazen Robber Caught on Camera Stealing $17,000 from 66-Year-Old-Man After Dragging Helpless Victim on the Ground

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Princess Leonor and her parents were visiting winner of Exemplary Town Award

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were joined by their daughter Princess Leonor today as they visited the winner of the Exemplary Town of Asturias Award.

The Spanish royal family visited the parish of Cadaveu in Valdes on Saturday to celebrate the Princess of Asturias accolade, which is now in its 33rd year.

It is given to the town or village in Asturias 'that has stood out in a notable way in the defence and conservation of its natural, environmental setting, its historical and cultural heritage'.

The awards share their name with Princess Leonor, who is the Princess of Asturias.

Queen Letizia opted for smart casual for today's outing, in a striped black and white T-shirt and black tailored trousers. She completed her look with black leather shoes.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were joined by their daughter Princess Leonor today as they visited the winner of the Exemplary Town of Asturias Award

The Spanish royal family visited the parish of Cadaveu in Valdes on Saturday to celebrate the Princess of Asturias accolade, which is now in its 33rd year

The awards share their name with Princess Leonor, who is the Princess of Asturias

The Spanish royal, 50, wore her brunette locks loose for the occasion, and kept her make-up natural as she greeted locals and spoke with children in traditional dress.

Her eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 16, was just as stylish as her mother in a bright pink jumper and off-white cargo trousers. She swept her blonde hair back into a ponytail.

Leonor - who has a younger sister, Sofia - has been studying at UWC Atlantic College in Wales since September 2021, but returned home to Spain for half term.

Queen Letizia opted for smart casual for today's outing, in a striped black and white T-shirt and black tailored trousers. She completed her look with black leather shoes

The Spanish royal, 50, wore her brunette locks loose for the occasion, and kept her make-up natural as she greeted locals and spoke with children in traditional dress

Her eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 16, was just as stylish as her mother in a bright pink jumper and off-white cargo trousers. She swept her blonde hair back into a ponytail

Leonor - who has a younger sister, Sofia - has been studying at UWC Atlantic College in Wales since September 2021, but returned home to Spain for half term

Yesterday, the Spanish royal family met with victors of the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo, in the Principality of Asturias in the north of the country.

The Princess of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Princess of Asturias Foundation - previously the Prince of Asturias Foundation - to individuals, entities or organisations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities and public affairs.

Each recipient present at the ceremony receives a diploma, a sculpture expressly created for the awards by Spanish sculptor Joan Miro, and a pin with the emblem of the Foundation.

There is also a monetary prize of 50,000 euros for each category, this amount is shared if the category has more that one recipient.

The Princess of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Princess of Asturias Foundation - previously the Prince of Asturias Foundation - to individuals, entities or organisations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities and public affairs

The Spanish Princess Leonor plants a tree with residents of the village in Cadaveu, Spain

Princess Leonor and King Felipe greet cyclists as they visit the winning village in Spain

It comes as Leonor - who started her second year at the UWC Atlantic College at St Donat's Castle in Wales - is set to train with all three branches of Spain's military from September 2023.

The daughter of Felipe and Letizia will follow in her father's footsteps and will train with the army, the navy and the Spanish air force before moving on to the rest of her university studies.

Last month the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that Leonor's military training would culminate with a stint on board the Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a training ship used by the Spanish Navy.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were joined by their daughters Princesses Leonor and Sofia yesterday to greet the Princess of Asturias Award winners

Looking as elegant as ever, Letizia, 50, donned a recycled patterned dress from Spanish brand Cherubina, which she first wore when visiting Windsor in 2019

The Spanish royal family met with the victors in Oviedo, in the Principality of Asturias in the north of the country, prior to the annual awarding ceremony on Friday night

It was also revealed that the young Princess would go on to study law at university once her training with the military is complete.

Her choice of university has not been revealed yet, however, her educational trajectory is extremely similar to her father's, King Felipe VI.

After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy of Zaragozo, and went on to study at the Naval Military School in Marin.

He ended his training with a stint at the General Air Academy in San Javier.

His also completed his military training with a stint on the shop Juan Sebastian Elcano aged 18 in 1987, and went on to study law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
An NHS drive to save millions of pounds by using cheaper drugs to treat arthritis, the skin disease psoriasis and bowel disease could be seriously damaging the health of some patients.

Readers of The Mail on Sunday who have these debilitating conditions have told how their symptoms returned when doctors swapped their usual medication, called Humira, to save cash.

Some who had been living largely symptom-free thanks to their fortnightly jabs of Humira became ill again within weeks of the changeover. Psoriasis patients described bleeding and peeling skin after being made to swap, while arthritis sufferers saw their joint pain and swelling return. One bowel-disease sufferer said he developed severe kidney problems. Humira, also known as adalimumab, is an inflammation-fighting treatment which patients inject themselves with. It is also one of the NHSs most expensive treatments, costing about 10,000 per patient per year.

Since 2018, when the patent for Humira expired, doctors have been under strict instructions from NHS England to replace it with low-cost alternatives, called biosimilars, to save 150million a year.

These drugs, such as Amgevita, Hyrimoz and Imraldi, are said to work in exactly the same way as Humira but cost only about 3,500 a year.

They are cheaper because, unlike the drug firm that first developed Humira, companies making biosimilars did not have to invest heavily in research and clinical trials to get them approved.

Amanda Wayne (pictured), 34, a design studio manager from Enfield, was swapped from Humira to Amgevita for her Crohns disease in February 2019

However, when our GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon recently highlighted potential problems with the cost-cutting drive, many readers got in touch to tell how it had affected them.

Some faced a fight to get back on to Humira, or were told it was not an option. Others were advised by their specialist to exaggerate their pain levels when questioned, in the hope of being switched back.

These testimonies call into question the NHS policy of swapping at least 80 per cent of patients who are on biologics  such as Humira, Enbrel (etanercept) and Remicade (infliximab), all used for inflammatory arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease  to cut-price copies to make money available for essential services.

My husband has severe Crohns [an inflammatory bowel disease] and was switched from Humira to a biosimilar, which is causing lots of side effects, including very painful sore eyes and worsening fistula [a painful lesion in the back passage due to inflammation]. What can we do? asked one reader.

Another, an arthritis patient, wrote: I was switched from Humira to a biosimilar called Hyrimoz in 2019. Since then Ive experienced multiple side effects, so my GP suggested writing to my rheumatologist to request going back on Humira. I wrote recently and so far no response  Im not feeling optimistic.

A third, who managed to persuade her doctor to switch her back on to Humira when her psoriasis symptoms worsened on a biosimilar, wrote: Humira was working well and my joints and skin were healed. Then I got a letter stating that, as a cost-cutting exercise, I would be changed to a drug called Idacio. After just two injections my skin was covered in psoriasis scales, which were bleeding and peeling. My joints were swollen and painful. I took pictures and sent them to my rheumatologist, and after a long deliberation I was changed back to my original prescription.

Humira, one of the best-selling medicines in history, is widely regarded as a wonder drug that has, over the past decade or so, transformed the lives of tens of thousands of Britons (stock image)

Some who had been living largely symptom-free thanks to their fortnightly jabs of Humira became ill again within weeks of the changeover (stock image)

However, it seems she was one of the lucky ones.

Humira, one of the best-selling medicines in history, is widely regarded as a wonder drug that has, over the past decade or so, transformed the lives of tens of thousands of Britons.

It works by stopping a protein released by the immune system called tumour necrosis factor (TNF) from attacking healthy tissue, which causes inflammation in parts of the body. This inflammatory response sparks the pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis, bowel problems in Crohns and skin damage in psoriasis and other conditions. But its high price was a major financial drain on the NHS. Last year, Humira manufacturer AbbVie was accused in the US by a congressional probe of repeatedly hiking the drugs price to cash in on its popularity.

In the past few years, thousands of patients have been switched to cheaper biosimilars. Mostly, they have been just as effective.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU'VE BEEN DENIED HUMIRA YOU CAN SAY NO : Patients have the right to refuse any medication or treatment. According to the Patients Association, switching from a biologic (like Humira) to a biosimilar is a clinical decision and the patient has to agree to it. ASK TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR : Some patients are not being asked for their consent and are being told only by letter that their drug is being changed. Ask to see or speak to your doctor and get them to explain why they think the change may benefit you. PUT IT IN WRITING : If youre still not happy, write to the practice manager (if your GP is managing your care) or, if its a hospital, the trusts Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), which will investigate on your behalf. QUOTE THE EXPERTS : The British Society for Rheumatology says patients should be switched back (for example to Humira) if the biosimilar is less effective, or if the patient has significant new side effects or finds the device they have to use to take the biosimilar difficult to use. A short video on switching to biosimilar drugs is available at patients-association.org.uk. Advertisement

However, a 2019 study by Manchester University researchers, looking at 760 patients transferred to biosimilars, found nearly ten per cent were eventually swapped back to their original medicine because the cheaper copy did not work.

Another study, published this year in the British Medical Journal, found that a third of 900 patients who were changed to biosimilars were not at all satisfied with their new medicine.

And more than half  53 per cent  were not asked if they were happy to be switched. Most were simply told of the swap, whether they liked it or not, in many cases by letter.

This happened even though the Patients Association, in a leaflet on biosimilar medicines, states: You should be given the opportunity to speak to your doctor, nurse or specialist before deciding whether or not to switch to the biosimilar.

Similar problems have been seen with the biosimilars of drugs used as alternatives to Humira. A 2021 study by Spanish researchers that looked at 176 patients swapped from Enbrel to a cheaper biosimilar found more than one in four quit taking it within 18 months because it didnt work.

Rheumatoid arthritis sufferer Cris Hickman, 79, from Bexhill in East Sussex, contacted The Mail on Sunday to say she had six problem-free years on Humira.

I had a good quality of life and it stopped the condition from spreading to my hands, which was wonderful as I am an artist.

But in 2019, doctors wrote to her saying they were switching her to cheaper Amgevita to save money for the NHS.

I felt morally pressured into it, says Cris, but my symptoms returned within a couple of months. My joints became swollen and painful and I felt exhausted.

When I called the hospital team, a nurse said they got similar complaints all the time. Thankfully, her specialist agreed to put her back on Humira quickly. I dont know what I would have done if they had said no, she says.

But others have been less lucky.

Amanda Wayne, 34, a design studio manager from Enfield, was swapped from Humira to Amgevita for her Crohns disease in February 2019. She says: I spent the majority of my 20s on failing medications and struggling to live the normal twentysomething life. I started taking Humira aged 28 and it finally gave me the stability I needed.

She was told in a letter that she was being put on cheaper Amgevita, and her symptoms returned within weeks. The impact was enormous. The fatigue was awful. Id wake in the morning feeling like my body was a lead weight and Id have to drag myself out of bed.

After the switch my symptoms returned with a vengeance. Just showering left me utterly exhausted...

Just having a shower left me utterly exhausted. I was running on empty before the day had even started. And I was needing the toilet six or seven times a day.

When she reported her deterioration to her medical team, she says they were sceptical. In an email, she was told that Amgevita was no different to swapping from a branded painkiller to a cut-price supermarket one.

Worse, she was told she could not go back on Humira as it was no longer on the pathway of approved drugs used by her local NHS authority.

This was despite the NHS website saying: If a biosimilar is not working for you, you can discuss with your specialist the possibility of switching back to Humira or a different biosimilar.

Amanda spent the next 18 months trying different biosimilar drugs, but her symptoms persisted. She found renewed relief only earlier this year when she was put back on another type of biologic, Remicade, though it has to be given as an infusion by a nurse at hospital rather than injected at home. Biosimilar drugs are anything but an exact copy of the drugs that they are supposed to mimic.

In the past few years, thousands of patients have been switched to cheaper biosimilars. Mostly, they have been just as effective

Most generic medicines  such as supermarket versions of the painkiller Nurofen  are made by mixing the exact same active ingredients in a lab. The only real differences are elements such as colouring and flavouring.

But making biologic medicines  and their copies  is a much more complex and costly procedure.

First, scientists must add a fragment of DNA, which is needed to make the drugs, to a living cell  such as a yeast, bacteria or animal cell. Humira, for example, uses ovarian cells from hamsters.

The DNA then instructs the internal machinery of the cell to produce large quantities of a specific protein to put in the drug  turning the live cell into a mini-medicine factory.

This protein must then be extracted from the cell and used to make drugs like Humira, a liquid that is supplied in a syringe to patients to inject at home.

But because the drugs are made with live cells, and each one is marginally different to another, it can lead to tiny variations in the molecular structure of the proteins that are produced, which means the drugs are not precise copies of the original. Experts believe this may explain why some biosimilars appear to be less effective in a minority of patients.

Manufacturers do not have to prove in clinical trials that their drugs are as good as the originals, in terms of their effect on patients. Instead, says the European Medicines Agency, they only have to show cheaper copies do not have any clinically meaningful differences from the biologic.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests they dont always work as well. Kristina Boon, a 71-year-old psoriasis and arthritis sufferer from Harrogate, described as carnage what happened after she switched from Humira to the medicine Idacio.

My joints and skin were healed thanks to Humira, she says. But after just two injections [of Idacio], my skin was covered in psoriasis scales which were bleeding and peeling. My joints were swollen and very painful.

After a long deliberation I was changed back to Humira. But, for some reason, it had stopped working.

Indeed, about one in four patients on biologic or biosimilar drugs can become resistant to their effects.

Most generic medicines  such as supermarket versions of the painkiller Nurofen  are made by mixing the exact same active ingredients in a lab. The only real differences are elements such as colouring and flavouring (stock image)

Experts know that a small number of patients dont respond well to biosimilar drugs.

Professor Paul Emery, from the rheumatic and musculoskeletal medicine unit at Leeds University, says: Some people do better on biosimilars, and others do worse. That may be due to small differences in the drugs composition.

He says the complex production process involved means that there can be very slight variations between batches.

But he adds: When, in Leeds, we switched patients to biosimilars, we gave them the option of going back to their original one if they were not happy. Nobody did.

Ruth Wakeman, director of services, advocacy and evidence at the charity Crohns and Colitis UK, says flare-ups cant necessarily be blamed on cheaper drugs. People with Crohns can go into sudden decline and experience a flare-up because these drugs can stop working, she adds. Some wrongly think this has happened because they were switched to a biosimilar drug. But it could just be coincidence.

NHS England declined to comment on the reports of biosimilars failing and said the decision to put a patient back on original biologic drugs lay with individual NHS trusts.

Paul Fleming, technical director for the British Biosimilars Association, which represents manufacturers, says: There are monitoring systems to pick up any issues with patient switching, but no significant problems are being reported as we understand.

But he stresses that patients must be involved in the decision to swap. It rests with the doctor working in consultation with the patient  its really important that these conversations take place.

But the introduction of biosimilar alternatives to Humira has already saved the NHS more than 400 million, money that can be reinvested into patient care.

However, research shows that the price of Humira and other biologics has fallen sharply during the four years they have faced stiff competition from low-cost alternatives, and some patients say such findings make it harder to justify denying them the drugs that they know work for them.

Amanda Wayne says: Its unacceptable that a patient can be taken off an effective drug, have it replaced with one that is less effective and then be refused the chance to return.
The UK could be hit with a second wave of monkeypox cases if efforts to vaccinate against it are not improved, experts have warned.

While the number of infections has fallen, doctors believe this is due to changes in sexual behaviour rather than the success of the vaccination campaign.

Just over half of those eligible for the jab, which provides strong protection against the painful blistering disease, have come forward.

The condition predominantly affects gay men, and is spread through close physical contact  typically sex.

In some cases, monkeypox can kill. Last week it was announced that two men in the US had died after contracting the disease.

Just over half of those eligible for the jab (above), which provides strong protection against the painful blistering disease, have come forward

Doctors involved in the UK roll-out say attempts to get more men to come forward for the vaccine have been hampered by a lack of Government support.

Vaccinators involved in the roll-out in the summer have now been redeployed to help deliver flu, polio and MMR jabs, and Covid boosters. This means many clinics do not have enough staff to offer the monkeypox vaccine.

We're just not ready for another spike in cases

Earlier this month, NHS England launched a website which would help men find their nearest monkeypox vaccine clinic. But doctors say many clinics advertised are not able to offer jabs.

There are many sites outside London which are either not ready or not able to provide monkeypox vaccines, says Dr John McSorley, a consultant sexual health expert at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. The NHS is promoting this website but most clinics on there wont be able to deliver.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, there were 12 new monkeypox cases last week, down from a high of around 150 new cases every week in August.

But experts say this could quickly change. Cases are down because people are worried about catching it and are having less sex, says Dr Claire Dewsnap of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV.

We know this because new cases of other sexual diseases like syphilis are also down. But people will go back to their old sexual patterns, so we need to be ready for another spike in monkeypox cases. Given the state of the vaccine roll-out, we are far from ready for that.

An NHS spokesman said: Over 100 clinics opted to be part of the site finder to ensure those not in contact with sexual health services can get protected.
The daughter of Dragons Den tycoon Peter Jones has told how a crippling condition suffered by millions of women has almost destroyed her dreams of being a mother  at the age of just 29.

Annabelle Jones, who is single and lives in Oxfordshire, was diagnosed two years ago with endometriosis, where tissue that would normally form the lining of the womb starts to grow in other parts of the body.

Growths can appear in the ovaries, bowel, bladder  even occasionally the spine, lungs or brain. Since it behaves just like womb tissue, swelling and bleeding every month during a womans period, it triggers inflammation, extreme pain and internal scarring.

And because it is often dismissed by doctors as merely heavy periods, many women go undiagnosed for years. The charity Endometriosis UK says 1.5 million women in Britain are affected, and on average it takes eight years to be properly diagnosed. In Annabelles case, it took ten.

For some, the pain is so bad that it affects their education, career, sex life and mental health  with some surveys showing that up to half those with the condition have experienced suicidal thoughts.

Annabelle Jones (pictured), who is single and lives in Oxfordshire, was diagnosed two years ago with endometriosis, where tissue that would normally form the lining of the womb starts to grow in other parts of the body

The precise cause is unknown but it is thought to be due to a number of factors  including family history or a malfunctioning immune system.

Many women with endometriosis can conceive, such as Love Island star Molly Mae Hague, who is currently expecting a baby with her partner Tommy Fury.

But Annabelles case is severe, and complicated by the fact she also suffers with polycystic ovary syndrome, where problems with the ovaries trigger a hormone imbalance in the body and lead to irregular periods.

Now, just five months from her 30th birthday, she has been advised her best option is a full hysterectomy  a major operation to remove all her reproductive organs, including her ovaries.

While it could end her suffering, it would also leave her unable to have children biologically.

It has broken my heart, says Annabelle, the eldest of Peter Joness five children. It took ten years to be properly diagnosed with endometriosis, when I was 27. Before that I was constantly told I just had bad periods. There were endless doctors appointments and countless scans, and I was prescribed a range of different contraceptive pills.

Annabelles case is severe, and complicated by the fact she also suffers with polycystic ovary syndrome, where problems with the ovaries trigger a hormone imbalance in the body and lead to irregular periods. Pictured: Peter Jones on the set of Dragons' Den

After a referral to an NHS gynaecologist failed to reach an accurate diagnosis, Annabelle went private. It still took four more years and appointments with three different consultants at a Spire Healthcare private hospital in Surrey before her problem was discovered, in August 2020.

Annabelle, who works in a nursing home, says: It is crazy what we have to go through to get a diagnosis.

I had told numerous doctors and nurses that I had the symptoms, but was ignored. Is lying on the floor screaming and crying in pain, being sick and fainting not bad enough? My endometriosis could have been more controlled if I had been diagnosed sooner.

Two rounds of keyhole surgery to remove the build-up of cells caused by the endometriosis have not bought her time, as expected, and have not resolved the problem. After a brutally honest conversation with her consultant, it was agreed that a hysterectomy was the only other option.

Most women having this surgery are in their forties or fifties and now Annabelle is in a race against time to try to conceive and give birth before having her reproductive organs removed.

She plans to postpone the operation for up to three years if possible and paid a private clinic last month to extract 32 of her eggs. She is waiting to hear how many are viable for freezing, but she hopes those that are will give her the option to conceive using a sperm donor in the event she does not meet a willing partner in the meantime.

Many women with endometriosis can conceive, such as Love Island star Molly Mae Hague (left), who is currently expecting a baby with her partner Tommy Fury (right)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) says the average cost of having eggs collected and frozen is 3,350, with an extra 350 for storage. Thawing costs another 2,500  bringing the total bill to about 8,000 or more.

But HFEA warns that the success rates for frozen eggs are low, and some research suggests fewer than one in five women who use their frozen eggs to try to conceive are successful.

But Annabelle believes her wish to be a parent makes it a gamble worth taking. I really cannot process it all, especially when those around me are announcing pregnancies, or are getting married, which normally means babies will be thought about soon.

Annabelle says the pain each month is so unbearable it leaves her screaming in agony. Sometimes, even the strongest dose of prescribed medication  the opioid-based painkiller co-codamol  doesnt help.

She believes that much will depend on whether she can continue to tolerate the period pain, which drastically limits her social life and threatens to jeopardise her ability to go about her everyday life. I dont want to have another three years of my periods the way they are, Annabelle says. But time is running out.

The hardest part is, I cannot imagine life without being a mum. I would give everything not to go through this right now.
Millions of people around the world are living with long Covid  yet it remains something of a puzzle.

The condition affects multiple organs and bodily systems, causing a huge variety of problems to varying degrees of severity and duration. Crucially, they vary from person to person, and are not likely to be consistent  they can come and go.

And the vast majority suffered only a mild initial Covid infection, not requiring hospitalisation. But for almost all who experience it  long-haulers, as they are sometimes called  the illness impairs every aspect of life.

Take, for example, fatigue  the most commonly reported symptom. You might imagine it to be similar to the tiredness felt at the end of a long day.

But the crippling, systemic exhaustion that long Covid causes is on an entirely different level.

Even simple activities like reading or watching TV are too much, let along the idea of being able to hold a conversation.

Millions of people around the world are living with long Covid  yet it remains something of a puzzle (stock image)

Without making an exhaustive list of all the 203 known symptoms, they include brain fog  also known as cognitive dysfunction  chest pains and breathlessness, insomnia, palpitations, dizziness, joint pain, depression and anxiety, nausea and other distressing digestive issues, food intolerances and allergies, headaches, skin rashes, hair loss, menstrual changes, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, hallucinations it goes on and on.

The broad-ranging problems fall outside the remit of any one medical specialist, making diagnosis and treatment a challenge. But our understanding is evolving  and far from being a lost cause, there are therapies raising hopes of recovery.

The NHS has been ahead of the curve in setting up long Covid clinics  there are about 80 across the UK. Yet they are inundated, and able to handle just 5,000 new patients a month in total.

At this rate, it could take five years for all those severely affected to be seen.

And the treatments on offer in these places can be limited. Doctors who work in long Covid clinics have told us their role is more to refer patients to specialist clinics where they can get help for specific symptoms.

Its important to say there is a paucity of scientific evidence in this area. Before NHS doctors can recommend treatment, they need to have gone through large controlled clinical trials. No specific long Covid therapy has met this bar, so far.

Yet those who feel theyve already waited too long may just try things theyve heard about online. It begs the question: with so many treatments being touted, what is worth exploring? And more importantly, what should be avoided?

Over-the-counter antihistamines, usually taken for allergy relief, may help, emerging evidence suggests (stock image)

Weve spent month combing the data and found a handful of small studies that show promise, which are worth knowing about before making any decisions. Of course, its vital you speak to your GP before embarking on any new treatment, as there may be complex interactions with existing medication. With that disclaimer out of the way, lets dive in

HAY FEVER TABLETS START TO SHOW HOPE OF RELIEF

Over-the-counter antihistamines, usually taken for allergy relief, may help, emerging evidence suggests.

In one study, University College London researchers gave 26 long Covid sufferers the tablets, and 19 reported complete or partial resolution of their symptoms. Of 23 patients who werent given the pills, only six reported improved symptoms in the same period.

The drugs work by blocking the activity of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system. In some people, production can go haywire in response to certain substances  such as pollen  triggering unwanted symptoms.

Histamine is produced by immune system cells called mast cells  which are thought to become over-active in some people after Covid infection. In theory, by dampening this activity, the symptoms of long Covid could be reduced.

Anecdotally, antihistamines help control skin rashes, fevers, chest pain, mouth ulcers and other problems experienced by some long haulers. Experts suggest trying different over-the-counter brands to see which work best.

ASPIRIN MAY HELP AND NOT JUST FOR PAIN

Studies show almost one in five long Covid sufferers have persistent tension-like headaches. Its still not clear why, but one theory is the immune system reacts to long Covid symptoms by repeatedly activating the trigeminal nerve in the head, triggering pain.

DON'T BET ON THE HORSE DE-WORMER Ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug used to protect children from severe infections in developing nations  and also used in veterinary medicine, hence the horse de-wormer epithet  has been mooted as a Covid treatment. Early lab studies showed it had antiviral activity. Clinical trials also produced spectacular results, with 88 per cent of hospitalised Covid patients recovering in one trial and 94 per cent in another. Unfortunately, these studies were revealed to either be flawed or made up. Despite this, there are long Covid patients who have given it a go. Anecdotally, some have said it made them feel better. Others claim that it made no difference. Side effects can include vision problems, rashes, confusion, swollen glands, stomach and joint pain, and increased heart rate. We cant recommend that anyone take ivermectin, no matter how desperate they might feel. Advertisement

Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin may give some relief but if the pain persists, it may be necessary to ask your GP for something stronger.

But beware that prescription painkillers can be addictive if used regularly for more than 12 weeks.

The benefits of certain painkillers could go beyond just soothing long Covid-related headaches.

For example, in low doses, aspirin or ibuprofen both have anti-platelet properties (platelets are cells that make blood clot) and could be used to counter the sticky blood that many long-haulers experience, thought to increase the risk of micro-clotting, one of the conditions apparent features.

But as things stand, there is little published research to support this and you should not routinely take aspirin or ibuprofen without your GPs say-so as long-term use is linked with gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney damage and possibly even increased risk of a stroke or heart attack.

ADDICTION-BUSTING TABLETS COULD WORK

A drug used to combat opioid addiction might not be the most obvious choice in the fight against long Covid, but experts increasingly believe it could be key. Naltrexone blocks the effect of opioid drugs  such as heroin and fentanyl  on the body, reducing cravings for these highly addictive substances.

But in very low doses  under a tenth of what is used to treat opioid patients  it can function as a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory.

It has already been shown to benefit patients suffering from a condition known as chronic fatigue  or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)  a long-term illness similar to long Covid.

A US study investigating the effect of naltrexone in long Covid patients was launched in January last year and is expected to be completed next month.

Its a promising treatment, and the results of this study are eagerly awaited.

Without making an exhaustive list of all the 203 known symptoms, they include brain fog  also known as cognitive dysfunction  chest pains and breathlessness, insomnia, palpitations, dizziness, joint pain, depression and anxiety (stock image)

DO NERVE JABS IN THE NECK EASE DISCOMFORT?

Some long Covid patients have reported improvements after undergoing a procedure called a stellate ganglion block.

The stellate ganglion are bundles of nerves in the neck, situated either side of the voice box, responsible for temperature regulation and the bodys danger response (speeding up heart rate and dilating blood vessels to deliver blood to the limbs, aiding movement).

Injections of long-acting anaesthetic into the area blocks messages being transmitted by the nerves  and the jabs are offered as a treatment for menopausal hot flushes, excessive sweating, some kinds of head and limb pain, and also post-traumatic stress disorder, in which patients suffer panic attacks among other problems.

Some experts believe long Covid symptoms might be due to misfiring or unbalanced nervous system responses, and that offering a stellate ganglion block might help. Two case reports published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology showed positive results.

PILL THAT WE KNOW WORKS Last week, the US National Institutes of Health announced a billion-dollar trial to see if an anti-viral drug called Paxlovid could help millions of long-Covid suffers around the world. The drug will be tested on 1,700 long-haulers after smaller studies  combined with anecdotal reports from many long Covid sufferers  suggested it can banish many of the crippling symptoms. The drug has already proved its worth fighting acute infection  when patients first fall ill with Covid. A study in the British Medical Journal in November last year showed that for patients given the tablets within three days of Covid symptoms appearing, their risk of needing to be admitted to hospital with Covid or dying from it was slashed by almost 90 per cent. The theory is that it may also help some long Covid sufferers because, in some cases, the virus hangs around in the body long after the initial infection  continuing to cause a wide range of symptoms. Some medics have been calling for a large-scale long Covid trial for more than a year. The new US study should help identify who is likely to benefit most from the drug. Its early days  but were aware of many long-haulers who have taken Paxlovid and found themselves almost back to normal. Advertisement

A 42-year-old woman who had the injections found that almost all her symptoms, including loss of taste and smell, fatigue, chest pain, memory issues and dizziness, reduced in severity. Its not available on the NHS, but some private pain clinics in the UK give stellate ganglion blocks to long Covid patients. To find them, the best place to start is a Google search.

TRY A BRAIN ZAPPER BUT IT COULD BE COSTLY

Many long-haulers weve spoken to swear by gadgets that stimulates the vagus nerve  the longest and most complex of the cranial nerves which runs from the brain stem to the abdomen, branching into numerous organs. To use these devices, you connect electrodes to the ear, shoulder or neck. They send a mild electrical signal through the skin to the vagus nerve.

Used alongside meditation or good old-fashioned rest, it can help with the exhaustion felt after exertion that many long Covid patients experience. There are a number of machines on sale, including the Alpha Stim, which NHS watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said showed promise in treating anxiety. But be warned, they often cost hundreds of pounds.

BE WARY OF CLAIMS MADE FOR A MIX OF STATINS

One eye-catching US study publicised earlier this year involved giving 18 long-haulers a combination of prevastatin  tablets usually given to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent heart attacks  and maraviroc, an antiviral originally developed to treat HIV.

After six weeks, wide-ranging improvement in symptoms  including memory and breathing problems and fatigue  were seen.

Its believed that the drug combination may have an effect on the bodys inflammatory responses.

However, there is too little evidence for NHS backing, and a private prescription for the medicines could cost up to 1,000 per month.

There is also a risk of some quite severe side effects from maraviroc, including body aches, widespread pain, excessive mucous and dizziness. Far more research would be needed before it was safe to try.

A drug used to combat opioid addiction might not be the most obvious choice in the fight against long Covid, but experts increasingly believe it could be key (stock image)

Weve spent month combing the data and found a handful of small studies that show promise, which are worth knowing about before making any decisions

ANTIDEPRESSANTS CAN TREAT SEVERAL SYMPTOMS

Antidepressants can be repurposed to treat a number of long Covid symptoms. The drugs work by regulating serotonin levels in the body  a chemical in the brain believed to regulate mood.

This is crucial in the fight against anxiety and depression.

However, one such drug, amitriptyline, has been shown to help cut the headaches that affect 15 per cent of long-haulers, as well as relieve pain and improve sleep.

Another, mirtazapine, can also help with sleep problems as well as improve appetites.

An Italian study published last January found that more than 90 per cent of patients suffering from post-Covid depression saw their moods significantly uplifted after they began taking the antidepressants. This is one aspect of long Covid we know we can successfully combat.

ANTI-BLOOD CLOT TABLETS SHOW SOME PROMISE

Increasing evidence suggests that the Covid virus damages the lining of blood vessels  increasing the risk of blood clots, which restrict the flow of blood around the body, leading to fatigue, brain fog and nausea.

And this is why the drug sulodexide has been investigated. It is given to patients who have developed potentially life-threatening blood clot conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, as it can quickly improve the circulation. But a study published this year in the Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases investigated the effects of giving sulodexide to 79 long Covid patients. Three weeks later, the recipients saw a marked improved in their symptoms, including chest pain, heart palpitations, fatigue and brain fog.

Further studies, involving a larger patient group, will need to replicate these results before it can be given to UK long Covid sufferers.

Of course, its vital you speak to your GP before embarking on any new treatment, as there may be complex interactions with existing medication. With that disclaimer out of the way, lets dive in

SPEND SOME TIME IN AN OXYGEN CHAMBER

Some studies suggest that damage to the blood vessels caused by the virus might impair the flow of oxygen to muscles and other parts of the body, triggering breathlessness and fatigue. Experts have suggested a technique called hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could counter this issue.

Patients are placed inside a pressurised tank filled with much more oxygen than in standard air.

Breathing in concentrated oxygen raises the amount which enters the blood and gets delivered throughout the body.

HBOT is already used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning, gangrene and decompression sickness experienced by deep sea divers, otherwise known as the bends. In a UK study, ten Britons with long Covid were given ten hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions each, over a 12-day period. They reported a significant improvement in fatigue and brain fog, however its not clear how long-lasting the effects are.

This is worrying, as the treatment is expensive. Private high street health clinics often offer HBOT from 100 per session. But these machines are typically not as powerful as the one used in this study, which was medical-grade, costing thousands of pounds per session.
BP will no doubt fan flames of the windfall tax row next week with another round of bumper profits on the back of high oil and gas prices.

Rival Shell this week posted quarterly profits of more than 8billion which, although lower than its record second quarter, allowed it to dish out an additional 3.5billion in share buybacks as well as a 15 per cent dividend hike.

BP investors will be hoping the FTSE100 giant can replicate these payouts, considering the group is better placed to take advantage of higher energy prices due to spending cuts and debt repayments.

But next Tuesday's figures for the third quarter are likely to spark fresh calls for a windfall tax on the industry.

There will be interest in whether BP beats its second quarter profit of 7.4billion.

Investors will also be eyeing new share buybacks. BP has already unveiled 6.4billion of stock repurchases this year.

Its focus on costs will likely keep a lid on production rises which, while good for green campaigners, may provide little comfort to households and motorists hoping for energy prices to fall and lower bills.

Shareholders will also be keeping an eye on whether the group has managed to reduce its debt due to the oil price boom.

BP's debt is now 60 per cent lower than its peak of 50billion reached in the first quarter of 2020.

Finally, activists and investors may look to BP boss Bernard Looney for updates on the firm's transition to renewable energy ahead of next month's Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.
Shares in Centrica rose after it reopened Britain's largest gas storage facility amid moves to prevent blackouts this winter.

The British Gas owner said its Rough site would operate at around 20 per cent of its previous capacity and add 50 per cent to UK reserves.

It is the first time in five years that Centrica has pumped gas into the site. The firm said Rough can store up to 30billion cubic feet of gas for homes and businesses over this winter and 2023.

Boost: Centrica said its Rough site would operate at around 20 per cent of its previous capacity and add 50 per cent to UK reserves

It comes as the Government looks to ramp up domestic energy sources amid blackout warnings as the Ukraine war hits supplies.

Centrica boss Chris O'Shea said: 'In the short term, we think Rough can help our energy system by storing natural gas when there is a surplus and producing this gas when the country needs it during cold snaps and peak demand.

'Rough is not a silver bullet for energy security, but it is a key part of a range of steps which can be taken to help the UK this winter.'

Yet the site off the Yorkshire coast is expected to meet only 1 per cent of demand on a cold day. Credit Suisse said the 'economics of storage is highly attractive' as gas prices are expected to rise. Shares gained 5 per cent, or 3.5p, to 73.2p.

The FTSE 100 was down 0.37 per cent, or 26.02 points, to 7047.67 and the FTSE 250 fell 0.91 per cent, or 165.25 points, to 17,916.67.

Banking stocks took a hit following NatWest's bleak results. Shares in Lloyds fell 3.5 per cent, or 1.5p, to 41.3p while Barclays was down 2.5 per cent, or 3.8p, to 146.4p and Standard Chartered slid 3 per cent, or 16.2p, to 519.6p.

Meanwhile, mining giant Glencore fell 0.9 per cent, or 4.3p, to 496.8p even though it lowered forecasts for the year on zinc, nickel and coal production following a series of setbacks.

Zinc production in the three months to September was affected by supply problems in Kazakhstan linked to the war in Ukraine.

And worker strikes at mines in Canada and Norway hit nickel production, while severe flooding in Australia affected Glencore's coal output.

Gambling firm Flutter met some of its largest investors following a backlash over executive pay at its annual general meeting earlier this year.

The owner of Paddy Power and Betfair said it will provide an update on discussions over a new policy when its annual report for the year is published.

Shares slid 2.7 per cent, or 310p, to 11245p. Shares in fashion retailer Asos fell 11.3 per cent, or 73p, to 573p following a broker downgrade.

Construction firm Grafton Group appointed the former boss of aviation firm Swissport International AG as its chief executive. Eric Born will replace Gavin Stark at the helm of the builders' merchant next month. Shares sank 3.3 per cent, or 23.4p, to 692.6p.

And Computacenter fell 4.1 per cent, or 79p, to 1829p after the tech hardware seller warned it would prioritise investments in IT and cyber-security over profit in the short term. The group said such investments are vital for its 'long-term success'.

Computacenter also said its supply chain challenges and high levels of inventory would persist through to next year.

IGas Energy criticised the Government for re-imposing the ban on fracking in the middle of an energy crisis.

The group said it was 'shocked and disappointed' at the decision, adding that the U-turn 'risks driving investment away'. But its shares rose 8.3 per cent, or 2.3p, to 30p.

Elsewhere, United Oil & Gas celebrated a positive result after it drilled a well in the Western Desert in Egypt.
The defence giant behind anti-tank weapons Britain has sent to Ukraine posted rising profits as nations re-arm in the face of more military threats.

Saab, which makes the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) that has played a major role in Ukrainian resistance to Russia's invasion, said earnings rose 13.6 per cent to 45million in the third quarter of the year.

The Swedish firm, which builds everything from warships and fighter jets to missiles and radar systems, said it would continue to benefit from increased defence spending in the coming years.

Easy to use: The 27.5lb rocket launcher is dubbed the ultimate tank killer and the UK has sent more than 5,000 to Ukraine

'It's a multiple-year growth opportunity that we see in Europe and elsewhere, at least until 2030,' said Saab chief executive Micael Johansson.

The 27.5lb rocket launcher is dubbed the ultimate tank killer and the UK has sent more than 5,000 to Ukraine.

Their lightness makes them easy to carry and use. A soldier can be trained to use them in less than a day.

Military analysts believe that the weapons were critical to the defeat of Russian advances in the early stages of the war.
A showdown between the Government and banks is on the cards as industry bosses push against higher taxes on the sector.

As Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt look to plug a hole in the country's finances, banks have emerged as a possible target.

The Prime Minister and Chancellor are looking at keeping the 8 per cent bank surcharge, even after corporation tax rises from 19 per cent to 25 per cent next April. This would push taxes on bank profits to 33 per cent.

Showdown: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is looking to plug a hole in the nation's finances

When Sunak was Chancellor, he promised to cut the surcharge to 3 per cent so when corporation tax rose to 25 per cent, banks would pay 28 per cent.

Another option would be to tax profits lenders make on money stored with the Bank of England.

But NatWest boss Alison Rose said: 'Banks based in the UK already pay a considerable amount of tax, more than any other sector and more than any of our peers in other locations around the world.'

She added that 'consistency and certainty' in tax and regulation was needed but she conceded a windfall tax was 'ultimately a decision for the Government'. Earlier this week HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn rejected suggestions banks should temporarily pay more tax to help fill the hole in UK finances.

'I would hope there isn't a windfall tax, but that's a matter for the Chancellor to decide,' he said.

Barclays boss CS Venkatakrishnan has warned higher levies on banks could hammer competitiveness.

He said a 'predictable tax regime' was key to London's success as a global financial centre.
An Australian schoolgirl has developed a baffling illness after getting a Covid jab, with the teenager suffering a rare reaction that has left her in excruciating pain and often bed-bound for the past year.

Faith Ranson, now 17, developed painful muscle twitches and intense abdominal pain due to rare side effects doctors believe is linked to a second Pfizer she received in August 2021.

Her mother Tania revealed she was told by a professor of immunology that her daughter's health condition was a reaction to her vaccination.

'There is no question Faith has had a delayed reaction to the second Pfizer vaccination,' the doctor, who asked not to be named, wrote in an email which has been seen by Daily Mail Australia.

'She is likely atopic or allergy prone based on history. This collection of symptoms I have characterized as post viral like symptoms.'

This opinion was supported by Dr Ross Walker, a Sydney cardiologist who has seen '60 to 70' people with adverse reactions to vaccines in the last year.

The Tasmanian schoolgirl (pictured) is in the fight of her life to overcome a devastating reaction to a Covid vaccination

'I agree thats almost certainly the diagnosis theres only about a 0.2 per cent adverse reaction [rate to vaccinations] but were still talking about 136,000 people,' he told 2GB.

'To me, this is relatively clear what's happened is that the Covid vaccine has pulverized Faiths gut bacteria, which gave her the severe abdominal pain and the inability to eat properly.'

Faith became sick four days after the shot in August 2021 and has needed ongoing treatment which her parents, who own a small business in Launceston, have had to pay for.

A year after receiving the jab, Faith still gets the uncontrollable muscle tics and twitches and is still developing new side effects.

She's developed such bad pain in her legs that can sometimes only walk for two hours at any time.

A respected immunology expert told the Ransons that there was 'no question' that their daughter suffered a delayed reaction to the vaccination (pictured, the email seen by Daily Mail Australia between the doctor and the Ranson family)

Faith Ranson developed uncontrollable and painful muscle twitches and tics after getting her second Covid jab last August (pictured during an episode of the twitches)

However, her mother is adamant that despite Faith missing a year of school, and must repeat Year 11, 'nothing will hold her back'.

'She as determined to go to her school formal, even though she was ticking and she could only go for an hour,' she said.

'She has always been a tough kid,' Ms Ranson said of Faith, who was her local junior army battalion cadet of the year at the age of 15.

The same year she received the citizenship award for Launceston Christian School.

She has always been 'a tough kid' Tania Ranson said of her daughter Faith (pictured) who developed functional neurological disorder (FND) after the jab

Faith (pictured) got her Ls before getting sick in 2021 and hasn't been able to drive since

However, Faith's condition means she won't be able to get medical clearance to join the armed forces and serve for her country.

'We have been told that is impossible now,' Tania said

But undeterred the now 17-year-old stays up late studying an online criminal psychology course, even though she is interrupted by constant, painful muscle ticking.

Out of nearly 64 million Covid vaccinations in Australia, there have been 136,523 reported 'adverse events'.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, there are 2.1 adverse events reported for every 1,000 Covid vaccine doses. Federal Budget documents found payouts for Covid vaccine injuries are expected to jump to nearly $77mllion by July 2023.

After developing 'extreme abdominal pain' within days of the jab, Faith began to dramatically lose weight, eventually to around 40kg from her original 55kg.

Doctors removed her appendix, but the pain remained.

When her mum Tania asked whether the vaccine be responsible she said 'I was looked at like I was an idiot' and told 'don't be silly'.

One paediatrician even told her the cause of her severe pain and distress was 'too much screen time'.

Faith Ranson is determined to remain positive despite a post-vaccination illness that has devastated her over the past 14 months

The teenager was one of Launceston's brightest female military prospects before falling ill after a Covid jab

ARE COVID VACCINES SAFE? The TGA report that most side effects are mild and go away within a couple of days. AusVaxSafety is tracking whether people experience side effects after COVID-19 vaccines. Their data shows that in Australia: You do not need to prepare for side effects by taking anything before getting your vaccination. For details on possible side effects for each vaccine, see: Comirnaty (Pfizer) Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) Spikevax (Moderna) Nuvaxovid (Novavax) If you have had a COVID-19 vaccination and think you may be experiencing side effects, you can use healthdirect's side effect checker. Click here or call 1800 020 080 24 hours a day. Advertisement

In November, Tania Ranson wrote in a Facebook update that her daughter was exhausted from the involuntary muscle spasms.

'Faith had a really bad 45 minute tic as they call it, but her body was thrashed around her neck was pulling back and forth and her legs were also [thrashing] around.

'[The tics] would last around half an hour most nights, they are painful for her as all her mussels are pulled and very sore.'

Within three months Ms Ranson was told by a local immunologist he had no doubt that Faith's adverse delayed reaction to her second Pfizer vaccine had triggered her condition.

Faith Ranson was active and fit before her second Pfizer shot was followed by a horror 14 months of debilitating side effects

A year after receiving the jab Faith still gets the uncontrollable muscle tics and twitches and is still developing new conditions

In February 2022 she was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) and had to begin rehab sessions.

It is believed the side effects occurred after the vaccine destroyed bacteria in Faith's gut.

She continued to deteriorated 'physically and mentally', including blackouts, and in January the family turned to public donations to help pay Faith's medical bills.

The family claimed the government said Faith's condition was ineligible for financial support.

So far the GoFundMe page has raised $39,266, with a goal of $100,000.

In August 2022, Faith updated her Instagram followers, saying it was important to remain positive.

Faith Ranson (pictured) is determined to remain positive despite her bad experiences

WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER? Functional neurologic disorder  a newer and broader term that includes what some people call conversion disorder  features nervous system (neurological) symptoms that can't be explained by a neurological disease or other medical condition. However, the symptoms are real and cause significant distress or problems functioning. Signs and symptoms vary, depending on the type of functional neurologic disorder, and may include specific patterns. Typically, this disorder affects your movement or your senses, such as the ability to walk, swallow, see or hear. Symptoms can vary in severity and may come and go or be persistent. However, you can't intentionally produce or control your symptoms. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

'While I could dwell on absolutely all the negative experiences Ive had with doctors (there are quite a lot) I want to talk about all the good I have experienced from people I did know and those I didnt even know,' she wrote.

'While I have my good and bad days and every day is different I have learned to adapt.'

She explained that new symptoms were regularly appearing, including her legs aching so badly that she couldn't walk - as well as being 'constantly in pain'.

The teenager explained that 'adapting' had been her best weapon against the dilapidating condition.

'I have learned small things to help me but I am still learning and growing to understand what has happened to me, how I can deal with this, what life in the future may look like for me and acknowledge that this is going to be a long road and this road will late potentially years,' she wrote.
Italian Premier Georgia Meloni last Tuesday outlined all the policies her government will be pushing for and said foreign interference would not be entertained. She was livid at the reaction of critics from the EU and Italy, who are critical of far-right politics.

PM Meloni Disagrees with EU's Foreign Interference

In a message to Parliament's lower Chamber of Deputies ahead of a confidence vote required of all new governments, Meloni slammed the European Union for not being prepared for obstacles, especially the severe energy crisis currently confronting homes and businesses, reported Republic World.

Nevertheless, she committed that her four-day-old administration, as well as its right-wing and center-right coalition members, would stay committed to EU treaties while pushing for reforms, particularly on macroeconomic stability.

One of her statements during her address was hitting at critics and foreign interference, those from other countries, saying it was their right to determine what is right and how to run Italy. Many of these detractors fear the new Italian Premier Georgia Meloni will not play ball with Brussels or Washington, noted Kiro7.

In the election, the premier's 10-year-old Brothers of Italy party got the most votes in the parliamentary election last month. It brought about 26% of all votes given.

With top allies, like anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini, and conservative former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Meloni's coalition could garner the support needed in the two legislatures to get the necessary confidence votes to start working as a government.

Read Also: Justin Trudeau Net Worth 2022: Overall Wealth, Salary of Canada's Prime Minister

Scheduled to cast votes is the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday night, with the Senate the next day. It included the pledge during the campaign to support Ukraine against Russia too.

Meloni strives to prove the fears of her critic that gaining power means several things. One is to refute the abortion right law and stress the center-right administration will not curtail freedoms.

A need to increase an aging population by promoting a booth in the slackened birthrate is alarming. One way is to have more free daycare centers and nursery schools operating during business and store hours. Most important is rewarding firms that allow women to work and carry out their home duties, too, citing Yahoo.

Italian Premier Georgia Meloni Charged as Fascist

The Brothers of Italy, which she co-founded in 2012, is supposed to have far-right leanings. Nostalgists have an acute link to the 20th-century dictator Benito Mussolini. To this effect, she told legislators of the Chamber of Deputies that she has no tolerance for or allegiance to any undemocratic system, including fascism.

One of her remarks is how Mussolini had made racist laws in 1938 that led to the oppression of the Jews during that period. She called it one of the low points in the history of Italy.

Last Tuesday, October 25, during her first address to the legislature, one month since her far-right party won a landmark electoral win, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni affirmed her continued support for the European Union, NATO, and Ukraine, mentioned Le Monde.

Meloni disagrees with how foreign interference is making claims that are unfounded.

Related Article: French President Emmanuel Macron Scorches Washington for High-Priced Gas, Saying the US Takes Advantage of Europe's Energy Crisis

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mrs Kickett said there were seven others who also believed they were his kids

As racist comments made by mining magnate Lang Hancock, Gina Rinehart's late father, become the focus of a sporting scandal, another aspect of the story has been forgotten - the matter of his alleged illegitimate Indigenous daughter.

Hancock's 38-year-old remarks about Aboriginal people needing to be 'sterilised' saw Diamonds players take issue with a $15million sponsorship deal offered by Rinehart to debt-ridden Netball Australia.

In the increasingly politicised world of sport, the deal was blown up after netballers raised concerns about wearing his company's name on their uniform, with Mrs Rinehart accused players of 'virtue-signalling' and rescinding the offer.

But behind closed doors, the family's history is even more turbulent.

For years until her death in 2020, Indigenous elder Hilda Kickett fought to be recognised as Mr Hancock's illegitimate daughter after he had a relationship with her mother, who worked on his station in outback WA.

And Mrs Kickett was not alone. In 2012, she claimed she had met seven other of Mr Hancock's secret love children.

While Mrs Rinehart has never addressed the claims, the accusations of Hancock's extramarital offspring have plagued Australia's richest woman and her descendants for three decades.

Lang Hancock, pictured with his second wife Rose Porteous, gave an infamous TV interview where he proposed sterilising Indigenous people who would not accept white 'civilisation'

Hilda Kickett (pictured) claimed she was the love child of Lang Hancock and his family's Indigenous cook

In the 1940s, Mrs Kickett's mother Kathleen gave birth to her on Hancock's outback property, Mulga Downs Station, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, where she was employed as a cook.

Mrs Kickett claimed her mother told her Mr Hancock, who was aged 39 around the time of her birth, was her biological dad.

She was later removed from her family as part of the Stolen Generation and raised in a Perth orphanage.

However, Mrs Kickett - who long maintained that Mr Hancock recognised her as a daughter although she was not listed in his will - said he went out of his way to ensure she was looked after during those dark times.

'I had nothing but the best. I had shoes, I would get three or four, or sometimes 10 pairs of shoes. But I used to share it out to all the girls because they had nothing,' she told News Corp in 2012.

Mr Hancock went on to have one child, Mrs Rinehart, in 1958, with his second wife Hope.

Mrs Kickett said one of her fondest memories with her father was spending a week at his home on Swan River, playing with her two-year-old half sister, who was ten years her junior.

'We used to play on the river. He used to flick water. Gina was in this big blessed pram, I used to get her out and put her in the water, just put her to soak,' she said.

Rose Porteous, Mr Hancock's third wife and widow at the time of his death in 1992, accepted Mrs Kickett as his child, telling media in 2009 her husband had admitted she was his daughter.

Lang Hancock pictured with his daughter Gina Rinehart. Ms Rinehart was his only child from his three marriages

Mrs Kickett claimed she spent time on Mr Hancock's property as a child with her 'half-sister' Gina Rinehart (pictured)

Pictured: a mailbox at the Mulga Downs Station in outback WA, where Mrs Kickett was born

The station is located in the Pilbara region, in Western Australia's northwest

However, to the wider public, Mr Hancock displayed a callous attitude towards Aboriginal people - once referring to those who were part Indigenous as 'no good half castes'.

In another instance, in a now-infamous 1984 interview deal he proposed dealing with unemployed Aboriginal people by '(doping) the water up so that they were sterile and would breed themselves out in the future'.

He also completely dismissed land claims by Indigenous people, saying: 'The question of Aboriginal land rights and things of this nature shouldn't exist.'

Despite the cruel comments, Mrs Kickett jumped to Mr Hancock's defence, saying he showed a softer side behind closed doors, citing how he used to send her gifts.

'People took him the wrong way in a lot of things,' she told the Daily Telegraph in 2012.

Mrs Kickett, who later lived in Geraldton, also claimed many of Mr Hancock's part Aboriginal grandchildren - offspring of seven of his other suspected love children - benefited from his companies, as they worked in his mines in the state's northwest.

She also boasted about the generosity of Mrs Rinehart's children - nephew John, 36, nieces Bianca, 33, Hope, 26, and Ginia, 25 - who she said called her 'aunty'.

Hilda Kickett (pictured) gave a series of interviews in the three decades leading up to her death in 2020, maintaining she was Mr Hancock's love child

Ms Robinson's daughter Naydene (pictured) detailed her mother's claim in an interview in 2014

Mrs Rinehart accused Netball Australia of 'virtue signalling' as she announced the partnership had been axed

'The thing is, who they are - theyre privileged to be who they are and they should never move away from that. But they are so down to earth. Theyve been out there, they know what it is all about,' she said.

In July 2012, she claimed to have DNA evidence linking her to the Hancock family, but declined to provide documentation.

Days later, John Hancock disputed that the family had tendered a DNA test, saying he had only met her twice and called a few other senior Aboriginal women 'aunty' as a form of endearment.

'My mother and others who I've spoken with who knew Lang well were of the view that Hilda is not Lang's daughter,' he told A Current Affair in July 2012.

'I made the offer of a DNA test but I've never given one, nor did I hear anything back from Hilda.'

While Mrs Kickett never presented DNA to support her claims, others close to Mr Hancock said the pair had uncanny similarities.

Ms Porteous, who had once been close to Mrs Kickett before losing touch in the early 2000s, said she bore a striking resemblance to her husband.

'If you put glasses on her [like Hancock used to wear], which I did when she came to my home, and I couldn't believe it,' she told the West Australian in 2009.

'I said, ''Sorry, but you are not very pretty, because my husband was not a pretty man''.

Donnell Wallam (pictured) raised concerns about wearing a dress with the Hancock Prospecting logo due to the founder's previous racist comments

The offensive comment that sparked Netball Australia fallout 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 1984 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.' Advertisement

'It is just very sad.'

Alongside Mrs Kickett, Stella Robinson was another of Mr Hancock's alleged love children who was vocal with her claims.

Ms Robinson came forward in 1992 - just weeks after Mrs Kickett - alleging Mr Hancock impregnated her mother Gurtie, another worker on the Hancock's station, when he was just 22.

Born in 1932, Ms Robinson, who was also part of the Stolen Generation, believed she was Mr Hancock's first child after being told so by relatives later in life.

'I remember Lang as a young man and George [his dad] and his wife. We used to live and camp on the station in a back shed,' she told a newspaper in 1992.

'I [wish] I could have gone in and had a talk to him when he was alive. He could have refused me, but he was my father and he is dead now and I never even went near him.'

Like Mrs Kickett's initial claim just weeks prior, Ms Robinson's allegation was rejected at the time by the Hancock family lawyer Alan Camp.

Her claims resurfaced again in 2014 when her daughter Naydene reiterated the allegations in an interview with anthropologist Dr Bill Day.

The Australia Diamonds pose for a photo in the UK as they attended the Birmingham Commonwealth games earlier this year

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hancock Prospecting for comment.

Mr Hancock was thrust into the spotlight this month after the mining company bearing his name tore up a sponsorship deal for Netball Australia after Indigenous player Donnell Wallam raised concerns about wearing the logo.

Hancock Prospecting's $15million partnership, signed just four weeks earlier, was set to be a major boost to the organisation, which posted a $4.4million debt in 2021.

Wallam expressed hesitations about wearing the logo on her dress in her debut game for the Australia Diamonds in the England Series this week due to the company founder's racist comments in 1984.

Despite agreeing to go ahead with wearing the logo, Hancock Prospecting shockingly pulled the plug on the deal on Saturday in a statement slamming sportspeople for 'virtue signalling'.

Rinehart majority-owned mining business Roy Hill concurrently announced it was also scrapping a recently signed contract to sponsor WA Netball, with both deals set to last until 2025.

The mining companies have offered to continue sponsoring the organisations for four months while new partnerships are arranged.
The average American child fell behind in math by six months due to COVID school closures, with students in the nation's poorest areas behind two-and-a-half years.

According to the Education Recovery Scorecard, which gathered a district-by-district analysis of test scores, the average student lost more than half a school year of learning in math and nearly a quarter of a school year in reading.

The report said the pandemic devastated children's well-being, not just by closing their schools, but also by taking away their parents' jobs, sickening their families and teachers, and adding chaos and fear to their daily lives.

'When you have a massive crisis, the worst effects end up being felt by the people with the least resources,' said Stanford education professor Sean Reardon, who compiled and analyzed the data along with Harvard economist Thomas Kane.

According to their research, students in Hopewell, Virginia, which is predominantly low-income, lost about 2.29 years in math, while in Rochester, New Hampshire, where about half the student body lives in poverty, kids are behind two years in reading.

Meanwhile, in Memphis, where 80 percent of students live in poverty, students are nearly behind a year in both math and reading, with researchers noting that black children were faring worse.

The data provides the most comprehensive look yet at how much schoolchildren have fallen behind academically, with the federal government's own report card indicating that math and reading scores have reached record lows.

Students in Hopewell, Virginia, which is predominantly low-income, lost about 2.29 years in math, while in Rochester, New Hampshire, where about half the student body lives in poverty, kids are behind two years in reading. And kids in Memphis, Tennessee, fell behind in math and English by a year

The average American child fell behind six months in math (above) and about three months in reading due to COVID school closures, according to a new study

The data looks at district-by-district test scores across the nation to find the large gap in students' education by the effects of the pandemic. Pictured: Fifth graders wearing face masks and social distancing last year at the Milton Elementary School in Rye, New York

Researchers Sean Reardon (left) and Thomas Kane (right) said that school closures, online classes, parent's job loss, illnesses and death have taken their toll on American students

Online learning played a major role, but students lost significant ground even where they returned quickly to schoolhouses, especially in math scores in low-income communities.

Reading and math scores are one of the only aspects of children's development reliably measured nationwide.

'Test scores aren't the only thing, or the most important thing,' Reardon said. 'But they serve as an indicator for how kids are doing.'

And kids aren't doing well, especially those who were at highest risk before the pandemic. The data show many children need significant intervention, and advocates and researchers say the US isn't doing enough.

Together, Reardon and Kane created a map showing how many years of learning the average student in each district has lost since 2019.

In some districts, students lost more than two years of math learning, according to Reardon and Kane's data. Hopewell, Virginia, a school system of 4,000 students who are mostly low-income and 60 percent Black, showed an average loss of 2.29 years of school.

'This is not anywhere near what we wanted to see,' Deputy Superintendent Jay McClain said.

The district began offering in-person learning in March 2021, but three-quarters of students remained home. 'There was so much fear of the effects of COVID,' he said. 'Families here were just hunkered down.'

When schools resumed in the fall, the virus swept through Hopewell, and half of all students stayed home either sick or in quarantine, McClain said. A full 40 percent of students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 days or more.

Some educators have objected to the very idea of measuring learning loss after a crisis that has killed more than 1 million Americans.

The impact of the pandemic on schools was seen at a greater level in lower-income communities, where students were found to be about two-and-a-half years behind. Pictured: Pre-kindergarten students at West Orange Elementary School in California last year, where students enjoy a higher income level than their neighbors in the state

The latest report adds to federal data revealing students are severely behind on their education due to the pandemic. Pictured: Students working in a classroom at Beecher Hills Elementary School in Atlanta in August

The pandemic brought other challenges unrelated to remote learning.

In Rochester, New Hampshire, students lost nearly two years in reading even though schools offered in-person learning most of the 2020-2021 school year. It was the largest literacy decline among all the districts in the analysis.

The 4,000-student district, where most are white and nearly half live in poverty, had to close schools in November 2020 when too few teachers could report for work, Superintendent Kyle Repucci said.

Students studied online until March 2021, and when schools reopened, many chose to stay with remote learning, Repucci said.

'Students here were exposed to things they should never have been exposed to until much later,' Repucci said. 'Death. Severe illness. Working to feed their families.'

Charles Lampkin (above), a pastor and father in Memphis, said he's seen the effects on his own sons' who were struggling with their reading lessons tailored to their 5th grade level. He is now tutoring children in the city, where 80 percent of the students are considered lower-income, in order to help overcome the pandemic's effects

NAEP assessment results are reported as average scores on a 0-500 scale. They are derived from student responses to assessment questions, and summarize overall performance levels

MOMS AGAINST SCHOOL LOCKDOWNS Mom-of-four Tiffany Justice says lockdowns were an educational 'black hole' for kids Tiffany Justice, wife and mom of four school-aged children, said Covid-19 quarantine measures were the equivalent of a student falling into an educational black hole that could derail their progress for years. Though Florida was relatively light in lockdown rules, schools in her part of the central Atlantic coast had strict quarantine rules, meaning seemingly healthy students were kept out of class if they were exposed to somebody who was infected. When a student was quarantined  and my own daughter was quarantined, twice back to back  it was like they fell into a black hole, Justice told DailyMail.com The only communication they had with a teacher was on a message board, with no video. Justice says she watched her daughter and her classmates trying to set themselves on a trajectory for a good future but being repeatedly sidetracked and unable to complete courses and take part in school sports. You'd have all these healthy children outside of school, they were going to the beach together, they were hanging out together, completely healthy. And they weren't allowed in school, and that was a crime, said Justice, who is also co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a campaign group. We will hold people accountable for the crimes that were perpetrated against children so that it never happens again. Erika Sanzi says lockdowns 'hurt a lot of families' in Rhode Island Erika Sanzi, a former teacher, said the pandemic affected the education of her three school-aged sons, even though Rhode Island had relatively limited school lockdowns, but maintained tough masking and vaccination rules. She had to put scaffolding in place to ensure her boys could continue their education, study unsupervised, and not fall too far behind  but other families in her area were not so lucky, she added. It really hurt a lot of families in my state, Sanzi, also the outreach director at Parents Defending Education, a campaign group, told DailyMail.com. Families with an eight-year-old child who was getting repeatedly quarantined, couldnt stay at home alone, and didnt have a parent who worked from home. When schools were open, masking rules inhibited classroom interaction, said Sanzi. Schoolchildren who had been exposed to the pathogen, though were not necessarily sick or contagious, were repeatedly kicked out of classrooms. For many schoolkids who fell behind, theres a very good chance they're not going to catch up, she warned. Advertisement

In Memphis, Tennessee, where nearly 80 percent of students are poor, students lost the equivalent of 70 percent of a school year in reading and more than a year in math, according to the analysis.

The district's black students lost a year-and-one-third in math and two-thirds of a year in reading.

For church pastor Charles Lampkin, who is black, it was the effects on his sons' reading that grabbed his attention.

He was studying the Bible with them one night this fall when he noticed his sixth and seventh graders were struggling with their 'junior' Bible editions written for a fifth grade reading level. 'They couldn't get through it,' Lampkin said.

Lampkin blames the year and a half his sons were away from school buildings from March 2020 until the fall of 2021.

'They weren't engaged at all. It was all tomfoolery,' he said.

The local school district this year set aside an hour every day for intervention, when struggling students can receive small-group tutoring, said Memphis-Shelby County Public Schools spokesperson Cathryn Stout.

Students also receive tutoring help before and after school, and some campuses have started offering Saturday classes to help students catch up.

Lampkin said his sons have not been offered the extra help.

The amount of learning that students lost - or gained, in rare cases - over the last three years varied widely.

Poverty and time spent in remote learning affected learning loss, and learning losses were greater in districts that remained online longer, according to Kane and Reardon's analysis. But neither was a perfect predictor of declines in reading and math.

In Los Angeles, school leaders shuttered classrooms for the entire 2020-2021 academic year, yet students held their ground in reading.

Its hard to tell what explains the vastly different outcomes in some states. In California, where students on average stayed steady or only marginally declined, it could suggest that educators there were better at teaching over Zoom or the state made effective investments in technology, Reardon said.

But the differences could also be explained by what happened outside of school.

'I think a lot more of the variation has to do with things that were outside of a schools control,' Reardon said.

Reardon and Kane's project, the Education Recovery Scorecard, compared results from a test known as the 'nation's report card' with local standardized test scores from 29 states and Washington, D.C.

Now, the onus is on America's adults to work toward kids' recovery.

For the federal government and individual states, advocates hope the recent releases of test data could inspire more urgency to direct funding to the students who suffered the largest setbacks, whether it's academic or other support.

School systems are still spending the nearly $190 billion in federal relief money allocated for recovery, a sum experts have said fails to address the extent of learning loss in schools.

Nearly 70 percent of students live in districts where federal relief money is likely inadequate to address the magnitude of their learning loss, according to Kane and Reardons analysis.

The implications for kids' futures are alarming: Lower test scores are predictors of lower wages, plus higher rates of incarceration and teen pregnancy, Kane said.

It doesn't take Harvard research to convince parents whose children are struggling to read or learn algebra that something needs to be done.

At his church in Memphis, Lampkin started his own tutoring program three nights a week.

Adults from his congregation, some of them teachers, help around 50 students with their homework, reinforcing skills and teaching new ones.

'We shouldn't have had to do this,' Lampkin said. 'But sometimes you have to lead by example.'
Advertisement

King Charles' popularity has shot up among the British public since he became King, while Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are far behind the rest of the royals in approval, new polling shows.

Many Brits have been impressed with the new King since he ascended to the throne in September following the death of Elizabeth II.

Asked if their view on Charles had changed since he became King, 24 per cent of the public said they had a higher opinion of him than before. A poll also found that 58 per cent of Brits think he will be a good King.

Overall, 48 per cent of the country have a positive view of King Charles, while 33 per cent have no opinion or aren't sure and 13 per cent have an unfavourable view of him.

The new poll by Redfield and Wilton also found Meghan and Harry were less popular with Brits than other members of the Royal Family.

When asked their view on the Hollywood actress, 37 per cent said their opinion was favourable or very unfavourable towards her, while 38 per cent had a positive view, with the rest having no opinion.

King Charles III has become more popular with the British public since taking over as monarch in September this year

The King has travelled all across the UK since the Queen's death and met thousands of people. Pictured: Charles in Aberdeen

The King and Queen Consort (pictured in Waitangi, New Zealand in 2019) will embark on the royals' biggest-ever tour over the next two years

The monarch even appeared on a special episode of The Repair shop as part of the BBC's centenary celebrations

How do Brits rank the royals? - Exclusive poll A new poll found almost two thirds of Brits (58 per cent) think Charles III will be a good King, almost two months into his reign Most, 59 per cent, have not changed their opinion of him since he came to the throne, but 24 per cent said they now like him more Overall, 48 per cent of people in the country have a positive view of him William and Catherine are hugely popular with the British public, with approval ratings of 70 and 72 per cent, respectively Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fare slightly worse in the opinion rankings, with 53 per cent and 38 per cent of Brits saying they have a favourable view of them Source: Redfield and Wilton Strategies Advertisement

Husband Harry, who has just announced his controversial memoir will be released in January, fared slightly better, with a 53 per cent favourability rating.

The California-based couple were far behind Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate, however.

Princess Kate proved to be hugely popular, with 72 per cent of the British public saying they high opinion of her.

Likewise, 70 per cent of respondents said they had a favourable opinion of Prince William.

Harry and Meghan are in the limelight once again after the Prince announced his book 'Spare' would be released in January.

The couple are currently living in her $14 million mansion in the US having stepped back from royal duty.

Royal lawyers are said to be on standby for the 'nuclear' memoir amid fears it is 'critical of everyone and everything' and that reports of it being toned down are 'overblown'.

Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book's title is a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne.

Family members were not informed of the title before the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'.

An initial release date had been pencilled in for 'late 2022' to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market, but the book will not be on the shelves until January 10  said to be as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, due to last-minute alterations requested by the Duke of Sussex.

Publisher Penguin Random House confirming the 28 book 'full of insight, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom' will be released on January 10. The title page shows Harry staring at the camera in a brown T-shirt and a black string necklace

Royal commentators said the release of Harry's book would be 'unhelpful' to King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort

It is understood that Harry, seen with Meghan in New York last year, was paid a $20million (18.4m) advance for the autobiography as part of a three-title deal worth 36.8million

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK twice this year for the Queen's Jubilee in June (pictured) and funeral in September

Catherine and William, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are hugely popular with the public - the new poll shows approval ratings over of 70 per cent

The 'fab four' reunited in September following the death of the Queen when they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle

King Charles replaces Prince Harry as Captain General of the Royal Marines By Rory Tingle The King has announced he will be the next Captain General of the Royal Marines  an honorary military role that had been stripped from the Duke of Sussex following Megxit. Harry was said to be saddened when his prestigious title was removed by the Queen in 2020 after he and Meghan announced they would step down as working royals and move to California. There had been speculation about which member of the Royal Family would be given the role, with Princess Anne tipped for the position. The Duke of Sussex was appointed Captain General by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding Prince Philip. Today's announcement comes just a day after Harry unveiled his 'provocative' new memoir Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne. In a personal message to the Royal Marines as they mark their 358th birthday today, the King said: 'It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General. I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three-and-a-half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration. 'The Royal Marines have a distinguished and unparalleled history, both on land and at sea. I draw immense inspiration from your courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments. 'I feel greatly honoured to become part of the Corps Family and very much look forward to meeting many of you in the near future. In the meantime, this comes with my heartfelt and special wishes for a very happy 358th birthday. Per Mare, Per Terram.' Advertisement

The publishers of the delayed memoir have made it clear Harry will not shy away from sensitive subjects, such as the family's decision to encourage him and his elder brother to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin.

Meghan has also been courting controversy after she launched her 'Archetypes' podcast on Spotify.

One episode of the podcast with Paris Hilton sparked a backlash after she said she had been reduced to a 'bimbo' by appearing on Deal or No Deal before she was famous.

Meghan said on her show: 'I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks and little substance.'

However, Lisa Gleave, another woman who worked on the show said the comments were unfair, adding that no one had made Meghan appear on the show.

She said: 'For me it was a joy and a great career move. Most of the girls would say that.

'I never looked at it as a show that objectified women. The cast and crew treated us very well. It was a professional set. For many of us, it was a stepping stone on our careers and we went on to greater things.'

While Lisa acknowledged the show 'revolved around beautiful women', they were 'all smart and intelligent women and nobody treated us like bimbos'.

King Charles III has largely steered clear of controversy since taking the throne in September, and has visited every part of the UK over the last few weeks as he looks to strengthen the union and introduce himself to the country.

Crowds across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland greeted the King on their travels immediately after the Queen's death and on other trips.

Palace insiders have also said he is planning the Royal Family's biggest-ever world tour, with both he and Queen Consort Camilla to visit dozens of countries all over the world.

Buckingham Palace is said to be considering trips to Australia and Canada 'as soon as possible'. The King is also said to be enthusiastic to visit at least a dozen other nations where he is the monarch.

The King will travel to many Commonwealth countries over the next two years, including some Caribbean nations considering becoming republics in the near future.

Charles also met his second Prime Minister already in his short reign, having welcomed Rishi Sunak to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday where he invited him to form a government.

Meanwhile, William and Kate are set to step up in their royal duties after taking over as Prince and Princess of Wales.

Royal sources have said the King is planning a reformed monarchy which will see the two heading off on a number of royal trips around the world.

Around 38 per cent of people in the UK have a favourable view of Meghan, compared to 37 per cent who view her negatively

Harry 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

After you've seen the reality show AND bought the book - what else can brand Harry and Meghan offer? Experts warn the Sussexes risk becoming 'boring' - but there are still two more books to come as part of Prince's '18.4m' deal

By Rory Tingle and Jamie Phillips for MailOnline

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at risk of losing out on more lucrative media deals by being seen as 'boring', a public relations expert said today - as he warned the success of Harry's controversial memoir would be crucial to their financial future.

The Duke of Sussex's autobiography, which has the pointed title Spare, was unveiled yesterday. He was reportedly paid a 18.4million advance for the book as part of a three-title deal worth 36.8m.

The book will be published on January 10, just weeks after Harry and Meghan's equally controversial Netflix documentary - believed to be part of a 100m deal - is due to be aired.

Together with a 100m deal with Spotify, which includes Meghan's Archetypes podcast, the agreements provide the couple with significant financial firepower.

But this could be at risk in the future if the public begins to tire of their regular pronouncements, according to PR and marketing expert Mark Borkowski.

'The most important thing in the modern world is that they generate column inches and eyeballs - everything will come down to the success of the book and the deals with Netflix and Spotify,' he told MailOnline.

'If they do well then they could still be attractive to media outlets looking for subscribers. Given they're no longer connected to the Royal Family with the exposure that brings they need to create their own energy. The danger is they become boring.'

The Duke of Sussex's autobiography, which has the pointed title Spare, was unveiled yesterday. It is just one of a series of commercial ventures the couple have engaged in

Mr Borkowski said the couple's expensive lifestyle - which revolves around their 11million Montecito mansion - could see them partner with a Silicon Valley tech firm such as Mark Zuckerberg's Meta.

The firm's share price recently plummeted amid concerns Mr Zuckerberg's multi-billion dollar investment in the idea of the 'metaverse' - a series of virtual worlds where users can engage with each other in virtual reality - would fail to pay off.

'There's a bit of a downturn in tech at the moment but I'd expect that as the dust settles we could see them sign another deal in that industry,' Mr Borkowski said.

'Meta are facing huge problems so who better to generate a conversation around their idea of the metaverse than Harry and Meghan? They could be promoting it or creating their own virtual world themselves.'

Frank Fitzgerald, of metaverse platform pax.world, said 'metaverse' was a 'catch-all term for virtual worlds where people can do business, enjoy cultural experiences, play games and connect socially as avatars'.

He said the technology could enable the Sussexes to 'connect personally with a global audience at the click of a button'.

Meanwhile, brand expert Nick Ede predicted Spare would open up new commercial opportunities for Harry and Meghan.

'I think the next step for Harry will be the very lucrative public speaking circuit,' he told MailOnline. 'Harry will read extracts from his book at events around the world with a Q&A.

'I also think he will make a lot of money through an exclusive sit down interview with a journalist to promote the book. These kinds of sit downs can command in the six to seven figures and I'm sure they'll be a bidding war.

'And with the book being so explosive he could even look to sell the film rights to it. Again that would be highly lucrative.'

Publisher Penguin Random House confirming the 28 book 'full of insight, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom' will be released on January 10. The title page shows Harry staring at the camera in a brown T-shirt and a black string necklace

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)

The Royal Family's lawyers remain on standby for Prince Harry's 'nuclear' memoir, amid fears it is 'critical of everyone and everything' and that reports of it being toned down are 'overblown'.

Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be eye-catchingly called Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne.

'It could not come at a worse time': Royal authors say delayed book will make King 'nervous' as he plans coronation King Charles will be 'nervous' after hearing Prince Harry's tell-all memoir is slated for release on January 10, royal experts said today - amid speculation the New Year 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. '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. ' Biographer Tom Bower suggested commercial imperatives would ensure the final manuscript still contains plenty of criticism of the Royal Family. '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,' he said. Advertisement

Family members were not informed of the Spare title in advance of the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'.

An initial release date of had been pencilled in for 'late 2022' to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market, but the book will not be on the shelves until January 10 - said to be as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, due to last-minute alterations requested by the duke.

Meghan's biographer Tom Bower suggested the couple's Netflix series would create useful publicity for the memoir.

'The curtain raiser to the Sussexes' vengeance will be their Netflix series  a lucrative trailblazer to the book, clearly updated to describe their unexpected lengthy stay in London during the Queens funeral,' he told MailOnline.

'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.'

Spare's title page shows Harry staring sternly at the camera in a brown T-shirt and a black string necklace. An unabridged audiobook will be read by the prince himself.

The 416-page autobiography  which some retailers have cut to half-price for pre-order copies  was expected to hit bookshelves this autumn but there has been speculation that the date was pushed back as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, to make changes to the publication and remove potentially damaging material.

However, it appears the tone of the book has darkened since it was first announced in July last year. While the memoir was then-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.

'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.

William and Kate visit Sandringham to look at tributes and flowers laid for the late Queen last month

The publication date was announced in a press release yesterday, which referred to Harry as a 'husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate and environmentalist' who 'resides in Santa Barbara, California, with his family and three dogs'.

'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.'

The memoir, 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 15 additional languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese. Representatives for the King and Kensington Palace have declined to comment.

Publisher Penguin Random House has said the duke had donated $1.5million (1.3million) to children's charity Sentebale and 300,000 to WellChild, a charity for disabled children for which he serves as patron.
Advertisement

Royal Navy commandos have seized 24million of cocaine during a dramatic raid which ended in the narcotic gang's boat being blown to bits.

The 400kg haul of drugs was discovered by patrol ship HMS Medway in the Caribbean during a joint operation with US Coast Guards, who had a team embarked on the warship.

Medway charged down the drug gang's boat during a tense chase near the Dominican Republic before a boarding team leapt onto the vessel and detained three smugglers.

Then, after unearthing the cocaine, Medway's gunnery team used the 2,000-tonne warship's lethal array of machine guns to pulverise the smugglers' boat, leaving it a flaming wreck before it sank.

It is the second time this month that British commandos have sniffed out drug smugglers in international waters, after a Royal Navy frigate seized a record-breaking 15.5million worth of narcotics from a vessel in the Arabian Sea in early October.

HMS Montrose targeted the small vessel after the ship's Wildcat helicopter tracked the movements of the suspect boat.

A British commando keeps a watchful eye over the narcotic gang's boat from the HMS Medway in the Caribbean Sea

The smuggling boat was left a flaming wreck after being caught by Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Medway during a dramatic 24million drugs bust in the Caribbean

The Caribbean-based Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Medway and US Coast Guard boarding team seized more than 400kg of cocaine worth around 24m (haul pictured)

The vessel was intercepted by Medway as part of a joint mission between the Royal Navy and US Coast Guard to tackle drug runners in the Carribean

After detaining the boat's three crew and removing them from the vessel, the boarding team from Medway discovered 400kg of cocaine hidden on the boat. Pictured is a sailor from HMS Medway shooting at the vessel after the drugs had been seized

HMS Medway, pictured in front of the blazing wreck of the boat, is permanently based in the Caribbean

The empty boat was later used as target practice by Medway's crew. The vessel's destruction is normal for this sort of operation, the navy said. It means the boat can't be used again to transport narcotics

Royal Navy plagues drugs gangs all over the world with bust after bust - seizing almost 71million in 2022 HMS Montrose (pictured is her team of sailors and Royal Marines) with their 15.5million worth of drugs (bottom centre) from a dhow in the Arabian Sea in its fifth narcotics raid this year Since the start of 2022, the Royal Navy has seized a whopping 70.8million of drugs during a string of high-profile busts across the world. January 23: In the Royal Navy's first bust of the year, HMS Montrose seizes more than a tonne of drugs in the Gulf of Oman worth 15million. The Type 23 frigate bagged 663kg heroin, 87kg methamphetamine and 291kg hashish and marijuana. January 27: Days later and Montrose deals another huge blow to Middle Eastern drug runners, this time storming a boat carrying 8million of narcotics. Royal Marines found 150Kg of heroin, 250Kg of methamphetamine and 665Kg of hashish March 6: The Royal Navy scores its heaviest drugs bust in more than a decade as HMS Montrose captured a 6.5-tonne haul of hash in the Middle East worth 6.5million. May 12: Montrose notches her fourth capture of the year, this time securing 90kg of heroin in the Gulf of Oman worth an estimated 1.8million. October 9: Frigate HMS Montrose seizes 870kg of crystal methamphetamine, worth 15.5million, during a bust in the Arabian Sea. October 28: Patrol ship HMS Medway makes her first bust of the year, capturing a 24million haul of cocaine in the Caribbean. Advertisement

A boarding party of Royal Marines searched the vessel and found 870kg of crystal methamphetamine in a secret compartment following the six-hour operation.

The latest bust by HMS Medway brings the Royal Navy's total drug seizure tally up to 70.8million this year - and 582million since 2020.

Commander Chris Hollingworth, Medway's captain, was full of praise for his crew - and insisted the warship would continue to hammer criminal gangs in the Caribbean.

'Everyone involved demonstrated their professionalism during a challenging pursuit,' he said.

'It might be the first, but we're going to make sure that it won't be the last, and I speak on behalf of everyone here in saying this has galvanised our determination to succeed.'

Several large packages containing cocaine were seized and brough aboard Medway, along with the three suspected smugglers.

It's believed the boat had come from South America, a common route taken by smugglers at this time of year.

The National Crime Agency estimated its illegal cargo was worth an estimated 24million.

The destruction of the vessel, which is normal for this type of operation, ensures it is no longer used for illegal activity while also providing target practice for Medway's gunnery team.

'Although we talk of these boats being commonplace in the Caribbean, that doesn't in any way diminish the achievement of landing a bust like this,' said a member of the boarding team, US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404, who wishes to remain anonymous.

'Together with our partners on board Medway and up in the skies above us, we're able to smash a hole in the supply chain and disrupt the movement of these harmful drugs before they have the chance to harm people at home and abroad.'

Since 2020, the Royal Navy has seized 582million worth of drugs from gangs operating in the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Caribbean.

Defence officials believe much of the cash used from the sale of the narcotics would fund terror groups like Islamic State.

News of the Senior Service's drug-busting record has been welcomed by a former head of the Royal Navy.

Admiral Lord Alan West, who served as First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, told MailOnline: 'This is actually an amazing quantity and very striking.

'What this shows - and people forget this - is the Royal Navy and Britain is a global power and the Royal Navy is a global force.'

Since the beginning of 2020, HMS Medway has been deployed to the Caribbean as the Royal Navy's permanent presence in the region.

Commander Chris Hollingworth, Medway's captain, was full of praise for his crew. He is pictured with 400kg haul of drugs seized in the Caribbean

The boat is believed to have travelled from South America with its illegal cargo of cocaine

The seizure brings the total value of drugs captured Royal Navy warships across the globe so far this year to almost 71million. Pictured is one of Medway's sailors sinking the drug boat

The vessel was sunk by the Royal Navy to stop it again being used to smuggle drugs through the Caribbean

A British commando watches on as the narcotics vessel begins to sink after being blown up

The smugglers' vessel is seen ablaze and charred after being destroyed by the Royal Navy in the Caribbean sea

The ship and her 50-strong crew recently helped the people of the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos in their recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

'It's a perfect example of Medway's versatility, and demonstrates my team's ability to shift from Disaster Relief Operations to Counter Illicit Trafficking Operations without missing a beat,' added Cdr Hollingworth.

'I'm exceptionally proud of the collective effort of my ship's company and our colleagues from the US Coast Guard for their proactive attitude and total commitment to the task.'

Since the start of 2022, the Royal Navy has seized a whopping 70.8million of drugs during a string of high-profile busts across the world.

The haul from the crystal meth bust in the Arabian Sea in early October broke records after recording a wholesale value of 15.5 million, according to the National Crime Agency.

It overtakes the previous record haul from 2019, when HMS Defender found 131kg of crystal meth from a dhow sailing in the Gulf of Oman.

A navy spokesman said: 'HMS Montrose pounced after her Wildcat helicopter located and tracked the suspect dhow until the frigate was in range to launch her boarding teams in her boats.

A boarding party of Royal Marines (pictured boarding the suspect dhow) searched the vessel and found 870kg of crystal methamphetamine in a secret compartment following the six-hour operation in the Gulf of Oman earlier this month

The previous crystal meth haul from the Arabian Sea (pictured being accounted and tested for) had a record-breaking wholesale value of 15.5 million, according to the National Crime Agency

'Royal Marines from 42 Commando, the UK military's specialists in these operations, seized control of the vessel in choppy conditions, before sailors moved in to search the craft for any illegal cargo, while overhead the Wildcat observed proceedings and provided cover for those scouring the dhow for her illicit cargo.

'Persistence from the boarding team led to a secret compartment being found aboard the vessel, revealing hidden illegal narcotics.

'The haul was brought back to the frigate for inspection and weighing.'

HMS Montrose, which has been based in the Middle East since 2019, has intercepted narcotics worth nearly 47 million this year.

Commander Claire Thompson, the frigate's commanding officer, said: 'We have disrupted the unlawful use of the oceans.

'A seizure of this size will deal a huge blow to the criminal or terrorist gangs using these illegal narcotics to fund their activity.

'This success proves we will persistently deny criminals the freedom to conduct their illegal activity on the high seas. Disrupting terrorist organisations, criminals and their funding lines is key to keeping to UK, and rest of the world, safe.

'It is a privilege to command HMS Montrose and the incredibly professional, highly-trained and dedicated personnel that I have on my team. I could not be prouder of each and every one of them.'
A dancer in the sequel to Dirty Dancing has told a court that Harvey Weinstein made her feel 'like a piece of meat' by luring her to his hotel room for a business meeting, then pinning her onto a bed, ripping off her clothes and masturbating onto her chest.

The woman, who testified under the name Ashley M, told jurors in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County on Friday that she was 'meek', and he was 'the boss' on set.

'I felt really violated and part of me was really  you know, still emotional,' she said, explaining why she left the set the day after the alleged attack and did not return.

'And part of me was really upset.'

Ashley said she told her mother and her fiance what had happened, and he told her to come home immediately.

Weinstein is charged with rape and sexual assault, with four women accusing him of attacks between 2005 and 2013.

Ashley M, a dancer, is seen in court on Friday wiping away tears as she testifies against Harvey Weinstein. She accused him of luring her to a hotel room in Puerto Rico for a business meeting, and then pinned her to a bed before masturbating on her

Weinstein's attorney Mark Werksman is seen on Friday cross-examining Ashley

Weinstein is seen inside the LA courtroom on October 4. He has been sentenced to 23 years by a New York court, and was extradited to LA in July 2021

Ashley is one of four women who are not involved in the charges against him but are being allowed to testify to show Weinstein's propensity for such acts.

The 70-year-old is currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York, having been sentenced in March 2020.

He was extradited to Los Angeles in July 2021.

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

Ashley told the court she was 22 years old when she met Weinstein on the set of his movie 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights' in Puerto Rico, in which she had a job dancing for the lead couple.

She said she was approached by Weinstein on set, and was unnerved by the imposing film maestro, but was reassured by his assistant Bonnie Hung.

Hung, Ashley testified, told her: 'Don't worry, I'll be with you the whole time, we're just going to talk about future projects.'

Ashley told the jury she went to the meeting with Weinstein because she felt obliged - not because she wanted to advance her career.

'I just basically did what I thought the people that were running the meeting wanted me to do,' she said.

'I really had no interest in being an actress.

'I had spent my life dancing. I was engaged to be married. I wanted to finally start my life, maybe finally wanted to start a family at that time.'

Mark Werksman, Weinstein's lawyer, pushed Ashley on why she entered the hotel if she was not interested in business offers.

'I'm now entering a hotel, this isn't about work. Did that dawn on you at any moment?' Werksman asked.

'Did you have a second thought where you just said  I'm just going to walk right back out that door?'

Ashley replied: 'I was worried. I knew he was big and I didn't know what to do.'

On Thursday, Ashley told the court that, as they walked down the hall of Weinstein's hotel toward a door: 'I started to get more worried, but Bonnie was there with her clipboard.

'Harvey opened it and then he went in and I went in,' she said, pausing as she began to cry.

'And then Bonnie shut the door behind us. I was like, 'oh no, what do I do?''

Weinstein is seen in court on October 4 with Werksman, his attorney

She said Weinstein quickly became aggressive, pushing her on to the bed and taking her top off before performing a sex act on top of her.

Close to sobbing, the woman testified that the former Miramax head told her 'it would just be a naked massage...and not to worry about it.'

Werksman is seen arriving for trial on October 24

'He said: 'Look at Gwyneth Paltrow and what it did for her career,'' she said.

She told the jury: 'He just said 'it's OK, it's not like we're having sex.''

Describing what happened after Weinstein had finished, she said: 'I was just really thankful that I wasn't raped. I remember thinking and I remember wiping off just getting dressed really fast and leaving really fast.'

On Friday, Ashley's ex-husband, Charlie M, took the stand - explaining that they are now divorced, but remain friends.

Charlie said Ashley told him Weinstein was 'on set' and wanted to have a business meeting to talk about 'opportunities.'

She said that she felt 'uncomfortable' about it.

After the hotel room incident, Ashley rang him and was 'in shock', Charlie told the jury.

'He had masturbated during the meeting,' he said,

Charlie said Ashley came home 'right away' after the assault.

Weinstein's trial began on Monday with opening statements from prosecutors trying to detail a pattern of alleged sexual assaults of women, typically in hotel rooms.

Weinstein's attorney countered in his opening statements that 'transactional sex' was common.

The court heard first, on Wednesday, from Jane Doe 1, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 2013 and forced to perform oral sex as he had problems maintaining an erection.

On Thursday, Weinstein's driver testified that he drove the producer to a Los Angeles hotel on the night that he allegedly raped a woman at a hotel a short distance away. He said he had no idea what went on inside the hotel rooms.

The trial is expected to last several more weeks.

The LA proceedings were originally seen as symbolic but have taken on a new importance after New York's highest court granted him permission to appeal his conviction.

If Weinstein wins in New York, the Los Angeles trial will determine whether or not he walks free.

Weinstein faces a life sentence in California if convicted.
An aide to Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia has been fired after a probe by the House Sergeant at Arms following allegations she tried to set up meetings with Capitol Hill aides on behalf of the embassy of China.

Beyer, who traveled on a delegation to Taiwan following Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip  visits that infuriated Beijing  released a statement saying he was 'totally unaware' of his former aide's activities.

The former aide, identified as Barbara Hamlett, had worked as a scheduler in his office for years, and had worked previously for a series of other lawmakers, according to congressional data and her LinkedIn page.

'Congressman Beyer was totally unaware of these activities prior to being contacted by the House Sergeant at Arms,' Beyer's deputy chief of staff, Aaron Fritschner, told the National Review.

Virginia Democratic Rep. Don Beyer has fired his scheduler after hearing from the House Sergeant at Arms that she was reportedly reaching out to congressional staff to set up meetings with staff for the embassy of China

'As soon as he learned of them, he followed every directive he was given by security officials. The staffer in question is no longer employed by the office of Congressman Beyer.'

According to the report, Hamlett allegedly reached out to congressional staff through emails, calls, and office visits and sought to line up meetings and lunches on behalf of staff for the Chinese embassy in Washington. One such requested meeting at the swank Charlie Palmer's steakhouse near the Capitol.

The House Sergeant at Arms notified Breyer after learning of Hamlett's efforts on behalf of Chinese embassy staff. Beyer's own investigation revealed she allegedly tried to contact staff in at least two Republican offices.

An email sent to Hamlett's House email address by DailyMail.com received a response that she was no longer with Beyer's office. An attempt to reach her by phone was unsuccessful.

Beyer traveled to Beijing with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Hamlett (r) served as Rep. Don Beyer's scheduler

Beyer visited Taiwan 12 days after Pelosi along with other lawmakers

A Facebook posting showed Hamlett at an Alexandria Democratic Committee Annual Labor Day Picnic

Fritshner told the publication the lawmaker was 'deeply upset.'

According to Legistorm, which tracks congressional data, she is a longtime Hill aide who previously worked for Democratic Reps. Mike Honda, Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Karen McCarthy. According to her Linkedin page, she also worked as a scheduler for the late Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Her salary is listed at about $60,000 a year.

Beyer 'has been an outspoken critic of Chinas record on human rights  including their crackdown in Hong Kong and their oppression of the Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang  as well as an advocate for Tibet, and a vocal supporter of Taiwan,' said his office.

He pledged that he would remain a 'fierce critic of China's record.

Barbara Jenell Hamlett's LinkedIn page references her work for Beyer and states: 'Although I have been gone for a few years, I am still actively involved with several Congressional offices on many levels  on both sides of The Hill as well as both sides of the aisle. I cant stay away!!'

In one alleged incident an aide told the National Review she came to the person's office and asked for a hallway conversation, where she said she was friends with the embassy 'and they have been trying to get in contact with me.' During a subsequent coffee meeting, a male embassy staffer registered complaints about one of the lawmaker's bills.

Beyer's office did not respond to a request for additional comment.
Prince Harry previously held the role, but his titles were stripped by the Queen after he moved to the US

Advertisement

Prince Harry will not return to the UK to spend the first Christmas since Queen Elizabeth II died with his family amid controversy over his upcoming memoir, Spare.

Sources close to the couple told The Mirror relations between Harry and wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family are 'near rock bottom' and they could decline an invitation to spend the festive period with Harry's family.

The reports come as King Charles was today announced as the new ceremonial head of the Royal Marines, a role previously held by his son, Prince Harry.

In a sign of the sensitivity of the situation, the Mail revealed last night that Harry was informed of his father's decision to take on the role himself before it was made public.

The prince had been appointed Captain General by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, in 2017 following the Duke of Edinburgh's decision to retire from public life.

Today's developments come just a day after new details were revealed about Prince Harry's 'nuclear' memoir.

Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be called Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne.

Prince Harry has 'no plans' to return to the UK for Christmas, despite the recent death of his grandmother, sources close to the couple have said

Harry's father is now King Charles III, but his new book has continued to heighten tensions across the pond

Prince Harry played a prominent role in the Queen's funeral procession, as well as accompanying her coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster for the lying-in-state (pictured)

A source told The Mirror the book could spell 'the end' for any reconciliation efforts between the Sussexes and the royals

Family members were not informed of the title in advance of the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'.

It had been hoped that relations would thaw somewhat after the Queen's death, but sources told The Mirror that the couple have 'no plans' to travel to the UK for Christmas.

The rest of the royal family were reportedly surprised at the memoir's title.

Another source told The Mirror the book could spell 'the end' for any reconciliation efforts between the Sussexes and the royals: 'This book could spell the end for any relationship Harry wants to have with his family, it's desperately sad.'

An initial release date had been pencilled in for 'late 2022' to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market, but the book will not be on the shelves until January 10  said to be as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, due to last-minute alterations requested by the duke.

A spokesman for the King declined to comment on the book last night. But it is understood that the Royal Household has already been warned that the 416-page, 28 book is 'critical of everyone and everything' and they are 'dreading' it.

Among the grievances Harry may air is the decision to 'ban' him from wearing military uniform during the Queen's funeral.

Following a series of reports about the issue, the Duke of Sussex's spokesman issued a pointed statement, which read: '[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother.

'His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.'

Only working royals  which Harry and his uncle Andrew are not  are being permitted to dress in uniform at five ceremonial occasions.

Harry's military titles were stripped after he and Meghan moved permanently to America, including the Captain General role which has now been taken on by King Charles himself.

The Queen's husband had held the title with huge distinction for more than 64 years and his grandson cherished the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

He was photographed with his late grandfather as he carried out his last official duty as Captain General before inheriting the position.

Following his acrimonious decision to quit royal duties and move to the US in 2019, Harry had hoped to still hold on to the position, as well as his other honorary military roles.

But after his grandmother made clear that it would be impossible for himself and Meghan to pursue commercial careers while undertaking royal duties, he was stripped of the office.

In a statement in February 2021, Buckingham Palace said: 'Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.

'The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.

'While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.'

The Sussexes retaliated with a statement of their own, which many saw as a direct and intensely disrespectful response to the Queen's comment on their inability to dedicate themselves to 'a life of public service' while pursuing their fortunes in the States.

'We can all live a life of service. Service is universal,' the couple said.

King Charles, pictured speaking with Marines after attending a memorial service in London when he was Prince of Wales, has taken over as Captain General it was announced today

Prince Harry, who served during the war in Afghanistan in the British Army (pictured), was told that his role would revert to his father before the announcement was made public

Harry (pictured left at an event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 2019) was said to be saddened to be stripped of the position as ceremonial head of the Commando regiment following Megxit in 2020. Pictured right: Charles  then Prince of Wales  at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, last year

The Duke of Sussex was appointed Captain General by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding Prince Philip, pictured

The Duke of Sussex's autobiography, which has the pointed title Spare, was unveiled yesterday. It is just one of a series of commercial ventures the couple have engaged in

Their spokesman added that they would 'remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role'.

The role of Captain General of the Royal Marines - as well as Harry's appointments with RAF Honington and the Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving - reverted to the Queen.

Although some had speculated that Princess Anne would subsequently become the first woman to hold the role, no new appointment was made until today.

Until Philip was given the role by his wife in 1953, the position was held by a succession of sovereigns: King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI, Charles' great-grandfather, great uncle and grandfather.

The Queen had, however, been keen to pay tribute to her husband's own proud military career - which he was forced to give up when they married - and he proved to be a much loved and popular ceremonial head.

He remained in the post for 64 years and 201 days.

His funeral last year, which he planned himself, involved a strong presence from the force.

A Royal Marine Bearer Party carried his coffin from his Land Rover Hearse into St George's Chapel, while the Last Post was played by one of their buglers.

Although today's announcement came just a day after Prince Harry's publishers announced his controversial memoir, Spare, would be published in January, there was no co-relation between the two events.

Buckingham Palace hadn't been expecting the announcement and had long planned to reveal the king's new role on the 358th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Marines, formed on October 28 1664 during King Charles II's reign.

The new king today praised them for their 'courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments'.

Widely acknowledged as one of the world's elite fighting forces, the Royal Marine Commandos are the amphibious troops of the Royal Navy.

They are deployed across the globe as specialists in combat in extreme climates, serving on the most dangerous operations under the most challenging conditions.

In a personal message to the Royal Marines, Charles said: 'It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General.

'I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three and a half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration.

'The Royal Marines have a distinguished and unparalleled history, both on land and at sea.

'I draw immense inspiration from your courage, determination, self-discipline and a remarkable capacity to endure in the most extreme environments.

'I feel greatly honoured to become part of the Corps Family and very much look forward to meeting many of you in the near future.

'In the meantime, this comes with my heartfelt and special wishes for a very happy 358th birthday.'

He concluded with their motto Per Mare, Per Terram - By Land, By Sea.

As Prince of Wales, the King embarked on a career in the Royal Navy, undergoing training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Devon in order to qualify as a helicopter pilot in 1972.

His Majesty later served alongside Royal Marines on board HMS Hermes, as part of 845 Naval Air Squadron, completing military exercises in the Western Atlantic and the West Indies.

Since their founding, the Royal Marines have taken part in more battles on land and sea around the world than any other branch of the UK Armed Forces.

They are currently operating in the Mediterranean, forging closer bonds with NATO allies and partners.

Commandos are also deployed in the Middle East to disrupt the global drugs trade, and will soon be operating in Oman.

Harry was said to be saddened when his prestigious title was removed by the Queen in 2020 after he and Meghan announced they would step down as working royals and move to California.

The Duke of Sussex was appointed Captain General by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding Prince Philip. Today's announcement comes just a day after Harry unveiled his 'provocative' new memoir Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne.

In a personal message to the Royal Marines as they mark their 358th birthday today, the King said: 'It is the greatest possible pleasure to assume the role of your Captain General. I am exceptionally proud to follow in the footsteps of so many members of my family over the last three-and-a-half centuries, all of whom held the role with a deep sense of admiration.

The duke also lost his other formal roles with the military including Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands' Small Ships and Diving.

Harry, a former Army officer with a passion for the military family, had been eager to hold onto his formal links with the UK's Armed Forces.

As Prince of Wales, the King embarked on a career in the Royal Navy, undergoing training at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone, Devon, in order to qualify as a helicopter pilot

His Majesty later served alongside Royal Marines on board HMS Hermes, as part of 845 Naval Air Squadron, completing military exercises in the Western Atlantic and the West Indies

The King holds the honorary rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy. In this old photo, he is seen meeting servicemen

Alongside his new role, he will continue to hold the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy.

Prince William had initially been expected to succeed his brother as Captain General after a Buckingham Palace statement insisted they would be handed to 'working members of the Royal Family'.

However, growing tensions between the pair following Megxit meant making such a move would be seen as unnecessarily provocative, reports suggested.

Instead, Princess Anne was mooted as the most likely candidate due to her being the 'least controversial choice'.

The King is a Royal Navy veteran, and served alongside the Royal Marines on board HMS Hermes, as part of 845 Naval Air Squadron, completing military exercises in the Western Atlantic and the West Indies.
He had been riding his bike in Melbourne on Friday when he was sucked down

Jake Gilbert was rescued by an off-duty SES member and Victorian Policeman

An 11-year-old boy has battled surging storm-water after he was sucked in a drain

An 11-year-old boy was miraculously rescued after he became trapped in raging floodwaters and was nearly sucked down a stormwater drain.

Jake Gilbert had been riding his bike with a friend in Altona Meadows, Melbourne on Thursday afternoon before he accidentally rode over a submerged drain and was sucked underwater.

Police said he was washed 10m down Merton Street before he could grab a metal grate covering the drain on the other side.

The boy luckily gained time to latch onto the grate after his bike helmet became stuck on the structure.

Holding on to the grate by just his fingertips, Jake feared he wouldn't survive.

'[The water] was pulling me along, I was thinking sort of like 'am I going to die?',' he told Ten News from his hospital bed.

Jake Gilbert (above) was almost dragged into a stormwater drain by surging floodwaters at Altona Meadows in Melbourne before a quick response by two emergency workers saved his life

Jake was sucked into the stormwater drain (above) while riding his bicycle, before managing to latch on to a grate beneath the level of the street

'I tried to get out and then when I was getting pulled, I was thinking, like, goodbye and whatnot,' Jake said.

Off-duty SES Volunteer Justin Costello and a passerby noticed Jake and rushed to help him. Victoria Police Constable Peter Ivory then arrived to assist as well.

The quick-thinking SES member took the bolts from the grate as the boy stayed clinging to its underside, by that point completely submerged.

'At one stage he asked if he was going to make it and I said 'Yeah, you're going to make it mate, just hold on',' Constable Ivory said on Friday.

'When we arrived the boy was fully submerged and he was literally clinging to the grate by his fingernails so he wasn't sucked underground.'

An officer then prised the gate open to pull Jake, holding on beneath, up and out of the drain.

Jake emerged from the drain with hyperthermia, grazes, bruises and a whole lot of gratitude for the emergency crews' swift response.

Rescuers Peter Ivory (left) and Justin Costello (right) managed to pry the stormwater grate off with Jake still underneath

Jake was riding with his friend who was also washed from his bike in Altona Meadows, Melbourne (above) but the other boy managed to avoid the floodwaters

He told rescuers: 'I love you all', later asking about his missing shoes.

Paramedics treated the boy before taking him to hospital.

His friend was also washed from his bike but had managed to avoid the floodwaters.

The two hero emergency workers said the rescue was as urgent as they come.

'The force of the water was extraordinary,' said Constable Ivory.

'I'm so glad we could play our part in bringing the incident to a good resolution.

'I could not speak more highly of everyone involved, especially the passer-by and off-duty SES member.

'They are truly the heroes of this story.'

Sgt Kristy Briffa from Williamstown police said those involved in the rescue were 'truly amazing'.

'There is no doubt their quick thinking in the most dire of circumstances truly saved a life,' she said.

The fortunate 11-year-old told the ABC the current was nearly too strong for him to keep a good grip during the rescue.

'I was trying to get up but I couldn't because the current was too strong,' Jake said.

'When it took me down, I was like: 'I'm not ready to go, I don't want to go to heaven', and that's why I tried to get out.'
The Ministry of Defence has been training Chinese pilots, allowing them to study at UK military colleges.

As part of the scheme, which ran until 2019, RAF pilots were sent to Beijing to instruct Chinese aircrew.

According to Sky News, the MoD authorised the Chinese pilots to receive an 'Aviation English Course' as well as instruction in conflict law.

This has led to increased criticism of the Government, many of whose members were in cabinet for the duration of the scheme.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey warned this could have jeopardised UK national security.

The RAF was training military pilots at RAF Cranwell, pictured, until the scheme was cancelled in 2019

The MoD even sent serving RAF personnel to Beijing to train Chinese military pilots (stock image)

Several serving Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots taught an 'Aviation English Course' in China in 2016, while a number of Chinese nationals studied at the RAF's college at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham in Swindon, Sky News reported (stock image)

Several serving Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots taught an 'Aviation English Course' in China in 2016, while a number of Chinese nationals studied at the RAF's college at Cranwell in Lincolnshire and the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham in Swindon, Sky News reported.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson said: 'The UK has never provided fast jet flight training, or any other sensitive training, for People's Liberation Army (Air Force) pilots.'

It is understood that the MoD's official defence activities with Beijing, which included initial officer training on English language and armed conflict law, were stopped in 2019.

But Labour criticised the Tories for being 'too slow to emerge from their "golden era" with China and repeatedly blase about security threats'.

Labour's Mr Healey said: 'This official deployment could have compromised details of UK military operations, technology and training to a foreign power, posing a significant threat to our national security.

'Ministers must answer serious questions about why they backed this activity and what risks it poses. The public also want reassurance on the actions taken to halt it.'

Earlier this month, the Government warned former British military pilots not to teach the Chinese armed forces how to defeat western warplanes and aircraft.

Earlier this month it emerged former RAF fast jet pilots have moved to China where they are paid more than 250,000-a-year to share their expertise (File Photo)

Shadow defence secretary John Healey, pictured, said the government may have threatened national security in assisting the Chinese military

Armed forces minister James Heappey said: 'China is a competitor that is threatening the UK interest in many places around the world.'

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said he was 'surprised' that something 'akin to the Official Secrets Act' was not already in place to stop it from happening.

The BBC reported that up to 30 former pilots, including some RAF veterans, were believed to have trained China's People's Liberation Army.

The MoD issued an intelligence alert warning pilots against taking part and that it was taking 'decisive steps' to stop Chinese recruitment schemes targeting military pilots.

This comes as former RAF Top Gun pilots were criticised for accepting lucrative roles training Chinese pilots .

Up to 30 pilots have recently moved to China after securing 250,000-a-year contracts to teach Western flying procedures, it was revealed.

Due to legal loopholes, there is nothing the Armed Forces can do to prevent the Beijing brain drain  a potential threat to national security in which Chinese pilots could be given a lethal advantage in any future conflict.

Many more top Royal Air Force pilots have been approached by intermediaries acting on behalf of the Peoples Liberation Army but declined the offers, sources said.

Western officials said last night Britain was discussing with allies how to respond to the issue as they are similarly affected.
Rishi Sunak is standing by predecessor Liz Trusss decision to stop King Charles from attending the Cop 27 climate summit in Egypt next month, despite him 'champing at the bit' to go.

The new Prime Minister has been accused of a 'massive failure of leadership' after himself deciding not take part in the event, despite Truss having planned to travel to represent the UK there. Critics say it calls the new PM's climate stance into question.

Sunak is reportedly under pressure to let the King attend and allies have suggested he should let Charles go to demonstrate the UK's commitment to combating climate change in the Prime Minister's absence.

Charles is said to be disappointed not to go, but understands his attendance would need the blessing of the government and will not force the issue with No10, The Times reported.

A source told the newspaper: 'He will be champing at the bit but knows it would need government blessing. The PM has reversed the fracking decision so this could be another smart environmentally focused move.'

King Charles, who holds climate issues close to his heart, also hopes to find a way to show his support, potentially through a message or convening discussions via video-link or telephone, The Telegraph reported.

Rishi Sunak is standing by predecessor Liz Trusss decision to stop the King from attending the Cop 27 climate summit in Egypt next month despite him 'champing at the bit' to go

The new Prime Minister has been accused of a 'massive failure of leadership' after deciding not take part in the event despite Truss having planned to travel to represent the UK there

The news comes as Downing Street yesterday admitted for the first time that the King was advised not to attend the summit under Truss's administration.

Aides said he is mindful of his new constitutional role as monarch and understands that a short trip to Egypt would not be appropriate for his first state visit abroad.

They made clear the environment remains a top priority for himself and his family.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Government advice was sought, as is 'standard practice', and it was agreed it was not the 'right occasion' for Charles to visit in person.

She added that she is 'not aware' that the advice has changed.

'As is standard practice, Government advice was sought and provided under a previous PM, and it was unanimously agreed that it would not be the right occasion for the King to visit in person,' she said.

'I'm not aware that that advice has changed but obviously any confirmation of the King's travel would be for the Palace.'

Asked if there are any plans for the conversation between the Palace and the Government to reopen, she said again that she is not aware the advice has changed.

Charles is said to be disappointed not to go, but understands his attendance would need the blessing of the government and will not force the issue with No10

The summit's Egyptian organisers have claimed about 90 heads of state had so far confirmed their attendance, with President Biden and President Macron expected to go.

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.'

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.'

Sunak is reportedly under pressure to let the King attend and allies have suggested he should let Charles go to demonstrate the UK's commitment to combating climate change

Last year's Cop-26 summit in Glasgow was attended by a string of Cabinet ministers - including Mr Sunak himself as Chancellor

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.'

Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance 'a massive failure of leadership'.

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".'

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey defended Sunaks decision not to attend by saying the 'big political' summits take place every five years.

She insisted the climate issue is 'very much a priority' for the new Government despite climate minister Graham Stuart and Cop26 President Alok Sharma being stripped of their Cabinet seats.

'The big push happened last year in Glasgow,' she told Sky News.

'I am not aware of, say, President Biden or President Macron or any of those other people will be there. It is quite standard practice that every five years is the big political gathering.'

She said 'several senior Government ministers' will be attending the summit in Egypt next month.
An NYC college student was sentenced to 22 years in jail for killing his mother and getting caught for his mother's murder. The reason for the murder is to get the money, and he throws the corpse in a rubbish heap with the help of his girlfriends.

NYC College Student Gets 22 years in Sentence

Convicted killer Jared Eng, 25, took responsibility in the Manhattan Supreme Court for the slaying of Paula Chin about three years back, according to a NY Daily News report.

The victim, Chin, 65, was discovered in one of the garbage bins close to one of her homes in Morristown, New Jersey. Eng called in to report her missing last February 4, 2019.

Probers of the crime found items like two blood-covered gloves and even duct tape inside Chin's home, located on Vestry St. in lower Manhattan. The victim was stabbed and cracked on her skull savagely many times, noted Block Work Media.

Eng said its justice and accepted the sentence; he admitted to second-degree murder last September 16, citing True Crime Daily.

He went on to say that his mother deserved far more confidence than she received. She deserves happiness, grandchildren, and, most importantly, a better son. He also stated that he loves her and that the shame of what happened overwhelms him with guilt after killing his mother. But the judge doubted the convicted killer's remorse and gave the deserved prison term of 22 years.

Prosecutors on the case said the NYC college student could not wait to get the inheritance; when talking to an outlet, the killer said his mom had $11 million in the bank and a $12,000 monthly rent.

Read Also: Joe Biden Uncomfortably Grabs Teen Girl's Shoulder During Administration's Visit in Southern California

Two other suspects in the crime are the two girlfriends of Eng, Jennifer Lopez, and Caitlyn O'Rourke, with cases in the works. Lopez assisted in cleaning the bloody scene of the crime and later drove the victim's car to NJ, with the bloody corpse inside a duffle bag in the trunk. But O'Rouke is accused of cleaning blood-soaked clothes.

He attempted to ask for leniency in court for his accomplices. He explained to forgive them because they loved him.

Inheritance Money as Motive for Murder

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass displayed text messages ahead of Eng. the text demonstrated that he had a simultaneous relationship with both women.

One of the texts sent to Lopez said he spits on his mom's grave on FB messenger in 2018 and added that she's a source of income. In another exchange before the murder of Chin, he suggested staging her death to get all the money in the inheritance. He was willing to get accused of accidental manslaughter or claim going crazy to avoid prison and land in a mental hospital.

A voicemail was sent from jail to Eng's brother, saying he thought of paying for his two girlfriends' silence in a report.

One of the prosecutors, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, added that the lengthy sentence given to Eng would provide closure to the murder victim's immediate relatives. Bragg remarked that it would end this chapter for the family involved and thanked those on the case for finishing it and holding someone accountable.

NYC college student, Jared Eng, got 22 years sentence after killing his mother because he wanted her money sooner.

Related Article: 15-Year-Old Boy Slain in Gang Shootout at Queens Subway; NYC Police Calls Seeks Suspects of Incident

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Four ISIS brides have touched down in Australia after being repatriated from a camp in Syria.

Their Emirates flight left Dubai before arriving at Sydney Airport at 6.20am on Saturday morning, ahead of schedule.

The women were joined by their 13 children after being removed from the al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

There was a heavy police presence at the airport as the ISIS brides arrived and they are now expected to be taken to secure hotels to rest.

They will then debriefed by authorities before returning to the community and extended families as authorities mull over whether to charge any of them.

One of the returning families is Mariam Dabboussy and her three children. Her father, Kamalle Dabboussy from Sydney, has been a vocal supporter for Australians in the Syria camp.

Kamalle Dabboussy with his daughter Mariam Dabboussy (right) and her daughters in al-Hawl camp in north-eastern Syria. She is one of the ISIS brides who returned to Australia today

Shayma Assaad (pictured) was 15 when she moved to Syria from Australia with her parents, and later married Mohammed Noor Masri, 26. She and her four children are also believed to have now returned to 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. They are now in Sydney

Bankstown-born Dabboussy previously said she was tricked into entering Syria in mid-2015 by her terrorist husband Kaled Zahab, who died shortly after they arrived.

Shayma Assaad, 22, and her four children are also believed to have returned to Sydney on Saturday, according to the Australian.

She was taken to Syria when she was just 15 and married to an older Islamic State member, Sydney tradie Mohammed Noor Masri, who remains in jail in Syria.

In a statement, the women said: 'We are deeply thankful to be back home in Australia with our children.

'We want to express our regret for the trouble and hurt we have caused, especially to our families. We are willing to do whatever is asked of us by the government authorities to ensure the safety of our families and the Australian community and we will fully cooperate with all Australian law enforcement agencies.

'Once our children have received medical treatment, are healthy, and are ready, we want to see them lead a normal and safe life in Australia, surrounded by friends and family. We also want to be able to contribute to the Australian community and are grateful for the opportunity to do so.

'Together with our children, we have been through a terrible ordeal over many years. We ask for space, privacy and time to heal and reconnect with our loved ones in Australia.'

Reacting to the return of his daughter, Kamalle Dabboussy said: 'It has been an overwhelming and joyous day.

'I have just come from seeing my daughter and grandchildren. They have had a long journey getting home and they are tired but they are well. Jetlagged. The kids are opening presents and toys. I just wanted to say thank you.

'I walked into the room that they were staying in, in a secure location and I looked around and there were two children sleeping on the couch.

'I wanted to know where she was and then she jumped up from behind and grabbed me. She played it up as well and there were hugs and tears. It is hard to put in words exactly how to you felt at that point in time but intense joy.

'They have been cooperating with authorities from Syria, when they were taken to Iraq they cooperated with authorities and on their way over they have been cooperating with authorities. They have been cooperating all the way through.

'Clearly these women, to my knowledge are not a concern to Australia at all.

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed a rescue plan to bring home 16 women and 42 children who are families of IS members from the camp

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

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

'In my personal view, these women and children have been thoroughly assessed by agencies and are not a threat to the community. It was recommended that they come home, that they are not a threat and the best way for their future and for the future of Australia is for them to be here.

'I think it would be an ongoing process. Even if they are released into our care soon I am sure the investigations and the work will continue.'

They are the first Australians from ISIS to be repatriated from the Middle East since eight children and grandchildren of dead fighters in 2019.

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed a rescue plan to bring home 16 women and 42 children who are families of IS members from the camp.

The first people removed were assessed as the most vulnerable of those being held.

The federal government worked with Kurdish authorities on the extraction, which reportedly included DNA testing the individuals to prove they were Australian citizens.

Most of the children were born in Syria, meaning they'll be seeing Australia for the first time.

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.

Save the Children CEO Mat Tinkler hailed the repatriation and said the children had been given hope.

'We look forward to welcoming them home,' he said.

'We highly commend the Australian government for following through on its promise to repatriate these innocent children and their mothers.

'They have given these children hope for their futures and rightly backed the robustness of Australia's national security, judicial and resettlement systems to support their safe integration into Australian society.'

He said there were still more than 30 Australian children stuck in the camps in northeast Syria and urged the government to repatriate them as quickly as possible.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil refused to comment, citing sensitivity issues.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton warned the extractions were not in the national interest, claiming the rescues could inflame the risk of terrorism in Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the safety of Australians was always paramount and the government would continue to act on national security advice.

'We will always act in a way that keeps Australians safe.'

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo declined to comment on the repatriation or confirm it was occurring.

But a Senate estimates committee was told the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was looking at whether media reporting of the rescue breached national security.

'Given the seriousness of the potential harm to national security ... we were involved in discussions about the referral,' Mr Pezzullo said.

'Operational secrecy is to be preserved at all times.'

Mr Pezzullo confirmed there were still Australian women and children in Syrian camps and that ASIO and other agencies kept 'constantly under review' the ability to physically access the camps.
The woman found him at a townhouse lying down before killing him with the tool

The woman has pleaded guilty to hacking her partner to death after the research

Sydney axe murderer bought an axe after googling how to kill someone with it

A woman has pleaded guilty to killing her partner after she had a taxi wait for her at Bunnings while she bought an axe to hack him to death with.

The 34-year-old earlier made Google searches about murder, including 'Killing someone with axe what part of body to go for'.

At the time she was subject to an AVO after her partner told police she stabbed him with a meat cleaver, while he had three convictions involving violence against her.

The woman, who cannot be named as it would identify her children, faced a sentence hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday.

She pleaded guilty to murdering her long-term partner as he was lying down looking at his iPad in a Sydney townhouse in September, 2020.

According to the agreed facts, he was with a woman when his partner rang and messaged him.

A jealous lover murdered her long-term partner with an axe, despite an AVO following an incident with a meat cleaver. She has now pleaded guilty to his death in the NSW Supreme Court (above)

The woman google-searched how she could kill someone with an axe and then had a taxi take her to Bunnings (above) and wait while she purchased one

He told the woman it was his ex-partner, describing her as dangerous, and being both violent and abusive.

'She hit me with a big machete, she is f***ing wild,' he said.

She sent 19 text messages to the effect of suggesting he was having sex with someone and tried to call him from around 5.30am to 1pm.

Earlier that month, she conducted searches on her phone for information including 'Can you kill someone with hot boiling water' and 'Is it really easy to murder somebody with a knife.'

Before the murder, she did more searches including 'What is the fastest part of body to kill someone with the axe.'

In the early evening, she called a cab to take her to Bunnings, asked the driver to wait, and went inside and bought a Trojan Brand half axe.

The woman chopped her partner in the head multiple times with a half axe (above) while he was lying down using an iPad before she sent texts saying she couldn't 'deal with it anymore'

The woman visited her partner at his townhouse, suspecting he was sleeping with another woman, and then killed him (above, a stock image of townhouses in Sydney)

She later sent texts including: 'You guys might hear something on the news I might be in prison I can't deal with it any more.'

She went to the police station, confessing to the murder but told a string of lies including that her partner had produced a knife.

He was found to have died from multiple wounds to his head.

In a victim impact statement read to the court on Friday, his aunt described the family's pain at losing the humble and gentle man whom people loved being around.

She asked why he was taken away from them in such a horrific, brutal and cowardly way.

His relationship with his mother had been very supportive and they were like 'peas in a pod'.

But she died earlier this year, her heart being suffocated by trauma and grief over the loss of her beloved son.

In sentencing submissions, prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman described the ferocity of the axe attack, noting the woman said she used all her might.

She also noted the planning and premeditation.

Defence barrister Bernadette O'Reilly described the couple's relationship as volatile and marred by domestic violence.

He had been convicted of violence offences against her in 2010, 2011 and in March, 2019, while her client had no prior convictions.

Although she was said to have hit him with a meat cleaver, resulting in a 2-3cm graze, no charges were laid and police instead sought the AVO.

Justice Natalie Adams will sentence her on November 4.
The couple had a chaotic 27-year marriage which she details in a new biography

The celebrated painter and sculptor's works have sold for up to $6million

The widow of one of Australia's most famous artists, Brett Whiteley, has opened up about their destructive open marriage describing a whirlwind of affairs, violence and drug use.

Wendy Whiteley, now 81, detailed the chaos of her marriage to painter and sculptor Brett Whiteley, who died alone from a heroin overdose in a Thirroul motel room 1992, in a new book.

Since his death Brett Whiteley's reputation has grown, making him one of Australia's most celebrated artists. Some of his works have sold for up to $6million.

The widow of one of Australia's most famous artists, Brett Whiteley, has opened up about their destructive open marriage describing a whirlwind of affairs, violence and drug use

Ms Whiteley, now 81, detailed the chaos of her marriage to painter and sculptor Brett Whiteley, who died alone from a heroin overdose in a Thirroul motel room 1992, in 'A Year With Wendy Whiteley'

The couple was married for 27 years, during which they were both addicted to heroin but still raised a daughter, Arkie.

She went on to be a successful actor before tragically dying of adrenal cancer aged just 37 in 2001.

Ms Whiteley claimed that during their marriage Brett was 'possessive', 'jealous' and 'abusive', although they shared loving stable times too, The Australian reported.

They divorced three years before he died at age 53.

He had countless affairs and told her 'one-night stand sex means nothing', though she was upset at the impact on other women.

Although Wendy and Brett Whiteley were using heroin throughout the 1970s, they raised a daughter, Arkie. Tragically she died from adrenal cancer at age 37 in 2001 (pictured, Wendy and Arkie Whiteley)

Brett Whiteley (centre and closest to the camera) is pictured with 12 promising young artists at London's Whitechapel Gallery in 1964

Ms Whiteley, now 81, had a long-term affair with poet and musician Michael Driscoll in the 1970s, which drove Brett into violent rages.

She claims in the book, A Year With Wendy Whiteley, that Brett wanted a threesome with Mr Driscoll, who she said introduced them to heroin.

Ms Whiteley refused the offer of a threesome and of the suggestion that they should all live together.

While the couple had an open marriage, Wendy said at times Brett was enraged by her affair with Mr Driscoll and would be 'scary violent'.

In one incident when the couple argued about him, she fled their Lavender Bay home in her car and Brett chased in his, almost causing an accident.

In 1967, five years after they were married, the Whiteleys lived in New York and mixed with some of the 21st century's most famous musicians - Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix

'We had a huge row and he started getting violent. I ran out of the house. I got into my car and started driving away, and he started following me in his car. Trying to run me off the road.'

She claimed Whiteley didn't want her to have a car because it allowed her to escape him, and he was 'in a way' trying to destroy it by causing a crash.

Ms Whiteley said that as well as the chaos, their marriage had stability and joy.

But in relation to her ambitions, Whiteley was 'a complete f***ing misogynist'.

Ms Whiteley claimed he was 'furious' when she started a fashion outlet in New York with a business partner and that their relationship would not have survived her trying to practise as an artist.

Instead, she became his muse and she featured in many of his paintings, often naked.

In 1967, five years after they were married, the Whiteleys lived in New York and mixed with some of the 21st century's most famous musicians - Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.

When they returned to Sydney two years later he was considered a superstar.

The couple battled a heroin addiction together, but Ms Whiteley quit drugs in 1987 after using for 13 years. Their relationship went downhill badly.

Since his death Ms Whiteley has managed his estate and become a key figure in the Australian art scene

She became 'angry' being around him and the difference between him using and her being clean caused 'the real disintegration' of their relationship.

He claimed his 'heroes' were all artistic addicts and that he had used drugs as part of his creative process since he was 17 years old.

The couple divorced in 1990 and two years later he died from an overdose.

Since his death Ms Whiteley has managed his estate and become a key figure in the Australian art scene.

She recently announced a $100million donation, with almost 2,000 of her late husband's artworks and objects to go to the Art Gallery of NSW and the Brett Whiteley Foundation.

A Year With Wendy Whiteley, by Ashleigh Wilson, is out on November 1.
Corden: 'I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language  how is it remotely a thing?'

James Corden said he felt disbelief in response to the drama with restaurant owner Keith McNally, adding that McNally 'wasn't even there' when Corden was reportedly rude to staff.

The Late Late Show comic previously conceded that he had been 'ungracious' to the waitstaff and added that the story offered by McNally - who suggested Corden was 'yelling like crazy' - was not accurate.

In a stream of text messages, Corden said the incident and its backlash has 'been the most surreal moment,' while adding that McNally was not present when his wife Julia was served the wrong order.

'I mean, it's so odd,' he writes.

'I never screamed at anyone, I didn't shout, didn't call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language  how is it remotely a thing? And that be OK?

'And now it's fact, and that's that. When the person who posted the story wasn't even there. Just so odd.'

He added: 'I have never talked about eggs this much.'

James Corden followed up on his conflict with Balthazar owner Keith McNally, adding that the restauranteur 'wasn't even there' at the time he was reportedly rude with waitstaff

McNally (pictured), previously rescinded his ban of Corden at the New York City restaurant

Corden reportedly yelled at waitstaff after his wife received the wrong order

In addition to replying to the recent McNally-Balthazar drama, Corden added that he no longer 'Googles' himself.

'I just won't do it,' he said. 'I don't Google myself, I don't read anything about myself.'

Corden said he used to read stories about himself but stopped because 'a lot of it was from broadsheet journalists  being pretty f***king cruel.'

Displaying his distaste for online reviews, Corden read a review for his performance on the show 'The Wrong Mans,' which he co-wrote alongside Matt Baynton.

'There are some - me included - who think James Corden would be much improved by being crushed into a more compact, cube-shaped version of James Corden,' Corden recalled, insinuating that the review was 'cruel.'

'I know the things I've done that aren't good - but that was good,' he said. 'And I remember thinking, how is nobody saying, 'This is really quite awful to describe the wanton death of someone?''

'And this was in The Guardian. The f***king Guardian!'

Julia, his wife, ordered an egg-yolk omelet - which is not available on the menu - because of an allergy to egg whites

Corden: 'That's why we'd ordered an egg-yolk omelet. Her actual words were, 'But don't worry if you can't manage it'

In response to his reported Balthazar outburst, Corden said there were cars outside his home at 5.47am to take photos of him.

'People keep telling me, 'This is the world we live in,' and I don't know if that's right,' he said.

'I think it's a world we're actively creating, engaging in and encouraging. It's scary. Really scary.'

Retelling his version of the events that happened at the restaurant, Corden said he and his wife sent their order back because 'Jules is allergic to egg white.'

'That's why we'd ordered an egg-yolk omelet,' he said. 'Her actual words were, 'But don't worry if you can't manage it.'

There are only two omelets on the menu at the famous New York City eatery; the $25 Omelet with Herbs, and the $27, Egg-White Omelet. Both come with a side of home fries or salad.

Servers explained to DailyMail.com that Corden was asking for something that is not offered and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards.

'He wanted an omelet that had only egg yolks. Not the egg-white omelet, just egg yolks.

'Why then would you even bother ordering an omelet if you're allergic to eggs?' he asked.

There are plenty of egg-free options on the Balthazar Sunday brunch menu.

The staff at Balthazar suggested that the egg allergy was not the real reason for Corden's outburst, and that he had been rude to them in the past.

'We deal with that kind of behavior from people all the time.

'But he  he was very, very rude,' George, one of the barmen, said.

Servers explained to DailyMail.com that Corden was asking for something that is not offered and was angry when it wasn't up to his standards

In an interview with The New York Times the day after McNally posted his accusations against Corden to Instagram, he said the subject was 'beneath' discussion.

'I just think its beneath all of us. Its beneath you. Its certainly beneath your publication,' he told the reporter.

Last night, he apologized on his show for being 'snide'.

'Because I didn't shout or scream, I didn't get up out of my seat, I didn't call anyone names or use derogatory language, I have been walking around thinking that I've not done anything wrong.

'But I have. I made a rude comment,' he said, adding that he 'values and respects' anyone and everyone in the service industry.

Corden's current contract with Viacom CBS for his Late Late Show expires next year.

He and his wife are selling their $9.7million home in Brentwood and are planning to return to the UK next year.
Elon Musk has already had a volatile effect after taking control of Twitter, and at least one advertiser - one of Musk's Tesla competitors - has paused advertising on the social media giant to take stock of the situation.

General Motors, which competes with Musk's car company, announced it has 'temporarily paused' it's paid advertising on Twitter.

However, the company said in a statement that they will continue to interact with Twitter's customer care service.

Spokesman David Barnes said, 'We are engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership.'

GM might not be alone, as two ad execs told the New York Times Friday that their clients had indicated they might stop doing business with Twitter if former President Donald Trump were allowed back on the site.

Elon Musk has already had a volatile effect after taking control of Twitter, and at least one advertiser - one of Musk's Tesla competitors - has paused advertising on the social media giant to take stock of the situation

General Motors, which competes with Musk's car company, announced it has 'temporarily paused' it's paid advertising on Twitter

Trump had his personal and professional accounts banned from Twitter after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

The chief data and technology officer of IPG - one of the 'big four' ad agencies - Arun Kumar said their clients aren't quite sure what to make of Musk's purchase of Twitter, suggesting he might be a wild card no matter what he does.

He said: 'The attitude is more or less just wait and watch. Advertisers still share the same concerns around content moderation that existed before, and, given the economic environment right now, any missteps and there will be quick reactions.'

Musk has not yet commented but said in a tweet Friday that 'Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.

This comes after multiple Twitter users have posted that they've been losing followers since the $44 billion takeover was completed on Thursday.

It's possible people are losing Twitter followers  described as 'The Great Purge' by one user  because users are deactivating their accounts in protest at Musk's purchase.

Another possibility is that Musk has already got to work at reducing the number of bots on the platform, said to make up five per cent of all user accounts.

MailOnline has contacted Twitter for further information on why users' follower numbers are dropping.

GM might not be alone, as two ad execs told the New York Times Friday that their clients had indicated they might stop doing business with Twitter if former President Donald Trump were allowed back on the site

Elon Musk, the world's richest person with a net worth of more than $210 billion (180 billion), completed the takeover of Twitter this week

'The Great Purge has begun': Twitter users report losing of followers as Elon Musk formally takes over the platform

It's possible people are losing Twitter followers because other users are deactivating their accounts in protest at Musk's purchase

Another possibility is that Musk has already got to work at reducing the number of bots on the platform, said to make up 5 per cent of all user accounts.

TIMELINE OF ELON MUSK'S CHAOTIC ATTEMPT TO TAKEOVER TWITTER April 2: Musk announces that he owns 9.2 percent of the company, making him its largest single shareholder April 14: Musk offers to take Twitter private at $54.20 a share, valuing the company at $44billion April 25: Twitter accepts Musk's offer April 29: Musk sells $8billion in Tesla shares to finance deal May 13: Musk says Twitter deal is on hold pending a review of bot accounts May 26: Musk is sued by Twitter for stock manipulation during takeover July 8: Musk says he's backing out of the deal. Twitter sues, trying to force him into seeing it through. October 4: Musk proposes again to go ahead with the deal at the original price October 17: Proposed trial date in Delaware October 26: Musk visits Twitter HQ with a sink, updates his bio on the site to 'Chief Twit' and sets his location to Twitter HQ Advertisement

Twitter user @benjaminwittes posted on Friday: 'Wow. People do seem to be getting rid of their Twitter accounts. I've lost about 700 followers, I think, in the last few hours. Are others experiencing something similar?'

Meanwhile, @hilaryluros posted: 'I've just lost 50 Twitter followers. The Great Purge has begun.'

And @AuschwitzMuseum, the official account for the Auschwitz memorial in Poland, said it is 'observing a strange decrease of number of followers'  around 2,500 down from Thursday evening.

@DoctorHenryCT said: 'I lost some followers last night. I'm not sure if it was bot cleaning which I doubt since Musk loves bots so I am wondering if some people have left Twitter and closed their accounts.'

Meanwhile, @jadedcreative said his followers were 'dropping like flies'.

And @byKateSmith said: 'Wow - I lost a few hundred followers overnight. Welcome to Twitter, Elon.'

@michaelcoren said a number of 'allegedly progressive people' have left Twitter, adding: 'That's disappointing because left-wing voices will be more necessary than ever. This isn't the time for retreat.'

Older tweets seem to suggest that the so-called 'purge' has been going on for a while.

Earlier in the month, when Musk decided to plough ahead with plans to take over Twitter, US Congressman Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) said he'd lost 16,000 followers, while @SharylAttkisson said she'd lost about 6,000 in a 'couple of hours'.

Musk  the world's richest person with a net worth of more than $210 billion (180 billion)  completed his purchase of Twitter on Thursday following protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty.

After finally completing the deal, Musk started his reign of Twitter in audacious fashion, by immediately firing some of Twitter's top executives at its San Francisco HQ on Thursday.

Twitter user @benjaminwittes said he'd lost about 700 followers on the platform in the last few hours

Twitter user @jadedcreative said his followers were 'dropping like flies'. Musk completed his purchase of Twitter on Thursday following protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty

Earlier in the month, when Musk decided to plough ahead with plans to take over Twitter, user @SharylAttkisson said she'd lost about 6,000 in a 'couple of hours'

WHAT ARE TWITTER BOTS? Twitter bots, also known as zombies, are automated Twitter accounts controlled by bot software. While they are programmed to perform tasks that resemble those of everyday Twitter users - such as liking tweets and following other users - their purpose is to tweet and retweet content on a large scale. Twitter bots can do nefarious things like trolling and propagating misinformation for purposes that include spinning elections, inciting panic, and spreading malware. Source: Norton Advertisement

Within hours of taking the keys, he fired CEO Parag Agrawal and top counsel Vijaya Gadde  the woman responsible for banning President Trump after the January 6 riots last year  as well as CFO Ned Segal.

Musk said in May he would reverse Twitter's ban on Donald Trump, whose account was removed after the attack on the US Capitol.

Musk had previously accused the fired Twitter execs of misleading him and Twitter investors over the number of fake 'bot' accounts on the platform.

Agrawal and Segal were in Twitter's headquarters when the deal closed and were escorted out, according to people familiar with the matter.

In the past, it was reported Musk had vowed to fire 75 per cent of Twitter staff, thought to be in an effort to cut costs, although Musk denied this on Thursday, according to Bloomberg.

Musk signaled the start of his ownership by tweeting 'the bird is freed', in reference to the Twitter logo, followed a few hours later by 'let the good times roll'.

Musk, who has called himself a 'free speech absolutist', wants Twitter to enforce fewer limits on content that can be posted.

However, he's also said he wants to prevent the platform from becoming an echo chamber for hate and division.

Other goals include wanting to 'defeat' spam bots on Twitter and make the algorithms that determine how content is presented to its users publicly available.

Before closing the deal, Musk walked into Twitter's headquarters on Wednesday with a big grin and a porcelain sink, subsequently tweeting 'let that sink in'.

He also changed his Twitter profile description to 'Chief Twit'.

Elon Musk speaks with employees including fired top counsel Vijaya Gadde (left) yesterday after taking over at Twitter. She was responsible for permanently banning President Trump from the site - a move that Musk says he will reverse

Musk at the Twitter coffee bar yesterday. He previously vowed to fire 75 percent of the staff - to the dismay of many senior employees

Musk posted a video of himself marching into Twitter's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink on Wednesday

TRUMP SAYS HE'S HAPPY TWITTER IS NOW IN 'SANE HANDS' Former US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was happy Twitter is now in 'sane hands' after Elon Musk formally took over, but did not say whether he would return to his account on the platform that banned him. 'I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by radical left lunatics and maniacs that truly hate our country,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social, the social media platform that he founded after being banned from Twitter. Musk has said he would reinstate Trump's Twitter account, but Trump previously said he would not return. Read more Advertisement

Publicly, Musk has sought to assure advertisers that his past criticism of Twitter's content moderation rules would not harm its appeal.

'Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences!' Musk said in an open letter posted on Thursday.

'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.

As news of the deal spread, some Twitter users were quick to flag their willingness to walk away.

'I will be happy to leave in a heartbeat if Musk, well, acts as we all expect him to, ' said user @mustlovedogsxo.

European regulators also reiterated past warnings that, under Musk's leadership, Twitter must still abide by the region's Digital Services Act, which levies hefty fines on companies if they do not control illegal content.

'In Europe, the bird will fly by our EU rules,' EU industry chief Thierry Breton tweeted on Friday morning.

Musk has indicated he sees Twitter as a foundation for creating a 'super app' that offers everything from money transfers to shopping and ride-hailing.

The deal's road to fruition was full of twists and turns that sowed doubt over whether it would happen at all.

Musk has changed his Twitter profile location to 'Twitter HQ' and his descriptor to 'Chief Twit' ahead of a court-imposed deadline to close his $44 billion takeover deal by Friday

There's a new sheriff in town: Elon Musk tweets on Friday morning after taking over the company

It all began on April 4, when Musk disclosed a 9.2 per cent Twitter stake, becoming the company's largest shareholder.

The world's richest person then agreed to join Twitter's board, only to balk at the last minute and offer to buy the company instead for $54.20 per share.

Twitter accepted the offer later in April, but the following month Musk said the deal is on hold pending a review of bot accounts.

His lawyers then accused Twitter of not complying with his requests for information on the subject.

The acrimony resulted in Musk telling Twitter on July 8 he was terminating the deal, and four days later, Twitter sued Musk to force him to complete the acquisition.

Twitter accused Musk of buyer's remorse, arguing he wanted out of the deal because he thought he overpaid.

On October 4, Musk performed another U-turn, offering to complete the deal as promised. He managed to do that, just one day ahead of a deadline to avoid going to trial.
Kamala Harris has been accused of hypocrisy after she demanded people 'speak out against hate' following the attack on Paul Pelosi - while she has still failed to condemn the attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Harris, campaigning in Philadelphia on Friday ahead of the midterms, said the attack in the early hours on the Pelosi's San Francisco home was 'tragic' and 'extreme violence'.

Harris called for an end to 'hate and division', adding, 'I strongly believe that we all, each one of us, have to speak out against hate, we have to speak out against violence, obviously, and speak to our better selves.'

Critics pointed out that Harris and President Biden failed to speak out against hate when Kavanaugh's life was threatened in June by a 26-year-old Californian, who travelled across the country intent on killing him. Kavanaugh was targeted for his support for the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

On Friday, however, Harris took the moral high ground.

President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's 3rd Annual Independence Dinner in Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Pelosi was taken into brain surgery after the attack but is expected to make a full recovery, while DePape is set to be charged with multiple felonies including attempted homicide. He is pictured with Nancy at the Time 100 Gala in 2019

Biden has also spoken out against the attack on Paul Pelosi, saying it was 'despicable' and condemning the 'political violence,' but has yet to directly condemn Kavanaugh's attacker months after the fact.

Kavanaugh's attacker, Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, was arrested on June 8 armed with a gun, knife and burglary tools after he phoned his sister, who encouraged him to call 911 and hand himself over.

At a press conference soon after the attempted attack, the president refused to condemn it - leaving it to the White House spokesman to issue a condemnation.

Biden 'condemns the actions if this individual in the strongest terms,' Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in June.

Kayleigh McEnany, former president Trump's White House Press Secretary, noted the president's 'ample opportunity' to condemn the violent act at the time on Fox News.

'He walked out on the South Lawn; the press is right there - and often times you want to get a message out you stop and say something,' she said, noting four other times the president could have made a comment in the immediate after math.

'We get silence from Joe and Kamala,' McEnany concluded.

On Friday, however, Biden told the Philadelphia crowd directly, 'there's too much violence  political violence. Too much hatred, too much vitriol.

'And what makes us think that one party can talk about stolen elections, covid being a hoax  all a bunch of lies, and not affect people who may not be so well balanced?

'The same chant [that] was used by this guy they have in custody was used on January 6 in the attacks on the U.S. Capitol,' Biden said.

Why hasn't President Biden HIMSELF condemned the deranged individual who showed up to kill Justice Kavanaugh? pic.twitter.com/T7ncwoR5yy  Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) June 9, 2022

Nicholas John Roske, 26, (left) was arrested in June for allegedly trying to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (right). Harris failed to condemn the attack

Despite failing to condemn the attack on Kavanaugh months prior, Biden on Friday - days after an attack on Paul Pelosi that 'there's too much violence  political violence. Too much hatred, too much vitriol'

Harris said she spoke with 'Speaker Pelosi this morning' on Friday.

'And, I mean, this was an act of extreme violence. And I think we're looking at a time in our country where there is so much discourse that is fueled by hate and division.

'And anyone who professes to be a leader, I think, has to really understand the meaning and the impact of their words and their posture on these things.'

Paul Pelosi, 82, underwent surgery on Friday after he was attacked with a hammer by an intruder in the early hours of Friday morning, suffering a fractured skull.

His wife, also 82, was in Washington DC at the time.

The attacker, David DePape, 42, shouted: 'Where is Nancy?' as he smashed into their house. He has been arrested and will be charged with attempted homicide.

Nancy Pelosi has represented the San Francisco constituency since 1987: Harris was the San Francisco district attorney from 2004-11.

Harris said on Friday, 'I pray for Paul's recovery. I know the Pelosis, and this is tragic.

'Somebody literally broke into their home, saying, 'Where's Nancy?'

'And I strongly believe that we all, each one of us, have to speak out against hate, we have to speak out against violence, obviously, and speak to our better selves.

'There is absolutely room, and it is important to have public discourse when there are disagreements about policy. But what we've been seeing recently is so base, in terms of reducing it down to something that I think is beneath the dignity and the intelligence of the American people.'

Police tape is seen in front of the San Francisco home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi

David DePape, 42, was identified as the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul with a hammer at their San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday morning

Police stand guard as abortion rights activists protest near the house of US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Kavanaugh and his wife are the parents of two young daughters. They all reside in the home that was apparently targeted by the suspect

Protesters returned to Kavanaugh's Maryland home just hours after Roske was arrested while carrying a disturbing arsenal of weapons and equipment

In 911 calls, Roske (left and right) allegedly told operators that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He is pictured left and right in older photos

On June 22 he pleaded not guilty to an attempt to assassinate the Supreme Court justice, and is currently in custody pending trial.

On Wednesday his attorneys said Roske was fit to stand trial, and a timetable will likely be set out before Christmas.

Barack Obama, pictured on Friday campaigning in Georgia, also spoke out against the attack on Paul Pelosi

Pro-Trump rioters who broke into the U.S. Capitol on January 6 chanted the speaker's name as they looked for her in the building.

Biden said Paul Pelosi 'seems to be coming along well' and is expected to recover.

Barack Obama, also on the campaign trail, in Georgia, condemned the attack on Paul Pelosi.

'I want to take a moment to say a prayer for a friend of mine, Mr Paul Pelosi, who was attacked,' said Obama, speaking at a rally in Atlanta.
A police chief who took a 'back to basics' approach with the failing Greater Manchester Police force has helped the organisation out of special measures after 18 months at the helm.

Stephen Watson, regarded as an 'old school' chief who pitched himself as 'anti-woke' when he joined GMP, had blamed a 'failure of senior leadership' for its problems and promised a 'dialled up muscularity' in his approach to crime.

The force was moved into special measures in December 2020, but today the watchdog, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), said it had made sufficient improvements and no longer needed 'enhanced' monitoring.

Stephen Watson, regarded as an 'old school' chief who pitched himself as 'anti-woke' when he joined GMP, had blamed a 'failure of senior leadership' for GMP's problems

Mr Watson took over in May 2021 after his predecessor, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins quit over the shortcomings.

The then-Chief Constable Mr Hopkins, who had held the top job since 2015, stepped down after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham came under pressure to sack him as head of the 6,800-strong force.

Mr Watson said when he arrived at the force he found officers so demoralised they were failing to investigate crimes, the Times reports.

GMP, the country's third-largest force, first entered special measures after a HMICFRS report revealed the force had failed to record 80,000 crimes.

Since Mr Watson's takeover, 999 call answer times have been cut from an average of one minute 22 seconds to seven seconds, response times have been reduced and arrests have increased by 60 per cent.

Mr Watson took over in May 2021 after his predecessor, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins (pictured) quit over the shortcomings

The new boss has also put an emphasis on the force's public image, ordering officers to iron uniforms, cover tattoos, polish boots, tie up long hair and come into work clean-shaven.

The number of open investigations have been halved, while crime-solving has risen by nearly 20 per cent, with lower-level crimes taken more seriously.

Mr Watson has previously spoken out against officers displaying rainbow badges on their uniforms as 'virtue-signalling' and said he would not take the knee like other police bosses.

Taking the job, he told Mr Burnham and other political leaders in the region he would turn the force around with a plan to make more arrests, go after serious criminals with 'real ferocity' and investigate every burglary.

Andy Cooke, the Chief Inspector of HMICFRS said: 'I am pleased with the progress that Greater Manchester Police has made so far.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham had come under pressure to sack Ian Hopkins as head of the 6,800-strong force

'Whilst there is still more to do, I have decided to remove the force from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as Engage, and return it to routine monitoring.

'I am reassured by the plans Greater Manchester Police has in place to continue making improvements. The force will be inspected again during 2023, when we will assess its progress to make sure the people of Manchester are getting the service they deserve from their police force.'

Mr Watson said: 'Our route into 'special measures' has been thoroughly analysed and much discussed. There are several reasons as to how we came to bear our recent travails, a failure of leadership principle amongst them.

'As I have stated repeatedly however, the fundamental failing was simply that we stopped doing the basics well, we stopped being the police and we stopped doing many of the things that our public have every right to expect.

Andy Cooke, the Chief Inspector of HMICFRS said: 'I am pleased with the progress that Greater Manchester Police has made so far'

'Nothing in these welcome developments implies any complacency on our part. We fully recognise that much remains to improve still further.

'I look forward to sustaining GMP's march forward and for us to continue to make our region a safer place to live, work and visit.'

The force will be inspected again during 2023.
BBC presenter Nicky Campbell slammed the 'soul destroying' delay to a hearing over the extradition of a retired teacher accused of abusing boys at Edinburgh's Fettes College.

The 82-year-old man known as Edgar was set to face new evidence today after previously admitting to abusing children in the 60s and 70s.

South Africa had agreed to extradite the former teacher until his case was postponed until March after he was granted bail, the Mirror reported.

The news comes as Radio 5 Live Breakfast host Mr Campbell said he was molested during his time at Edinburgh Academy in Scotland in the 1970s.

He told the radio station: 'Dozens of men have broken down to me on the phone who have said they have never spoken about this before. It didn't happen to me but I saw it happen.'

The broadcaster has campaigned tirelessly for his 82-year-old former teacher - who he says he saw molest other children - to be brought back to the UK where he faces seven charges relating to the abuse of schoolboys.

However, efforts to get the accused paedophile back to Britain have been delayed by 20 weeks, to allow the Minister of Justice to rule on a disputed constitutional point of law.

But in a bombshell revelation today, a representative of the National Prosecuting Authority explained that the pensioner could soon be locked up in the remand wing of Cape Town's maximum-security jail, Pollsmoor, while he waits to be extradited.

The facility is home to more than 7,500 murderers, rapists and paedophiles and is rife with HIV.

Broadcaster Nicky Campbell (pictured) has said his former teacher can no longer 'hide in plain sight' after he was identified on South African TV

Despite the prospect of the alleged abuser facing time behind bars, Mr Campbell is said to be furious at delay to bring the former teacher back to the UK.

A close friend who worked with broadcaster for more than 10 years said: 'This delay will once again anger and frustrate Nicky and those who accuse this man of basically ruining their lives.'

The accused has admitted fondling pupils at two Scottish schools in the 1960s and 1970s and South African judges agreed in 2020 to the UK's extradition request.

But the pensioner appealed the ruling and began a legal battle to stay in Cape Town, and was granted bail which has seen his cozy life of retirement continue.

He is claiming that being sent 6,000 miles back to the UK to face sexual charges that date back over 40 years would at his age be 'too severe a punishment'.

The defendant was due at the Western Province High Court in Cape Town today where fresh evidence was expected to be put before two judges.

But a prior arrangement had been made for the keen squash and bowls player not to have to attend in person and the court case was adjourned in his absence.

However, having his bail renewed may only be a temporary benefit as prosecutors in South Africa are keen to put him behind bars until his extradition appeal is completed.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed they are taking a tough stance to get the alleged paedophile's bail revoked by a High Court judge which means jail.

The NPA said today they believe the magistrate who first heard the case had made an error in allowing the accused bail instead of remanding him in custody.

Spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said: 'The reason we cannot proceed today is we are awaiting instructions from the Minister of Justice on a Constitutional point.

Mr Campbell spoke of how the abuse he suffered at Edinburgh Academy as a young child had a 'profound effect' on his life. Pictured aged 10

'And that point is that the Extradition Act says that the court "shall issue an order committing such a person to prison to await the minister's decision".

'Yet the defendant was allowed out on bail and the NPA believe the magistrate should have kept him in custody pending the Justice Minister's final decision

'This is the constitutional point that has to be resolved by the court,' he said.

Former pupils from Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy have come forward to say they were abused by the alleged paedophile.

The pensioner, who had been known until recently by only his pseudonym 'Edgar', has been publicly named in a South African TV documentary.

Mr Campbell has revealed dozens of former students claimed 'Edgar' abused them and suffered traumatic flashbacks and depression from years of abuse.

In contrast their alleged tormentor is living in a two-bed 140,000 cottage in a private retirement village in the shadow of the Cape Town mountains.

'Edgar' lives with his wife in the close-knit village where they have the use of a heated pool and a bar with live sport on TV and a restaurant and a BBQ area.

However, if the Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola does rule with the NPA then the ex-teacher will find himself taken from court at his next appearance to prison.

He would be transferred to the remand wing of the maximum-security prison Pollsmoor on the outskirts of Cape Town which is the toughest jail in South Africa.

Dozens of former students at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy (pictured) have accused 'Edgar' of abuse in the 1970s

Mr Campbell, pictured as a 10-year-old schoolboy

Built for 4,336 men it houses over 7,500 murderers, rapists and paedophiles and is rife with disease like HIV and TB and the gang rape of inmates is commonplace.

TV actor Ross Kemp who visited Pollsmoor during his award-winning series about gangs admitted it was the 'most evil and scariest' prison he had ever filmed in.

The NPA confirmed that in 2020 the Minister of Justice signed a Section 11(a) Order for 'Edgar' to be extradited to the UK but said it had been appealed.

A spokesman said: 'This order issued by the Minister directs a person should be extradited to the requesting State but that person has the right to review it".

An order made by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry means the alleged paedophile can only be known as 'Edgar' and his true identity cannot be lawfully revealed.

The Crown Office in Scotland has also supplied their counterparts in South Africa with a supplementary extradition request containing testimony from new victims.

Campbell claimed earlier this year he witnessed 'Edgar' sexually assaulting one of his classmates in a school changing room when they were 10-years-old.

An aerial view showing Cape Town in South Africa

The brave Radio 5 chat-show host also revealed he had suffered sexual abuse as a schoolboy but not from 'Edgar' though dozens more claim he abused them.

Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy both issued full apologies and stated their 'deep regret' for what happened and urged all victims to contact the police.

'Edgar' was first arrested in 2019 in Cape Town but is fighting extradition to Scotland where he faces seven charges of sexual abuse but more may be added.

In a written statement to court he admitted he moved from South Africa to Edinburgh in 1967 to seek treatment after experiencing 'urges' to touch young schoolboys.

He spent three months undergoing psychiatric evaluation and then became a teacher in Edinburgh where he is accused of then abusing pupils.

By this time, he was married and when complaints were made by scholars at both schools he left his post and returned to Cape Town to continue teaching.

The Western Cape education department say they have no reports of wrongdoing during the three decades he taught there until he retired when in his mid 60s,

He is so far facing six charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour and one of indecent assault of young schoolboys in Edinburgh between 1969 and 1976.

The alleged paedophile will return to the Western Cape High Court on March 17.
Joe Biden has linked the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi to the January 6 riot, saying that the same Republican forces that questioned the 2020 election and called COVID a hoax were responsible for the feverish political environment.

Biden, speaking in Pennsylvania at a fundraiser for senate hopeful John Fetterman, said he had provided Nancy Pelosi with a plane to visit her husband in hospital in San Francisco.

He was attacked in the early hours of Friday by a hammer-wielding attacker, who yelled: 'Where's Nancy?'

She was in Washington DC at the time. Paul Pelosi, 82, suffered a fractured skull but is expected to make a full recovery.

'Before I began, I want us to take a short pause, to send our loved Nancy and Paul Pelosi,' Biden told the Pennsylvania crowd.

'I've been on the phone with Nancy  arranged for her to be able to get from Washington out to see her husband. She's on the plane now heading out there.'

Joe Biden, pictured on the campaign trail in Philadelphia, said 'there's too much violence  political violence. Too much hatred, too much vitriol.' He drew a direct line between the January 6 riot and the attack on Paul Pelosi

Biden on Friday likened the attack on the Pelosi family to the January 6 riot (pictured), noting that both times chants of 'where is Nancy?' were yelled

Biden said that the House Speaker told him her husband was 'doing okay, he went to the hospital, was operated on and he seems to be coming along well, he's in good spirits, and the whole family's there.'

The president said he could draw a direct line between the January 6 riot and the attack at their home, noting that the insurrectionists on January 6 also chanted 'where's Nancy' and made a beeline for her office, taking selfies amid her possessions.

'It was intended to be an attack on the house Nancy Pelosi lives in  the third ranking person the United States in line to be president,' said Biden.

'You know, it's reported that the same chant was used by this guy they have in custody that was used on January 6 in the attacks on the US Capitol.

'I'm not making this up. This has just been reported. I can't guarantee it. I can tell you what's been reported

'The chant was, 'Where's Nancy, where's, Nancy, where's Nancy.'

The attacker, David DePape, 42, has been arrested and will be charged with attempted homicide.

President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's 3rd Annual Independence Dinner in Philadelphia on Friday

Pelosi was taken into brain surgery after the attack but is expected to make a full recovery, while DePape is set to be charged with multiple felonies including attempted homicide. He is pictured with Nancy at the Time 100 Gala in 2019

Biden said the attack on the Pelosis was 'despicable.'

He added: 'There's no place for that in America. There's too much violence, political violence, too much hatred, too much vitriol.

'And what makes us state that one party can talk about stolen elections, COVID being a hoax, there's a whole bunch of lies, and it not affect people who may not be so well balanced?

'What makes us think that it's not going to corrode the political climate?

'Enough is Enough is enough. Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics, regardless what your politics are.'

Both Biden and Kamala Harris have been accused of hypocrisy in their response to the Pelosi attack.

Harris demanded people 'speak out against hate' following the attack - while she has still failed to condemn the attempted murder of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Harris, campaigning in Philadelphia on Friday ahead of the midterms, said the attack in the early hours on the Pelosi's San Francisco home was 'tragic' and 'extreme violence'.

Harris called for an end to 'hate and division', adding, 'I strongly believe that we all, each one of us, have to speak out against hate, we have to speak out against violence, obviously, and speak to our better selves.'

Critics pointed out that Harris and President Biden failed to speak out against hate when Kavanaugh's life was threatened in June by a 26-year-old Californian, who travelled across the country intent on killing him. Kavanaugh was targeted for his support for the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Kavanaugh's attacker, Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, California, was arrested on June 8 armed with a gun, knife and burglary tools after he phoned his sister, who encouraged him to call 911 and hand himself over.

Nicholas John Roske, 26, (left) was arrested in June for allegedly trying to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (right). Harris failed to condemn the attack

On June 22 he pleaded not guilty to an attempt to assassinate the Supreme Court justice, and is currently in custody pending trial.

On Wednesday his attorneys said Roske was fit to stand trial, and a timetable will likely be set out before Christmas.

At a press conference soon after the attempted attack, the president refused to condemn it - leaving it to the White House spokesman to issue a condemnation.

Biden 'condemns the actions if this individual in the strongest terms,' Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in June.

Kayleigh McEnany, former president Trump's White House Press Secretary, noted the president's 'ample opportunity' to condemn the violent act at the time on Fox News.

'He walked out on the South Lawn; the press is right there - and often times you want to get a message out you stop and say something,' she said, noting four other times the president could have made a comment in the immediate after math.

'We get silence from Joe and Kamala,' McEnany concluded.

On Friday, however, Harris took the moral high ground.

Harris said she spoke with 'Speaker Pelosi this morning' on Friday.

'And, I mean, this was an act of extreme violence. And I think we're looking at a time in our country where there is so much discourse that is fueled by hate and division.

'And anyone who professes to be a leader, I think, has to really understand the meaning and the impact of their words and their posture on these things.'

Police tape is seen in front of the San Francisco home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi

David DePape, 42, was identified as the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul with a hammer at their San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday morning

Police stand guard as abortion rights activists protest near the house of US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Kavanaugh and his wife are the parents of two young daughters. They all reside in the home that was apparently targeted by the suspect

Protesters returned to Kavanaugh's Maryland home just hours after Roske was arrested while carrying a disturbing arsenal of weapons and equipment

In 911 calls, Roske (left and right) allegedly told operators that he was upset about the leak of a recent Supreme Court draft decision regarding the right to abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. He is pictured left and right in older photos

Barack Obama, pictured on Friday campaigning in Georgia, also spoke out against the attack on Paul Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi has represented the San Francisco constituency since 1987: Harris was the San Francisco district attorney from 2004-11.

Harris said on Friday, 'I pray for Paul's recovery. I know the Pelosis, and this is tragic.

'Somebody literally broke into their home, saying, 'Where's Nancy?'

'And I strongly believe that we all, each one of us, have to speak out against hate, we have to speak out against violence, obviously, and speak to our better selves.

'There is absolutely room, and it is important to have public discourse when there are disagreements about policy.

'But what we've been seeing recently is so base, in terms of reducing it down to something that I think is beneath the dignity and the intelligence of the American people.'

Barack Obama, also on the campaign trail, in Georgia, condemned the attack on Paul Pelosi.

'I want to take a moment to say a prayer for a friend of mine, Mr Paul Pelosi, who was attacked,' said Obama, speaking at a rally in Atlanta.
The U.S. government has warned of a 'heightened threat' to the midterm elections with the contests potential triggers for domestic extremist violence.

A joint intelligence bulletin obtained by CBS News appears to be the latest attempt by the Department of Homeland Security to draw attention to the threat posed by domestic violent extremism.

It is a shift from alerts about international terrorism that were a hallmark of the agency following its creation after the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

'Potential targets of domestic violent extremism (DVE) violence include candidates running for public office, elected officials, election workers, political rallies, political party representatives, racial and religious minorities, or perceived ideological opponents,' the bulletin, which was published on Friday, states.

The advice came on the day House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was violently attacked by a man who broke into their home demanding, 'Where's Nancy? Where's Nancy?'

David DePape, 42, was identified as the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul with a hammer at their San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday morning

Assessment was released on the same day that Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was attacked at the couples home in San Francisco

Police said they arrested hemp jewelry maker David DePape, 42, after he broke into the Pelosis' $6million San Francisco home in at 2.27 am in his underwear and beat 82-year-old Paul Pelosi with a hammer while shouting 'where's Nancy'.

Cops were at the property in the exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood when they saw the suspect grapple with Pelosi, take the hammer and then hit him with it, causing severe head, arm and hand injuries.

When they arrested Depape, they found a manifesto that contained anti-government COVID beliefs and a list of other politicians he planned to target.

A joint intelligence bulletin obtained by CBS News appears to be the latest attempt by the Department of Homeland Security to draw attention to the threat posed by domestic violent extremism

The violence experienced in the Pelosi attack appears to tally with that mentioned in a memo distributed to law enforcement partners across the country including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP).

The memo predicts 'violence will largely be dependent on drivers such as personalized ideological grievances and the accessibility of potential targets throughout the election cycle.'

The greatest worry ahead of Election Day comes from 'lone offenders who leverage election-related issues to justify violence,' with a good number of people still touting false narratives of election fraud from the 2020 presidential vote.

'We assess some [domestic violent extremists] motivated by election-related grievances would likely view election-related infrastructure, personnel, and voters involved in the election process as attractive targets  including at publicly accessible locations like polling places, ballot drop-box locations, voter registration sites, campaign events, and political party offices,' the bulletin warns.

The aim, the bulletin suggests, would be to discredit the elections.

U.S. Capitol Police documented 9,600 direct or indirect threats against members of Congress in 2021 alone.

'DVEs could target components of the election infrastructure in hopes of swaying voting habits, undermining perceptions of the legitimacy of the voting process, or prompting a particular government reaction.'

Intelligence analysts warn that government officials and personnel, 'including candidates in the midterm election and officials involved in administering elections,' could appear as 'attractive targets'.

'Some [domestic violent extremists], particularly anti-government and anti-authority violent extremists and racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists motivated by differing perceptions of issues like government overreach, firearms regulation, and immigration policy, will potentially view social and political tensions during the upcoming midterm election as an opportunity to use or promote violence in furtherance of their ideological goals,' the bulletin notes.

U.S. Capitol Police documented 9,600 direct or indirect threats against members of Congress in 2021 alone.

Following the January 6 Capitol insurrection, the Department of Justice has charged more than 870 people for alleged criminal activity at the U.S. Capitol.

Aside from election grievances, the memo also detailed how frustrations over the recent Supreme Court overturning the right to abortion together with other LGBTQ+ issues 'might be exacerbated in response to a greater focus on these topics prior to the election.'

Following the January 6 Capitol insurrection, the Department of Justice has charged more than 870 people for alleged criminal activity at the U.S. Capitol

In recent months, there have been threats of domestic violence towards 'elected officials, individuals associated with abortion or LGBTQ+ issues, and facilities, locations, and organizations perceived as taking a stance on abortion or LGBTQ+ issues.'

Such is the detail of the memo, there also concerns raised how extremists could target state and local government buildings after the midterms with targets including 'officials involved in vote counting or certifications, judicial figures associated with election-related legal challenges, or private companies associated with vote counting.'

Gregory William Loel Timm, 27, intentionally drove his vehicle into a voter registration tent in Jacksonville, Florida in February 2020. He was jailed for 60 days

'Prolonged certification processes could generate increased threats or calls for violence targeting state and local election officials because of potential perceptions of fraud surrounding the results, especially in close or highly contested elections,' the memo notes.

There have been a number of examples of post-election violence in the past..

Gregory William Loel Timm, 27, intentionally drove his vehicle into a voter registration tent in Jacksonville, Florida in February 2020. He was jailed for 60 days.

Earlier this month, Travis Ford from Nebraska was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making online threats against Colorado's top elections official.

In May, there were two guilty pleas by Californian extremists who plotted to firebomb the Democratic party's state headquarters in Sacramento after the January 2021 inauguration.

The FBI has stated how the majority of future threats to election workers in 2022 are 'likely to occur in states or counties where recounts, audits, or public election disputes occur,' according to the bulletin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is no one to trifle with, with a power arsenal that includes the Dead Hand system that could simultaneously fire 1,600 nukes to annihilate western targets. The US and its allies have played oblivion's edge by daring and provoking the Kremlin too many times.

Vladimir Putin's Lethal Nuclear Arsenal

The Russian leader, according to estimates, has almost 6,000 warheads, and 1,600 are targeted at western capitals, reported The Sun UK.

Most then are linked to Moscow's system called the Perimeter that could devastate Washington and its allies. Russia developed one of the most lethal and terrible nuclear weapon systems ever built; even after the Cold War, such a system was never scrapped. Western experts called it a 'doomsday device' that could fire most nukes if activated.

The 'Dead Hand' system will take a terrible toll on any nation attacking Russia as Vladimir Putin hedges it against the US. A deadly scenario is whether the US and its allies will risk a pre-emptive strike, but it would pay dearly after the Perimeter activates; next is Armageddon from the West's foolish act, noted Daily Nation Today.

Should all Russian officials be wiped out, the West will get a retaliatory strike of nightmares and the end. The system will look for senior military officials, and if no one is alive, it will then look for hallmarks of a nuclear attack in an automated search of light, radiation, quakes, air pressure, and heat. Then the Perimeter will execute commands from the General Staff of the Armed Forces; a command rocket will spread orders from submarines and bombers.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Next is the beginning of missile launches the 'Dead Hand' system, also known as Perimeter's control, is supposed to be south of Moscow.

Russian 'Dead Hand' System

According to Dr. Bruce Blair in a 2018 interview with Daily Star, a US Air Force nuclear launch officer said it takes three crew to keep the system running. He added that general staff would activate the Perimeter in a crisis; a three-person crew maintains some functions. The crew only follows orders and does their jobs.

Also, it's a way to prevent accidental nuclear war based on deterrence-based second-strike retaliation. It was last activated during a 2009 crisis, intending to strike.

A Russian missile forces commander Sergey Karakaev admitted in a 2011 interview with KP.RU that the Perimeter is still active. Should the command be disabled but still be able with a remote command from the Perimeter.

Moscow Becoming Frustrated with Troops' Defeat

This doomsday system exists, and the West can initiate a nuclear conflict; despite tensions with the West raising fears of nuclear war. Western officials claim Russia is losing the war and will use nukes, but it's the opposite.

The Russian leader ordered preparatory actions via the 'Operation Thunder' drill yesterday, with Russian forces simulating a strike back.

Footage published by the Russian-military-run Zvezda website depicting arm forces using computer controlling launching a Yars ICBM and a Sineva ICBM from a sub in the Barents Sea.

One senior US official mentions the development of Russia's nuclear arsenal. He claims Putin is intimidating with nuclear weapons with another test in the Black Sea. Vladimir Putin and the 'Dead Hand' system is the ultimate expression of Moscow's determination to protect itself.

Related Article: Russia's Tsar Bomba: Horrific Destruction 3000 Times More Powerful Than Hiroshima, Detonated in 1961 During Cold War

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Mystery packages sent to people's homes containing products they haven't ordered has exposed a new online scam trend.

The scam has emerged in south-east Queensland where residents have found various parcels on their doorsteps which have been addressed to them correctly but contain items they've never ordered.

The scam, called 'brushing', boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic as online shopping exploded in popularity.

Brushing sees online vendors 'selling' their products to themselves but shipping them to a real person's address.

Vendors then use the recipient's name and details to leave a legitimate-looking review of the product in their online store and positively distort their store's reviews.

Vendors have to ship the real product to skirt around fail-safes on many e-commerce sites which aim to prevent sellers from leaving false reviews.

Queenslanders have reported a bizarre online shopping scam which sees mystery packages turning up on their doorsteps with products they haven't ordered

It has confused residents across Brisbane, many of whom took to social media groups to share their bizarre mail.

'I received two rings in the mail ... I didn't order them but it was addressed to me with correct name and address? Is this some sort of scam?' asked one south-east Queenslander.

North Brisbane man David Edwards told local media he'd recently received four packages on separate occasions.

'They all contained different items, the first one we sent back, the second had a pink wig and some Halloween goth style temporary tattoos,' he told the Sunday Mail.

'The third was some lacy glove type things and some jewellery, and the fourth that arrived yesterday had a piercing kit.'

Vendors usually send light and low-end products from their stores to unsuspecting victims.

In the scam, online vendors send out their cheapest products in the post for free in order to be able to leave good reviews on their e-commerce stores

Cyber security expert Ryan Ko (above) said that while the scam may seem harmless, it can lead to identity theft

Typically, the scammers find or purchase the victim's details following data breaches.

Scammers use personal information including your name, photo and mailing address to make their 'brushing' scam look authentic.

Mr Edwards was one of the millions of Optus customers whose data was breached just last month however, has been receiving the packages since the middle of the year and assumes he was the victim of another breach.

UQ Cyber Security director Professor Ryan Ko had a warning for anyone who has been a victim of the seemingly innocuous scam.

'If you're a victim of a brushing scam this is the first warning that your data could be used for other types of identity theft,' he told the paper.
A female driver wanting to challenge a big fine for driving while holding a phone on a technicality has received little sympathy from other motorists.

The Queensland mum received a penalty notice after a photo from Brisbane traffic camera showed her hands off the steering wheel and a rectangular object in her left hand.

The woman took to social media to ask whether others would challenge the fine in her situation - admitting she was actually holding her cigarette rolling machine, not a phone.

A Brisbane mum wanting to challenge a big fine for driving while holding a phone on a technicality has received little sympathy from other motorists

A huge surveillance network of mobile phone detection cameras have been rolled out across Australia, dramatically increasing the number of people being caught for touching their phones

The fine for driving while holding a phone is $1,078 and four demerit points in Queensland.

The penalty still applies if the phone is even resting on any part of your body, even if it's switched off.

A huge surveillance network of mobile phone detection cameras have been rolled out across Australia, dramatically increasing the number of people being caught.

Poll Should this mum have her fine and demerit points reversed? Yes No Should this mum have her fine and demerit points reversed? Yes 386 votes

No 647 votes Now share your opinion





In NSW it has been reported the new technology has brought an additional $61million into government accounts - without necessarily saving lives.

'Would you take this to court?' the woman asked in a public Facebook group about traffic camera locations.

'The fine says holding a mobile or testing on body. However its not actually a phone.

'Im taking my smoke out the rolling machine. You can clearly see its not a phone.'

While some Facebook users said challenging the fine was 'worth a go', most didn't agree.

'Your hands are off the wheel,' one person wrote. 'You deserve every dollar of this fine.'

'To tell a judge it's a rolling machine not a phone ain't gonna help your case. A judge may not see it as innocent,' a woman replied.

The driver pointed out she she wasn't rolling a cigarette when pinged by the camera on the western freeway at Mount Coo-Tha, Brisbane and did have a 'pre-made' smoke lined up

'You still rolling a smoke being distracted whilst driving.'

One commenter claimed using a rolling machine was still distracting and that she had first-hand experience.

'My ex hit three cars whilst rolling a smoke. He's up for over $40,000 worth of damages.'

But the driver pointed out she she wasn't rolling a cigarette when pinged by the camera on the western freeway at Mount Coo-Tha west of Brisbane, and did have a 'pre-made' smoke lined up.

She remained focused on whether she could fight the fine over a literal interpretation of the law.

'Yeah I had something in my hand but was it a phone no it was not. So I cant be charged for something I didnt do,' she said.

'I agree completely Im not innocent by a long shot and dont claim to be. But its not a phone.

'If Im being fined at least they can fine me for the correct offence.'

But she wasn't getting much support in the group that exists to help people with problems related to traffic cameras.

'If you take it to court they'll ping you for your seatbelt too. Honestly just pay the fine, you may end up worse off,' another woman warned.

Another pointed out that no matter what she was doing, a judge still might see her actions as 'dangerous operation of a motor vehicle'.
Police are investigating the shock discovery of a woman found dead in a motel room in North Queensland.

Officers were called to the Coolabah Motel in Townsville on Friday night where a 45-year-old woman was found dead at the scene.

Police have launched an investigation into the death.

The 45-year-old woman was found by police at the Coolabah Motel on Bowen Rd, Rosslea, in Townsville (pictured) on Friday at about 7pm

'Investigations are underway to determine the circumstances around the death, pending results from an autopsy,' a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
NSW will rename its June long weekend public holiday to mark the new reign of King Charles III.

From next year, the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend will known as King's Birthday following the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The public holiday is traditionally celebrated on the second Monday of June in most Australian states.

The late Queen's actual birthday was April 21 while King Charles will turn 74 on November 14.

The NSW government said it was important to recognise the new King but admitted name change comes with sadness.

Sydneysiders (pictured), along with the rest of NSW will still get their June long weekend next week, which will be now known as the King's Birthday

'Most people have only known this public holiday as the Queen's Birthday holiday for every year of the late Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign,' Employee Relations Minister Damien Tudehope Tudehope said.

'It is with a touch of sadness that we must move to change the name, but it is an important recognition of the new monarch, King Charles III, that the public holiday will continue and be henceforth named the King's Birthday public holiday.'

A legislative amendment was needed to the states Public Holidays Act 2010 so the holidays name could be amended and will come into effect January 13 next year.

Britain officially celebrated the event in June with the greater chance of fine weather.

The first King's Birthday public holiday will be on June 12, 2023.

King Charles III (pictured with Camilla, Queen Consort) recently took over the monarch following the Queens's death in September

There's still no word on whether Australia will get another public holiday to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III in May next year.

A public holiday would have precedent in Australia. When Her Majesty was crowned in 1953, Australians received a special one-off public holiday.

Half a million Sydneysiders packed the harbour foreshore to mark the big occasion, held 16 months after she became head of the monarchy - the beginning of a seven decade reign.

Federal government sources said no announcement will be made at this stage about a Coronation Day public holiday - although many Aussies live in hope. h commemorating the royals.
He now says he was only 'responding to the racists who don't want Rishi as PM'

Trevor Noah says he did not claim 'the entire UK is racist' as he sought to clarify remarks he made on The Daily Show following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister.

In a video posted on Twitter from his US satirical news programme, the South African comedian, 38, alleged there were people saying 'now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain'.

His comments received a backlash online from many UK politicians including former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, who said they were 'simply wrong'.

Talk TV host Piers Morgan also criticised The Daily Show and other US media outlets for 'falsely portraying Britain as a racist country'.

Responding to Morgan on Twitter, Noah said: 'C'mon Piers you're smarter than that.

'I wasn't saying ''The entire UK is racist'', I was responding to the racists who don't want Rishi as PM because of his race... That's why I said ''Some people''.'

Trevor Noah says he did not claim 'the entire UK is racist' as he sought to clarify remarks he made on The Daily Show following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister

His comments received a backlash online from many UK politicians including former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, who said they were 'simply wrong' (Pictured: PM Rishi Sunak during his first PMQs this week)

Talk TV host Piers Morgan criticised The Daily Show and other US media outlets for 'falsely portraying Britain as a racist country'. Responding to Morgan on Twitter, Noah said: 'C'mon Piers you're smarter than that. 'I wasn't saying ''The entire UK is racist'', I was responding to the racists who don't want Rishi as PM because of his race... That's why I said ''Some people''.'

However Morgan hit back, telling him: 'No, you c'mon Trevor... there was no ''backlash'' in the UK to Rishi Sunak becoming PM because of his heritage.

'You made that up to create a racism narrative that simply didn't happen... and we Brits are bored of US media (& disingenuous duchesses) making us out to be a bunch or racists.'

In his monologue, titled 'Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak', Noah had described seeing a 'backlash' following Mr Sunak's appointment.

He said: 'What I mean by that is this, you hear a lot of the people saying 'Oh, they're taking over, now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain and what's next?'

'And I always find myself going 'So what? What are you afraid of?''

He added: '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.''

Underneath the video, which has more than 850,000 views, social media users also questioned Noah's comments with some accusing him of 'projecting' American views on race on to Britain.

Former chancellor and health secretary Mr Javid shared the clip and wrote: 'Simply wrong. A narrative catered to his audience, at a cost of being completely detached from reality.

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'

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

'Britain is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth and proud of this historic achievement.'

Asked whether Mr Sunak believes Britain is a racist country, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'No he doesn't.'

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.

Last month, South African TV presenter Noah announced he will be stepping down as host of The Daily Show after seven years at the helm (Pictured: Noah arriving at the annual Casamigos Halloween party in Beverly Hills on Friday night)

Viewing figures for The Daily Show plummeted by up to 75% following Noah's takeover from former 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 (Pictured: Noah arriving at the annual Casamigos Halloween party in Beverly Hills on Friday night)

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.'

Mr Sunak was born in Hampshire, south-east England, to Indian migrant parents - a pharmacist mother and a GP father - and is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of billionaire Indian IT giant Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, with whom he has two young daughters Krishna and Anoushka.

When he was appointed as Prime Minister on Tuesday, the 42-year-old became the UK's first Hindu PM, the first of Asian heritage and the youngest for more than 200 years.

Last month, South African TV presenter Noah announced he will be stepping down as host of The Daily Show after seven years at the helm.

It came 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.
Appealing for anyone with information or video to contact them immediately

Met Police said the incident, on Monday, August 29, involved two groups of men

Footage shows her being kicked and punched to the ground on Ladbroke Grove

The 19-year-old was left seriously injured by the 'completely unprovoked attack'

Shocking footage shows the moment a group of men hit a 19-year-old woman on the head with a gas canister at Notting Hill Carnival in a 'completely unprovoked attack' which left her seriously injured.

The video, released by the Met Police as they appeal for more information about the incident, shows the young woman being kicked and punched to the litter-strewn ground during the shocking incident in west London.

The group of men, many wearing black tracksuits with their hoods up, fled in opposite directions down Ladbroke Grove and the woman managed to get up and walk away but was later admitted to hospital with serious injuries.

A police spokesperson said the violent fight involved two groups of men and took place at around 7pm on Monday, August 29.

Detective Constable Sam Packer, who is investigating the incident, said: 'The victim was left very seriously injured in hospital following this incident  although she has been discharged she continues to need treatment for the injuries she sustained.

A 19-year-old woman was brutally beaten by a group of thugs in a 'completely unprovoked attack' at Notting Hill Carnival

The Met Police said the incident, which took place on Monday, August 29, involved two groups of men

'She is a completely innocent member of the public who was attacked without provocation or warning by people who were intent on causing violence.

'If you were there and saw what happened, or have footage that could help us identify those responsible, please do the right thing and contact us immediately.'

Detectives want anyone who witnessed the fight, or captured video of it, to contact them via 101 or Tweet @MetCC ref CAD 3472/30 Aug.

Alternatively, to remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The brutal attack took place on the final day of Notting Hill Carnival which had returned to the streets of west London for the first time in three years.

Some 13 steel bands, 72 mast bands, six Brazilian bands, 36 sound systems and 300 stalls were involved in this year's festival, with two million people estimated to have attended over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend.

The group of men fled in opposite directions down Ladbroke Grove before the woman managed to get up and walk away

Samba dancers perform on the streets of west London as Notting Hill Carnival returned for the first time in three years

The carnival first started in 1966, when about 1,000 people attended, and is famous for its celebration of Afro-Caribbean traditions.

More than 3.5 tonnes of giant laughing gas canisters were collected from the streets in the aftermath of the carnival this year.

A team of 200 cleaners filled four skips with the nitrous oxide canisters, which they had to collect separately to other rubbish due to the risk they might explode.

Two million people are estimated to have attended the event, which is famous for its celebration of Afro-Caribbean traditions

Performers in striking outfits line the streets for the final day of the festival- known as 'Adults Day Parade and Carnival

The day before the shocking fight, another dramatic incident on Ladbroke Grove was caught on camera, when a bus stop collapsed as a group of revellers were dancing on its roof.

A huge crowd watching people on top of the Kensal House bus shelter on Ladbroke Grove were heard to gasp and exclaim in shock as the top gave way and the revellers fell onto the pavement, nearly crushing four people below.

Two people suffered minor injuries but did not need further treatment after the incident, which came at the end of 'family day' which saw bright and dazzling costumes as the carnival procession made its way along the streets.
Airline regrets any misunderstanding and insists that no offence was intended by staff speaking with a smile, intended to show hospitality

Crew allegedly 'laughed in her face' and told her: 'Just have your EpiPen'

A plane passenger with a severe nut allergy was left traumatised after crew allegedly laughed in her face when she requested that they not serve nuts to other passengers due to her severe nut allergy.

Before the flight she claims that she informed the crew of her allergy and 'politely' requested they would not serve peanuts.

But Dr Tomlinson recalled the cabin crew 'laughing in her face' and claimed they said 'you cannot possibly ask people not to eat nuts'.

'They would not accept that I had a severe nut allergy that is airborne,' she said on Twitter.

'This is not something I chose to have nor is it something I can magically fix.'

Dr Tomlinson said that Heathrow staff came onboard the QH24 flight to help with the 'language barrier' but the crew continued to protest that nothing could be done.

She alleges that they told her: 'Just have your EpiPen'.

Abbie Tomlinson, 26, was traumatised after crew allegedly laughed in her face when she requested that they not serve nuts

Dr Tomlinson also claimed, in her Twitter thread, that she was only allowed to fly because she said she was a doctor. 'In 2022 I should not be discriminated for having a medical problem I was born with,' she added.

'An epipen buys you 30 minutes of time, but you need to have further hospital treatment following any anaphylaxis.'

Dr Tomlinson also said 'something needs to change' as she stated that 'one person on every flight' has an allergy.

The Newcastle doctor, who was travelling with her best friend Anna, said: 'It was really scary, I didn't take my Covid mask off throughout the whole 14 hour flight or eat on the plane.

'I would never fly with Bamboo Airlines again, to be honest I'm also put off flying from Heathrow too, as they were so unhelpful.'

She also told the Independent that the airline insisted she sign a waiver which stated the airline would not be held responsible if she died on board, nor would it make an emergency landing is she went into anaphylaxis - something the airline vehemently denies.

They say that the waiver was signed entirely voluntarily, and point out that it did not cover emergency landings or waiving of any rights in the event of the passenger's death.

Dr Tomlinson recalled the cabin crew 'laughing in her face' and claimed they said 'you cannot possibly ask people not to eat nuts'

Dr Tomlinson, who was travelling with her best friend Anna, took to Twitter to describe the ordeal that left her 'traumatized'

A Bamboo Airways spokesperson said: 'First of all, as a service provider, Bamboo Airways is very sorry that the experience of passenger Abbie Tomlinson on flight QH24 Heathrow to Hanoi on 9 October 2022 was less than satisfactory.

'Upon receiving a notice from passenger Abbie Tomlinson about her severe allergy to nuts, we checked the policy and consulted with experienced partners at Heathrow airport.

'In fact, not only the physical nuts but also other types of nuts, such as cooking oil and sauces made from nuts, etc., could also do harm. In addition, this was a 12-hour long-haul flight, and we had to serve meals to the passengers on board to ensure their health and privileges.

'Therefore, we recommended that passenger Abbie Tomlinson reschedule to another flight with a more deliberate preparation for meals to ensure her absolute health.

'However, passenger Abbie Tomlinson expressed her request to make the flight. Therefore, we gave her a waiver form to sign, which is generally applicable to passengers with special health requirements.

'In the waiver, we are committed to supporting changing seats for passenger Abbie Tomlinson to the last row and not serving nuts in her meal. Passenger Abbie Tomlinson signed the waiver to use the aforementioned in-flight meal.

A Bamboo Airways spokesperson 'we gave her a waiver form to sign, which is generally applicable to passengers with special health requirements'. (File image: Bamboo Airways crew)

How did Natasha Ednan-Laperouse die? Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died in 2016 after she suffered a severe allergic reaction to sesame in a Pret baguette. The 15-year-old knew she was allergic to milk, eggs, banana, nuts and sesame seeds so along with her dad, Nadim, had checked the label carefully. But the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette contained sesame seeds that were baked into the dough and were not visible or listed in the ingredients. She went into anaphylactic shock within minutes of take off on a British Airways flight to France. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died in 2016 after she suffered a severe allergic reaction to sesame in a Pret baguette Despite efforts to give her adrenaline shots, she was unable to breathe and suffered a heart attack and later died in a French hospital on July 17, 2016. Nadim, 56, administered two Epi-pens  which delivered potentially lifesaving adrenaline to his daughter as she struggled to breathe. But they did not work and she suffered multiple cardiac arrests. Advertisement

'During the flight, Bamboo Airways' crew took special care of passenger Abbie Tomlinson, regularly checking to ensure she was okay. Throughout the journey, we did not receive any complaints or requests for medical assistance from passenger Abbie Tomlinson.

'Generally, it's Bamboo Airways' service signature that flight attendants constantly interact with passengers with a smile to show a sense of hospitality and welcome.

'We deeply regret that differences in culture and communication may have led passenger Abbie Tomlinson to misunderstand that our staff acted disrespectfully upon her allergy notation.'

They added that they were working with Dr Tomlinson, saying: 'After all, we're sorry that the flight experience didn't turn out as expected for passenger Abbie Tomlinson. We value our passengers, and exceptional service is always our priority.'

London Heathrow have been approached for comment.

In 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died after going into anaphylactic shock within minutes of take off on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Nice, France.

She suffered a severe allergic reaction to sesame in a Pret baguette.

The 15-year-old knew she was allergic to milk, eggs, banana, nuts and sesame seeds so along with her dad, Nadim, had checked the label carefully.

But the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette contained sesame seeds that were baked into the dough and were not visible or listed in the ingredients.

Despite efforts to give her adrenaline shots, she was unable to breathe and suffered a heart attack and later died in a French hospital on July 17, 2016.

Nadim, 56, administered two EpiPens  which delivered potentially lifesaving adrenaline to his daughter as she struggled to breathe.

But they did not work and she suffered multiple cardiac arrests.

Natashas parents have been campaigning ever since for airlines to clamp down on nuts on planes to avoid other potential tragedies involving passengers with allergies.

In June, a 14-year-old girl Poppy almost died after suffering a life-threatening reaction on a flight from Antigua to Gatwick after another passenger carried on eating nuts despite being asked not to.

Natasha's parents, reacting to the news, said: 'Planes can be coffins for people with severe allergies - as we know all too well. And there are far too many stories where passengers lives are being put in very real danger on flights.

Simply put, if British Airways and other airlines cannot enforce a ban on people eating nuts on planes, then the law needs to change.
A mother-of-two who faces a 20,000 fine for painting her front door pink has blasted the council for their 'out of date' rules.

Miranda Dickson, 48, got the front door of her Georgian home professionally painted last year as part of a renovation.

The home, located in Edinburgh's New Town, a World Heritage Conservation Site, was inherited by Ms Dickson in 2019 from her parents.

But planners at the City of Edinburgh Council have objected to the new colour of the door and are now insisting it is painted white gloss.

Miranda Dickson, 48, got the front door of her Georgian home professionally painted last year as part of a renovation

But planners at the City of Edinburgh Council have objected to the new colour of the door and are now insisting it is painted white gloss

Ms Dickson, however, believes the complaint is malicious and described it as 'petty'.

She said her street, Drummond Place, is filled with brightly coloured front doors, and compared it to Notting Hill, in London, or Bristol.

Ms Dickson said: 'There's cities in the UK like Bristol, Notting Hill and Harrogate which are brightly coloured.

'Coming home and seeing my front door gives me joy, I'm proud of it.

'It's my house, I own it. It's not like I wanted to build a glass box.

'Georgians loved pink - in that era all the windows were painted grey or black, and people had different coloured front doors.

'I've had overwhelming support from people saying 'it's amazing', and 'it makes me smile'.'

Ms Dickson said the order is out of synch with the City of Edinburgh Council's own planning rules which say doors should be 'muted'

Ms Dickson said her street, Drummond Place, is filled with brightly coloured front doors, and compared it to Notting Hill, in London, or Bristol (Pictured: Other coloured doors on her street)

Instagrammers are often snapping pictures of the pink front door, which has its own account on the site.

But since planners at the City of Edinburgh Council have objected, Ms Dickson faces a 2,000 fine unless she removes the 'unauthorised' paint.

She could then be hit with a 20,000 fine if she is charged with an offence of breaching rules in the conservation area.

Ms Dickson said the order is out of synch with the City of Edinburgh Council's own planning rules which say doors should be 'muted'.

She joked she could paint the door a rainbow of 'muted' colours, and slammed a 'Farrow and Ball attitude' towards heritage.

Pictured: Ms Dickson captioned celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubillee, thepostw as captioned: 'J U B I L E E F U N #ItsNotElton @shaun_clarkson'

Pictured: Ms Dickson celebrating the 4th July in an Instagram post captioned: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA.'

She said: 'I don't want to paint it white, I'll paint it dark red.

'People are saying 'why don't you paint it a rainbow of muted colours'.

'In a world where we are supposed to be open minded and after all the stuff we've been through the past two years, I thought people would be more community minded.

'They are saying they haven't received any complaints about other brightly coloured doors in New Town and saying it should be an 'appropriate' colour.

'Appropriate to whom?

'Do we feel as a society that what was appropriate 30 years ago is appropriate to now?

'If I said it was sexist or anti-LGBT the council might back off.'
Former Woman's Hour presenter Jane Garvey has revealed that the BBC gave her an 'overnight' pay rise of 40,000 after she kicked up a 'fuss' about the corporation's gender pay gap.

She divulged the information in an interview with fellow former BBC broadcaster Fi Glover, in which both women accused the corporation of not knowing 'what to do with two middle-aged women'.

The pair hosted the popular BBC Sounds podcast Fortunately but quit for Times Radio this month.

They said they didn't feel 'celebrated' at the BBC and 'never expected [bosses] to make any effort' to keep them.

Miss Garvey, 58, hosted Woman's Hour from 2007 to 2020. In 2017, she voiced her disgust on air at the disparity between the earnings of male and female stars after a list of BBC presenters' pay was released.

'All of a sudden I was worth 40 grand a year more, and I got a letter saying, ''We have decided to give you a pay revision'',' she told the White Wine Question Time podcast.

'I thought, ''A pay revision? Right, OK''.'

It meant her salary went up to 121,000 - compared with top-earner Chris Evans, who took home 2.2million in the same year for his Radio 2 show.

Former Woman's Hour presenter Jane Garvey (pictured) has revealed that the BBC gave her an 'overnight' pay rise of 40,000 after she kicked up a 'fuss' about the corporation's gender pay gap

Glover, 53, and Garvey, 58, now co-present a podcast and afternoon show for Times Radio

The 2017 list of the corporation's top 96 earners revealed only a third were women, with the top seven all men.

Miss Garvey and Miss Glover, 53, join a growing exodus from the BBC, following stars including Vanessa Feltz, Emily Maitlis, Dan Walker and Andrew Marr.

The pair had hosted almost 250 episodes of Fortunately since 2017, which described itself as 'a frank look behind the scenes with broadcasters as they share stories they probably shouldn't'.

The popular podcast was downloaded 23 million times and hosted guests such as Claudia Winkleman, Miriam Margolyes and Jeremy Vine.

Glover and Garvey began their new show at Radio Times on October 10.

The podcast hosts were the latest in a huge string of broadcasters to leave the BBC over the past year, sparking fears of a mass exodus of talent from the corporation.

They followed the likes of Andrew Marr, Emily Maitlis and Dan Walker to make their move away from the broadcaster.

Fi Glover (left) and Jane Garvey (right), the former hosts of podcast 'Fortunately', were among a string of big name stars to leave the BBC in a 'brain drain' of talent at the corporation

Glover, who had been with the BBC for 29 years since starting work with local radio stations in 2003, said that they weren't leaving in a 'massive strop' but that they found a return to 'solid journalism appealing'.

Garvey added that she was 'delighted' to be joining Times Radio after a 'brilliant time working with the BBC'.

Garvey was the first voice heard on Radio 5 Live when it launched in 1994, becoming co-presenter of its breakfast programme, and presented Radio 4's Woman's Hour for 13 years.

Glover said: 'It's been an amazing 29 years with the BBC.

'But I am so looking forward to bringing Times Radio listeners some extraordinary stories from some extraordinary people with Jane.'

Garvey added: 'I've had a brilliant time working for the BBC. Now I'm delighted to be joining the award-winning team at Times Radio.'

Multiple BBC titans have been poached by its biggest radio rival Global, which is home to stars such as Nick Ferrari, Shelagh Fogarty and James O'Brien, and owns stations including LBC and Classic FM.

Earlier this year Andrew Marr left to present new radio shows on LBC and Classic FM after 21 years at the BBC. Undated handout photo issued by Global of Andrew Marr at his desk at LBC

BBC veterans Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel left the BBC for Global, the owners of LBC, to front a new show and a podcast

Offers of large pay rises are said to have swayed the stars away from their former roles at the Beeb.

Earlier this year Andrew Marr left to present new radio shows on LBC and Classic FM after 21 years at the BBC - including 16 years fronting his own Sunday morning political programme.

The 62-year-old said he was 'keen to get my own voice back' as the broadcaster's strict impartiality rules' were frustrating.

Marr is said to have admitted he was prompted to leave the BBC because of his desire to speak freely on major issues, including climate change and politics.

In May he acknowledged he felt '10 years younger since leaving the BBC', where he said he had '18 layers of grey-faced managers sitting on my shoulders the whole time' in an interview with Matt Forde's Political Party podcast.

BBC veterans including Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis and former BBC North America editor Jon Sopel - who had a combined salary of over 500,000 at the Beeb - also left for Global and now host the Newsagents podcast with Lewis Goodall.

Maitlis had also become 'frustrated at being ticked-off by BBC bosses over impartiality'.
King Charles has made more than 1million by selling off 14 of the late Queen's beloved racehorses, reinforcing fears that he might be planning to wind down the royal racing operation.

The King sold more than a third of his mother's racehorses, which he inherited upon her death last month, at the famous Tattersalls October sales in Newmarket, Suffolk this week.

The royal racehorses made him an average of 76,821 each - 1,075,500 in total - with Charles's first race-winning horse Just Fine being sold for 300,000.

Trained by the Queen's longest standing trainer Sir Michael Stoute, Just Fine won an impressive victory in Leicester earlier this month - the first win since the late monarch's death on September 8.

He was one of four of the Queen's former horses that sold for six-figure sums.

Meanwhile Love Affairs, which was the Queen's last winner at Goodwood two days before her death, sold for 38,000.

The King (pictured with Queen Consort Camilla at Royal Ascot in 2009) has made more than 1million by selling 14 of his mother's racehorses

Four-year-old racehorse Just Fine - King Charles's first prize-winning horse - has been sold for 300,000. (Pictured winning the British Stallion EBF Novice Stakes at Sandown racecourse in Surrey)

The sales this week mean that King Charles has got rid of more than a third of the late Queen's beloved racehorses. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot last year

Charles has already had some success since inheriting his mother's racehorses, with Perfect Alibi earning him 28,000 with victory in a Listed contest at Yarmouth earlier this month.

But despite this, there are rumours that the new monarch might be planning to wind down, or at least scale back, the royal racing operation.

A source close to the Royal Sandringham Stud in Norfolk said there is talk of 'winding down' the breeding operation over three years, until it ceases to be a commercial operation.

The source said: 'The Royal stud could be a museum in three years. It would be a real shame.'

A Royal source confirmed Charles will reduce the number of horses but added: 'The connection between the family and the horse racing industry will continue.

'The desire is to continue with the traditions and connections with Royal Ascot but not on the same scale as Her Majesty because she had a passion.'

There is much speculation that King Charles (pictured in Ballater, Aberdeenshire earlier this month) is planning to scale back the royal racing operation

Tactical (pictured winning Royal Ascot in 2020) is one of four of the Queen's racehorses that was sold off for a six-figure sum

The source added that some horses have already been sold as part of the 'natural churn' of buying and selling that comes with running the collection.

The Queen usually sold around seven horses a year, so this month's sale represents a big increase.

But, speaking before the auction, Tattersall's spokesman Jimmy George denied that the sale of 14 horses was anything 'out of the ordinary'.

He told the BBC: 'The Queen had brood mares of her own, she would breed them and sell them. You can't keep them all.'

He denied that the sale of the horses symbolised the end of the Royal household's connection with horses.

The Queen inherited the Royal Stud from her father and the breeding centre at Sandringham produced a large number of her winning horses.

The Queen was famously horseracing's number one fan and subsidised her profit out her private purse. Pictured celebrating with her mother (left) and then Prince Charles (right) at Epsom in 1993

The Queen (pictured at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1968) usually sold around seven horses a year, so this month's sale represents a big increase

The Queen leads in her Oaks winner, Carrozza, with Lester Piggott  who was her favourite jockey  in the saddle in 1957

But the late monarch subsidised the hefty running costs of her hobby from her private purse  as it did not always turn a profit.

Last year was her best in racing, with 36 winners earning 590,000 in prize money.

She also kept around 30 show horses and earlier this month she posthumously won a top prize at Horse of the Year show, dubbed 'Crufts for horses'.

The prize, which always eluded her in life, was given to her retrained racehorse First Receiver.

It is thought she made around 10million in prize money over her lifetime, while her operation started with just two trainers and 20 horses in the 1950s.

The late monarch continued discussing 'her love for her horses right to the very end', according to her trusted bloodstock and racing adviser John Warren.

The then Princess Elizabeth in 1944 feeds a horse from a trophy after it claimed first prize at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

The Queen inherited the Royal Stud (pictured) from her father and the breeding centre at Sandringham produced a large number of her winning horses

The Queen chuckles with delight while sat next to her trusted bloodstock and racing adviser John Warren after watching her horse Estimate win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013

Mr Warren said he spent the weekend before the Queen died in Scotland, discussing her horses, as they had done so many times before.

'We sat there for hours over the weekend strategising and making plans going forward', he said.

'And I think the nicest thing for me is to know that she was surrounded by her family members.

'She was in such a healthy state of mind and in tremendous form.

'It's very important to know that she was absolutely, wonderfully switched on.'
The last call a Russian woman made to her mom while being devoured by a wild bear and her cubs, still breathing until she met a grisly each as their chow. It took an hour of screaming as the bears were eating her alive, until she died from the bear attack.

Wild Bear, Cubs Devour Russian Woman, Stepdad

According to the narrative, Olga Moskalyova, 19, made the bone-chilling call as she was getting attacked and the bears were feasting on her. Her last call to her mom lasted an hour, and the worst was assumed, reported The Sun UK.

Details reveal the Russian teen got mauled and torn apart by a wild brown bear with three cubs; her stepdad was killed by the animal first.

Titiana, her mom, remembered the chilling voice of her daughter screaming loud on the phone, saying the bear was eating her alive and she was in horrible pain. Initially, Tatiana assumed it was a practical joke, speaking to Daily Mail. She only believed when she heard the horrific tone and screams and the bear's growl and flesh tearing. She added the shock and horror could have killed her.

This huge animal had overpowered Igor Tsyganenko, her husband, by the time Olga called. The man died after the mother bear broke his neck and smashed his skull, killing him fast.

The young Russian woman watched in utter terror and tried to escape, but the wild bear grabbed her leg, preventing escape. Unlike her stepdad, who was killed on the spot, the bear instead plays with her that allows her three times to call her mum till she is eaten alive to the grisly end.

Read Also: Is Vladimir Putin Fighting Cancer? Rumors Spark Anew After Russia Video Goes Viral

Tatiana summoned the local police and relatives in a nearby village in the most Eastern part of Siberia. Request them to rush where the two said they had gone fishing, citing Korea Times.

On the second call to her mom, Olga was gasping, saying the bear was back and with her three cubs as well. She said they were devouring her.

During the heart-breaking last call about an hour later, her daughter told her that there was no pain anymore. Olga apologized, and the call went dead for the last time. The whole episode was shocking and unbelievable to the mom.

Rescuers Arrived, Found Devouring Bears

Approximately thirty minutes later, Igor's brother and police saw the aftermath of the wild animal's assault on the stepdad and daughter. They found the mother bear eating Igor's corpse, but Olga's body was nearby but not as damaged.

This retelling of the 2011 incident made waves, but on TikTok where video creators have rehashed the shocking attack.

Tatiana, the girl's mother, after the terrible death of her spouse and daughter, later gave a tribute to Olga, adding that her daughter was fun, cheerful, friendly, and a warm person. She mentioned that the 19-year-old has a whole life ahead of her, with achievements, as she just graduated from music school and earned her driver's license days before her death.

Related Article: Indonesian Grandmother Eaten Alive by 22-Foot Monster Python, Died Two Hours After Horrible Incident

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Advertisement

Vladimir Putin has pulled out of an internationally-brokered deal to export grain after 'inventing a story' that the British Navy blew up the Nordstream gas supply pipeline and attacked Russian ships with suicide drones near Crimea.

The Ministry of Defence today accused the Russian president of fabricating the story to 'detract from the disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine', adding that the Kremlin is 'peddling false claims of an epic scale' after massive explosions rocked a key Crimean port.

The attacks saw Russia end the 'grain corridor' in retaliation after claiming that the ships that were targeted by Ukraine forces were involved in the deal to allow grain exports.

But Russia's decision to end the deal comes amid fears that Putin has been searching for an excuse to pull out and plunge third world countries into famine as part of his efforts to put pressure on Western countries to waver in their support of Ukraine. The country has also recently criticised the deal, saying its own grain exports have suffered due to Western sanctions.

Reacting to Russia's accusations, the MoD today said: 'To detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale. This invented story, says more about arguments going on inside the Russian Government than it does about the west.'

The Turkey and UN-brokered deal to unlock grain exports signed between Russia and Ukraine in July is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.

The agreement had already allowed more than nine million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to be exported and was due to be renewed on November 19.

In an earlier statement, Russia'a defence ministry said: 'In light of the terrorist act carried out by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea fleet and civilian vessels involved in the security of grain corridors, Russia suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports.'

The Kremlin has now requested a UN Security Council meeting on Monday following the attack.

Meanwhile, Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the grain agreement was today described by US President as outrageous.

And Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned how Russia can be a member of the G20 if it is 'deliberately trying to provoke starvation'. In a video address, he accused the Kremlin of trying to create an artificial famine in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

He also called the move 'predictable', adding that Moscow has been 'blockading' ships carrying grain since September. Currently, he said, 176 vessels are backed up at sea, carrying more than two million tons of food.

The explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines in September caused four gas leaks. While the leaks were in international waters, two of them were in the Danish exclusive economic zone and two of them in the Swedish

Incredible video footage from a Ukrainian underwater drone appears to show the Russian Black Sea flagship, Admiral Makarov

The exhilarating footage showed the underwater Ukrainian drone racing through the key naval port of Sevastopol - the largest city in Crimea

The underwater drones have been previously speculated as being involved in the explosion of the Kerch bridge in Crimea on October 8 - the day after Vladimir Putin's birthday

Unconfirmed reports have suggested that frigate Admiral Makarov - the Black Sea Flagship - had been blown up (pictured)

The European Union is supporting UN-led efforts to keep the Ukraine grain deal alive, a spokesperson said on Saturday.

Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European Commission, said: We stress that all parties must refrain from any unilateral action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the world.'

Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea, which has been targeted several times in recent months, serves as the headquarters for the fleet and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine.

Furious Moscow forces alleged British 'specialists', whom they said were based in the southern Ukrainian city of Ochakiv, had helped prepare and train Kyiv to carry out the strike.

In a further singling out of the UK - which Moscow sees as one of the most unfriendly Western countries - Russia said the same British unit was involved in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month. A claim refuted by British officials.

Extraordinary footage has emerged showing Russian troops on board firing wildly at the drone as it races towards what is believed to be the Admiral Makarov frigate, which replaced the Moskva as the Black Sea Fleet's flagship.

The underwater Ukrainian drone can be seen racing through the key naval port of Sevastopol - the largest city in Crimea - while panicking Russian troops on ships and helicopters attempt to destroy it.

The exhilarating footage taken from a camera within the drone shows the underwater weapon riding through the waves and dodging bullets which can be seen penetrating the surface.

A helicopter can then be seen racing into shot as desperate Russians attempt to respond before it continues to fire at the maritime drone.

The underwater drones have been previously speculated as being involved in the explosion of the Kerch bridge in Crimea on October 8 - the day after Vladimir Putin's birthday. In response to the bridge blast, Putin unleashed a barrage of missile strikes across Ukraine, striking civilian centres.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, said the drone attack was the 'most massive' the peninsula had seen. The city's services were on 'alert', but he claimed no 'civilian infrastructure' had been damaged.

City authorities said that the harbour was 'temporarily' closed to boats and ferries and urged people "not to panic".

Attacks on Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, have increased in recent weeks, as Kyiv presses a counter-offensive in the south to retake territory held by Moscow for months.

Moscow-installed authorities in Kherson, just north of Crimea, have vowed to turn the city into a fortress, preparing for an inevitable assault.

On Thursday, Razvozhayev said a thermal power station had been attacked in Balaklava, in the Sevastopol area. He claimed there was only minor damage and no casualties.

It comes on a day which has seen Russia seek revenge for a drone attack that hit Sevastopol in the early hours of the morning.

Russian Black Sea warships were forced to fight Kyiv forces in an attack that Russian Ministry of Defence branded a 'terrorist attack'. Moscow claimed that they destroyed nine aerial drones and seven maritime drones.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said the attack in the early hours of the morning caused no damage to city infrastructure but later the Ministry of Defence conceded that at least one vessel sustained minor damage.

A second video showed a massive explosion after Ukrainian forces attacked the naval port in Crimea, sending Russia into disarray

The Russian Ministry of Defence conceded that at least one Russian vessel was damaged in the attacks - thought to be the flagship

Although Ukraine has not confirmed these attacks, Kyiv sources claim that several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up, including the frigate Admiral Makarov.

Before Russia halted the grain deal, the Ministry had threatened on Telegram: 'It should be emphasised that the ships of the Black Sea Fleet that were subjected to the terrorist attack are involved in ensuring the security of the 'grain corridor' as part of an international initiative to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports.'

Britain strongly rebutted claims they were involved, saying 'the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale.'

The British defence ministry said that this 'invented story says more about arguments going on inside the Russian Government than it does about the West'.

Earlier today Razvozhayev said: 'Black Sea Fleet ships are fighting off a drone attack in Sevastopol Bay.' he said.

'No damage has been reported in the city. The situation is under control. All response services are at the ready.'

A student dormitory at an art college near the port saw 'one windowpane burst' but 'no harm was done', he added.

Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke was seen rising from the docks area.

Dramatic footage purportedly showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay.

The video showed the helicopter hovering above the object in the water before it bursts into flames with smoke billowing out of it.

The underwater object thought to be a drone was said to be tailing a warship before it was reportedly destroyed by the Russian helicopter.

Missiles were fired from the helicopter which also unleashed volleys of machine gun fire.

Russian sources claimed its air defenced deployed from naval warships were forced to repel a sustained Ukrainian attack that started at 4.30am and lasted for at least five hours.

At least one Russian warship was damaged during a 'massive' Ukrainian drone assault as huge explosions rocked a key Crimean port, the Moscow Ministry of Defence revealed

Dramatic footage showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay earlier this afternoon

The Kremlin has also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught.

All passenger ferry services were suspended in the strategic port which is the HQ of Putin's Black Sea Fleet.

It marks what could be the most audacious attack so far by Ukraine on Russian naval assets in Sevastopol.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol.

Meanwhile, the Russian fleet stationed in the port had also been attacked by a drone in July.

So far, attempts to verify Razvozhayev's claims that no damage has been done have been unsuccessful.

The Russian statesman begged locals not to post footage of the attacks, claiming that it could aid the Kyiv regime.

'A big request is not to write what-where-how much you saw and heard,' he posted.

'And do not upload videos. It should be clear to everyone that such data is very necessary for the UkroNazis in order to understand how the defence of our city is arranged.'

According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up in the early hours of Saturday morning

Local media were reporting that rescuers in the late morning were still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships

Plumes of smoke were visible after Ukrainian drone strikes in the middle of the night - Russia say they had to destroy nine drones and seven maritime drones

Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said: 'No damage has been reported in the city.

However, this did not fail to prevent residents reporting the explosions that unfolded in the middle of the nights.

One resident reported: 'Woke up at 4 a.m. to a massive explosion. Thank goodness it's [our] air defences.

'Our ships in Sevastopol Bay were repelling a drone attack.

'It was a fun night, even very fun.'

Another stated: 'Woke up to an explosion at 5:30am. Followed some time later by three more'.

A third added: 'Ten minutes ago three explosions sounded, and shook the house'

Meanwhile, another comment said: 'Woke up this morning to explosions.

'Never heard anything like that before. It thundered so hard that the windows shook in the flat.'

The attack comes as Russia appears to have largely given up attacking Ukraine and has been forced on to the defensive after Putin's military got mauled by Kyiv's armies.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev (pictured) said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol

Russia also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught

Russian troops have been forced on to the defensive across almost the entire frontline in Ukraine after Putin's army was mauled, British intelligence said yesterday

Severely undermanned and poorly trained Russian units have stopped advancing across most of the front line in the last six weeks, British intelligence said yesterday.

Ukrainian forces advance in both the north and south of the country - pushing east from Kharkiv into Luhansk and advancing towards Kherson.

In Kherson, companies of soldiers which should consist of 100 men were fighting with just six to eight troops each, Ministry of Defence analysts added.

While Putin is attempting to bolster these units with conscripted troops, Russia is unlikely to be able to resume its offensive in the near future.

Earlier this week, it had appeared that Russia was preparing to withdraw from Kherson city but Ukraine now believes Putin is actually reinforcing it.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, said earlier this week that Russia has been evacuating civilians but is moving military reinforcements into urban areas, preparing defences, and plans to fight for the city.

He added that the evacuation and talk of a retreat by Russia's top commander may have been an effort to lure Ukraine into a costly urban battle.
Rishi Sunak has hired ITV news chief Amber de Botton as his director of communications, Downing Street confirmed today, in a move likely to anger his arch rival Boris Johnson.

It comes just months after her team won an award for their explosive series of Partygate stories that arguably helped bring about the demise of Mr Johnson's premiership.

The ousted PM's team also saw ITV as the main outlet for ex-special adviser Dominic Cummings' extremely damaging leaks, and considered Ms De Botton's colleagues, particularly political editor Robert Peston, as among his harshest critics.

Mr Peston revealed Ms De Botton's new job on Twitter on Saturday, saying the mother-of-two was a 'brilliant news editor and journalist' who will leave a 'huge hole at ITV News.'

Mr Sunak appointed the broadcaster's former national editor Allegra Stratton as his director of strategic communications in 2020 when he was chancellor, before she was poached a few months later to become Mr Johnson's spokeswoman for televised briefings during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

Ms De Botton was one of the top names reportedly being considered for the role after an advert was published in July 2020.

The successful applicant was to be an 'experienced broadcaster' expected to field questions from political reporters on behalf of the government - for which they would earn a lucrative six-figure salary.

Ms De Botton did not publicly express an interest in the position before it was given to Ms Stratton.

It would later be her colleagues at ITV who obtained a video of Ms Stratton joking about a 'fictional party' at a mock press conference days after an allegedly rule-breaching Christmas party at No 10. She resigned a day later.

They then ran a series of hugely damaging Partygate exposes, proving a thorn in the side of Team Boris.

Rishi Sunak has hired ITV's UK news chief Amber de Botton (pictured) as his director of communications

ITV's political editor Robert Peston said Ms De Botton was a 'brilliant news editor and journalist' who will leave a 'huge hole at ITV News'

Ms De Botton's team (pictured together) won an award for their explosive series of Partygate exposes that arguably helped bring about the demise of Mr Johnson's premiership (Pictured left to right: Lewis Denison, Nathan Lee, Ms De Botton and Paul Brand)

ITV's Partygate expose won 'story of the year' at The Drum awards (Pictured left to right: Paul Brand, Nathan Lee and Ms De Botton)

On her Instagram page, Ms de Botton lists 'TV news, antics and kids' on her bio. Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie, is also one of her 600 followers

Unlike an impartial civil servant, as a special adviser Ms De Botton (pictured) will be able to give political advice to ministers, defend the Government's actions and criticise opposition parties

Ms De Botton, a Durham University graduate, also received high praise today from Beth Rigby, political editor at Sky News, where she previously worked as Deputy Head of Politics.

Ms Rigby wrote: 'She's a seriously talented news editor & political operator, now heading to No 10 to direct PM's communications strategy. They mean business.'

On her Instagram page, Ms de Botton lists 'TV news, antics and kids' on her bio. Mr Johnson's wife, Carrie, is also one of her 600 followers.

Unlike an impartial civil servant, as a special adviser Ms De Botton will be able to give political advice to ministers, defend the Government's actions and criticise opposition parties.

She will have a lot on her plate as Mr Sunak attempts to see Britain through the cost-of-living crisis and a looming winter of discontent, as the country is hit by soaring energy bills, inflation and a wave of strikes from NHS workers, railway staff, posties and more.

Mr Sunak also has the unenviable task of restoring a sense of unity to a divided Conservative Party following two bruising leadership races in the space of three months.

Ms De Botton will have a lot on her plate as Mr Sunak (pictured) attempts to see Britain through the cost-of-living crisis

Mr Sunak also has the unenviable task of restoring a sense of unity to a divided Conservative Party following two bruising leadership races in the space of three months. The former chancellor is still viewed by many Boris fans as a 'traitor' after he sensationally quit from his post in the wake of the Chris Pincher scandal - sparking a wave of resignations which ended Mr Johnson's reign. In his resignation letter as chancellor (pictured) Mr Sunak told Boris Johnson that 'we cannot continue like this'.

The former chancellor is still viewed by many Boris fans as a 'traitor' after he sensationally quit from his post in the wake of the Chris Pincher scandal - sparking a wave of resignations which ended Mr Johnson's reign.

Mr Sunak then battled it out in a bitter weeks long contest for the top job against Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt and a string of other candidates, which ultimately ended with Ms Truss taking the helm - only for her premiership to end in less than 50 days.

Another - much shorter - race for PM ensued, but attempts by Team Boris to persuade Mr Sunak to join forces were firmly rejected.

A head-to-head was all but guaranteed after Mr Johnson won the support of 100 MPs, meaning he could have put his name forward for an indicative vote in the Commons.

However he 'bowed out' as he did not believe it was 'the right time' for his political comeback, spurred on by fears he would be unable to win the support of a majority of his own MPs.

While Ms De Botton's team may have proved a headache for Mr Johnson, she has also poked fun at Mr Sunak in the past.

In March 2021, she mocked a now infamous press photo which showed the then-chancellor holding his red 'budget box' atop a flight of stairs inside No.11 Downing Street.

In March 2021, Ms De Botton mocked a now infamous press photo which showed Mr Sunak, who was chancellor at the time, holding his red 'budget box' atop a flight of stairs inside No.11 Downing Street (tweet pictured).

Rishi Sunak stood at the top of the staircase of No11 alongside his ministerial team in the bizarre photocall last year

The photo, which was released just moments before his speech in Parliament, was a marked change to his official photo line up from last year

His Treasury team were bizarrely gathered one behind the other down the staircase, while all looking up at the camera.

Many believed the photo was designed to hide the obvious height difference between a 5ft5 Mr Sunak and the other ministers, which had been on full display in a more traditional line-up photo the year before.

Poking fun at the photocall, Ms De Botton shared a meme on Twitter which showed the baby from The Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, staring down the film's iconic set of moving staircases.

However it was edited to look as though the baby was looking down at Mr Sunak and his Treasury team, mocking the photo's perceived dystopian feel, which led Twitter users at the time to compare it 'something out of a horror film'.
Police have set up a crime scene as fire fighters continued to put out spot fires

A body was located in the smouldering ruins and is yet to be formally identified

A person has tragically died after a fire ripped through a home with flames flying out of the roof and windows, forcing fire crews to dodge falling debris.

The blaze destroyed the inner-west Sydney home on Fitzroy Street, Burwood on Saturday afternoon.

A body was found inside the home following a search of the gutted remains and is yet to be formally identified.

Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry told Daily Mail Australia firefighters arrived to confronting scenes with flames bursting from windows and through the roof and smoke billowing into the air.

A body was found at the home following a search of the ruins and is yet to be formally identified

'We got there and there was a section of the house with heavy fire activity,' he said.

'It was a bit dangerous as the roof was collapsing and there were tiles coming in on the firefighters,' he said.

The falling debris forced firefighters to put the flames out mainly from the outside.

Firefighters tried to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from igniting other homes, before the home was destroyed by the fire, Nine News reported.

Emergency crews spent the rest of the afternoon at the scene dousing spot fires which continued to reignite.

Fire crews and police are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze.

The property has been declared as a crime scene.
Animal rights lobby group Peta has threatened the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with legal action in a row over replacing the King's Guards' bearskin caps with a faux fur alternative.

The group claim that the MoD has failed to consider its synthetic replacement which they developed with the faux furrier Ecopel.

They have now warned it could pursue a judicial review on the grounds of unlawful conduct in a bid to make them properly consider the switch.

Peta has campaigned for the caps' fur to be replaced with a synthetic substitute since 2002, condemning the MoD's alleged 'support for the slaughter of Canadian black bears'.

Animal rights lobby group Peta has threatened the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with legal action in a row over replacing the King's Guards' bearskin caps with a faux fur alternative

The MoD says however that the furs are not 'hunted for order' and come from legal, licenced hunts.

They have also previously claimed that cutting its orders would not reduce the numbers being hunted.

In February the MoD stated, 'currently we have no plans to end the use of bearskins', saying 'Guardsmen take great pride' in wearing the current cap which is an 'iconic image of Britain'.

They are worn by foot soldiers in the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards.

If a replacement were to be considered, the MoD have already outlined five tests any artificial fur must meet.

These relate to water absorption, penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression.

The group claim that the MoD has failed to consider its synthetic replacement which they developed with the faux furrier Ecopel

They have now warned it could pursue a judicial review on the grounds of unlawful conduct in a bid to make them properly consider the switch.

A synthetic alternative would also 'have to meet with user approval for shape and comfort for a parade length of duty', it said.

In February, the Government said its analysis of tests on the ECOPEL material showed it only met one of the five requirements, adding that none of the four artificial furs tested since 2015 met the necessary standard.

Peta now says tests by a fabric technologist show its '100% waterproof' material meets and, in some cases, exceeds these requirements, saying the MoD was sent a summary of the results in May but allegedly refused to evaluate them.

In a legal letter, it now calls on the MoD to fully evaluate the report and to consider and test the faux bear fur against all the relevant criteria.

Its senior campaigns manager Kate Werner said: 'Peta has devoted many years and thousands of pounds to developing and testing this state-of-the-art faux bear fur, yet the MoD refuses to honour the deal it made.

'The Ecopel faux fur not only meets the MoD's requirements but outperforms bearskin in some areas, so the ministry has no excuse not to adopt Peta's vegan upgrade as promised.'

In February the MoD stated, 'currently we have no plans to end the use of bearskins', saying 'Guardsmen take great pride' in wearing the current cap which is an 'iconic image of Britain'

A Peta Freedom of Information Request revealed 110 ceremonial bearskin caps were purchased by the MoD in 2020 at a cost of 145,000

Lorna Hackett, Peta's legal counsel from Hackett & Dabbs LLP added: 'The MoD has repeatedly stated that it will test any faux fur Peta presents to it, most recently in a July 2022 parliamentary debate where the former procurement minister said that it is not wedded to bearskin and again reiterated the principled acceptance that if shown to be an appropriate replacement, faux fur would be adopted.'

Peta says Ecopel has offered an unlimited amount of the faux fur free of charge until 2030.

A Peta Freedom of Information Request revealed 110 ceremonial bearskin caps were purchased by the MoD in 2020 at a cost of 145,000.

An MoD spokesperson said it is reviewing Peta's letter 'carefully and will respond in due course', adding: 'Bears are not hunted to order for the Ministry of Defence and bear pelts used are a product of legal and licensed hunts, authorised by Canadian provincial and territorial governments for the management of wildlife populations.

'Bear pelts are sourced exclusively from the regulated Canadian market, in line with the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

'Reductions in the number of bearskins procured by the MoD would not reduce the numbers of bears being hunted.'
She's never been identified, despite multiple public appeals for information

The woman was found dead at the base of a skyscraper in London in 2004

Investigators remain hopeful of cracking the cold case of 'Wembley Point Woman' 18 years after she jumped to her death out of a London skyscraper.

Do you know Wembley Point Woman? Email brittany.chain@mailonline.com Advertisement

The 5ft 2in black woman, aged between 20 and 40, plunged from the top floor of Wembley Point, a 21-storey skyscraper in west London, on October 29, 2004.

Despite multiple drives for information, the woman has never been identified.

At the time of her death, Wembley Point Woman was wearing a maroon bomber zip-up jacket, a black leather jacket and crew neck sweater.

She also wore black tights, trousers and Skechers boots with a zip and buckle, police say.

Exactly 17 years on from the tragedy, authorities have renewed the appeal for information into the woman's identity.

A new image released today reveals what the woman would have looked like, in the latest attempt from volunteer cold case investigators at Locate International to solve the enduring mystery once and for all.

They're urging former building staff or people who may have worked in the area to come forward if they recognise the woman - or if they have links to the Black Arts community in Seven Sisters in the 2000s.

A new image released today reveals what the woman would have looked like, in the latest attempt from volunteer cold case investigators at Locate International to solve the enduring mystery once and for all

At the time of her death, Wembley Point Woman was wearing a watch with a black band and two rings (pictured)

She also wore two rings: a silver band on her little finger and a metal cowrie shell design ring on her ring finger.

The woman left behind an oil painting at a cafe shortly before she fell to her death, which some experts believe may be the key to solving the enduring mystery.

In the centre of the frame is a figure with a blank space where the face should be. The figure appears to be holding a blue, yellow and orange tribal mask.

Investigators from missing persons charity Locate International circulated an image of the distinctive artwork in the hope it will lead to the woman's identity.

The woman's body was found in the shallow water of the River Brent, at the base of the tower block, on the morning of October 29, 2004.

Witnesses said she appeared to jump or fall from the 21st floor, at the top of the building. At the time it was being used as a rooftop restaurant. The rest of the tower block was used by businesses. Pictured, Wembley Point

The 5ft 2in black woman, pictured, aged between 20 and 40, jumped or fell from the top floor of Wembley Point, a 21-storey skyscraper in west London, on October 29, 2004

Witnesses said she appeared to jump or fall from the 21st floor, at the top of the building. At the time it was being used as a rooftop restaurant. The rest of the tower block was used by businesses.

She appeared distressed prior to her death, they say.

The woman was also carrying a copy of the Guardian newspaper, a black carrier bag with the lettering CPNY, a disposable lighter, cigarettes, and a weekly bus pass issued at Seven Sisters Road station, Tottenham on October 26.

There was no purse or identification.

Dave Grimstead, founder and CEO of Locate International, said: 'When we look into old cases at Locate International, there are a few things that always need answering: where, when and how the person died and who they were.'

'What's unusual here is that we know the answers to almost all those questions. The only thing we don't know is who Wembley Point Woman is, or how she came to be at that location at that time.

'If you have any information that might help  no matter how small  it might be crucial to finally solving this sad case.

'We know Wembley Point Woman is buried in Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, near Watford, in a common grave with no name. We're confident that you can help us find that name, 18 years on.'

Anyone with information regarding the case is urged to contact Locate International by emailing appeals@locate.international, by calling 0300 102 1011 or by visiting the appeals page for Wembley Point Woman.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Do you know the identity of Wembley Point Woman? Email brittany.chain@mailonline.com

The key, investigators believe, could be an oil painting the woman was clutching when she jumped. Pictured, the oil painting she was holding when she fell to her death
Comes a week after the three year anniversary of the tragic incident in Essex

Suspected of being part of conspiracy which led to the deaths of 39 immigrants

Was remanded in custody until November 28 when he will appear at Old Bailey

Marius Mihai Dragici, 49, (pictured) has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration

A man suspected of being part of a conspiracy which led to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals found dead in a lorry in Essex appeared in court this morning after being charged with manslaughter.

Marius Mihai Dragici, 49, who was detained by police in Romania in August after the execution of a European Arrest Warrant, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.

Dragici is suspected to have been part of a network which co-ordinated immigrants' illegal journeys to the UK. He faces 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

His name, age and date of birth were confirmed during the hearing. He was remanded in custody until November 28 when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

The charges come one week after the third anniversary of the tragic incident, which saw 39 people die after temperatures inside a container reached 101.3F (38.5C).

The victims - 31 men and eight women aged between 15 and 44, all Vietnamese - died from suffocation and hyperthermia in the confined space.

Their bodies were discovered in the back of the lorry trailer, which had been transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet, Essex early on October 23, 2019.

Last month Essex Police made a public appeal to trace Dragici, who they described as the 'final piece of the jigsaw'. The Romanian national was detained in Bucharest and extradited to the UK.

The migrants suffocated to death in the container on the back of this lorry in 38.5C temperatures as they crossed the Channel from Belgium to Essex

Draghici, who also goes by aliases Marius Mihai Selaru and Marius Lupu and was born in the Romanian city of Onesti.

Most of the defendants were allegedly members of the people-smuggling ring.

The victims had stumped up around 10,000 each to an organised criminal group whose members promised them safe passage to the UK and a life there, with their families mostly borrowing the money on the promise to pay it back once their relatives reached the UK, began working and sent cash home to them.

But that promise turned to tragedy and the victims suffocated in the back of the lorry which was being driven by Northern Irishman Maurice Robinson, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison in January 2021.

So far ten people have been sentenced in the UK for their roles in the deaths. Their sentences total almost 100 years.

Nineteen have been jailed in Belgium, while four men aged between 26 and 36 were jailed for between two-and-a-half and seven years in Vietnam for luring the migrants into making the dangerous journey.

The victims, all Vietnamese, included 31 men and eight women, ten of whom were teenagers

Last month when the appeal was brought forward Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who has overseen the investigation, said: 'We have lived up to our promise of delivering justice but there is one final piece of that jigsaw to be completed.

'We'll be working with international partners and other agencies in order to make sure our appeal is heard far and wide.

'We are committed to tracking down every individual we believe to be connected to this most horrific of crimes.'

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation, said: 'The investigation into the tragic deaths of the 39 Vietnamese nationals is the most complex ever undertaken by Essex Police.

Four men aged between 26 and 36 were also jailed in Vietnam for luring the migrants to make trips abroad (pictured, the regions where the victims originated from)

'So far, we have brought ten people to justice and achieved prison sentences of almost 100 years in total.

'But we made a promise to the families of those who lost their lives in Essex in October 2019 that we would not stop until justice has been delivered in its entirety.'

Police said Vietnamese partners have been briefed on the latest developments in the case.
Advertisement

Vladimir Putin may not last to the end of the war in Ukraine as his forces suffer in the east of the country, Ukraine's spy chief has said.

The top Ukrainian official said there were 'active discussions' going on inside Russia about how Putin could be deposed as the country's ruling class grow frustrated with his invasion of Ukraine and he appears increasingly weak.

Russian forces are currently fleeing parts of eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian forces continue their huge counteroffensive, with a focus on recapturing the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian soldiers have openly mocked Putin as they regain territory his forces took early in the war. A fake gravestone for the Russian leader has even been put up in the Donetsk region as his army continues to suffer setbacks.

There have also been fears about Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been damaged by missile attacks.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of intelligence, said he believed Kherson could be retaken by the end of November.

Ukraine's spy chief has claimed Vladimir Putin could be ousted from power before the end of the war as senior officials in Russia move against him

Ukraine has been pushing back against Russia with a counteroffensive in the south and east of the country in recent weeks. Pictured: A drone strike in Crimea

Ukraine's army has been focusing its efforts on regaining territory lost at the start of the war. Pictured: Ukraine launches missiles against Russian forces

Around 40,000 Russian troops are regrouping around the region, with some of the 'most trained and most capable Russian units' involved, according to Maj Gen Budanov.

He added a counteroffensive to recapture Crimea, annexed by Putin in 2014, could come next year as Ukraine continues to gain ground from Russia.

In an interview with The War Zone, the spy chief also said pushing Russian forces back to Ukraine's 1991 borders - the year it won its independence - would create 'a good opportunity to end the war.'

He even claimed this could happen as early as next year.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's head of intelligence, said he believed Kherson could be retaken by the end of November

Ukrainian troops have mocked Putin by putting up a fake gravestone of the Russian leader at a military checkpoint in Donetsk

Maj Gen Budanov added Putin was likely to be toppled by the war he started when he invaded Ukraine in February this year.

He said: 'It's unlikely that he survives it. And currently, there's active discussions happening in Russia about who'd be there to replace him.'

The intelligence boss also said the sustained attack by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure was damagin but not 'critical'.

He also refused to confirm or deny whether Ukraine had been behind the devastating attack on the Kerch bridge - the only bridge between Russia and Crimea which is vital for Russian supply lines.

Fears have grown in recent weeks about Putin's willingness to use nuclear weapons after months of armageddon-mongering by Russian propagandists.

Russia has also claimed Ukraine is planning on using a chemical weapon on its own soil - widely denounced by the international community as a baseless claim and a false flag operation to lay the groundwork for Russia to use WMD.

Massive explosions hit key naval port Sevastopol in Crimea that Russia says is being targeted in major Ukraine drone assault

By Arthur Parashar and Will Stewart for MailOnline

Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault.

Russian Black Sea warships were reportedly having to fight the attack off in Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea which was annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up.

Local media are reporting that rescuers this morning are still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships.

Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke was seen rising from the docks area.

Dramatic footage purportedly showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay.

The video showed the helicopter hovering above the object in the water before it bursts into flames with smoke billowing out of it.

Residents claimed that the huge explosions 'shook' their homes and windows while black smoke was seen rising from the docks area

Dramatic footage showed a Moscow attack helicopter destroying an 'underwater drone' in Omega Bay

The underwater object thought to be a drone was said to be tailing a warship before it was reportedly destroyed by the Russian helicopter.

Missiles were fired from the helicopter which also unleashed volleys of machine gun fire.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said there was no damage to city infrastructure.

'Black Sea Fleet ships are fighting off a drone attack in Sevastopol Bay.' he said.

'No damage has been reported in the city. The situation is under control. All response services are at the ready.'

A student dormitory at an art college near the port saw 'one windowpane burst' but 'no harm was done', he added.

Russian sources claimed its air defenced deployed from naval warships were forced to repel a sustained Ukrainian attack that started at 4.30am and lasted for at least five hours.

The Kremlin has also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught.

All passenger ferry services were suspended in the strategic port which is the HQ of Putin's Black Sea Fleet.

According to Ukrainian sources, several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up

Local media are reporting that rescuers this morning are still attempting to put out a fire on one of the ships

Plumes of smoke were visible after reports of Ukrainian drone strikes in the middle of the night

Massive explosions have been seen hitting a key naval port in annexed Crimea that Russia claim was targeted in a major Ukrainian drone assault

Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russian governor of Sevastopol, said: 'No damage has been reported in the city.

It marks what could be the most audacious attack so far by Ukraine on Russian naval assets in Sevastopol.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol.

Meanwhile, the Russian fleet stationed in the port had also been attacked by a drone in July.

So far, attempts to verify Razvozhayev's claims that no damage has been done have been unsuccessful.

The Russian statesman begged locals not to post footage of the attacks, claiming that it could aid the Kyiv regime.

'A big request is not to write what-where-how much you saw and heard,' he posted.

'And do not upload videos. It should be clear to everyone that such data is very necessary for the UkroNazis in order to understand how the defence of our city is arranged.'

However, this did not fail to prevent residents reporting the explosions that unfolded in the middle of the nights.

One resident reported: 'Woke up at 4 a.m. to a massive explosion. Thank goodness it's [our] air defences.

Earlier this week, Razvozhayev (pictured) said that a drone had attacked a thermal power station near Sevastopol

Russia also blamed a US Global Hawk (RQ-4B) which 'flew from Italy' for flying over the Black Sea and monitoring Russian responses to the concerted Ukrainian onslaught

'Our ships in Sevastopol Bay were repelling a drone attack.

'It was a fun night, even very fun.'

Another stated: 'Woke up to an explosion at 5:30am. Followed some time later by three more'.

A third added: 'Ten minutes ago three explosions sounded, and shook the house'

Meanwhile, another comment said: 'Woke up this morning to explosions.

'Never heard anything like that before. It thundered so hard that the windows shook in the flat.'

The attack comes as Russia appears to have largely given up attacking Ukraine and has been forced on to the defensive after Putin's military got mauled by Kyiv's armies.

Russian troops have been forced on to the defensive across almost the entire frontline in Ukraine after Putin's army was mauled, British intelligence said yesterday

Severely undermanned and poorly trained Russian units have stopped advancing across most of the front line in the last six weeks, British intelligence said yesterday.

Ukrainian forces advance in both the north and south of the country - pushing east from Kharkiv into Luhansk and advancing towards Kherson.

In Kherson, companies of soldiers which should consist of 100 men were fighting with just six to eight troops each, Ministry of Defence analysts added.

While Putin is attempting to bolster these units with conscripted troops, Russia is unlikely to be able to resume its offensive in the near future.

Earlier this week, it had appeared that Russia was preparing to withdraw from Kherson city but Ukraine now believes Putin is actually reinforcing it.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence service, said earlier this week that Russia has been evacuating civilians but is moving military reinforcements into urban areas, preparing defences, and plans to fight for the city.

He added that the evacuation and talk of a retreat by Russia's top commander may have been an effort to lure Ukraine into a costly urban battle.
Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said US Rep. Liz Cheney's campaign against her has only widened her lead on her Democratic rival.

Hours after Cheney's PAC aired an ad urging Arizonans to reject GOP candidates, naming Lake directly, the candidate put out an open letter mocking her fellow Republican's effort to undermine her campaign.

'Dear Liz, Thank you for your generous in-kind contribution to my campaign,' Lake wrote.

'Your recent television ad urging Arizonans not to vote for me is doing just the opposite.

'In fact, my team tells me your commercial should add another 10 points to our lead! I guess that's why they call the Cheney anti-endorsement the gift that keeps on giving.'

It comes as polls this week show Lake, a Democrat turned MAGA star, is beating out Democrat opponent Katie Hobbs by three to 11 points.

Cheney - a Republican representative from Wyoming - lost the support of her base after condemning Donald Trump following the January 6 riots, and lost her primary to Harriet Hageman in August.

Arizona GOP gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake (pictured Wednesday) mocked US Rep. Liz Cheney's efforts to undermine her campaign with an ad urging voters to reject her

In the ad, Cheney (above), who lost her own primary race, called on Arizonans to vote Democrat due to the GOP candidates' unfounded election fraud claims

On Friday, Cheney's The Great Task PAC aired a 30-minute ad blasting Lake and Arizona Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem for echoing former President Donald Trump's unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

The video opens with Cheney, criticized by members of her party as a Republican In Name Only (RINO), telling voters to pick Democrats come November.

'I don't know that I have ever voted for a Democrat, but if I lived in Arizona, I absolutely would,' Cheney - the daughter of ex-Vice President Dick Cheney said.

'You have a candidate for governor, Kari Lake, you have a candidate for secretary of state, Mark Finchem, both of whom have said that they will only honor the results of an election if they agree with it.

'And if you care about the survival of our republic, we cannot give people power who will not honor elections.'

Lake scoffed at the ad, saying the $500,000 price to air it was basically a direct contribution to her campaign and quipped that it 'likely exceeds Arizona's $5,300 individual contribution limit.'

The gubernatorial hopeful also said that donations to her campaign soared following Cheney's ad.

'Thank you again for the huge boost to our campaign,' Lake wrote. 'Our campaign donations are skyrocketing and our website nearly crashed from traffic as people rushed to learn more about my plan to put Arizona First and join our historic movement.'

Lake said the $500,000 ad has only widened her lead against Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs, with polls showing the Republican up by at least 3 points

The race between Lake and Hobbs is among one of the key races in the country, with a recent poll from RealClearPolitics showing Lake has a 3.2 percent lead while a local Fox 10 Phoenix poll suggests she's leading by 11 percent.

Hobbs, the state's current Secretary of State, had been enjoying a 7 point lead two months ago.

The state also has a crucial Senate race as Republican Blake Masters takes on Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly, the result of which could change which party gets control of the Senate.

Like in Arizona, Georgia has its own highly contended governor's race, with Democrat Stacey Abrams challenging Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

Pennsylvania also has important races for its gubernatorial and a senate seat. Democrat John Fetterman, who recently had a poor showing in a debate, is losing his lead against GOP candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Meanwhile the state's senate race has grown contentious following allegations that GOP candidate Herschel Walker asked mulitple women to get abortions. Walker's lead has shrunk to below 1 percent against Democratic opponent Raphael Warnock.

Another key election lies in Texas, where gubernatorial hopeful Beto O'Rourke faces incumbent Greg Abbott. The Republican continues to enjoy an 8 percent lead on his Democratic opponent.
Halloween will be celebrated in Australia and globally on Monday, October 31

Festive goers spilled out onto the streets in Sydney's CBD near Karaoke bars

Party goers have donned their scariest costumes to celebrate Halloween two nights early in everything from bright red, pink, neon and bloody garb to the terrifying and bizarre.

Sydneysiders took advantage of the fine weather to hit the city's streets for a big night on the town on Saturday night.

Many were in the Halloween spirit with costumes ranging from the traditional skeleton outfits and phantom of the opera influence to Mexican amigos

There was also a mish mash of Geisha girls, Squid Games costumes, Playboy Bunnies, nurses uniforms and angels wings, along with Mexican and Beetlejuice outfits.

Party goers got together at the Enmore theatre on Saturday in colourful outfits

A woman harnessed her inner Joker (pictured) at the Harder Styles United party in Enmore

Some revellers went all out donning Mexican-inspired outfits at an Enmore bus stop

Some got into the darker side of things as revellers dressed up as Geisha Girls took to the streets of Sydney

Squid Game lovers took to the HSU celebration at Enmore, in unsettling garb

One red-dressed party animal had a bloody encounter on the way to a party, donned in a raunchy tight dress, while a group of men donned bumbags and bright-neon clothing.

Others dressed to the nines sporting short dresses in bright pinks and reds, while some wore fairy and Disney-inspired Shego costumes.

Then there were those who dared to bare almost all in risque and raunchy outfits.

One of the biggest events was the HSU party at the Enmore Theatre where Halloween-themed live acts and DJs entertained a sold out crowd. Festivities kicked off at 7.30pm and ended shortly before midnight.

Other Sydneysiders shared snaps of their careful curated costumes and special effects makeup on social media before hitting the town.

Revellers packed venues decked in fake spiderwebs, Jack O'Lanterns and skeletons across the CBD, Kings Cross and Woolloomooloo.

It was the first time in three years Halloween fans haven't been limited by Covid-19 restrictions and unlike last year, could sing and dance to their hearts' content.

Some Halloween enthusiasts sported some spooky outfits on the night at the Enmore Theatre

A reveller (pictured, left) dressed as Shego, from Disney's animated television series Kim Possible, along with friends in short dresses on Bayswater Road in Kings Cross

A trio of ladies posed for the camera, dressing up for the occasion in the Harbour City

Some guys dressed in Beetle Juice get up at a party in Sydney right down to the shoes

A group of gents mates their handy bumbags safely secured as they celebrated the Saturday night celebrations in Sydney

A party goer took it all in at Wooloomooloo on Saturday, sporting a funky contact lens , with a devil-themed outfit

One red-dressed party animal had a bloody encounter on the way to a party, donned in a raunchy tight dress

The corner of Goulburn and Pitt streets in the CBD was the place to be for many revellers who spilled into the streets and partied long into the night.

One festive goer dressed as Shego, from Disney's animated television series Kim Possible, along with friends in short dresses on Bayswater Road in Kings Cross.

Similar festivities were held in other major cities across the nation.

Halloween celebrations will continue across Australia on Monday, where dressed up children will doorknock their neighbourhood for trick or treating.

Halloween, which is a contraction of All Hallows Eve, came from the ancient Celts across Britain and Ireland about 2000 years ago.

Sydney ravers lined up for a good time at the HSU event at the Enmore theatre on Saturday

A fairy-inspired costume caught the attention of a photographer on Saturday at the corner of Goulburn and Pitt Streets outside a Karaoke bar

A nurse had some concerning wounds on Goulburn Street near the Civic Hotel in Sydney

It is celebrated in big style across North America each year, where children don ghost, goblin or supernatural creature costumes and go around different homes in groups asking for sweets - called trick-or-treating.

It is believed to come from a British custom of allowing the poor to beg.

Australians, who tend to have a low-key observance of the pagan festival, will celebrate Halloween on Monday October 31.

Although it is called a holiday, people do not take the day off, while businesses and government departments remain open.
Advertisement

The Metropolitan Police has blasted Just Stop Oil who are engaged in a month-long protest across the capital, accusing them of tying up officers who should be out beating knife crime and solving burglaries.

Commenting after the eco-zealots blocked four roads across London at lunchtime today, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said since October 1, the Met has arrested 651 people in connection with the ongoing protests.

He said the size of the policing operation necessary to control the protests means the Met has fewer resources to tackle priority issues such as knife crime.

In a statement, Commissioner Twist said: 'Actions by Just Stop Oil have caused a significant amount of disruption and frustration among the public in London. We will always provide a proportionate policing response to protest and try to work with organisers so that protests can go ahead safely.'

He said the public expects the Met to act quickly when protesters begin breaking the law. He accused Just Stop Oil of failing to 'engage' with his team ahead of protests meaning more officers have to be deployed than would otherwise be necessary.

He said: 'This impacts on policing resources from local communities. Since October 1, more than 7,900 officer shifts have been needed to respond to this activity to try to keep London moving and minimise serious impact on communities.'

Commissioner Twist: 'If officers were not helping the central operation to deal with Just Stop Oil they could be dealing with issues that matter to local communities, such as knife crime, safeguarding and responding to burglaries.'

He predicted the level of protests will 'place a significant burden on the wider criminal justice system' as well as requiring officers to attend court to secure successful prosecutions.'

Earlier today, tensions flared on the 29th consecutive day of Just Stop Oil demonstrations in London, with fed-up commuters pleading with 'pathetic' activists to put an end to the chaos.

At about midday, 61 protesters marched through Charing Cross Road, Kensington High Street, Kennington Road and Blackfriars Road with banners, blocking traffic in both directions.

Some glued their hands to the tarmac while others locked on to one another - sparking concerns of traffic chaos.

At the Kennington demonstration, frustrated motorists dragged protesters off the road in an attempt to make enough room for traffic to flow freely.

'This is f**king pathetic,' one person said as he dragged people out of the way.

'I've asked you nicely. There's people trying to go about their business. For the last time, move.'

Another motorist threatened to 'crack someone in their f**king face' if they didn't move out of the way of his car.

Every time a protester is forcibly dragged from their position on the street, they scurry back to the line at the earliest possible opportunity, sparking mass frustration amongst people unwittingly caught in the chaos.

Police carried protesters away from High Street Kensington on Saturday afternoon

Police said efforts are underway to remove all the protesters from the area and reopen the road to traffic

Tensions flared on the 29th consecutive day of Just Stop Oil demonstrations in London, with fed-up commuters pleading with 'pathetic' activists to put an end to the chaos

At about midday, 61 protesters marched through Charing Cross Road, Kensington High Street, Kennington Road and Blackfriars Road and sat down holding banners

At the Kennington demonstration, frustrated motorists dragged protesters off the road in an attempt to make enough room for traffic to flow freely

Another motorist threatened to 'crack someone in their f**king face' if they didn't move out of the way of his car. Pictured: Protesters as they're dragged from the road

The latest protest marks the 29th consecutive day for Just Stop Oil activists

Police officers remove an activist from a road during a 'Just Stop Oil' protest

Meanwhile in High Street Kensington, police are urging people to get off the road in an attempt to ease tensions.

Video shows police undertaking the tedious task of trying to unglue protesters' hands from the road using chemicals and a spatula.

The protesters were offered goggles to protect their eyes from the fumes within the chemicals needed to free them.

At least three arrests have already been made, police at the scene told MailOnline.

A spokesman for the group said: 'This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere.

'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 be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people.'

Anna Berrill, 20, a philosophy student from Leeds who is participating in the demonstration, said: 'I'm doing this because it breaks my heart to witness the tragedies that are happening and will keep coming because of our actions, and to live in a crumbling world and not do anything is unbearable.'

Grandmother-of-four Helen Redfern, 57, said she's protesting because she feels 'it's the only option left'.

'Taking nonviolent direct action seems to be the only option left to me,' she said.

'The government is not taking the devastating effects of the climate emergency seriously. I cannot sit by and watch people suffering around the world already, knowing that unless we act fast, more and more people will suffer more and more climate related disasters now and in the future.'

The protesters were offered goggles to protect their eyes from the fumes within the chemicals needed to free them

Pictured: Activists blocking the road on Saturday, sparking fury from trapped motorists

Some glued their hands to the tarmac while others locked on to one another - sparking concerns of traffic chaos

A spokesman for the group said: 'This is not a one day event, expect us every day and anywhere'

The latest protest comes amid a month of chaos in London and the wider United Kingdom due to repeated Just Stop Oil demonstrations

Charing Cross Road has now been cleared and is back open to traffic, Met Police said in a statement.

Work is ongoing to reopen the remainder of the impacted roads as soon as possible.

Just Stop Oil is demanding the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.

The latest protest comes amid a month of chaos in London and the wider United Kingdom due to repeated Just Stop Oil demonstrations.

On Friday, two Just Stop Oil activists were arrested after spraying orange paint across a Rolex store in Knightsbridge.

More than 600 activists have been arrested so far in October following a host of stunts, from throwing soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers, to scaling the QE2 Bridge and causing more than a dozen major roadblocks.

Other stunts have included blocking Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, and throwing tomato soup on Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting in the last few weeks.

Met Police said in a statement they're working hard to clear the protesters and reopen the roads to traffic

The latest protest comes amid a month of chaos in London and the wider United Kingdom due to repeated Just Stop Oil demonstrations

More than 600 activists have been arrested so far in October following a host of stunts, from throwing soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers, to scaling the QE2 Bridge and causing more than a dozen major roadblocks
Multibillionaire tech mogul Elon Musk attempted to allay advertiser fears as he assumed control of the social media behemoth Twitter, saying he purchased the platform to help preserve human civilization.

As reported by RT, Musk wrote a statement to advertisers on the eve of concluding his $44 billion buyout of Twitter, detailing his motivations for the acquisition.

Musk noted that his purchase of Twitter was meant to not increase his wealth.

"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," he explained, as cited by RT.

Dear Twitter Advertisers pic.twitter.com/GMwHmInPAS  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 27, 2022

Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who Forbes estimates to be worth over $220 billion, made an offer to acquire Twitter in April.

Musk Frees The Bird

During that period, he promised to remove any restriction of conservative views on the platform, calling free expression a societal necessity for a "functioning democracy."

On Thursday, he tweeted, "The bird is freed," an apparent reference to Twitter's bird logo and his wish to see the business loosen restrictions on what users can publish.

Elon Musk has branded himself a "free speech absolutist," but his email to advertisers suggests Twitter won't be fully unrestricted.

He warned that Twitter must not degenerate into a "free-for-all hellscape" where users feel they may say whatever they want without repercussions.

According to Reuters, Elon Musk billionaire also wanted that Twitter's algorithms that decide which information is shown to users to be made publicly available, as well as "defeat" spam bots on the platform.

Read Also: What Kind of Missiles Did North Korea Launch, Where Did it Come From? Full Details on 'Grave Provocation' to South Korea

Twitter staff and critics worried Musk would enable "harmful" content. More than two dozen left-wing activist organizations encouraged businesses to stop advertising on Twitter in May, warning that Elon Musk Twitter deal would turn the social networking site a "direct threat to public safety."

Elon Musk warned that the social media sector is in danger of being split into far-right and far-left "echo chambers that generate more hate" and splitting the nation.

He continued by saying that traditional media outlets' constant pursuit of better ratings and money has fuelled and appealed to the divided extremes.

According to Bloomberg, who cited a person familiar with the topic, Elon Musk Twitter deal intends to scrap permanent restrictions on users.

Top Twitter Executives Fired

In light of his statement about Twitter's future under his leadership, Elon Musk dismissed top executives.

According to sources, Musk fired Twitter's CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, and legal affairs and policy chief Vijaya Gadde.

Elon Musk billionaire said they misled him and Twitter's investors about the scope of the platform's fake accounts issue.

Days ago, a report published by The Washington Post claimed that Elon Musk plans to reduce staff, leaving Twitter's 7,500 employees worried about their future.

Following a report by Reuters, a source close to the situation has confirmed that Musk intends to take over as Twitter's interim CEO.

It is yet unclear whether the firing of senior management would lead to company-wide employment layoffs.

Ross Gerber, a shareholder in both Twitter and Mr. Musk's other business Tesla, said earlier allegations that 75% of personnel at the social media company were due to lose their jobs were "inaccurate," as per a BBC report.

Related Article: Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth: How Did Facebook Founder Lose $100 Billion This 2022?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Advertisement

A self-styled multi-millionaire foreign exchange dealer who brags on TikTok about how he treats parking tickets as the cost of 'VIP parking' has been behind a string of dissolved companies and lives in a rented house.

MailOnline can also reveal that one of the directorships listed for Luke Desmaris, 27, at Companies House gives his 'correspondence address' as the home of an elderly couple who live in an isolated gated bungalow and have never heard of him.

Desmaris, who charges people for advice on how to make a fortune, made headlines this week after releasing a boastful TikTok video showing parking tickets on his BMW on double yellow lines near Harrods as a voiceover says: 'Broke people see a fine, but I see VIP parking'.

He also regularly brags about earning 300,000 a month, living in 'multi-million mansions', and wearing two Rolex watches worth a total of 40,000 in a bid to get some of his 83,000 followers on TikTok to pay him 29.99 a month for trading advice.

Many of his videos feature the exterior of his former five bedroom home and his 90,000 BMW M4 car in Harlow, Essex, with some posing the question: 'How can I afford this house and car age 27?'

But MailOnline can reveal that that Land registry records confirm he never owned the house and was renting it for just over a year, according to neighbours, before moving out earlier this month after his landlord decided to sell it.

The new owner of the house said: 'He moved in while we were in the process of buying it. He did not own the house. We still wanted the property so we put up with it. The purchase has now been completed and he has moved out.'

Companies House records reveal that Desmaris is also a former director of four companies which have been dissolved without revealing any financial accounts.

Self-styled multi-millionaire foreign exchange dealer Luke Desmaris, who brags on TikTok about how he treats parking tickets as the cost of 'VIP parking', has been behind a string of dissolved companies and lives in a rented house

His only company which is up and running and has filed accounts is called TheAlertNation Limited and had retained profits of just 6,423, when its latest accounts were published in September this year

His only company which is up and running and has filed accounts is called TheAlertNation Limited and had retained profits of just 6,423, when its latest accounts were published in September this year.

The turnover figure and the amount paid in any dividends to Desmaris and his fellow director Jamie Czechowicz, 27, who jointly launched the company in 2018 are not revealed in the accounts which can be publicly viewed as the company is a small business.

The pair use a legal business accommodation address in north London as their registered office, but Companies House records give a correspondence address for Desmaris as being a bungalow hidden behind locked gates and an overgrown hedge just outside Harlow.

The gates of the bungalow which are set back from a busy road and cannot be seen from the house, feature a pair of 18 inch long sections of drainage pipe, acting as a makeshift open post box.

The bungalow is home to an elderly couple who were shocked to be told by MailOnline that Desmaris was using their property as a correspondence address for his business.

The woman resident who asked not to be named said: 'I have never heard of this man before and I did not realise that he was using our address. This is very worrying news and I am going to have to inform my solicitor.

'He has no right to use this address and I cannot understand how he has managed to do it. I have not got a clue who he is. This needs to be stopped.'

Desmaris and Czechowicz insisted that the use of the address was an innocent mistake when they met up with a MailOnline reporter in a Costa coffee shop at the Queensgate retail park in Harlow.

The pair claimed that they had previously had an 'operational station' at an address with a similar name to the property around 200 yards down the same road.

Desmaris (pictured) has racked up more than three million viewers on his TikTok video showing him casually walking from Harrods and swanky Middle Eight Hotel towards his BMW M4

They insisted that they were completely unaware that the incorrect address had been given to Companies House until they were told about it by MailOnline, and denied that it was part of any scam.

Czechowicz said: 'It is simply a discrepancy. It is legitimate that the address was incorrectly inputted It's metres away from the actual address. It was a genuine mistake Discrepancies happen and mistyping happens Thanks for telling us, we can update that.'

Describing the address which he says should have been given, he said: 'It was an operational station and our relation to it is irrelevantAt the end of the day, there is a discrepancy on the website We all type things wrong sometimes.

'All we know is that we have done nothing wrong. Who is there and isn't there is irrelevant. All we know is that we haven't done anything against the law.'

Desmaris added: 'There is a genuine address and you went to the wrong one I can't tell you if that's the wrong address. I will have to check it.'

Earlier the pair launched a staunch defence of their business model which uses videos of Desmaris boasting about his apparent wealth and luxury lifestyle to sell advice to people wanting to get rich quick by trading on their laptops and mobile phones.

MailOnline can reveal that one of the directorships listed for Desmaris at Companies House gives his 'correspondence address' (pictured) as the home of an elderly couple who live in an isolated gated bungalow and have never heard of him

Desmaris (pictured in his 70,000 BMW) also refused to disclose whether he owned any property, saying: 'To live in a house like that and drive a car like that, put two and two together

But Desmaris refused to show any evidence to support his claims that he earns 300,000 a month, was worth around 10 million, and has monthly spends of 4,500 on eating out, 10,000 on luxury shopping, 2,500 on champagne and 7,000 on luxury hotel stays.

He said: 'It is impossible for you to prove how much someone is worth.'

When asked if he leased or rented his car, he replied: 'I'm not commenting on that.'

Desmaris also refused to disclose whether he owned any property, saying: 'To live in a house like that and drive a car like that, put two and two together.

'You have to be earning good money. All I say is I am wealthy and selling a very fair product and service, and that is all there is to it.

'You can't have these things without earning good money. You can't live in a house like that and have a good car without earning good money, You just cant.'

He refused to show the reporter any of his bank statement or evidence of investments, saying: 'Put it this way, I live in a very nice house and I am not willing to discuss my personal life with you I moved very recently into a really nice house.

'We offer a legitimate service on line which is a course. Selling over-priced coffee is more of a scam, and you are worried about me selling a course

'We are trying to inspire young people with motivational videos and teach them what is possible. That is all we are doing.

Desmaris and Czechowicz (pictured together) insisted that the use of the address was an innocent mistake when they met up with a MailOnline reporter in a Costa coffee shop at the Queensgate retail park in Harlow

'I know society wants people to go down different routes. We are trying to show people that they can do more.

'Why the hell would I trust you with my personal details? No disrespect, but you have no authority. You are not a judge.

'We don't need to show you anything. We are both very wealthy. That is all we need to say.'

Desmaris added: 'You are jumping to conclusions that aren't even true.'

Explaining why he would not give proof of his finances, he told the reporter: 'You are like a nobody to me My money is stored in all sorts of places.

'A million is not even a lot. A million is nothing. Most flats these days are worth more than that.'

Desmaris said he could provide evidence of his wealth and trading success if he wanted to, but he added: 'We don't need to.'

He went on: 'You are very lucky I even came to speak to you The bottom line is that we are both wealthy individuals.

'We are selling a very cheap and fair service online that anyone can join. We are not hurting anyone or harming anyone.

'We are literally selling a 29.99 service that you get a lot of value from. We have done nothing wrong. You are coming at us like we have done something really bad.'

He added: 'You are demonising us. We are just offering a cheap course.'

Desmaris and Czechowicz were vague about whether they were jointly running the subscription service detailed on a website linked to Desmaris' social media accounts.

Yellow fixed penalty notices can be seen on his windscreen, yet the voiceover explains 'broke people see a fine, but I see VIP parking'

Czechowicz said: 'We live in the UK which is a free country. This is the UK where capitalists can achieve thing and we have the right to freedom of speech.

'The Human Rights Act states that you don't have to state your financial assets You don't have to work every single day and be stuck in a slave job.'

Czechowicz pointed out that they only offered tuition in foreign exchange investment rather than direct financial advice which needed to be regulated.

He said: 'We don't take people's money and invest it. We don't want to go down that route. It's too much hassle We are selling an educational service which is purely for educational purposes. We are not saying you should go and do this. It is market commentary. You don't need to be regulated to express your opinions.'

Czechowicz went on: 'When a person signs up there is no way of knowing for certain how much we are worth. They agree to join, knowing they can't prove how much we're worth.'

Desmaris compared himself to controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, saying: 'You may have heard of Andrew Tate. He does a similar thing with a course which is paid for on a subscription basis.

'Ours is similar priced  about 30 quid and very cheap but good value so you get a nice video course and support mentoring. It is a good value course. We are literally doing it for 30 quid.

'If you pay for the course, you get support continuously. You are paying for education and you can cancel it if you want to There is nothing wrong in promoting a service. They know full well that it is not guaranteed. They know they are signing up to be educated. It is not an investment scheme We are absolutely not financial advisors.'

Desmaris and Czechowicz launched another company in July, called We Own Everything Ltd, described as an education business, which has so far not disclosed any details of its earnings.

Another company Des &Co limited set up by Desmaris in July last year has yet to file accounts while his company FreedomFXTrading Limited was closed in January 2020 voluntarily.

He also regularly brags about earning 300,000 a month, living in 'multi-million mansions', and wearing two Rolex watches worth a total of 40,000 in a bid to get some of his 85,000 followers on TikTok to pay him 29.99 a month for trading advice

His business Desmaris Property was struck off voluntarily in 2019 without filing accounts.

Another of his firms LJ Des Limited, a retail business, was dissolved voluntarily without revealing any accounts in September 2020.

Eproso Security, a private security and retail firm set up Desmaris and Czechowicz in 2015 was closed in August 2017 without having had to file accounts

Desmaris has racked up more than three million viewers on his TikTok video showing him casually walking from Harrods and swanky Middle Eight Hotel towards his BMW M4, and not caring about fixed penalty notices on his windscreen

He claimed earlier this week that he had paid more than 7,000 in parking fines over the past 12 months, but insisted that he didn't care because his success meant 'money doesn't matter'.

He justified the stunt by explaining 'parking in London is a nightmare' and his 'time is valuable', and saying that 'as long as he's not causing anyone harm he'll do what he wants'.

Viewers of the video were split between those describing it as a 'life hack' and others saying he deserved tougher penalties than London's standard 65 parking fines if paid within two weeks.

Desmaris said: 'I see it as saving my time and my time is valuable. It's the convenience of it.

'If I can save my time by doing that, then I will. It means I'm able to go home quicker to get back to trading. That's my logic behind it.

'I'll do it when I go shopping, especially in London. I'll just park it outside because It can be a nightmare to park otherwise.

'I started by getting a few here and there and ever since I started doing well, it doesn't matter. Money doesn't matter.'
The apartment, which is owned by the city and managed by the French Market Corp., a city-affiliated agency, has a market rate of $2,991 per month

Cantrell also admitted living rent-free in the apartment located in the city's Upper Pontalba building on Jackson Square just three miles from her house

City policy requires her to find cheapest fare or reimburse the expenses, and she complied with the council members who demanded repayment

Cantrell, who reportedly earns $188K, justified the exorbitant flight fees by saying flying economy was 'unsafe' for black women

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell repaid the city nearly $29,000 she wrongfully used in city cash for first class flights

LaToya Cantrell, the controversial Democratic mayor of New Orleans, repaid the city nearly $29,000 she wrongfully used in city cash for first class flights after justifying it by saying economy class is unsafe for black women.

The mayor paid for the flights after she spent more than $40,000 on a four-day trip in June to France, with her own first-class flight costing almost $18,000 - but her aides traveled in economy.

'My travel accommodations are a matter of safety, not of luxury,' Cantrell, who reportedly earns approximately $188,000 , said at a press conference.

A city attorney determined that Cantrell, as a city employee, was obliged by policy to seek the cheapest fares or reimburse the city for deluxe expenses.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has repaid the city nearly $29,000 after she was found to have used city cash to get a first-class flight to France

The mayor paid for the flights after she spent more than $40,000 on a four-day trip in June to France, with her own first-class flight costing almost $18,000

Cantrell also admitted to living in a city-owned apartment in the city's French Quarter rent-free, that lies only three miles from her $500k house

'As all women know, our health and safety are often disregarded and we are left to navigate alone,' Cantrell said.

'As the mother of a young child whom I live for, I am going to protect myself by any reasonable means in order to ensure I am there to see her grow into the strong woman I am raising her to be. Anyone who wants to question how I protect myself just doesn't understand the world black women walk in.'

But councilmembers didn't buy these excuses and had threatened to dock her pay in the 2023 budget to recover the funds.

'I'm glad that we can put this behind us,' Council President Helena Moreno said.

The under-fire mayor was already in hot water after admitting to living in a city-owned apartment in the city's French Quarter rent-free, that lies only three miles from her $500K Broadmoor home.

Cantrell's home in New Orleans' Broadmoor neighborhood, which she shares with her husband Jason, is estimated to be worth upward of $500K

The city's Metropolitan Crime Commission showed photographs of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell entering and leaving the apartment

It is owned by the city and managed by the French Market Corp., a city-affiliated agency, has a market rate of $2,991 per month.

A spokesperson for Cantrell and the city councilmember who sits on the FMC board have said that everything is legal according to the city's terms with FMC.

However, The Metropolitan Crime Commission report included images of Cantrell going in and out of the apartment over several months as well as allegations from witnesses saying she has been staying overnight regularly at the apartment.

Cantrell is no stranger to property-related controversy.

In 2014, the IRS placed a lien on her Broadmoor home over approximately $28K in unpaid taxes. Cantrell and her husband, Jason, owed $27,564.99 in taxes, interest and penalties for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

A spokesperson for Eugene Green, a Democrat who sits on the board of French Market Corp., said 'Councilmember Green is not aware of any regulations or procedures that may have been violated.'

FMC records obtained by WWL-TV said that no rent was paid on the apartment between September 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022.

It's also been alleged that a city employee has been used as a de facto building super to fix problems in the apartment.

A spokesperson for Eugene Green, who sits on the board of French Market Corp., said 'Councilmember Green is not aware of any regulations or procedures that may have been violated'

At yesterdays press conference, @FOX8NOLA was the only station that asked Mayor LaToya Cantrell about whether or not she will reimburse thousands of dollars to the city for her travel upgrades.



Heres her full statement: pic.twitter.com/swA2flFIkc  Andres Fuentes (@news_fuentes) September 9, 2022

MCC President Rafael Goyeneche called this arrangement improper for the mayor, saying: 'That's an additional benefit tax-free that she's been receiving. She doesn't need to be residing there or using that. And I think that it's a misuse and abuse of her authority. But I'm waiting to see what the city council's position is.'

Goyeneche is demanding the council investigate.

'The mayor's usage of the city owned apartment at the Pontalba is consistent with the usage of previous mayors,' Cantrell's communications director, Gregory Joseph, said.

'In the 2013 franchise agreement there are no rules governing how that unit should be used and the FMC believes the mayor has no obligation to pay rent on that apartment because she's using it in the same manner that previous mayors have enjoyed.'
Walsh said the school's response to protesters and vandals who objected to his presence was 'worst cowardice I've ever seen by a university'

The film deals with questions about modern gender ideology and the medical practices surrounding gender transition

Walsh is often met by outraged protesters during his myriad speaking tours - especially in the wake of the movie's release

As one counter protester read passages from his Bible, students grabbed the book, ripped its pages out and one even began to eat the Scripture

The screening attracted dozens of protesters who shouted about trans rights, racism and Nazis

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh was on the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus for a screening of his film

Progressive pro-transgender protesters were observed outside a college speaking event this week shouting down a young man reading passages from his Bible before grabbing the book from him, ripping it up and eating its pages.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh had been on the University of Madison, Wisconsin campus for a screening of his controversial film 'What is a Woman?' when he encountered a hoard of screeching students.

In a shocking video posted by the Young America's Foundation, a student with a shock of bright red hair can be seen shoving pages from a torn up Bible in her mouth.

In a second video, protesters are seen and heard shouting into megaphones that white people are 'f***ing racist' and that they are there to 'collectively chase Nazis off the U-W campus.'

A student protestor shrieked to the crowd that white people need to realize 'how hard it is every single f***ing day for BIPOC people - especially at this institution.'

The crowd can also be heard chanting 'trans right are human rights' led by a woman draped in a rainbow flag.

Rayna cordon, who attended the protest on behalf of a local abortion rights group, said the shouting adults were 'feeling unheard and unprotected and uncared for.'

Cordon further claimed that the university had 'restricted' the speech of the protestors by not allowing them into the ticketed event to shout.

'Its like a double standard to allow the Nazis and the transphobes and the self-proclaimed fascists to have the mic and not give it to the actual community members that are funding your school, that are attending your classes, that are teaching your classes,' she said.

Protestors have now shredded The Bible and one began eating pages pic.twitter.com/o5DACq64LP  YAF (@yaf) October 24, 2022

A protester at the demonstration read passages from a Bible, which was ripped from his hands, torn up and eaten by students there to object to Walsh's presence

YAF intercut the protest video with a clip of the scene inside the auditorium of 400 people where Walsh was set to speak warmly welcoming the commentator to stage.

Despite the protests, the screening went on as scheduled.

'I want to thank also the leftist crybabies for the free advertising spray painted all over campus,' said Walsh prior to the Monday night screening.

'To the UW-Madison administration: you should be ashamed of yourselves. You are disgraceful, self-debasing cowards, and you spineless, gutless clowns owe me an apology,' he said added, referencing a message the university had sent out before his arrival.

What is a Woman? is a documentary released earlier this year by Walsh that delves into the societal perceptions and realities of gender and transgender issues while contending that womanhood is determined by biology.

Although the film was met with intense scrutiny from progressives and members of the Left Wing, it was generally well-received by conservatives and those open to the ideas it presented.

It currently has a critical Rotten Tomatoes score of 83% and an audience score of 96%.

The red-haired protesters can be seen shoving pages of the Christian holy book into her mouth as students jeer and cheer in the background

A woman draped in the LGBTQ+ rainbow flag marched masked around the outdoor space chanting 'trans rights are human rights'

Another protestor who got ahold of the megaphone screeched at white people to stop being 'f***ing racist.' She told the crowd they had no idea 'how hard it is every single f***ing day for BIPOC people'

The group congregated on Monday evening to object to a screening of conservative commentator Matt Walsh's documentary 'What is a Woman?'

Areas around the University of Wisconsin, Madison were vandalized in the lead up to Walsh's presentation last week

Nick Baker, a spokesperson for the organization, told Fox News that the 'leftists' attempts to silence a student reading the Bible demonstrate their utter contempt for the Judeo-Christian values upon which America was founded.'

'Were seeing this sort of insane behavior on college campuses across the country, and its time to hold these students accountable,' MJ Alfonso, a YAF Program officer, said.

In response to the video, Walsh tweeted: 'Well, you can be on the side that eats the Bible and castrates children, or you can be on literally any side but that one. Your choice, America.'

Walsh also posted a series of images to his Twitter account documenting the early reaction to his presence on campus, which included vandalizing a veteran's memorial.

A campus building was also vandalized with the words 'trans women are women - F*** Matt Walsh and YAF' sprayed in black paint.

In response, the university appears to have sent a message to students that says they are 'aware that a speaker is coming to campus' whose 'viewpoints we believe are harmful toward our trans community.'

'We feel the impact this is having on our campus, and we wanted to reach out,' continued the message.

Walsh wrote that the apology to the vandals was the 'worst cowardice I've ever seen by a university.'

YAF and the university's YAF chapter have also demanded an investigation into an employee of the university who was spotted tearing down flyers advertising the event.

The employee is a teacher's assistant in the Gender & Women's Studies Department.

In response to the vandalism and protests surrounding Walsh's appearance, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who now heads up the Young America's Foundation, said the protestors and administration 'don't want mainstream discussions on campus.'

Well, you can be on the side that eats the Bible and castrates children, or you can be on literally any side but that one. Your choice, America. https://t.co/Jn3bapM1si  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 24, 2022

A shot of Walsh interviewing a subject for' What is a Woman?' a documentary that inquires after modern gender ideology and the practices surrounding gender transition

Leftist crybullies at @UWMadison vandalized a veterans memorial along with several other buildings because theyre upset that Im speaking on campus. The university responded by apologizing to the vandals and taking their side. The worst cowardice Ive ever seen by a university. pic.twitter.com/2efopdWc3N  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 24, 2022

Walsh's documentary and book of the same title have been generally well received by audiences open to his issue viewpoints, but widely disparaged by individuals left of center

Walsh has been consistent about his view that transgender identifying people are, in reality, the gender they were biologically assigned at birth and that gender-affirming care for minors is a form of child mutilation.

His speech at U-W was a ticket-only event, which prevented protesters from descending on the microphone to challenge Walsh's views.

In a statement regarding the property destruction that occurred on campus before Walsh spoke, a university spokesperson said: 'The university is deeply committed to the right to free speech . . . However, criminal damage to the universitys buildings and spaces for any reason or purpose is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.'

Similar protests of Walsh's film have taken place in recent weeks at the University of Houston, University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne and the University of Central Florida.

The debate surrounding gender issues in American rages on and was front and center this week when transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney was granted audience with President Biden to discuss access to gender-affirming care in some US states.

Whether to allow young people to take puberty-blockers, hormones or undergo surgery has become a hot-button issue in America's culture wars, and Republican officials in Arkansas, Alabama, and Texas have sought to limit access to procedures.

Statistics on this issue are contested, but there does appear to be a rise in the number of young people seeking to transition, and studies suggest that online social media and peer groups play a role in the uptick.

Researchers from Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee, this month found that the number of chest reconstruction surgeries being performed on trans children shot up nearly five-fold between 2016 and 2019, when it reached 489.

A report by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), published this year found that 300,000 US children aged between 13 and 17 identified as transgender in 2020  doubling in number from 2017.

The number of chest reconstruction surgeries among children in the US jumped five-fold from 2016 to 2019, from 100 to 489 annually
A Pakistani national held by the United States for 18 years in the Guantanamo Bay prison camp without trial on suspicion of links to al Qaeda returned home to Pakistan on Saturday after being the oldest prisoner at the detention facility.

Saifullah Paracha, 75, was first captured in Thailand in July 2003 and taken to the US military base at Bagram, Afghanistan, before being transferred in 2004 to the camp in the US naval station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Authorities alleged he was an al-Qaeda 'facilitator' who helped two of the conspirators in the Sept. 11 plot with a financial transaction after the attacks.

Those conspirators were allegedly Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who is accused of planning the 9/11 attacks, and Mohammed's nephew, Ammar al-Baluchi.

Saifullah Paracha was the oldest prisoner at Guantanamo Bay prison before being released to his native Pakistan

Paracha was captured in Thailand in 2003 during an FBI sting. He has admitted to safeguarding $500,000, but says he didn't know the conspirators were al-Qaeda

The Department of Defense confirmed the repatriation and said Paracha's continued detention was no longer necessary to protect against a 'significant threat' to the US

Khalid Mohammed remains at Guantanamo Bay, with no trial death penalty trial date set after the January 2021 trial was delayed due to COVID-19. Ammar al-Baluchi is also being held at Guantanamo Bay.

'We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family,' the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

At 75, Paracha was the oldest inmate at the camp, according to Reprieve, a London-based human rights group that worked on his case. He was never charged.

Paracha admits to safeguarding $500,000, but says he didn't know the conspirators were al-Qaeda and denies any involvement in terrorism.

Paracha was captured in Thailand in 2003 during an FBI sting. Paracha believed he was going to discuss a merchandising deal with Kmart, only to be seized by intelligence agents and flown to Afghanistan.

The US has held him at Guantanamo since September 2004 and has long asserted that it can hold detainees indefinitely without charge under the international laws of war.

The Department of Defense confirmed the repatriation and said Paracha's continued detention was no longer necessary to protect against a 'significant threat' to the security of the United States.

The US has held Paracha at Guantanamo since September 2004 and has long asserted that it can hold detainees indefinitely without charge under the international laws

Paracha has been held at the Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba, pictured in January 2017, for more than 18 years

The United States has not transferred a detainee from Guantanamo Bay to Pakistan since 2008.

Paracha is the latest release from the prison camp set up following a U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in pursuit of the al Qaeda network behind the 9/11 attacks.

The camp drew worldwide condemnation for holding large numbers of prisoners without charging them or holding trials.

Its population peaked at about 800 inmates, then declined during the 2009-2017 Obama administration.

The Defense Department said 35 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay, of whom 20 are eligible for transfer and three for a Periodic Review Board.

Nine are involved in the military commissions process and three convicted in military commissions.
The Kurdish woman died in the custody of morality police last month

Iran has been gripped by protests since death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini

She was allegedly set upon 'by suppressive forces' during extended protests

A 17-year-old girl has reportedly been beaten to death with a police riot bat while walking home from school during protests for women's rights in Iran.

Local protesters say teenager Sadaf Movahedi was bludgeoned last Monday night 'by suppressive forces' trying to keep the public under control.

They allege her family 'is being threatened to stay silent' and would risk their own lives if they were to speak out about the tragedy.

Iran has been gripped by protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police last month.

Amini died in custody after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of Iran's strict dress rules for women based on Islamic sharia law.

The commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets.

Local protesters say teenager Sadaf Movahedi was bludgeoned last Monday night 'by suppressive forces' trying to keep the public under control

A protest took place in London today in support of Mahsa Amini

Sources allege her family 'is being threatened to stay silent' and would risk their own lives if they were to speak out about the tragedy

'Do not come to the streets! Today is the last day of the riots,' he said.

The ominous warning comes after one human rights group estimated at least 250 protesters had been killed during the historic anti-government demonstrations.

More than two dozen victims are said to be children. Thousands more have been arrested and punished for their involvement.

But the protests show no signs of dwindling, inflamed by public outrage over the crackdown that has cost the lives of many other young women and girls.

The revolt, by furious Iranians from all layers of society, poses one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution.

On Friday, video footage on social media showed protesters calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Basij militia, which has played a major role in the crackdown on demonstrators.

A protest took place in London today in support of Mahsa Amini

A child holds a banner which reads 'freedom for Iran' during a protest in London today

One human rights group estimated at least 250 protesters had been killed during the historic anti-government demonstrations

'Death to the dictator,' mourners chanted Saturday at a ceremony to mark 40 days since the slaying of a protester in the western city of Divandarreh, using a slogan aimed at supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Activism group Iran Human Rights this week called for 'diplomatic pressure' on Iran to be increased amid concerns of a 'serious risk of mass killings of protesters which the UN is obligated to prevent'.

The latest Amini protests were held in defiance of warnings from Khamenei and ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi.

Female students chanting on a street in Kermanshah in the morning came under fire from the security forces, wounding some of them, including two critically, Hengaw rights group said.

Meanwhile at least another 93 people were killed during separate protests that erupted on September 30 in the southeastern city of Zahedan over the reported rape of a teenage girl by a police commander, IHR says.

Iran has been gripped by protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police last month.

A protest took place in London today in support of Mahsa Amini, while they've been going consistently in Iran since word spread of her death

A woman cuts her hair during a protest against the death of Ms Amini and the government of Iran in Istanbul

The commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets

Worshippers in Zahedan came under automatic gunfire again Friday as they emerged from weekly prayers, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency.

At least 20 security personnel have been killed in the Amini protests, and at least another eight in Zahedan, according to an AFP tally based on official reports.

In other verified footage, security forces are seen firing tear gas late Friday into a residential block in the Tehran neighbourhood of Chitgar where a massive protest was held the night before.

Security forces also reportedly targeted a student dormitory overnight.

Rights groups say riot police shot Mohsen Mohammadi, 28, during protests in Divandarreh on September 19, and he died the next day at Kausar hospital in the flashpoint western city of Sanandaj.

Dozens of people who had gathered outside the same hospital late Friday to protect another wounded protester came under fire from the security forces, Hengaw said.

People gather during a protest for Ms Amini, who was allegedly arrested for not complying with strict dress code in Tehran
A 'devastated' stepfather has said he is 'in pieces' after his 14-year-old stepdaughter was killed in a crash.

Tehleigher Bunting, 14, died in a collision which saw a Vauxhall Astra drive off the road and smash into her and a friend whilst they were walking on the pavement.

The 'bubbly' schoolgirl sadly died at the scene in Braunstone, Leicester, shortly after 11am on Wednesday when the vehicle left the road.

The second 14-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Today, the driver of the car, Aaron Carter, 38, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

Tehleigher Bunting, 14 (right), died in a collision which saw a Vauxhall Astra drive off the road and smash into her and a friend whilst they were walking on the pavement

Tehleigher's stepfather, Shane Patterson, said she was 'well-liked' by all, always putting others ahead of herself and loved spending time with her family - as well as beginning to grow up into a young woman.

He has been left devastated at her loss, struggling to find the words at such a difficult time for him and his loved ones.

But he also spoke fondly of Tehleigher's memory, how she was a caring, outgoing young woman who loved life and the people she spent it with, and how she made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Mr Patterson said: 'She was outgoing and bubbly, she couldn't do enough for others and always put others first ahead of herself.

'She was so well liked and had so many friends who have gotten in touch and shared their love for her with us.

Tehleigher's devastated stepfather, Shane Patterson, said she was 'well-liked' by all, always putting others ahead of herself and loved spending time with her family

'One of her favourite things to do was looking after her sisters and caring for them, she was such a family girl and had a close bond with all of her siblings.

'But she was also a teenage girl so she loved getting her nails done and was getting into make-up and starting to grow up, too.

'She was a really well-liked young lady, words can't describe how I'm feeling to have lost her.

'She did so well in school, she had merits and was such a good student. We had past teachers and old school friends get in touch and have donated to the fundraiser for her funeral, it shows how loved she was.'

Today, Aaron Carter, 38, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court charged with one count of causing death by dangerous driving over the collision at the corner of Braunstone Lane and Mortimer Way shortly after 11am on Wednesday.

Tehleigher died in the crash while a second teenage girl was left with non-life-changing injuries

Tehleigher died in the crash while a second teenage girl was left with non-life-changing injuries.

Carter, of Aikman Avenue, Leicester, did not enter a plea. He was remanded in custody to appear at Leicester Crown Court on December 5.

A family friend set up a fundraiser for Shane and his family to cover the cost of Tehleigher's funeral.

It has led to people from all over the world getting in touch, sharing their love, and support the family at this difficult time.

Mr Patterson added: 'We've had so many kind people coming forward from everywhere. Friends and family from all over the world have been getting in touch and showing their love, that's how adored she was.

'We're just so grateful for all of the people who have come forward and supported us. It's just mad, some of them we don't even know but our daughter made such an impact to their lives they had to come forward.

'It's still coming in thick and fast, from as far as Australia. We are just so thankful for all of the love they've shown.'

The family are still trying to come to terms with their sudden loss, and are having to support each other through it while having to deal with the circumstances around Tehleigher's death - which has been difficult to comprehend.

Mr Patterson spoke about growing close and spending a lot of time with Tehleigher in recent months as she started to grow up and develop her great sense of humour which would always make him laugh

'What has happened is just not sinking in for me. One minute I think I'm fine and the next minute I'm in pieces. I'm still trying to get my head around what happened and that she isn't here anymore.

'I'm devastated, we're comforted by the people around us but I just can't comprehend what's happened right now.

'Zoe, her mum, has taken it really hard and I'm just trying my best to be practical, keeping myself busy by sorting the funeral and keeping the family together, but it's hard.'

Mr Patterson also spoke about growing close and spending a lot of time with Tehleigher in recent months as she started to grow up and develop her great sense of humour which would always make him laugh.

He said: 'Tehleigher and I would do this thing where she would stick her tongue out at me and I'd do it back and we'd laugh about it. She had a wicked sense of humour and could always make you laugh.

The fundraiser for Tehleigher's family to cover the cost of her funeral has almost reached its target amount of 6,000, and Mr Patterson has spoken of his gratitude for those that have donated

'She was my adopted daughter but she was more than that, she was my daughter that I'd raised since she was one-year-old and in nappies, all the way to becoming a young woman.

'In the past year, year and half, we grew very close. She would always spend time with me. I realised she was getting older and needed to be treated a bit differently than her siblings.

'So we'd go everywhere together, trips to see family, days out to theme parks, we event went on holiday together to Cyprus. We were supposed to go on a cruise together next year for two weeks around the Canary Islands, but now that's never going to happen.'

The fundraiser for Tehleigher's family to cover the cost of her funeral has almost reached its target amount of 6,000, and Mr Patterson has spoken of his gratitude for those that have donated. He said: 'I can't thank everyone enough for the donations they have made.

'Every penny will be spent on my beautiful baby and her send off. Thank you for helping us being able to do so properly.'
Also claimed the same troops were responsible for a drone attack this morning

Russia's army has accused the British Navy of being 'involved' in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and of helping Ukraine plan a massive drone attack on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet.

Although Russia's defence ministry did not provide any evidence for the claim, it said representatives of a 'unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 that blew up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines'.

The British Ministry of Defence has described it as an 'invented story' which 'says more about arguments going on inside the Russian government than it does about the West'.

In a statement the Government department added: 'To detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale.'

Moscow also alleged that British troops were involved in a drone attack on their Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol today, which Russia claims involved nine drones and damaged one warship.

The explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines in September caused four gas leaks. While the leaks were in international waters, two of them were in the Danish exclusive economic zone and two of them in the Swedish

Pictured: An aerial photo provided by the Swedish Coast Guard on Sept. 28, 2022 shows the gas leak on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline

A spokesperson for the Russian defence ministry said: 'At 4.20am today, the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack on Black Sea Fleet ships and civilian vessels.

'Preparation for the terrorist act and training of military personnel of the Ukrainian 73rd Special Operations Centre Marine Unit was carried out under the guidance of British specialists who were in the city of Ochakiv, Mykolaiv region, Ukraine.'

He warned: 'It should be stressed that the Black Sea Fleet vessels that suffered the terrorist attack are involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor as part of the international initiative to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports.'

Russia has said Western countries have not allowed it to take part in international investigations of the explosions of the Nord Stream pipelines in September.

Instead, it has for weeks hinted that its security services have a different version of what caused the September explosions, while some Western countries have called it sabotage and pointed the finger at Russia.

Both Swedish and Danish authorities have been investigating four holes in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. While the leaks were in international waters, two of them were in the Danish exclusive economic zone and two of them in the Swedish.

A Russian defence ministry spokesperson said representatives of a 'unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 that blew up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines'

The Russian defence ministry also blamed British troops for the drone attack in Sevastopol this morning (pictured)

Britain's Ministry of Defence dismissed the claim, describing it as an 'invented story' of an 'epic scale'

The pipelines, which connect Russia to Germany, have been at the centre of geopolitical tensions as Russia cut gas supplies to Europe in suspected retaliation against Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Although the pipelines were not in operation, they contained gas before falling victim to the apparent sabotage.

Fingers have been pointed at Russia, whose state-owned energy company Gazprom is the main owner of the pipelines. The Kremlin, however, has called such allegations 'stupid', previously blaming the United States for the damage and now making claims about the UK's involvement.

In videos published by Swedish newspaper Expressen last week, a massive tear and twisted metal can be seen on the pipeline, 80 metres down under the ocean.

Footage (pictured), released from Sweden last week, showed at least 165 feet of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was destroyed or buried under the seabed, following an explosion on September 26 - assumed by many to be a Russian attack

Through the gloom, a deep trench can be seen in the seabed where the gas pipeline used to be, before the explosions.

According to the newspaper, the videos show how over 165 feet of the pipeline is either missing or buried under the seabed, and long tears can be observed on the seabed leading up to the burst pipe.

'It is only an extreme force that can bend metal that thick in the way we are seeing,' Trond Larsen, drone operator with the Norwegian company Blueye Robotics, told Expressen.

Larsen, who piloted the submersible drone which captured the video, also said you could also see 'a very large impact on the seabed around the pipe.'

Expressen said the explosions measured 2.3 on the Richter scale.
A 1,000-year-old gold coin commemorating Jesus Christ's 'Crown of Thorns' that was bought for 420 in 1992 has sold at auction for 54,000.

The extremely rare 'Royal d'or' coin was one of six recovered from a treasure hoard found at Deauville, in Normandy, France, during new town planning in 1861.

The set of coins were a gift from the Emperor of Constantinople to King Louis IX of France in 1239.

The Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris acquired one of the trove in 1862. The rest were sold by coin dealers to private collectors across Europe.

The coin, sold at auctioneers Spink & Son, in London, had been acquired by the vendor in 1992 when they paid a paltry 450 for it, the equivalent of 1,000 today.

It sold for a hammer price of 47,000. With fees added on the total price paid for it was 54,000.

The extremely rare 'Royal d'or' coin (pictured) was one of six recovered from a treasure hoard found at Deauville, in Normandy, France, during new town planning in 1861

Gregory Edmund, auctioneer and world coin specialist at Spink, said: 'It is very rare for a coin to capture and reflect such a defining event in world history, let alone be so closely associated with the symbolism of Christ's crucifixion.

'The excellent price shows the global interest in coin collecting that has boomed since the pandemic and recent fluctuations in the value of the pound..'

Until April 2019, the 'Crown of Thorns' had been was on display at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Following the devastating fire, it was rehoused at the Louvre Museum.

It comes after a lucky couple who discovered an incredible hoard of 264 gold coins dating back to the reign of King James I under their kitchen floor sold them at an auction for nearly 755,000 earlier this month - three times their original estimated value.

An unnamed couple made an astonishing find of 264 gold coins while getting a new floor put down in their 18th century detached home in the village of Ellerby, North Yorkshire, it was reported earlier this month

The auction included this 'pattern bust' James I laurel

The site of the discovery at the couple's home in July 2019

The unnamed couple made the astonishing find while getting a new floor put down in their 18th century detached home in the village of Ellerby, North Yorkshire three years ago, just six inches under the concrete.

The gold coins - some of which are more than 400 years old, dating back as far as 1610, while others stretch to 1727, meaning they cover the reigns of James I, the executed Charles I, and King George I - had been kept in a salt-glazed earthenware cup for around three centuries.

They had been collected by Joseph Fernley and his wife Sarah Maister, members of a wealthy and influential merchant Hull-based family who traded in iron ore, timber and coal, and whose latter generations were Whig politicians and Members of Parliament.

An expert from London auctioneers Spink & Son visited the property to evaluate the hoard - and this year the coins sold for a staggering 754,320.

One of the highlights of the sale - a George I guinea from 1720 which was mistakenly minted without a king's head on it, instead having two 'tail' sides of the coin - fetched 9,600, while a Charles II guinea from 1675 which incorrectly spells the king's Latin name CRAOLVS instead of CAROLVS also sold for 9,600.

Auctioneer Gregory Edmund called the find 'one of the largest on archaeological record from Britain'.
Democratic lawmakers including Debbie Dingell are fearing for their lives in the wake of a terrifying hammer attack against House of Representative speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul.

Police arrested David DePape, 42, after he broke into the Pelosis' $6million San Francisco home on Friday at 2.27 am in his underwear and beat Paul Pelosi, 82, with a hammer while shouting 'where's Nancy'.

Michigan Democrat Dingell gave her love to the Pelosi family while speaking to NBC and said she was fearful of the increasing trend of attacks she is seeing.

Dingell recounted the moment she saw men outside her house with 'assault weapons' prior to even January 6 - when a mob of supporters of then US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Building.

She said 'this hatred and fear is dangerous.'

'This anger that we're seeing across the country the acceptance of language that shouldn't be there the bullying I think we all need to take a deep breath because it is endangering our democracy,' she said.

After an attempted kidnapping of the governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer Dingell said she had hate-speech written about her following the incident.

Democratic lawmakers including Debbie Dingell (pictured) are fearing for their lives in the wake of a terrifying hammer attack against Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul

Paul Pelosi (left) pictured with Nancy (right) was taken into brain surgery after the attack but is expected to make a full recovery, while DePape is set to be charged with multiple felonies

DePape (pictured), 42, was arrested after he broke into the Pelosis' $6million San Francisco home on Friday at 2.27 am in his underwear

After an attempted kidnapping of the governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer (pictured) Dingell said she had hate-speech written about her following the incident

'Look we're human beings you do get scared and by the way one of the men that was convicted also said on the dark web that I should be hung for treason,' she said.

'It's this vitriolicness (sic) that is scary and you know we all gotta (sic) stand up to it.'

Michigan's 12th congressional representative went on to say that social media has played a pivotal role in what she believes is a trend.

'I think some of it social media that was supposed to bring us together has allowed people to have a blank slate to say whatever they want,' she said.

'There are people carrying guns threatening people that is not ok and I don't care what party you are I don't want to see anybody I know republican or democrat or far right far left hurt.

'We all have to stand up to it cause if we don't our democracy is in real trouble.'

Pelosi was taken into surgery to repair a skull fracture after the attack but is expected to make a full recovery.

DePape is in custody and set to be charged with multiple felonies including attempted homicide.

A view of Nancy and Paul Pelosi's home in San Francisco, California, where the attack happened at 2.27am on Friday morning

Aerial footage showed broken panes and shattered glass in the backdoor of Pelosi's home

The Pelosis own a four-bedroom San Francisco home that sits in the middle of her congressional district and was purchased in 2007 for $2.2 million but is thought to be worth at least $6 million now

A view of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center where victim Paul Pelosi was taken after being attacked in his home on Friday

President Joe Biden called the attack 'horrible' and Republican and Democrats condemned the violence as the House Speaker rushed from DC to San Francisco to be at her husband's side.

DePape grew up north of the border but moved from British Columbia to California 20 years ago. He followed a love interest, his stepfather told CNN, and family members have insisted he was a 'good kid'.

An acquaintance of his told CNN that DePape was struggling with hard drugs about eight years ago but was 'trying to create a new life for himself.' She said she cut off contact with DePape after receiving 'disturbing' emails in which he sounded 'dangerous' and 'out of touch with reality.'

His social media showed he posted conspiracy theories about the origins of the covid epidemic, about the validity of the 2020 election, and on the January 6th insurrection on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, a woman who claims to be DePape's daughter said that her father is 'consumed by darkness' and sexually abused her and her brothers when they were children.

Inti Gonzalez blogged about the 42-year-old on Friday and wrote in the post, which has since been taken down, that her mother met DePape in Maui when she was pregnant with her.

The couple moved to the Bay Area soon after Gonzalez was born.

According to his daughter, DePape slowly became 'toxic' until Gonzalez's mother left him when she was 13 years old.

Paul and Nancy Pelosi married in 1963 and have five children; above they are seen together in London last year when she had meetings at 10 Downing Street

DePape, right, is seen at a naked wedding on the steps of City Hall in December 2013 and has been described to have been struggling with hard drugs

Joe Biden, pictured on the campaign trail in Philadelphia, said 'there's too much political violence drawing a direct line between the January 6 riot and the attack on Paul Pelosi

DePape will be booked at the San Francisco County jail on several charges, including-attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, and additional felonies.

He entered the Pelosi residence through a sliding glass door at the back of the house. Aerial footage showed broken panes of smashed glass at a door to their home.

Meanwhile, political attacks have been on the rise this year. And, in the wake of the attack on Paul Pelosi, U.S. Capitol Police are assessing additional security options for the protection of families of congressional leadership.

Currently, there is no formal protection for families or staff for members of Congress. Private security can be paid for out of campaign funds.

Lawmakers from both political parties have faced threats.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida claimed that one of his supporters was attacked while out canvassing this week. And Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said he's received death threats against himself and his family after serving on the committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol.

But attacks on prominent government officials goes beyond the US with two UK members of parliament killed since 2016.

Last year, Sir David Amess was murdered by an IS fanatic in October while lawmaker Jo Cox was killed in 2016 by Nazi-obsessed loner Thomas Mair, 53.
Cruz is currently promoting his new book 'Justice Corrupted: How the Left Weaponized Our Legal System'

The younger Biden has long been connected to a number of questionable overseas deals that implicate national security and the Biden family's ethics

He said the department's focus on Hunter's alleged drug crimes, as opposed to allegedly nefarious business practice, is to protect his father

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says the current DOJ likely plans to indict former President Donald Trump and are using Hunter Biden as a cover

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he believes the Department of Justice will ultimately indict troubled First Son Hunter Biden so that it can more easily indict former President Donald Trump in the future.

He told Fox News during a recent interview that he believes 'They're planning to indict Hunter Biden because they really want to indict Donald Trump to say, 'Look how even-handed we are. We indicted both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump.''

Cruz, who is promoting his new book 'Justice Corrupted: How the Left Weaponized Our Legal System,' argued that the current DOJ operates essentially a wing of the Democratic National Committee and is focused on Hunter's drug problem - as opposed to potential corruption - in order to protect his presidential father.

'This DOJ is trying to focus on Hunter Biden's drug problem because they want to insulate Joe Biden from the real issue of public concern, which is public corruption,' Cruz said.

Cruz argued that a main reason the DOJ is focused on Hunter Biden is to claim even-handedness when it comes time to indict former President Donald Trump

The senator further claimed that the department is focused primarily on the lesser alleged crimes of Hunter, including drug and gun issues, in order to 'insulate' his father from corruption charges that have long been a rumored facet of the Bidens' business dealings

Secret's Out: Following a shocking FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago earlier this year, it's no secret that the DOJ is mulling over a possible future indictment of the former president

Cruz has been heavily critical of US Attorney General Merrick Garland, particularly following the memo he sent last year instructing the FBI to target parents concerned by the actions of their local school boards

Cruz's new book argues that the DOJ and aspects of US law enforcement have been weaponized by the Left-Wing of US politics and used to quash conservative thought and American freedom

Cruz referred to ample evidence that suggests the DOJ - currently headed up by one-time Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland - has extensive material proving the president's involvement with his son's potentially criminal ventures.

There have been a number of reports and recent whistleblower documents that suggest the president knew and was involved with a number of Hunter Biden's overseas deals that enriched the entire Biden clan.

Such ventures include a handful of big payout deals with members of the Chinese communist party, as well as Hunter's infamous deal with Ukrainian energy company Burisma holdings, which paid the then-vice president's son a whopping $1 million annually, allegedly in exchange for exposure to Biden.

Cruz said that with the elder Biden in the Oval Office, the Justice Department has 'fully metastasized into the most political and the most abusive Department of Justice and law enforcement apparatus our country has ever seen.'

He said that the way the organization has treated the Biden family is irresponsible, and if his prediction is correct, it will be an incredible 'abuse of power.'

The senator, who sits on the chamber's Judicial Committee and has an extensive legal background himself, called the actions of head honcho Merrick Garland 'cavalier.'

In particular, he cited Garland's dismissive attitude toward the outcry last year surrounding a DOJ memo that instructed FBI agents to target US parents who opposed school board actions pertaining to the continued masking of their children and teaching of Critical Race Theory.

Cruz added that if Republicans gain majorities in Congress during the coming election, one of the first priorities will be impeaching Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In his book, Cruz additionally charges the current administration with stoking an ongoing public reaction to the leaked draft of the leaked draft opinion that indicated the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade.

The president continues to publicly defend his son and largely argue that he has done nothing wrong - despite mountains of evidence, including an entire laptop full of disturbing information, to the contrary.

'This is a kid who got, not a kid - hes a grown man. He got hooked on - like many families have had happen, hooked on drugs. Hes overcome that. Hes established a new life,' Biden told CNNs Jake Tapper about Hunter.

'I'm confident that he is - what he says and does are consistent with what happens.

'And for example, he wrote a book about his problems and was straightforward about it. I'm proud of him.'

Biden also appeared to falter on his promise to stay neutral when he tried to explain the background his son's potentially illegal firearm purchase - though he clarified that he 'didn't know anything about it.'

'He came along and said, by the way, this thing about a gun - I didnt know anything about it,' the president said.
Canada is sanctioning 35 more Russians and releasing bonds that anybody may purchase to help the Ukrainian government, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau said that the group receiving sanctions consists of six companies in the energy sector and officials of Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom.

Canada Sanctions Russia

Investors will be able to purchase the five-year Ukraine Sovereignty Bonds through Canadian banks, and the money will be sent to Ukraine via the International Monetary Fund.

The Congress of Ukrainian Canadians is hosting a three-day convention in Winnipeg while the prime minister is there. Additionally, he's expected to hear the Manitoba government ask for additional funding to aid Ukrainians who are fleeing the conflict, Global News reported.

Canada continues to stand with Ukraine. We stand together in support of freedom, democracy, and justice. And we stand united against Russian aggression. Today, I announced new measures to make sure the Ukrainian people have what they need to defend themselves. Heres a recap:  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 28, 2022

Since the Russian invasion started in February of last year, approximately 12,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Manitoba, according to Premier Heather Stefanson.

But she claims that in order to assist the province pay for housing, healthcare, education, and other requirements of the immigrants, federal funding is required. Despite having less than 4% of Canada's population, according to Stefanson, Manitoba has accepted more than 10% of all Ukrainian immigrants.

Per CBC via MSN, Trudeau stated that Canada supports Ukraine and would keep tightening the screws on Russia, adding that more than 1,400 people and organizations have now been sanctioned.

Additionally, the prime minister announced that he intended to impose sanctions on representatives of the Russian justice and security apparatus, including police officers, investigators, prosecutors, judges, and prison guards who had engaged in "gross and repeated human rights violations against Russian opposition leaders."

The 247th day of the war will be on Friday. Under special immigration programs, more than 105,000 Ukrainian nationals have migrated to Canada, with almost 12,000 of them arriving in Manitoba.

The beginning of the battle is still clearly in Alexandra Chyczij's mind, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. The UCC board of directors had just finished a Zoom meeting with Trudeau on the evening of February 23 when all of their phones suddenly lighted up.

Trudeau also revealed a new scientific collaboration between Canada and Ukraine. To assist Ukraine in preserving and reestablishing its scientific and research potential, up to 20 scientists who now reside in Ukraine will be invited to work and reside in Canada.

Read Also: Australian Woman Decapitated Friend After Fight Over Money; Incident Caught on CCTV Dragging Victim's Remains in Suitcase

Russia Could Start Conscripting Women in Ukraine War

Meanwhile, as the rogue nation loses control of its brutal invasion, Russia may begin enlisting women in its war in Ukraine, a military official in the Kremlin indicated, as per NY Post.

Gen. Vladimir Boldyrev of the Russian army suggested it as the nation lost significant territory in regions it had initially secured during the assault on February 24, including a Russian pullback from the Kharkiv region.

Boldyrev pointed out that prospective female draftees will undergo rigorous screening. Alexey Chepa, a member of the State Duma, added his voice to the discussion and said that Russia should emulate Israel by requiring both men and women to serve in the military.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin Fires Back at West's 'Dirty Bomb' Accusations, Nuclear Blackmail

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The nudist ex-lover of the man who attacked Paul Pelosi is a pedophile who attempted to kidnap a 14-year-old boy and allegedly bought sex dolls for her sons to use.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, 53, the former lover of David DePape who is charged with attacking Pelosi in his San Francisco home, was convicted in 2021 for child abuse.

Prosecutors said Taub, who once protested naked in front of San Francisco City Hall, had been stalking the boy, sending him emails and messages and trying to lure him to secretly meet with her.

Ryan La Coste, one of Taub and DePape's neighbors, said he's long complained about the family's behavior and nudity while minors were around, noting that the family keeps several sex dolls, according to Michael Shellenberger's Substack.

'Before Gypsy got locked up, there were sex dolls drying on the back of their porch that I'm assuming she bought for her sons,' La Coste said. 'They're off the wall.'

Following his attack on Pelosi, DePape has been accused by his daughter of sexually assaulting his three children when they were kids.

Oxane 'Gypsy' Taub, who once protested naked in front of San Francisco City Hall (above), was convicted in 2021 for child abuse after stalking and harassing a 14-year-old boy

Taub (right, pictured with Paul Pelosi attacker David DePape in 2013) was accused of sending messages to a former friend of her son, telling the minor that she wanted to date him and trying to lure him to meet with her secretly

Taub's former lover, DePape, has been charged with attacking Paul and yelling for Nancy (the couple pictured together in April) inside their $6million San Francisco home

DePape (above) has been described as an unhinged conspiracy theorist, who neighbors said would often abuse and sell psychedelic drugs

A view of Nancy and Paul Pelosi's home in San Francisco, California, where the attack happened at 2.27am on Friday morning

A view of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center where victim Paul Pelosi was taken after being attacked in his home on Friday

While DePape has been accused of abusing minors, Taub is the one convicted of the crime as police said she had an 'obsession' with a child, once writing to him that it would be legal for them to date in other states.

In 2019, police said Taub continued inappropriate behavior with a former friend of her son despite the boy's family placing a restraining order on her.

Authorities said Taub was writing to the boy about dating him and once drove past his house trying to talk to profess 'her love and desire' to be with him.

According to police, Taub later had her son deliver a package to the boy, which included a letter pleading with him to meet with her without his phone.

'This is our last chance to help you,' the letter read. 'Leave your bag and your regular cell phone in the locker.'

Police showed up at the time and place of the meeting Taub had set up and arrested her as she wore a 'disguise.'

Along with stalking and endangering the boy, the court heard that he had suffered great 'mental anguish' over the repeated harassment.

Along with worries over Taub's criminal record, neighbors told Shellenberger that she and DePape often used the psychedelic drug ibogaine.

Taub, pictured at a naked wedding ceremony by San Francisco City Hall, was arrested in 2019 and convicted of her crimes against the 14-year-old boy in 2021

The home of David Depape, 42, of Berkeley, California. Although the couple hung LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter flags, their neighbors said their liberal politics was performative

Other neighbors, like Ryan La Coste (above), claimed Taub and DePape would try selling psychedelic drugs to them as medicine. La Coste said he's long complained about the nudity in front of minors from his neighbors

A neighbor, who identified herself only as Tish, claimed the duo would buy the drugs from Mexico 'and then they bring it back here and treat peoples mental health illnesses.'

She alleged that Taub and DePape would abuse the pills themselves, wailing at night and sweating profusely from trips that appeared to last three days.

Laura Hayes, another neighbor, told CNN that she's seen similar odd behavior from the former couple. She said DePape once told her 'he talks to angels and there will be a hard time coming.'

While reports indicate that DePape was an unhinged, far-right conspiracy theorist, neighbors noted he and Taub's politics were much more muddied.

They told Shellenberger that the couple had Black Live Matter flags and an LGBT rainbow flag outside their home, but also said that any liberal leanings appeared to be shallow and performative.

Taub's criminal record and the former couple's alleged drug abuse paints the picture of a deeply troubled household as DePape's daughter, Inti Gonzalez, claimed her father abused her and her two brothers.

Gonzalez blogged about DePape, 42, on Friday after it was reported that he broke into the Pelosi's $6million San Francisco home at 2.27 am in his underwear and beat the 82-year-old Paul with a hammer while shouting 'where's Nancy?'

The daughter of the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul with a hammer early Friday morning says that he's 'consumed by darkness' and sexually abused both her and her brothers before their mother left him

Gonzalez wrote in the post, which has since been taken down, that her mother met DePape - whom she describes as her father - in Maui when she was pregnant with her. The couple moved to the Bay Area soon after Gonzalez was born.

According to his daughter, DePape slowly became 'toxic' until Gonzalez's mother left him when she was 13-years-old.

After DePape was out of the home, her brother Nebosvod began to have memories of their father 'physically and sexually abusing me and my brothers, which started when we were very young and continued until around 2008, when [Gonzalez] was 7.'

Gonzalez wrote that her father's alleged violent attack on Pelosi was 'not much' of a shock 'considering the kind of extreme abuse he had inflicted on me and my brothers.'

She wrote that her mother met DePape - whom she describes as her father - in Maui when she was pregnant with her and where Gonzalez was born. They moved to the Bay Area soon after her birth

After Nebosvod began to remember abuse, Gonzalez says she and her youngest brother Daniel also started to remember being abused by DePape.

Their mother filed a police report against DePape but 'the case was not managed properly so nothing was done about it,' according to Gonzalez.

Despite the memories of abuse, Gonzalez also writes that DePape was a 'quiet' man who was 'never violent, yelled or even swore.'

She heartbreakingly describes DePape as someone who 'did genuinely try to be a good person' and added that she loves him, but 'the monster in him was always too strong for him to be safe to be around,' adding that he also suffered an abusive childhood.

Gonzalez said: 'He barely opened up about himself or his past but it was obvious that he grew up in hell and that we didnt know the worst of it.' She did know, however, that his mother 'would beat him almost to death.'

Gonzalez wrote that she still loves her father despite the 'extreme abuse' she recalls him inflicting.

He once even apologized for his behavior - according to Gonzalez, he took the siblings to a park and said he was sorry 'for everything I have done to you guys. I am more sorry than you will ever know.'

However, the most recent time Gonzalez spoke to DePape, he tried to get to her to admit that the abuse never happened.
Advertisement

Dressed as an array of their favourite superheroes and characters, from Harley Quinn to Luke Skywalker to the Joker, thousands of happy Cosplayers made their way to the second day of Comic Con at London's ExCel centre.

But commuters failed to raise a smile, even when they stood next to a man dressed as the Joker himself, from the Batman films.

He wore the full outfit, complete with a purple jacket and green hair and makeup as he headed to the convention.

Another picture showed a happy cosplayer called Joy stood on the tube wearing a Queen-inspired outfit, complete with toy corgis.

Meanwhile, Alana Harris, 10, smiled in an orange Luke Skywalker outfit as she sat next to a serious-looking passenger and a fellow attendee.

And a cosplayer dressed as the Clone Trooper from Star Wars on the DLR yesterday had some photographs taken of them by passengers but again did not seem to raise a smile.

As ever, excitement was high for the event, with attendees flocking to the ExCel from across the country.

Photographs show cosplayers gathering inside and outside the venue to share their passion for dressing up as their heroes.

The spectrum of costumes is huge and often features many comic book characters and superheroes.

Cosplayers also dress as characters from films and video games and some choose to go as political figures.

For example, this year, one person attended dressed as a hybrid Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.

A cosplay fan, dressed as The Joker, from the Batman movies, makes his way to day two of the MCM London Comic Con being held at The ExCeL in London

Cosplay fan Joy makes her way to day two of the MCM London Comic Con being held at The ExCeL in London

Alana Harris, 10, dressed as Luke Skywalker makes her way to day two of the MCM London Comic Con being held at The ExCeL in London

At Comic Con, people are able to meet creators, special guests, fans and experts as well as each other. They can attend panels, go to parties and participate in discussions centered around comics and have the option of attending professional photo shoots.

People can also play free games and even get a tattoo as a permanent reminder of their hero or alternatively purchase some merch.

The event, which is also running tomorrow, today started at 9am and is scheduled to wrap up at 7pm. Tomorrow's will begin at 10am and end at 5pm.

A hugely popular convention, it also takes place in Birmingham, with the next happening from the 12-13 November.

At Comic Con, people are able to meet creators, special guests, fans and experts as well as each other. They can attend panels, go to parties and participate in discussions centered around comics and have the option of attending professional photo shoots

Spiderman MCM Comic Con Day 2, London, UK - 29 Oct 2022 and a cosplayer dressed as Bob Ross (right)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Alice Atkinson pictured during MCM Comic Con London at ExCel today

People can also play free games and even get a tattoo as a permanent reminder of their hero or alternatively purchase some merch. LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Robin Pendragon pictured during MCM Comic Con today

The event, which is also running tomorrow, today started at 9am and is scheduled to wrap up at 7pm. Tomorrow's will begin at 10am and end at 5pm. Pictured: Two attendees pose at Comic Con at the ExCel centre in London today

A hugely popular convention, it also takes place in Birmingham, with the next happening from the 12-13 November. Pictured: Superman, Supergirl MCM Comic Con Day 2, London, UK - 29 Oct 2022

David the Gnome and Darth Vader at Comic Con London today (pictured)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Izzy pictured during MCM Comic Con London at ExCel on October 29, 2022 in London, England

Cosplayers enjoy the gathering at MCM Comic Con in London today (pictured)

A group of 'Deadpools' are pictured during MCM Comic Con London at ExCel on October 29, 2022

A cosplayer dressed as a Clone Trooper from Star Wars travel on a DLR train after attending MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London on October 28

Cosplayers go through security search whilst attending MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London in London, Britain, 28 October 2022

Attendees enter the tube after attending MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London in London, Britain, 28 October 2022

A person dressed as Darth Vader (C) attends MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London in London, Britain, 28 October

People dressed as cats during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London yesterday

A cosplayer buys a tube ticket whilst attending MCM Comic Con in costume at ExCeL London

A person dressed as Cruella de Vil attends MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London in London, Britain, 28 October 2022

Cosplayers go through security search whilst attending MCM Comic Con in costumes at ExCeL London

Cosplayers attend the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London, Britain October 28, 2022

Cosplayers attend the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London, Britain yesterday

A visitor dressed in a costume during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London yesterday

Cosplayers attend the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London yesterday

A visitor dressed in a costume during MCM Comic Con yesterday

Robosen robots new Optimus Prime robot on stand S700, during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London yesterday
A Florida man has been arrested after being caught on camera allegedly dragging a French bulldog-mix behind his pickup truck that a relative had trusted him to look after.

Lisandro Arellano, 45, is facing two animal cruelty charges and was released on a $3,000 bail bond on Monday, according to prison records.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that the dog, named Blanco, was seen being dragged from a moving truck earlier this month.

They shared a heartbreaking image of the pet being pulled behind the rear wheel of Arellano's truck in Atlantis, and the injuries it suffered to its legs and stomach.

'A witness caught the attention of the suspect, thinking it was an honest mistake, but when the suspect stopped his vehicle, he picked the dog up off the ground and threw her in the bed of his truck then drove off,' the post read.

'After further investigation, detectives and PBC Animal Care & Control, located the suspect, who agreed to turn over the French Bulldog mix.

'The investigation determined that Blanco did not belong to Lisandro but to another family member that entrusted him with watching Blanco.'

Deputies said a witness spotted a French bulldog mix, known as Blanco, being dragged from a truck on a road in Atlantis, Florida

Blanco, survived the ordeal with scrapes to its body and was treated by a veterinarian

Florida man Lisandro Arellano, 45, is facing two animal cruelty charges and was released on a $3,000 bail bond on Monday after being caught on camera allegedly dragging a French bulldog mix behind his pickup truck

Relatives of Arellano had trusted him with Blanco's care when he allegedly performed the 'heinous crime'

The witness had originally thought the act of animal cruelty toward Blanco was an 'honest mistake' but quickly realized they had to report it to police

Police said they were grateful for the witness alerting authorities to the cruel incident in a post to Facebook in which a number of people commented their disgust

Police said they were grateful for the witness alerting authorities to the cruel incident.

'PBSO is grateful for the motorist who witnessed this heinous act, took a picture of the suspect's license plate and turn it over for us to investigate further,' the post read.

'Blanco is being treated and recovering.'

It remains unclear what possessed Arellano to act in this manner, police said.

Facebook users commented their disgust on the police post which has been shared close to 500 times and also thanking the witness who came forward.

One user said: 'Florida needs to stop looking at animals as property. They need to charge the person who did this to the poor pup.'

Another said: 'Thank you to the person who turned the POS in. Thank you PBSO for getting him, now hopefully a judge will throw the book at him.'

While one person commented: 'I have so much I can say.Omfg (sic) people are disgusting. I am so glad that person saw what was happening and stopped them. Ugh that poor dog was in so much pain.'
Vladimir Putin is using at least three body doubles who have had plastic surgery to look like him, claims Ukraine's intelligence chief who speculates they are being used to cover up his loss of control in the Kremlin.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence, says the Ukraine government is so perplexed by Russia's disastrous invasion strategy, it wonders if Putin is still taking the key decisions.

He says 'no matter how bad' Putin was in the past, 'he was not an idiot', but goes on to argue that Russia's war 'does not follow any logic'.

Budanov adds: 'The big question is whether the real Putin still exists?'

A doppelganger of Vladimir Putin (left) compared with the Russian leader (right). Ukraine's intelligence chief claims Putin is using at least three body doubles who have had plastic surgery to look like him

The extraordinary suggestion, amid repeated rumours about Putin's health, came in an exclusive interview with the man seen as Moscow's Public Enemy No 1 after a series of devastating attacks on Russian interests.

Budanov says they had detected Putin doubles in the past standing in for him on 'special occasions', but it is 'usual practice' now. 'We know specifically about three people that keep appearing, but how many there are, we don't know,' he says. 'They all had plastic surgery to look alike.

'The one thing that gives them away is their height. It's visible in videos and pictures. Also gesturing, body language and earlobes, since they are unique for every person.' Budanov refuses to be drawn on whether Putin has disappeared, through illness or after a power struggle. He reveals the Kremlin is running out of guided missiles and believes that if Ukraine recaptures the southern city of Kherson, it could have dramatic consequences for the Russian regime.

He says 'change is inevitable' in Moscow, arguing that the arrival of a new political order in Russia is in the interests of 'the whole civilised world' and calling on Britain to do everything 'to speed up the events that will happen anyway'.

'We are very grateful for the assistance your government is providing,' says Budanov. 'We hope the UK will not only continue political, economic and military support but increase it. We are in acute need of air defence systems.'

He admits that Ukraine's leaders would have discussions over whether to continue pushing their forces over the Russian border. 'This decision will be made by the head of the state when we get all our land back,' he says.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence (pictured) has questioned 'whether the real Putin still exists?'

Budanov is an ex-special forces operative who was appointed head of military intelligence two years ago, aged just 34  then promoted shortly before the war to oversee all intelligence. He has been wounded several times in action.

Russian media has linked him with undercover operations in Crimea, along with another officer who later died in a car bombing, while it was reported in Ukraine that he was targeted in an assassination attempt in 2019.

Last week, a leading Russian analyst praised Budanov's effectiveness and called for his elimination. 'Yes, they officially call me Public Enemy No 1,' he laughs.

We met in a darkened room after I was driven to the location by a senior woman officer. There was a German machine gun on the floor and two knives on his desk, alongside a chess board and a book on Mossad, the Israeli spy agency.

First, we discussed the future of the war, which he predicts will end next year. When I ask if fighting might conclude by the summer he replies, 'I really hope so.'

His reputation rose before the war as the only top Ukraine figure to publicly back UK and US intelligence warnings that Putin was planning a full-scale invasion as his troops massed on the border.

Now Budanov sees Ukraine's recapture of Crimea as a 'personal' mission, since as a child he spent summers in Sevastopol, the port Russia was allowed to retain after Ukraine's independence as the base for its Black Sea Fleet. He is adamant the peninsula, illegally annexed by Putin in 2014, will be recaptured and is scathing about those 'stupidly' arguing Ukraine should not provoke Russia for fear of escalating the war.

What about the risk of nuclear weapons? 'It's scaremongering,' he says.

'Nuclear weapons are not weapons  they are the means of deterrence. And Russia knows perfectly well it cannot use them.

'If you study when they started to threaten with them, you'll see clear correlation: when everything goes bad for them, they start screaming, 'We can use nuclear weapons.' '

Budanov is the man Russia blamed for the blast this month on the bridge to Crimea, a key supply route for Putin's forces in south Ukraine.

Budanov declines to comment on that or earlier attacks on military targets in Crimea, but adds: 'What goes around, comes around. We are at war with the Russian Federation. We are using all means to cause its defeat.'

He says Putin's recent annexation of Kherson, claiming it as part of Russia as Ukrainian forces advance on the city, underlines questions over his mental wellbeing. 'It looks ridiculous,' he says. 'They are grandiosely annexing it in Moscow despite knowing they are going to lose it. So my question is: Is Putin well? And is it really Putin? Maybe it is even someone else.' There have been previous allegations that Putin may have had cosmetic surgery along with recent rumours he is battling serious illness, even cancer.

In July, a Ukrainian intelligence official claimed Putin may have sent a body double in his place for a visit to Iran. It has been suspected former Kremlin leaders such as Josef Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev also used body doubles as decoys.

Budanov believes Ukraine's anticipated liberation of Kherson will provoke major questions in Russia: 'How did it happen that Ukraine  a place they have no respect for and never believed to be even a country to take seriously  is taking territories from the Russian Federation? This situation, we believe, would have serious consequences for opinion within the society.'

He admits Ukraine has operatives undercover in Russia. 'Yes, of course we have,' he says, adding that 'the majority of our activity is targeting the Chechen republic'.Chechnya, which tried to break free from Russia after the Soviet Union's collapse, only to be crushed by Moscow in two savage wars, is led by a brutal ally of Putin's. Last week, Kyiv's parliament recognised Chechnya as an occupied territory.

Budanov is convinced that not only will Ukraine win this war, but Putin will be forced from power so this conflict will change the future shape of Russia.

He says the faster Ukraine restores its borders to how they were in 1991, 'the faster Russia is going to rebuild. It will be a different country with a different leadership with different borders'.

I asked a final question on behalf of a Ukrainian friend: who was his favourite 007? 'Sean Connery,' he replies instantly. I suggest he might be Ukraine's modern version. 'Thank you,' he says, smiling  although any future film would not be called From Russia With Love.

Additional reporting: Kate Baklitskaya
EXCLUSIVE: A mother has been left 'shocked and annoyed' after an 'abrupt and officious' parking inspector slapped a ticket on her Motability van (top right) two minutes after she stopped to pick up her disabled daughter from school. At 3pm every day, Michelle Thomas (pictured with husband and daughter, top right; with daughter, bottom right), 42, is required to park the van in a disabled bay outside her six-year-old daughter Annabelle's (pictured with parking fine, left) school in Wanstead, east London, and take her to the toilet, transfer her into the van and bring her home. She is permitted to park for two hours but on Wednesday September 14, Redbridge Council handed the mother a 60 parking fine just minutes after she left the van to tend to Annabelle who has Type 1 spinal muscular atrophy. Ms Thomas, from Barkingside, Redbridge, told MailOnline how there used to be a 'lovely traffic warden' there who understood and had sympathy for Annabelle's condition and the struggle of getting her out of the ramped vehicle.
'She had fallen in love with the UK from that moment,' she told The Mail last night

One of Akshata's close friends Amrita Naik said she raved about the UK on return

The Prime Minister's wife is seen posing, nine-years-old, at the Tower of London

The young girl smiling with delight as she posed with a Beefeater at the Tower of London was enthralled by her first visit to the UK, breathlessly telling her friends back home in India that it was a 'magical' place.

As she toured the capital's landmarks, including Downing Street, little Akshata Murty could hardly have imagined that one day she would return  and end up living in No 10.

The fascinating picture of Rishi Sunak's wife, aged around nine, shows her posing with her little brother Rohan and her father Narayana during the family's first holiday abroad in 1989.

The fascinating picture of Rishi Sunak's wife, aged around nine, shows her posing with her little brother Rohan and her father Narayana during the family's first holiday abroad in 1989 pictured outside the Tower of London with a Beefeater

Narayana, wearing a hooped jumper and a yellow backpack as he trod London's streets, had saved up with his wife Sudha, an engineer, to afford the expensive holiday.

At the time he was trying to get his fledgling IT company Infosys off the ground. It would be several years until the company's fortunes soared, earning Narayana billions and turning him into one of India's richest businessmen.

One of Akshata's close friends, Amrita Naik, recalled her childhood pal returning home from the London holiday raving about Britain.

Amrita Naik with young Akshata Murty in their teens. Amrita, recalled her childhood pal returning home from the London holiday raving about Britain. 'I think she had fallen in love with the UK from that moment,' she told The Mail on Sunday

'I think she had fallen in love with the UK from that moment,' she told The Mail on Sunday. 'It was all she spoke about for weeks. She gave me the picture of her with her brother and father and a Beefeater at the Tower of London.

'It was an amazing thing to see as an Indian girl. It was a world so far away, like something you only see in books.'

Amrita, now 43, grew up a few streets from the Murty family home in the middle-class Jayanagar district of Bangalore. She said that despite amassing an estimated 4 billion fortune, Akshata's parents still live in the same house they moved into more than 40 years ago.

Amrita (left) and Akshata (right) in their early 20s. Amrita, recalling Akshata's first trip to London said: 'It was an amazing thing to see as an Indian girl. It was a world so far away, like something you only see in books'

'Everyone focuses on Akshata being so rich but her upbringing was not like that,' Amrita said. 'That is not the Akshata I know. She had a humble upbringing  simple, middle-class and lovely. I remember her being so excited about everything. She was a cute, petite girl with giant glasses on her face.'

She recalled how she would squeeze into a tuk-tuk with other pupils to attend Baldwin Girls' High School where Akshata, now 42, excelled at her studies and 'always had her nose in a book'.

She also said Akshata would use the pocket money she earned from doing chores for her parents to treat fellow pupils to street food. They would also borrow each other's clothes, with a polka-dot dress of Amrita's being a particular favourite of her bookish but fashion-conscious friend.

Akshata met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2006 while studying for an MBA at Stanford University. They married three years later and went on to have two daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, nine

Today Akshata was seen overseeing removal men moving their belongings from their 6.6 million Kensington townhouse into Downing Street

Wearing slippers Akshata was seen assisting movers bring their belongings into No 10 today

Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister earlier this week following the resignation of Liz Truss

Amrita, who still lives in Bangalore, added: 'There used to be power outages all the time back in those days. Her dad had one light that was solar-powered so I would go to her house to study and sleep over. And when that light ran out, we would study by candlelight.'

All that studying paid off and Akshata went on to study economics and French at the private Claremont McKenna College in California, then earn a diploma from an LA fashion college before studying for an MBA at Stanford University, where she met Mr Sunak in 2006. They married three years later and went on to have two daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, nine.

Amrita said she attended their 'beautiful' wedding celebrations in New York and India, adding: 'Akshata is a really loyal friend. She has stayed by me in some difficult times. We may live many miles apart now but she is still in touch. It is just amazing that she is the First Lady of the UK now. Your country is very lucky to have her.'
A fishing crew rescued a lost owl 100 miles off the north coast of Scotland after it was blown off course and attacked by seagulls.

The bird suffered minor injuries from the incursion but was treated by the caring group on board the Peterhead-registered Benarkle II.

The injured owl was 'beefed up' and sounded better after it received initial medical attention, the BBC reported.

Once the trawler reached Peterhead the passengers handed over the animal to the Huntly Falconry Centre, who admitted it was unusual to be so far out.

A fishing crew rescued a lost owl 100 miles off the north coast of Scotland after it was blown off course and attacked by sea gulls

The breeds can be found across the UK - although they are rarely spotted in the south-west and Wales - and eat small rodents and small birds in the winter

The bird suffered minor injuries from the incursion but was treated by the group on board the Peterhead-registered Benarkle II

The owl appeared on board the trawler in the middle of their trip last week and settled into its new surroundings very quickly.

The group's social media post read: '[It] was starting to become used to the comings and goings of crew in the wheelhouse, even letting him out to stretch his wings.

'Although getting an unwilling owl to go back into his temporary home isn't the easiest of operations!'

John Barrie, who owns the centre, said: 'The owl is just tired after the journey. They'd fed it up on the boat, and we'll do the same here. It just needs a bit of beef on it.

He added: 'It wasn't in its own environment, it must've just got blown off course.'

Long-eared owls are distinctively tall and thin with puffy ears known as tufts which it raises when distressed and alarmed.

The breeds can be found across the UK - although they are rarely spotted in the south-west and Wales - and eat small rodents and small birds in the winter.
Fetterman has seen his razor-thin lead shrink since his debate, and his health after a stroke has been put into question

The president said he 'went to 54 states' to stop pharmaceutical companies from driving drug prices while lamenting Big Pharma

Biden was attending a rally for embattled Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, who also recently made several verbal gaffes during a debate

President Joe Biden again found himself blundering on the big stage when he claimed he'd been to 54 states on Friday

President Joe Biden made yet another blunder when he spoke in Philadelphia on Friday, claiming he had been to '54 states' at a rally to drive support for embattled Democrat John Fetterman.

Biden, 79, gave garbled remarks on how his administration has improved healthcare and mistakenly said 'we went to 54 states' to stop pharmaceutical companies from driving drug prices.

'And, by the way, if they do, that means  not a joke, everybody; thats why we defeated it in 2018 when they tried to do it. We went to 54 states,' Biden said. 'The reason is people didnt realize that the only reason anybody who has a pre-existing condition can get healthcare is because of that Affordable Care Act.'

His addition of four non-existent states is the latest in a long line of gaffes that has continued to raise concerns about the health of Biden, who is the oldest president in US history.

Despite those worries, Biden has insisted he'll run for a second term in 2024.

The president was joined by both Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate hopeful John Fetterman, who recently dented his chances by fumbling answers during a debate with opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz. He suffered a stroke in May, and faces separate questions about his own mental agility.

'So I may not say everything perfectly sometimes, but I'll always do the right thing if you send me to Washington, D.C.' Fetterman said.

President Joe Biden made another embarrassing misstep on Friday when he claimed to have been to 54 states as he lamented Big Pharma hiking drug prices

Biden was joined by his Vice President Kamala Harris as the two tried to rally support for Senate hopeful John Fetterman after a disastrous debate performance last week

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who recently had a stroke that has now impacted his health, is trying to keep his lead over Dr. Oz in a tight PA senate race

Biden has made a series of worrying gaffes throughout his time as president, most recently zoning out completely when asked by reporters if his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, wants him to run for president again.

'I have not made that formal decision but it's my intention . . . my intention to run again. And we have time to make that decision', the president began.

'Dr. Biden is for it?' the MSNBC interviewer asks, only to be met with silence.

'Mr. President?' the reporter prods, to virtually no reaction from Biden.

'Dr. Biden thinks that uh, my wife thinks that uh, that I uh, that, that we're, that we're doing something very important,' Biden finally states, while managing to avoid directly answering the question.

He also embarrassingly mispronounced new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's name when speaking about him at a Diwali event, calling him 'Rashee Sanook.'

Sunak, a 42-year-old multimillionaire former hedge fund boss, will become the country's youngest leader in modern times and its third in less than two months as his Conservative Party endures a period of considerable turmoil.

Mr Sunak has pledged to run Downing Street with 'integrity and humility', but warned of 'profound challenges' to come as he prepares to begin his premiership

BIDEN: "It's my intention to run again."



Q: "Dr. Biden is for it?"



BIDEN: *silence*



Q: "Mr. President?"



BIDEN: "Dr. Biden thinks that uh, my wife thinks that uh, that I uh, that, that we're, that we're doing something very important."



 pic.twitter.com/G4GGD32zG2  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 21, 2022

Fetterman's debate performance shocked some viewers and voters alike, and sowed concerns among party leaders.

Chris Cuomo said he 'struggled' and Barack Obama's former senior adviser said Fetterman 'did not help' his cause.

'Hi, goodnight everyone,' Fetterman said as he began the night's highly anticipated match-up.

In advance of the debate Fetterman's campaign had tempered expectations, saying there would be 'awkward pauses' and 'delays and errors,' because the Democrat would be reading closed captioning due to his auditory processing issue.

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.

Charlie Dent, a former Republican congressman for Pennsylvania, said he was 'astounded' and 'stunned' by Fetterman's poor performance, while Alyssa Farah Griffin, Donald Trump's former communications director, said she found it 'painful to watch'.
Navy chiefs must crack down on sex pests in the service by reminding the ranks that 'the defence of this country is more important than your sex drive', a retired admiral said yesterday.

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry called for 'zero tolerance' after claims of bullying and sexual harassment of women in the Submarine Service triggered an urgent Navy inquiry.

'It needs to be zero tolerance, from the top down and the bottom up,' he told Radio 4's Today programme. 'If you are subjected to sexual harassment then you've got to say it is. It takes moral courage in a hierarchy . . .

Whistleblower Sophie Brook, 30, (pictured during her Navy career) spoke to the Daily Mail exclusively about the sexual harassment she experienced after becoming one of the first women to join the service

Former Rear Admiral Chris Parry (pictured) called for 'zero tolerance' after claims of bullying and sexual harassment of women in the Submarine Service triggered an urgent Navy inquiry.

'The top leadership has got to say, and the Navy's better at this, I have to say, than the Army and the Air Force, "It is zero tolerance, we won't put up with it."

'When I was commanding a mixed ship I used to say to people, "The defence of this country is actually more important that your sex drive" and I will take very seriously any attempt by anybody to impose their, if you like, assault or, indeed, their banter, as they called it, on anybody else.'

He added that the problem of sexual harassment was also a societal one. His comments came after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how trailblazing lieutenant Sophie Brook, 30, had experienced sexual harassment after becoming one of the first women to join the service.

Sophie Brook, 30, pictured with her dog Ailsa, made history as the first female warfare officer and was on course to become the first female captain of a submarine, but says the service is 'no place for women'

The whistleblower claimed submariners compiled a 'crush depth rape list' of female crew they would sexually assault if there was a catastrophe onboard. She also said a senior officer groped her and put part of his anatomy in her pocket.

She claimed she was assaulted as she slept in her bed by a man of higher rank, had her bras stolen from the laundry and engineers sniffed women's washing.

She said: 'It wasn't just me, all of the women  and I mean all of them  had incidents they had to endure. The best thing I ever did was leave the Navy but I worry about the women I left behind. It was just a constant campaign of sexual bullying.'

Ms Brook alleges she was assaulted by a senior male colleague while she slept, as well as being sexually assaulted on multiple occasions

She added: 'I loved the job, doing the maths, driving a submarine, it was amazing. It's just unfortunate the 'old boys' club' makes it such a hostile and misogynistic place. It is no place for women.'

Ms Brook, who resigned from the Navy in January after she was investigated and court martialled for sharing sensitive information about her submarine's movement in an email to her married lover.

She was formally dismissed in June after being given a five-month suspended sentence.

The former lieutenant had previously aspired to climb the ranks but said her experience in the fleet destroyed her mental health ultimately resulting in mistakes that eventually ended her career

She added: 'I spent a decade trying to fight the injustice women face within the Submarine Service, playing by their rules, but I was unable to change things . . . most serving officers are brave, professional and make huge personal sacrifices. My issue is only with the few rotten apples.'

Admiral Sir Ben Kay, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said: 'These allegations are abhorrent.

'Sexual assault and harassment has no place in the Royal Navy and will not be tolerated.

'I have directed my senior team to investigate these allegations thoroughly. Anyone who is found culpable will be held accountable for their actions.'
Music streaming service Spotify said it would not remove Kanye West's music unless his label requested it - after corporations around the world cut ties with the rapper.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told Reuters West's sick remarks are 'just awful comments,' but confirmed his music wouldn't be removed because his songs aren't offensive.

Companies started to boycott the musician - who claims to be the 'richest black man in the world' - after the rapper made a series of anti-Semitic comments.

West has blamed 'Jewish media' and 'Jewish Zionists' for a number of transgressions threatening on social media to go 'death con 3 on Jewish People.'

Ek said: 'It's really just his music, and his music doesn't violate our policy.

'It's up to his label if they want to take action or not.'

Universal Music Group's (UMG) Def Jam label, which owns the copyright to West's recordings from 2002 through 2016, and continued distributing his releases until last year, issued a statement condemning West.

They tweeted: 'There is no place for antisemitism in our society. We are deeply committed to combating antisemitism and every other form of prejudice.'

Last week, Rolling Stone reported that West was no longer signed to Def Jam and he no longer appears on their website.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek (pictured) said it would not remove Kanye West's music unless his label requested it

Companies started to boycott West (pictured) who claims to be the 'richest black man in the world' after the rapper made a series of antisemitic comments

Ek said those remarks are 'awful' but said the comments were not made on the platform itself and would not remove his content unless his label asked to do so

West has released 138 singles, four promotional singles and charted with 65 other songs.

His music is still readily available on Apple Music and YouTube Music.

While there's no clear indication his music is taking a hit on streaming platforms Billboard reports that after Instagram and Twitter made the decision to restrict West's accounts earlier this month, the rapper and designer's radio play fell 21.1 percent.

After his 2021 album Donda, West, who has spent most of his career with the Def Jam label, completed his deal and was free to pursue music deals elsewhere.

West's reputation as an agitator has been a part of his brand throughout his career as seen with a public feud with Taylor Swift, Drake, and reality star and ex-partner Kim Kardashian

West (right) gave what has been described as a 'reluctant' apology in an interview with Piers Morgan (left) only after citing for conspiracies about Jewish people

Universal Music Group's (UMG) Def Jam label, which owns the copyright to West's recordings from 2002 through 2016, condemned West's comments

As of July 2022, West became one of only seven artists in the United States to be certified for over 100 million digital singles by the Recording industry Association of America having sold 133 million certified digital units as a solo artist.

West's reputation as an agitator has been a part of his brand throughout his career as seen with a public feud with Taylor Swift, Drake, and reality star and ex-partner Kim Kardashian.

Fans condemned West after he claimed, 'slavery is a choice' and insisted that George Floyd died of a drug overdose and not at the hands of a former Minneapolis cop  Floyd's family considering suing the artist.

The latest series of race related controversies started in early October and saw Adidas, Balenciaga among others pull partnerships with the rapper.

West gave what has been described as a 'reluctant' apology in an interview with Piers Morgan only after citing for conspiracies about Jewish people.

The racially motivated controversies started earlier this month when he and conservative commentator Candace Owens donned tops that read White Lives Matter during a Paris Fashion Week showcase for his Yeezy line.
Russian authorities threatened to attack commercial satellites that are crucial to the Pentagon and Ukraine if the West continues to meddle in the European war, prompting an immediate reply from the US government.

On Thursday, the White House said that any attack on American infrastructure would be dealt with in an "appropriate way." The statement came after a Russian official warned that Moscow could strike any commercial satellites that they see as legitimate targets that are assisting Ukraine.

Russia's Threat to Commercial Satellites

In a statement, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Russia had been attempting to "pursue anti-satellite technology and capability." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later reiterated her colleague's remark, saying that the Biden administration would "pursue all means to explore, deter, and hold Russia accountable for any such attacks."

The situation comes after a deputy director in Russia's Foreign Ministry warned that any satellites that are used to help Ukraine would be the target for a "retaliatory strike." Konstantin Vorontsov, speaking in a meeting of the UN General Assembly's First Committee, said that the Western "quasi-civilian infrastructure" involved in Ukraine's war efforts was an "extremely dangerous trend," as per Yahoo News.

The official noted that according to the Russian government's news agency Tass, the West's actions jeopardized the stability of the civil space activities and numerous socioeconomic processes on the ground. It noted that these determine people's well-being, mainly in developing countries.

However, Vorontsov did not call out any companies by name when he made his remarks, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that his company, SpaceX, had been spending $20 million per month to provide Starlink satellite internet services to Ukraine.

According to the Washington Post, the threat comes after SpaceX was scheduled to launch a much more powerful rocket, known as the Falcon Heavy. It comes amid rising tension between the United States and Russia due to the West's assistance of Ukraine.

Read Also: What Kind of Missiles Did North Korea Launch, Where Did it Come From? Full Details on 'Grave Provocation' to South Korea

Russia-Ukraine War

The launches are seen as a sign of the Pentagon's increasing reliance on the commercial space sector in providing service to Ukraine. The National Defense Strategy also released a statement earlier this week, saying that they would increase collaboration with the private sector in priority areas, especially with the commercial space industry.

Furthermore, such technologies, despite being cheaper, are known to play a broader role in the country's defense and intelligence arsenal, prompting more worries among security officials that they could be threatened.

In a statement, the deputy commander of the US Space Command, Lt. Gen. John Shaw, said during a space conference on Monday that he was certain that his Russian counterpart was not happy with Starlink assisting Ukraine.

Russia's threat comes as it has a significant offensive space capability, being known for launching Sputnik 1 in 1957, which was the first manmade satellite sent into space, and in 1961, putting the first man in outer space.

Vorontsov said that Russia's threats focused on the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial satellites and its allies in armed conflicts. The war between Russia and Ukraine has already resulted in the death of tens of thousands, including civilians, and undermined the post-COVID-19 global economic recovery, Reuters reported.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin Fires Back at West's 'Dirty Bomb' Accusations, Nuclear Blackmail

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When Liz Truss was told, during the dying days of her mayfly Premiership, that the security services were picking up intelligence that Vladimir Putin might use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine it sent a chill down her spine.

The Prime Minister was still adjusting to getting used to a new mobile phone number, for the first time in over a decade, as a result of a hack suspected to have been backed or orchestrated by the Kremlin, potentially giving Putin access to information about Western support for President Volodymyr Zelensky's regime.

In particular, Ms Truss was told that Putin might explode a weapon in the air above the Black Sea, which would show the West what he was capable of without triggering a full-scale nuclear war.

As with the Chernobyl accident in 1986, the radiation could pose a threat to Europe if it blew in this direction: as a result, colleagues say Ms Truss became fixated with the weather forecast.

In particular, Ms Truss was told that Putin might explode a weapon in the air above the Black Sea, which would show the West what he was capable of without triggering a full-scale nuclear war. Pictured: A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile

The-then Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visits British troops on deployment to Estonia in 2021, pictured

ALARM: Liz Truss feared Putin could explode a nuclear weapon above the Black Sea

A source said: 'Liz was obsessed with the prevailing wind, watching the forecasts to see if she needed to trigger a Protect and Survive plan.'

Protect and Survive was a public information campaign on civil defence between 1974 and 1980 which advised the public on how to protect themselves during a nuclear attack. It detailed the warning signs when an attack was imminent and advised on what to do immediately after an attack, describing the effects of nuclear fall-out and how to plan for survival.

The intelligence officials warned Putin might 'go nuclear' after Ukranian forces blew up the road bridge connecting Russia and Crimea, something Putin had said would 'cross a red line' and prompt 'judgment day'.

He also said in a televised speech that if Western forces endangered the 'integrity' of Russian territory then 'we will certainly use all the means at our disposal', adding: 'This is not a bluff.'

President Zelensky was also told by his intelligence agencies that there was a 'very high' risk Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons.

In particular, Ms Truss was told that Putin might explode a weapon in the air above the Black Sea, which would show the West what he was capable of without triggering a full-scale nuclear war

Yars' intercontinental ballistic missile launches at Plesetsk Cosmodrome to Kura Test Range during training to test the Russian strategic deterrence forces in Plesetsk, Russia

The source added: 'Liz was terrified that news about her phone being hacked would come out because it looked almost symbolic of national weakness. Then, as her government was collapsing, she had to worry about nuclear clouds as well.

'We found her watching the weather forecasts with unusual interest'. Radiation-detecting equipment is scattered across Europe as an early-warning system in the event of an accident or the deliberate use of a nuclear weapon, while cloud-mapping experts share information between countries about radiation direction.

The Mail on Sunday can separately reveal that the Home Office is working with police to bolster the UK's 'radiological and nuclear detection equipment'.

A Home Office tender contract, published two weeks ago, seeks an 'information system for operational planning, alerting, reporting and managing' nuclear threats.

The contract is focused on 'inland detection' against possible terrorist attacks using radiological or nuclear materials.

Officials want to understand the latest technology for detecting radiation levels, including 'isotope identification and dose rates'.

Yars' intercontinental ballistic missile launches at Plesetsk Cosmodrome to Kura Test Range

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (not at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia

Launch of a Sineva ballistic missile from a Tula submarine (pictured)

It is understood the development is not in response to the war in Ukraine and was funded by a Spending Review commitment in November 2020.

Yesterday Russia accused the UK of being involved in a Ukranian drone attack on Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, which the Ministry of Defence said was an example of Russia 'peddling false claims on an epic scale'.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of the city, said Russia's navy had repelled the latest attack  the 'most massive' since February  and said that all drones had been shot down.

At least one vessel sustained minor damage, Russia said.

A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia

A Ukrainian firefighter pushes out a fire in a residential building following a shelling on the frontline town of Bakhmut

It accused British navy specialists of helping Ukraine prepare the attack and said the same unit was 'involved in plotting, organising and implementation of the terrorist attack in the Baltic on September 26 to blow up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines'.

The MoD said: 'To detract from their disastrous handling of the invasion, the Russian ministry of defence is resorting to peddling false claims on an epic scale. This invented story says more about arguments inside the Russian government than about the West.'

A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We have robust systems in place to protect against cyber threats. That includes regular security briefings for ministers.'

MARK ALMOND: A chilling reminder that no one's safe from the goons in Moscow and Beijing

By Mark Almond for the Mail On Sunday

Britain's electronic spy agency, GCHQ, has enjoyed an unrivalled reputation as the pioneer of code-breaking since the days of Alan Turing in the Second World War.

It remained at the cutting edge of intercepting the communications of our adversaries right through the Cold War, and does the same remarkable job today.

But Britain's success in hacking other world leaders' plotting must not blind us to the skills of our rivals, or their ruthless targeting of our own institutions and those who run them.

It is a point made painfully clear by the revelation that Liz Truss  a former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister  has had her phone hacked and it is believed her private information may have been taken by the Russians. Moscow has long sought to steal our secrets. Now we are in a proxy war over Ukraine, its efforts have intensified.

Vladimir Putin's spymasters are targeting Whitehall just as much as Kyiv. Finding out what our leaders are discussing and what information they share with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a key goal. And it might seem less immediate, but we are also in a proxy war with China.

It is a point made painfully clear by the revelation that Liz Truss  a former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister  has had her phone hacked and it is believed her private information may have been taken by the Russians, writes Mark Almond

Vladimir Putin's spymasters are targeting Whitehall just as much as Kyiv. Finding out what our leaders are discussing and what information they share with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is a key goal. And it might seem less immediate, but we are also in a proxy war with China

This is a state that we know to be adept at stealing military and commercial information  and which is determined to spread its malignant tentacles around the globe.

How much of Putin's information will be passed to China's President Xi, without whose tacit support, there could have been no invasion of Ukraine?

For both of these antagonists, the battleground is digital, and both have invested in spooks who specialise in artificial intelligence.

Armies of well-trained hackers are at work. Bunkers have been filled with the fastest computers scrolling through the whole world's electronic data to snatch key information out of zillions of gigabytes, scrutinising the entire digi-universe to pick out vulnerabilities.Careless WhatsApping costs lives, or reputations at the very least.

Putin has long been an expert in using 'kompromat' to discredit his domestic rivals with any juicy scandal his agents might uncover through bugged phone calls and illicitly obtained video.

Maybe the very success of GCHQ has made our own leaders complacent. But the theft of Ms Truss's data should shake up the rest of us as well. We have been sleeping

How many of us truly pay attention to digital security? It is a time-consuming bore. But it matters. The truth is, nothing digital is hack-proof. Nothing at all. Putin knows this very well, which is why he is personally reluctant to use a laptop or mobile phone

Maybe the very success of GCHQ has made our own leaders complacent. But the theft of Ms Truss's data should shake up the rest of us as well. We have been sleeping.

How many of us truly pay attention to digital security? It is a time-consuming bore. But it matters. The truth is, nothing digital is hack-proof. Nothing at all. Putin knows this very well, which is why he is personally reluctant to use a laptop or mobile phone.

It is time for voters and politicians alike to acknowledge that our faith in the breakneck progress of artificial intelligence is naive. So far from making us safer, it is threatening our security.

Then there is the human factor. Would we be surprised if ambitious politicians were the sort of people to assume that tedious security rules are for the lower ranks? I, for one, would not.

As the Russians themselves say: 'The fish rots from the head down.'
King Charles has seen his popularity soar since he ascended the throne  but his son Prince William is still the nations favourite Royal, according to a poll.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Prince and Princess of Wales topped the survey which asked 1,095 British adults to rate their opinion of senior members of the Royal Family.

Sixty-nine per cent said they found Prince William favourable, with his wife Kate second on 67 per cent. In third place was Anne, Princess Royal, with 64 per cent.

King Charles came fourth with a 54 per cent favourability rating. But this was an increase of 11 percentage points compared to the last time pollsters Ipsos conducted the survey in March.

King Charles has seen his popularity soar since he ascended the throne  but his son Prince William is still the nations favourite Royal, according to a poll

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Prince and Princess of Wales topped the survey which asked 1,095 British adults to rate their opinion of senior members of the Royal Family

Overall, 54 per cent of those surveyed said they rated the Royal Family favourably, with just 17 per cent saying they had an unfavourable opinion.

All of the major Royals saw a bounce in their approval scores.

A third of Britons still rated Prince Harry as unfavourable and almost half (44 per cent) said the same for his wife Meghan.

King Charles came fourth with a 54 per cent favourability rating. But this was an increase of 11 percentage points compared to the last time pollsters Ipsos conducted the survey in March

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have, however, grown in popularity  despite the public criticism of their sniping at other Royals in high-profile interviews from their self-imposed exile in America.

Harry, who is to release a tell-all autobiography called Spare in January, saw an increase of 11 points since March, with 41 per cent of Britons now rating him as favourable. Meghan was rated favourably by 32 per cent, up eight points.

Still languishing in last place, with just 13 per cent, was Prince Andrew, who was removed from public life following his association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have, however, grown in popularity  despite the public criticism of their sniping at other Royals in high-profile interviews from their self-imposed exile in America

Last week it emerged that Charles planned to sideline Princes Harry and Andrew further, by making it harder for them to act as counsellors of state: stand-ins who carry out important constitutional duties if the monarch is unwell or overseas.

The Regency Act is expected to be amended to allow Prince Edward and the Princess Royal to take on the roles, putting them ahead of Andrew and Harry.

This proposal was reported to have been thrashed out some time ago, with the blessing of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and could come before Parliament within weeks.

Languishing in last place, with just 13 per cent, was Prince Andrew, who was removed from public life following his association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Gideon Skinner, of Ipsos UK, said: The reality of Charles becoming King, combined with public sympathy for the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth, has led to a boost in his public image.

The popularity of the new Prince and Princess of Wales should also give confidence to the monarchy for its future.

For the moment, the Royal Family and the new King are showing they can maintain public support in this new age.
One of the most serious structural flaws of the Truss Government was the dysfunctional relationship between Downing Street and the Whips Office, responsible for managing the Parliamentary party.

Sources say Ms Truss struggled to appoint a Chief Whip after her close ally Therese Coffey refused to take it, eventually settling for Wendy Morton.

Fatally, the Prime Minister quickly took a dislike to Ms Morton, to the extent that she would loudly complain if she saw a meeting with her in her diary.

'We were having a meeting on voting strategy,' one aide recalled, 'and Liz said 'I just don't want to have her in here. I just hate her'. We had to say: 'Well, she is the Chief Whip. She really does have to be in this meeting'.

'Liz replied 'Why? Can't we get Craig [Whittaker, Deputy Chief Whip] to come to it instead?'.'

At one point she tried to sack Ms Morton, but had to change course after the Whips' Office threatened to resign in protest. According to aides, the Prime Minister contemplated the move in the run-up to the chaotic vote on fracking that sealed the fate of her Premiership.

CLASH: The Prime Minister tried to sack Wendy Morton but failed

One aide said: 'She thought Morton was useless. She wanted to sack her,' one adviser reported. 'Then it became clear she'd lose all the other whips. So she backed down.'

Fearing Ms Morton was incapable of managing the crucial vote, the Prime Minister tried to recruit Trade Minister Greg Hands to babysit the floundering enforcer. 'We messaged Greg and said that the Prime Minister wanted him to help sort this out. When we told Wendy she refused to have him anywhere near the whipping operation. She sent a message back that just said 'I have this in hand'.'

Senior aides said Ms Truss had been reluctant to appoint Ms Morton as Chief Whip. 'No one wanted to do it,' an adviser claimed, 'We wanted Therese [Coffey] to take it on, but she wanted her own department. There was some thought to giving it to Andrea Leadsom, but the feeling was she was not intelligent enough to handle it.'

Matters came to a head on Wednesday, October 19, when the vote on fracking saw the Government plunged into disarray.

At one point she tried to sack Ms Morton, but had to change course after the Whips' Office threatened to resign in protest. According to aides, the Prime Minister contemplated the move in the run-up to the chaotic vote on fracking that sealed the fate of her Premiership

As Ms Morton tried to cajole Tory MPs into the voting lobby, one rebel told her: 'Wendy, I'm not sure if you're aware. But the Prime Minister and her aides are currently going round telling anyone who will listen they think you're a moron.'

Amid unprecedented scenes, Deputy Chief Whip Craig Whittaker was seen swearing 'I am f***ing furious and I don't f***ing care anymore.' Ms Morton tendered her resignation to the PM in the voting lobby, only to rescind it early the following morning.

Ms Morton finally left the Government last Tuesday.

Last night allies of Ms Morton hit back at what they described as 'vicious smears aimed at undermining Wendy's integrity'.

Other Whips' Office sources say that the Prime Minister stopped replying to Ms Morton's messages and excluded her from meetings

A friend of Ms Morton said: 'She'd been a loyal supporter of Liz, and told her she'd be happy with a ministerial job. She didn't even ask to be in the Cabinet. But Liz insisted she took on the role.'

The friend added Ms Morton had become frustrated by Ms Truss's 'unwillingness to confront the crisis engulfing her Government'.

The friend said: 'Wendy sat down with her and tried to explain what the mood was inside the party. But Liz wouldn't listen.'

Other Whips' Office sources say that the Prime Minister stopped replying to Ms Morton's messages and excluded her from meetings.

One said: 'This was how they got in such a mess on the fracking vote. It was all going fine and we had everything under control. We were going to win comfortably.

'Then No 10 started sending messages to the Government frontbench telling them to change the whipping arrangements, and say it wasn't a confidence vote. That's when it all began falling apart.'

Another ally of Ms Morton said: 'Wendy feels totally betrayed. These attacks on her and her character are just a vicious smear by former Downing Street officials trying to pass off the blame for their own mistakes.'
The victim was then transported to a trauma center at Oregon Health and Science University

Pictures show the massive effort from firefighters to free the victim, using an angle grinder to cut open the machine

Authorities from Portland Fire and Safety said the victim's right hand had four fingers trapped in the machine, all up to the second knuckle

An unlucky employee at a Portland grocery store had his own Halloween horror when his hand got stuck in a meat tenderizer on Thursday, prompting firefighters to use an angle grinder to cut open the machine in order to free his hand.

The unidentified victim was pictured with his right hand stuck in the machine, and a press release from Portland Fire and Safety said the victim had four fingers trapped up to the second knuckle.

One picture of the situation shows firefighters and other officials surrounding the employee with some wearing safety glasses.

The victim, who appears to work at a Safeway grocery store, got his hand caught in the meat tenderizer on Thursday and had to be freed by firefighters

According to authorities, the victim had four fingers trapped, all up to the second knuckle, and a picture shows the vicious-looking machine

A first responder holds the victim's head as the others work to figure out how to release his hand.

A second picture shows a close-up of the meat grinder and the mans hand, but shows minimal blood.

Personnel from Portland Fire and Safety used an angle grinder to make a relief cut in the meat tenderizer, helping them to pry it open and release the victim's hand.

A press release from the agency says the victim was then transported to a trauma center at Oregon Health and Science University, which is based in Portland.

Although the meat tenderizer incident does not appear to have been Halloween related, it happened at a time of the year notorious for freak accidents.

Pumpkin carving accounts for 44 per cent of annual Halloween injuries. Falling while taking down decorations - or tripping while wearing a costume - accounts for a further 25 per cent of injuries sustained.
It comes after he

Mr Johnson's attendance may be seen as criticism of his former Chancellor

Downing Street is 'alarmed' over reports that Boris Johnson plans to travel to Egypt for Cop27 next week - after Rishi Sunak provoked a row when he said he would not attend the event.

The former Prime Minister is understood to be intending to attend the meeting of world leaders to show solidarity with the fight against the climate crisis.

It comes as his Mr Sunak is facing accusations of a 'massive failure of leadership' and claims he will now be 'missing in action' on climate issues following his decision not to attend in order to focus on 'other pressing domestic commitments'.

At the same time, Downing Street also confirmed that Mr Sunak had downgraded the status of climate minister Graham Stuart, who will no longer be attending Cabinet. Alok Sharma , the Cop-26 President, also lost his right to attend Cabinet meetings in the PM's reshuffle this week.

Mr Sharma today said the PM risks undermining the UK's position as a world leader on climate issues by not attending Cop27.

He told The Times: 'Im pretty disappointed that the prime minister is not going. I understand that hes got a huge in tray of domestic issues that he has to deal with.

'But I would say that going to Cop27 would allow for engagement with other world leaders.

'And I think it does send a signal, if the Prime Minister was to go, about our renewed commitment on this issue.'

Mr Sharma added: 'If you ;ook at what happened in the Australian elections in the past few months, one of the reasons that the conservatives didnt win through is because people didnt feel they took this issue seriously enough.'

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson's decision to attend may be seen both as a criticism of Mr Sunak and an attempt to remain in the forefront of Tory minds following his decision to drop out of the leadership race despite earning more than 100 supporters.

There are said to be high level rows in government over Mr Johnson's intentions and efforts to convince him not to attend, The Observer reports.

It comes as his Mr Sunak is facing accusations of a 'massive failure of leadership' over his decision not to attend the climate summit

The former Prime Minister is understood to be intending to attend the meeting of world leaders to show solidarity with the fight against the climate crisis

Then Chancellor Mr Sunak holds up a green briefcase as he arrives for a speech at the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow in November last year

Donors with links to fossil fuels helped Rishi Sunak's leadership bid More than a quarter of the 530,000 donated to Rishi Sunak's Tory leadership bid is understood to have come from supporters with links to fossil fuels. It has added further pressure to Mr Sunak's decision not to attend next week's climate summit. Shadow Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband told The Mirror: 'Rishi Sunak is on the side of big oil and gas companies, not the British people. 'Weve seen it time and again, including him refusing a proper windfall tax on the rocketing profits of these energy giants. 'A PM choosing to protect profits of big oil and gas firms will never tackle the energy bills and climate crises we face, and will never deliver the energy independence we need.' There is no suggestion that Mr Sunak did anything wrong in accepting the donations. Advertisement

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said it could not answer if the former PM plans to travel to Egypt.

A statement said: 'The government is absolutely committed to supporting Cop27 and leading international action to tackle climate change and protect nature.

'The UK will be fully represented by senior ministers, including the foreign, business and environment secretaries, as well as Cop president Alok Sharma.

'They will be working to ensure that countries continue to make progress on the groundbreaking commitments made at Cop26 in Glasgow.'

Senior government officials are understood to have been aware that Mr Johnson has been planning to attend for some time.

It comes as Mr Sunak is also standing by predecessor Liz Trusss decision to stop King Charles from attending the climate summit, despite him 'champing at the bit' to go.

The new PM is facing pressure over his decision not to attend, despite Ms Truss having planned to travel to represent the UK there. Critics say it calls the new PM's climate stance into question.

Mr Sunak is reportedly under pressure to let the King attend and allies have suggested he should let Charles go to demonstrate the UK's commitment to combating climate change in the Prime Minister's absence.

Charles is said to be disappointed not to go, but understands his attendance would need the blessing of the government and will not force the issue with No10, The Times reported.

King Charles will instead host a reception for international leaders at Buckingham Palace before the climate summit.

Mr Sunak, Mr Sharma, and members of the Cabinet are all expected to attend alongside international guests.

Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance 'a massive failure of leadership'.

Charles is said to be disappointed not to go, but understands his attendance would need the blessing of the government and will not force the issue with No10

A source told the newspaper: 'He will be champing at the bit but knows it would need government blessing. The PM has reversed the fracking decision so this could be another smart environmentally focused move.'

King Charles, who holds climate issues close to his heart, also hopes to find a way to show his support, potentially through a message or convening discussions via video-link or telephone, The Telegraph reported.

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.'

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.'
Liz Truss's most senior ally Therese Coffey was accused by senior No 10 aides of 'going rogue' and 'neglecting her health brief' as she set about establishing a power base in 12 Downing Street.

Ms Coffey was both Health Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister but according to one source, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case accused her of being too distracted by her No 10 role to concentrate on rising Covid levels and other NHS problems.

She was also accused of 'running an independent foreign policy' after meeting Irish trade minister Leo Varadkar in Downing Street without Ms Truss's knowledge.

A fellow Minister said: 'Liz came down from her flat and noticed someone had put the Irish flag out. Her teenage daughter said, 'Oh, that's Aunty Therese. She's having a meeting with Leo Varadkar'.'

Another Minister said: 'One of Therese's obsessions was the Home Office. She was so keen on managing what Suella [Braverman] was doing she ended up chairing the Home Affairs cabinet committee.' The Minister added Mr Case was forced to intervene in managing her health department as 'she was hardly ever there'.

Liz Truss's most senior ally Therese Coffey was accused by senior No 10 aides of 'going rogue' and 'neglecting her health brief' as she set about establishing a power base in 12 Downing Street

She was also accused of 'running an independent foreign policy' after meeting Irish trade minister Leo Varadkar in Downing Street without Ms Truss's knowledge

In one meeting Mr Case allegedly said, 'Look, are we actually going to discuss the fact Covid hospitalisations have doubled in a month'.

Her alleged insistence on an office in No 12 Downing Street  traditionally used by the Chief Whip  also 'created tensions'. One official said: 'She insisted on basing herself there to be close to Liz.'

She was appointed Environment Secretary in Tuesday's reshuffle.

Her alleged insistence on an office in No 12 Downing Street  traditionally used by the Chief Whip  also 'created tensions'. One official said: 'She insisted on basing herself there to be close to Liz'

A source close to her said the meeting with Mr Varadkar was arranged via the Cabinet Office.

She chaired the Home Affairs Committee 'because she was asked to do it'.

The source added that neither Mr Case nor anyone else had raised issues with Ms Coffey about her management of the Department of Health.

Ms Coffey's spokesperson said: 'She set out her ABCD Plan for Patients to parliament, oversaw the successful rollout of flu and Covid jabs and reinforced NHS winter plans. She reorientated the department to focus on patients' priorities and worked with the NHS to understand huge variability in care between locations.'
The priest who gave Princess Diana the last rites has furiously condemned the makers of The Crown for 'hurting' Prince William and Prince Harry by depicting the scene of their mother's fatal crash.

Speaking exclusively to The Mail on Sunday, Father Yves-Marie Clochard-Bossuet tore into Netflix for recreating the tragic accident.

His powerful tirade has plunged Netflix into a fresh crisis over the hugely controversial royal saga.

Last night, politicians and authors echoed his condemnation and said the crash scenes  filmed for the sixth season to be broadcast next year  must never be shown.

The priest who gave Princess Diana the last rites has furiously condemned the makers of The Crown for 'hurting' Prince William and Prince Harry by depicting the scene of their mother's fatal crash. Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki recreating Princess Diana's tragic final da

Father Yves-Marie Clochard-Bossuet (pictured), who was with Diana in hospital, tore into Netflix for recreating the tragic accident. He said: 'It's crass, and it's certainly not necessary. Netflix are being voyeuristic'

In ghoulish scenes last week in Paris, The Crown production team filmed exactly where Diana, who is played by Elizabeth Debicki in the drama, was left with fatal injuries.

The French priest with her in hospital as she lay dying said: 'It's crass, and it's certainly not necessary. Netflix are being voyeuristic.

'Their filming is commercially driven, and they are simply interested in attracting as many viewers as possible.

It comes after repeated calls  led by this newspaper  for the drama to carry a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction. Pictured: The Crown filmmakers remaking the ragic accident under the Pont de l'Alma

'There is no need to recreate the events of that night. This is because Diana has children, she has a brother and sisters, and it affects the feelings of her entire family. They will all be hurt by the reconstruction of this accident.

'We all know the facts of what happened  it is all very clear, so there is no need to produce new images of this terrible event.'

It comes after repeated calls  led by this newspaper  for the drama to carry a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction.

Last night, politicians and authors echoed his condemnation and said the crash scenes  filmed for the sixth season to be broadcast next year  must never be shown. Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki portraying Princess Diana in her last official public appearance prior to her death in 1997

Among the most controversial scenes are reenactments of Diana's funeral and the fire which tore through Windsor Castle in 1992. Pictured: Debicki as the Princess of Wales

And last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed the macabre staging of Diana's funeral by The Crown, branded 'crude, cruel and totally insensitive' by those close to the Royal Family.

The 200-strong Crown film crew in Paris reconstructed the princess's last journey in a Mercedes limousine before it crashed in the Alma Tunnel in August 1997.

Diana's boyfriend Dodi Fayed, 42, and the driver, Henri Paul, 41, died instantly, while British bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, 29, was seriously injured but survived.

An ambulance rushed Diana to the Pitie Salpetriere hospital, where Father Yves-Marie was the duty Christian cleric. He prayed over her body for ten hours before attending a grim meeting with Prince Charles, senior French and British officials.

Father Yves-Marie said: 'When I found myself alone in the room with her, the first thing that came to my mind were her two children.

'These two young children to whom we were going to announce the tragic death of their mother.

'At the time, the only two things I really knew about Diana was that she had two young sons, and that she was divorced. These were the two things that really moved me.'

Following the tragedy, he struck up a close friendship with Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, who was a convert to Catholicism.

Netflix paid Ville de Paris  Paris council  to shut the Alma Tunnel and surrounding streets for three nights until Friday morning. The crew placed cameras in front of the pillar the Mercedes crashed into.

The latest season of The Crown 'would have destroyed the Queen' because of how 'vicious' the dramatised plotlines are, one of her close friends has revealed. Pictured: Imelda Staunton plays Elizabeth II in the fifth series

The family pictured at Diana's 1997 funeral. Netflix's scene depicting a grief-stricken William and Harry  then aged 15 and 12  was filmed in secrecy at a disused RAF base and is due to be broadcast in series six next year

In reality, the paparazzi were some distance behind Diana's limousine, yet the Netflix reconstruction showed them around it on motorbikes, lenses pointing inside.

Father Yves-Marie was not asked to help Netflix, but 'would certainly have said no'. He said: 'What touched me most personally about this tragedy is the friendship that Diana's mother showed toward me. I now say a mass for Diana and her mother regularly.'

Former Cabinet Minister David Mellor said: 'These scenes should never be aired. It shows grotesque bad taste to do this for which they should be ashamed.'

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith said: 'These scenes belong on the floor of the cutting room.'

Netflix said last night: 'The Crown Season 6 will cover the lead-up and aftermath, but the crash will not be featured.'
A relieved father has welcomed home his daughter and grandchildren as the first ISIS families to return to Australia in more than three years touched down in Sydney.

Four women and their 13 children arrived on a repatriation flight on Saturday after being taken from a camp for Islamic State families in Syria.

The group included former western Sydney childcare worker Mariam Daboussy - who was duped into travelling to Syria to become the wife of an ISIS fighter - and her three children.

'Today I want to take the opportunity to just enjoy the return of my daughter and grandchildren. Its been an overwhelming day,' her emotional father, Kamalle Dabboussy, said.

'Ive just come from seeing my daughter and grandchildren. They have had a long extensive journey getting home they are tired, they are well. The kids are opening presents and toys are the ones that are awake anyway.

'Its hard to put in words exactly what was you feeling at that point in time, but intense joy.'

Kamalle Dabboussy pictured with his daughter Mariam and her daughters in al-Hawl camp in north-eastern Syria

The 17 Australians were driven 30km from the al-Hol and al-Roj camps, in the country's northeast, across the border to Iraq, where they were flown to Sydney International Airport.

The women, who are wives and widows of IS militants, are now in a secret location as they continue to be interviewed by Australian authorities.

The operation to bring them back involved Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the last repatriation of Australians involving two groups of orphans in July 2019.

Mr Dabbousy had been calling on the government for years to bring his daughter and her children back to Australia.

He said he hoped his family would come live with him but they were still waiting to hear what controls the authorities will implement, which may include ankle bracelets, curfews, or monitoring.

He said the four women were not a 'threat to Australia' and continued to co-operate with law enforcement and were aware they could potentially be charged if there were any alleged crimes.

'They have been thoroughly assessed and vetted by security agencies, and theyve recommended they come home, theyre recommended theyre not a threat,' he said.

Mariam Dabboussy was not a devout Muslim but her life changed at 22 when she married Kaled Zahab (pictured). The woman who had been a childcare and migrant support worker went to the Middle East in mid-2015 with her husband and their 18-month-old child

Pictured: Mariam Dabboussy claims she was tricked into travelling to Syria by her husband

'The men went and took the women with them. The men are either dead or in jail and the woman were then left and caught behind.

'Theres no evidence to say that my daughter joined any such organisation and thats certainly my understanding. And in private conversations I had with law enforcement, its their understanding as well.'

In a statement, the women expressed gratitude for their safe return and apologised for the trouble their Islamic State links caused.

'We are deeply thankful to be back home in Australia with our children,' the women said in a statement.

'We want to express our regret for the trouble and hurt we have caused, especially to our families.

'We are excited to have the opportunity to rebuild our lives as a part of the Australian community.'

The women and children were removed from Syrian camps (one pictured) for ISIS families then driven to Iraq where they were flown to Sydney

Pictured: ISIS wives and children at one of the camps in the country's north

Ms Dabboussy married Kaled Zahab at the age of 22 in 2011. In mid 2015, she travelled to Lebanon with her husband and their 18-month-old child only to be 'tricked' into going to Syria.

Zahab was killed three months later by a coalition airstrike and she was forced to remarry twice more before finding herself in a camp with her three children.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the women had been cleared to return home after individual assessments by security services.

'At all times the focus has been the safety and security of all Australians as well as the safety of those involved in the operation,' she said.

Her opposition counterpart, Karen Andrews, blasted the move.

'It is inexcusable the actions that have been taken by the Albanese government is putting Australian lives at risk... the risk that is now in our Australian communities here,' she said.

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed the rescue plan with the first people removed assessed as the most vulnerable of those being held.

The federal government worked with Kurdish authorities on the extraction, which reportedly included DNA testing the individuals to prove they were Australian citizens.

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

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

Most of the children were born in Syria, meaning they'll be seeing Australia for the first time.

The group was taken to an unnamed hotel in Sydney and the NSW government is providing them with support services to assist their integration into the community.

Save the Children head Mat Tinkler said the children now had hope but people should not lose track of the roughly 30 remaining women and children yet to be brought home.

'We cannot guarantee their safety unless they are here in Australia,' he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the safety of Australians was always paramount and the government would continue to act on national security advice.

'We will always act in a way that keeps Australians safe.'
Two car bombs have exploded at a busy junction in Somalia's capital near key government offices, causing 'scores of civilian casualties' including children, national police said.

One hospital worker counted at least 30 bodies amid fears of possibly many more, with Somalia's president later confirming that at least 100 people were killed.

'Our people who were massacred ... included mothers with their children in their arms, fathers who had medical conditions, students who were sent to study, businessmen who were struggling with the lives of their families,' President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said after visiting the site of blast.

The attack in Mogadishu occurred on a day when the president, prime minister and other senior officials were meeting to discuss expanded efforts to combat violent extremism, especially by the al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab group that often targets the capital.

It also came five years after another massive blast in the exact same location killed more than 500 people.

Two bombs ripped through the centre of Mogadishu today near the Somalian government buildings

One hospital worker said they have seen at least 30 dead bodies, though there is no exact death toll yet

Security officials claim Al-Shabab are responsible, but the terror organisation rarely admits its role in attacks which claim the lives of large numbers of civilians

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Al-Shabab rarely claims attacks with large numbers of civilians killed, as in the 2017 blast.

But President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud blamed al-Shabab by name, calling the attack 'cruel and cowardly'.

A volunteer at the Medina hospital, Hassan Osman, said 'out of the total of at least 30 dead people brought to the hospital, the majority of them are women. I have seen this with my own eyes'.

At the hospital and elsewhere, frantic relatives peeked under plastic sheeting and into body bags, looking for loved ones.

The Aamin ambulance service said they had collected at least 35 wounded. One ambulance responding to the first attack was destroyed by the second blast, director Abdulkadir Adan added in a tweet.

'I was 100 metres away when the second blast occurred,' witness Abdirazak Hassan said. 'I couldn't count the bodies on the ground due to the (number of) fatalities.'

He said the first blast hit the perimeter wall of the education ministry, where street vendors and money changers were located.

An Associated Press journalist at the scene said the second blast occurred in front of a busy restaurant during lunchtime. The blasts demolished tuk-tuks and other vehicles in an area of many restaurants and hotels.

He saw 'many' bodies and said they appeared to be civilians traveling on public transport.

Ambulances raced to the scene to pick up the wounded, while many bodies were found lying in the street

Somalia's government has been engaged in a high-profile new offensive against the extremist group that the United States has described as one of al Qaeda's deadliest organisations

The Somali Journalists Syndicate, citing colleagues and police, said one journalist was killed and two others wounded by the second blast while rushing to the scene of the first.

The attack occurred at Zobe junction, which was the scene of a huge al-Shabab truck bombing in 2017 that killed more than 500 people.

Somalia's government has been engaged in a high-profile new offensive against the extremist group that the United States has described as one of al Qaeda's deadliest organisations.

The president has described it as 'total war' against the extremists, who control large parts of central and southern Somalia and have been the target of scores of US airstrikes in recent years.

The extremists have responded by killing prominent clan leaders in an apparent effort to dissuade support for that government offensive.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the attack would not dampen the public uprising against al-Shabab, and he and the president expressed the government's determination to wipe out the extremist group.
Prince Harry may travel to the UK to promote his controversial new memoir, Spare, which could see retaliation from the palace including stripping him and Meghan of their Sussex titles, royal experts say.

Last night reports claimed Harry may fly to Britain in the New Year to explain his 'intent' in writing the book  which is set to cast a shadow over the Royal Family's Christmas - the first since the Queen died.

Senior royals are said to be bracing themselves' for the publication of the 416-page title on January 10. Biographer Tom Bower has warned the memoir's reception will be a make or break moment for the Sussexes.

Prince Harry may travel to the UK to promote his controversial new memoir, Spare

Royal commentators said the release of Prince Harry's book would be 'unhelpful' to King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort

Announcing the global publishing deal this year, Penguin Random House described the memoir as 'intimate and heartfelt'

'Put it this way, it's not going to make for a relaxing family Christmas,' a source told the Mail on Sunday.

It has now been claimed that Prince Harry had to submit his book more than once before it was accepted by publishers, sparking fears that it was 'sexed up' with revelations about the Royal Family.

A source told The Sun: 'The book has been back and forth between Harry and [ghost writer] JR Moehringer and the publishers a few times. They wanted more than was in the first draft, and then Harry wanted to refine things after the Queen passed away.

'But there has been extra toing and froing that people don't know about. This is because the publishers wanted more areas covered and more detail on some things that were already included.

Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Harry since news broke of memoir title Prince William 'has barely spoken' to Prince Harry since news broke of his brother's memoir Spare, royal experts have said. The Royal Family are also apparently on 'tenterhooks' to read the memoir, which is to be released on January 10, and have lawyers ready. Prince William, 40, has barely spoken a word to his brother Harry, 38, since the news of the book broke. Billed as a work of 'raw, unflinching honesty', the controversial book will be called Spare  a 'loaded' reference to his position as the younger brother of the heir to the throne. Royal author Angela Levin said she thought the palace were on 'tenterhooks' for the book's release. 'They have lawyers ready to read it but they won't see it until it's out. If it's too bland it won't be worth the millions they've already paid him,' she told The Sun Online. Details of the bombshell book were revealed and publisher Penguin Random House's description read: '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 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 sorrowand 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.' Family members were not informed of the title of the book before the announcement yesterday, while the Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow'. The publishers of the delayed memoir have made it clear that Harry will not shy away from sensitive subjects, such as the family's decision to encourage him and his elder brother Prince William to walk behind their mother Diana's coffin. He could also reveal which member of the monarchy he claims made a racist comment about the potential skin colour of his then unborn son Archie, or shine a light on his strained relationship with his father and troubled times with William. The brothers have had a troubled relationship since Harry moved to the US with his wife Meghan Markle. Advertisement

'There is a real concern that that means Harry has had to sex up the book and include revelations that even he might not even be that comfortable with.'

It is now reportedly feared that Harry will expand upon a claim made to Oprah Winfrey that a family member questioned what the skin colour of his and Meghan's son Archie would be.

Publishers Penguin Random House say the book is written with 'raw unflinching honesty' and is expected to contain explosive new material addressing Harry's childhood and his rift with 'The Firm' after meeting Meghan.

A source added: 'The book is much worse than people think.'

Bower told The Sun: 'This book is really make or break. I imagine that King Charles has been warned that any retaliation won't be pretty.

'All that King Charles can really do is to withhold the titles for his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet. Ultimately, I suppose, he could take away Harry and Meghan's titles as well, but that's pretty drastic.

'I don't know what else he can do. If it is as bad as I think it is, then Harry and Meghan have gone fully rogue.'

He added that the best thing the royal family could do in this scenario would be to 'break ties' with the pair.

The title is presumed to refer to Harry being the 'spare' to Prince William's 'heir' but has been translated to sound more ominous in other languages.

In Spain it will be called In The Shadow, in Sweden The Other, and in Denmark, The Reservist.

Harry will narrate the audio version himself, but voice artist Emily Woo Zeller warned: 'To take words off a page and make them sound like dialogue is a skill. I don't know if Harry has that skill.'

Another source close to Prince Harry told the Telegraph last night that the Duke of Sussex wrote his controversial memoir for himself, rather than being a 'takedown of his family'.

It was described by those familiar with the manuscript as a 'beautiful read', that readers from all walks of life will identify with.

The experience of addressing his past struggles is said to have been cathartic for Prince Harry.

The source said: 'You can't always live your life trying to make your family or your siblings happy.

'You have to choose your own happiness.'

It comes after it was reported on Friday night that Prince Harry will not return to the UK to spend the first Christmas since Queen Elizabeth II died with his family amid the controversy.

Sources close to the couple told The Mirror relations between Harry and wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family are 'near rock bottom' and they could decline an invitation to spend the festive period with Harry's family.

It had been hoped that relations would thaw somewhat after the Queen's death, but sources told The Mirror that the couple have 'no plans' to travel to the UK for Christmas.

The rest of the royal family were reportedly surprised at the memoir's title.

Another source told The Mirror the book could spell 'the end' for any reconciliation efforts between the Sussexes and the royals: 'This book could spell the end for any relationship Harry wants to have with his family, it's desperately sad.'

An initial release date had been pencilled in for 'late 2022' to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market, but the book will not be on the shelves until January 10  said to be as a mark of respect following the death of the Queen, and, it is rumoured, due to last-minute alterations requested by the duke.

A spokesman for the King declined to comment on the book. But it is understood that the Royal Household has already been warned that the 416-page, 28 book is 'critical of everyone and everything' and they are 'dreading' it.

The memoir has already topped Amazon charts in the UK and US, as well as reaching the second spot in Canada, despite publication still being several months away.
Asylum seekers flee overcrowded reception center in Cyprus

Xinhua) 11:14, October 29, 2022

NICOSIA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of asylum seekers fled the main reception center in Cyprus for irregular migrants after a fire broke out there amid clashes, local police said on Friday.

Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou said a large force of regular and anti-riot police officers was trying to contain the situation at the overcrowded Pournara reception center, some 20 kilometers west of the capital Nicosia.

"The police force is doing whatever is possible to protect both residents of communities in the region and the migrants themselves," state CyBC radio quoted him as saying.

CyBC said the reception center was evacuated after people started to hurl rocks at each other and set prefabricated buildings and tents on fire.

The police used teargas to control marauding crowds. Twenty people were hurt, including three security officers. Three asylum seekers were taken to hospital. About 20 tents were destroyed.

Police said that large groups of asylum seekers fled the center and were moving towards nearby communities in the area.

The Pournara center was designed to host up to 1,000 people, but reports said the actual number of people living there is much higher.

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has said that the authorities have been struggling to cope with a large influx of asylum seekers this year. He said that 17,000 people had arrived through irregular channels in Cyprus up to last week, double the number of arrivals during the same period of 2021.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
NASA released images of a fresh crater on Mars that was created due to the force of a major meteorite impact that revealed chunks of ice under the red planet's surface.

The meteor was estimated to have struck Mars' surface on Deccember 24, 2021, the day before the space agency's James Webb Space Telescope launched. The impact of the cosmic object left a crater that was nearly 500 feet across. NASA made the images of the crater, which were taken by a Mars-orbiting satellite, public this week.

Fresh Mars Crater

During a Thursday press conference, the director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, Lori Glaze, said that the meteorite that caused the crater was probably about 17 to 33 feet across. A paper that described the impact and its seismic effects was published in Science this week.

A planetary scientist at Brown University, Ingrid Daubar, who leads InSight's Impact Science Working Group, said in a NASA release that it was unprecedented to find such a fresh impact of the size that was discovered on Mars. She noted that it was an exciting moment in geologic history, as per Gizmodo.

Experts said that the meteorite strike was immediately detected as a magnitude 4 quake by NASA's InSight lander, which is a four-year-old mission that was designed to study the geology of the red planet. InSight's onboard seismometer picked up the seismic waves that were generated by the impact from 2,150 miles away.

Astronomers who operate the Context Camera and Mars Color Imager aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter first detected the crater on February 11. The Context Camera also took images of the region where the meteorite crash-landed before and after the impact.

According to CNN, scientists later discovered that the event was one of the largest meteoroid strikes on Mars since the space agency began studying the red planet. The orbiter's captured images showed the blast zone of the crater, allowing scientists to further compare it with the epicenter of the quake that InSight detected.

Read Also: NASA Earth Space Mission Discovers 50 Methane 'Super-Emitters' That Significantly Contribute to Climate Change

Chunks of Ice

The impact of the meteorite also revealed chunks of ice under the surface of Mars, which were found buried closer to the warm Martian equator than any ice that has ever been detected on the red planet. In a statement, the orbital science operations lead for the orbit at Malin Space Systems in San Diego, Liliya Posiolova, said that the image of the meteor impact was unlike anything that has been seen before.

Posiolova noted that the team first saw the crater on February 11, 2022, while they were taking photos to complement an earlier photograph of the area. She noted that when the image came back, the team found it unusual, noting that the dust disturbance was massive.

The scientists then wondered if the dust disturbance was visible on their color imager camera, and went to take a look. It was at that time that the team noted debris in the area, said Posiolova. She also said that she remembered an email from NASA's InSight mission that talked about a recording of a "large seismic event" on Christmas Eve last year, USA Today reported.

Related Article: James Webb Telescope Photos: NASA Captures Stunning View of Two Possible Galaxies Merging

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk is considering firing large numbers of Twitter employees on Saturday, according to a report - in order to stop them from receiving their November 1 stock grants.

Musk, 51, took control of Twitter on Thursday, on completion of a contentious $44 billion deal.

He immediately fired the CEO, chief financial officer, head of legal, and general counsel.

Musk has said he plans on trimming down the company and making it profitable, and ever since his takeover was first raised in April staff have braced themselves for job losses.

In a securities filing on April 14, Musk said he did not have confidence in Twitter's management and initially vowed to sack 75 percent of the workforce when he formally bought the tech giant.

On Saturday, The New York Times said the losses could come immediately - in part to skirt the November 1 deadline.

Musk posted a video of himself marching into Twitter's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink on Wednesday

On November 1, employees will be issued with stock - for many, a large part of their annual compensation package.

Musk could avoid making the grants if the staff are let go before then, the paper reported.

Four sources told the paper that some managers are being asked to draw up lists of employees to cut, as Musk tries to whittle down the staff numbers from its current 7,500.

Musk on Saturday did not discuss his plans - instead tweeting about the delights of bread, pastry and carbohydrates.

'Finally, the truth that carbs are amazing can be said on this platform! #FreeSpeech,' he tweeted.

He added: '#SoBrave'

Musk is believed to have ordered the cuts across the company, with some teams to be harder hit than others, said three of the people.

It was not clear how many people would be let go.

Just a day before being fired by Musk, Twitter lawyer Vijaya Gadde was photographed glaring at her new boss in an awkward meet-up with other employees at the HQ coffee bar.

Gadde, widely considered the 'head of censorship' at Twitter, had been vocal in her criticism of Musk; she cried during a meeting in April after he first announced plans to buy the company. She was a well-known Democrat donor and was behind the decision to squash links to a New York Post story about Hunter Biden's incriminating laptop before the 2020 election.

Musk had publicly slammed her for the decision.

On Wednesday, she was spotted with Musk and others at the coffee bar at Twitter HQ. The next day, she was fired along with CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal.

But she walks away with a sizeable payout - a total of $72million in stocks that she owned, salary and benefits, and stocks that had not yet vested when she was in her position but which are now paid out as part of the deal.

MarketWatch reports that Gadde, Agrawal and Segal take a combined 'golden parachute' of $204million; Agrawal gets $66million and Segal takes $65million.

Musk has not yet publicly named their replacements but he is expected to act as interim CEO at least on a temporary basis.

Friday also marked the return of Musk's friend, Kanye West, to Twitter after the troubled rapper was suspended from the platform following a series of anti-Semitic rants on social media.

Elon Musk speaks with employees including fired top counsel Vijaya Gadde (left) on Wednesday after taking over at Twitter. She was responsible for permanently banning President Trump from the site - a move that Musk says he will reverse

Musk at the Twitter coffee bar yesterday. He has vowed to fire 75 percent of the staff - to the dismay of many senior employees

There's a new sheriff in town: Elon Musk tweets on Friday morning after taking over the company

TWITTER'S HEAD OF CENSORSHIP: LAWYER WHO BANNED TRUMP & DONATED $16,000 TO THE DEMOCRATS Vijaya Gadde's had been a low-key Silicon Valley power player for years, and at Twitter played a key role in the contentious decisions to ban Donald Trump and suppress news articles about Hunter Biden's laptop. After moving to the US from India with her family as a toddler, Gadde and her family faced racism as she grew up in Beaumont, Texas, where she has said her father had to seek approval from the Ku Klux Klan to sell insurance door-to-door. Federal records show that she has also donated regularly to Democratic candidates, contributing more than $18,000 over the past two decades, and most recently supporting Kamala Harris with a $2,700 check in 2019. As Twitter's chief legal officer and general counsel, Gadde exercises enormous power at the company, where she has long essentially had final say over who is allowed on the platform, and what they can tweet. In an interview with Bloomberg, Gadde once said that Twitter's former CEO Jack Dorsey left the creation and enforcement of content policies up to her. 'He rarely weighs in on an individual enforcement decision,' Gadde told the outlet. 'I can't even think of a time. I usually go to him and say, 'this is what's going to happen.'' Although she maintains a low profile, that power has put Gadde at the center of some of Twitter's most controversial moderation decisions, including the decision to permanently ban Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021. She also signed off on Twitter's move to block the sharing of links to a New York Post article based on files from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop soon before the 2020 election. Advertisement

As Musk ushered them out last night, he asked Tesla engineers to visit HQ today to start rewriting the website's code.

Among his plans is to open source algorithms to increase transparency for users about how their data is used to suggest content to them, and to add an 'edit' button for all.

He also plans to allow President Trump back on the site.

Trump welcomed his takeover on Friday, writing on his own social media site Truth Social: 'TRUTH SOCIAL has become somewhat of a phenomena.

'Last week it had bigger numbers than all other platforms, including TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and the rest.

'It also looks and works better to my eye. I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs that truly hate our country.

'Twitter must now work hard to rid itself of all of the bots and fake accounts that have hurt it so badly.

'It will be much smaller, but better. I LOVE TRUTH!'

Conservative figures who were banned from the platform now hope that his stated commitment to free speech will allow them to return.

The big names booted from Twitter include Donald Trump, Roger Stone, Alex Jones, Steve Bannon and US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Among those who have decried his plans as dangerous is the former head of global public policy, Colin Crowell.

He left Twitter in 2019, long before Musk had designs on the site, but told The New York Times: 'Its a back-to-the-future reversion to content rules circa 2010, but one that ignores the lived experience over the last decade.

'People eventually realize that the Wild West needs a sheriff, both for ensuring the safety of citizens but also for enhancing the prospects for commerce.'

Twitter shares have risen steadily throughout the week in anticipation of the takeover, but they will be halted on Friday on the NYSE.

Musk plans to take the company private - a move that will somewhat shield him from the regulation and bureaucracy he faces with a publicly traded company.

Twitter's former top lawyer Gadde, who earned $17 million in 2021, was reportedly in tears in April when Musk's takeover first came to light. She has now been paid out $12.5 million for her troubles, Insider said.

Ex-CFO Segal  who was the man behind Mr Trump's Twitter ban  also received the handsome sum of $25.4 million after being fired by Musk on Thursday evening.

And former CCO Sarah Personette was handed $11.2 million as part of Musk's house clearance.

Despite Musk's obvious delight with the astonishing deal which will go down in history, some experts have claimed that he has 'overpaid' for the platform.

Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, told the US Sun that the deal 'will go down as one of the most overpaid tech acquisitions in the history of M&A deals on the Street in our opinion'.

Ives, who works for an LA-based investment firm, estimates the value of the company to be closer to $25billion rather than the $44billion.

'With fair value that we would peg at roughly $25billion, Musk buying Twitter remains a major head-scratcher that ultimately he could not get out of once the Delaware Courts got involved,' he said.

In the lead-up to the South African's buyout of the social media firm, the market positively reacted, with share prices visibly improving.

They went up by 7.23 per cent in the last five days and were up about 1 per cent at $53.94 in early trading on Wednesday.

Sean Edgett (left), the general counsel, and Ned Segal, chief financial officer for Twitter (right), have also reportedly been fired

Sarah Personette (left) tweeted on Wednesday that she was excited to work with Elon Musk  and was fired by him the next day

The stock has surged nearly 65 percent from a four-month low hit in July.

However, after Musk's purchase, the New York Stock Exchange's website showed that Twitter shares would be suspended from trading.

The South African publicly criticized Twitter's existing leadership team - in particular, attacking their policies on content moderation and censorship. He has also sparred with them over data on how many accounts were bots or spam.

This deal completion comes at the eleventh hour - just one day before Musk was going to be dragged back into court after being sued by Twitter for a back-and-forth he had over whether he was going to buy the company.

On Wednesday, 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.

This fueled rumors that Musk had closed the deal to buy Twitter in which he shared the clip with the caption: 'Entering Twitter HQ, let that sink in'.

The platform's co-founder Biz Stone confirmed their departures last night

Agrawal, who took over from founder Jack Dorsey almost a year ago, has been at loggerheads with Musk over the number of genuine Twitter users, with Musk responding to a thread of Agrawal's in May with a 'poop' emoji.

When Musk first made his takeover bid in April, he said he had not been given accurate data about spam accounts and bots.

Three months after launching his bid, Musk pulled out  insisting he had been misled about the size of the firm.

Twitter has for years said that bots make up less than 5 percent of its 'monetizable daily active users' (mDAU).
The head of Britain's private schools has criticised Oxford and Cambridge universities for using new assessment methods which 'favour' state pupils over those who went to fee-paying schools.

Melvyn Roffe, chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, said 'alarm bells should start ringing' over the new admissions process, which 'tends to confirm the suspicion that school type is being used by universities as a 'quick and dirty' proxy measure to make the system appear fairer'.

Mr Roffe, principal at George Watson's College in Edinburgh, said of the process: 'It may help some meet targets, it may even have some Oxford admission tutors fist-bumping in glee, but is it really making things fairer?'

The head of Britain's private schools has criticised Oxford and Cambridge universities for using new assessment methods which 'favour' state pupils over those who went to fee-paying schools

He was alluding to the Oxford and Cambridge system of a candidate who is predicted three A* grades at A-level having their GCSE performance 'contextualised'.

Admissions tutors examine a sophisticated schools database with detailed information on the applicant's school, going as far as what proportion of pupils receive free meals.

Then, an applicant's GCSE grades are compared to those of the rest of the pupils in their school, rather than the wider population.

For Cambridge, if an applicant's GCSE results are in the top 20 per cent, they are deemed successful.

Mr Roffe is concerned that such an assessment gives state schools an advantage at the expense of private sector pupils, whose results tend to be higher and who are from further up the socio-economic scale.

'So, is a reduced success rate for independent school applicants to Oxbridge evidence that our university application system is becoming fairer?' he wrote in yesterday's Daily Telegraph. 'I'm not so sure.'

Official data released by Oxford and Cambridge show that the percentage of private school pupils entering the two institutions has been declining over the years.

Figures show that in 2017, 58.2 per cent of all UK undergraduates entering Oxford were from state schools. By last year, that had increased to 68.2 per cent. At Cambridge, in 2017, the ratio of state school undergraduates was 64.1 per cent. In 2021, the figure had risen to 71.6 per cent.

About 7 per cent of British children attend private schools, rising to 18 per cent after the age of 16.

Both Oxford and Cambridge universities defended their entrance assessment processes.

A spokesman at Cambridge University said: 'A major factor to consider is that applications to Cambridge and Oxford have increased significantly over the last few years, as state schools have got better at preparing their students for the application process and delivered improved A-level grades. There are now six applications per place available, so the field is far more competitive.'

Oxford University did not comment but a source said: 'Oxford puts considerable effort into assessing applicants on their individual merits and creating an admissions process that identifies talent from all backgrounds and irrespective of circumstance.'
Even his most impassioned devotees would probably admit that Sir Keir Starmer is hardly a byword for excitement.

But last week the Labour leader revealed he had been a 'bit of a lad' at school and had got into trouble for fighting.

The revelation about a boy remembered as a 'model pupil' left former pupils and teachers from Reigate Grammar School in Surrey scratching their heads.

The party leader had told LBC radio presenter Nick Ferrari: 'I did get a detention.'

He added that it was for 'fighting'. However, asked whom he fought, Sir Keir said: 'I can't remember, but they were always around the back of the sheds.'

The revelation about a boy remembered as a 'model pupil' left former pupils and teachers from Reigate Grammar School in Surrey scratching their heads. Pictured: Starmer at school

Tory peer Andrew Cooper, who was in the same year at the school, said of the fight claims: 'That's news to me'. Pictured: Starmer at school

Lord Cooper said he himself got his 'fair share of detention', but added that he didn't recall 'any detentions by Keir'. He suggested Sir Keir was a more engaging figure as a youngster than he is as a politician, saying: 'My recollection was that he was kind of a live wire. Pictured: Starmer at school

Tory peer Andrew Cooper, who was in the same year at the school, said of the fight claims: 'That's news to me.

'I don't remember any fights. He was a normal teenage kid. I don't remember anything specific like fights or anything like that.'

Lord Cooper said he himself got his 'fair share of detention', but added that he didn't recall 'any detentions by Keir'. He suggested Sir Keir was a more engaging figure as a youngster than he is as a politician, saying: 'My recollection was that he was kind of a live wire.

'In social situations, he was a charismatic kid. If there was a bundle of boys at the playground having a laugh, Keir would be in the middle of it.'

When Sir Keir entered the school in 1974, it was a state selective grammar which became a private school the following year

Retired teacher David Jones, who taught French to the young Starmer, said of suggestions that he had fought: 'Good heavens, no. No, he never came to my attention in that context in any shape or form.

'I think, unusually, in his current position, he is probably being ever so slightly frivolous. As far as I am concerned, I would say he was a model pupil.' One of Sir Keir's classmates, Andrew Sullivan, said: 'I don't remember any fights.

'He could have got detentions, but you don't tend to remember others' detentions.'

However, Mr Sullivan, now a prominent conservative commentator in the US, added: 'He was a rough and rowdy guy.

'He was a bruiser. He was definitely much more fun-and-games than I see him today. I can barely recognise the Keir in public today.'

Other old boys include Norman Cook, the real name of DJ Fat Boy Slim, and David Walliams. Pictured: Starmer

Mr Sullivan said he and Sir Keir became 'notorious for never leaving each other alone' in fierce political debates during their school days, insisting: 'There was a lot more colour to him than the current thing.

'He was a force of nature. He had fire in his belly.'

When Sir Keir entered the school in 1974, it was a state selective grammar. It became a private school the following year and now charges annual fees of up to 21,000. Other old boys include Norman Cook, the real name of DJ Fat Boy Slim, and David Walliams.

Last night, a Labour Party spokesman declined to comment.
Erling Haaland missed out on Manchester City's matchday squad for their match against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

The Norwegian striker has been in stunning form this season, scoring 17 goals in 11 league games, but he has been ruled out after suffering a knock during City's Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola had admitted Haaland was a doubt for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off during his pre-match press conference due to the minor injury and struggling with a fever, and the 22-year-old has failed to recover in time.

Erling Haaland has not been named in Man City's matchday squad for their game at Leicester

Pep Guardiola has revealed the striker will not play as he is struggling with a 'knock'

Guardiola explained Haaland's absence ahead of kick-off to BT Sport, saying: 'He recovered from the fever, from being tired, but not the knock.'

However, it didn't stop City from claiming a 1-0 win thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's free-kick early in the second-half as they went top of the Premier League.

Reacting to the news, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers admitted he was delighted that his side would not have to face the free-scoring forward.

Asked whether he was happy at Haaland missing out, Rodgers told BT Sport: 'Of course. I've got holes in my knees sliding around the kitchen!

'He's an amazing player. For us in the Premier League to see a world class talent is great, but they've still got top players to come in.'

Prior to Haaland's arrival, City played most of their games last season with a 'false nine' in place. Former City defender Joleon Lescott expected the defending champions to revert to this system, with Julian Alvarez coming in to lead the line.

Brendan Rodgers joked he's been 'knee-sliding around his kitchen' now Haaland isn't playing

'I think they will return to their old style, the variation of crosses will change,' Lescott said on BT Sport.

Fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand agreed, and backed City to cope without the Premier League's top scorer.

'He (Alvarez) has the ability to play that false nine and come deep but his main threat is going through the middle.

'This team are so fluid that the individual doesn't really impact the team that much. Players come out and come in and it works like clockwork,' Ferdinand added.

Alvarez has found his game time limited this season due to Haaland's presence in the team, but Joe Cole labelled Saturday's match as a 'big game' for the Argentine to prove that he should be playing more when Haaland returns.

'I think it's going to be like for like. Alvarez will try and come in and occupy a bit more. It's a big game for Alvarez,' Cole said.
Netflix has been criticised for making up royal scenes for The Crown and have reportedly been forced to rewrite the Queen's historic Annus Horribilis speech.

In November 1992 her Majesty spoke at London's Guildhall after a number of scandals and just four days after the fire which burnt down part of her home at Windsor Castle.

At the time she was celebrating her Ruby Jubilee and admitted in the speech that it was not a year 'which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure'.

Show: Netflix has been criticised for making up royal scenes for The Crown and have reportedly been forced to rewrite the Queen's historic Annus Horribilis speech (Imelda Staunton pictured in character as the Queen)

She thanked the public though for their continued support over the years to her and husband Prince Philip.

Queen Elizabeth said: 'In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'.'

According to The Sun, The Crown version reportedly sees Imelda Staunton, who plays the Queen in the hit Netflix series, act out a 'rewritten' version of history.

Speech: In November 1992 her Majesty spoke at London's Guildhall after a number of scandals and just four days after the fire which burnt down part of her home at Windsor Castle

The show does not portray the Monarch delivering the same lines she did and instead acknowledges 'the errors of the past'.

A TV insider claimed Netflix has 'rewritten history by changing the speech' which actress Imelda delivers in the show.

They said: 'Netflix can argue about what may or may not have happened behind closed doors to justify some of their storylines, but they've essentially rewritten history by changing the speech.

History: At the time she was celebrating her Ruby Jubilee and admitted in the speech that it is was not a year 'which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure'

'This will only add to the sense that The Crown is taking huge liberties with the truth and unfairly causing untold damage to the reputation of the monarchy.

'It also feels highly insensitive given that the Queen only passed away last month, and the nation is trying to rally around the royal family.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Netflix for comment.

The speech was made just weeks before then Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced they were separating.

Earlier this week new photos from the shooting of The Crown reveal how the controversial Netflix series will show moped-riding paparazzi photographers swarming Princess Diana's car in the moments before the crash that killed her.

Drama: However, The Crown version sees Imelda Staunton (pictured), who plays the Queen in the hit Netflix series, act out a 'rewritten' version of history

A TV insider told The Sun: 'Netflix can argue about what may or may not have happened behind closed doors to justify some of their storylines, but they've essentially rewritten history by changing the speech' (Imelda Staunton pictured in character)

The images show photographers riding on the back of mopeds as they drive close to a Mercedes similar to the one that Diana was traveling in when it crashed in the Alma tunnel in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

They are seen travelling into a tunnel that is just 100 yards from the one in which Diana was fatally injured.

The Paparazzi infamously pursued the car being driven by drunk driver Henri Paul as it carried Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed away from the Ritz hotel in Paris.

Some then took pictures as Diana, Dodi and Paul lay gravely injured in the wrecked Mercedes after the crash.

The source added: 'This will only add to the sense that The Crown is taking huge liberties with the truth and unfairly causing untold damage to the reputation of the monarchy. It also feels highly insensitive given that the Queen only passed away last month, and the nation is trying to rally around the royal family' (Imelda Staunton pictured in character)

Netflix had insisted the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama, but the new images will pile pressure on the streaming platform as they show just how close they get to the moment of impact.

Speaking to MailOnline, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said the depiction of the minutes before Diana's death is 'distasteful', adding that 'a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss'.

The fifth series is being released on November 9, with the sixth series still being filmed.

It comes after Princess Diana's friends yesterday slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix as initial images of the scene emerged.
Kyle Sandilands is gushing over his soon-to-be wife Tegan Kynaston and their newborn son Otto.

The radio mogul, 51, welcomed his first child in August, but had never really thought about becoming a father until he met his fiancee, 37.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Mail Australia, Sandilands reveals what made him reconsider becoming a dad.

Kyle Sandilands, 51, welcomed his first child in August, but had never really thought about being a father until he met his fiancee Tegan Kynaston, 37. Both pictured

'It just wasn't on the radar,' he admits. 'And then Tegan said to me once, "What are your thoughts about children? I get the vibe you're not into them."'

He adds: 'And I was like, "Oh, I just never thought about it."'

The Australian Idol judge then says that starting a family was a big priority for Kynaston.

'She said, "It's important to me. I want to have children so yell out now if you're not into it, because I'm in my 30s and I need to make some decisions,"' he recalls.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Mail Australia, Sandilands reveals what made him reconsider becoming a dad

'I actually thought about it. And I thought "Well, of course I'd like that." I just hadn't been on the on the radar. And now, I would just never change it.'

Sandilands continued to gush over his 10-week-old son: 'People say "Oh you don't know laugh until you've looked into his eyes." And I thought, "f***ing whatever!" But it's so true. When he looks at me I get thrills.'

The media personality also addressed his recent on-air outbursts and admits that his fiancee was the one who made him reassess his situation.

'I just never thought about it,' he says, adding that starting a family was 'important' for his fiancee

Sandilands gushed over his 10-week-old son: 'People say "Oh you don't know laugh until you've looked into his eyes." And I thought, "f***ing whatever!" But it's so true. When he looks at me I get thrills'

The Kyle and Jackie O Show host unleashed on his own radio station in an eight-minute rant last month after what he perceived as a snub by the company's publicity team.

'Tegan did say to me, "Oh, you cracked the sh*ts on the air again today I hear?" And I was like "Oh, yeah,"' he exclusively tells Daily Mail Australia.

'She's like, "Well, maybe you've bitten off more you can chew. You're relaunching Australian Idol. You got the biggest breakfast show in the country. You've got a newborn child. We're renovating two homes at the moment. You're doing it all. Maybe you need to take a break. Take a beat. Take a deep breath before you just start launching into tirades. Maybe you don't have to make a mountain out of a molehill."'

Sandilands adds that he's grateful for Kynaston's guidance.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show host unleashed on his own radio station in an eight-minute rant last month after what he perceived as a snub by the company's publicity team

Kyle proposed to his partner Tegan in January this year and welcomed their first child together in August

'I hate when she's right. It sort of annoys me a bit,' he laughs.

'But it's nice to have a sounding board at home that can just put you in check.'

In September, the radio host said the PR department at KIIS FM's parent company ARN should have fired off a press release emphasising his show's ratings milestone, labelling them 'losers', 'flops' and 'absolute a**eholes' for the apparent oversight.

'I am sick and tired of working here,' Sandilands snapped live on air.

'Everyone is a loser, except for everyone on this show. Everyone else outside of this show is a massive loser. I am not joking.'

'I hate when she's right. It sort of annoys me a bit,' he says of Kynaston. 'But it's nice to have a sounding board at home that can just put you in check'

He added: 'They have got no idea. This whole station couldn't pull a root in a brothel with a wheelbarrow full of money and a grin. They wouldn't know, they wouldn't get laid. They are too dumb. Imbeciles.

'I am sick and tired of this joint hiring idiots to run things and then it takes them a year to find out that guy is a d**khead and he should be fired. Get rid of the flops. I should be running this whole joint.'

He later apologised, and tells Daily Mail Australia that 'there's no real issue'.

'This is the best way to network I've ever worked for,' he says. 'I still speak to the CEO regularly. It's not as if he's in some ivory tower somewhere. We're all on the same floor.'

In September, the radio host said the PR department at KIIS FM's parent company ARN should have fired off a press release emphasising his show's ratings milestone, labelling them 'losers', 'flops' and 'absolute a**eholes' for the apparent oversight

He later apologised, and tells Daily Mail Australia that 'there's no real issue'. 'This is the best way to network I've ever worked for,' he says

'Things are good there. But I mouth off every now and then. I do expect all the staff to be their very best every single day.'

He adds: 'I still deal with it the old school way by yelling and carrying on. There's no dramas there. They know I'm an a**hole sometimes.

'But they also know that when push comes to shove, they'll come to me if there's a problem even in their personal life or work life. They know I've got their back. So it's just like that grumpy old uncle. Uncle Kyle.'

Sandilands and his radio co-host, Jackie O Henderson, will receive the ultimate honour in radio, after being inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame during the 33rd annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards on Saturday.

'I just always thought this [award] was reserved for the old timers,' he says. 'And then someone reminded me that I am 51 I am actually an old timer, which is shocking because I've got a 10 week old kid. So I think I left my run a bit late for everything else but early for this award.'

Last month, Sandilands and Henderson (right) reached more Sydneysiders than ever during the latest ratings period than at any point in their 30-year career

Elated over the honour, Sandilands looked back on his decades-long career and admits he couldn't have done it without Henderson.

'I've been doing it about 35 [years], 22 with Jackie. I burned through everyone else through the years until I found her,' he tells Daily Mail Australia.

'My first three days working with Jackie I think she was a bit unsure, because I was making mistakes... I think I hung up on Victoria Beckham 11 times in a row by mistake because I didn't know how to work the equipment properly!

'Then all of a sudden, I just came to it. It was like I went to sleep an idiot and woke up knowing how to work everything. But she didn't realise it was in there 24 hours a day just learning every little button for everything.'

Sandilands and his radio co-host, Jackie O Henderson (pictured), will receive the ultimate honour in radio, after being inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame during the 33rd annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards

He adds: 'It doesn't even feel like 20 years, it seems like five. It's really weird to actually have a job that you just feel like you're hanging out with your friends every day.

'Even though that alarm goes off at 4:15am, I just spring out of bed like a Jack-in-a-Box. Jackie's a bit slower apparently. At her place she drags multiple snooze hits.'

Sandilands landed his first on-air radio job when he was just 21. Prior to that, he was employed at 4TO Townsville to drive the station's promotional vehicle.

But the weekday morning radio host reveals he was just 16 years old and driving without a license.

Sandilands landed his first on-air radio job when he was just 21. Prior to that, he was employed at 4TO Townsville to drive the station's promotional vehicle

The weekday morning radio host reveals he was just 16 years old and driving without a license

'I was 16. I lied to get the job driving the radio station car - didn't even have a license. I was driving around giving out the cans of drink and stuff like that,' he says.

'I did that for a year, until someone cottoned on: "This kid's underage and has been lying and driving the radio station car up around Townsville for a year!" But anyway, I came good. Moved stations and went to Cairns. Didn't lie. Got a license and went legit.'

The radio giant is still humble about how far he's come since his early radio days and working in Queensland.

'I never thought I'd get this far. My dream was to one day be good enough to work on the Gold Coast,' he admits, adding that he eventually moved on to Triple M in Brisbane.

'That also sucked, because I hated rock music,' he continues. 'But Brisbane was my hometown so I felt like a bit of a hero.

Sandilands' success was never really a 'perfect plan', he says, but admits being himself is the main thing that keeps his audience coming back for more

'I finally got my real wish because I wanted to always be on a pop station. When I moved to Today FM with Jackie I felt like I'd won the lotto. It was ridiculous.'

Sandilands never really had a 'perfect plan' for success, he says, but admits being 100 per cent authentic is the main thing that keeps his listeners coming back for more.

He also isn't afraid to admit and own up to his often controversial behaviour.

'Yes, I'm a bit of an asshole sometimes, but also we're just really there to have a laugh and to make people feel included,' he says.

'How do you expect anyone to relate to you if you're just a flat, one dimensional version of yourself? I think that people that listen to the show regularly, they get the understanding.'

The Kyle and Jackie O has notably bucked the trend of radio ratings going downhill as more young people turn to podcasts for content.

The Kyle and Jackie O has notably bucked the trend of radio ratings going downhill as more young people turn to podcasts for content

Sandilands also isn't afraid to admit and own up to his often controversial behaviour

Not only has the program consistently grown its live radio audience, particularly in the 25-54 demographic, but its catch-up podcast is No. 1 in Australia.

Sandilands also highlights what makes his radio program with Henderson stand out so much compared to other breakfast shows.

'When I got to Sydney, there was no mixed voices on the radio. Everyone that won a prize was always a happy 30-year-old lady,' he says.

'But like I put the Lebanese community on, the Asians on, I put old, drunk people on. Anyone that rang, I saw that's part of the community. Let's put them all on the radio because that's that's the community we live in.'
Liev Schreiber dressed in a classically fancy ensemble for the debut of Slainte Irish Whiskey in New York City on Thursday.

The 55-year-old actor donned a gray blazer and matching slacks over a button-down black shirt and shiny dress shoes.

His hair was shaved neatly all the way down, and he trimmed his graying beard into a manageable stubble.

Stylish: Liev Schreiber dressed in a classically fancy ensemble for the debut of Slainte Irish Whiskey in New York City on Thursday

Happy couple: He was joined on the red carpet by his girlfriend, Taylor Neisen, who wore a silky long sleeve black dress with a ruffled skirt

He was joined on the red carpet by his girlfriend, Taylor Neisen, who wore a silky long sleeve black dress with a ruffled skirt.

The 30-year-old added black high heels which matched her handbag, and her platinum blonde tresses cascaded in soft waves down to the top of her chest.

Schreiber wrapped his arm around his better half's waist, and the pair smiled softly.

Toned down: The 55-year-old actor donned a gray blazer and matching slacks over a button-down black shirt and shiny dress shoes

Drinks industry expert Richard Davies stopped for a photo with the Ray Donovan actor on the red carpet as well.

Davies, who helped create the brand with Schreiber, wore a dark blue suit and a black shirt. His gray hair was combed up and off to the right.

Candace Bushnell, who created the Sex and the City newspaper column which led to the hit television series, attended the event in a short black miniskirt and black stockings.

She added a splash of a color with a bright pink shoulder bag. Fashion designer Nicole Miller shared a photo with Schreiber and Bushnell.

Partners: Drinks industry expert Richard Davies stopped for a photo with the Ray Donovan actor on the red carpet as well

Star-studded: Candace Bushnell (right), who created the Sex and the City newspaper column which led to the hit television series, and fashion designer Nicole Miller (left) also attended the event.

Slainte Irish Whiskey 100% golden Irish whiskey brand that benefits BlueCheck Ukraine, an organization which 'identifies, vets, and fast-tracks urgent financial support to Ukrainian NGOs and aid initiatives providing life-saving and other critical humanitarian work on the front lines of Russias war on Ukraine,' according to its website.

Attendees enjoyed a number of different signature cocktails from the brand, and Davies and Schreiber both talked about their whiskey onstage.

The night ended with Davies presenting Schreiber with a $40,000 check for Ukrainian humanitarian efforts.
Irina Shayk looked like the ultimate New Yorker on Friday when she rocked an all-black look for a stroll through the West Village.

Wearing a long black coat over a simple shirt with black jeans cut off at the knees, the Russian supermodel turned the sidewalk into a runway as she walked in square-toed boots.

Shayk, 36, carried a large black duffle bag and betrayed no emotion behind a pair of black shades as she accompanied her 5-year-old daughter Lea De Seine through the upscale neighborhood.

The ultimate New Yorker: Irina Shayk, 36, looked like the ultimate New Yorker on Friday when she rocked an all-black look for a stroll through the West Village

The jet-black intensity of Irina's classic look was lightened with large, yet simple rectangular hoop earrings.

The mother of one's minimal jewelry paired well with the subtle hint of metal at her waistline as Irina's silver belt buckle broke through the black ensemble to become a central focal point.

Minimal makeup and uncomplicated hair strengthened the chic tone of her serious outfit and did not undermine its Manhattanite severity.

This latest look is the continuation of a trend as Shayk has rarely missed an opportunity to take a bite out of The Big Apple with her fashion whenever she steps out in public.

Manhattan intensity: Wearing a long black coat over a simple shirt with black jeans cut off at the knees, the Russian supermodel turned the sidewalk into a runway as she walked in square-toed boots

Irina looked like a secret agent last Friday when she paired a long gray trench coat by Vivienne Westwood with black leather thigh-high boots from Riccardo Tisci.

The cover model continued to conquer the sidewalks of Manhattan on Wednesday when she layered a plaid coat over a black midi dress.

A plunging zipper neckline allowed her chest to peek through while black leather boots graced her feet yet again.

That fashionable look just so happened to be the ensemble she chose to wear for a family playdate with Bradley Cooper, 47.

It appears that the Russian stunner's show-stopping street style is doing little to help her stay under the radar as rumors of a reconciliation between her and Cooper continue to gain steam.

Chicest mom in the city: Shayk carried a large black duffle bag and betrayed no emotion behind a pair of black shades as she accompanied her 5-year-old daughter Lea De Seine through the upscale neighborhood

The supermodel and the movie star have been amicably co-parenting their daughter Lea De Seine ever since they officially split in 2019 after four years of dating.

The friendly exes were spotted with their daughter for a family outing in Manhattan. The adorable little girl was dressed in a devil costume for the occasion and her famous parents looked happy to be in each other's company.

Shayk and the Nightmare Alley star vacationed together over the summer in the Bahamas and they are reportedly considering having more children in the future.

'It was a real family getaway and they are considering getting back together,' said a source close to the couple who spoke to Page Six. The insider went on to assert that Irina and Bradley would like their daughter to have a sibling.
As the old saying goes, the best way to get over a man is to get under another one.

And that was Olivia Frazer's mantra on Friday night when she hooked up with a handsome stranger at a Halloween party in Sydney - while her ex-boyfriend Jackson Lonie flirted with a mystery woman just metres away.

The Married At First Sight star, 29, was pictured kissing a man she had just met at the spooky bash hosted by Believe Advertising and PR at Sussudio in Potts Point.

MAFS star Olivia Frazer hooked up with a handsome stranger at a Halloween party in Sydney on Friday, while her ex-boyfriend Jackson Lonie flirted with a mystery woman just metres away

The 29-year-old had arrived at the exclusive party dressed as a sexy German milkmaid

She immediately took a shine to the man, a filmmaker from England called William, after being introduced to him by a mutual friend.

'They were all over each other, and she didn't even seem to notice Jackson was just a few feet away in the same venue,' an onlooker told Daily Mail Australia.

'The bloke she hooked up with is from Manchester and only arrived in Australia a few weeks ago. I don't think he had any idea who Olivia was.'

Olivia was pictured kissing a man named William she had just met at the spooky bash hosted by Believe Advertising and PR at Sussudio in Potts Point

In an awkward twist, Olivia's ex Jackson could be seen in the background of several photos of her and Will kissing, with his distinctive halo visible above the throng of guests

Jackson (left, with MAFS co-star Cody Bromley) dressed as an angel for the Halloween party, complete with a halo that made him easily recognisable in the crowd

While Olivia was kissing the man, 31-year-old Jackson was seen working his charms on a glamorous brunette he had met at the bar.

In an awkward twist, he could be seen in the background of several photos of Olivia and Will kissing, with his distinctive halo visible above the throng of guests.

After meeting at Sussudio, Olivia and Will went with a group of friends to a karaoke bar in the CBD, where they continued to make out.

The pair left the venue together at about midnight.

She immediately took a shine to the man, a filmmaker from England called William, after being introduced to him by a mutual friend

While Olivia was kissing the man, 31-year-old Jackson was seen working his charms on a glamorous brunette he had met at the bar

After meeting at Sussudio, Olivia and Will went with a group of friends to a karaoke bar in the CBD, where they continued to make out. The pair left the venue together at about midnight

Olivia and Jackson were partnered on the most recent season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight, and at the start they seemed to be a match made in heaven.

The plumber loyally stood by his on-screen 'wife' as she was dragged into a feud with rival bride Domenica Calarco, but cracks started to emerge in their relationship in the months after the show finished airing.

They called it quits in August, not long after joining adult website OnlyFans together, but vowed to remain friends.
She turned heads in the Birdcage on Derby Day back in 2013 when she wore a plunging cut-out black crop top that flaunted her abs and a matching skirt.

But while Lara Worthington (nee Bingle), now 35, looked sensational in the daring ensemble, she was actually breaking the strict dress code of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

While the model followed the black and white theme, the Victorian Racing Club actually ban outfits featuring cut-outs, with tears or rips at Flemington Racecourse.

Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) turned heads in the Birdcage back in 2013 when she wore a plunging cut-out black crop top that flaunted her abs and a matching skirt

Also on the VRC's blacklist are tights and leggings, thongs, sneakers or casual shoes.

Tights and leggings are also banned, with Victoria Racing Club (VRC) stating pants should be 'tailored'. Thongs, sneakers and casual shoes are also not acceptable.

'Key items of clothing that are not acceptable include; short jumpsuits or playsuits, garments that show the midriff and shorts,' the VRC clearly states on their website.

Ditching the idea of a more traditional fascinator or hat, Lara's head gear stretched over her head with silver metal resting on her middle-part with a black centre piece draped down her forehead.

While the model followed the black and white theme, the Victorian Racing Club actually ban outfits featuring cut-outs, with tears or rips at Flemington Racecourse

Lara gave her Derby Day outfit a quirky twist with a Ryan Storer headpiece

She sported a chic crop top and skirt combo by Sydney-based designer Dion Lee, as well as the Ryan Storer headpiece that really put the traditional frock and fascinator formula to shame.

Lara's long-sleeve top also had a plunging neckline with a metal detailing that emphasised her bust.

She also flashed some skin while her top had two cut-outs on the side.

At the time, she lead the arrivals with a revealing mid-drift baring black top and skirt and a unique headdress

Lara's long-sleeve top also had a plunging neckline with a metal detailing that emphasised her bust

Lara, who was only 26 at the time, had just started dating Avatar star, Sam Worthington.

From her race day look, it was obvious why the actor eventually went on to marry the model and businesswoman.

Lara shares three sons with her actor husband, and the family spent most of 2021 in Australia, after living in the U.S. for several years.

They have since returned to America and appear to be living in New York City, where they previously resided.

Lara and Mel B chat in the Lavazza marquee during the AAMI Victoria Derby Day races in Melbourne

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.

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'.
The husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was severely battered with a hammer by an attacker who broke into their home in San Francisco early Friday.

The attack on Paul Pelosi, 82, added to the nation's already perilous political climate 11 days before the midterms. According to authorities, as reported by AP News, the suspect was calling out, "Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?" while seeking the Democratic leader.

Suspect Demands to See House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

When the attack in California occurred, Speaker Pelosi was in Washington. She landed in San Francisco late on Friday.

David DePape, 42, was detained on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse, and burglary, according to the police.

The speaker's office stated Paul Pelosi had surgery to address a skull fracture and right arm and hand injuries. Doctors anticipate a full recovery for him. Following the hammer attack, Biden immediately called Speaker Pelosi to express his support, and both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders denounced the incident.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the president was praying for Paul Pelosi as well as for Speaker Pelosi's entire family. "The president continues to condemn all violence," Jean-Pierre noted.

In a tweet, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed his shock and disgust at the attack. Police officers sent to the Pelosi residence for an "A-priority wellbeing check" witnessed and stopped the early-morning attack, which is still under investigation, according to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.

According to CNN, Paul Pelosi dialed emergency 911 and spoke in "code," giving the dispatcher the impression that something was amiss even though he did not outright state that he was being attacked. A source told Politico that Pelosi told the attacker he needed to use the toilet, where his phone was charging, and then called 911 from there.

A person briefed on the incident, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, said that the attacker asked, "Where is Nancy?" before beating her husband.

Drew Hammill, the spokeswoman for Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement that her husband had been attacked by an aggressor "who acted with force" and endangered his existence while "demanding to see the Speaker."

How the intruder got inside the Pelosis' three-story Pacific Heights townhouse is unknown. Broken glass was visible on an outside door at the back of the house in aerial pictures.

Read Also: US Families Raise Concerns as Free Lunch For Public Schools Ends Amid Rising Food Costs

Suspect Possibly Engaged in 'Satanic' Acts

There is little known information about the suspect as of present reporting. Internet user "daviddepape" has posted on various websites endorsing the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon and supporting former president Donald Trump.

The posts mention "satanic pedophilia," anti-Semitic stereotypes, women, transgender people, and tech censorship. The San Francisco Chronicle published a picture of a man it identified as Depape dancing in full attire during the nudist activists' wedding in San Francisco in 2013. Depape, a hemp jewelry manufacturer who lived with the couple in Berkeley, was the best man.

BBC has found evidence of a suspect's blog, website, and social media profiles that are full of anti-Semitic memes, Holocaust denial, allusions to far-right websites, and mentions of conspiracy theories like QAnon.

Additionally, he published disproven election fraud claims. His latest posts were all over the place and included numerous extreme right-wing and far-right viewpoints.

Related Article: Elon Musk Twitter Takeover: Is Donald Trump Now Going Back to Twitter?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Advertisement

She is the guest of honour at this year's Derby Day.

And Elsa Pataky, 46, didn't disappoint in the style stakes as she arrived at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday.

The Spanish siren looked absolutely sensational in little black dress that showed off her ample cleavage.

Elsa Pataky (pictured) showed off her cleavage in a sexy little black dress at she arrived at Penfolds Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday

Elsa was escorted through the celebrity-laden Birdcage by a staff member at Flemington Racecourse

She paired it with a classic black wide-brimmed hat from Christian Dior, which gave the ensemble a slightly masculine twist.

Elsa also had Dior heels on and wore a bold makeup style with bright red lipstick and thick lashes.

Her unique dress featured a belted corset top and a lacy sheer skirt, which created a one-of-a-kind look for the starlet.

She was all smiles as she posed confidently against the media wall, resting her hand on one hip as she beamed for the cameras.

Her unique dress featured a belted corset top and a lacy sheer skirt, which created a one-of-a-kind look for the starlet

The Spanish siren clutched her designer purse with both hands as she posed for photos

Meanwhile, Olivia Molly Rogers showed her ex-husband what he was missing following their recent split.

The former Miss Universe Australia stunner, 30, looked simply sensational in a traditional black and white ensemble as she posed for pictures while making her way to the exclusive Birdcage enclosure.

Olivia turned heads in a satin midi dress by Cappellazzo Couture with voluminous sleeves.

She teamed the Eighties-inspired ensemble with on-trend black platforms patent peep-toe heels and a matching black hat from Lauder Taylor Millinery.

A black choker and a dainty pearl handbag and matching earrings completed the outfit.

Olivia Molly Rogers (pictured) stunned in a plunging white dress as she arrived at Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne following beauty queen's heartbreaking split from husband

Olivia turned heads in a satin midi dress with voluminous sleeves

A black choker and a dainty pearl handbag and matching earrings completed the outfit

Meanwhile, Richard Wilkins' son Christian stole the show as he arrived in a satin corset teamed with billowing black trousers, hoof-inspired leather shoes and a dramatic headpiece.

The model and actor, 27, took the theme very seriously, wearing a pair of Maison Margiela famous Tabi shoes, which feature a split toe that appears to resemble a hoof.

Completing his look were long sheer gloves and several necklaces.

The brunette beauty swept her hair into a no-fuss chignon and rocked a smokey eye and nude lip for makeup

Meanwhile, Richard Wilkins' son Christian (pictured) stole the show as he arrived in a satin corset teamed with billowing black trousers, hoof-inspired leather shoes and a dramatic headpiece

All eyes were on the model and actor as he posed in The Birdcage in his head-turning ensemble

Completing his look were long sheer gloves and several necklaces. The socialite swept his hair back and wore sparking face jewels along his eyes and eyebrows

The standout piece of Christian's outfit was undeniably the huge diamante circular piece on his head which jetted out with sprigs that went past his waist and was finished off with feather endings

The socialite swept his hair back and wore sparking face jewels along his eyes and eyebrows.

But the standout piece of his outfit was undeniably the huge diamante circular piece on his head which jetted out with sprigs that went past his waist and was finished off with feather endings.

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse looked incredibly chic, showing off her slender legs in a mini dress with a sheer lace top teamed with a rhinestone-encrusted headband.

Racing royalty Kate Waterhouse (pictured) looked incredibly chic, showing off her slender legs in a mini dress with a sheer lace top teamed with a rhinestone-encrusted headband

Chanel Seven journalist Jacqueline Felgate (pictured) braved the cold in a halterneck black frock with fluffy hemline teamed with a netted facinator

Olivia was spotted cuddling up to Christian after a difficult few week

Olivia arrived at the races with a male pal who looked dapper in a few waistcoat and jacket, black trousers and Prada loafers

The pair chatted as they took in the sights of the VIP Birdcage

Meanwhile, Newlywed WAG Tayla Damir went outside the box with her ensemble - wearing a slick slimline tuxedo with a white shirt and black tie.

The former Love Island star, who wed AFL star Nathan Broad earlier this month, also wore a netted fascinator along with some chic pointed toe heels.

Sydney socialite Nadia Fairfax channeled Jean Shrimpton's appearance at the Melbourne Cup back in 1965 in a black mini skirt and matching vest that showed off her long slender legs.

She added a pill box black and white hat and sported wing-tipped eyeliner to add to the vintage look.

Newlywed Tayla Damir (pictured) went outside the box with her ensemble - wearing a slick slimline tuxedo with a white shirt and black tie

The former Love Island star, who married AFL star Nathan Broad earlier this month, also wore a netted fascinator and toted a designer messenger bag

As always, red carpet regular Erin Holland was hard to miss in a sleek and stylish ensemble.

The former Miss World Australia, 33, dared to bare in a skirt with a dangerously high split that exposed far more than she bargained for.

She paired it with a cream top that was off the shoulder and featured some gorgeous ruffles, and she matched it to her cream hat.

Sydney socialite Nadia Fairfax (pictured) channeled Jean Shrimpton's appearance at the Melbourne Cup back in 1965 in a black mini skirt and matching vest that showed off her long slender legs

She added a pill box black and white hat and sported dramatic wing-tipped eyeliner to add to the vintage look

As always, red carpet regular Erin Holland (left) was hard to miss in a sleek and stylish ensemble. The former Miss World Australia, 33, dared to bare in a skirt with a dangerously high split that exposed far more than she bargained for

One of the biggest themes of the event appeared to be gender-bending and androgyny.

And fashion designer Pip Edwards certainly left her mark in a men's suit, which she paired with a cowboy hat for a unique twist.

The P.E. Nation looked effortlessly cool in the masculine get-up, which she styled with pointed-toe boots which matched the cowboy theme.

Australian supermodel Nicole Trunfio decided to go for something entirely different.

Rejecting the androgynous theme, the 36-year-old channeled Audrey Hepburn in a classically feminine ensemble.

Fashion designer Pip Edwards (pictured) certainly left her mark in a men's suit, which she paired with a cowboy hat for a unique twist

The P.E. Nation founder looked effortlessly cool in the masculine get-up, which she styled with pointed-toe boots which matched the cowboy theme

Pip showed she could pull off many a look in the masculine suit and cowboy hat

The glamazon looked every inch the old Hollywood starlet in a conservative little black dress that cut off above the ankle.

She paired it with a wide-brimmed hat and vintage sunglasses, and accessorised with long black gloves and a diamond necklace.

Nicole completed the old-school outfit with a classic black leather handbag, which she held strategically as she posed for photographers.

Australian supermodel Nicole Trunfio (pictured) decided to go for something entirely different in a classically feminine ensemble

The glamazon looked every inch the old Hollywood starlet in a conservative little black dress that cut off above the ankle

Not to be outdone in the vintage style stakes, Andy Lee's girlfriend Rebecca Harding also seemed to channel Audrey in her own classic look.

She donned a conservative strapless white dress which flared out at the hips to give off the impression of Monroe-style curves.

The socialite had a little black bow in her hair and diamond earrings which sparkled in the sunshine.

And just like Nicole, she also opted for long black ballroom gloves to complete the look.

Not to be outdone in the vintage style stakes, Andy Lee's girlfriend Rebecca Harding (pictured) also seemed to channel Audrey in her own classic look

She donned a conservative strapless white dress which flared out at the hips to give off the impression of Monroe-style curves

Model Simone Holtznagel showcased her slimmed-down figure in a little black dress that clung to her trim physique.

She posed with her personal trainer boyfriend Jono Castano, who is behind her dramatic fitness transformation.

Much like many of the other ladies at Derby Day, Simone donned black opera gloves, vintage sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

Model Simone Holtznagel (pictured) showcased her slimmed-down figure in a little black dress that clung to her trim physique

Simone posed with her personal trainer boyfriend Jono Castano (right) who is behind her dramatic fitness transformation

Elsewhere, shoe designer Terry Biviano opted for an all black look in a mini dress with towering heels.

The wife of NRL star Anthony Minichiello showed off her enviable curves in the long sleeved number with a plunging neckline.

She boosted her height in a towering heel and shielded her eyes from the sun in dark sunglasses.

In true race day style, Terry added a black fascinator to the ensemble and allowed a black lace veil to fall over her eyes.

Elsewhere, shoe designer Terry Biviano (pictured) opted for an all black look in a mini dress with towering heels. The wife of NRL star Anthony Minichiello showed off her enviable curves in the long sleeved number with a plunging neckline

She boosted her height in a towering heel and shielded her eyes from the sun in dark sunglasses. In true race day style, Terry added a black fascinator to the ensemble and allowed a black lace veil to fall over her eyes

Terry was joined by her husband former Sydney Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello (right). The 42-year-old opted for a white blazer and black tie as he posed with his wife in the Lexus tent

Terry was joined by her husband former Sydney Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello.

The 42-year-old opted for a white blazer and black tie as he posed with his wife in the Lexus tent.

Also making an appearance was actor Travis Fimmel, who opted for a rocker look with an unbuttoned top button and loose tie.

Also making an appearance was actor Travis Fimmel (pictured), who opted for a rocker look with an unbuttoned top button and loose tie

Opting for a much more laid back vibe, the Aussie hunk who once heated up billboards and magazines with his Calvin Klein underwear ads, broke the 'no sneakers' dress code in black Chuck Taylor Converses

Showing off a casual cool vibe, the Vikings star appeared to let a T-shirt hang out from under his shirt and finished the look off with a faded red baseball cap

The actor posed up a storm with doting fans who wanted to grab a selfie

Model Bambi Northwood-Blyth (pictured) looked gorgeous in shiny heels and a black mini dress with a statement white bow on top

Lorinska Merrington (pictured) opted for a black mermaid dress with silver heels and showed off her legs with the semi-sheer number

Opting for a much more laid back vibe, the Aussie hunk who once heated up billboards and magazines with his Calvin Klein underwear ads, broke the 'no sneakers' dress code in black Chuck Taylor Converses.

Showing off a casual cool vibe, the Vikings star appeared to let a T-shirt hang out from under his shirt and finished the look off with a faded red baseball cap

In an unusual style move, he kept his tie on the inside of his collar, and kept his hair down and loose.
Florence Pugh is teaming up with Alexander Skarsgard once again for her next film role.

The in-demand, Oscar-nominated actress has been tapped to play the lead role in the psychological thriller The Pack alongside Skarsgard, who will also serve double duty as the director.

The announcement comes on the heels of the drama on the set of Don't Worry Darling, which included rumors that Pugh feuded with director Olivia Wilde over the leading lady's chemistry with co-star Harry Styles right before he became romantically involved with Wilde.

Reunited: Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgard are set to star in the upcoming film The Pack, which will also have the lading man serve as the director

Skarsgard will be helming the shoot from an original screenplay written by Rose Gilroy, the daughter of writer-director Dan Gilroy and actress Rene Russo, who's best known for The Edge of Sleep (2019) and Bella (2019) and Project Artemis, which is currently in production.

The Pack follows 'a group of documentarians who brave the remote wilderness of Alaska in an effort to save a nearly extinct species of wolves,' according to Deadline.

'When the crew is brought back together at a prestigious awards ceremony, tensions flare as a deadly truth threatens to unravel their work.

And while 'the team lived through the harsh elements of the wild,' the synopsis goes on to tease whether they will 'survive the night' of the ceremony due to 'a secret they share.'

Production set: The Pack is scheduled to begin shooting principal photography in March 2023.; the two stars are pictured while promoting The Little Drummer Girl in July 2018

Jennifer Fox (Michael Clayton) will be among the producers while also executive producing.

The Pack is scheduled to begin shooting principal photography in March 2023.

The project reunites Pugh and Skarsgard, who starred together in the British television miniseries The Little Drummer Girl (2018), alongside Michael Shannon, Michael Moshonov, Simona Brown, Clare Holman and Charles Dance.

The Little Drummer Girl, based on the 1983 of the same name by John le Carre, told the story of an aspiring English actress who is recruited by Mossad to infiltrate a Palestinian group plotting terrorism in Europe in 1979.

The six episode spy-thriller drama first aired on BBC One in the UK in October 2018 and then on AMC in the US a month later.

Previous work: The Little Drummer Girl, based on the 1983 of the same name by John le Carre, told the story of an aspiring English actress who is recruited by Mossad to infiltrate a Palestinian group plotting terrorism in Europe in 1979

Vulture reported Pugh and Wilde's reported feud resulted in them getting into a 'screaming match' on the Don't Worry Darling set.

The publication reported that Pugh got upset with Wilde and her 'frequent and unexplained absences' when she and Styles 'would just disappear.'

But some 40 members of the crew eventually came forward and disputed the on-set tension and called it 'completely false,' as reported by Vulture and People.

Another on-set conflict involved Shia LaBeouf, who was fired by Wilde over poor behavior and clashing with the crew.

However, LaBeouf denied these claims in August 2022, stating that he quit the film despite Wilde's efforts to keep him onboard.

Vulture reported Pugh and Wilde's feud resulted in them getting into a 'screaming match' on the Don't Worry Darling set over the director's 'frequent and unexplained absences'
Paul Bettany is reportedly returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Vision in a spin-off series titled Vision Quest for Disney+.

The 51-year-old will also play a version of the character seen at the end of WandaVision with an all-white color scheme created by S.W.O.R.D., according to Deadline.

The show will open its writer's room next week, claims the publication, and will follow Vision as he tries to 'regain his memory and humanity.'

Coming back to the character: Paul Bettany is reportedly returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Vision in a spin-off series titled Vision Quest (pictured 2019)

The outlet noted that Bettany's character will be the main focus, but it's possible that Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff could make an appearance also.

Vision Quest will be the second WandaVision spin-off series. The first, titled Agatha: House of Harkness, stars Kathryn Hahn as the evil sorceress Agatha Harkness.

Agatha was the main villain in WandaVision, and her spin-off has already been greenlit by the studio.

Jac Schaeffer  who created, wrote and executive produced WandaVision  is said to be involved with both series.

New version: The 51-year-old will play a version of the character seen at the end of WandaVision with an all white color scheme created by S.W.O.R.D., according to Deadline

Searching: The show will open its writer's room next week, according to the publication, and will follow Vision as he tries to 'regain his memory and humanity'

Guest star? The outlet noted that Bettany's character will be the main focus, but it's possible that Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff could make an appearance also

Identity: After a lengthy battle, the new version of Vision scanned the other's mind before declaring, 'I am Vision' and flying off

The groundwork for Vision Quest was set up in the final episode of WandaVision when the Vision created by Wanda and White Vision faced off.

After a lengthy battle, the new version of Vision scanned the other's mind before declaring, 'I am Vision' and flying off.

Bettany's return to the character would mark the 10th Marvel project he's been involved in. He appeared in the first three Iron Man movies and the first Avengers film as disembodied artificial intelligence Jarvis.

Beginning in 2015, Bettany took on Vision's physical form and has continued that way ever since.

On top of his work in the MCU, Bettany has a number of other projects on the way as well.

MCu legend: Bettany's return to the character would mark the 10th Marvel project he's been involved in. He appeared in the first three Iron Man movies and the first Avengers film as disembodied artificial intelligence Jarvis (pictured 2020)

More coming: On top of his work in the MCU, Bettany has a number of other projects on the way as well (pictured 2021)

He's currently starring as Andy Warhol alongside Jeremy Pope in The Collaboration, a movie based on the play of the same name.

The play is set in 1984, when Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat were collaborating together. They both died later that decade.

Basquiat, who had a short but illustrious professional career, is considered to be of the most significant painters of the 20th century as well as a cultural icon. The New York City artist died in 1988, aged 27, due to a heroin overdose.

Meanwhile Warhol was a visual artist, film director, and producer famous for leading the Pop Art movement and reproducing multiple screen prints of American icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's canned soup.

Collaboration: The drama - directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah - will depict the legendary artists' friendship and see them collaborate on an exhibition (the pair are picturd in 1985)

His life was almost ended by an assassination attempt in 1968 by radical feminist writer Valerie Solanas, who shot him at his studio, known as The Factory.

Though he was seriously wounded by the attack, he managed to survive.

The artist passed away years later on February 22, 1987, at age 58, following complications from a gallbladder surgery.

Coming back: Once production on the film has wrapped, the play will head to Broadway, with December 20 set as opening night, and Bettany and Pope returning to their roles yet again

The drama depicts how the artists worked together in 1980s New York.

Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the original play imagines the conversations and conflicts between the artists as they collaborated on an exhibition.

The play made its world premiere at London's Young Vic Theatre in February.

Once production on the film has wrapped, the play will head to Broadway, with December 20 set as opening night, and Bettany and Pope returning to their roles.

Bettany will also appear in Here, a film centered around people who inhabit a single room over its many years. He will star alongside Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in the movie.
Heidi Klum's daughter Leni, who followed in her mother's footsteps to become a model, has responded to being labeled a 'nepo baby.'

'It's just a fact. My parents are famous,' said the 18-year-old, who was adopted by her mother's ex-husband Seal during the marriage.

However Leni insisted to People magazine that she is 'doing the work and putting in the time' to carve out a career for herself.

Doppelgangers: Heidi Klum's daughter Leni, who followed in her mother's footsteps to become a model, has responded to being labeled a 'nepo baby'; they are pictured in a recent shoot for lingerie brand Intimissimi

'I did get help starting off, and I know that people would dream to start off with what I had,' said Leni, who walked for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week in July with her mother proudly filming her from the audience.

'I'm so grateful that I've been able to take what was gifted to me by my mom. But I am doing the work and putting in the time,' she maintained.

'Now I'm working on my own, traveling alone, going to school. My mom and I just have the same love for the same thing.'

Leni is one of a massive glut of rising new starlets with famous parents, from Johnny Depp's daughter Lily-Rose Depp to Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley.

'It's just a fact': 'My parents are famous,' said the 18-year-old, who was adopted by her mother's ex-husband Seal during the marriage; Seal and Leni are pictured this August at the US Open

Maya Hawke, whose parents are Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, and Kaia Gerber, whose mother is Cindy Crawford, have shot to fame in recent years as well.

Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon, Judd Apatow's daughter Maude Apatow and Elvis Presley's daughter Riley Keough are also coming up, among others.

Leni made her modeling debut at the age of 16 with her mother on the cover of Vogue Germany - a publication out of Heidi's native country.

In her new interview Leni reflected: 'That's like insane that I did that as my first job and my mom was with me, which made it so much fun. It was just such a good day. I wasn't nervous at all. I was just so excited. I was like: "I'm finally modeling and it's Vogue." It was just so many things to be excited about.'

However: Leni insisted to People magazine that she is 'doing the work and putting in the time' to carve out a career for herself; she is pictured last month in New York

However she first got the fashion bug years earlier at the age of 12 when Brandy Melville asked her to model for them.

''I was freaking out because Brandy Melville was my favorite at the time. It was the only place I went shopping. I said: "Mom, Mom, guess what? Brandy Melville wants me to model. Please, please." And she was like, "Absolutely not."'

Leni confessed: 'I was really sad about it, but in the end she was right. And I feel like that's what sparked me to want to model more.'

Heidi and Seal were married from 2005 until 2014 and they welcomed three children together biologically - Henry, 17, Johan, 15, and Lou, 13.

Legacy: Leni made her modeling debut at the age of 16 with her mother on the cover of Vogue Germany - a publication out of Heidi's native country

Meanwhile Leni resulted from Heidi's previous relationship with Italian businessman Flavio Briatore, but in 2009 Seal legally adopted her as well.

'Leni is my natural daughter, but the three of us calmly agreed that it made the most sense that he adopt her, because a child needs to grow up in a family,' Flavio told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera in 2016.

Flavio, 72, who eventually married a drastically younger Wonderbra model and had a son called Nathan with her, added: 'Leni is Seal's family, Nathan mine.'

At the moment Heidi is married to her fellow German Tom Kaulitz, who rose to fame as the guitarist for the band Tokio Hotel.

Working model: Leni walked for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week in July with her mother proudly filming her from the audience

Seal hit the headlines last year when he spoke candidly in public about the difficulties of co-parenting his children with Heidi.

'It can be challenging. It requires teamwork. If you are a team, if both parents are a team, then it's really easy and that's not a real challenge at all But you have to be a team. And if you're not a team, then it can all fall to pieces,' he told Us Weekly.

Seal then explosively claimed that he and Heidi 'never had that teamwork' with one another when it came to bringing up their children.

The way they were: Heidi and Seal were married from 2005 until 2014; they are pictured attending the Grammys together in 2010

Their differences hit the headlines in 2020 when she wanted to take the children to her native country so she could film Germany's Next Top Model there.

Seal objected on the grounds that the children might be exposed to coronavirus, but an emergency court hearing was held and Heidi prevailed.

Although she was permitted to take them to Germany he was given 'expanded time' with them before and after the trip.
Long-running KIIS FM radio program, The 3pm Pick Up, has been axed and will broadcast its final show at the end of the year.

The crushing news puts hosts Kate Langbroek, Yumi Stynes and Monty Dimond out of a job as the show is rested after eleven years on-air.

Industry whispers suggest that Life Uncut podcasters Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne are set to replace them in an epic multi-million dollar deal.

KIIS FM radio program The 3pm Pick Up has been axed. The cancellation puts hosts Kate Langbroek, Yumi Stynes and Monty Dimond (all pictured) out of a job

Rumours had circulated for weeks that the program was at risk and ARN finally confirmed its axing on Friday.

ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell thanked Langbroek, Stynes and Dimond for their years of hard work.

'Their infectious humour and relatable stories have seen 3PM Pick Up enjoy continued ratings success. We are truly sad to see them finish up,' he said.

Industry whispers suggest that Life Uncut podcasters Brittany Hockley (right) and Laura Byrne (left) are set to replace them in a multi-million dollar deal

He added: 'Their departure is in no way a reflection on the skills of these highly regarded presenters nor the success of the show.'

It comes after reality stars Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne's Life Uncut podcast was picked up by KIIS FM earlier this year.

A source tells Daily Mail Australia that the former Bachelor stars 'have been offered a multimillion dollar deal by ARN to host The 3pm Pick Up weekdays slot in 2023'.

ARN Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell thanked Kate Langbroek, Stynes and Dimond for their years of hard work

They would host that KIIS FM staple in addition to continuing on with Life Uncut, the source alleges.

Life Uncut is arguably Australia's biggest female-fronted podcast, recently rising up the ratings chart to number five.

Brittany and co-host Laura have become two of Australia's most recognisable media personalities since their stints on The Bachelor.
James Corden's wife Julia Carey was spotted running errands with their youngest daughter Charlotte on Friday near their home in Pacific Palisades.

The TV producer, 46, opted for comfort on the outing, wearing an oversized beige sweater and black Alo leggings, with a pair of white sneakers, as she held Charlotte, four, in her arms.

It comes after Corden, 44, gushed about Julia on Good Morning Britain earlier in the day, while joking that his wife must look at him every day and go 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!'

On the go: James Corden's wife Julia Carey was spotted running errands with their youngest daughter Charlotte on Friday in Pacific Palisades

Julia did not wear her wedding ring during Friday's outing, though her finger showed what appeared to be a mark where the ring usually rests.

The blonde beauty wore her tresses in a messy bun for the day, and shielded her eyes with a pair of black shades.

She accessorized with a crossbody black Gucci purse, and wore a multitude of small earrings.

Meanwhile Charlotte looked adorable in a floral dress, pink leggings and white sneakers.

Comfort: The TV producer, 46, opted for comfort on the outing, wearing an oversized beige sweater and black leggings, with a pair of white sneakers, as she held Charlotte, four, in her arms

No ring: Julia did not wear her wedding ring during the outing, though her finger showed what appeared to be a mark where the ring usually rests

Aside from Charlotte, the duo also share daughter Carey Corden, eight, and son Max Corden, 11.

Corden has gushed about his wife and pride for Britain as the talk show host discussed his plans for his return to the UK.

The Late Late Show host spoke openly about his relationship with Julia describing the moment that he met her as a 'miracle.'

Relaxed look: The blonde beauty wore her tresses in a messy bun for the day

Chic: She accessorized with a crossbody black Gucci purse, and wore a multitude of small earrings

Corden and his family are preparing to leave Los Angeles to return to his native UK, with the move coming after he was hit with a huge backlash after being accused of abusing staff at Balthazar.

He joked on Good Morning Britain that his wife must look at him every day and go 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!'

The funny man said that being in the US was never his 'final destination' and described the UK as 'amazing'.

Pink: Meanwhile Charlotte looked adorable in a floral dress, pink leggings and white sneakers

Safety first! Julia was seen safely tucking away Charlotte in her car seat

Zooming away: The mom-of-three then got behind the wheel and drove off

James said: 'I love where we live, I love being in Los Angeles I love it but we always knew it was an adventure and not a final destination.'

'This place is amazing, this little island. The things it's created, the things it's given the world. I've always been very proud to call it home.'

He is planning to sell his $9.7million LA home, with realtor Alicia Drake spotted at his Brentwood mansion last week with Million Dollar Listing LA star James Harris.

The Gavin and Stacey star has revealed he will be stepping down as host of The Late Late Show, and said the last show would be 'emotional'.

Moving on: Corden, 44, appeared on Good Morning Britain on Friday to talk about his return to the UK and his relationship with wife Julia

He said: 'It's going to be really emotional. It's going to be a real thing to draw it to a close. I'm so proud of what we've done.'

Speaking about how he met his wife Julia he gushed: 'I absolutely knew minute one that I couldn't do any better than this. When I met Jules It's a miracle.

'Every day she must just look at me 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!''

Romance: The talk show host joked that his wife must look at him every day and go 'What did I do? It's a huge mistake!' (pictured together in 2011)

The family will relocate in the coming months. His property won't be listed publicly, and will be sold in a private sale. Friends of James have previously spoken of his wish to return to his native Britain 'to be closer to family'.

Corden purchased his $9.7m five-bedroom Brentwood home in 2017 after moving to the property from a rented mansion in Pacific Palisades.

The lavish property sprawls across 8,600sqft and comes complete with seven bathrooms, a wood-paneled library, a media room and a private gym.

The comedians reputation recently took a hit, after he was dubbed 'a tiny cretin of a man' by Keith McNally  the British owner of upscale New York restaurant Balthazar.

Selling: Corden and wife Julia officially moved into this Brentwood home in December 2017 after purchasing the property for $9.7 million

Goodbye: He is planning to sell his $9.7million LA home, with realtor Alicia Drake spotted at his Brentwood mansion last week with Million Dollar Listing LA star James Harris

The sprawling home has a massive backyard with its own pavilion and swimming pool

In a series of scathing social media posts, McNally claimed Corden berated servers on two separate occasions and said he planned to 86  ban  Corden from his restaurant.

According to McNally, one of Cordens rants came after he found a hair in his meal leading him to demand free rounds of drinks and threaten to post nasty reviews on Yelp.

On the second occasion, Corden blew up when his wife Julia was served an egg yolk omelet that also contained a trace of egg white - which the comedian later claimed she was allergic to.

Corden then phoned McNally to apologize for his behavior but reignited the row via an interview with the New York Times published Friday in which he said the drama was beneath me and denied doing anything wrong.

Home country: On his return home, he said that being in the US was never going to be a 'final destination' and described the UK as 'amazing'

He also complained about the backlash, telling the newspaper: 'I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it's so silly. I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication.'

The interview then sparked a response from McNally who demanded Corden apologize to the servers he abused.

In an Instagram post made on Friday, he said: I have no wish to kick a man when he's down, but I believe the best way for James Corden to retrieve some of the vast respect the public had for him before this incident is to own up to it and apologize to the young servers he abused.'

He added: 'Whatever Corden meant, his implication was clear: he didnt do it.'

The restauranteur concluded his outburst, by saying if Corden 'apologizes to the 2 servers he insulted, I'll let him eat free at Balthazar for the next 10 years.'
Matthew Perry was brought to the verge of tears while watching an old clip of himself on Friends, emaciated because of his drug addiction.

Perry, 53, has laid bare his battle with substance abuse in his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, out November 1.

In the book he noted that fans could tell which drug he was on based on his physical size onscreen: 'When I'm carrying weight, it's alcohol; when I'm skinny, it's pills; when I have a goatee, it's lots of pills.'

Now in a new interview for ABC News, Diane Sawyer showed him a snippet of footage of him looking 'painfully thin' on a Friends episode from 1997 - the year he first plunged into Vicodin addiction while recovering from a jet ski accident.

'It's very hard to watch that,' he said, barely able to get the words out: 'because in this weird way I feel sorry for that guy, 'cause that's a guy that's out of control.'

Tough: Matthew Perry was brought to the verge of tears while watching an old clip of himself on Friends, emaciated because of his drug addiction

Choking up, he continued: 'I didn't know what was going on with me. I weighed 155lbs on my way to 128lbs. I feel too sorry for that guy, he's going through too much - and it's me, and I remember that, and I didn't understand what was going on.'

He reflected that 'I'm so grateful to not be that anymore' but confessed that even now 'it's hard to, it's hard to watch that.'

During the same interview he revealed that his Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his substance abuse.

Perry was surprised, thinking he had been effectively concealing his drinking from the rest of the cast, but Aniston told him they could smell the alcohol on his breath.

Looking back: Now in a new interview for ABC News, Diane Sawyer showed him a snippet of footage of him looking 'painfully thin' on a Friends episode from 1997

Candid: 'It's very hard to watch that,' he said, barely able to get the words out: 'because in this weird way I feel sorry for that guy, 'cause that's a guy that's out of control'

Difficult to relive: Choking up, he continued: 'I didn't know what was going on with me,' adding: 'I weighed 155lbs on my way to 128lbs'

Sober: He reflected that 'I'm so grateful to not be that anymore' but confessed that even now 'it's hard to, it's hard to watch that'

'But I wasn't in a position to stop, you know?' Perry told Sawyer in his new interview. 'And that's what addiction is. But she was the one that reached out the most, you know. I'm really grateful to her for that.'

'In nature, when a penguin is injured, the other penguins group around it and prop it up until it's better,' he writes in a snippet of the memoir obtained by Good Morning America. 'This is what my co-stars on Friends did for me.'

In 2004, the year Friends ended, Aniston gave Sawyer an interview in which she broke down in tears discussing Perry's struggles with drugs and drink.

'I'm really grateful to her': He revealed that his Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston confronted him about his substance abuse; they are pictured in 1995 before his addiction began

'We didn't know,' she said. 'We, you know, we weren't equipped, we weren't - to deal with it. You know, nobody had ever dealt with that and, you know, the idea of even losing him or....,' she said, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

During his latest interview with Good Morning America, Perry also reflected on his ill-fated decision to try to find love via dating app.

Last year he was one of many celebrities accused of sending cringe-worthy messages on Raya, a dating app designed for celebrities.

Perry has shared a tongue-in-cheek guide to how you can tell what drugs he was using during his years in Friends, simply based off his appearance in the show

TikTok user Kate Haralson, who was 19 at the time, claimed that one of his messages to her was: 'Am I as old as your dad?'

Now in his new interview, he said he 'did go' on dating apps 'and then I rapidly stopped. It was stupid.'

He attributed the troubles in his love life to 'a combination of feeling like I wasn't enough, feeling like I was needy, feeling like I didn't matter.'

Perry (seen in September), 53, laid bare the intimate details of his battle with substance abuse in his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which drops November 1

Perry reflected that in the past 'I'd be in relationships that were going great with wonderful women, wonderful women - smart, funny, wonderful women - and my subconscious, I got scared.'

The Friends star noted that 'I would get scared and break up with them because I was afraid that if they found out those three things about me, they would break up with me, and that would annihilate me.'

In an excerpt from the book obtained by Page Six, the actor spoke out about how his addiction to opioids and alcohol affected the way he looked on screen, and revealed how those watching the NBC comedy series can figure out how severe his drug use was based off his weight and beard length.

'You can track the trajectory for my addiction if you gauge my weight from season to season,' he wrote in the book.

In a snippet obtained by Page Six, the actor spoke out about how his addiction to opioids and alcohol affected the way he looked on screen. He is seen in the show alongside Courteney Cox

'When I'm carrying weight, it's alcohol; when I'm skinny, it's pills; when I have a goatee, it's lots of pills.'

The actor became an international sensation practically over night after he landed the role as Chandler Bing in Friends in 1994.

Perry (pictured in the show in 2003) revealed that those watching the NBC comedy series can figure out how severe his drug use was based off his weight and beard length

But while he came off as the hilarious and heartwarming guy who always had a smile on his face on the screen, behind-the-scenes, the star was facing a downward spiral of drug addiction, alcohol use, and overdoses that left him with just a two per cent chance of survival.

Perry told People magazine recently while discussing his book that he turned to drugs to deal with the immense fame and pressure that came with starring in one of the most popular shows of all time - revealing he needed 14 surgeries on his stomach and has been in rehab 15 different times as a result of his drug and alcohol use.

In 1997, Perry got into a jet ski accident and was prescribed Vicodin, a powerful and addictive pain medication - which would eventually turn into in a years-long battle with addiction.

He said in the episodes where he looked bigger in size, he was drinking a lot of alcohol, while in parts where he appeared skinnier, he was using pills. He is seen left in 2002 and right in 1998

Perry added that his most severe drug use occurred when he grew a beard and mustache, explaining, 'When I had a goatee, it was lots of pills.' He is pictured in the show in 1996

The comedian admitted to the outlet that during the height of his career, he was taking 55 pain killers per day and dropped down to only 128 pounds.

'When it happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while,' he previously told the New York Times of his overnight success.

Perry (seen in 2017) told People magazine recently while discussing his book that he turned to drugs to deal with the immense fame and pressure that came with starring in one of the most popular shows of all time - revealing he has been in rehab 15 different times as a result of his drug and alcohol use

'For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of 'I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world.'

'And then you realize that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life.'

He spent 28 days at a treatment center in Minnesota in 1997, but his struggles didn't end there.

In May 2000, his battle with alcohol and drug use had become so severe that he was admitted to the hospital with pancreatitis, a potentially deadly condition that develops from heavy drinking.

And while he insisted that he 'never drank on set,' he told the Times that he would often come to work 'extremely' hungover.

'It's so horrible to feel that way and have to work and be funny on top of that,' the actor said, adding that he would sometimes find himself sweating and shaking on the Friends set.

'I didn't know how to stop,' he also admitted to People. 'If the police came over to my house and said, 'If you drink tonight, we're going to take you to jail,' I'd start packing.'

While he was working on the movie Serving Sara in 2001, things became so bad that Perry realized he couldn't go on like that any longer, and he decided to take a break from filming to go back to rehab.

He stepped out of the spotlight for more than two months, before he returned to finish filming Serving Sara.

The comedian admitted to the outlet that during the height of his career, he was taking 55 pain killers per day and dropped down to only 128 pounds. He is pictured in the show

Now, he told the outlet that he is 'pretty healthy,' and that he feels he is finally 'safe' from going back to the 'dark side,' but he didn't reveal how long he has been sober. He is seen in 2019

While it seemed to the public that Perry's battles with addiction ended after that, he secretly almost lost his life a few years ago, at age 49, when his colon burst due to opioid overuse.

He spent two weeks in a coma and five months in the hospital, and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months.

'The doctors told my family that I had a two per cent chance to live. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that's called a Hail Mary. No one survives that,' he explained to People.

Now, he told the outlet that he is 'pretty healthy,' and that he feels he is finally 'safe' from going back to the 'dark side,' but he didn't reveal how long he has been sober.

He added that going through the near-death experience helped open his eyes.

'The next time you think about taking Oxycontin, just think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of your life,' he recalled his therapist telling him, adding, 'A little window opened and I crawled through it and I no longer want Oxycontin anymore.

'There were five people put on an ECMO machine that night and the other four died and I survived. So the big question is why? Why was I the one? There has to be some kind of reason.'
Luxury accessories guru Jaimie Belle Kennedy made sure to turn heads on Saturday at Penfolds Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne.

The 29-year-old showed off her eye-popping cleavage in an all-black gothic-inspired ensemble.

The blonde bombshell channelled Madonna's eighties era in a $2100 black plunging Dolce & Gabbana dress.

Luxury accessories guru Jaimie Belle Kennedy made sure to turn heads on Saturday at Penfolds Victoria Derby Day in Melbourne

She paired her frock with a delicate transparent black veil, frilly stockings and high heels with matching silk bows.

Elbow-length black gloves and a Louis Vuitton crocodile handbag completed her look.

Jaimee looked striking as she posed for snaps underneath her delicate veil.

The 29-year-old showed off her eye-popping cleavage in an all-black gothic-inspired ensemble

She beamed and laughed as she worked her best angles for photographers.

Jaimee, a creative advisor at fine jewellers Kennedy Luxury Group, is swiftly cementing her style icon status thanks to a string of effortlessly elegant appearances at the Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival over the past few years.

'I grew up in dance and I think my love of fashion started there. I have fond memories of wearing costumes and being able to transform my character. As an adult, fashion allows me to emulate that feeling,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The blonde bombshell channelled Madonna 's eighties era in a $2100 black plunging Dolce & Gabbana dress

High-end fashion is evidently Jaimee Belle's medium of choice, if her appearances at past Spring Racing Carnivals are anything to go by.

Asked about her favourite trends, Jaimee Belle said she avoids jumping on seasonal bandwagons and prefers to focus on what suits her personal brand instead.

'We all have different shapes and proportions, so it's about finding the perfect piece for you as an individual,' she said.
Elsa Pataky was this year's special guest at the 2022 Penfolds Victoria Derby Day - and her race day look did not disappoint.

The 46-year-old Spanish actress - and wife of Chris Hemsworth - made an exquisite arrival in a stunning black skirt and corset from Christian Dior.

The mother-of-three couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she showed off her toned arms as she occasionally rested her hand on her hip.

Elsa Pataky was this year's special guest at the 2022 Penfolds Victoria Derby Day - and her race day look did not disappoint

The 46-year-old Spanish actress - and wife of Chris Hemsworth - made an exquisite arrival in a stunning black strapless dress from Christian Dior

She struck a playful pose as the lace skirting of her dress flowed in the breeze.

The star kept her headpiece simple - opting for a classic black brimmed hat from Dior, which gave the ensemble a slightly masculine twist.

Her unique dress featured a belted corset top and a lacy sheer skirt, which created a one-of-a-kind look for the starlet.

Accessorising with gold bangles and rings, the model made a statement with her bright red lipstick and painted nails.

She struck a playful pose as the lacy skirting of her dress flowed in the breeze

The mother-of-three couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she showed off her toned arms as she occasionally rested her hand on her hip

The star kept her headpiece simple - opting for a classic black brimmed hat from Christian Dior, which gave the ensemble a slightly masculine twist

The bombshell posed confidently against the media wall while her blonde hair was neatly tied back in a low ponytail.

She beamed for the cameras while carrying a small black Lady Dior handbag, valued at over $8,500.

Elsa brought Hollywood star power to the Birdcage during the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year after being announced as special guest of LANDMARK by Lexus at the Saturday event.

Her unique dress featured a belted corset top and a lacy sheer skirt, which created a one-of-a-kind look for the starlet

She beamed for the cameras while carrying a small black patent Dior Cannage handbag, valued at over $7,000

The bombshell posed confidently against the media wall while her blonde hair was neatly tied back in a low ponytail

'I've loved horses since I was little and own a few ex-racehorses for both pleasure riding and show jumping,' she previously 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.'

It's doesn't appear that Elsa's husband, Chris Hemsworth, joined his wife in the Lexus pavilion.

'I've loved horses since I was little and own a few ex-racehorses for both pleasure riding and show jumping,' she previously said

It's doesn't appear that Elsa's husband, Chris Hemsworth, joined his wife in the Lexus pavilion

The Interceptor star has often spoken of her passion for horses.

In August last year, it was revealed she and Chris 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.

Elsa has often spoken of her passion for horses, having loved the animals since childhood

'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.

Elsa 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.'

Elsa's outfit was easily worth tens of thousands of dollars in total
She's known for her effortlessly put-together style.

And Saturday was no exception for Rebecca Harding, who channelled Audrey Hepburn in $1,080 Valentino black silk gloves and a shift dress for Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Andy Lee's girlfriend, 30, opted for a crisp white hip-flare strapless number which she styled to perfection with old Hollywood glamour.

Rebecca Harding channelled Audrey Hepburn in black satin gloves and a shift dress for Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Proving the old adage that less is more, the model let the statement dress speak for itself adding just strappy heels and dazzling earrings.

She styled her hair back into a half-up half-down Bardot style, topping the look off with a pretty black bow.

The influencer clutched onto a black satin bag as she posed up a storm in the Lexus tent while channelling a gorgeous make-up look.

Andy Lee's girlfriend, 30, opted for a crisp white hip-flare strapless number which she styled to perfection with old Hollywood glamour

She styled her hair back into a half-up half-down Bardot style topping the look off with a pretty black bow

Rebecca added lashings of black mascara and a gentle brown hue around the eye.

As well as channelling Audrey Hepburn's classic Breakfast at Tiffany's look, the outfit is also reminiscent of a Prada number worn to the Met Gala by supermodel Gigi Hadid in 2021.

Mum-of-one Gigi slipped her slender physique into a white strapless Prada gown with a dramatic slit down the backside for the fashion event of the year in New York.

As well as channelling Audrey Hepburn's classic Breakfast at Tiffany's look, the outfit is also reminiscent of a Prada number worn to the Met Gala by supermodel Gigi Hadid in 2021

Rebecca's look is no doubt inspired by Audrey Hepburn's cult classic role as Holly Golightly in 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's

Rebecca appeared to be a guest of Lexus who have a three-tier marquee at the exclusive Birdcage.

The space is set to blend Japanese traditions with local materials and ingredients and has been designed by globally renowned architect, Koichi Takada.

Rebecca was today without her boyfriend - who many fans believe she may have secretly wed or got engaged during a romantic trip to Paris.

On Sunday, the 41-year-old comedian shared a sweet snap of the couple looking loved-up as they posed for a sunset photo in front of the Eiffel Tower to Instagram.

Some followers were quick to suggest they had tied the knot because Andy had his left hand tucked in his pocket, while others speculated there was proposal or one was imminent.
Before Halloween, the Better Business Bureau is issuing a warning to shoppers, saying that scammers use terrible trickery to steal identities and money.

Pop-up shops are open and ready to take orders, but there's a chance they won't be around tomorrow. Because of this, many prefer to purchase online, although doing so entails hazards including scams and poor product quality.

Residents should constantly verify the company's business profile on the BBB website to prevent being conned. When at all feasible, it's also crucial to purchase goods from businesses that have been established long enough to have a proven track record.

Additionally, visitors should inspect a website's security options and confirm that the web URL starts with https. Even if you still have time to make those last-minute purchases, please beware of Halloween-related online shopping scams.

Top 4 Halloween Scams

This month, more than 500,000 Halloween-themed scam websites offering sales were discovered. Per Diamond Valley FCU, scammers have already begun spreading text message links to fraudulent web stores that advertise various Halloween special discount campaigns:

1. The shipping scam

Up until October 31, there are plenty of Halloween-themed shops on the internet. An incredible range of costumes, accessories, and decorations are available at affordable costs from many of these stores.

Unfortunately, some of the merchants that operate these websites never ship the ordered products. This is due to the fact that, despite the company's existence and seeming legitimacy, the item was never actually going to be shipped.

It's possible that the order may be canceled or that the delivery date will be moved to after Halloween. On occasion, the customer will receive the promised delivery on schedule, however it will be empty.

2. The fraudulent offer

This scam involves a fake company promoting a 'Super Special Deal' for 'Today Only' offer or a comparable deal. It will entice many unwary buyers into the trap by offering great Halloween goods at rates that are simply too good to be true.

Unfortunately, the business is a scam and the offer is fake. You won't receive the offered product or your money if you buy it. Before making a purchase, like with any potential fraud, confirm the legitimacy of a company and the safety of a website.

3. The fake ticket scam

Are you thinking about going to an amusement park, a concert, or any other event on Halloween? Be aware of the fake ticket scam, in which untrusting clients are sold false tickets by third parties just before an event.

A hefty commission will also be added, with the justification that it is necessary due to the last-minute purchase. Obviously, the ticket is fraudulent, and they will keep the ticket price as well as the fee.

4. The bogus purchase scam

In this case, scammers attempt to persuade you that you purchased something you don't remember ordering in order to obtain your personal data. Once the con artists get this information, they may empty your accounts, take out loans in your name, or engage in outright identity theft.

Do not interact with anyone who contacts you by email, phone, or text inquiring about a costume you never ordered or a ticket you never bought. The emails should be deleted or marked as spam. Block the individual's future calls and texts as well. Hopefully, the fraudster will realize that you're not a simple prey and leave you alone.

Here a list of some of the fake websites that you should avoid clicking:

leisuretlly[.]com

etcydecor[.]com

coatpark[.]com

nestorliquor[.]com

annishuan[.]com

hugoiio[.]com

hardaddy[.]com

cathytok[.]com

usainverse[.]shop

wersth[.]com

Read Also: Australian Woman Decapitated Friend After Fight Over Money; Incident Caught on CCTV Dragging Victim's Remains in Suitcase

How to Spot Halloween Scam Websites?

According to TrendMicro, you can use the following guidelines to determine whether an online store is safe:

1. Details of the Web Domain - Always check if a link is secure before clicking on it. How? You may check the website information for suspicious URLs at Whois.

2. Payment Method - Does the website accept just cash on delivery (COD), prepaid and gift cards, cryptocurrency, electronic transfers, and cash? If so, there is a very good chance that it is a scam.

3. Layout and Typos - Websites that are trustworthy and well-designed should include 100% correct content! Are there many mistakes in grammar and awkward wording? If there are, you ought to think twice before spending money on the website.

4. Contact Details - Does the website offer accurate and complete contact information? To establish if the business is legitimate, you may either check to see if the contact details match the URL's domain or Google the location.

Prevent Being Scammed This Halloween!

Never open attachments or links from unidentified sources. Use Trend Micro Check to easily combat fraud! Shop exclusively from reputable internet retailers. Do your research and study reviews of the internet retailer you intend to use.

With Trend Micro Maximum Security, your device will have an additional layer of security! To assist you in fending off fraud and online threats, it contains Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing, and Anti-spam Protection.

Related Article: October Stimulus Checks: Residents in These 3 States May Receive Up to $1,000 Before End of the Month

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Julia Fox stepped into Halloween weekend with a revealing movie-inspired costume, as she made her way to a party in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Uncut Gems star, 32, showed off her enviable figure in a white bandage bodysuit while channeling Milla Jovovich's character Leeloo from the 1997 Sci-fi film The Fifth Element.

Kanye West's ex-girlfriend paired the look with chunky black boots and sported a trendy well-worn brown motorcycle jacket.

In her element: Julia Fox stepped into Halloween weekend with a revealing movie-inspired costume, as she made her way to a party in Los Angeles on Friday

The mother-of-one also wore a striking vivid orange wig to more closely resemble her character.

Ever the perfectionist, she also wore a multi-pass ID badge holder that Leeloo wore in the film around her neck.

As for makeup, Julia ditched her usual heavy black eye makeup for a more subtle hint of eyeliner and a clear lipstick on her pout.

Extra: The Uncut Gems star, 32, showed off her enviable figure in a white bandage bodysuit while channeling Milla Jovovich's character from the 1997 Sci-fi film The Fifth Element

The original: Jovovich (pictured) starred alongside Bruce Willis in the original film, which saw her fill the role of attractive extraterrestrial Leeloo

She was also joined by model pal Richie Shazam and her stylist Briana Andalore, both of whom kept the Fifth Element theme going.

Shazam was in character as DJ Ruby Rhod, wearing a cheetah bodysuit and curly blonde wig.

Meanwhile Andalore dressed up as Zorg's secretary from the cult movie, wearing a skimpy blue dress, furry boots and blue wig.

Trendy: Kanye West's ex-girlfriend paired the look with chunky black boots and sported a trendy well-worn brown motorcycle jacket

Kept it going: She was also joined by model pal Richie Shazam and her stylist Briana Andalore, both of whom kept the Fifth Element theme going with their own unique costumes

Fox later took to social media to share a snap of herself and pals while enjoying the party.

While she received accolades for her role in 2019's Uncut Gems opposite Adam Sandler, Julia is best known as West's ex-girlfriend. The two dated briefly.

The pair began dating earlier this year after meeting at a New Year's Eve party in Miami, but only lasted a few weeks with Julia's rep releasing a statement on Valentine's day saying 'Julia and Kanye remain good friends and collaborators but they are no longer together.'

Having fun: Fox later took to social media to share a snap of herself and pals while enjoying the party

In a New York Times interview published in March the busy actor blamed conflicting schedules on the split. 'I already had a jam-packed life. How do I fit this really big personality into this already full life? It just wasn't sustainable,' she said.

She also shared that she dropped weight when with West: 'I lost like 15 lbs in that month.'

In an interview with ES, the Italian born beauty elaborated a bit more about her relationship with the troubled rapper, saying, that she noticed some red flags resulting from the Donda artist's divorce from ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 42.

'It just seems like he had a lot to work on, and I just don't have time for it, or energy. I don't have the bandwidth or emotional capacity for it.'
Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause took the opportunity to flaunt her fit figure beside co-star Emma Hernan at the famed Casamigos Halloween party in Beverly Hills.

The annual bash hosted by Casamigos Tequila, which actor George Clooney co-founded with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, returned Friday night after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

Stause and Hernan were among the celebrities to pull up to the invite-only party that typically attracts A-listers.

Wow! Selling Sunset's Chrishell Stause took the opportunity to flaunt her fit figure beside co-star Emma Hernan at the famed Casamigos Halloween party in Beverly Hills

The reality stars, who both opted to add a bit of sex appeal to their costumes, stepped out together for the evening.

Stause, 41, sizzled in a skintight skeleton bodysuit, complete with bones decorated on the front, that showcased her gym-honed physique.

She added black heels, black fishnet stockings and a matching garter belts that had the leg bones outlined from top to bottom.

Rounding out her ensemble, the actress-turned-real estate agent wore her light brown locks styled in voluminous waves.

Instead of going all out with skull face paint, Stause leaned on the glamorous side with bold smokey eyeshadow and just her nose painted to look hollowed out.

Annual: The annual bash hosted by Casamigos Tequila, which actor George Clooney co-founded with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, returned Friday night after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19 restrictions

Star-studded: Stause and Hernan were among the celebrities to pull up to the invite-only party that typically attracts A-listers

Hernan, 31, decided to shun the scary side of Halloween altogether and go as Pam Anderson's famed CJ Parker character from the original Baywatch.

To recreate her California hottie look, the reality star wore the iconic red one-piece swimsuit worn by the lifeguards on the hit show that rans for 11 seasons beginning in 1989, along with a matching whistle around her neck.

With a chill in the air, Hernan covered up with a red cropped jacket as she carried a red first aid bag with her, in another added touch to her costume.

Like Anderson's CJ, the real estate agent and influencer had her platinum blonde flowing down past the middle of her back and over part of her cleavage.

Skeleton: Stause, 41, sizzled in a skintight skeleton bodysuit, complete with bones decorated on the front, that showcased her gym-honed physique

After getting past the gawkers hanging outside the gate, the ladies showed their invites to the doormen and then went inside to enjoy the festivities, which no doubt had plenty of Casamigos tequila on hand.

Casamigos was launched in 2013 by Gerber, a nightlife entrepreneur who's married to legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford, Meldman, a property developer, and acclaimed actor and director George Clooney.

The Casamigos tequila brand was eventually sold in June 2017 to British liquor company Diageo for a whopping $1 billion, with $300 million of the deal going towards expansion over a 10 year period, according to Business Traveler.

The legendary Casamigos Halloween ragers have entertained such celebrities over the years as Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Jessica Alba, Kendall Jenner, Zoe and Lenny Kravitz, Jon Hamm, Kim Kardashian-West, Jonathan Cheban, Derek Hough, Hayley Erbert, Rachel Zoe, and Gigi and Bella Hadid, among many others, as reported by Royist.

Channeling Pam: Before heading out to the party, Hernan struck a few poses for Instagram video she posted earlier on Friday

Selling it: The Selling Sunset star even wore a whistle around her neck, to go along with the iconic Baywatch one-piece swimsuit
Cate Blanchett has revealed the extreme lengths she went to in order to prepare for her latest role in the new critically acclaimed film Tar.

Insiders are tipping that the 53-year-old Australian-born Hollywood star, may receive her second Best Actress Oscar for the part.

The glamorous blonde beauty plays the title character in the film, Lydia Tar. It follows her rise to become the first-ever female conductor of a German orchestra.

Cate Blanchett tod the Wall Street Journal of how she prepared for the starring role in the new film Tar that many are tipping will get the Aussie superstar her second Oscar as Best Actress. Pictured: Cate Blanchett on the red carpet in London, October 15, 2022

Blanchett told The Wall Street Journal that she studied German, learned the piano and worked with a conductor in order to make the character convincing.

The prestige film premiered in September at the Venice Film Festival where it was met with a six minute standing ovation.

The resounding critical acclaim has only continued to grow, with many pegging Blanchett's performance as a front runner for Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards.

Comparing her preparation to 'spinning plates,' in the interview, reprinted in Saturday's Australian, the acclaimed actress says all her hard work was not about showing off her skills.

The glamorous blonde beauty plays the title character in the film, Lydia Tar, and follows her rise to become the first-ever female conductor of a German orchestra. Blanchett studied German, learned the piano and worked with a conductor in order to make the character convincing Pictured: Blanchett in a scene from Tar

It was about the character, she says, who is a control freak.

The Lord of the Rings favourite says she does want the audience to 'notice her homework,' but 'fall into the film.'

'You spin plates, so you think, ''I'm going to see if I can spin three'',' she says. 'And as soon as you think, ''I'v'e got seven plates in the air,'', they all come crashing down.'

Cate Blanchett won an Oscar for Best Actress in 2013 for Blue Jasmine (pictured)

'So, you can't just can't count plates, and hopefully the audience doesn't count them either.'

The psychological drama film revolves around Blanchett's stunning portrayal of the fictional character Lydia as the past comes back to haunt her.

The film's writer and director Todd Field has stated that he would not have done the movie without Blanchett in the central role.

The 53-year-old Oscar winner transformed her look for the role in Tar (pictured)

A regular on the global awards circuit, Blanchett has received major prizes from all over the world.

The blonde beauty won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2004 for Martin Scorsese's The Aviator.

In 2013, the star scored a Best Actress Oscar for her role in the comedy-drama Blue Jasmine directed by Woody Allen.

Blanchett's other prizes include three BAFTAs, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and an Order of Australia.
Josh Duhamel and his new wife Audra Mari proved that they have a sense of humor about their May-December romance.

The Transformers actor, 49, and the model, 28, channeled the late Anna Nicole Smith and her husband J. Howard Marshall while attending the annual Casamigos Halloween party in Beverly Hills on Friday.

Former topless dancer Anna was 26 at the time of her infamous nuptials to the wheelchair bound 89-year-old oil-tycoon, whom she wed in 1994.

Funny: Josh Duhamel and his new wife Audra Mari proved that they have a sense of humor about their May-December romance while attending a Halloween party in Beverly Hills

The Playboy star's elderly husband died a year later without ever including Anna Nicole in his will - prompting a decades-long court battle between his estate and hers.

Duhamel covered up his thick brown hair with a bald cap featuring tufts of grey hair, and wore an old-fashioned suit and a colorful tie, as he navigated the street with the help of a walker.

Fergie's ex-husband slipped his feet into a comfortable pair of beige slippers as his wife walked alongside him, holding him by the arm.

Channeling the icon: The actor, 49, and the model, 28 - who tied the knot in September -channeled the late Anna Nicole Smith and J. Howard Marshall

Wild inspiration: Former topless dancer Anna was 26 at the time of her nuptials to the wheelchair bound 89-year-old oil-tycoon, whom she wed in 1994

The former Miss World America showed off her toned legs and ample cleavage in a plunging shimmery black dress.

Audra covered up her dark tresses with luscious blonde locks to match Anna, and wore pointed-toe silver heels for the night.

She further styled up her look with a choker around her neck, and wore bright red lipstick for the night.

It comes after Duhamel discussed the age gap with his wife on the Kelly Clarkson show, sharing that had to go to the emergency room before his wedding and right after, due to a back injury from dancing too hard on the pre-wedding party bus.

Going all in: Duhamel covered up his thick brown hair with a bald cap featuring tufts of grey hair, and wore an old-fashioned suit, as he navigated the street with the help of a walker

Sensational: Meanwhile the former Miss World America showed off her toned legs and ample cleavage in a plunging shimmery black dress

Duhamel managed to get through the ceremony after receiving a dose of Toradol - an anti-inflammatory medication that reduces pain.

However the next morning he woke up with the same issue: 'The next morning, after the wedding, I couldnt get out of bed again.'

He then added that his wife nervously said, '"Oh my God. Everything is fine here. This is, like, the first day of my marriage, and Im wheeling my husband around in a wheelchair."'

'Im already way older than she is. It wasnt a great start,' he went on, revealing that he then reminded her of the vows they took: 'I was like, "Babe, for better or worse."'

Short marriage: The Playboy star's elderly husband died a year later without ever including Anna Nicole in his will - prompting a decades-long court battle between his estate and hers

Duhamel and his now-wife were first linked when they were pictured while locking lips at an airport in Toronto in 2019.

The performer was previously married to Fergie, with whom he tied the knot in 2009. The former couple brought a son named Axl, aged nine, into their lives in 2013 before finalizing their divorce in 2019.

The actor later moved on with Mari, and he confirmed that he was in a relationship in January of 2020. The happy couple waited for two years before announcing that they had become engaged.

The duo tied the knot in her hometown of Fargo, North Dakota, in September of this year.
Mishel Karen was daring to bare on Friday.

The Married At First Sight bride who has been dubbed the 'OnlyFans gran' walked the stage at at Sexpo in Sydney in a very racy outfit.

The 51-year-old told Daily Mail Australia that she was meant to film a group sex scene while in Sydney but turned it down as she wanted to be paid upfront.

Mishel Karen (pictured) was daring to bare on Friday. The Married At First Sight bride who has been dubbed the 'OnlyFans gran' walked the stage at at Sexpo in Sydney in a very racy outfit

'I was meant to film a gangbang. We were negotiating a price because I didn't want to film it for free' she said.

Mishel says she had an increase in subscribers on OnlyFans and now makes an eye-watering amount per video.

'I think the most I've made off of one [porn] video is $10,000, so I thought, "No, you need to pay me money upfront!"' she added.

The 51-year-old told Daily Mail Australia that she was meant to film a group sex scene while in Sydney but turned it down as she wanted to be paid upfront

The former reality star also revealed that she has made time for dating while in town.

'We went out to dinner last night. It was really nice. I met him at Sexpo in Brisbane. He's older than me' she said.

'I really like traditional values and somebody can take charge and feel okay with taking charge'.

'I think the most I've made off of one [porn] video is $10,000, so I thought, "No, you need to pay me money upfront!"' she said

Mishel ensured all eyes were on her at Sexpo as she strutted her stuff topless but for a pair of swinging black tassel pasties.

She began her catwalk in an apron that read 'b**h can bake' before stripped it off to reveal her almost bare chest.

Mishel has become one of OnlyFans most popular content creators.

Mishel has become one of OnlyFans most popular content creators

Her new career has allowed her to provide for her two children and grandchild, and to enjoy some of the finer things in life for herself.

She's known for performing far more risque acts than some of her reality TV contemporaries on OnlyFans, including a 12-person group orgy with both men and women.

She also filmed a lesbian threesome this year and sells her used underwear to fans.
Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display as she stepped out at the star-studded Hallowzeem party in Park Row, London, on Friday evening.

The Made In Chelsea star, 32, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging black blazer dress that showed off a hint of cleavage.

She flaunted her toned pins in the glamorous dress as she climbed out of a taxi and made her way into the event.

Party time: Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display as she stepped out at the star-studded Hallowzeem party in Park Row, London, on Friday

The TV personality sported gold jewellery for the highly-anticipated Halloween event, which saw the likes of Roxy Horner and Jack Whitehall also in attendance.

She opted for a silver chunky necklace with a matching bracelet and gave herself a few extra inches with clear perspex stiletto court heels adorned with diamond embellishments.

Kimberley styled her golden locks swept up into a chic bun and shielded her eyes with a pair of black cat-eye sunglasses.

To finish off the look, the TV star bolstered her natural beauty with a nude make-up look and a pink lip.

Stunning: The blonde bombshell, 32, looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging black blazer dress that showed off a hint of cleavage

The outing comes after Kimberley launched a new swimwear range with the help of her best friend Ellie Lyons.

Her latest swimwear range is costly and extravagant as Mail Online recently revealed that she charges up to 240 for a bikini.

According to The Sun, ever since its launch in 2013, luxury swimwear brand Kimberley London has continued to grow - though she admits she wasted money by getting supermodels to pose in her bikinis at the beginning.

Glam: The TV personality also adorned some glam gold jewellery pieces for the highly-anticipated Halloween event

Leggy display: She gave herself a few extra inches with clear perspex stiletto court heels adorned with diamond embellishments

Kimberley said: 'When I started I hired the best models at the time, but they didnt sell anything.'

'Even the click rates on the website were low. I changed the images to those I took for social media and sales have hit their target every day since.'

'I think that people want to be able to follow the journey and be a part of a business lifestyle.'
Rebel Wilson and Carly Steel got chummy on Friday night as they attended the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills.

The friends dolled up, looking pretty in pink as they slipped into 'limited edition Barbie' box costumes.

The comedian, 42, preferred a black base to her costume, opting for a dark T-shirt with purple and pink graphics on the front.

Rebel Wilson, 42, (left) and Carly Steel, 35, (right) got chummy on Friday night as they attended the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills

She slipped into some tight faux leather leggings which shone beneath the lights and donned a pair of chunky black heels.

To guard against the chill of the night, she slipped on a big, fluffy pink jacket before covering everything up with a large box costume.

She accessorised with a pair of pink shades and pink fingerless gloves, unable to wipe the smile off her face as she posed with her friends and girlfriend Ramona Agruma for pictures.

The friends dolled up, looking pretty in pink as they slipped into 'limited edition Barbie' box costumes

The comedian preferred a black base to her costume, opting for a dark T-shirt with purple and pink graphics on the front

She slipped into some tight faux leather leggings which shone beneath the lights and donned a pair of chunky black heels

To guard against the chill of the night, she slipped on a big, fluffy pink jacket before covering everything up with a large box costume

She accessorised with a pair of pink shades and pink fingerless gloves, unable to wipe the smile off her face as she posed with her friends and girlfriend Ramona Agruma (back centre) for pictures

Meanwhile, Carly, 35, went for a more traditional Barbie look, slipping into a cute, short pink dress with a white collar and cuffs.

Underneath, the British television presenter pulled on a pair of opaque white tights and strappy red heels before donning a platinum blonde wig with a pink bow headband.

Like Rebel and her friends, she wore a Barbie box over the entire ensemble, plumping her lips and posing as though she were a real plastic doll.

Rebel is pictured here attending the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns event in Beverly Hills

She is pictured here dressed as a 'limited edition Barbie'

Meanwhile, Carly went for a more traditional Barbie look, slipping into a cute, short pink dress with a white collar and cuffs

Underneath, the British television presenter pulled on a pair of opaque white tights and strappy red heels before donning a platinum blonde wig with a pink bow headband

Like Rebel and her friends, she wore a Barbie box over the entire ensemble, plumping her lips and posing as though she were a real plastic doll

Hanging out with Rebel, Ramona and Carly were Vice President of Product at Snapchat Jacob Andreou and ExtraTV television presenter Melissa Montgomery.

Jacob took on the visage of a Ken doll with a blonde wig, purple t-shirt and white shorts.

Melissa, on the other hand, looked every inch a modern Barbie in a sparkly hot pink dress with thigh-high, hot pink leather boots and glasses.

Hanging out with Rebel, Ramona and Carly were Vice President of Product at Snapchat Jacob Andreou (pictured) and ExtraTV television presenter Melissa Montgomery

Jacob took on the visage of a Ken doll with a blonde wig, purple t-shirt and white shorts

Melissa (left), on the other hand, looked every inch a modern Barbie in a sparkly hot pink dress with thigh-high, hot pink leather boots and glasses

The annual bash hosted by Casamigos Tequila, which actor George Clooney co-founded with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, returned Friday night after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID restrictions

The legendary Casamigos Halloween ragers are invite-only and typically attract A-listers

The annual bash hosted by Casamigos Tequila, which actor George Clooney co-founded with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman, returned Friday night after a two-year hiatus caused by COVID restrictions.

The legendary Casamigos Halloween ragers are invite-only and typically attract A-listers.

They have entertained such celebrities over the years as Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Jessica Alba, Kendall Jenner, Zoe and Lenny Kravitz, Jon Hamm, Kim Kardashian-West, Jonathan Cheban, Derek Hough, Hayley Erbert, Rachel Zoe, and Gigi and Bella Hadid, among many others, as reported by Royist.

They have entertained such celebrities over the years as Justin Timberlake, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Jessica Alba, Kendall Jenner, Zoe and Lenny Kravitz, Jon Hamm, Kim Kardashian-West, Jonathan Cheban, Derek Hough, Hayley Erbert, Rachel Zoe, and Gigi and Bella Hadid

Rebel and Carly are pictured with their friends
New photos from the shooting of The Crown reveal how the Netflix series will show moped-riding paparazzi photographers swarming Princess Diana's car in the lead-up to the crash that killed her.

The images, taken on Thursday night in Paris, show snappers riding on the back of mopeds as they drive close to a Mercedes.

Netflix previously said the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama as filming for series six is well-underway.

Action: New photos from the shooting of The Crown reveal how the Netflix series will show moped-riding paparazzi photographers swarming Princess Diana's car in the lead up to the crash that killed her

In the new pictures, the cast are seen travelling through Place de la Concorde, just a four-minute drive from the tunnel in which she was tragically killed.

The photographers are seen driving close to a Mercedes similar to the one Diana was travelling in when it crashed in the Alma tunnel in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

The late Princess of Wales is being played by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki in the upcoming fifth and sixth series of The Crown. The fifth series is being released on November 9, with the sixth series still being filmed.

The latest filming pictures come after critics slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix amid outrage over the show's disregard for historical truth.

In-character: Elizabeth Debicki is pictured as the Princess of Wales

Netflix declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The paparazzi infamously pursued the car being driven by drunk driver Henri Paul as it carried Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed away from the Ritz hotel in Paris.

Some then took pictures as Diana, Dodi and Paul lay gravely injured in the wrecked Mercedes after the crash.

It comes after Princess Diana's friends slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix as initial images of the scene emerged.

Tragic: The images, taken on Thursday night in Paris, show snappers riding on the back of mopeds as they drive close to a Mercedes

Wow! The vehicle is similar to the one that Diana was traveling in when it crashed in the Alma tunnel in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997

Awful: They are seen travelling through Place de la Concorde, just a four minute drive from the tunnel in which she was tragically killed

Horrendous: The paparazzi infamously pursued the car being driven by drunk driver Henri Paul as it carried Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed away from the Ritz hotel in Paris

Terrible: Some then took pictures as Diana, Dodi and Paul lay gravely injured in the wrecked Mercedes after the crash

Speaking to MailOnline, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said the depiction of the minutes before Diana's death is 'distasteful', adding that 'a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss'.

Onlookers said Netflix crews were previously seen filming between 2am and 3am around 100 yards from the Alma tunnel.

The pictures showed the black Mercedes like the one the couple were travelling in on that tragic day being filmed in another nearby tunnel on the same road.

Claims: Netflix, who declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline, previously insisted the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama

Bad taste: Speaking to MailOnline, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said the depiction of the minutes before Diana's death is 'distasteful', adding that 'a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss'

Coming soon: The fifth series is being released on November 9, with the sixth series still being filmed

A friend of Diana's said the show's makers could face accusations of 'insensitivity' over the filming in Paris.

Mr Lownie, the author of biographies of King Edward VIII and Lord Mountbatten and his wife, said of the latest images: 'I agree it is distasteful [to recreate the scenes].

'It is such an important part of the story and they have got to show it, but a bit of sensitivity would not go amiss.

'There are lots of ways filmmakers can show something without showing it, shall we say.'

Beauty: Diana is pictured during a visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 25, 1995

He added: It could all be off screen. It doesn't need to be so graphic. We have had documentaries even showing pictures of the bodies in the car. In some ways people have gone further.

'They will say this is drama, documentaries have been more blatant, so what is the fuss.'

His comments come after 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.

Preview: A new trailer shows Elizabeth Debicki as Diana screeching to a halt in car chase scene in a red puffer jacket

She added: 'I feel Diana's death and the crash was the biggest shock of 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.'

Miss Frank, who knew Diana from 1989 until her death, also questioned if this was the right time for a dramatization of Diana's death so soon after the Queen's death.

Royal biographer Angela Levin said: 'I think they're appalling, it's so callous and particularly for William and Harry.

'I never stood a chance': It also shows Diana in a skin-baring swimsuit as she floats in the water

'It's terrible, it's reliving something that happened a long time ago and is still in people's minds and making them have all those feelings again.

'You can do a dramatisation of events, but there is a limit  and I think this is going over the limit. It's not necessary. I feel very sorry for the Royal Family.

'It's very hurtful for them, and everyone who knew Diana. She was adored around the world and it will bring a lot of people a lot of unhappiness.'

Another viewer wrote on Twitter: 'Wow, The Crown has gone too far. Prince Harry, this has crossed the line and is disrespectful of your mother the late Princess Diana. Filming 100 yards from where the crash happened, how desperate is Netflix to cash in on the Royal Family.'

Their take: The latest season of The Crown 'would have destroyed the Queen' because of how 'vicious' the dramatised plotlines are, one of her close friends has revealed. Pictured: Imelda Staunton

A second added: 'The active retraumatising of two men who lost their mother through this dramatisation is shameful.'

A source from the show's makers said: 'Netflix have made it clear that The Crown Season 6 features the lead up the to the Paris tunnel crash and the aftermath, but not the event itself.'

The source declined to comment on whether the filming in Paris was insensitive.

The fifth series of The Crown, which will cover the years leading up to Princess Diana's 1995 Panorama interview, has already sparked anger before its release.

Acting royalty Dame Judi Dench, who is close to King Charles and Camilla, accused the programme of being 'crude and hurtful'.

Dame Judi, 87, who has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, told The Times the series risked damaging the monarchy. The Oscar-winning actress blamed it for 'crude sensationalism' and blurring fact and fiction.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major criticised a scene which shows him having a conversation with then Prince Charles about the possibility of the Queen abdicating as 'malicious nonsense'.

Amid growing controversy about the way The Crown blurs reality and fiction, Netflix recently updated its description of the series to add a disclaimer to its trailer on YouTube which says it is a 'fictional dramatisation'.

Oh dear! Acting royalty Dame Judi Dench, who is close to King Charles and Camilla, accused the programme of being 'crude and hurtful' (pictured in 2021)

The previous fourth series of the drama was criticised for not doing enough to tell viewers it was a work of fiction.

A new cast is in place for series five and six of The Crown, with Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki playing Diana and Dominic West as Charles.

The sixth series, currently being filmed, will cover Diana's death in 1997 and reportedly end with the wedding of Charles and Camilla in 2005.

The Crown has been a huge hit for Netflix. Each episode now costs around 11.5million.
Amanda Keller and Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones didn't pull any punches at the ACRAs on Saturday night in Sydney.

No one was off limits as the radio duo mocked the likes of Kyle and Jackie O and Abbie Chatfield in their opening monologue.

The WSFM stars also took shots at Marty Sheargold and they abysmal ratings of the 2Day FM breakfast radio show Hughesy, Ed and Erin.

Amanda Keller and Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones (both pictured) mercilessly mocked the country's biggest radio stars when they took to the stage to host the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) on Saturday night in Sydney at the ICC in Darling Harbour

Kyle Sandilands, 51, and Jackie Henderson's, 47, and their latest walk-off live on air at KIIS FM was also targeted.

The shock jocks were dumped from the airwaves by their censor during an interview with Alan Jones after making inappropriate comments.

'Sadly, Kyle and Jackie's censor couldn't be here tonight. She's been hospitalised with RSI,' Amanda, 60, said.

Kyle Sandilands, 51, and Jackie Henderson's, 47, (both pictured) were among those targeted

Not even Kyle's newborn son Otto was off limits as she joked the audience could 'win him all next week, with KIIS FM's Split or Steal'.

Things got raunchy when the pair mentioned Abbie Chatfield, implying she would want to use the ACRAs trophy as a sex toy.

'Take it from me, it's a magnificent addition to any mantelpiece,' Jonesy said.

Things got raunchy when the pair mentioned Abbie Chatfield (pictured) implying she would want to use the ACRAs trophy as a sex toy

Amanda delivered the punchline: 'Yes, Abbie Chatfield is still trying to work out where you put the batteries.'

Jonesy and Amanda also took aim at 2Day FM which has struggled in the ratings ever since Kyle and Jackie O left the station at the end of 2013, taking the majority of their listeners with them.

'Tonight, we come together to celebrate the most entertaining, talented, insightful and successful radio people in the country,' Amanda said.

The 2Day FM breakfast show hosted by Dave Hughes, Erin Molan and Ed Kavalee (all pictured) was mocked for low ratings

'And 2Day FM,' Jonesy joked.

The current 2Day FM breakfast show is hosted by Dave Hughes, Erin Molan and Ed Kavalee and has just a 3.7 per cent audience share.

This puts them well behind Sydney FM market leaders Kyle and Jackie O who have 12.8 per cent.

Triple M's Marty Sheargold copped a below-the-belt serve from Jonesy and Amanda.

Triple M's Marty Sheargold (pictured) copped a below-the-belt serve from Jonesy and Amanda. 'I love that little guy, with his big shiny bald head, oversized headphones and no discernible genitals,' Amanda said

'Tonight we're also honouring all the very best marketing teams, like the guys who brought us Nova FM's loveable mascot,' Jonesy said, setting up the punchline.

'I love that little guy, with his big shiny bald head, oversized headphones and no discernible genitals,' Amanda replied.

'But, enough about Marty Sheargold,' Jonesy said of the Melbourne breakfast host and Have You Been Paying Attention regular.

Amanda had earlier stunned on the red carpet in a feathered gown

This year's ACRA's, held at the ICC in Darling Harbour, Sydney, drew a crowd of over 1,000 industry players and guests.

Among this year's nominees in the FM category are KIIS 106.6's The Kyle & Jackie O Show, Jonesy & Amanda from WSFM, Nova's Fitzy & Wippa on 96.9, and Kate, Tim & Joel, on the Nova Network and The Christian OConnell Show from Gold 104.3.

Due to the pandemic restrictions this is the first time the commercial radio industry has been able to gather to celebrate their best in three years.
Advertisement

Ferne McCann flaunted her incredible figure as she kicked back on a 'much needed break' in Marbella, Spain, with her fiance Lorri Haines on Friday.

The former TOWIE star, 32, looked as loved-up as ever with her fiance, 30, as they splashed around in the ocean and packed on the PDA with a steamy kiss.

She was joined by her daughter Sunday, four, and Lorri's young son on the trip, after she told fans she was jetting off on a 'much needed break'.

Getaway: Ferne McCann flaunted her incredible figure as she kicked back on a 'much needed break' in Marbella, Spain, with her fiance Lorri Haines on Friday

Loved-up: The former TOWIE star, 32, looked as loved-up as ever with her fiance, 30, as they splashed around in the ocean and packed on the PDA with a steamy kiss

In voice notes leaked earlier this month, Ferne allegedly branded her former TOWIE co-star and longtime friend Sam Faiers a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch'.

After heading to Marbella amid the drama, Ferne looked nothing short of sensational as she donned a skimpy navy two-piece that showed off her enviable figure.

She appeared to be in high spirits as she was spotted in the clear crystal waters packing on the PDA with her partner Lorri.

Stunning: After heading to Marbella amid the leaked voice note drama, Ferne looked sensational as she donned a skimpy navy two-piece that showed off her enviable figure

Stunning: The mother could be spotted wearing a navy triangle top bikini along with a pair of navy bikini bottoms

The brunette bombshell flaunted her natural beauty as she went make-up free for their family beach day.

She styled her brunette locks in a loosely fitted ponytail as she played in the sea with her daughter and Lorri's son.

The blended family holiday comes after Ferne allegedly branded Sam, 31, a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch' in leaked voice notes.

Happy: In other snaps, she can be seen playing in the sea with her daughter Sunday, four, and Lorri's young son

Natural: The brunette bombshell flaunted her natural beauty as she went make-up free for their family beach day

Just last week, Ferne broke her silence after the shocking voice notes scandal.

Fresh from completing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, the former TOWIE star, 32, revealed on Instagram that she had 'confronted difficulties in her life' on the show.

The reality star wrote: 'What a journey. Taking part in @sas_whodareswins was one of the most humbling and toughest things I've ever done.

'I can honestly say it's changed my life. The whole experience makes you look at every single part of yourself - your strengths, your weaknesses, your deepest fears.

Beach day: She also opted for wearing her brunette locks half up in a loosely fitted ponytail for the beach day

Relaxing: She was joined by her daughter Sunday, four, and Lorri's young son on the trip, after she told fans she was jetting off on a 'much needed break'

'It taught me resilience, self acceptance and that every moment is an opportunity for change. It's given me the confidence to finally confront difficulties in my life, deal with them and move forward.'

She added 'Moments will floor you, you will mess up but you've got to find that resilience & grit to pick yourself up and go again.

'Just when you think you've got it all figured out life will always throw something else up, and as the DS say, it's about how you deal with it,' she added in part of her lengthy post.

Ferne hit headlines just earlier this month after the shocking audio footage was posted from an Instagram account.

Playing: Ferne appeared to be in excellent spirits as she was seen having a dip in the sea with her daughter Sunday, four, and Lorri's son

Sam and Ferne, who starred alongside one another on The Only Way Is Essex, were friends for over 20 years before the drama.

Ferne has reportedly been left devastated by the leaked notes and 'can't stop crying' as she has received backlash from fans online after the audios appeared to show her calling Sam a 'fat c***'.

'Her thighs are so big and I looked really skinny today,' the message said - cutting to other clips where allegedly describing Sam, Ferne said: 'Sort of girl that she is, she's just a narcissistic b**ch, she honestly won't care.'

The Instagram account wrote alongside the clip: '@FerneMcCann what a jealous bitter woman talking about your so-called best friend @Samantha Faiers who you have known for 20 years.

Fun: Ferne was seen holding hands with her daughter Sunday as they splashed around in the sea together

Family time: She styled her brunette locks in a loosely fitted ponytail as she played in the sea with her daughter and Lorri's son

'As a friend, you should be supporting your friends not running to other friends and slating them.'

The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward.

After the first clips were circulated online, Sam's mother Suzie was so appalled by the message that she posted it on her Instagram page, which is accessible to her 270,000 followers, this morning.

Suzie wrote: 'So, after a few days of hurt and upset I can no longer sit back and say nothing.

'The vile voice note has been circulating social media, and now press articles are calling it a 'feud', which it is not.

'This has come as a complete shock to myself and my family. Ferne has always been a very close family friend to all of us for over the past 20 years.

'It appears this voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May. Since this voice note has surfaced more has been sent  very upsetting nasty things.

'We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!

Drama: The blended family holiday comes after Ferne allegedly branded Sam, 31, a 'fat c***' and 'narcissistic b**ch' in leaked voice notes (both pictured in July 2019)

'My girls are my absolute everything and I'll do anything to protect them. I don't have anything else to say on the matter.'

A source told MailOnline: 'Naturally Sam is incredibly hurt and upset by these comments, especially from someone she considered to be a good friend, she's at a loss as to why Ferne has decided to speak out about her in such a derogatory way.'

Sam has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram amid the drama, with her sister Billie reportedly calling her former co-star to find out the situation.

Social media friends: Sam has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram but Ferne is still following Sam

According to The Sun, Ferne has now reached out to Essex Police to see if they can locate the anonymous person behind an Instagram account that has been sharing the shocking voice notes.

A source said: 'Ferne was visited by the police on Thursday night after having her life turned upside down by a fake account that has launched a malicious smear campaign against her.

'Officers spent a few hours with her and gave reassurances that they are prioritising this case, tracking the parties responsible.

'Having taken statements, the police are currently in the process of tracking the fake account's whereabouts. The Online Safety Bill was discussed as they clamp down on cyber crime.'
One of the most eagerly awaited literary releases in history, Prince Harry's upcoming memoir has been the subject of media speculation and speculations since since it was announced in 2021.

Prince Harry's memoir started trending on social media this week when its official title and release date were revealed. Users uploaded parodies and sarcastic postings in addition to analyzing the story's content.

Prince Harry's Memoir

The passage that was "quoted" in the Twitter tweet did not actually come from Prince Harry's future book; rather, it was made up as a joke, as per Newsweek.

Senior royals are getting ready for Prince Harry's memoir after discovering its working title is 'Spare.' The shocking book, which makes reference to Prince Harry's usage of the term "the heir and the spare" while growing up in his brother's shadow, will be released on January 10.

For shedding light on his time as a royal before his contentious departure from 'The Firm' with wife Meghan Markle, Prince Harry will earn more than $42 million, according to Mirror.

The publishers claim that the 416-page memoir, which was ghostwritten by American author JR Moehringer and has a striking cover photo of Prince Harry, will be "raw, uncompromising honesty."

The audio book, read by Prince Harry himself, is priced at 20 but is already being sold by Waterstones for half off its regular price of $24 for a hardback. The release date of the book was originally scheduled for this fall, but it was postponed out of respect for the Queen after her passing.

According to sources familiar with the agreement, after the death of the Queen, both Prince Harry, 38, and the publishers wanted to make revisions to the memoir. There will be little possibility that the message, which will undoubtedly be explosive, will lead to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's reconciliation.

Read Also: King Charles III To Retain Prince Harry, Prince Andrew for Major Role as Monarch's Plan Revealed

Prince Harry to Jeopardize Archie's, Lilibet's Future

Prince Harry stated that "we now honor my father in his new capacity as King Charles III" following the loss of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth last month. The King, who met yesterday with Lesotho's High Commissioner Nehemia Sekhonyana Bereng, will have to prepare for more negative press.

The publisher revealed yesterday that Prince Harry sent his children's charity Sentebale $1.51 million of his $21.87 million advance. Additionally, he donated $349,000 to WellChild, a charity for children with disabilities for which Prince Harry serves as patron.

Penguin Random House, the book's publisher, has confirmed the title and release date amid rumors that Prince Harry's memoir was going through extensive editing. Royal commentators have expressed concern that the book may ruin the Duke's relationship with his Royal Family by getting more controversy following his and Meghan Markle's departure as working royals.

"I do think that he is going to blow it with his family and I think that he is going to miss out on a lot of possibilities. He's going to put his children's futures at jeopardy," said royal pundit Kinsey Schofiel, as per Daily Express.

Related Article: Meghan Markle Sexual Scene Resurfaces Following Backlash Over 'Hypocrite' Comments on 'Deal or No Deal' Role [WATCH]

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
He and his family are preparing to leave Los Angeles to return to his native UK, with the move following a huge backlash after he was accused of abusing staff at a restaurant.

In a new interview, James Corden has claimed he quit The Late Late Show to spend more time with his children - Max, 11, as well as daughters Carey, eight, and Charlotte, four.

The TV host, 44, - who is married to TV producer Julia Carey, 46 - recalled having to cancel a family vacation, which ended up being the final straw.

Why? James Corden, 44, has claimed he quit The Late Late Show for his kids

James told The Times that he remembers his own childhood fondly and didn't want to miss those precious years with his own kids, so decided to quit The Late Late Show.

He explained: 'We had to cancel last year's summer holiday [because of work clashes] and when I told Max, he looked so sad, and I had this sudden revelation of the maths: we've only got six more summers with the kids, before they start wanting to go off with their mates, six if we're lucky. I knew I just couldn't do that again. So that's why I quit.'

The interview came as the comedian's reputation took a hit, after he was dubbed 'a tiny cretin of a man' by Keith McNally  the British owner of upscale New York restaurant Balthazar.

In a series of scathing social media posts, McNally claimed the comedian berated servers on two separate occasions and said he planned to '86'  ban  Corden from his restaurant.

'So odd!' The TV host branded the 'surreal' Egggate scandal 'so odd' after he was accused of abusing staff at Balthazar (Pictured with wife Julia, 46, in London in 2018)

Enough is enough: Keith McNally  the British owner of New York eatery Balthazar, described Corden's alleged blowups, while also claiming he behaved similarly at his previous restaurant

Reflecting on the backlash, James described it as the 'most surreal' moment and 'so odd' as he admitted he doesn't read anything about himself online.

He also doubled down on his denial that he 'shouted' or 'swore' at anyone as he insisted he did not use any derogatory language.

He said of the many 'bad stories' circulating about him: 'I've just stopped reading it. I just won't do it. I don't google myself, I don't read anything about myself.'

According to McNally, one of James' reported rants came after he found a hair in his meal leading him to demand free rounds of drinks and threaten to post nasty reviews on Yelp.

Family: James shares son Max, 11, as well as daughters Carey, eight, and Charlotte, four, with his TV producer wife Julia (Pictured together in September 2021)

On the second occasion, the actor allegedly blew up when his wife Julia was served an egg yolk omelet that also contained a trace of egg white - which the comedian later claimed she was allergic to.

He phoned McNally to apologize for his behavior but reignited the row in an interview with the New York Times, in which he said the drama was 'beneath me' and denied doing anything wrong.

He also complained about the backlash, telling the newspaper: 'I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it's so silly. I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication.'

The interview then sparked a response from McNally who demanded Corden apologize to the servers he allegedly abused.
The former Spice Girl broke down at her first ever Paris Fashion Week show in September.

And Victoria Beckham, 48, has explained that she cried on the catwalk after becoming 'so emotional' upon seeing her kids there to support her, and said 'family are everything'.

Her admission comes after her eldest son Brooklyn's wife Nicola Peltz quashed rumours of a feud between herself and her famous mother-in-law by attending the designer's show.

Candid: Victoria Beckham, 48, has explained that she cried on the catwalk at her Paris Fashion Week show after becoming 'so emotional' upon seeing her kids

During an appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show, Victoria said: 'I got so emotional in the show in Paris.

'I planned on coming out after the show and I wanted a great picture walking down the catwalk.

'But the moment I saw David, and the kids and my mum and my dad and my sister, I just got so emotional, I really did.

'Because family are everything to me. To have them there, to support me, is just everything.'

Big moment: The former Spice Girl broke down at her Paris Fashion Week show in September

Victoria's emotional chat comes after much-publicised tensions between the Beckhams and the Peltzes seemed to have ended, after rumbled on over the summer.

The families were reportedly frosty to one another ever since Brooklyn and Nicola tied the knot in April.

The cold war began when Nicola and Victoria clashed over her wedding dress and the Transformers star accused her new mother-in-law of stealing the limelight at her wedding.

Emotional: 'Because family are everything to me. To have them there, to support me, is just everything' said Posh Spice

The Beckhams refused to pay for Brooklyn's US green card, a source claimed at the time and trouble had reportedly been brewing between their two houses.

But it seemed like things were back to normal when Nicola and Brooklyn attended Victoria's Paris Fashion Week show on Friday September 30 - the invite was seen as an 'olive branch.'

They arrived half an hour early to show their support, with 'lots of hugs' going on when they were all reunited for the first time since this summer, said a source in the room.

And video footage taken outside the event showed Victoria laughing with her son Brooklyn, while Nicola socialised with Cruz's girlfriend Tana Holding and Harper Seven.
Christian Wilkins has hit back at a social media troll after he turned heads in a stunning outfit at Penfolds Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday.

The cyber bully called the 27-year-old model and influencer 'an attention seeking r****d' while criticising his show-stopping fashion statement.

Christian responded by sharing the cruel meme to his Instagram Stories and added some harsh words of his own, telling the troll that he found the term - a slur aimed at disabled people - objectionable.

Christian Wilkins (pictured) has hit back at a social media troll after he turned heads in a stunning outfit at Penfolds Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday

'Honestly think what you want,' Christian told the troll in his post alongside the screenshot.

'But as a sibling of someone with a disability, I find this term extremely offensive.'

Christian, who has four siblings, is the son of Richard Wilkins, one of Channel Nine's longest serving presenters.

The cyber bully called the 27-year-old model and influencer 'an attention seeking r****d' while criticising his show-stopping fashion statement

'Honestly think what you want,' Christian told the troll in his post alongside the screenshot. 'But as a sibling of someone with a disability, I find this term extremely offensive'

Richard's eldest son, Adam, who is 47, has Down Syndrome.

Using a photo of Wilkins in his outfit, the troll mocked his Derby Day outfit as if it were a Halloween costume.

Creating a fake 'advert' for the look, it was captioned 'tucking tape', 'chicken fillets' and 'Richard Wilkins' tick of approval'.

The son of Channel nine's Richard Wilkins, Christian has a brother with Down Syndrome

Proving his flair for fashion, Christian wore dramatic headgear with feathered accents

It comes after Christian impressed Flemington's fashionista's on Derby Day.

Proving his flair for fashion, Christian wore dramatic headgear with feathered accents.

He also had on a satin bodice, oversized black silk trousers, and hoof-inspired shoes in the exclusive Birdcage enclosure.

He also had on a satin bodice, oversized black silk trousers, and hoof-inspired shoes in the exclusive Birdcage enclosure

Adding further glamour to the look, he donned a pair of semi-sheer black gloves which were pulled up past his elbows.

Christian, who's become known for his incredible style on the red carpet, styled out the look with a moonstone necklace.

The actor and model previously stated he planned to 'break' the cup carnival's gender-bound rules.
Gemma Collins has revealed she 'loves' being a stepmother to her fiance Rami's son Tristan and even hired a houseful of Brazilian staff so he would feel more at home in her Essex mansion.

The former TOWIE star, 41, was joined by her partner, 49, at the KISS Haunted House Party on Friday evening, where they both gushed about how much they 'love' their life together.

Gemma's fiance Rami sweetly described his partner as the 'best mum' to his son Tristan, four, while the TV admitted she 'loves' being part of their family.

What?! Gemma Collins revealed she hired a houseful of Brazilian staff for her stepson Tristan, four, while admitting wedding to fiance Rami has been scuppered as he hasn't divorced his ex

Speaking about the lengths she went to for Tristan, Gemma explained how his mother hails from Brazil so she started by employing a chef who could cook him a 'whole platter' for breakfast.

When asked about life as a step mum, Gemma told ODE: 'Love it. Listen, in the beginning, because his mum's Brazilian and obviously Rami's Israeli, I was like "This kid ain't gonna eat scrambled eggs for breakfast or corn flakes," so I was like, "OMG."

'So I used to like doing this whole continental morning platter and Rami used to go, "He's not gonna eat it, he's not gonna eat it," so then I hired a Brazilian chef basically so, yeah, he's got full on Brazilian chefs.'

Wow! The former TOWIE star, 41, explained how the four-year-old's mother hails from the South American country so she started by employing a chef who could cook him a 'whole continental morning platter' for breakfast

Rami added: 'We've got a Brazilian cleaner too, whole house full of Brazilian people cooking, cleaning, doing this, doing that, unbelievable.'

Rami went on to gush over Gemma skills with parenting his son, saying: 'She's the best mum, our life is very good right now, the way she looks after Tristan. Tristan loves, loves Gemma so much!'

Gemma admitted that she 'loves' being a stepmother before giving an insight into her upcoming wedding plans with Rami.

She quipped that the pair haven't married because Rami is yet to divorce his ex, but that she wants the affair to be 'small' and at the five-star Claridge's Hotel in London.

Cute: When asked about life as a step mum, Gemma said: 'Love it. Listen, in the beginning, because his mum's Brazilian and obviously Rami's Israeli, I was like "This kid ain't gonna eat scrambled eggs for breakfast or corn flakes," so I was like, "OMG"'

When asked about their wedding plans, Gemma said: 'He ain't divorced yet! That's the hold up, let's be honest Ram. He ain't divorced yet, basically.'

Rami confessed: 'I'm in stages of divorce. She is the best thing that's ever happened to me. When the divorce comes, I'm looking about when I'm about 50...'

Gemma chimed in: 'We've always said there's no rush and, at the end of the day, will the GC ever be tied down? I just don't know.

She added: 'I'm using reverse psychology. We will get married. Will I have a big wedding? No. It will be small, Claridge's.'

Smitten: Gemma's fiance Rami sweetly described his partner as the 'best mum' to his son Tristan, four, while the TV admitted she 'loves' being part of their family

Last year, Gemma expressed her gratitude at having Rami's ex-wife and stepson Tristan in her life, praising their strong bond.

The Diva Forever star said the best part of 2021 was falling in love with Rami following her split from fellow former TOWIE star James Argent the previous year.

And, while Gemma said having Tristan and his mother Fernanda in her life is 'surreal', she insisted they all have a 'wonderful relationship' which is the 'biggest gift'.

Speaking on The Gemma Collins Podcast, the star said: 'I thought I would share my personal biggest highlight of the year, I think it would be falling in love and thinking it would never happen for me.

'Ive had the biggest gift of my life, something that money cant buy and that is my beautiful stepson, who I love so much.

'Im very grateful that we have such a wonderful relationship, myself and Rami with his mum, the beautiful Fernanda.

'Its kind of like a pinch me moment, I went to her house yesterday for dinner and I sat there and I was like this is so surreal but so wonderful.

'Two really strong women and a great dad and the love we have for the child.

Family: Last year, Gemma expressed her gratitude at having Rami's ex-wife and stepson Tristan in her life, praising their strong bond

'He has given me the biggest joy of my life, I always felt something was kind of missing, I had it all but there was a little part of the puzzle missing and Rami bringing that to my life and his mum being so kind and letting me be there in the childs life is the biggest gift Ive ever had.

'I just want to say a very special thank you.'

Last December Gemma confirmed her engagement after accepting a second marriage proposal from long-term boyfriend Rami.

The TV personality reunited with her former fiance during the 2020 lockdown, seven years after breaking off their original engagement.
Gordon Ramsay has emotionally revealed that his daughter Tilly had a tumour removed when she was 12 years old.

On Friday's instalment of Celebrity Gogglebox, the no-nonsense TV chef recalled waiting anxiously for her diagnosis. Thankfully, her tumour was non-cancerous.

Gordon, 55, wiped away tears as he got candid about Tilly's cancer scare, revealing that his now 20-year-old daughter underwent MRI scans after doctors feared the worst.

Health scare: Gordon Ramsay has emotionally revealed that his daughter Tilly had a tumour removed when she was 12 years old

The father-daughter duo were watching the story of a girl named Emily, who died after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 22.

Gordon said to Milly: 'When we found out you had a tumour when you were 12 and that was that horrible period.

'Is it cancer or is it non-malignant? So going into theatre with you... Do you remember?'

Former Strictly star Tilly nodded as her famous father continued: 'And it wasn't cancer. F***ing hell!', while his daughter added that she was 'very lucky'.

Emotional: On Friday night's instalment of Celebrity Gogglebox, the TV chef recalled waiting for her diagnosis. Thankfully, her tumour was non-cancerous

Elsewhere in the episode, the chef probed whether his daughter has a boyfriend, with Tilly eventually confessing that she is in a relationship - as her dad jumped for joy and exclaimed 'finally'.

It comes after the young star's stint on Strictly Come Dancing last year, which ignited rumours of a romance between her and pro partner Nikita Kuzmin.

Appearing on the celebrity version of Channel 4's Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer, Gordon questioned his daughter on her dating life before they got stuck into the TV.

On-screen: Appearing on the celebrity version of Channel 4's Gogglebox, Gordon took the opportunity to question his daughter on her dating life before they got stuck into the TV

The pair were filmed in their living room as they watched TV, with with the chef asking: 'Have you got a boyfriend? Yes or no?'

A mortified Tilly slumped into her chair more, before confessing that she was in a relationship with a tight-lipped reaction.

And dancing with joy, Gordon exclaimed: 'Yes! She's got a boyfriend finally!'

Rumours: It comes after the young star's stint on Strictly Come Dancing last year, which ignited rumours of a romance between her and pro partner Nikita Kuzmin (pictured together)

It comes after reports of Tilly growing close to her former Strictly partner Nikita, with the pair sharing a close bond since appearing on the show together.

Tilly and Nikita formed a close bond during the show, and set tongues wagging last year when they were seen leaving his flat together.

The pair have reunited many times since, but insisted they were just close friends - with Tilly reportedly seeing the dancer as a 'big brother' figure.

Embarassed: Answering the question, a mortified Tilly slumped into her chair more, before confessing that she was in a relationship with a tight-lipped reaction

And back in December, the star allegedly joined celebrity dating app Raya during her search for love, which appears to have come to an end.

She appeared on the Channel 4 show with Gordon in matching navy blue onesies, aiming to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

Gordon shared of the TV appearance: 'We're always happy to support the superb work that Stand Up To Cancer do, and despite our TV tastes being polar opposites, we had a lot of fun filming this very special episode of Gogglebox.'
Nicole Trunfio solidified her supermodel status as she descended upon Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday.

The star, 36, paraded her statuesque frame and long legs in a black mini dress with long sleeves and shoulder pads.

The Los Angeles-based star added a vampy touch with a pair of thigh-high black stockings and accessorised the look with several Dolce & Gabbana accessories - a clutch bag, sunglasses and mesh gloves.

Model Nicole Trunfio, 36, stole the spotlight at Flemington on Saturday as she attended Derby Day in a black mini dress and thigh-high stockings

To top it off, Nicole sported a black birdcage veil fascinator and statement black earrings.

Nicole's ensemble was her second outfit for the day, as she arrived at the event wearing a a strapless frock with an asymmetrical neckline.

The gown hugged the mother-of-three's waist and flaunted a hint of cleavage.

The leggy Los Angeles-based star added a vampy touch with a pair of thigh-high black stockings and accessorised the look with several Dolce & Gabbana accessories - a clutch bag, sunglasses and mesh gloves

She wore a pair of long black velvet gloves as she clutched a little Balenciaga handbag while steadying an extravagant wide-brimmed hat.

Pointed velvet pumps matched her black gloves and she perched a pair of dark cat-eye sunglasses low on her nose.

Nicole completed the elegant look with a stunning diamond collar necklace that matched the straps on her shoes.

Earlier in the day Nicole set the crowds abuzz when she appeared in a stunning black frock which featured an asymmetrical neckline. The gown hugged her waist and flaunted a hint of cleavage

It comes after the Australian supermodel restarted her online cooking show earlier this month.

She had started the channel back in 2020 but abandoned it in July last year for unknown reasons.

Nicole gave no explanation as to her absence on the cooking channel, but she did acknowledge it on Friday when she posted a series of photos to her personal Instagram.

It comes after the Australian supermodel restarted her online cooking show earlier this month

'I know we have been gone for toooooo long (Im sorry) to make up for it we are dropping 2 eps this week! (The next might be my fave),' she captioned the reel which showed snaps of her cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Nicole is the founder of fashion brands Bumpsuit, Erth Jewellery and Erth Swim, and has been married to American musician Gary for four years.

They share three young children together: Gia, five, Zion, eight and baby Ella, two.
Strictly's Jayde Adams has lauded Disney's decision to feature its first ever plus-size heroine.

Earlier this month, the company made history with Reflect - a powerful short film about body dysmorphia - as in the company's 85-year history of making movies, plus-size characters have only ever featured in the roles of villains or extras.

With fans quick to heap praise on the new movie, Jayde was also keen to show her support in a cute Instagram post on Friday.

'Got a new favourite film': Strictly's Jayde Adams praised Disney's Reflect for featuring first plus-size heroine as she shared a comparison snap on Friday

The 37-year-old comedian compared herself to the protagonist Bianca as she shared a comparison snap of the cartoon ballet dancer with herself performing her 'body positive' Flashdance routine on Strictly.

The routine had been dubbed 'inspirational' by fans who were brought to tears, after Jayde revealed her goal was to show that dancers come in all different shapes and sizes.

Jayde captioned her snap: 'I got a new favourite film.'

The star is clearly a fan of Disney, showing off her epic Halloween costume this weekend as she dressed up as Ursula - the villainous sea witch in The Little Mermaid.

Looking good: The 37-year-old comedian compared herself to the protagonist Bianca after she performed her 'body positive' Flashdance routine on Strictly alongside Karen Hauer

The comedian - who was eliminated from Strictly last week - previously spoke about her experience with body shaming trolls.

Rather than getting upset, Jayde revealed she 'laughs with trolls' who comment on her weight in order to show resilience.

Speaking on BBC Sounds Woman's Hour, she began: 'I knew it was going to happen to me because every time I'm on TV someone comments on my weight, I just knew it was going to happen.

'I could do one of two things, I could ignore it, or I could tackle it. I found it funny, I could show people who follow me some resilience.'

Iconic: The star is clearly a fan of Disney, showing off her epic Halloween costume this weekend as she dressed up as Ursula - the villainous sea witch in The Little Mermaid

Speaking of the comments she added: 'Someone wrote, 'this is Jayde Adam's rocking up to Strictly', with a picture of the Michelin Man, and I laughed!'

Meanwhile, Jayde isn't the only person who has shown their support for Disney's first plus-size heroine.

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 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 didn't want to be the fat girl in class anymore. I'm 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. It's 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! It's called Reflect and it's part of the Short Circuit short series. Let's 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.
Newly-single Millie Court sent temperatures soaring as she took to Instagram on Saturday during her sun-soaked Thailand getaway.

The former Love Island contestant, 25, exhibited her enviable physique in a skimpy blue bikini as she sprawled out while enjoying a boat ride out to sea.

She soon turned over to flaunt her pert behind as she gazed out at the Koh Samui coastline before sharing a more candid shot in her 'Insta vs reality' post.

Hot stuff: Newly-single Millie Court exhibited her enviable physique in a skimpy blue bikini as she took to Instagram on Saturday during her sun-soaked Thailand getaway

Millie is staying at the lavish Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club, where room prices reach nearly 800 per night.

She's newly single following her split from fellow Love Island winner Liam Reardon last month.

Jet-setter Millie also sent temperatures soaring earlier this month as she flaunted her incredible figure during a lavish trip to Morocco.

Taking to Instagram, the reality star slipped into a tiny brown bikini as she enjoyed a break from the scorching weather with a dip in the pool.

Out of this world: The former Love Island contestant, 25, soon turned over to flaunt her pert rear as she gazed out at the Koh Samui coastline

Hilarious: She then shared a more candid shot in her 'Insta vs reality' post

Joker: In her caption, she wrote: 'Insta vs reality,' along with a laughing emoj

The two piece boasted a triangular top and drawstring bottoms with large bows, accentuating her hourglass figure.

Millie highlighted her pretty features with a hint of make-up and let her blonde tresses fall to her shoulders.

Sharing the sizzling snaps the stunner posed up a storm as she showcased her newly sun-kissed skin.

She captioned the snaps simply: 'Marrakech'.

Later taking to her Instagram Stories Millie shared a cheeky mirror selfie as she enjoyed dinner at the celebrity hot spot eatery Bo Zin.

Her famous friends rushed to the comments section to gush over her gorgeous snaps with fellow Love Islander Chloe Burrows writing: 'I'm gonna get this tattooed oh my days!'

It comes after MailOnline revealed Love Island 2021 winners Millie and Liam decided to go their separate ways following a year-long romance.

The pair, who had been living together in Essex but have since moved out of their shared home, called it quits after growing apart in recent months, while they both pursued individual work opportunities.
Elle Fanning and her boyfriend, Max Minghella got into the spirit of Halloween as one of cinema's scariest couples - Chucky and his Bride.

The two actors pulled out all the stops to dress as the deadly dolls.

Elle, 24, donned a blonde wig with dark roots, just like her on-screen doppelganger.

All dolled up: Elle Fanning, 24, and her boyfriend, Max Minghella, 37, got into the spirit of Halloween as one of cinema's scariest couples - Chucky and his Bride

She also kept in the (evil) spirit of the holiday with a white dress, black bolero jacket, a black choker necklace and, of course, a bloody knife.

Max, 37, wore overalls and a striped shirt, just like the murderous toy, but instead of sitting for hours in a makeup chair, The Handmaid's Tale star opted for a mask to portray Chucky's torn and stitched face.

The Great star shared a series of snaps from their scare fest on social media, writing simply, 'Wanna play?'

Deadly dolls: The two actors pulled out all the stops to dress as the deadly dolls

Costume: Elle donned a blonde wig with dark roots, just like her on-screen doppelganger. She also kept in the (evil) spirit of the holiday with a white dress, black bolero jacket, a black choker necklace and, of course, a bloody knife

Sexy but sinister: The ghoulish pair had fun posing for some sexy, but sinister shots in a photo booth, knives out

The ghoulish pair had fun posing for some sexy, but sinister shots in a photo booth, knives out of course. Black and white snaps indicate they were having their monster mash at the Bloomsbury Lanes in London.

They even tried their hand at bowling, although it's unclear how wearing the mask affected Max's aim.

Later, the doll faced pair seemed eager to carve up a pizza.

Masked man: Max, 37, wore overalls and a striped shirt, just like the murderous toy, but instead of sitting for hours in a makeup chair, The Handmaid's Tale star opted for a mask to portray Chucky's torn and stitched face

Playtime: The Great star shared a series of snaps from their scare fest on social media, writing simply, 'Wanna play?'

Bowling: The couple tried their hand at bowling, although it's unclear how wearing the mask affected Max's aim

Doll face: The doll faced pair seemed eager to carve up a pizza.

Touch up: Elle spent took a few moment to touch up her makeup

The couple first met on the set of 2018's Teen Spirit.

Max was the writer and director of the film in which Elle was cast as Violet, a small town girl who wants to fulfill her dream to sing.

The handsome pair made their debut on the red carpet at the Met Gala in 2019 but try to keep their relationship out of the public eye.
Advertisement

All eyes were on Megan Fox and fiance Machine Gun Kelly as they dressed as one of the most iconic couples of the 1990s on Friday night to attend the star-studded Casamigos Halloween Party in Beverly Hills.

While rocking a wavy blonde wig and plunging pink and burgundy minidress, the 36-year-old Jennifer's Body star was Baywatch beauty Pamela Anderson's doppelganger as she recreated one of her nights out at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Grand opening party more than two decades ago.

As the mother-of-three displayed her jaw-dropping curves, her man, 32, rocked Lee's signature white tank and black leather pants while puffing on a cigarette.

Legendary: All eyes were on Megan Fox and fiance Machine Gun Kelly as they stylishly arrived to the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills dressed as one of the most iconic couples of the 1990s on Friday night

Fox oozed sex appeal as she paraded her incredibly toned and sun-kissed legs at the event, also attended by hosts Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford as well as Paris Hilton, Rebel Wilson, Jasmine Tookes and more.

Their costumes were most likely influenced by the release of Disney+ series about Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lees infamous sex tape, which was released in February.

In the show, Anderson, 54, was portrayed as Lily James, alongside Sebastian Stan, who played the Motley Crue drummer, 59.

Halloweekend: Fox oozed sex appeal as she paraded her incredibly toned and sun-kissed legs at the event, also attended by hosts Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford as well as Paris Hilton, Rebel Wilson, Jasmine Tookes and more

The inspiration: Their costumes were most likely influenced by the release of Disney+ series about Anderson and Lees infamous sex tape, which was released in February (the former couple pictured in 2003)

Famous pair: Pam & Tommy follows the story of the leak of the couple's sex tape in 1997, which led to devastation for the nineties pin-up and the rocker when their intimate moment spread across the internet for anyone to view

Pam & Tommy follows the story of the leak of the couple's sex tape in 1997, which led to devastation for the nineties pin-up and the rocker when their intimate moment spread across the internet for anyone to view.

Pamela and Tommy tied the knot on a beach in Mexico in 1995 after dating for just four days. They went on to have sons Brandon, 24, and Dylan, 22, and divorced in 1998.

Their sex tape was stolen by Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogan) after Tommy refused to pay for work that he had performed on their house.

Iconic: Pamela and Tommy tied the knot on a beach in Mexico in 1995 after dating for just four days. They went on to have sons Brandon, 24, and Dylan, 22, and divorced in 1998

Not okay: In 2015, Pam told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she never profited from the sex tape, nor even watched it. She said: 'I've never seen it. I made not one dollar. It was stolen property'

Frustrating: She explained: 'We made a deal to stop all the shenanigans. I was seven months pregnant with Dylan and thinking it was affecting the pregnancy with the stress and said, "I'm not going to court anymore. I'm not being deposed anymore by these horny, weird lawyer men. I don't want to talk about my vagina anymore or my public sex  anything."'

When Gauthier confronted the musician about not being paid the $20,000 he was owed, Tommy pulled out a gun to scare him away. Gauthier took his revenge by stealing the giant safe that had been kept in the couple's garage, which mainly housed the drummer's guns and Pamela's jewellery, in addition to the sex tape.

In 2015, Pam told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she never profited from the sex tape, nor even watched it. She said: 'I've never seen it. I made not one dollar. It was stolen property...

'We made a deal to stop all the shenanigans. I was seven months pregnant with Dylan and thinking it was affecting the pregnancy with the stress and said, "I'm not going to court anymore. I'm not being deposed anymore by these horny, weird lawyer men. I don't want to talk about my vagina anymore or my public sex  anything."'

Going strong: Meanwhile Fox and her husband-to-be , who co-starred together in Midnight in the Switchgrass back in 2019, began dating in the spring of 2020

Meanwhile Fox and her husband-to-be , who co-starred together in Midnight in the Switchgrass back in 2019, began dating in the spring of 2020.

The couple who loves to showcase their PDA revealed their engagement back in January.

Megan shared a video of the moment MGK got down on one knee with the caption: 'In July of 2020 we sat under this banyan tree. We asked for magic. We were oblivious to the pain we would face together in such a short, frenetic period of time.

Kelly has never been married before but does co-parent a 13-year-old daughter named Casie with his ex-girlfriend Emma Cannon.

Megan meanwhile shares three sons of her own - Noah, 10, Bodhi, eight, and Journey, six - with her ex-husband Brian Austin Green.
About 18 seconds before an earthquake hits San Jose, California, MyShake app sent an alert to 95,000 devices owned by residents of the city warning them to "duck, cover and hold on," according to CNBC.

MyShake App Signups Reach Over Two Million

A 5.1 earthquake hit the Bay Area in California on Tuesday. While no damage has been reported, the quake served as a reminder to the residents to be ready in emergency situations.

In connection with the quake, thanks to MyShake app thousands of California residents received warning 18 seconds before the earthquake was felt.

Following Tuesday's warning from MyShake app, signups for the app have increased, and as of writing, it reached over two million, according to the data page of the app.

While, MyShake app can be downloaded by anyone, the system is only fully operational in California, Oregon and Washington.

The app will send you alert if a 3.5 magnitude earthquake or above is detected. What's remarkable with the app is it will send alert even if your phone is on "Do Not Disturb" setting.

To use the MyShake app, here's a step-by-step process:

Go to Apple's App Store, or to Google Play store to download the App.

Once you downloaded it, open the app.

You will be asked if you want to allow it to track your location and send you notifications and critical alerts. Choose "Allow" to receive notifications and alerts. However, even if you don't allow MyShake to track your location, you will still receive emergency alerts.

Choose your location, whether you live in California, Oregon or Washington.

You will find in the app the recent earthquakes, report earthquakes you experience and learn safety techniques. Toggle through the options on the bottom menu of the app.

When an earthquake is about to hit, you will receive a loud notification on your phone. It will be accompanied by a message advising you to "drop, cover and hold on."

Read Also: 5 Illustration Software Digital Artists Should Check Out

California Government Alerts Residents of Earthquake

Relative to the earthquake, a new statewide warning system sent an alert to 2.2 million California residents in the San Francisco Bay Area about 19 seconds before the quake hit the city. The warning was sent via people's smartphone.

Since the state government had negotiated with Google, the vast majority of residents or 2.1 million of those who received the alert are Android phone users. The alert tech is integrated into the operating system of the phone.

"The state and federal govt continue to work closely with technology partners and we remain hopeful of the technology being included across all operating systems in the near future, including iOS," Office of Emergency Services (OES) spokesperson Brian Ferguson said, as cited by CNET.

If the system detected that an earthquake of 4.5 magnitude or greater will hit the area, OES will send the alerts giving people enough time to prepare. The alerts sent are based on readings from ShakeAlert.

"California continues to harness the power of science and technology to help keep our communities safe. When it comes to earthquakes, seconds can save lives." said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Related Article: 7 Emergency Apps To Keep On Your Phone For Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Other Disasters
Joey Essex has revealed he is planning on having five children one day - days after he was spotted locking lips with Maura Higgins.

The former TOWIE star, 32, was feeling broody as he discussed his future, saying he hopes to get married and have a large family.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'I feel like in ten years' time, I am hopefully on a huge boat, yacht in Spain and I am living on that with a wife and maybe four or five kids!'

Future: Joey Essex has revealed he is planning on having five children one day - days after he was spotted locking lips with Maura Higgins

Joey recently became an uncle for the first time when his sister Frankie gave birth to twins, which Joey said has been an 'eye-opener'.

He added: 'The twins are lovely, it's crazy having those babies in my life because it's like one day I'll have children and for me it was a proper eye opener.'

It comes after reports that Maura is planning her first date with Joey after finding a spark at the Pride of Britain awards.

The Love Islander, 31, is said to be 'excited' at the prospect of seeing Joey again and it has been claimed they have been messaging since the kiss to plan something.

Steamy: It comes after reports that Maura is planning her first date with Joey after finding a spark at the Pride of Britain awards

A source told The Sun: 'They've met before on the celebrity party circuit but Monday was the first time things have turned flirty.

'They both fancy the pants off each other  it could be the start of something pretty special.

'Maura's really keen for a date with Joey and they've been messaging nonstop since.'

The two were seen getting close as they caught up at the Red Bar in London's Grosvenor House, where the ceremony took place.

Joey said: 'I feel like in ten years' time, I am hopefully on a huge boat, yacht in Spain and I am living on that with a wife and maybe four or five kids!'

An excited Maura could be seen smiling with her eyes closed as she leaned her head close to Joey's, while Joey was also seen edging closer to the beauty.

The pair were also seen sharing an intimate hug, with the Irish stunner resting her head on Joey's shoulder.

Maura and Joey looked very relaxed in each other's company as they chatted together in the lobby area.

And it appeared that the two couldn't stay away from each other as they went on to share a taxi before heading off along with other pals.
It's not officially Halloween until Monday.

But the stars have been out in force showing off their costumes this weekend, including Vicky Pattison who put on a very sexy display in her outfit.

The former Geordie Shore star, 34, dressed up as an angel and a devil for the celebration, donning a white bodysuit and halo for the first look.

Angel or devil? Vicky Pattison put on a sultry display in a white bodysuit and halo (pictured) before changing into a red latex leotard and horns for her sexy Halloween looks on Saturday

She showed off her gorgeous figure in the skimpy number which she teamed with long PVC white boots and wings to become an angel.

For her second and contrasting devil look she wore red horns and a latex leotard while amping up the glamour with a smokey eye and red lip.

She wore her brunette tresses in perfect glossy waves and wrote: 'Angel or devil' in the caption using the two corresponding emojis.

Stunning: For her second and contrasting devil look she wore red horns and a latex leotard while amping up the glamour with a smokey eye and red lip

Halloween: She wore her brunette tresses in perfect glossy waves and wrote: 'Angel or devil' in the caption using the two corresponding emojis

It comes after last week Vicky announced that she had to pull out from presenting on the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards due to illness.

The star took to her Instagram Stories on Monday to share the news that she would no longer be appearing at London's Grosvenor House later in the day.

She revealed that she had spent Sunday feeling 'appalling' and initially thought she was 'hungover' before spending the evening with 'aches and pains' and a 'splitting headache'.

Vicky said she was 'absolutely gutted' to be missing the annual awards ceremony after catching a stomach bug but sent her well wishes to her co-presenter Sam Thompson, who is hosting the Facebook Live.

Oh dear! It comes after last week Vicky announced that she had to pull out from presenting on the red carpet at the Pride Of Britain Awards due to illness

Vicky penned: 'I'm so sad... I've caught that bug that's been going round - spent all last night throwing up and [poop emoji]. Now I've got aches and pains and a splitting headache.

'I won't be able to make it to the @prideofbritain and I'm absolutely gutted. Especially considering I'd been given the amazing opportunity to present on the red carpet.'

'Good luck to all the unbelievably deserving nominees. You're all heroes and truly the pride of Britain,' she added.

'And I hope my little presenting buddy Sam Thompson smashes it... I know you will.'

Illness: She revealed that she had spent Sunday feeling 'appalling' and initially thought she was 'hungover' before spending the evening with 'aches and pains' and a 'splitting headache'

The annual Pride of Britain Awards returned for a 23rd year at London's Grosvenor House on Monday, with Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo co-hosting the star-studded affair.

Taking place since 1999, the ceremony honours the achievements of truly remarkable people from across the UK and all walks of life - nominated by members of the public.

After a shortlist was produced from the thousands of entries, winners were chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel.

Despite taking place on Monday evening, the ceremony was aired on ITV on Thursday 27 October at 8pm.

Carol, who has hosted the event for 23 years since 1999, said before: 'We'll have 12 incredible winners again this year, but it's difficult for the judging panel because we have thousands of nominations and everyone on the shortlist could easily win.'

The Pride Of Britain awards honoured winners in eight categories; TSB Community Hero Award, ITV Fundraiser Of The Year, Good Morning Britain Young Fundraiser of the Year, This Morning Emergency Services Award, Outstanding Bravery, Child/Teenager of Courage, Lifetime Achievement and Special Recognition.
James Corden has revealed that he isn't a 'confident lad or lout' who likes going out and 'drinking lager' - but is instead more of an introverted character.

The TV host, 44, - who found fame as lovable Smithy on Gavin and Stacey - says people have misconceptions about him after watching his well-known character on the show.

He also told in a new interview how he struggled with fame at first as he wondered if people liked him for him or just liked his character of Smithy.

Personality: James Corden has revealed that he isn't a 'confident lad or lout' who likes going out and 'drinking lager' - but is instead more of an introverted character

He said to The Times: 'I think I used to get quite freaked out. I didn't know how to deal with it, and also there was this thing of people going, 'Ah, Smithy!' and  what do you do?

'They're expecting to meet this really confident lad, or lout, drinking lager, and I'm really not a lad, you know?

'I'm a musical theatre performer. I don't drink beer. I like maybe one slimline G&T. I didn't know what people wanted from me.'

Comparisons: The The TV host, 44, - who found fame as lovable Smithy on Gavin and Stacey - says people have misconceptions about him after watching his well-known character on the show (pictured with Ruth Jones as Nessa)

He added that no ever tells you have to deal with fame and that you have to 'figure it out along the way' as he admitted he got 'tangled' up in whether people liked him or liked his Smithy character.

It comes as he and his family are preparing to leave Los Angeles to return to his native UK, with the move following a huge backlash after he was accused of abusing staff at a restaurant.

In the same interview with The Times he has claimed he quit The Late Late Show to spend more time with his children - Max, 11, as well as daughters Carey, eight, and Charlotte, four.

Tough: He also told in a new interview how he struggled with fame at first as he wondered if people liked him for him or just liked his character of Smithy

The star - who is married to TV producer Julia Carey, 46 - recalled having to cancel a family vacation, which ended up being the final straw.

James said that he remembers his own childhood fondly and didn't want to miss those precious years with his own kids, so decided to quit The Late Late Show.

The interview came as the comedian's reputation took a hit, after he was dubbed 'a tiny cretin of a man' by Keith McNally  the British owner of upscale New York restaurant Balthazar.

In a series of scathing social media posts, McNally claimed the comedian berated servers on two separate occasions and said he planned to '86'  ban  Corden from his restaurant.

Reflecting on the backlash, James described it as the 'most surreal' moment and 'so odd' as he admitted he doesn't read anything about himself online.

He also doubled down on his denial that he 'shouted' or 'swore' at anyone as he insisted he did not use any derogatory language.

He said of the many 'bad stories' circulating about him: 'I've just stopped reading it. I just won't do it. I don't google myself, I don't read anything about myself.'

According to McNally, one of James' reported rants came after he found a hair in his meal leading him to demand free rounds of drinks and threaten to post nasty reviews on Yelp.

Change: It comes as he and his family are preparing to leave Los Angeles to return to his native UK after he quit The Late Late Show

Oh dear! The move follows a huge backlash after he was accused of abusing staff at a restaurant recently (Pictured with wife Julia, 46, in London in 2018)

On the second occasion, the actor allegedly blew up when his wife Julia was served an egg yolk omelet that also contained a trace of egg white - which the comedian later claimed she was allergic to.

He phoned McNally to apologize for his behavior but reignited the row in an interview with the New York Times, in which he said the drama was 'beneath me' and denied doing anything wrong.

He also complained about the backlash, telling the newspaper: 'I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it's so silly. I just think it's beneath all of us. It's beneath you. It's certainly beneath your publication.'

The interview then sparked a response from McNally who demanded Corden apologize to the servers he allegedly abused.

Enough is enough: Keith McNally  the British owner of New York eatery Balthazar, described Corden's alleged blowups, while also claiming he behaved similarly at his previous restaurant
Brooklyn Beckham has marked his three-year anniversary with his wife Nicola Peltz with a heartfelt post.

The aspiring chef, 23, and the actress, 27, married in April last year at a lavish wedding in Palm Beach Florida, but they began dating two years prior.

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Brooklyn shared several snaps of the couple together and said he 'could not live this life' without Nicola.

Couple: Brooklyn Beckham has marked his three-year anniversary with his wife Nicola Peltz with a heartfelt post

He wrote: 'Can't believe it's been 3 years, I feel like I have known you my whole life. Happy anniversary to my other half, my best friend and to my gorgeous wife x could not live this life without you '

Nicola commented on the post, riting: 'Brooklyn '.

The Bates Motel actress also shared several photos of the couple taken over the years in her own post.

She wrote: 'Happy 3 years baby. I fall more in love with you every day. I'm so lucky I have you as my husband'.

Romance: The aspiring chef, 23, and the actress, 27, married in April last year at a lavish wedding in Palm Beach Florida, but they began dating two years prior

Heartfelt: Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Brooklyn shared several snaps of the couple together and said he 'could not live this life' without Nicola

The photos come after Nicola squashed feud rumours with her beau's family after attending her mother-in-laws Paris Fashion Week runway show in September.

The couple had finally put to bed speculation that they had fallen out with the Spice Girl as they put on a united front.

Nicola and Brooklyn accepted Victoria's fashion week invite to attend her show on Friday - the invite was seen as an 'olive branch.'

They arrived half an hour early to show their support, with 'lots of hugs' going on when they were all reunited for the first time since this summer, said a source in the room.

Loved-up: The Bates Motel actress also shared several photos of the couple taken over the years in her own post

And video footage taken outside the event showed Victoria laughing with her son Brooklyn, while Nicola socialised with Cruz's girlfriend Tana Holding and Harper Seven.

Nicola and Brooklyn accepted Victoria's fashion week invite to attend her show on Friday - the invite was seen as an 'olive branch.'

They arrived half an hour early to show their support, with 'lots of hugs' going on when they were all reunited for the first time since this summer, said a source in the room.

And video footage taken outside the event showed Victoria laughing with her son Brooklyn, while Nicola socialised with Cruz's girlfriend Tana Holding and Harper Seven.

Nicola wrote: 'Happy 3 years baby. I fall more in love with you every day. I'm so lucky I have you as my husband'

In the 30-second clip, Victoria looked glamorous in a figure-hugging black dress as she chats with Brooklyn, who is seen flashing a huge smile as he enjoyed a drink.

During their avid chat, a woman approached Victoria but she pointed at her son and instead continues their conversation, with the woman then walking away.

The mother and son then edge towards Nicola, who is facing the other way as she chats to Brooklyn's sister Harper, 11, and Cruz's model girlfriend Tana.

Brooklyn was seen placing his hand on his wife's back and holding the waistband of her jeans as he continues speaking to his mother, while Nicola carried on her chat with Tana.

Stunning: In one photo, Brooklyn took a snap of Nicola as she posed in front of a mirror

Reports of a feud between Victoria and Nicola have been rife for weeks, after the pair noticeably stopped 'liking' each other's Instagram content.

The feud is said to have stemmed over the circumstances surrounding Nicola's wedding dress.

She had planned to wear a Victoria Beckham design but ended up in Valentino - the circumstances surrounding this decision have ended up stemming in fierce debate.
Advertisement

Strictly Come Dancing returned to screens for its Halloween Special on Saturday, as the 11 remaining celebrities took to the dance floor with their pro partners for the sixth week this series.

Tyler West and Dianne Buswell joined Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe at the top of the leaderboard with both couples scoring an impressive 35, while James Bye and Amy Dowden came bottom with 27.

Elsewhere Tony Adams and his partner Katya Jones wowed with a Western-style Quickstep - which proved to be by far their best performance yet - scoring 31 - after being bottom of the leaderboard last week.

Wow! Tyler West and Dianne Buswell (pictured) joined Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe at the top of the leaderboard with both couples scoring an impressive 35 during Saturday night's Halloween Special

Kiss FM DJ Tyler, 26, impressed the judges alongside his professional partner Dianne, 33, with a Cha Cha to Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) by Tanz Orchester Klaus Hallen.

Anton said in his feedback: 'This is such a hard dance, I thought that was brilliant, it's one of the best Cha Cha's I have seen on this show.'

Craig added: 'You need to go more on a straight leg, but I loved it, it was a wonderful performance', before Shirley said: 'Listen that was very juicy, the body rhythm was great, it had a good core and rotation, but for me it was quite enough on Halloween!'

Amazing! Elsewhere Tony Adams and his partner Katya Jones wowed with a Western-style Quickstep - which proved to be by far their best performance yet - scoring 31 - after being bottom of the leader board last week

They scored an impressive 35, with a ten from Anton.

They came joint top of the leaderboard with Ellie and Johannes with their Couple's Choice dance as they closed the show.

The judges were impressed with Craig saying: 'You have gone the full hog, you were just ahead of the tempo but it was one of your best dances'. Motsi then said it was her favourite dance of the night.

Well done: They came joint top of the leaderboard with Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe with their Couple's Choice dance as they closed the show

Pleased: The judges were impressed with Craig saying: 'You have gone the full hog, you were just ahead of the tempo but it was one of your best dances'. Motsi then said it was her favourite dance

STRICTLY COME DANCING: WEEK 6 LEADERBOARD Tyler West and Dianne Buswell - Cha Cha Cha: 35 Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe - Couple's Choice: 35 Kym Marsh and Graziano Di Prima - Rumba: 34 Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu - Argentine Tango: 33 Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przysta - Tango : 33 Fleur East and Vito Coppola - Salsa: 32 Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez - Foxtrot: 32 Will Mellor and Nancy Xu - Cha Cha Cha: 32 Tony Adams and Katya Jones - Quickstep: 31 Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin - Foxtrot: 29 James Bye and Amy Dowden - Charleston : 27 Advertisement

Shirley added: 'It was very intense, you put a spell on me, it was my favourite Ioved it well done.' Anton added: 'That was by far your best dance of the series.' They scored an incredible 35, topping the leaderboard with Tyler and Dianne.

At the other end of the scale were James Bye and his partner Amy Dowden who performed a bee-themed Charleston. Their fun-filled routine was full of laughter and lifts but failed to win over the judges.

The judges had mixed reviews, with Motsi saying: 'It was fun and you were more loose but next you need more musicality.'

Scenes: Kiss FM DJ Tyler wowed the judges alongside his professional partner Dianne, 33, with a Cha Cha to Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) by Tanz Orchester Klaus Hallen

All smiles: Anton said: 'This is such a hard dance, I thought that was brilliant, it's one of the best Cha Cha's I have seen on this show'. They scored an impressive 35, with a ten from Anton

Show: Craig added: 'You need to go more on a straight leg, but I loved it, it was a wonderful performance', before Shirley said: 'Listen that was a very juicy, the body rhythm was great, it had a good core and rotation, but for me it was quite enough on Halloween!'

Here we go: At the other end of the scale were James Bye and his partner Amy Dowden who performed a bee-themed Charleston. Their fun-filled routine was full of laughter and lifts but failed to win over the judges

Average: The judges had mixed reviews, with Motsi saying: 'It was fun and you were more loose but next you need more musicality.' They scored a total of 27

Shirley added: 'The concept and technique were all better, now you need to work on different energies to make it more bright and alight.'

Anton said: 'The lifts were very strong, you threw Amy down a bit but it was a bit throw away, your work was good but I don't see the finish of it all, but a good effort.'

Craig added: 'You need to dance more between your lifts but it was good'. They scored a total of 27.

Meanwhile Tony and Katya scored their highest numbers since the start of the competition six weeks ago, as they took to the floor first

Nice: Meanwhile Tony and Katya scored their highest numbers since the start of the competition six weeks ago, as they took to the floor first

The judges were impressed with his performance, with Shirley saying: 'Who would have thought it that you would bring that kind of performance. The footwork was lovely, you shocked me!'

Anton added: 'You are unrecognisable! You were stuck as being perceived as the one who couldn't dance but you are a proper dancer, I loved it!', before Craig added: 'Welcome Tony to the ballroom! You had style and story.'

Motsi said: 'What a surprise and what hard work wow!'. The pair received a total of 31.

Wow: The judges were impressed with his performance, with Shirley saying: 'Who would have thought it that you would bring that kind of performance. The footwork was lovely, you shocked me!'

Thrilled: Motsi said: 'What a surprise and what hard work wow!'. The pair received a total of 31 and looked thrilled afterwards

Happy: Anton added: 'You are unrecognisable! You were stuck as being perceived as the one who couldn't dance but you are a proper dancer, I loved it!', before Craig added: 'Welcome Tony to the ballroom! You had style and story'

Will Mellor and Nancy Xu were next up with a Cha Cha Cha. The judges lauded his dance with Anton saying it was 'much better than last week'.

Craig added: 'I loved the hop action and body rolls, I liked the stylisation I think you did a magnificent job, the choreography was fantastic!', while Shirley and Motsi were equally as impressed with the 'entertaining' dance.

They scored an impressive 32, with all eights from the four judges.

Next up to perform were Kym Marsh and her partner Graziano Di Prima, with the couple taking on the difficult Rumba.

Stars: The 20th series of Strictly is once again hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (pictured on Saturday night)

Made an effort: Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all dressed up for the Halloween Special

The judges loved the dance, with Craig saying: 'Your balance was on it, from week one this is immaculate!', before Motsi adding: 'That was stunning, I see you presence, I see you trying, there were some difficult things there and I see a real transformation.'

Shirley said: 'Let me tell you that was beautiful, it was stunning, it had power and softness, creativity, character and a storyline, you were fantastic!'

Anton added: 'You are back on form! Amazing! They scored an incredible 34, with two nines from Shirley and Anton.

Good job: Will Mellor and Nancy Xu were next up with a Cha Cha Cha. The judges lauded his dance with Anton saying it was 'much better than last week'

Nice one! They scored an impressive 32, with all eights from the four judges, with Craig saying: 'I loved the hop action and body rolls'

Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu were next with an Argentine Tango to a Kate Bush classic of Running Up That Hill - after being in the dance off last week.

They wowed the judges, with Shirley saying: 'It was drama and passion and everything in between. You cam back from the dance off strong, the timing was immaculate, I loved it!'

Anton added: 'You are so clean, I love watching you dance, it lacked a bit of intensity to make it a showstopper but it was amazing.'

Craig was less impressed, saying: 'I felt like you were dancing two different dances, it was a bit ugly.' They scored 33, with three nines and a six from Craig.

Challenge: Next up to perform were Kym Marsh and her partner Graziano Di Prima, with the couple taking on the difficult Rumba

Amazing: Shirley said: 'Let me tell you that was beautiful, it was stunning, it had power and softness, creativity, character and a storyline, you were fantastic!' They scored an incredible 34, with two nines from Shirley and Anton

Stunning: Kym looked incredible in a black dress and wig while Graziano had white face paint on

Here they are! Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu were next with an Argentine Tango to a Kate Bush classic of Running Up That Hill - after being in the dance off last week

Praise: They wowed the judges, with Shirley saying: 'It was drama and passion and everything in between. You cam back from the dance off strong, the timing was immaculate, I loved it!'

Next up were Helen Skelton and her partner Gorka Marquez with a Foxtrot. Craig said: 'Your frame needs work, I can see the mechanics of it and you don't want to see that but it had a nice flow.'

Motsi said: 'I adore watching you dance and your dancing is getting stronger. I get final vibes off you.'

Shirley added: 'Slow and steady always wins the race, you give us more of your soul each week, you feel more comfortable, moving forward you need to finish every part of you.' She got a score of 32.

Next up were Hamza Yassin and Jowita Jowita Przystal with a terrifying Tango - which got good feedback.

Motsi said after the dance: 'You always make me feel happy, the way you move your spine is incredible. Shirley added: 'The choreography was very complicated and you had some very fast feet. But you are an absolute King.'

Beauty: Next up were Helen Skelton and her partner Gorka Marquez with a Foxtrot. Craig said: 'Your frame needs work, I can see the mechanics of it and you don't want to see that but it had a nice flow.'

Feedback: Shirley added: 'Slow and steady always wins the race, you give us more of your soul each week, you feel more comfortable, moving forward you need to finish every part of you.' She got a score of 32

Beauty: Helen looked elegant in a sweeping red dress while Gorka wore a suit with fur detailing on it

Anton added: 'You move across the floor with power normally, but this wasn't your best sorry!' They scored 33 overall.

Next up were Fleur East and her partner Vito Coppola with a very energetic Salsa to Beyonce's hit Break My Soul.

Shirley said: 'It was extremely powerful, you had a great connection together but I would like to see more finesse, but there is no disputing your power and drive. Anton added: 'It's incredible to watch, it was on the cusp but going too far, it was great but just be aware.'

Craig added: It was just a bit messy for me, there was no elegance it needs to be more smooth, but you have some power and that was incredible.' Motsi was more positive and said it was good to see a powerful woman on the dance floor. The scored a total of 32.

Power: Next up were Fleur East and her partner Vito Coppola with a very energetic Salsa to Beyonce's hit Break My Soul

Next up were Ellie Simmonds and her partner Nikita Kuzmin with a Foxtrot.

The feedback was mixed, with Anton saying: 'It was amazing, your footwork was immaculate and impeccable, work on the bits in between the steps now!'

Craig: 'It was very stop and start and that annoyed me, it lost flow, it wasn't my favourite it was slightly boring.' Motsi added: 'You hold was better and there was a definite improvement.'

Shirley said: 'You did a beautiful heel toe and I wanted to see more of that, but this is the difficult dance and you executed it well.' They scored an average 29 overall.

Judges: Shirley said: 'It was extremely powerful, you had a great connection together but I would like to see more finesse, but there is no disputing your power and drive.' The scored a total of 32

Fun: Next up were Ellie Simmonds and her partner Nikita Kuzmin with a Scooby Doo themed Foxtrot

Tough crowd: The feedback was mixed, with Anton saying: 'It was amazing, your footwork was immaculate and impeccable, work on the bits in between the steps now!' They scored 29

It comes after Week Five saw wildlife presenter Hamza and broadcaster Helen finish in joint first place on the leaderboard with their stellar routines to celebrate the BBC's 100th Anniversary.

But it was the end of the road for comedian Jayde Adams, who became the fourth star to be eliminated after going head-to-head with Molly Rainford in the dance-off.

After both couples performed again, the judges voted to save Molly and her professional partner Carlos Gu, meaning Jayde and Karen were sent home.

Following on from last week's public vote, the pressure is well and truly on to get their steps right as the phone lines will once again open after the show for fans to vote for their favourite routines.

Taking to the floor: Next up were Hamza Yassin and Jowita Jowita Przystal with a terrifying Tango - which got good feedback

This week, the remaining pairs take to the dancefloor with spooktacular Halloween-inspired performances, in a bid to survive the next public vote, after last weeks' episode celebrated 100 years of the BBC, with special dances honouring a number of popular shows from the broadcaster.

The 20th series of Strictly is once again hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, with Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke returning as judges.

Alongside this, the Strictly spin-off It Takes Two is back on screens during the week to ensure you get your strictly fix, hosted by Rylan Clark and former professional dancer Janette Manrara .

Mixed: Motsi said after the dance: 'You always make me feel happy, the way you move your spine is incredible. Shirley added: 'The choreography was very complicated and you had some very fast feet. But you are an absolute King'
Bella Hadid looked breathtaking in photos shared to Instagram from her night at a Fashion Trust Arabia event in Qatar.

The 26-year-old supermodel was joined by dad Mohamed Hadid, 73, at the 2022 Prize Awards Ceremony.

For the occasion, the fashionista wore a vintage Alaia dress that was created in 1986.

Stunner: Bella Hadid looked breathtaking in photos shared to Instagram from her night at a Fashion Trust Arabia event in Qatar

She stunned in the number, which clung to her svelte figure with an attached headdress that covered most of her hair.

The area that was visible showed her glossy brunette locks styled in a sleek side part with a swoop bang slicked at the front.

Bella, the second child of Yolanda Hadid and Mohamed, finished the modest look with a pair of solid black heels.

She accessorized with glinting chandelier drop earrings and a single statement ring.

Less is more: She accessorized with glinting chandelier drop earrings and a single statement ring

Family: The 26-year-old supermodel was joined by dad Mohamed Hadid, 73, at the 2022 Prize Awards Ceremony

Proud daughter: Bella held her father's hand and beamed with pride as they posed together for photos

Gigi Hadid's younger sister painted her nails a fall-appropriate burgundy hue with a glossed finish.

Her makeup consisted of thin, winged black eyeliner, contoured cheeks, and a glossy lip.

Mohamed looked dapper in a well-tailored, slim fit, dark suit with a white shirt and coordinating tie.

He wore black-rimmed eyeglasses and the real estate developer's graying neck-length hair was subtly feathered.

Fashion-forward: For the occasion the fashionista wore a vintage Alaia dress that was created in 1986

Taking to social media to engage with her 56 million followers, she included a thoughtful caption with the images.

'To see young designers from all over the Middle East and North Africa come together to showcase their talents is an emotional and beautiful vision,' she began.

The Kin Euphorics co-founder continued, 'the shows that even through struggle; passion:love and beauty will always shine through.'

'There is so much talent from the people of MENA, the only problem is, not enough opportunity,' she explained.

Heartfelt: Taking to social media to engage with her 56 million followers, she included a thoughtful caption with the image

Bella demonstrated her deep knowledge of the cause as she stated: 'The work that Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani and Tania Fares do to raise awareness about the art communities in the Middle East and North Africa is something that has never been nurtured, but extremely deserving of.'

The post, which received hundreds of thousands of likes, shed light on the inequitable fashion opportunities overseas.

Hadid wrote, 'With an initial mission to provide financial support, guidance and mentorship to emerging designers in the MENA region, FTA has become so much more: a platform of opportunity through which every talented Arab or African designer can grow and receive international recognition.'

Up close: Her makeup consisted of thin, winged black eyeliner, contoured cheeks, and a glossy lip

She wrapped up the note, adding, 'Sending my love and congratulations to all of the incredible designers who stand strong for their respected countries.

'Representation is so important and if we are not able to showcase the talent of MENA (Middle East & North Africa) to the rest of the world, how will it ever be known?'

'They deserve the same respect, recognition & support as the rest of the world,' she finished with two planet earth emojis.
Joel Creasey and Tim Blackwell addressed Nova's recent shakeup at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards on Saturday night.

The duo, who co-host Nova's national FM drive show with Kate Ritchie, were presenting an award at the event when Joel, 32, joked the stain on Tim's shirt was from Nova's 'bloodbath'.

'You've got something on you by the way,' Joel said.

Joel Creasey (centre) and Tim Blackwell (left) addressed Nova's recent shakeup at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards on Saturday night. Pictured with Nova FM co-host Kate Ritchie

'It's some of Nova's bloodbath,' Tim joked.

It comes after Kate Ritchie, 43, revealed last week she was taking a break from her Nova FM national drive show.

She will be off the air for the remainder of the year but will return alongside co-hosts Joel Creasey and Tim Blackwell in early 2023.

The duo were presenting an award at the event on Saturday, when Joel, 32, joked the stain on Tim's shirt was from Nova's 'bloodbath'

Ritchie, who was busted for low-range drink driving in August, explained to listeners she'd had an 'incredibly hectic and full-on' year and needed time off.

'This past year has been incredibly hectic and full-on for both me and my family,' she said.

'I have had much change and increased stress in my life, like many of you, in a short space of time. And it has taken its toll.

It comes after Kate, 43, revealed last week she was taking a break from her Nova FM national drive show

'But still I am so proud that our Nova show, with Tim and Joel and the team, is just powering along, and going from strength to strength.'

The news came just hours before Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang and Jonathan Brown also shocked their listeners as they announced they were leaving Nova's top-rating Melbourne breakfast show, Chrissie, Sam & Browny, after seven years on-air.

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.

Chrissie, Sam & Browny will host their final show on December 2.
He stripped off in The Time Traveler's Wife and Sanditon  and now Theo James is at it again in comedy-drama The White Lotus.

But this time the British actor's nude scenes went a little too far  and the team behind them for the acclaimed HBO series have been forced to tone them down.

James plays rich tech executive Cameron Babcock, who is on holiday in a high-end hotel in Sicily with his wife Daphne.

James plays rich tech executive Cameron Babcock, who is on holiday in a high-end hotel in Sicily with his wife Daphne

James is aware he is gaining a reputation for appearing nude and jokes that he has a clause in his contracts stipulating he is 'not allowed to do anything without being completely naked'

The 37-year-old said of the scene: 'The initial version we shot was way too much, so we did a more subtle version. They toned it down. It's funny because we're all kind of naked a lot because it's a holiday show. It felt natural.'

James is aware he is gaining a reputation for appearing nude and jokes that he has a clause in his contracts stipulating he is 'not allowed to do anything without being completely naked'.

His career took off in suitably raunchy style  his first big role was as Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk in Downton Abbey, who died of a heart attack after a romp with Lady Mary Crawley, played by Michelle Dockery.

With a career now thriving, he is now part of the 'new Primrose Hill set'  a group of actors, who include Claire Foy and Matt Smith, who live in the trendy North London enclave once the playground of Jude Law and the Gallagher brothers of the original 1990s set.

With a career now thriving, he is now part of the 'new Primrose Hill set'  a group of actors, who include Claire Foy and Matt Smith, who live in the trendy North London enclave once the playground of Jude Law and the Gallagher brothers of the original 1990s set

James  full name Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis  is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney, who played the leading role as Jess Parker in Primeval. They met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

James  full name Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis  is married to Irish actress Ruth Kearney, who played the leading role as Jess Parker in Primeval. They met at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

In 2015, James, who grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, became the brand ambassador for Hugo Boss fragrances for men. A year later the actor  the son of a business consultant and NHS worker  travelled to Greece with refugee agency UNHCR, where he met Syrians who had fled the civil war in their country. He has since been a supporter of refugees' rights.
She's one of Hollywoods most sought-after actresses, with more than 30 million in the bank, but Rachel Weisz was barely recognisable as she strolled along a London street last week.

The star, who is married to James Bond actor Daniel Craig, was seen during a rare stay in London, where the couple have a 4 million townhouse.

She's one of Hollywoods most sought-after actresses, with more than 30 million in the bank, but Rachel Weisz was barely recognisable as she strolled along a London street last week

Dressed all in blue, Ms Weisz appeared to be counting coins in her purse as she enjoyed the warm autumn weather.

She wore tinted glasses and matched her nails with her outfit.

Her casual look was in stark contrast to five days before, when she joined her husband at 180 The Strand for the gala night of his thriller movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

The star, who is married to James Bond actor Daniel Craig, was seen during a rare stay in London, where the couple have a 4 million townhouse. Pictured here at 180 The Strand for the gala night of his thriller movie Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Rachel Weisz attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall on February 10, 2019 in London

Then, Ms Weisz, 52, wowed in a black Roland Mouret dress which would have cost about 1,000.

Ms Weisz and Craig, 54, who have a four-year-old daughter, Grace, spend most of their time in New York, where they were married in 2011.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Former US President Donald Trump applauded the Twitter takeover, with Elon Musk announcing he is now the "Chief Twit."

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO finally acquired the social media platform for a hefty sum of $44 billion on Friday, Oct. 28, to avert legal trouble.

It's Official

Twitter said the $44-billion deal became official with a filing at the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The deal gave Musk total ownership of the platform after he initially bought some 9.1 percent of Twitter in April.

The acquisition finally ended Musk's flip-flopping on the deal with Twitter, which lasted for many months.

'Chief Twit'

Musk did not waste any moment on the change of ownership. Almost immediately, the billionaire added to his Twitter handle describing himself as the "Chief Twit."

He posted a tweet saying: "the bird is freed."

the bird is freed  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

Then, it was followed with a spoiler alert with a tweet: "let the good times roll."

 let the good times roll   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

It was not immediately clear what Musk exactly meant with his tweets.

In May, Musk did not hide his opinion about the permanent ban on former US President Donald Trump.

Permanent bans, he said, should only apply to bots, spam accounts, or spam. Twitter's ban on Trump was not right, the billionaire and the world's richest man said.

The ban, in his opinion, took away the voice of the former US president.

He said he would reverse Twitter's permanent ban on Trump if the deal is done, CNBC reported.

Now that it is done, what's next?

Read Also: Twitter Removes Wordle Bot Spoiler: 8 Ways to Stop And Mute Unwanted Tweets

'Is Now in Sane Hands'

Trump applauded Twitter's new ownership.

He wrote on his Truth Social account, a social media platform owned and run by the Trump Media & Technology Group, that the social media company "is now in sane hands."

The former president could hardly hide his happiness, firing a mouthful against the "Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs" he alleged were the people running the platform.

Twitter, he said, should get rid of all the fake accounts and bots that hurt the platform "so badly."

Trump did not give any hint of the possibility of him returning to Twitter. The platform suspended him permanently amid the insurrection at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 fearing the situation would escalate from Trump's tweets.

In April, Trump firmly told CNBC's Joe Kernen: "No, I won't be going back on Twitter."

Although Trump said his return to Twitter would not happen even if Musk reverses the ban, there is no guarantee he will not return to the platform.

The Hard Part

Immediately after Musk had officially taken over Twitter on Thursday evening, he began the hard part by cleaning the house.

The billionaire fired at least four top officials of the company, including the chief financial officer and the chief executive. A day earlier, Musk arrived at the San Francisco headquarters, where he had meetings with the company's executives in-charge of advertising and engineers.

The acquisition has ended. But the lingering doubts about the future of Twitter under Musk.

Related Article: (Breaking) Elon Musk Completes Twitter Deal; CEO, CFO Have Been Terminated
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Mostly clear skies early. Increasing clouds with showers late. Thunder possible. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies early. Increasing clouds with showers late. Thunder possible. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Tickets starting at $20.00 Adults only

Victoria Theatre to host conversation with winners of 2022 Dayton Literary Peace Prize

On Saturday, November 12, the Victoria Theatre stage in Dayton, Ohio, will be graced by the winners of the 2022 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and winners from years past  a group of national and international authors whose works have been recognized as advancing the cause of peace. The panel of authors will be moderated by Gilbert King, Dayton Literary Peace Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Devil in the Grove.

The conversation will be followed by an interview with Wil Haygood, the 2022 winner of the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Dayton native, Clarence Page. The event will also feature the premiere of the newly-formed Dayton Literary Peace Prize chorus, under the direction of Mr. William Henry Caldwell.

Tickets range from $20 to $250 and can be purchased here

About the Dayton Literary Peace Prize

The Dayton Literary Peace Prize honors writers whose work uses the power of literature to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding. Launched in 2006, it is recognized as one of the worlds most prestigious literary honors and is the only literary peace prize awarded in the United States. As an offshoot of the Dayton Peace Prize, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize awards a $10,000 cash prize each year to one fiction and one nonfiction author whose work advances peace as a solution to conflict and leads readers to a better understanding of other cultures, peoples, religions, and political points of view.

Additionally, the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award is bestowed upon a writer whose body of work reflects the Prize's mission; previous honorees include Margaret Atwood, Wendell Berry, Taylor Branch, Geraldine Brooks, Louise Erdrich, John Irving, Barbara Kingsolver, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, N. Scott Momaday, Tim O'Brien, Marilynne Robinson, Gloria Steinem, Studs Terkel, Colm Toibin, and Elie Wiesel.
At a time when Telugu films are getting global acclaim, filmmakers are looking to work with international technicians to raise the bar! A step in that direction is the import of foreign cinematographers into Tollywood.

Several cinematographers like Miroslaw Kuba Brozek, Dani Sanchez-Lopez and Shaneil Deo are increasingly keen to work in Indian films because of the new prospects these films bring. While the move is aimed at enriching the visual quality of films, it also gives filmmakers an edge and a different way of telling stories, appealing to a wider audience.

New dimensions in storytelling

Ever since the Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa was released last year, Polish cinematographer Miroslaw Kuba Brozeks name has been on everybodys lips.

His cinematography was one of the most-talked about aspects. No wonder Allu Arjun asked Kuba to work for the sequel too.

Apparently, Pushpa director Sukumar was thrilled with Kubas work in Gang Leader and roped in him for the project. When director Vikram Kumar visited Poland to shoot one of his earlier films, he happened to see my work in Polish films. He liked it and offered me work in Gang Leader. And the rest is history, shares Kuba.

Working with Allu Arjun has been an exhilarating experience. What I observed is that despite being a top star he never takes his position for granted. Hes always prepared to slog and push himself, says Kuba.

Working in India fascinated me because of the emerging dimensions in storytelling and progressive thinking of filmmakers, he reveals, adding that theres hardly any difference in the way people work in India and in Poland.

The cinematographer says the Pushpa sequel will be bigger and more intense. The pre-production work for the sequel is done, according to the cinematographer.

Futuristic vision

Spanish-origin cinematographer Dani Sanchez Lopez made heads turn with his fantastic work in Mahanati, a biopic on late yesteryear actress Savitri, directed by Nag Ashwin. He subsequently worked for Rana Daggubati-starrer Virata Parvam.

Apparently, Nag wanted to hire Dani for his Project K, starring Prabhas. But since Dani's father was down with Covid-19 at that point, the filmmakers roped in another cinematographer from overseas, D George.

Producer Aswini Dutt is all praises for the Serbian. Since it is a futuristic Sci-Fi film and is high on Vfx, we needed someone who could visualise well and has sound knowledge of technology. Georges superior experience in graphics and blue mat is an asset, apart from his cinematography skills. He is very quick to grasp, says Dutt, describing George as fast and effective.

New perspectives

Born in Fiji and raised in California, Shaneil Deo is another name to reckon with in cinematography in Tollywood. He proved his mettle with the finest camera work and some breath-taking visuals in films like Goodachari, Evaru, Nishabdam, World Dog, etc. And now hes one of the go-to cinematographers.

Shaneil, who has been working in Tollywood for over six years, tells us what keeps him coming back. The peoples passion for storytelling, he responds.

The cinematographer shares that he finds script narration and technology in Telugu films evolving with time. I love the overall thought process that goes into filmmaking. The freedom I get as a cinematographer, and the conversations I have with filmmakers and actors help me nurture my skills, says Shaniel.

Initially I had to make a bit of cultural adaptation, but once I did that, I understood how advanced the filmmakers here are. I believe the language of cinema is universal, and as Telugu films started getting wider acclaim, it was also a challenge for me to enhance and capture the rich essence in the visuals, he explains.

Before moving to Hyderabad to work in Tollywood six years ago, his 20-minute short, Layla, was the official entry for the 68th Cannes Film Festival in 2015.
The European Union member states have nodded to the EU Parliament's proposal to completely ban the sale of cars and vans using fossil fuel by 2035.

Both the EU lawmakers and the 27 member states agreed on Thursday, Oct. 27, about the Commission's revised reduction plan for greenhouse gas emissions for all light vehicles and passenger cars.

In June, European lawmakers approved a plan to reduce the carbon dioxide emission of new cars and vans by 100 percent some 13 years from now.

Stop The Sale

A 100 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the new vehicles under those categories will not happen without stopping the sale of gas-powered light vehicles. The lawmakers, instead, want the sale of vehicles with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Jan Huitema, EU Parliament's lead negotiator, announced on Friday, Oct. 28, an agreement has been reached on an "ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and supported a 100% target for 2035."

The agreement, Engadget quoted the lead negotiator, as an important step towards climate neutrality by 2050 and attaining more affordable green vehicles.

The Deal

The deal requires all new cars to comply with reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 55 percent over the 2021 levels. Light vehicles such as vans have to reduce their emissions by half.

Moving towards the goal, EU funds, according to the deal, should be devoted to the zero-emission vehicle transition.

A report to be published every two years beginning in 2025 will detail the EU's progress on road mobility with zero emissions.

Read Also: Carbon Farms To Fight Climate Change

Green Cars After 2035

It is possible some changes might be introduced to the plan after the Council and European Parliament will approve the agreement.

The EU, according to Reuters, plans to formulate a proposal that will outline the ways forward of selling cars running on clean fuel after 2035.

Before the deal, automakers have been looking forward to manufacturing zero-emission vehicles for some time now.

Governments around the world have already adopted measures to address the issue of climate change.

Several carmakers have already taken the path of manufacturing electric vehicles. Some of these carmakers are General Motors and Ford.

The American car manufacturing company pledged last year that all its consumer vehicles will be electric vehicles by 2030. General Motors also plans to have all of its light-duty vehicles attain zero emissions by 2035.

Ahead of COP27

The agreement, according to lawmakers, delivers the message of the EU's sincerity in adopting laws and measures to achieve the "ambitious targets set out in the EU Climate Law."

Lawmakers said the deal was significant because it was reached before the start of COP27 on Nov. 16-18.

World leaders will convene in Egypt for COP27, the United Nations' annual conference on climate change.

Historic Decision, But Too Late

Pascal Canfin, chair of the environmental committee of the Parliament, lauded the agreement as historic.

All the targets, he said, are steps in the right direction to achieve the EU's goal to become climate neutral by 2050.

But Greenpeace, a global campaign network, pointed out that the deadline set by the EU is too late.

The EU leaders took a route that is pleasing and attractive, Greenpeace said. And the route taken by the EU ends in disaster, it warned.

Greenpeace EU campaigner Lorelei Limousin said the agreement exemplifies a situation where the EU leaders grab the limelight while masking their indecisiveness to act on climate change.

Related Article: Climate Change Facts: Natural Hazards More Costly Now
HYDERABAD: While minor girls are increasingly being sexually abused or assaulted, awareness of safe and unsafe touch is not prioritised in the city's schools, government-run and private. None of the students, particularly those in primary schools, understand what safe touch is.

According to volunteers and teachers working in schools, even students in secondary schools are unaware of safe and unsafe touch. "Unlike private schools, government schools only teach a new lesson if it is introduced or added to the curriculum," explains Shailaja R., teacher at a government school. According to her, teaching such serious lessons requires government effort, which is lacking.

A government school teacher who requested anonymity said that such lessons are vital and should be taught at school and at home. Experts believe that it requires special classes, sessions, and a different environment, which is hard to find in government schools.

Y. Spandana, headmistress of a government school, said that students in Classes 6 to 10 are taught safe touch and unsafe touch twice a year through pictures. "Our students tell us immediately if anyone touches them inappropriately," she said.

Students from a government high school in the city did not know what unsafe touch meant. High school students aren't aware of it either.

Recently, Bharosa teams conducted a small class on the safe touch following an incident at the school. "This was the first lesson on this topic," said the volunteer.

Private school principals claimed such classes were taught regularly. A student in Class 9 at the same school said that since she joined the school in Class 1 she has not taken any such class. She said that even chapters on reproduction were not taught, and the teacher instructed students to study on their own even when they had doubts about understanding the concepts.

Parents whose children are about to start school or are already in school believe that such lessons should be taught not only in school but also at home. Those whose children are currently working, on the other hand, stated that they previously did not believe talking to their children about "such topics" was important and preferred to ignore it.

"It is critical for the child to understand what constitutes good, bad, and unsafe touch. These lessons must start in pre-primary and primary school. We can't wait for sexual crimes against minor girls to happen or teach them once they start secondary school," said Vaishali Ojha, a parent of a two-year-old who will start school next year.
Kakinada is an export centre with two ports  the deep water port and the anchorage port. Another greenfield commercial port is coming up in Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ).  DC file image

KAKINADA: Union finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday described Kakinada as a fast emerging new age export hub in the country.

Inaugurating the third centre of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) in Kakinada, she asked the institutes students to hone their negotiating skills to make India excel in international trade.

The finance minister said it is not enough to merely theorise and churn out data. IIFT students should be proactive and learn to think out of the box. They should be able to provide meaningful insights into international trade to the ministry and expand trade at the global level.

I often find that IIFT students are not providing the required insights but merely doing a copy-paste job. That is not enough. You should gain knowledge about how the Indian economy functions and how global trade is conducted. Only then can IIFT students make a meaningful contribution towards enhancing Indias share in global markets, she remarked.

Nirmala Sitharaman complemented Andhra Pradesh for being number 1 in exports of aqua and marine products. This is a very creditable achievement, as standards of international importers are very stringent. Traceability is a major issue in export of aqua and marine products, she observed.

She said as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested, one district-one product concept should be implemented for quality exports. Each district has some kind of organic capacity for exporting a particular product. At the same time, the idea of vocal for local should also be taken seriously.

The finance minister observed: India has many local products in handicrafts that capture international imagination. For that, taxes should be removed on export products and logistic costs reduced greatly. States can play a pivotal role in cutting logistics costs, she underlined.

Sitharaman said entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh have recognised the importance of marine products and their export to foreign nations. With a wide coastline extending about 700 km and government providing incentives to entrepreneurs, AP is in the forefront of expanding its foreign trade while maintaining international standards, she underlined.

State finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, fisheries minister S. Appala Raju, BC welfare minister Ch. S. Venugopalakrishna, Kakinada MP Vanga Gita, and Rajamahendravaram MP M. Bharat were among those present.

At another meeting in Visakhapatnam to commemorate the birth centenary celebrations of TD founder N.T. Rama Rao held on Friday evening, Nirmala Sitharaman recalled that NTR had an in-depth understanding of good governance. Accordingly, he had launched several welfare schemes in his very first term.

Subsequent governments continued these welfare programmes. But only 15 percent of them are reaching the targeted group, she regretted.

She declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first in country to use direct transfer technology, which has resulted in beneficiaries getting full benefits of a scheme without any leakage.

The union finance minister said similarly, Modi had also done away with license and inspector raj. With a single stroke of pen, the Prime Minister has scrapped 1,500 acts, creating the much-needed environment that is free from corruption. Many more acts will go soon, she disclosed.

BJP national leader Daggubati Purendeswari and Lok Satta founder Jayparakesh Narayan spoke on the occasion.
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched the increased procedures under the flagship Aarogyasri scheme in the state, offering a total of 3255 medical procedures to the people.

The chief minister said during a review meeting on health that the state government included 2196 new procedures to serve the people better. The government implemented Aarogyasri in a flawlessly manner and spent `3481 crore under this head in 2021-22, he said.

Bringing a set of additional ailments and medical procedures under the Aarogyasri umbrella, he asked the Medical and Health Department to ensure that the required number of doctors are present in all hospitals while ensuring that there is no scarcity of medicines.

He said the addition will take the total number of free medical services under Aarogyasri to 3255.

The number of ailments treated under Aarogyasri, which stood at 1059 during the TD term, went up to 2059 in January 2020 under the YSRC rule. It rose to 2200 in July 2020 and 2436 in November 2020 (with 235 procedures including bone marrow); further to 2446 (including 10 Covid pandemic procedures) in May-June 2021, and to 3255 now, the CM said.

He said the spending under Aarogyasri went up to `3481.70 crore -- three times of what was spent during the TD term. With the government clearing the pending bills of Aarogyasri instantly, all empanelled hospitals are extending medical services to all declared diseases, he said.

The chief minister said that the government has filled up 46000 posts in the health department with the sole aim of extending quality medical services to the people. Now it is the duty of the officials to make use of the facilities and staff in a proper manner without giving room for lethargy, he said.

The chief minister asked the officials to introduce facial recognition methods for attendance in the health department while ensuring that sufficient numbers of doctors and medical staff are present in all hospitals.

Stressing the need to create a block-level supervisory system to monitor the working of the staff in the department, he directed the officials to send suitable proposals. He also asked them to work in coordination with the Women and Child Welfare Department and get regular reports on sanitation, air pollution, drinking water, cleanliness and toilet maintenance at anganwadis.

There is a need to pay special attention towards high-risk pregnant women during delivery and to anaemic women to bring down the health risks among them, while periodically updating the health history on all Aarogyasri Cards, enabling family doctors to treat the patients effectively, he said.

Medical and Health Minister Vidadala Rajani and higher health sector officials were present.
Hyderabad: Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court on Saturday passed interim orders deferring investigation in the case lodged by Moinabad police with regard to the alleged attempts to lure four TRS MLAs with offers of huge sums of cash at the farm house of Pilot Rohith Reddy.

The court was dealing with the petition filed by the BJP state unit, which sought investigation by an independent agency. The court issued notices to the Union and State government to respond.

The State police had challenged in the High Court, the ACB courts rejection of its remand application and release of three persons accused of allegedly offering bribes to four TRS MLAs.

Advocate-General B.S. Prasad, representing the police, said the ACB court had erred in considering the case. It dealt with the offer of bribes to MLAs, who are public servants, he said.
The court pointed out that Raju has not mentioned names of the witnesses whom Jagan Mohan Reddy had allegedly intimidated (Photo: PTI)

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court rejected the plea of YSRCP rebel MP Kanumuru Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, by the principal special judge for CBI cases, Nampally, related to disproportionate assets cases.

The MP had also sought a direction for taking the CM into judicial custody to ensure speedy and fair trial in the cases.

Raju had earlier filed a similar petition before the CBI court, which had rejected it, following which he approached the High Court.

Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan had earlier heard the case and reserved orders. On Friday, the court rejected the plea. The Chief Justice observed that the court was of the opinion that no case for cancellation of bail of Jagan Mohan Reddy was made out.

The court pointed out that Raju has not mentioned names of the witnesses whom Jagan Mohan Reddy had allegedly intimidated or allured.

Merely saying that the respondent has been abusing his official position by giving important posts/offices to other co-accused to tamper evidence by influencing witnesses is not adequate to cancel the bail granted to him, Chief Justice Bhuyan said.
Neither the Election Commission, nor the government have jurisdiction to justiciate and regulate such issues: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (PTI)

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday said the Election Commission does not have the jurisdiction to regulate issues such as freebies, and urged the panel to focus on ensuring free and fair polls through proper implementation of Election Laws.

The poll panel on October 4 had proposed amending the model code to ask political parties to provide authentic information to voters on the financial viability of their poll promises, a move that came amid the freebies versus welfare measures debate that had triggered a political slugfest.

Such issues are part of the dialectics of a vibrant democratic system and depend on wisdom, discernment and analysis of the electorate which should never be taken to be less than acute, the opposition party said.

"It is really something which is to be decided, be it pre-election or post-election, be it by way of electoral punishment or electoral acceptance and reward that the electorate decides the wisdom of such poll promises or campaign assurances and equally decides their breach and non-compliance," Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh wrote to the Election Commission (EC).

"Neither the Election Commission, nor the government, nor indeed even the courts, have jurisdiction to justiciate and regulate such issues. It would therefore be best for the commission to desist from doing so," he said.

The EC had also said that empty poll promises have far-reaching ramifications, adding it cannot overlook the undesirable impact inadequate disclosures on election promises have on financial sustainability.

In a letter to all recognised national and state parties, the commission had asked them to submit their views on the proposals by October 19.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told a press conference that the matter first came up when Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 16 raised the issue of "revris" (freebies), after which the EC took up the issue and wrote to parties seeking their response.

She said the debate on the issue of "revris" in a democracy is distorted as it is the duty of any government to take care of the poor and oppressed classes, and evolve schemes for their upliftment.

The EC must focus on more crucial issues to strengthen democracy and leave the freebie debate to the wisdom of the people as helping the poor is not a freebie, Shrinate said.

"There are existing laws that are not enforced and we have reminded the commission, why fix what are not problems. This is not an issue that needs to be fixed because this isn't a problem. What is the problem is the kind of hate speeches...," she said.

Shrinate said there are things that the EC really needs to focus on for its own credibility and for enforcing the faith that people have in the commission as far as free and fair elections are concerned.

The Congress in its response to the EC proposal has said that "the issue does not fall under the poll body's jurisdiction" and asked "how can the Election Commission decide on the definition of freebies".

"It should first implement the existing poll laws properly and there are more burning issues that need to be taken care," she said.

Ramesh in the party's response to the EC has noted that the commission has in the past demonstrated great wisdom and restraint in exercise of this power, choosing to circumscribe and limit campaign actions which tilt the field in favour of one party over the other.

In fact, the specific bans on communal rhetoric, hate speech, undue influence, among others, all flow from these statutes, he noted.

"Thus, if the ECI were to consider such a ban it would necessarily need to pass parliamentary muster first. Furthermore, even in Part VIII of the Model Code of Conduct for the Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates, 2015, the ECI puts forth general guidelines which essentially call for making campaign promises in a responsible manner," he said.

Ramesh also insisted that the Congress be given an appropriate slot any time in the future so as to elaborate on these and other grounds before the commission.

He also said in the Congress' opinion, the EC in the past has demonstrated great wisdom and restraint in the exercise of this power choosing to circumscribe and limit campaign actions which tilt the field in favour of one party over the other. However, such power has always been exercised and guided by the statutory context, Ramesh said.

The Congress leader pointed out it is a "woolly formulation" that the commission has sought by way of the proposed amendment to limit campaign promises to only those that are "possible to be fulfilled".

"Every single party will claim that their promises are enforceable and given that the requirement proposed is to give a 'broad formulation' for how the promise will be achieved the threshold isn't a difficult one to clear. Which again brings us back to the concern that this is a redundant exercise," he said.

Even assuming that the EC is available to ensure "standardisation" of poll promises in the format proposed, how does it ensure that these promises are met, Ramesh asked, adding that can it disqualify the party or can it disqualify select candidates or can it go to court by way of a writ to demand enforcement.

"Can the commission demand resources be allocated to 'Promise A' when, say a health crisis such as Covid demands that resources be diverted to other more pressing purposes. This is why the entire act is futile," he said.

"In our opinion, this problem is a contrived one. The fact is that political parties need to be able to write their manifestos is a language that best expresses their ideologies. And it is disingenuous to say that you must ensure that you provide a detailed roadmap of how exactly the promise will be delivered," Ramesh said.

Outlandish promises come with an expiry date and are ultimately exposed by themselves, he said, noting that there are several examples that come to mind between 2014 to now.

He also said the process is cumbersome, unworkable and fails to take into account the time bound nature of a campaign, noting there are several facets the Congress intends to present to the EC.
HYDERABAD: High drama over the alleged attempt to poach four TRS legislators continued for the third day even as Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao remained silent on the controversy on Friday.

In a series of events during the day, state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar went to the Yadadri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and said under oath that the BJP leadership neither in the state nor at the Centre was involved in the poaching episode.

Though he dared the Chief Minister to state under oath that he did not orchestrate the poaching episode, the TRS has ignored his challenge. Instead, the ruling camp leaked two audio tapes to the electronic media, purportedly containing the conversation of the three accused in the bribery case between themselves and with with Tandur MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy.

The political atmosphere is simmering ahead of the Munugode Assembly constituency bypoll on November 3, by winning which the BJP and the TRS want to have the shouting rights in the run-up to the state elections in 2023. The poaching episode, which broke on Wednesday, has diverted attention from the bypoll. The TRS has withdrawn its star campaigners K.T. Rama Rao, party working president and minister, and CMs nephew and popular minister T. Harish Rao.

Whatever the CM pulled off (recording of the poaching at the farmhouse) is to achieve the short-term goal of winning Munugode. But, this will also help in establishing himself as a daring politician to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expose the BJPs unethical practices, particularly in view of his foray into national politics, a senior TRS leader said.

The BJP also made quick moves, one being the invoking of religious sentiment by Sanjay and the other rushing to the judiciary to seek a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the episode. The BJP also complained to the Enforcement Directorate, asking it to unearth the cash that was rumoured to have been seized at the guest house.

The Congress, which has lost its space and the narrative, blamed both the TRS and the BJP for what they called vulgar display of unethical practices. The Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, which is passing through the the state, has been overshadowed by the developments.

It all started with three persons  Ramachandra Bharati, Simhayaji Swami and Nanda Kumar  meeting the TRS legislators G. Bala Raju, Pilot Rohit Reddy, Rega Kantha Rao and B. Harshavardhan Reddy at a farmhouse on the city outskirts on Wednesday.

Teams led by Cyberabad police commissioner Stephen Ravindra raided the farmhouse in the evening and later informed the media that they had thwarted a conspiracy jatched by the BJP-backed trio to lure the legislators to shift their loyalties.

Rumours were spread that a huge amount of money, some vernacular news channels even put it at `15 crore, was seized at the guest house but the police on Thursday informed the Anti Corruption Bureau special court that no cash was seized following which the magistrate turned down the petition for remand for the accused and let them free.

Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court, which had two cases pertaining to the poaching attempt, adjourned both to Saturday. While the Cyberabad police challenged the ACB special courts decision to let the accused free due to lack of proper evidence, the BJP sought a probe by sitting HC judge into the poaching allegations.
HYDERABAD: Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday declared that the party was preparing to perform a samprokshana of the state to cleanse it of the sins committed by the TRS.

Sanjays declaration came soon after TRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao told a news conference that he was urging priests at Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Yadadri to perform a samprokshana  ritual cleansing  of the temple after Sanjays Friday visit to swear that the BJP had nothing to do with the alleged poaching of TRS MLAs.

Rama Rao had told reporters that the Yadadri temple was sullied and defiled after Sanjay, who had carried Union minister Amit Shahs footwear, took the oath using the same hands.

If people like that touch the deity, then it hurts the sentiments of the devotees and hence, the temple authorities and the priests should perform a samprokshana, Rama Rao said.

He also said that if swearing under oaths could solve problems, there would be no need for police or the courts.

Sanjay responded at a press conference in Munugode by saying what was required was a samprokshana of the state to rid it of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his family who had cheated Telangana.

In a strong rebuttal, Sanjay said Rama Rao is a non-believer and has no right to speak about God or temples. We are not like his father who touched the feet of other political leaders for political gains and had kicked out his own guru Prof. K. Jayashankar, and had insulted pKonda Laxman Bauji. Yes, I handed Amit Shah his chappals, he is my guru. For us, our gurus are equal to God and we wash their feet and sprinkle that water on ourselves.

Warning Rama Rao to watch what he says, Sanjay said if you say one thing, we can retaliate with one hundred. Yadadri is a powerful temple and no one who committed a wrong will ever enter it wearing wet clothes. I did, which means I spoke the truth. Why did the CM not come to take an oath?

Sanjay also demanded that TRS explain why the four MLAs embroiled in the poachgate controversy were locked up in Pragathi Bhavan. Why are they being hidden unless the TRS has engineered the episode? The TRS fears that if they are let out, then they will speak and the truth will be revealed. They will be kept hidden till voting in Munugode, Sanjay said.

BJP general secretary and Telangana affairs in-charge Tarun Chugh said, KCR believes that he can buy people. He should remember that Lanka under Ravan was built with gold, but it was Ravans pride that undid him. The same fate awaits the Telangana Chief Minister.

Chugh said TRS must realise that envelope politics will not work anymore. In Munugode, Rajgopal Reddy is fighting for the people. On the other side is TRS candidate Prabhakar Reddy with whom top TRS leaders do not even want to be seen with, fearing the impact of the association on their own image.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Dr K. Laxman flayed TRS for spreading lies on the issue of GST on handlooms. In a statement, he said that the TRS government was part of the GST Council decision to impose the tax on handlooms, and could not distance itself from the decision.

The TRS criticism was aimed at confusing voters in Munugode. He said TS has chosen to levy GST on handlooms on turnovers exceeding Rs. 20 lakh while other states chose Rs. 40 lakh as the limit.
IT MinisterTRS working president and IT minister K.T Ramarao addresses the media at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Saturday, (DC)

HYDERABAD: The TRS has refused to comment on the poachgate attempt of four of its MLAs, with the partys working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao stating that the law will take its course.

Addressing a press conference where he released a chargesheet against the BJP, Rama Rao said, We are responsible people. We are running the government. If we say anything, it could be construed as if we were trying to influence investigations by law enforcement agencies. The law will do its job.

He said that all the things related to the case were known to the people, who were aware who the culprits were.

Calling the BJP a jhoota jumla party, Rao said that the TRS chargesheet, being filed on behalf of all the aggrieved sections of society, shows how the BJP, running the country over the past eight years, failed miserably, and also failed Telangana repeatedly.

The BJP is seeking votes in Munugode by resorting to personal abuse and degrading remarks on our Chief Minister. We are asking for votes by showcasing our developmental activities over the last eight years, and with promises of what more we will do for Munugode if we win, he said.

The BJP government at the Centre has not given a single rupee to Telangana and will not do so in the future too, he said, adding that the TRS chargesheet exposes the BJPs intellectual bankruptcy. He said that he announced he was adopting Munugode constituency to ensure that aspects of development that were lagging - because the MLA who represented Munugode had ignored it would be completed.

TRS chargesheet

The TRS accused the BJP of ...
NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday produced an audio clip of an alleged BJP man purportedly discussing the party's bid to poach AAP MLAs in the capital and demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's arrest if he was involved in the matter.

The senior AAP leader played the audio tape at a press conference and said the BJP "dalal" (broker) heard in the clip was one of the three people arrested in Telangana over an alleged bid to poach that state's ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLAs.

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or Shah.

"In this audio, the BJP's dalal (broker) can be heard luring a (TRS) MLA to the BJP, saying they were also trying to poach 43 Delhi MLAs and that money had been kept aside for this purpose. He is also saying that he has spoken with Shah and BL Santosh," Sisodia said.

"If it is Home Minister Amit Shah the BJP's dalal is referring to, he should immediately be arrested and questioned," the Delhi deputy chief minister demanded.

He said the audio tape was a "proof" of the BJP's failed attempt to poach AAP MLAs in Delhi and Punjab and demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate into the matter.

"It is very dangerous for a country if its home minister is involved in such a conspiracy," Sisodia said.
Another photo of the Pillars of Creation taken by the James Webb Space Telescope has been released and it is yet another breath-taking image to say the least.

This second photo focuses on the mid-infrared and has been taken using the telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument.

Just a few days ago, a separate photo of the Pillars of Creation also taken by the James Webb Space Telescope was released to the public. In contrast, this photo was taken using the Near-Infrared Camera.

Another Pillars of Creation Photo Has Been Released

The European Space Agency (ESA) describes the second photo as an "eerie, extremely dusty view" of the Pillars of Creation. This is in contrast to the first image, which can be described as sparklier and brighter due to the presence of multiple stars.

"The dust clouds appear to glow in blue tinges, and loom in front of a red-hued background," a report by Space.com describes.

It can be noted that not many stars are seen in this second view of the Pillars of Creation. According to the ESA, this is because the mid-infrared light cannot detect young stars that are no longer covered in dust. This is in contrast to the first image taken using the Near-Infrared Camera, which was able to capture numerous stars.

Pillars of Creation

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Pillars of Creation is a small feature of M16, otherwise known as the Eagle Nebula, which is located 7,000 light-years away from our planet. The Pillars of Creation spans roughly around four to five light-years only.

The Eagle Nebula was discovered in 1745 by astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Cheseaux.

Aside from the James Webb Space Telescope, the Pillars of Creation has been photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope before. It was first photographed by the Hubble in 1995, followed by a second photograph in 2014. Other observatories have also studied the Pillars of Creation, including ESA's Herschel Telescope.

Related Article: NASA Shows 'Pillars Of Creation' Being Devoured By Stars In This Stunning New Infrared Photograph

James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is, as of writing, the largest optical telescope currently in space. Because of this, it has the capacity to view old, faint, and distant objects that the Hubble Space Telescope cannot. The Webb is a partnership between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The telescope was named after James E. Webb, who served as NASA administrator from 1961 to 1968. It was launched on Christmas Day in 2021 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. It was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket.

The first images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope were released to the public in July. Included in its first images are photos of the Carina Nebula, Southern Ring Nebula, and Stephan's Quintet.

Read Also: James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope Join Forces on Phantom Galaxy Photo
As the spiral of competitive Hindu politics escalates, the basics of Sanatan Dharma, Hindu philosophy, myth, tenet, reform within Hinduism, and the assessment of personalities hailed as the votaries of Hindu revivalism, are being bandied about in the most indiscriminating manner. This increasing intellectual illiteracy in our country can be quite exasperating. Every debate is reduced to a black and white polarity, making it a dialogue between those who dont know and those who dont wish to know. The legacy of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is a case in point.

For reflex secularists he is simplistically a Hindu fanatic who in his polemic, Essentials of Hindutva, published in 1923, called for a Hindu Rashtra, excluding non-Hindus for whom Bharat was not pitrbhumi, the land of ones ancestors, and divyabhumi, the holy land. Even his status as a freedom fighter and patriot was consequently rejected.

No attempt was made to contextualise his views in his times. Mahatma Gandhi was then supporting the pan-Islamicist Khilafat Movement, to which Savarkar was vehemently opposed, as were many within the Congress, including Ambedkar. Savarkar was incensed too by the attempts by Gandhi and the Congress to appease Muslims by downplaying the horrific violence against Hindus by the Moplahs in Kerala. Statements by some Muslim leaders about the incompatibility of Muslims and Indians, and the need, therefore, for Muslims to explore a future separate from the dominance of Hindus, also influenced him.

There can, of course, be no condonation of Savarkars racist argument. But it is quite likely that reacting to specific events at that time he overreacted. In fact, Savarkar himself later dilutes his extremism when he writes: We are trying our best, as we ought to, to develop the consciousness of and a sense of attachment to the greater whole, whereby Hindus, Mohammedans, Parsis, Christians and Jews would feel as Indians first and every other thing afterwards (emphasis mine). Significantly, Savarkar never joined the RSS.

That Savarkar was a patriot was never in doubt. His burning passion was to see an India free from British rule, and he paid a very high price for the courage of his convictions. Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Bal Gangadhar Tilak petitioned the British government for his release. It is true that towards the end of his 11-year term in the horrific jail conditions of Kaala Pani in the Andamans, he requested the British to grant him amnesty. However, for a man who had suffered so much, there was nothing unpatriotic about this. A great many freedom fighters did the same, and even the Congress at that time was only seeking greater autonomy under British rule. In recognition of his revolutionary patriotism, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi released a postage stamp in his memory in 1970.

If Savarkars critics need to see matters in a more balanced manner, his followers, especially the RSS (born in 1925), are overly  and perhaps deliberately  focused only on one aspect of his legacy: Hindu Rashtra. The fact though is that Savarkar is far more a social reformer, seeking to make Hinduism into a modern and progressive religion and ridding it of some of its oppressive distortions. Although born into an orthodox Chitpawan Brahmin community, he was resolutely against the caste system, and the practice of untouchability. His dismissal of scriptural injunctions to uphold what needed to change was equally strong.

Savarkar identified seven fetters that Hindus needed to unshackle themselves from. These, in his own words, are:

Vedoktabandi: The exclusivity of access to Vedic literature and rituals only to the Brahmin community must be immediately dissolved.

Vyavsayabandi: An individuals choice of profession must be left entirely to him or her, based on their aptitude and capability.

Sparshbandi: The practice of untouchability is a sin, a blot on humanity, and nothing can justify it.

Samudrabandi: The day we forbade crossing the seas to go to foreign lands and deemed it a loss of caste heralded our collapse on various fronts

Shuddhibandi: The folly of disallowing reconversions to Hinduism is a self-destructive one I have nothing against those who convert to another faith by sheer conviction.

Rotibandi: Unshackling ourselves from this one thoughtless fetter  the belief that that one loses ones caste through inter-caste dining  can liberate us as a society.

Betibandi: The intemperate practice of abolishing inter-caste marriage has caused our Hindu society a lot of harm Instead of demonising such marriages, they should be honoured.

In pursuing his reformist convictions, Savarkar was prepared to invite the wrath of orthodox Hindus. He was against cow worship, stating fearlessly: Elevating an animal that eats garbage and indiscriminately passes excreta anywhere and everywhere to the status of a goddess is in my view insulting to both humanity as well as divinity. The same iconoclastic spirit informed his views on food and meat. Religion is in the heart, the soul, the spirit; not the stomach! There is no food that is prohibited. Anything that is healthy, nutritious and tasty must be generously and merrily indulged in

It is significant that Savarkar never joined the RSS. As his painstaking biographer, Vikram Sampath, writes, Savarkar was a bundle of contradictions and a historians enigma. He simultaneously means many things to many people. An alleged atheist and a staunch rationalist who strongly opposed orthodox Hindu beliefs and the caste system and dismissed cow worship as mere superstition, his most important legacy is his espousal of reform within Hinduism.

This aspect of Savarkar is conveniently ignored by his fervent but ill-informed acolytes today. The net result is that both his critics and his supporters exclusively focus, for their own vested interests, only on his initial avowal of Hindu Rashtra. That is a travesty of the truth.
The US National DefenCe Strategy pointed out that China's increasingly provocative rhetoric and coercive activity towards Taiwan are destabilizing (Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP)

NEW DELHI: The US will support allies like India address acute forms of gray zone coercion by China to establish control over disputed land borders, the US National Defence Strategy has stated.

It asserted that the US would advance major defence partnership with India to enhance its ability to deter the People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression and ensure free and open access to the Indian Ocean Region.

The document was released late on Thursday local time by US defence secretary Llyod J. Austin. Grey zone refers to the situation between peace and war, in which state and non-state actors operate.

The document sets the strategic direction of the US defence department to support US national security priorities, and flows directly from US President Joe Biden's National Security Strategy.

It identified China as the most consequential and systemic challenge to the US. It said that China sought 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.

The US National DefenCe Strategy pointed out that China's increasingly provocative rhetoric and coercive activity towards Taiwan are destabilizing, and threaten the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

"This is part of a broader pattern of destabilizing and coercive People's Republic of China (PRC) behaviour that stretches across the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and along the Line of Actual Control (with India)," it said.

The document said that defence department would reinforce and build a resilient security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region in order to sustain a free and open regional order, and deter attempts to resolve disputes by force.

"The department will advance our major defence partnership with India to enhance its ability to deter PRC aggression and ensure free and open access to the Indian Ocean Region," it said.

It underlined that the US defence department would work with allies and partners to ensure power projection in a contested environment.

"The department will also support ally and partner efforts, in accordance with US policy and international law, to address acute forms of gray zone coercion from the PRCs campaigns to establish control over the East China Sea, Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and disputed land borders such as with India," said US National Defense Strategy.

At the same time, it said that US defence department will continue to prioritize maintaining open lines of communication with the PLA and managing competition responsibly. "Conflict with the PRC is neither inevitable nor desirable," it added.
Bangladesh Information Minister Hasan Mahmud Saturday said the Sheikh Hasina government is committed to the safety of its Hindu minorities and the peaceful Durga Puja celebrations in the country this year is a testimony to it.

Mahamud, who is in the city to inaugurate Bangladesh Film Festival, said the Indo-Bangla relation is not dependent only on the Teesta water-sharing agreement between the two nations.

"The Sheikh Hasina government is committed to protecting the rights of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The recent peaceful Durga Puja celebration in the country is a testimony to it. This year the number of Durga Pujas held in Bangladesh was much higher than last year," Mahmud said at a press conference at the Press Club here.

Referring to the communal violence in Bangladesh during Durga Puja in 2021, he said the country's government was extra cautious to avoid any untoward incident this year. "Those who had tried to create problems during Durga Puja stand exposed. We have taken special measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Speaking on India-Bangladesh relations, the minister said more than the government-to-government relations it is the people-to-people associations between the two countries that have helped strengthen the diplomatic relations.

"Our bilateral relation is not only dependent on Teesta (Water sharing). Whenever I come to India, I am asked this question. Our relationship is diverse," he added. The Teesta river water agreement has been hanging fire for more than a decade due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Religious minorities  including Hindus  are safe in Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud, Bangaladeshs information and broadcasting minister said in Kolkata on Saturday. Speaking about Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Mahmud said that the only solution is their return to Myanmar with full citizenship rights, but some intenational non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are wanting them to stay on (as refugees).

Interacting with news reporters at Kolkata Press Club, the minister stated that the number of puja pandals this festive season have increased by around 700. Why? Because they [Hindu minorities] are feeling more secured, he said, adding that festivities included 33,000 pandals in the country that has two crore Hindus. During the festive season, Awami League leaders  the party the minister represents  monitored puja pandals so that no miscreants could create trouble. How peacefully, how in a festive mood, the Durga Puja was observed. That demonstrates safety and security of the religious minorites in Bangladesh, he said.

On Rohingya refugees

Mahmud alleged that some international NGOs wanted Rohingya refugees to stay in Bangladesh as their own sustenance depended on the Rohingya issue. The only solution to the problem was the return of the immigrants back to Myanmar with full citizenship rights, he said.

Around 11 lakh Rohingyas are estimated to have come into the country. Over a period of time, close to two lakh children were born in the immigrant community. The government has offered them food, shelter, medical facilities, and pocket money in some cases, he said.

On India-Bangladesh relations

In response to a question on Teesta river water sharing issue  which has remained a major issue between the two countries  Mahmud said that the relation between the two countries was not dependent on this one issue and was, in fact, very diverse.

I dont know why people always ask on Teesta. We have been in talks about Teesta water sharing, and there is progress, he said. The minister added that the relationship between the two countries doesnt depend on a particular government (in power), it depends on the people, so its inconsequential who is in power.

On Sheikh Hasina wanting to meet Mamata Banerjee

In September when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India and met PM Modi, media reports suggested that she had wanted to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well. Mahmud, however, said that he cannot comment on newspaper reports. I dont know whether thats true, or not. I believe that if PM Sheikh Hasina wanted to meet Mamata Banerjee, that would [have taken] place, he said.
Medical education has historically been an expensive affair, but while the cost of medical education has largely been on the decline around the world, it is rising sharply in both India and China, according to a new Lancet study that examined trends in the field.

In 2008, China had the least expensive medical education courses, with its estimated expenditure per graduate standing at a mere $14,000 (around Rs 11.52 lakh by today's exchange rate). India, in 2008, was only behind China, with the estimated cost per graduate standing at $35,000 (around Rs 28.8 lakh today).

For comparison, in 2008, the estimated expenditure per medical student in courses for doctors was a whopping $400,000 (Rs 3.29 crore) in Western Europe and $497,000 (Rs 4.08 crore) in Northern America.

10 years later, however, the numbers tell a whole different story.

Contrasting trends

While there was not much change in North America vis-a-vis the cost of medical education for doctors, the expenditure per student drastically fell in Western Europe, down from $400,000 to $204,000. In Central and Eastern Europe, too, this was the trend, with costs falling from $181,000 and $151,000 in 2008 to $80,000 and $77,000 in 2018 respectively.

The declining cost of medical education for doctors also holds true for other parts of the world: in the high-income Asia Pacific countries, the estimated expenditure per student fell from $381,000 in 2008 to $223,000 in 2018; in central Asian countries, the cost per student declined from $74,000 to $63,000 and similar trends were observed in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, where costs fell from $132,000 and $52,000 in 2008 to $77,000 and $32,000 in 2018, respectively.

Also Read | Nursing shortage sparks bidding war as countries vie for talent

In contrast to these trends, the cost of educating doctors in China in 2018 nearly tripled, rising to $41,000 (Rs 33.73 lakh) from the earlier $14,000. Even then, the average cost per student remained considerably lower than that of India, where the expenditure per student ballooned to $70,000 (Rs 57.6 lakh) in 2018.

The study found the aforementioned trends to hold true for medical education for nurses and midwives too, with China and India registering three-fold and two-fold increases in cost per student respectively while the rest of the world saw costs decline.

In 2018, the cost of medical education for midwives and nurses in China stood at $8,000 (Rs 6.58 lakh), up from $3,000 in 2008, while in India, it was $14,000 (Rs 11.52 lakh) in 2018, up from $7,000 earlier.

Workforce imbalances

The study also noted that the annual number of medical graduates and nursing graduates doubled and tripled respectively in the 2008-2018 period, but the distribution of this growth in the medical workforce was uneven across the world.

"Global distribution of the healthcare workforce continued to show imbalances related to skewed numbers of healthcare workers graduating among countries, with high-income countries having more graduates than low-income countries," the study observed.

"Despite having a higher density of healthcare workers and more professionals graduating than low-income countries, high-income countries (and high-income regions within countries) continue to attract and retain professionals from low-income countries and regions," the study said, adding, "This migration of trained health professionals both across and within countries exacerbates imbalances in the ratio of health professionals to population, and increases disparities in access and quality of health care."
Researchers have identified in humans a pan-variant neutralising antibody, named S2X324, whose neutralising potency was largely unaffected by any of the Omicron strains of the coronavirus, according to a study.

The scientists show that this monoclonal antibody prevents binding to the receptor on host cells that the pandemic coronavirus usually commandeers. They also suggested that combining this antibody with others in a cocktail might reduce the chances of the virus becoming antibody treatment-resistant.

The international team from University of Washington and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Humabs BioMed SA of Vir Biotechnology in Switzerland looked at several aspects of the effects of exposure to earlier forms of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen  or immune-provoking protein -- on the immune systems reaction to the Omicron variants.

Also Read: From Black Death to Covid-19, pandemics have always pushed people to honour death, celebrate life

Their findings have been published in the journal Science.

Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared at the end of 2021 and have marked genetic differences from the ancestral SARS-CoV-2. The many, distinct mutations in their infection machinery have enabled them to escape from antibodies elicited from the original series of vaccines, from a history of infection, or from both of those two immune-system training events.

Past studies from the same team, according to the study, have noted that the BA.1 Omicron variant emerged as a "major antigenic shift due to the unprecedented magnitude of immune evasion associated with this variant of concern".

They explained that mutations in two of the main antibody targets in the virus explain why there is a markedly reduced antibody neutralizing ability against these variants, especially in people who have not received booster doses.

"As a result, an increasing number of reinfections are occurring," the scientists wrote in their paper, "even though these cases tend to be milder than in infections of immunologically naive individuals".

The evasive ability conferred by the mutations, they noted, also helps explain why most monoclonal antibody therapies given to patients in the clinic are less effective against these variants.

Also Read: Afraid of needles? China rolling out oral Covid-19 vaccine

Knowing how well vaccination against one SARS-CoV-2 strain (with or without previous infection) counteracts infection with a different strain is a critical research question. The answers could guide strategies to continue to subdue the Covid-19 pandemic, even as the coronavirus regains ground.

Through their experiments, the scientists learned that vaccine boosters and hybrid immunity, or immunity acquired through a history of an infection and vaccination, both induce neutralizing antibodies in the bloodstream against Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5.

People who had a breakthrough infection after vaccination also produced neutralizing antibodies against these variants in the mucus lining the inside of their noses. However, people who only received the vaccine did not generate antibodies in their nasal mucosa. This finding lends support to efforts to develop and evaluate next-generation Covid vaccines that could be delivered intranasally as the nose is generally the site where the virus first enters the body.

The scientists also determined that antibody responses to the pandemic coronavirus follow a pattern similar to the way the immune system responds to variations of the influenza virus. This phenomenon is called immune imprinting.

Immune imprinting means that the immune response shows a preference for recalling existing memory B cells specific against parts of the virus present in a strain to which an individual was previously exposed, rather than priming new memory B cells targeting differences present in markedly different strains upon infection.

While this can be helpful in stimulating a cross-variant attack, the scientists explain, having previous exposure to earlier versions of a virus can sometimes hinder a more specific response against a virus that has mutated significantly.
Late actor Puneeth Rajkumar's final outing 'Gandhadha gudi', a docudrama directed by Amoghavarsha, on Friday hit screens across the state evoking unprecedented, but emotional response.

The Power Star's fans took to streets and thronged cinema halls during early hours, bursting crackers, distributing sweets, raising cutouts and performing abhishekha using milk.

All the fanfare, whistles, laughter and celebrations were missing as an eerie silence followed moments after the audiences slowly stepped out of the hall. With eyes completely welled up, they could not come to terms, refusing to acknowledge that their favourite star now remains only in memory.

At several places, blood donation camps, health camps and mass feeding were held.

In Hubballi, youths beat drums, while children held the actor's portraits. Many of them posed for selfies standing near the cutouts.

Also read | 'Gandhada Gudi' docudrama review: A cathartic experience

Raghu, a fan, clad in T-Shirts with titles of various films of the actor, distributed free hearing aids to 50 persons.

Prakash, an autorickshaw driver, decorated his vehicle with the actor's portraits, naming it 'Appu Ratha', near Sudha and Apsara theatres.

The first show at Meer Alam theatre in Hosapete began as early as 3.30 am. Puja was performed on the actor's statue. About 30 children were issued free tickets.

The first show at Basaveshwara theatre in Chitradurga began around 3 am. Food was distributed to over 3,000 persons at Sakleshpur in Hassan district.

"Fans donated blood after watching the film at Shiva theatre at Koppal. Many even pledged to donate their eyes," Veeresh Mahantayyanamath, the theatre owner, told DH.

On Day One, over 200 theatres, including multiplexes, screened the docudrama, which earned over Rs six crore, in Karnataka alone. The number of shows was around 1,400.

Demand to increase the shows is mounting. The number of shows is likely to go up on Saturday and Sunday in multiplexes. Single screen theatre owners are finding it difficult to accommodate as 'Kanthara' and 'Head Bush' are running housefull.

The scene... The tears...

Tears rolled down the cheeks of the audience after they watched a particular scene, where the actors speaks about his safety and responsibility.

"That scene touches hearts and disturbs. It will remain forever in the hearts of the audience," K V Chandrashekhar, owner, Veeresh Cinemas, Bengaluru, told DH.

"It gives me a feeling that our Power Star is still alive," Manuesh, a fan, said.
Derry's Model Primary School was celebrating this week as theyve achieved the highly coveted School of Sanctuary award, in this their 160th year in existence.

The School of Sanctuary award is aimed at helping schools to develop further the concept that schools are welcoming places for pupils and their families, where every child feels safe and where they are fully accepted.

Such schools become beacons in the community as places where cultural diversity is valued and celebrated.

On arrival at the school, the Mayor, Sandra Duffy was welcomed by the school choir who performed for her.

She met with a group of children who talked to her about their individual home countries. The Model celebrates Diversity and welcomes children from all traditions, cultures religions and none, with almost 40 Newcomer children enrolled in the school.

Mrs Polleys P5 class presented their Harvest Assembly and performed the story of The Enormous Turnip in the schools Assembly Hall.

This was followed by a tour of the school, where the mayor especially enjoyed meeting the children in the ASC.

She was then presented with a true likeness in the form of a portrait drawn by a P7 child and a P4 child presented her with a line drawing of the Guildhall.

The Mayor congratulated the children and staff on the award and told them to keep up the excellent work. She also said she was impressed with the performances put on for her and thanked the pupils for the presentations she received, promising they would take pride of place in the parlour at the Guildhall.

Delighted to have the city and districts First Citizen visit the school and meet the children, Principal Michelle Ramsey said: Its an honour to have the Mayor of the city and district attend our school today, especially this week as we kickstart our 160th year in existence.

Eve and Aoife presenting the Mayor, Sandra Duffy with a portrait of herself and a portrait of the Guildhall during Mondays visit to the Model PS.

We are over the moon to have been awarded the prestigious School of Sanctuary award in recognition and celebration of our students, staff, parents and wider Model School community.

Thanking the Mayor for taking time out to acknowledge the schools award and achievements, the principal added: Madam Mayor, we dearly hope to get you back to the model a number of times this year as we celebrate the schools 160th anniversary as weve many events planned.

In responding, the mayor said: Congratulations again to everyone at the Model Primary School who are joining the other nine Schools of Sanctuary in our own Council area.

'This award recognises that the school is a safe and welcoming place for all children and young people to attend where they feel their culture is valued and celebrated.

Children from P3 to P7 explaining to the Mayor, Sandra Duffy about where they come from at the Model Primary School this week. Included are Mrs. Michelle Ramsey, Principal, Mr. Michael Bradley, Vice Principal and Ms. Daisy Mules, Board of Governors. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

The Model is one of the oldest schools in our City and District and has been educating and inspiring our young people for the last 160 years. This is an ideal way to start their anniversary celebrations and I would like to wish everyone at the school well with their activities to mark their landmark year. And indeed, I look forward to coming back in the year ahead to help you celebrate.
Last week, the Competition Commission of India imposed a heavy penalty of Rs. 1,338 crores on Google for "abusing its market dominant position." The CCI had considered five relevant markets to investigate Google, wherein it found that the Alphabet-owned company is dominant. The regulatory authority also released a set of guidelines for the company, including the manufacturer's right to choose which Google service they wish to ship with the phone.

Google is preparing a legal appeal against CCIs directive

While the search giant was still in shock, the CCI imposed yet another penalty of Rs. 936 crores for "anti-competitive policies" on the Play Store. In total, the company has to pay Rs. 2,274 crores. However, a report by Reuters suggests that Google is planning to challenge the CCI legally.

The news agency's source informed that Google was concerned that the CCI's ruling could increase regulatory pressure in other parts of the world. Hence, the company plans to present a legal appeal to "block implementation of the antitrust directive" within weeks.

Reiterating its statement from last week, Google said that the decision was "a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses, opening serious security risks ... and raising the cost of mobile devices for Indians." The lead counsel for Google before the CCI, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, tweeted recently that "inherent & patent infirmities" in the directive make a challenge inevitable.

Google is facing global scrutiny

This is not the first time that Google has faced such criticism and monetary penalty. In 2018, the European Commission ruled that the company abused its dominant position by compelling smartphone makers to pre-install its apps, including Google Search and Chrome. Although the company appealed to the EU as well, it lost the appeal and has to pay $4 billion. However, the Indian order takes it even further, imposing restrictions on various Google apps such as YouTube, Maps, Gmail and more.

If Google complies with the CCI directive, it might come up with a new revenue model wherein the company could charge a licensing fee from smartphone manufacturers. The manufacturers will, in turn, charge this cost from consumers by increasing the prices of their smartphones. Such a model is already in place in Europe.

On the other side, CCI's order is welcomed by platforms such as the Indus App Bazaar, a local online app store that provides thousands of apps in regional languages and in English. Nevertheless, it looks like Google will prepare an appeal and try to reduce the fine amount as much as possible.
Google is releasing an update for Pebble smartwatches, bringing support for the Pixel 7 series. The tech company is adding 64-bit support to the app.

The new update makes Pebble smartwatches compatible with Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Likewise, the wearable will also be compatible with 64-bit-only Android phones that are expected to arrive in the future, as per Engadget.

Google Releases 4.4.3 Update for Pebbles

Support for Pebble smartwatches continued to live on nearly a decade since the wearable started shipping.

With the new update from Google, the tech company revived the official Pebble smartwatch app.

In December 2016, Pebble was acquired by Fitbit. During that time, the company stated that the existing watch would work for the time being, however, "functionality or service quality may be reduced in the future."

Owners of the wearables may get some bug fixes. However, the company did not promise software updates or features for the wearables.

Eventually Fitbit was acquired by Google for $2.1 billion. Because of this, Google becomes the "steward of Pebble's remaining IP and software pieces," according to Ars Technica.

Given that Google is now in charge of Pebbles software pieces, the tech company decided to release Pebble Android app 4.4.3, the latest update added Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro support to the wearable.

According to a tweet by Katharine Berry, a key Rebble coder and leader who works on Wear OS at Google, the latest update was four years after the last update, 4.4.2, was released.

"Do you use a Pebble with your Android device? Cool news: Pebble Android App 4.4.3 was just released! Yes, four years after 4.4.2," Berry tweeted.

The 4.4.2 was the last Play Store update to the Pebble app from the developers. Many of the app's functions were freed up and replaced by independent servers.

In 2018, two years after buying Pebbles maker's assets, Fitbit shut down Pebble's servers.

Read Also: Fitbit Paid $23 Million To Acquire Pebble's Assets

Version 4.4.3 Might be Pebble's Last Update

The caller ID reliability on recent versions of Android was also improved in the latest update of Pebble app.

While you will not find the app on Google Play Store, Berry stated that the "APK is signed with official Pebble keys and retains Google Fit integration"

You can access the actual APK through "Rebble." It is a community-led effort to keep Pebble smartwatches alive.

Rebble is behind Pebble's latest update and it tries to ensure that watches would function indefinitely.

According to Engadget, in terms of official support, the 4.4.3 updated might appear to be the end of the line for Pebble.

Berry noted in her post on Reddit that it might be the one last update for the wearable. "Thanks to Google for providing us with one last update."

It appears like a Pebble smartwatches hackathon is set to happen in the upcoming month, according to Ars Technica.

With this, Engadget notes that "if Pebble's e-ink screen and battery are still holding up, it might be useful for a while longer yet."

Related Article: Pebble Introduces Its New Smartwatch
Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney and game show presenter Les Dennis will guest star in the second festive special of Death In Paradise.

Dennis will play a so-far-undisclosed role as the Caribbean crime dramas team investigate the murder of a true crime podcaster on the hunt for a missing child.

Go coconuts for @LesDennis who is joining us for series 12 of #DeathInParadise! pic.twitter.com/Zw9HShj4nH  Death in Paradise (@deathinparadise) October 17, 2022

The 69-year-old, best known for Family Fortunes, also had a long-running storyline on Coronation Street as petty burglar Michael Rodwell.

McSweeney, 42, finished the last series of Northern Ireland comedy Derry Girls earlier this year in which she played Sister Michael for three seasons.

Death In Paradises feature-length special will also have a storyline where commissioner Selwyn Patterson, played by Don Warrington, has an old case come back to haunt him.

Meanwhile love could be on the horizon for DI Neville Parker, played by Ralf Little.

The episode also features officer Marlon Pryce, played by Tahj Miles, having to spend the night in a haunted house, and Darlene Curtis, played by Ginny Holder, taking a hard look at her life choices.

In the upcoming 12th series, episodes will cover the death of a celebrity astronomer and people digging for the apocalypse on a Saint Marie hillside.

Other guest stars in the special and series include Peep Show actor and comedian Robert Webb, Jo Martin, who portrayed a version of the time lord called the Fugitive Doctor on Doctor Who, Happy Valleys Amit Shah, and Jo Hartley from Ricky Gervais' comedy After Life.

We've loved sharing our guest cast for the Christmas special and new series with you this week! Find more info about the twelfth series & a full list of confirmed stars herehttps://t.co/Te7kEnNP25 pic.twitter.com/Po8Mdw3wwr  Death in Paradise (@deathinparadise) October 27, 2022

Barney Walsh, who has starred opposite his father Bradley Walsh, known for The Chase, in comedy drama The Larkins, also features.

There will also be appearances by Coronation Streets John Michie, legal drama The Splits Fiona Button, Kate And Kojis Okorie Chukwu, The Outlaws Gamba Cole and Downton Abbey kitchen maid actress Cara Theobold.

The popular crime dramas festive feature-length special is airing later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.

Series 12 will be broadcast shortly after the Christmas special in the new year.

A spin-off show, Beyond Paradise, starring My Familys Kris Marshall and Not Going Outs Sally Bretton will also be released in early 2023.
Tidy Towns groups in Louth are to receive a total of 41,000 in grant funding, it was announced yesterday by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, at the SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony at the RDS in Dublin.

The funding is part of a 1.4 million package announced in grant aid for over 930 SuperValu TidyTowns groups nationwide. The funding is to support the work of individual TidyTowns Groups around the country to assist them in their continued efforts to enhance their towns and villages.

The Minister said: The creation of a sense of place that our groups achieve through their efforts makes our towns and villages the wonderful places they are to live in, to work in and indeed to visit.

"The initiatives taken by volunteers in areas of Climate Action, Sustainability and Inclusivity are most encouraging and as such I am very pleased to be able to announce this funding today to support them in bringing about even greater change into the future. In total, 935 TidyTowns groups across the country will be eligible to benefit from this investment.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been urged to increase Garda numbers to tackle rural crime.

Farmers have raised a recurring problem of gangs of men with dogs going on to farms and threatening livestock.

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) said that in a recent incident in Tipperary a farmer encountered men with dogs lamping on his land, and was badly beaten when he engaged with them.

The farmer was left with injuries including facial lacerations and fractured ribs.

More than 250 farmers attended a meeting last week in Adare, Co Limerick, to tackle the issue, and hundreds have attended community meetings around the country, with many expressing fears for their safety.

IFA deputy president Brian Rushe said he is seeking a meeting with Ms McEntee.

He is to ask the minister to change laws in relation to trespass tied into owners and occupiers liability insurance.

The meetings hear calls for additional Garda patrols and the need for more visibility of gardai, he said.

Despite assurances that recruitment is ongoing, the failure to get enough replacements for those retiring is leading to gaps in resources.
Paul Bettany will reportedly reprise his role as Vision in a new "WandaVision" spinoff with a tentative title, "Vision Quest," according to Deadline.

Wanda Maximoff Might Appear in 'Vision Quest'

Marvel is reportedly developing a new "WandaVision" spinoff for Disney+. This time, it would center on the android superhero and MCU Avenger, Vision.

This will be the second "WandaVision" spinoff after the greenlighted series "Agatha: House of Harkness" starring by Kathryn Hahn.

The new spinoff is said to pick up where the series ended. Vision was reconstructed from the old one killed at the end of "Avengers: Infinity War."

In the final episode of Disney+' "WandaVision," a new White Vision was shown. He was rebuilt by government agents.

The Vision who lacks personality decided to venture for some self-discovery. Reportedly, "Vision Quest" will be about the superhero trying to regain his memories and sense of humanity.

There are speculations that although spinoff will highlight the story Vision, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) will also appear in it.

The appearance of Wanda in Disney+ upcoming show will make sense given the kind of relationship she and Vision shared.

In "WandaVision," after the android's tragic death, she even recreated him as a specter in her magical reality.

However, according to CNET, it is unclear how Wanda would appear in "Vision Quest" given that she possibly died in "Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness" after she collapsed an ancient temple on herself.

Just like previous Marvel's shows, the studio did not give further details about the upcoming show. Aside from Paul Bettany, no other cast members were revealed.

"WandaVision" creator, writer and executive producer Jac Schaeffer will oversee the productions of "Vision Quest." Meanwhile, Bettany and representatives for Marvel Studios refused to comment on the matter.

Read Also: 'Loki' and 'WandaVision' Finales Sync Up: Marvel's Setup for the Multiverse and 'Loki' Season 2 Details

'WandaVision' Spinoff is Tentatively Titled 'Vision Quest'

According to CNET, one curious thing about the tentative title is its reference to a tradition of Native American tribes. A vision quest refers to a rite of passage in some Native American tribes, according to Wikipedia.

A vision quest is undertaken by male youths entering adulthood. If this the case, this is a fitting reference to empty Vision's "journey toward self-realization."

Towards the end of episode 8 of "WandaVision," S.W.O.R.D. rebuilt and reactivated White Vision. He is then sent on a mission to destroy Wanda and her "Conditional" Vision.

In the ninth episode of the series, "Conditional" Vision and White Vision had an epic showdown.

The memories of White Vision was scanned by "Conditional" Vision. It covered all of his moments in the MCU up to the point when Thanos destroyed him.

In what seemed to be a moment of clarity, White Vision said, "I Am Vision," and disappeared into the skies.

Bettany has been reluctant to give information about reprising his role after his works with "WandaVision."

"It was a beautiful culmination for all these things Lizzie and I have done together," Bettany said, as cited by Deadline.

"We really found a lane for ourselves, and this was different in tone from those movies. But you never know with Marvel, whether you're done, or not. So I don't want to call it the end yet," he further added.

Related Article: 'WandaVision' Costume, Season 2 and Updates: Evil Witch Agatha Harkness Spin-Off Possible, New Scarlet Witch Statue Released
The United Nations on Friday asked the parties to a U.N.-brokered agreement that permitted the restart of grain exports from Ukraine to the Black Sea to extend the arrangement past mid-November, claiming that it was necessary to support global food security.

It also demanded that a related agreement be fully implemented to guarantee that grain and fertiliser from Russia also reach international markets.

In a statement, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people.

The accord of July 22 allowed Ukraine to resume grain and fertiliser exports to the Black Sea, which had been put on hold when Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24. The first 120-day duration of the Ukraine export agreement was set.

The United Nations is attempting to extend the agreement for up to a year and make it easier for U.N., Turkish, Russian, and Ukrainian officials to jointly inspect ships. Recently, the United Nations issued a warning about the over 150 ship backlog.

Russia has attacked the agreement, claiming that its own exports are still hampered and that not enough grain from the Ukraine is getting to developing nations. Moscow might oppose to the agreement on Ukraines exports being extended past November.
ONE of the countrys leading estate agents has been awarded a three-year management contract, north of 350,000, for Corks English Market.

The appointment of Irish-owned full service property advisory company, Lisney as managing agent brings to an end the involvement of property management, facilities, and food services giant Aramark which had managed the day-to-day operations in the English Market on behalf of Cork City Council for many years.

The new tender for the management role was advertised in mid-May.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Cork City Council said it has employed a managing agent in the English Market since the 1980s whose role is to assist in the day-to-day operation of the market and provide on-site property management services.

Following a competitive tendering process and assessment of the tenders received, Lisney was awarded the contract for a period of three years from October 1, the spokesperson said, stating that the value of the contract is 117,182.50 annually.

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 role of the managing agent is to provide on-site property management services and to assist and collaborate with Cork City Council and the market traders to strategically develop the English Market's unique offering, the spokesperson added.

Pat O'Connell, of K O'Connell Fishmongers, welcomed Lisneys appointment and said he hoped the company would deliver for the market.

Heres to the future and fingers crossed, he added.
Applications are now open for rural community projects to take a share in almost 17m in funding awarded to Cork through the national LEADER programme.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announced on Thursday the details of the 180 million LEADER Programme for 2023-2027, which will fund thousands of locally-led rural development and enterprise projects across the country over the next five years.

The LEADER Programme is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU that supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas.

The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

Examples of applications to the fund which could be successful include for tourism, enterprise development, broadband and basic services targeted at hard to reach communities, youth services, local biodiversity or renewable energy.

Cork has been awarded 16.8m in funding, and those interested in a share of this for their own local project are invited to express their interest by 16 December.

County Cork includes North Cork, South Cork and West Cork, and the 16.8m will be distributed across the three sub-regional areas.

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.

Interested parties will have until Friday 16 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, which will commence in early 2023.

Read More Taoiseach officially opens new school building for Cork primary school

Minister Humphreys said that 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, she said.

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, she added.

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 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/
Chinese scientists create new strategy to address single-atom catalyst limitations

Xinhua) 13:41, October 29, 2022

HEFEI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese team, together with scientists from American universities, has created a new strategy to resolve the limitations of single-atom catalysts and increase their potential for effective application, according to the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

Single-atom catalyst, which makes exceptionally efficient use of expensive noble metals and can bring out unique properties, is a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis, a commonly used catalytic reaction in industry.

However, applications of single-atom catalysts are usually compromised by limited catalyst stability, or too few metal sites available for reactant binding and catalysis when anchoring the metal atoms to oxide supports.

The research team, led by Zeng Jie of the USTC, said in a study published in the journal Nature this week that they anticipate that the new strategy will take single-atom catalysts a step closer to practical applications.

By confining atomically dispersed metal atoms on oxide nanoclusters or "nanoglues", the beneficial effects of anchoring can be enhanced. The metal atoms can move but remain confined to their respective nanoglue islands, which is believed to provide a new solution for solving the contradiction between catalyst activity and stability.

The idea of stabilizing the atomically dispersed active species on an isolated support nanoparticle is fascinating and extremely convincing, said Nature's peer-reviewers of this paper.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
In this undated provided photo, travelers line up for boarding procedures at a terminal in Gimpo International Airport, as Gimpo-Haneda flights resumed on June 29. Courtesy of Korea Airports Corp.



By Lee Hae-rin



Flights connecting Gimpo International Airport to Osaka, Japan, and Taipei, Taiwan, will resume on Sunday, after a hiatus of two years and seven months caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) said, Saturday. The only international routes that remain halted from the country's second-largest airport are the ones to Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai.



According to the KAC, the Gimpo-Osaka route will have 28 weekly flights, while the Gimpo-Taipei route will be served with six trips a week, on Sunday, Monday and Thursday. By the end of the year, low-cost carriers EVA Air and T'way Air will each add eight more trips per week to the Gimpo-Taipei route.



"The flights to Japan and Taiwan (from Korea) are key routes that took about 44 percent of the total international passengers before the pandemic and the resumption," KAC President and CEO Yoon Hyeong-jung said in a statement, explaining that the resumption will help put international air travel in the country back on track.



Before the pandemic, Gimpo-Osaka and Gimpo-Taipei were popular air routes with 84 and 74 weekly flights respectively, carrying over 240,000 passengers combined every year. The booking rate of the first trip from Gimpo to Osaka on Sunday is at 98.4 percent as of Friday, the KAC said.



In November, flights between Gimpo and Haneda, Japan, which resumed earlier in June, will see an increase in the number of flights from 56 to 112 per week.



More air routes will be available from Korea to Japan and Taiwan at regional airports, the KAC said. The organization's upcoming air routes include Gimhae-Taipei, Daegu-Osaka and Yangyang-Tokyo.



Also, five international airports  Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju, Daegu and Yangyang  will operate more international flights. Gimhae will have 23 international routes with 508 weekly flights, including Tokyo, Taipei and Singapore, while Daegu's airport will run nine routes with 34 weekly flights to destinations including Tokyo, Osaka and Bangkok.



In December, the five international airports will operate 1,056 international flights a week. The figure triples today's 362 and marks a 43 percent recovery to pre-pandemic levels.



The KAC operates 14 international and domestic airports nationwide, except for Incheon International Airport, and provides integrated aviation services.


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.

Quick Key Facts

Marine environments cover 70% of Earth .

. Over 50% of oxygen on the planet comes from oceans .

. Top threats to oceans include pollution, noise and climate change .

. Plastic pollution is expected to outweigh all fish in the oceans by 2050 .

. Prescription drugs, agricultural runoff, industry discharge and even sunscreen chemicals can alter the chemistry of marine ecosystems .

. Overfishing puts marine species populations at risk, with sharks and rays especially vulnerable .

. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, the biggest oil spill in U.S. history, is still being remedied today .

. The Gulf of Mexico is a major dead zone, where marine life can no longer live due to lack of oxygen .

. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, along with other types of waste .

. Some of the most threatened marine life include sea turtles, dugongs, North Atlantic right whales and coral reefs, especially in the Great Barrier Reef.

Why Threats to Marine Environments Matter

When you think of the oceans, you might recall standing on the shoreline as a child, looking out in wonder at the vast blue that extended into the skyline. Marine environments deserve the fascination we place upon them. Oceans cover over 70% of Earth, and with that much coverage, they help regulate climate, store carbon and even generate more than half of the oxygen on the planet.

But our oceans are facing a number of serious threats that put aquatic life and even humans at risk. Youve seen the images: sea turtles eating plastic, a seahorse tail wrapped around a cotton swab, a shimmering dark spot spreading across the water after an oil spill. From rising sea levels to plastic pollution to toxic waste dumping, human activity is threatening the health of marine environments and, in turn, putting humans around the world in danger.

Top Threats to Marine Life and Oceans

Unfortunately, one could write up pages upon pages of threats to our oceans, but there are several top contenders that need immediate attention. Here are some of the top threats to marine environments and aquatic life.

Pollution

Its no secret that we are polluting our oceans at an alarming pace. Whether its the infamous plastic straws or a massive oil spill, pollution is a top threat that comes in many different forms. Plastic is a major ocean threat, but other forms of pollution, like chemicals from popular sunscreens or prescription drugs, are also problematic for plants and animals in the oceans.

In addition to becoming entanglement and choking hazards, pollution can also shift marine chemistry. These pollutants contribute to ocean acidification, which can lead to coral bleaching or affect molluscs development.

Plastic Pollution

There are an estimated 75 million tons to 199 million tons of plastic in the oceans today, and a 2015 study found that up to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the oceans each year. But this annual figure is expected to nearly triple by 2040. Even worse, current projections show that there will be more plastic by weight than fish in the oceans by 2050.

All of this ocean plastic has even led to the newly defined Plastisphere, as plastics floating in the ocean attract single-cell organisms like bacteria and algae, creating new, small ecosystems within the marine environment.

A plastic cup with a plant stuck in it floats around in the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul, Turkiye on Oct. 20, 2022. Sebnem Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Agricultural Runoff

From fertilizers to pesticides, agriculture is a top polluter for water sources, including the oceans. Precipitation carries treated soil, manure, fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals away, and they runoff into waterways and ultimately, marine environments. These pollutants prevent sunlight from reaching plants, like carbon-sequestering seagrasses, block fish gills, and contribute to ocean deoxygenation, which can kill off marine life while allowing harmful algal blooms.

Agricultural runoff dumped into the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, Southern California. plus49 / Construction Photography / Avalon / Getty Images

Sunscreen Chemicals

Like agricultural runoff, chemicals in sunscreen may protect your skin from UV rays, but they can also wash away into the marine environment off of your skin when youre taking a swim or catching some waves on a surfboard. (Of course, you should still wear sunscreen when heading to the beach, but watch out for harmful ingredients and know how to identify safe sunscreens.)

Many people have heard about the detrimental effects sunscreen chemicals have on coral reefs, but these chemicals contribute to more than coral bleaching. Sunscreen chemicals have been found accumulating on seagrasses in the Mediterranean, and these seagrasses are an important carbon sink. Sunscreen chemicals can lead to defects in mussel, sea urchin, and coral young as well as cause fertility and reproductive challenges in fish.

Some of the most harmful sunscreen chemicals include zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, butyl paraben, benzyl paraben, and propyl paraben.

Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Prescription Drugs

Modern medicine is crucial to healthy humans, but pharmaceuticals are becoming a growing concern in marine environments. Taking prescription drugs as intended and properly disposing of unused medications is important. As people flush extra prescription drugs or wash them down the sink, the contaminants can make their way into local waterways. The contaminants can also be present in human excrement after taking the medications. But one study outlines another source of this pollution: discharge from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. Many places have water treatment facilities that cannot treat the compounds of the drugs, so these contaminants can get through the filters.

A recent study conducted over the course of three years found as many as 17 prescription drugs present in a single bonefish and 58 medications among 93 bonefish, outlining the severity of the issue.

Plastic bottles and medicine containers on the beach of the Oasi dei Variconi in Castel Volturno, Italy. Vincenzo Izzo / LightRocket via Getty Images

Industry Discharge

In addition to pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities discharge, other industries also release waste into waterways and/or oceans and contribute to more environmental pollution. Facilities discharge chemical-laden wastewater, which can then alter the ocean environment. Chemicals, heavy metals, sewage, and other waste may contribute to health defects and reproductive issues in marine life and can encourage algal blooms.

Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants is also an ocean pollutant. While there are protocols meant to contain radioactive waste, even waste dumped decades ago will remain radioactive and dangerous for many years.

Another major industrial discharge is the toxic DDT, a pesticide banned in the U.S. in 1972. Companies used to dump barrels of DDT into the oceans, but it wasnt clear just how massive the problem was until 2021 when up to 500,000 barrels were discovered off the coast of Southern California. DDT leaks from the barrels and causes harm to local wildlife. Chemical dumping has been linked to high cancer rates in sea lions and blood contamination in critically endangered California condors.

A man watches sewage flow from an outlet into the sea in Southern Gaza Strip. Wissam Nassar / picture alliance via Getty Images

Overfishing

Billions of people around the world rely on seafood for protein, and many communities use fishing as a primary source of income. But commercial fishing and illegal fishing are threatening many of the oceans unique species. Overfishing is when crews catch more fish at a time than can be recovered through reproduction, leaving a depleted population. World Wildlife Fund reported that global overfished stocks have tripled in just 50 years.

Sharks and rays are particularly vulnerable, with over one-third of shark, ray and chimaera species at risk of extinction due to overfishing. Atlantic bluefin tuna and Southern bluefin tuna are also dangerously overfished.

Aside from threatening marine species, overfishing may also contribute to more toxins in seafood as larger fish, like tuna and cod, turn to high-mercury prey. This issue is further exacerbated by climate change, which threatens oceans in many ways.

Military Sonar

For some marine life, military sonar used for navigating, training and testing can disrupt their behaviors, leading to injury or even death. In a military report obtained by the journal Nature, the UK military found that sonar would cause whales to stop foraging for food and vocalizing. Depending on the whales initial reaction to the sonar, it could lead the whale to stop feeding and eventually starve. Mass strandings for several species of whales and dolphins have also been linked to military sonar.

Deep-Sea Mining

Mining in the deep seas can be just as detrimental as mining on land. This activity involves dredging the bottom of the ocean over 200 meters deep and extracting minerals such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, gold and copper.

Removing this layer of seabed can destroy long-formed habitats for coral, sponges and other marine life. Mining around hydrothermal vents also destroys these habitats and will impact the unique creatures  like crabs, sea stars and sea anemones  that call these spaces home.

As the deep-sea mining occurs, it stirs up potentially toxic sediment clouds that may impact nearby sea life or could even travel tens of thousands of square kilometers farther than the mining sites.

A protest by Ocean Rebellions against the Hidden Gem deep sea mining ship in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on Feb. 8, 2022. Charles M. Vella / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

Oil Spills

Time and time again, a massive oil spill makes the news, with images of marine life, like sea turtles or pelicans, covered in oil. This can kill the animals either by restricting movement or through oil toxicity. Even with a rapid cleanup response, many affected animals cannot be found or are too large to recover.

The biggest oil spill in U.S. history was the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. The drilling platform, located in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded, causing 11 deaths. Then, over the course of three months, the site leaked about 134 million gallons of oil, and the area is still under restoration efforts today.

An oil spill cleanup in Peru on Jan. 21, 2022. Hidalgo Calatayud Espinoza / picture alliance via Getty Images

Climate Change

Oceans are an important carbon sink and can trap heat from the increasing emissions, but that means the oceans are getting warmer. In addition to higher temperatures impacting marine life, these warmer waters can also contribute to stronger and/or more frequent hurricanes, threatening human lives and countries economies.

Climate change is also contributing to sea level rise as glaciers melt. According to World Meteorological Organization, oceans are rising at a high of about 4.5 millimeters per year. Sea level rise also contributes to worsening tropical storms and leaves coastal communities vulnerable to erosion, landslides, floods and life-threatening storm surges.

As oceans absorb more carbon emissions, the ocean becomes more acidic. Ocean acidification can weaken coral reefs and impact development of marine life. Some shelled organisms even dissolve in areas of high acidification, ultimately reducing biodiversity and impacting entire food webs.

Ocean Noise

Human activities, like military training, deep-sea mining, commercial fishing, shipping, and oil drilling, produce noises that interfere with marine lifes ability to listen for natural sounds of the ocean. Many marine species rely on their sense of hearing or echolocation to navigate the open seas, find mates, reproduce, forage and dodge predators. Ocean noise pollution can negatively impact animals behaviors and can have serious risks, including death.

Hotspots: Most Threatened Areas of the Ocean

While threats stretch to every corner of the ocean (even Point Nemo, the most remote part of the ocean, is plagued by plastic waste), there are a few areas especially vulnerable to a high number of threats. From dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico to coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef, here are the most threatened parts of oceans around the world.

Gulf of Mexico

The site of the biggest oil spill in U.S. history, the Gulf of Mexico is also vulnerable to agricultural and urban runoff that create a dead zone where marine life may not survive due to a lack of oxygen. The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone (or Dead Zone) spans 6,334 square miles as of 2021 and is the second-largest dead zone in the world. This region has also seen harmful algal blooms and devastating hurricanes in recent years due to pollution and climate change.

A dead sea turtle next to a rolling tide of crude oil, after the sinking of the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, along the shore of East Grand Terre Island in the Gulf of Mexico on June 7, 2010. Benjamin Lowy / Edit by Getty Images

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Rotating ocean currents, called gyres, pull pollution into patches in their centers. Here, trash spreads across the water surface and deep into the ocean and includes microplastics to massive pieces of garbage. Up to 80% of litter in the ocean is plastic. There are five major gyres on Earth, but the largest and most well-known is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There is an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Aquatic animals face many life-threatening risks in these gyres, including in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sea life can become entangled in discarded fishing nets, often called ghost nets or ghost gear, or they may ingest the plastics and either choke or fill their stomachs with litter and stop eating food.

ipeggas / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Great Barrier Reef

A UNESCO World Heritage Area since 1981, the Great Barrier Reef is rich in biodiversity  for now. It has long been home to vibrant coral reefs and is the unique habitat for endangered green turtles and vulnerable dugongs.

Warming waters and agricultural runoff have contributed to mass coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef. While bleaching isnt a death sentence, it does weaken the coral and make them more vulnerable over time.

Pollution can also prevent enough sunlight from reaching marine plants, like seagrasses, which are an important carbon sink and a food source for marine animals. Coastal development and illegal fishing are also threatening the Great Barrier Reef.

Aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Reinhard Dirscherl / ullstein bild via Getty Images

Most Threatened Marine Life

Many species are impacted by ocean threats, whether it be noises that disrupt feeding and mating behaviors or pollution that becomes choking and entanglement hazards. But some species are now vulnerable to extinction after decades of facing these threats.

North Atlantic Right Whales

The North Atlantic right whale species is found primarily in Atlantic coastal waters. North Atlantic right whales are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Estimates say there are fewer than 350 left of the species and fewer than 100 females who are able to reproduce. Fishing gear entanglements are one of the top threats to this species, but vessel strikes, ocean noise and climate change are all contributing to the declining population.

A North Atlantic right whale in Cape Cod Bay off the coast of Provincetown, Rhode Island. Bill Greene / The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Sea Turtles

Most of the seven species of sea turtles are now considered endangered, including green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and olive ridley sea turtles. The turtles have long been vulnerable to poaching, but habitat destruction, especially for nesting sites, from coastal development has also threatened these creatures. Entanglements in fishing gear is another major threat for sea turtle species. Climate change has influenced the sex of hatching sea turtles, as this process depends on the temperature of the incubation site. This creates lower genetic diversity.

A sea turtle and diver in Maui, Hawaii. Reinhard Dirscherl / ullstein bild via Getty Images

Vaquitas

Vaquitas are a critically endangered species and the rarest marine mammal on Earth. Scientists estimate that only about 10 vaquitas remain on the planet. Their numbers are plummeting due to entanglements from illegal fishing gear. From 2011 to 2016, the population dropped 90%, primarily because of entanglements in gillnets and becoming bycatch. Water contamination and decreased flow of the Colorado River impacting the vaquitas food source are also factors.

Demonstrators with The Animal Welfare Institute hold a rally to save the vaquita outside the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, on July 5, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Whale Sharks

The largest shark and fish alive on Earth today, whale shark populations are declining in some regions. The species is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Pollution, loss of food from bycatches, fisheries and vessel strikes are some of the top threats to these gentle giants, which are filter feeders that live off of plankton and krill.

A whale shark feeding in the Bohol Sea, Philippines. Steve De Neef / VW Pics / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Overfishing has driven the Southern bluefin tuna species to become listed as critically endangered. They are sought after particularly for sashimi, and a single fish can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most Southern bluefin tuna are caught while young, then kept in underwater cages and fattened before being sold. It is estimated that with business as usual, the species will reach fewer than 500 mature individuals within 100 years.

Southern bluefin tuna near the Barbate coast in Cadiz province, Spain. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Getty Images

Dugongs

A relative of the manatee, dugongs are a vulnerable species whose closest modern relative, the Stellers sea cow, went extinct from hunting in 1768. Dugongs are also vulnerable to hunting, as their meat and oil are valuable. They feed primarily on seagrasses, which are impacted by pollution, algal blooms and climate change. Vessel strikes and entanglement are also risks to the species, which is deeply fragmented, further threatening the dugong.

A dugong in the lagoons in New Caledonia, Australia. Matthieu Juncker / Xinhua via Getty Images

Ocean Policy

Theres plenty of room for improvement globally for ocean policies, to say the least. In early 2022, the UN created a mandate to begin negotiating for a global plastics treaty for the first time to deal with the root issues of plastic pollution in the ocean and on land. Some governments are already making efforts toward marine conservation, and there are many major NGOs working to influence more ocean policies.

Government Response

Ocean policy tends to be neglected as globally, governments have not yet created any sort of system or process to make binding agreements or policies for oceans. Ocean policies are discussed at UN conventions, but actionable steps are rarely laid out. Ocean governance lacks any defined meaning or process that can make it a reality.

There is some hope, though. In 2018, 14 countries came together to form the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy for more sustainable ocean management. Some governments have also taken their own steps toward conserving marine environments. As of 2020, Marine Conservation Institute reports that the top 10 countries (with over 10,000 kilometers of coastal and ocean domains) for the largest percentage of marine protected areas are Palau, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Brazil, United States, Gabon, Poland, Mexico, Estonia, Nicaragua and Latvia. Over 80% of Palaus coastal and ocean areas are designated marine protected areas.

NGO Policy Work

Fortunately for our oceans, there is no shortage of NGOs taking on the task of protecting marine environments. While there are many organizations doing great work, here are some efforts from top marine conservation-focused NGOs.

Greenpeace

Greenpeaces marine conservation successes date back decades. One of its major wins was in 1978, when New Zealand banned commercial whaling with the Marine Mammals Protection Act following submissions from Greenpeace and other conservation organizations. In 2021, it helped stop a destructive fishmeal plant project in The Gambia.

Today, Greenpeace is campaigning to end deep sea mining globally and for a global treaty that could establish a large network of marine sanctuaries.

Oceana

Since 2001, Oceana has worked toward conserving and boosting ocean biodiversity. One key part of its mission is to advocate for science-based fishery management and secure policy victories. Some of its recent wins include a ban on shark fin imports and exports in Canada, major plastic reduction laws in California and New York, and an end to government-issued permits for seismic airgun blasting in the Atlantic Ocean.

Currently, Oceana is campaigning to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction, end misleading and false information in seafood labeling, and put a stop to offshore drilling off U.S. coasts.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Sea Shepherd is dedicated to marine life conservation. It helps support developing governments in protecting waters from illegal fishing. In recent years, the organization has vessels, crew members and other tools for governments and has assisted in dozens of vessel arrests to protect marine life.

One of Sea Shepherds biggest campaigns is saving vaquitas from illegal fishing gear in the Vaquita Refuge in Mexico. The NGO has removed over 1,000 pieces of fishing gear from the protected area.

Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy has been fighting for marine environments since 1972 and now works globally for marine conservation and to support communities that depend on the ocean. Since its first cleanup event in 1986, the organization has cleaned over 345 million pounds of ocean pollution.

In addition to ocean cleanup, Ocean Conservancy is campaigning for environmental justice, ocean funding and policies, sustainable seafood and conserving particularly vulnerable regions, like the Arctic and the coasts of Florida.

Surfrider Foundation

Surfrider Foundation began in Malibu in 1984, and has since had over 800 victories for the ocean. It has established an Ocean Friendly Restaurants program to help consumers find restaurants that skip on single-use plastics. Its Blue Water Task Force tests nearly 500 beaches regularly to provide safe, healthy beaches to the public.

The foundation is currently working with the government on passing a Break Free From Pollution Act to minimize waste that ends up in the ocean along with dozens of other campaigns on plastics, ocean protections, beach access and clean water.

Solutions

From reducing and cleaning up plastic pollution in the ocean to creating marine sanctuaries to protect aquatic life, there are several effective solutions to conserve and restore marine environments around the world.

Sustainable Seafood

Millions of people rely on the ocean for sustenance. When it comes to sustainable seafood, fish comes to mind for most. While supporting sustainable and ethical fisheries should be a goal for those who consume seafood like fish or shellfish, some companies are also turning to seaweed and algae as a form of regenerative aquatic farming. The company 12 Tides sustainably farms kelp for its crunchy seaweed snacks, and Pearlita Foods has even found a way to make a plant-based oyster prototype complete with a biodegradable shell.

Several organizations offer consumer guides and information to help people choose seafood that is truly sustainable. Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch offers regional and national buyer guides for the U.S. and even has a sushi guide. You can also look for seafood that has earned the Marine Stewardship Councils label of certification for sustainably caught seafood from ethically managed fisheries.

Marine Sanctuaries

According to the Marine Protection Atlas, only 2.4% of the global ocean is fully or highly protected, although the goal is for 30% of the ocean to be fully and highly protected by 2030.

More governments are setting up marine protected areas, which can be effective at protecting biodiversity in the ocean with proper enforcement and buffer zones. Papahanaumokuakea in Hawaii is the largest marine protected area on Earth, encompassing 582,578 square miles of the Pacific Ocean (1,508,870 square kilometers).

Ochre sea stars, purple sea urchins, sea anemones, and California mussels in Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area in Laguna Beach, California. Paul Bersebach / MediaNews Group / Orange County Register via Getty Images

Plastics Solutions

Individuals and organizations are working to clean up the massive amounts of plastic waste in the ocean. Theres a lot of work to be done in this regard, and it can be a challenge to figure out how to handle plastics deep in the ocean or microplastics, which are plastics that have broken into tiny pieces.

Fishing gear is a major risk to marine life, but a recent study found that using LED-illuminated gillnets was successful in reducing accidental bycatch incidences.

Boyan Slat is one such individual who has made international headlines for ocean plastics solutions. Slat founded The Ocean Cleanup with the mission to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The nonprofit is creating innovative technologies, like the System 002, to reach a goal of reducing floating ocean plastics by 90% by 2040. The organization has also created Interceptors to collect plastics in rivers, since its own research found that over 80% of riverine pollution comes from 1,000 rivers.

Similarly, Plastic Fischer created a simple device called the TrashBoom that floats in rivers and collects plastic waste as it floats downstream to keep that waste from flowing into the ocean in the first place. The design is open source, so anyone can make their own TrashBooms to help collect river waste.

What You Can Do to Fight Against Ocean Degradation

Certainly, governments, corporations and industries need to implement and enforce stricter ocean conservation measures to protect the ocean, and environmental organizations can continue their work in restoring and preserving marine environments and their unique biodiversity. But there are some actions you can take as an individual to make a difference.

First, vote. Vote for representatives that have the environment in their best interest, and make sure to look into where these candidates receive campaign funding from. Some may claim to be in favor of marine conservation while being bankrolled by the fossil fuel industry.

You can also make a difference with where you spend your dollars. From supporting sustainable brands to donating to nonprofit organizations working on marine conservation, where you spend and dont spend your money can show companies and organizations what is most important to consumers.

At home, reducing waste, especially plastic waste, is important. Even though people arent generally throwing their trash into the ocean directly, this waste can end up in the ocean anyway. Instead, focus on reusable items as much as possible.

If you eat seafood, make sure you choose sustainable seafood options using the handy consumer information from Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Watch or the Marine Stewardship Council.

Takeaway

Thinking about big topics like climate change or pollution in the depths of the sea feels daunting. Truthfully, cleaning up and preserving marine environments are big, important tasks. But those tasks fall on all of us: individuals, governments, companies, nonprofit organizations.

Together, we can reduce the amount of waste we generate while also cleaning up the existing waste plaguing the oceans. Together, we can work to curb emissions to lessen sea level rise, ocean warming and acidification.

One day, the ocean can be a more habitable environment for all the unique and aquatic creatures and plants while also being a safe place for humans to enjoy recreationally. But thats only with swift, large-scale actions. Human life depends on healthy oceans, so we must act now for a better future for oceans  and life on Earth.




Report finds Norway's seafood sector experienced strong growth in 2022



A new report prepared by Menon Economics, Nofima, and Norce found that Norway's seafood sector experienced strong growth in 2022, with aquaculture the biggest growth driver of the industry, Fish Information & Services reported.

Employees who work directly and indirectly in the Norwegian seafood industry increased by as many as 13,000 people compared to the previous year, totaling 106,000. Value creation totaled NOK 120 billion (~US$11.6 billion; NOK 10 = US$0.97), and the tax effect came to NOK 34 billion (~US$3.2 billion) when ripple effects were taken into account.

Jonas Erraia, a Menon Economics partner said compared to other industries, the seafood industry fared better during the pandemic, but 2020 was still challenging. They can see that the industry has grown last year and is breaking new employment, export, and value creation records.

Roy Robertsen, senior scientist at Nofima, said one of Norway's most significant regional industries is the seafood sector. Despite having a presence across the entire nation, the production of seafood is most significant in terms of employment and value creation in Western and Northern Norway. Few sectors of the economy have expanded as much as the seafood sector over the past 15 years.

Despite having a presence across the entire nation, the production of seafood is most significant in terms of employment and value creation in Western and Northern Norway. In the county of Vestland, 17,200 people work in the seafood industry either directly or indirectly. More and Romsdal are second with 16,500, followed by Nordland with 12,900, Troms and Finnmark with 12,700, Trondelag with 12,100, and Viken with 10,800.

Which municipality is the most significant seafood municipality has been a topic of debate for a very long time. There are various methods for calculating this. Alesund is the largest city when measured in terms of total value creation, which is essentially the total of employee salaries and company profits and reflects the contribution of businesses to the Norwegian GDP. Bergen, Naeroysund, Senja, and Froya are closely behind.

The amount of corporate tax and individual income tax that the seafood industry contributes to is also shown in the report. A rise from roughly NOK 30 billion (~US$2.9 billion) in 2020, the total tax effect in 2021 was NOK 34 billion (~US$3.2 billion). More workers and higher operating profits are what are driving the increase. Direct and indirect taxes from the seafood industry make up about 3% of the State's total tax receipts.

- Fish Information & Services




Botswana will slaughter at least 10,000 cattle due to foot-and-mouth disease





Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi said the nation will slaughter at least 10,000 cattle northeast of the country to stop the spread of food-and-mouth disease, Xinhua News reported.



The president said the disease has no known treatment, adding that the only way to prevent the disease is to kill the affected cattle.

In addition, he said that foot-and-mouth disease is a ticking time bomb for the nation, and that if nothing is done to stop it from spreading to other regions, Botswana's cattle sector will be destroyed.

He commended the farmers for cooperating with the government to address the issue, despite the challenges presented by foot-and-mouth disease. Per animal, farmers will receive compensation of about US$225 dollars.

In August, the disease forced Botswana to halt all beef exports to the European Union (EU). Each year, the nation sends 9,000 tonnes of beef to the EU.

- Xinhua News




Mexico considers international grain agreements following GM corn ban



Victor Suarez, Mexico's Deputy Agriculture Minister said the country's upcoming 2024 ban on genetically modified (GM) corn will go ahead, as the nation considers direct agreements with American, Argentinian, and Brazilian farmers to secure imports of non-GM corn, US News reported.

The deputy minister said Mexico is on track to reduce its US imports of yellow corn by half through increased domestic production. The corn is used primarily for livestock feed.

He said the nation will consider agreements with farmers in other nations to grow non-GM corn and sell it to Mexico in order to fill the remaining gap, adding that there are numerous alternatives to importing non-GMO yellow corn from the US.

The Mexican Agriculture Ministry's latest statement was the clearest indication yet that the ban will affect yellow corn used as animal feed. It seemed to go against the promises Mexican Agriculture Minister Victor Villalobos made to his American counterpart the previous year that Mexico wouldn't restrict imports of GMO US corn.

Mexico, one of the biggest consumers of corn in the world, currently imports 17 million tonnes of American grain annually, the majority of which is yellow corn used for animal feed.

By 2024, GM corn and the herbicide glyphosate are to be phased out, according to a decree signed in 2020 by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Supporters cite studies showing harmful effects of glyphosate and claim that GM seeds can contaminate Mexico's centuries-old native varieties.

US farm lobby groups said the ban will cost both countries' economies billions of dollars. They have urged the US government to challenge it under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement.

MAIZALL, an international chamber representing growers in Argentina, Brazil and the United States responsible for more than 80% of global corn exports, said growers will not switch to non-GM corn production to accommodate Mexico. They expressed doubt about Mexico's ability to find enough non-GM corn to meet its requirements.

Suarez said that Mexico was "under no obligation to buy and grow GM corn," and that he did not think this represented a violation of the USMCA.

He said they respect and care about (the trade pact), but the USMCA is not God and it is not our constitution.

When asked if Mexico would provide more information regarding the future of US imports, Suarez responded that announcements may be made in the second half of 2023. He declared that the decree would not be changed.

With the help of free fertilisers, expanded irrigation systems, and other incentives, mostly for small and medium-sized farmers, local corn production has increased by 1% to 2% annually as part of Lopez Obrador's initiative to make Mexico self-sufficient in everything from energy to food.

Suarez said yellow corn imports are now more expensive than domestic production, which provides farmers with yet another reason to switch.

He was confident that after 2024, Mexico would replace the approximately 8 million tonnes of corn it would no longer import from American farmers. He added that the government was working to reach agreements with nearby corn farmers to specifically increase the production of yellow corn to 6 million tonnes.

- US News
Rescuers move a victim, Oct. 30, after about 50 people fell into cardiac arrest from a stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district during Halloween celebrations the previous day. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over an emergency response meeting Sunday over a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district that left 59 Halloween partygoers dead, officials said.



Fifty-nine people were confirmed dead and 150 others injured from the late-night stampede Saturday in the district, where a massive crowd had gathered for Halloween celebrations.





Rescuers move a victim, Oct. 30, after about 50 people fell into cardiac arrest from a stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district during Halloween celebrations the previous day. Yonhap



Shortly after the accident, Yoon came to the presidential office in Yongsan and presided over a response meeting related with the Seoul Itaewon Halloween accident, the presidential office said.









"The top priority is transporting and rescuing the patients and providing prompt medical treatment for the affected people," Yoon was quoted as telling the meeting.



The president also ordered "immediate" response measures, including clearing the path for ambulances and other necessary traffic controls, according to Lee Jae-myeong, deputy spokesperson for the presidential office.





Rescuers move a victim, Oct. 30, after about 50 people fell into cardiac arrest from a stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district during Halloween celebrations the previous day. Yonhap
Watching the road in the 1890s Daniel Gifford, "Everyday life in Korea," public domain



By Robert Neff



It is that time of year again when scary ghosts, zombies, vampires and witches compete with beautiful princesses, heroic characters of modern lore and cute whimsical creatures lifted from the pages of comic books for treats and praise  it is, of course, Halloween.



Halloween in Korea is generally believed to be a recently introduced event  perhaps as recent as the 1980s when it first became possible for the average Korean to travel abroad for pleasure. There were, of course, exceptions. Halloween parties were often held on American military installations and were generally confined to military personnel and their families. There were, however, even earlier Halloween parties  the participants were Americans but they were not military personnel  they were missionaries and their families.



On Oct. 31, 1908, Ethel Mills, a missionary, groused that it was "Halloween night and nothing to do in Korea." She concluded that "evidently they [it isn't clear if she was talking about her fellow missionaries or her Korean neighbors] have not all the barbarian ideas in vogue." Almost, in a backhanded way, she expressed appreciation that she was not stationed in Pyongyang for the winter. But if it was Halloween she desired, then Pyongyang was the place to be.



In 1913, the missionaries in Pyongyang held a large Halloween party to which all the children of the community were invited. It was a festive event. One adult participant recalled:



"We got the cookies and chestnuts and popcorn and pumpkin lights all ready. Someone sent a lot of ice cream and someone else a great bowl of marshmallows which we toasted from the end on long sticks."





A hauntingly beautiful Christmas card from the 1930s Robert Neff Collection



Samuel Austin Moffett, "the leading missionary of the station and a fine strong man," was definitely the star attraction at the spooky event. Wanting to entertain and mystify his two sons  James (8) and Charles (5)  as well as the other children, he dressed up as a witch "and told fortunes to perfection."





"A landmark of exorcism," circa early 1900s Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection

I want to believe Korean children  members of the congregation  were also invited to this spooky fest and it is a shame that we do not have their impressions of this quaint tradition of chasing away malevolent spirits with scary masks and jack-o-lanterns.



Considering young Joseon boys made lanterns out of turnips and radishes in the late autumn, I imagine jack-o-lanterns would not have impressed the Korean children. I am, however, still surprised that many years ago I was visited one night by the local police who wanted an explanation as to why I had a jack-o-lantern in front of my door. Apparently my elderly neighbor  who had a tendency to wander around at night and benignly look into windows  was startled by my pitiful jack-o-lantern (it was a very small pumpkin) and reported it to the police; she believed it was a goblin.



I am not sure what Halloween games the missionary children played in Pyongyang but their Korean peers could have probably taught them a few.



According to Stewart Culin, a 19th-century expert on games, there was a game Korean children placed called "searching for the corpse." While the name may have sounded ominous and morbid, it was rather benign. The 'seeker' was blindfolded and then his peers would hide a small object  a stone or small trinket  under the mats, behind a piece of furniture or in a hole in the ground. Once the item was hidden, the seeker would then ask, "Did you bury it?" When he received an affirmative answer, he would begin to search for it.





"The general of the lower earth and his spouse," circa 1910 Robert Neff Collection

Young men are prone to heroic acts when alcohol is involved and it wasn't uncommon in the past, as in the present, for a teen to be coerced by peer pressure to prove his bravery. Muriel Morris, the daughter of a missionary living in Wonju in the early 1920s, recalled:



"Koreans were really afraid to come up to our yard at night because they figured it was haunted, having formerly been a cemetery. So one night a bunch of young blades were out on the town drinking and they dared this fellow to go up there and pound a stake in the ground to let the devils out. And he did. When he tried to leave, he could not move  something was gripping him. He fainted, he was so scared. The next morning when his friends went up to see what had happened to him, they found him there lying on the ground. He had pounded the stake right through his long coat."



It was in Wonju, many many years ago when I was a young soldier, that I heard my first tales of Korean ghosts. The tale that horrified me the most did not involve supernatural entities but pitiful mortals desperate for a cure. One day, my friend's grandmother gave me a small packet of powdered chili peppers and told me to keep it with me at all times. My friend explained patiently  he did not speak much English and I spoke very little Korean  that his grandmother thought I was a good-looking boy and she worried about me walking too close to the cornfields. In the past, people suffering from leprosy (Hansen's disease) sometimes were driven out of desperation to abduct small children and kill them so that they could eat their livers in the mistaken belief it would cure their disease. Corn fields were ideal locations for these acts. The powdered chili pepper was to be thrown into the eyes of my would-be killer.



In the past, cats had a rather dark role in Korean society. Cats were sometimes horribly killed in order to make health tonics. According to one folklorist, they could also be used to fight crime:



"A thief will become crippled if his footprint is stabbed with a knife. A criminal will die if a cat is boiled inside a cauldron. A criminal will become blind if the eye of a snail is pricked with a needle."



But cats were also feared  if a cat ran into the heating flues it meant that someone  presumably within the house, would soon die. Cats could even torment the dead. According to Edward Morse, who conducted interviews with Koreans while living in Japan in the 1880s:



"Among the Korean superstitions are a dislike to have a cat approach a dead person. If such an accident happens the corpse will stand upright and the body had to be knocked down with a broom."





The long path home, circa 1930s Robert Neff Collection


Croatia Airlines registered a net loss of 13.1 million euros during the first three quarters of the year, up from a loss of 6.5 million euros during the pre-pandemic 2019. However, its financial performance so far this year has notably improved on the 22.2-million-euro loss it generated in 2021. In the third quarter alone, traditionally its strongest, the airlines net profit amounted to 8.6 million euros. It marks the carriers first profitable quarter since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Croatia Airlines noted its financial performance was strongly affected by high fuel prices which negatively impacted its balance sheet by 23 million euros. Croatia Airlines registered a net loss of 13.1 million euros during the first three quarters of the year, up from a loss of 6.5 million euros during the pre-pandemic 2019. However, its financial performance so far this year has notably improved on the 22.2-million-euro loss it generated in 2021. In the third quarter alone, traditionally its strongest, the airlines net profit amounted to 8.6 million euros. It marks the carriers first profitable quarter since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Croatia Airlines noted its financial performance was strongly affected by high fuel prices which negatively impacted its balance sheet by 23 million euros.





Operationally, the carrier handled 1.087.997 passengers during the first three quarters, up 95.5% on the same period last year, but down 36.1% on 2019, or 613.574 fewer travellers. The carrier welcomed 263.896 customers on domestic flights and a further 783.635 passengers on international services. A total of 40.446 travellers were handled on charters, which made up 4% of total flight operations so far this year. The average cabin load factor on domestic services amounted to 56.5%, up 11.1 points on last year but down from 69% three years ago. On international flights, the average cabin occupancy stood at 61.7%, up 9.2 points on 2021 but still down 12.3 points on its pre-Covid figures.





Ticket sales during the first three quarters have improved two-fold on the same period last year. Existing booking for the coming six months, from November 2022 through to April 2023, show a significant recovery compared to the same period last year and has increased by 70%, but it is still lower by 30% on the November 2019 to April 2020 timeframe. The behaviour of those buying and booking tickets has changed significantly compared to the pre-pandemic years. During the crisis, dynamic late bookings have been prevalent, which has continued into 2022, Croatia Airlines said.






The 23 commercial airports in the former Yugoslavia handled a combined total of 21.001.155 passengers during the first three quarters of the year, with several already well ahead of their pre-Covid performance including Pristina, Sarajevo, Zadar, Banja Luka and Portoroz. Other airports, such as Nis are closing in on their pre-Covid results, with the airport just 8.000 travellers behind its 2019 performance. Portoroz continues to maintain its position as Slovenias second busiest airport, however, unlike its two other counterparts in the country, it is achieving record results. Banja Luka Airport has already achieved its busiest year on record, surpassing every annual end-of-year result by late July. The 23 commercial airports in the former Yugoslavia handled a combined total of 21.001.155 passengers during the first three quarters of the year, with several already well ahead of their pre-Covid performance including Pristina, Sarajevo, Zadar, Banja Luka and Portoroz. Other airports, such as Nis are closing in on their pre-Covid results, with the airport just 8.000 travellers behind its 2019 performance. Portoroz continues to maintain its position as Slovenias second busiest airport, however, unlike its two other counterparts in the country, it is achieving record results. Banja Luka Airport has already achieved its busiest year on record, surpassing every annual end-of-year result by late July.





Airport performance, January - September 2022





Skopje Airport has now reached 90.4% of its pre-Covid figures. The General Manager of airport operator TAV Macedonia, Metin Batak, said, We are satisfied with the recovery of air traffic at both Skopje and Ohrid airports this year. When European Union member countries, where more than 75% of the Macedonian air traffic is concentrated, gradually started to lift travel restrictions relating to Covid-19 for Macedonian passport holders, the increase in air traffic was immediate. An additional boost to the growth in passenger numbers was the strong increase in seasonal flights during the peak summer months at both Skopje and Ohrid airports.





European airport rank based on passenger traffic, January - September 2022





On other hand, passenger numbers at Tivat Airport are down 54.2% on its 2019 pre-pandemic traffic levels. As a result, it saw 667.882 fewer passengers on three years ago. The figure is also below last years result. The airport is dealing with the loss of several key markets as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Previously, Russia was Tivats biggest market, with both Ukraine and Belarus also contributing a sizeable number of passengers. Maribor, which has no commercial flights, is the former Yugoslavias least busiest airport. Although it was to see its first commercial services this summer with a series of flights from Bolzano, Naples and Pisa, operated by Sky Alps, all were cancelled due to low demand.





Market performance for January - September 2022 period vs. 2019




Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions enter here to gain access. If you are not a Current Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you!
Courtesy of Mika Baumeister



By David Tizzard




Apparel exports from Turkiye increased by 10.7 per cent year-on-year in January-September 2022, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the countrys ministry of trade. During the first nine months of the current year, Turkiye exported apparel worth $14.781 billion, compared to exports of $13.348 billion during the same period of 2021.

Category-wise, exports of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories (HS chapter 61) earned $8.329 billion in January-September 2022, registering a growth of 7 per cent over $7.782 billion earned during the same months of the previous year. Exports of non-knitted apparel and accessories (HS chapter 62) were valued at $6.452 billion, showing an increase of 14.781 per cent compared to $5.566 billion exports made in January-September 2021.

Meanwhile, Turkiyes imports of cotton, cotton yarn and cotton textiles (HS chapter 52) increased by a sharp 55.5 per cent to $3.969 billion over $2.553 billion in the first nine months of 2021.

Apparel exports from Turkiye increased by 10.7 per cent year-on-year in January-September 2022, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the country's ministry of trade. During the first nine months of the current year, Turkiye exported apparel worth $14.781 billion, compared to exports of $13.348 billion during the same period of 2021.

In September 2022, the latest month for which the data is released, Turkiyes exports of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories (HS chapter 61) was affected from recent trend of recession and slower demand. The exports decreased 1.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to $1.042 billion. On the other hand, the shipment of non-knitted apparel and accessories (HS chapter 62) noticed mild growth of 3.8 per cent in the same month.

Last year, Turkiyes total export of knitted and crocheted clothing and accessories (HS chapter 61) and non-knitted apparel and accessories (HS chapter 62) were valued at $18.294 billion.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Vietnam's textile and garment industry is investing in sustainable and eco-friendly technologies to be on the same page as several global companies. This has become a necessity for suppliers as the European Union (EU), a big market for Vietnamese businesses in this sector, has proposed new environmental requirements for imported textiles till 2050.

Danish-owned Specter's new green apparel factory in the An Giang province started operation on September 30, specialising in outdoor sportswear for export and will be partly powered by renewable energy.

The facility, which has received a Gold LEED certificate, uses solar energy and contemporary architecture to cut its annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 1,600 tonnes. This is Specter's third facility in Vietnam.

Vietnam's textile and garment industry is investing in sustainable and eco-friendly technologies to be on the same page as several global companies. This has become a necessity for suppliers as the European Union (EU), a big market for Vietnamese businesses in this sector, has proposed new environmental requirements for imported textiles till 2050.

Hanoi Textile and Garment JSC (Hanosimex) and South Korea's Hansae Group signed an agreement earlier this month for a project in Vietnam for recycled textiles for export.

Both will be the first in Vietnam's textile sector to develop a comprehensive distribution network from yarn to weaving, dying and sewing, entirely for recycled goods, Kyung Kim, senior vice president of Hansae Group, was quoted as saying by a Vietnamese media outlet. About 4,000 tonnes of recycled fabric for the EU market are expected to be manufactured.

The signing of a strategic collaboration agreement between Hanosimex and Hansae will assist both parties in increasing the volume and percentage of knitted goods of recycled origin and eco-friendly fashion items, said Le Tien Truong, chairman at Vinatex, the parent business of Hanosimex.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 28, 2022) - Radient Technologies Inc. (TSXV: RTI) ("Radient" or the "Company"), a commercial manufacturer of diverse, novel and high-quality cannabis extracts and packaged products, announces the appointment of Dr. Steven Splinter as interim CEO, Dimitris Tzanis as director, and announces that the Company intends to complete a promissory note financing.

Dr. Steven Splinter is appointed interim CEO of Radient effective October 28, 2022. Dr. Splinter is the founder of Radient and has worked with the Company for more than 20 years, most recently in the position of Chief Technology Officer. He has been a director of the Company since 2018. Dr. Splinter's appointment follows Harry Kaura stepping down as CEO and director of the Company to pursue other business interests. Mr. Kaura has notified the Radient Board of Directors that he will continue to offer guidance and support as needed.

Mr. Dimitris Tzanis is appointed to the Radient Board of Directors as independent, non-executive director. Mr. Tzanis previously served as a director of the Company from July 2016 until February 2020. Mr. Tzanis is the owner of a group of communication companies, based in Switzerland. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate communications, brand strategy, political communication and audio-visual productions and has served as a consultant to government departments, public organizations and private companies. Over the past 10 years, his interests have expanded to include venture capital and startup seed funding and film productions. Mr. Tzanis holds a MA in Film & Television from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Jocelyne Lafreniere, Interim Chair of the Radient Board of Directors commented, "On behalf of the Radient Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Steven as interim CEO, and welcome Dimitris back to the Radient Board of Directors. We are very pleased that they will contribute their skills and experience to the Radient leadership team. I would also like to thank Harry for his contribution and leadership during his tenure as CEO where he led the restructuring efforts of the Company."

Mr. Tzanis added, "Having served as a director in previous years, I am absolutely delighted to return and contribute to the Company's restructuring efforts."

Secured Promissory Note Financing

The Company intends to complete a secured promissory note financing (the "Financing") in one or more tranches for gross proceeds of up to $1,200,000. Notes issued in the Financing will mature on September 30, 2023. The outstanding principal amount of the notes as well as any accrued interest may be converted into common shares of the Company at the option of the holder at a price of $0.05. The notes will bear interest at a rate of 18% per annum.

Securities issued under the Financing are subject to a statutory four-month hold period from the date of their issuance. Closing of the Financing remains subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Financing for working capital and general corporate purposes.

About Radient

Radient Technologies is a commercial manufacturer of diverse, novel and high-quality cannabis extracts and packaged products. Radient develops specialty products and ingredients that contain a broad range of cannabinoid and terpene profiles while meeting the highest standards of quality and safety. Radient is focused on innovation with expertise in formulations and technologies offering unique solutions in the cannabis and wellness space. RadientInc.com

Contact Information:

Steven Splinter, Interim CEO & Director

ir@radientinc.com

Forward Looking Information:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's intention to complete a secured promissory note financing, the intended use of proceeds and closing conditions, and other matters related thereto. Generally, forward-looking information 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Radient, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; risks associated with operation in the cannabis sector; and other risks inherent in the cannabis industry. Although Radient has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Radient does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142357
Kin, a Chicago, IL-based direct-to-consumer home insurance company, closed a $145m committed credit facility.

The new facility was led by Runway Growth Capital and the Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P., joined by Aquarian Investments, Group 1001, funds managed by Hudson Structured Capital Management, and Skyline Capital. A total of $100m was funded at close. The remaining funds will be available to Kin in two tranches as the company reaches certain agreed-upon milestones.

The financing provides the company with additional capital to support the expansion of its Interinsurance Network, a reciprocal exchange.

Led by Sean Harper, CEO, Kin leverages proprietary technology to deliver digital homeowners insurance. The company offers homeowners, landlord, condo, and mobile home insurance through the Kin Interinsurance Network (KIN), a reciprocal exchange owned by its customers who share in the underwriting profit.

FinSMEs

29/10/2022
On May 8, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

Wang Yi said, against the backdrop of complex and profound changes in international and regional landscape, the constant spillover of the Ukraine crisis and the once-in-a-century pandemic, as ironclad friends and a community with a shared future that have withstood various tests, China and Cambodia should carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, coordinate positions in a timely manner, work together to meet challenges, and jointly safeguard the hard-won peace, stability and development in the region.

Wang Yi said, China firmly supports Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in leading the Cambodian People's Party to successfully advance various important political agendas and achieve long-term peace and stability in the country. China regards Cambodia as an important partner and priority in Belt and Road cooperation, and stands ready to work with Cambodia to advance key projects at a faster pace, make good use of China-Cambodia free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, so as to further enhance the scale and quality of bilateral trade and investment. China will continue to fully support Cambodia in fighting the pandemic, provide vaccine assistance according to Cambodia's needs, carry out vaccine filling and packaging cooperation, and enhance bilateral cooperation in people's well-being and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Wang Yi pointed out, this year kicks off the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). China firmly supports Cambodia's role as the rotating chair of ASEAN, and stands ready to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to update the action plan on implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership as soon as possible, explore ways to deepen cooperation in fields such as digital connectivity, green economy, blue economy, public health, and industrial and supply chains, and push for new important progress in China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and East Asian cooperation. China hopes that the consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea will maintain the positive momentum and reach a consensus as soon as possible. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to jointly uphold the right course of East Asian cooperation and safeguard the overall interests of relations between China and ASEAN.

Wang Yi said, China speaks highly of Cambodia's efforts to mediate the Myanmar issue since taking over the rotating chair of ASEAN, and supports Cambodia's adherence to the ASEAN way when it communicates with Myanmar to implement the "five-point consensus", and pushes all parties in Myanmar to properly settle their differences to restart the democratic transition process in Myanmar.

Wang Yi said, in today's world, peace is being impacted and development is getting into trouble. Facing various new global challenges, President Xi Jinping successively proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI). From the perspective of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he put forward a Chinese approach to establishing a global governance system with greater justice and equity, which has been widely supported and echoed by the international community, especially Asian countries. China is ready to work with ASEAN to promote the implementation of the two initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping in the region and safeguard regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.

Wang Yi said, the world today is confronted with a choice between solidarity and division, and between cooperation and confrontation. From next month, China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will successively host the BRICS Summit, the Leaders' Meetings on East Asian Cooperation, the G20 Summit, and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, ushering in an "Asian moment" for the global governance. The international community expects Asia to play a leading role in this regard. China is ready to work with Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand to jointly send a strong message from Asia about the commitment to promoting peace and development, release an active signal of upholding multilateralism, inject more stable expectations into the region and beyond, and contribute Asian strengths to addressing global challenges. Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand issued a joint press statement a few days ago, stressing that the international community should meet challenges in solidarity and develop in an open and inclusive manner. This conforms to the unanimous will of all countries in the world to oppose bloc confrontation and promote stability and prosperity together, demonstrates the clear will to resist external interference and safeguard strategic autonomy, and also shows firm confidence in promoting regional and multilateral cooperation. China holds the view that currently, the world should listen more to Asian voices, respect Asian positions and learn from Asian wisdom. China believes that as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Cambodia will play a unique and constructive role in this regard.

Wang Yi stressed, Asia is a place where China, Cambodia and other countries survive and thrive. The moves to introduce the Cold War mentality into the region and incite and create camp confrontation will undermine the peace and development that the region has enjoyed for many years. Asian countries should stay vigilant and reject such moves together. China is glad to see countries outside the region play an active and constructive role in the peace and development in the region, but China does not accept any actions that undermine peace, stability, solidarity and cooperation in the region.

Prak Sokhonn wishes successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in advance, thanks China for its great help in Cambodia's pandemic response and post-pandemic economic recovery, supports China in adopting the dynamic zero-COVID policy in line with its national conditions, and believes that China will be able to defeat the pandemic. Prak Sokhonn said, China's development path was blazed by the Chinese people with wisdom, determination and struggle, and China's peaceful rise is an irresistible historical trend, which is conducive to making new contributions to lasting peace and common development in the region. Cambodia supports the GDI and GSI put forward by President Xi Jinping, believes that the two initiatives can't be more relevant under the current circumstances, and stands ready to cooperate closely with China in this regard. Cambodia will stay committed to the one-China principle, support the "one country, two systems" policy, and firmly support China's legitimate position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang, among others. Cambodia is ready to work with China to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, which has been progressing well. Cambodia believes that the two countries will continuously make greater achievements in the two countries' ongoing efforts to build a community with a shared future. Cambodia advocates speeding up the implementation of the outcomes of the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and further enhancing the level of ASEAN-China relations. Cambodia hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with China to bring the situation in Myanmar back to the normal track at an early date. Today's world is very complex, and it is necessary to find the right way to address various challenges. ASEAN will properly cope with various challenges, maintain friendly and cooperative relations with dialogue partners, uphold ASEAN solidarity and centrality, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development.


By Scott Shepherd





Last month I wrote a piece for the Korea Times in which I argued that the New Jeans song "Cookie" contains strong sexual connotations and is therefore inappropriate for minors to be singing. When I sent it to my editor, I asked if she thought there would be any legal trouble considering the sensitive nature of the topic. She told me that she thought the article seemed fine but that she'd double check.







The disclaimer at the bottom of this article is true, by the way. There are no political or ideological hoops to jump through: I really just write my opinion. The Korea Times has never asked me to follow a particular line or argue in favor or against anything, and I've always had a good working relationship with my editors. From what I can tell, their changes are usually limited to amending various words from their British (i.e. correct) spellings to the Americanized (wrong) versions.







However, in this case the editors were worried. They didn't feel my article was in itself libelous, but ADOR, the company I had written about, had released several strong statements threatening legal action against critics, meaning that my article might lead to a lawsuit. And so, for the first time in the two years that I've been writing for them, the Korea Times asked me to change my article.







While I was waiting to hear back, I took the opportunity to find out a bit more about the laws regarding defamation in Korea. I found to my shock that Korean law treats defamation not just as a civil matter but as a criminal one. Worse still is that the truth alone is not seen as a sufficient defense. A person stating a verifiable fact still faces the threat of up to three years in prison  and if you publicly allege "false facts" (i.e. lies) you're looking at up to five years in prison, which goes up to seven whole years in prison if the "crime" is committed "by means of newspaper, magazine, radio, or other publication".







The one small mercy is that the law states that "the act shall not be punishable" if "the facts alleged [] are true and solely for the public interest".







I don't believe that my article in any of its forms constituted defamation at all, and I feel certain that my article was indeed written "solely for the public interest": I have no connections with any of the parties involved and I do believe any judge would agree. However, I'm no legal expert and it's impossible to predict the future. So if ADOR took offence at my article and things went really bad for me in court, at the very worst I might face seven years in prison. That's 2,556 days in prison. I repeat: seven years in prison  for defamation.







I can't imagine what terrible skeletons were in the closet of whoever decided on such draconian punishments back when it was first drafted, but it's high time this was rectified. Korea's defamation law clearly needs to be reformed.









A quick look at

shows how inconsistent the criminal law is: the maximum sentence for causing death by negligence is two years' imprisonment, and someone who compels a child to perform hard and dangerous labor faces a maximum of five years in prison. A journalist revealing these crimes would face a longer potential maximum sentence than the people committing the offences in the first place.







This is manifestly wrong. It's wrong in its own sake: it's against the principles of justice, fairness and a free society. And it has a terrible stifling effect on those who want to speak out; there are, alas, examples of people being accused of crimes who then use this law to attack their accusers. The rich and powerful will always benefit from this kind of repressive law simply because they can afford the financial costs involved. And even if whistle-blowers prosecuted through this law win their case, they have still had to go through the stress and financial burden of standing trial in a criminal court, all for the price of speaking out.







Of course, the wildly disproportionate punishments for defamation go a long way to explaining the editors' worries about my article. I care strongly about the topic, but I certainly don't want to receive a criminal record and put a complete end to my career  not to mention the minor point of languishing in prison for the best part of a decade.









So in my case, I felt I had three options: I could give up the topic entirely, I could edit my article and pray that I wouldn't get sued, or I could take the piece to another publisher. After a discussion with my wife, we decided it was worth the risk and that I should make some minor changes to the article so that it could be published. I didn't make any substantive changes and I certainly didn't change my position, but I did rephrase a few sentences and add a disclaimer. I sent it back to the Korea Times, and it was indeed

.







Ultimately, I think my changes were for the better and I should have made them without the newspaper's prompting. And I'm very glad to say that so far I haven't received any sinister legal letters in the post. Some might say, therefore, that the law did no harm: I still published my views freely and I've faced no negative consequences. In this case indeed, the worst the law did was push back the publication of an article by a week. But there are plenty of far more serious instances where the law impedes natural justice and damages the strength of Korea's democracy.









Frankly, Korea still lags behind when it comes to holding powerful people to account, demonstrated nicely by the recent hullaballoo

(in my view a clever piece which fully deserved its prize). To be fair to the current government though, it's only right to point out that both major parties have poor form when it comes to repression and surveillance of critics.







Of course, when a country has a very real military threat on its borders, as South Korea has, there is a strong argument to be made in favor of the government restricting some speech for the purposes of national security. Moreover, cases do exist where some limited restriction of speech seems fair: incitements to violence, for example, or false allegations leading to real harm.







But this criminal law performs no such useful function. Rather, it's an unpleasant reminder of Korea's fraught history when free speech was repressed, a throwback to the dark days before democratic reform came to this land. In the past decades, Korea has rapidly bloomed as a successful modern democracy, and it's time to shed these last anachronistic remnants of a bygone era of suppression and tyranny.











Dr. Scott Shepherd (scottshepherd@chongshin.ac.kr) is a British-American academic. He has taught in universities in the U.K. and Korea, and is currently an assistant professor of English at Chongshin University in Seoul. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
On October 19, 2022, Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on his assumption of office as Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.

Li Keqiang said in his congratulatory message that China and Kuwait have enjoyed a profound traditional friendship. Kuwait has been the first Arab state of the Gulf to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the 51 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Kuwait relations have maintained sound and steady development, with political mutual trust constantly consolidated and practical cooperation in various fields continuously advanced. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of China-Kuwait relations and stands ready to work with the Kuwaiti side to push for new progress in the China-Kuwait strategic partnership.
On September 29, 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.

Xi Jinping pointed out that 50 years ago today, the elder generation of leaders of China and Japan, with foresight and vision and firm grasp of the situation, made the major political decision to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Over the past 50 years, with the joint efforts of the two governments and peoples, the two sides have successively reached four political documents and a series of important common understandings, and steadily deepened exchanges and cooperation in various fields, bringing important benefits to the two countries and peoples, and contributing to peace and development in the region and beyond.

Xi Jinping underscored the importance he attaches to the development of China-Japan relations,noting that he would like to work with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations to steer the two sides toward building a China-Japan relationship that answers the call of the new era in line with the trends of the times.

Fumio Kishida said 50 years ago, with strategic perspectives and political courage, the elder generation of leaders of Japan and China opened up a new historical journey for Japan-China relations. Over the past 50 years, Japan and China have made remarkable progress in cooperation in a wide range of fields, including economy, culture and personnel exchanges. It is of great significance for the two sides to join hands to open up a new future for Japan-China relations. Japan is ready to work with China to build a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship in the next 50 years, and jointly promote peace and prosperity in the two countries, the region and the world at large.

On the same day, Premier Li Keqiang and Fumio Kishida exchanged congratulatory messages. Li Keqiang said China and Japan enjoy geographical proximity and cultural affinity, and are both important countries in the region and the international community. China is ready to work with Japan to maintain peaceful and friendly coexistence, safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, properly manage problems and disagreements, and promote sustained and sound progress of China-Japan relations with the 50th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations as a new starting point.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 28. AP-Yonhap



Russia said Friday that 300,000 reservists have been called up, with Moscow fighting to turn the tide after defeats in Ukraine have left the key southern city of Kherson in Kyiv's sights.



The announcement of the draft's completion came as Moscow's proxies said they had finished a pull-out of civilians from Kherson, which Ukrainian forces were pushing to recapture as winter closes in.



The city, which had a population of around 288,000 people before the fighting, was one of the first to fall to Moscow's troops in the early days of the February offensive and retaking it would mark a major milestone for Kyiv.



Faced with military losses, President Vladimir Putin announced a military call-up of reservists in September, seeking to mobilize 300,000 people amid fighting in Ukraine.



Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin on Friday in a televised meeting that the call-up  which saw Russian men dashing for the borders to avoid the fighting  had hit its target.



According to Shoigu, 82,000 recruits were already in Ukraine with 41,000 of them deployed to military units.



After making major gains in Ukraine's east and south, Kyiv's forces were preparing for a fierce battle to retake the main city in the southern Kherson region.



Kherson 'evacuation' complete



Since mid-October the occupation authorities have urged Kherson residents to cross to the left bank of the Dnipro River, deeper into Moscow-controlled territory and closer to regions of southern Russia.



By Friday, the movement of residents  which Kyiv has compared to Soviet-like "deportations"  was complete.



"The work to organize residents leaving to the left bank of the Dnipro (river) to safe regions of Russia is completed," Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed head of Crimea, a peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, said on social media late on Thursday.



"The crossing (of the Dnipro) is empty!" Aksyonov said after he visited the region with the Kremlin's domestic chief Sergei Kiriyenko.



He posted photos of himself and other officials, including Kiriyenko, on a riverbank.



A Russian-installed official in Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, has said that at least 70,000 people have left their homes in the region in the space of a week.





Recruits prepare their weapons as an instructor looks at them during military training at a firing range in Volgograd region, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 27. AP-Yonhap
About the Series

 Oct. 1  Checks mailed by hundreds of Galveston residents and businesses have disappeared, some of which have resurfaced after being altered and fraudulently negotiated.

 Oct. 7  Mail theft already had reached epidemic in 2020 when two top postal officials decided to defund the service's front-line police force, one national union president asserts. It has gotten far worse since.

 Oct. 14  Victims of check theft and fraud are a diverse group of people, but they have some things in common.

 Today  An investigation of the Bob Lyons Post Office in Galveston that would "leave no stone unturned" was underway, a federal lawmaker said.

 In the works  Many questions beg answers in the $1 million criminal industry preying on the U.S. Mail in Galveston. Among them are these:

 Can the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service be compelled to answer questions about these crimes?

 Several checks stolen after being entrusted to the U.S. Mail in Galveston were altered by someone with distinctive penmanship.

 Whos ultimately responsible for covering money stolen through postal check theft and fraud? Can banks write it off as a business loss?

 Do our elected leaders think some corrective action might be called for?

For this and more, follow the series Checks in the Mail, only at The Daily News.
Deputies have arrested a man accused of sexually abusing a minor in Linn County.

Arrested was Logan William Stutheit, 22, on suspicion of multiple sex crimes, including rape. His hometown is unknown.

Court documents allege Stutheit sexually abused a minor younger than 14 on July 26, 2021. He is accused of first-degree rape, second-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and providing liquor to a person under 21.

According to Oregons online court database, the state filed a secret indictment against Stutheit on Sept. 2. The indictment shows the victim and four other witnesses appeared before the Grand Jury.

Stutheit was scheduled to be arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Friday afternoon, Oct. 28.
German teacher Petra Schulte gives a German language lesson to Ukrainian women refugees in Berlin, Germany, on Oct. 21. AFP-Yonhap



In her previous life in southern Ukraine, Tetiana Chepeliova was an accountant.



In Berlin, she is unemployed, like the 16 other Ukrainian women with whom she is learning German in a course aimed at helping them integrate into society.



The 47-year-old is one of more than a million Ukrainians who have fled to Germany since Russia's invasion in February. Among the European Union countries, only Poland has welcomed more.



The influx has put huge pressure on local authorities with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently describing the situation as "tense".



But unlike in 2015, when huge protests stoked by the far-right erupted over the arrival of Syrians and Iraqis fleeing war, this time there have been few dissenting voices over the influx.



Instead, a key challenge is turning out to be the "major uncertainty" faced by the Ukrainians, said Benjamin Beckmann, who oversees integration programs at Germany's federal office for migration and refugees.



For many of them  mostly women and children  it remains an open question whether or not they will return to their homeland once the war is over, he added.



Qualifications not recognized



At a language school in a residential district of the German capital, Chepeliova is among a group of Ukrainians learning to navigate the German language.



When AFP visited, she was learning basic terms to express herself during a visit to the doctor.



The courses consist of three hours of classes a day, offered free to Ukrainians for nine months.



"They are extremely motivated," said teacher Petra Schulte.



But Schulte also senses the frustration of her class, which has just one male student. They include a mechanical engineer, a dentist, a doctor, nurses, and a piano teacher.



"They have worked for years... and suddenly, their qualifications are not recognized, and they cannot practice" their professions, the teacher said.



Chepeliova fled the southern city of Kherson after it fell to the Russians in March. Today, she sees her future in Germany: "It is the best place for me.



The country is super welcoming towards Ukrainians."



Her 12-year-old son found German school difficult at first but "after spending a weekend with his class, it is as if a wall fell  he was no longer frightened of speaking German".



Other women however want eventually to return to Ukraine, where they have left loved ones behind.



"None of them seem happy in the role of housewife," observed Schulte, 63.



She even questioned sometimes why she was teaching them when they might end up returning home, she admitted.



For now, while the Ukrainians weigh up their future in Europe's biggest economy, Schulte and others like her can only support them in their journey to adapt in Germany.

"The will to help has not weakened," she said.




SAN DIEGO, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Class: Robbins LLP reminds investors that a shareholder filed a class action on behalf of all purchasers of Compass Minerals International, Inc. (NYSE: CMP) common stock between October 31, 2017 and November 18, 2018, for violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



What Now: Similarly situated shareholders may be eligible to participate in the class action against Compass Minerals. Shareholders who want to be appointed lead plaintiff for the class must file their papers by December 20, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. For more information, click here .

All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses.

What is this Case About: Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) Misrepresented the Cost of Mining and the Company's Salt Production Levels

According to the complaint, Compass Minerals mines and produces essential minerals, including salt for winter roadway safety and other consumer, industrial, and agricultural uses, and specialty plant nutrition minerals that improve the quality and yield of crops. During the class period, Compass Minerals operated the largest underground rock salt mine in the world in Goderich, Ontario, Canada, which the Company routinely hailed as the crown jewel of its asset portfolio. Prior to the start of the class period, defendants announced that the Company was investing in upgrades to the mining system at Goderich, from drilling-and-blasting to continuous mining and continuous haulage (CMCH), primarily in an effort to reduce costs and improve profitability. At that time, the Company forecasted the project would cost $70-$80 million and, after it was fully implemented, would reduce the unit cost at Goderich by over 23%, saving the Company approximately $30 million annually beginning in 2018.

Defendants repeatedly assured investors that the CMCH upgrade at the Goderich mine was on track to materially reduce costs and boost the Companys operating results starting in 2018. However, defendants statements were misleading because they failed to tell investors that costs at the Goderich mine were increasing rather than decreasing. Defendants also misrepresented the amount of salt the Company was able to produce at Goderich using the new CMCH equipment, and failed to disclose how the known and ongoing production shortfalls it was experiencing were reasonably expected to reduce its future operating income.

On October 23, 2018, the Company pre-announced third quarter 2018 financial results that were significantly below expectations and lowered its outlook for the remainder of the year. Following this announcement, the price of Compass Minerals stock declined by more than 30% over the following two days. Then, before the market opened on November 19, 2018, the Company announced the abrupt termination of its CEO, Malecha. Following this announcement, the price of Compass Minerals stock declined by 8% over the following three days.

Contact us to learn more:

Aaron Dumas

(800) 350-6003

adumas@robbinsllp.com

Shareholder Information Form

About Robbins LLP: A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. To be notified if a class action against Compass Minerals International, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
President Biden, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, Thirteen States Issue Proclamations in Favor

-----

Heroes from Across America Presented Medals at Historic Times Square Event

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to formally designate October 28th National First Responders Day, dozens of police officers, firefighters, nurses, EMTs and other first responder professionals from across America joined the First Responders Childrens Foundation (FRCF) and SERVPRO at a Times Square ceremony and news conference Friday to help make official the national day of recognition.

President Joe Biden provided a proclamation in support of NFRD for the Times Square event, as did New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and the governors of 12 other states. Luminaries on hand included Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) Superintendent Edward Cetnar; Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Chief of Department John J. Hodgens; New York City Police Department (NYPD) Assistant Chief James McCarthy; U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Deputy Special Agent in Charge (NY office) Jimmy Arroyo; SERVPRO Chief Operating Officer John Sooker, and FRCF President and Chief Executive Officer Jillian Crane. A joint NYPD, FDNY, PAPD Color Guard helped kick off the event.

First responders put everything on the line for us day and night, and a national day of recognition for their sacrifices is long overdue, Ms. Crane said. During fires, hurricanes, floods, and other extreme events these heroes drop everything, including family time and obligations that the rest of us take for granted. First Responders Children's Foundation salutes each of these heroes, as well as their family members, and were optimistically hopeful that National First Responders Day will be officially recognized by the federal government and all 50 state governments by this time next year.

The House of Representatives in Washington has already declared October 28 National First Responders Day (NFRD), and its both hoped and expected that the U.S. Senate will soon follow suit. (NFRD would not be a bank or school holiday.)

Several first responders from around the country were awarded medals at the Times Square ceremony, which was hosted by FRCF and SERVPRO. The Roll Call of Heroes Presented by SERVPRO ceremony included awards for:

Detective Lieutenant Commander John Ryan, a 43-year veteran of the PAPD Special Operations Command who served as Day Tour Task Force Commander for the entire World Trade Center rescue and recovery operation;





Grand Traverse County, MI 911 Dispatcher Andrea Holczman who guided (via telephone) the roadside delivery of a baby;





Erin Coalliar RN BSN, a NICU nurse at Helen Devos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI who has transported countless neonatal medical patients to hospitals by air and by ground;





Anderson County, KY EMT Jimmy Robinson who saved a 14-year-old boy from drowning in a storm drain;





Los Angeles County Fire Department veteran Captain David Laub who flew to New York to help rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 attacks. Captain Laub also participated in rescue and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria;





DEA Special Agent Christian Garcia who targeted the most significant Drug Trafficking Organizations and drug traffickers responsible for distributing the deadliest drug facing Americas communities now, fentanyl and fentanyl pills;





NYPD Detective Erin Currie works in the Gun Violence Suppression Division and has been instrumental in taking guns off the street and is leading the charge concerning gang takedowns in Brooklyn.



President Bidens proclamation is available here . Proclamations from the governors of New York; Connecticut; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Mississippi; Nevada; Oregon; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Vermont, and West Virginia in support of National First Responders Day were also issued for the event.

This is the third annual National First Responders Day hosted by First Responders Childrens Foundation.





NOTE: Video of this event will be available by request.

ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION (FRCF)




Russia's army on Saturday accused the UK of being "involved" in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, alleging the same British military specialists helped Ukraine plan a drone attack on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet.







Russia did not provide any evidence, but considers the UK one of the countries most unfriendly to Moscow, with relations sinking to historic lows since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine.







"Representatives of this unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 that blew up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines," Russia's defense ministry said in a statement.







London dismissed the claims, with its defense ministry saying this "invented story says more about arguments going on inside the Russian government than it does about the West."







Russia has said Western countries have not allowed it to take part in international investigations of the explosions.







Instead, it has for weeks hinted that its security services have a different version of what caused the September explosions, while some Western countries have called it sabotage and pointed the finger at Russia. (AFP)






VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rubicon Organics Inc. (TSXV: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) (Rubicon Organics or the Company), a licensed producer focused on cultivating and selling organic certified, premium cannabis products, is pleased to announce that it will be reporting its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 (Q3 2022) on Monday, November 14, 2022.



The Company will be hosting a conference call to discuss Q3 2022 results on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Conference call details are as follows:

Time: 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET Conference ID: 31601852 Local dial-in: +1 (416) 764 8658 Toll Free N. America: +1 (888) 886 7786 Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/DVMOEMxgK9w

ABOUT RUBICON ORGANICS INC.

Rubicon Organics Inc. is the global brand leader in premium organic cannabis products. The Company is vertically integrated through its wholly owned subsidiary Rubicon Holdings Corp, a licensed producer. Rubicon Organics is focused on achieving industry leading profitability through its premium cannabis flower, product innovation and brand portfolio management, including its flagship super-premium brand Simply Bare Organic, its premium flower and hash brand 1964 Supply Co., its premium concentrate brand Lab Theory, and its mainstream brand Homestead Cannabis Supply.

The Company ensures the quality of its supply chain by cultivating, processing, branding and selling organic certified, sustainably produced, super-premium cannabis products from its state-of-the-art glass roofed facility located in Delta, BC, Canada.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Margaret Brodie

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: +1 (437) 929-1964

Email: ir@rubiconorganics.com

The TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding Rubicon Organics' goal of achieving industry leading profitability are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as will or variations of such word or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. The forward-looking information in this press release is based upon certain assumptions that management considers reasonable in the circumstances, including the effective date of the resignation and the ability attract and retain a new CEO. Risks and uncertainties associated with the forward looking information in this press release include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, local or other licenses and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals licenses and permits for construction at its facilities in a timely manner; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including bureaucratic delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; Rubicon Organics' limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with customers and suppliers; and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although Rubicon Organics has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those 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 forward-looking statements. Rubicon Organics assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Friday told Washington's top envoy to Beijing that China and U.S. would not be able to "change each other" and warned the U.S. not to attempt to contain the country's development.



In his first official meeting with Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Wang relayed Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for both countries to uphold what he called the basic principles of "mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation".



"China-U.S. relations are at a critical juncture," Wang said, according to the Chinese government's readout of the meeting between the two diplomats. "The international community, in general, expects to see stable development of this relationship."









"As two major countries, China and the U.S. will not be able to change each other," he added. "The U.S. should not attempt to communicate with China from a position of strength or to attempt in suppressing and containing China's development.







"As an ambassador to China, [we] hope that you can be a bridge in linking China and the U.S."







The Chinese statement cited Burns as saying that the U.S. was willing to "strengthen communication, manage disputes and push for cooperation with China".







The U.S. State Department did not immediately comment on the meeting.







Burns arrived in Beijing as ambassador in March this year to fill the position that had been vacant since October 2020, when Terry Branstad  the previous ambassador to China, appointed by former President Donald Trump  stepped down.







Burns arrived when U.S.-China tensions were boiling over owing to Beijing's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accusations by the U.S. government that the Chinese government had taken Russia's side in the conflict.







Bilateral ties have frayed further since Burns assumed his position, most notably because of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August, a move that prompted Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Feng to summon the U.S. envoy to accuse Washington of orchestrating "a deliberate provocation".







Beijing followed up on the incident with several days of unprecedented live-fire military drills that all but encircled Taiwan and, together with Pelosi's visit, appeared to interrupt work towards an in-person summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden.







In contrast to Wang's meeting with Burns, the Chinese official  who is expected to replace Yang Jiechi as Xi's top foreign policy aide  told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that Beijing would continue to support Moscow in the international arena as a major power.







Any attempt to block the advancement of China and Russia would never succeed, Wang told Lavrov during a phone call on Thursday, less than a week after the 20th Communist Party congress unveiled a new top Chinese leadership and gave a groundbreaking third term to Xi.







Readouts from Washington and Beijing after Biden and Xi held a virtual summit days before Pelosi's visit to Taipei said that they intended to establish a working group tasked with setting up the meeting. This led to expectations that the summit might take place during the two-day G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia in less than three weeks.







Neither side has confirmed plans for such a meeting. (SCMP)









Read the

at SCMP














EU agrees ban on new combustion-engine cars, vans by 2035

Xinhua) 13:48, October 29, 2022

BRUSSELS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU) reached a provisional agreement late on Thursday on a European Commission proposal to end the sale of new CO2-emitting cars and vans by 2035.

EU co-legislators also agreed to a 55 percent CO2 emission reduction target for new cars and 50 percent for new vans compared to 2021 levels by 2030. By 2035, the targets will go up to 100 percent for both categories.

This is the first agreement reached in the framework of the 'Fit for 55' package, the EU's plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

"Closing a first deal on a proposal from the 'Fit for 55' package is a strong signal that the EU is determined to make progress towards climate neutrality and the green transition," Anna Hubackova, the Czech Republic's minister of environment, said.

Cars and vans are responsible for 15 percent of CO2 emissions in the EU. Expected results from this measure include better air quality and better health for citizens.

The agreement also gives a boost to the design and manufacturing of such vehicles.

"This agreement will pave the way for the modern and competitive automotive industry in the EU," Czech Minister for Trade and Industry Jozef Sikela said. "The world is changing, and we must remain at the forefront of innovation. I believe we can take advantage of this technological transition."

The agreed timeline should enable Europe's carmakers to adjust, he said.

The EU's automotive industry is the world's second-largest after China and accounts for 7 percent of the bloc's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the European Commission.

The measure was first proposed by the Commission in July 2021.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Google has been doing quiet Chrome OS releases in the past couple of months but the latest version 107 seems to be a bigger deal than usual as it brings a couple of new features. More precisely, expands the currently available ones.

The biggest new addition is the ability to save Desks. You can "Save desk for later" from the Overview screen with just a click of a button. You can assign a name, see the creation date and have a quick glance at the icons.



New Desks features

Closing open desks from the Overview menu is now easier and a brief "Undo" prompt pops-up in case you closed the desk by accident and you want to revert. Google is reportedly testing a merge feature as well, so you can combine opened Desks into one.



New Desks features

The Recent view in the Files app gets a new design along with a "documents" filter. Additionally, the list below is arranged by date instead of just a plain old list. And lastly, there's now a pop-up list with accented characters once you hold down on the virtual or even the physical keyboard. If that doesn't work, you might have to enable the flag in Chrome.

chrome://flags/#enable-cros-diacritics-on-physical-keyboard-longpress

Source | Via
All Android devices that support 64-bit apps have also supported legacy 32-bit apps. In the Android Developers Blog, Google confirms that the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are the first Android phones to exclusively support 64-bit apps.

Google explains there are a few benefits to dropping support for 32-bit apps. Not only does it reduce RAM usage, but it also improves performance and security. Google expects that over time, devices without support for 32-bit apps will be increasingly common. Google made the move with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro because it believes the Android ecosystem is ready to make the transition.

Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 7

According to Google, this configuration is faster because 64-bit apps can access instruction and resources not available to 32-bit apps. It also claims that modern CPUs can provide up to 25% faster performance when 32-bit support is dropped. Plus, this configuration can free up 150MB of RAM  which is used whether 32-bit apps are running or not.

Developers are encouraged to begin testing apps and updates for 64-bit-only devices. There are developer tools already available for testing compatibility issues with the new configuration.

Google reminds us that 32-bit only devices will continue to serve Android Go, Android TV, and Android Wear and that 32-bit ABIs should continue to be supported.

Source
Timeline for One UI 5 rollout revealed: Galaxy S and Z models to get it by the end of the year
The Chinese smartphone market is the biggest one in the world and according to IDathe steady decline trend continues throughout Q3 this year. Total shipments fell 11% year-over-year with 71.3 million units sold. However, the premium segment sees a modest 1.9% increase for the same period, taking a 22.4% share.

The top five companies selling smartphones in the country are vivo, Honor, Oppo, Apple and Xiaomi. As you can see, Apple is the only non-Chinese company on the list. But despite vivo's impressive performance, the company's sales are down more than 20% year-over-year. Vivo's sub-brand iQOO is seen as one of the key factors for retaining the top spot.

Honor also sees a decrease of 9.1% compared to the same period last year, retaining 17.9% of the total market share. Oppo, on the other hand, has been hit the hardest. The company lost 27.9% of its sales compared to Q3 2021 but still maintains an edge over Apple with 11.6% total market share.

And as for Apple, it's actually the only company in the top five with a modest 2.5% improvement in sales, mainly thanks to its iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. After all, the premium segment is seeing increased interest. Last but not least, Xiaomi had a 9% market share in Q3 2022, losing 17.9% of its sales YoY.

Via (in Chinese)
The KFC restaurant general managers and management team recently met with Harvest House founder and Executive Director Bethany Taylor to present an $8,000 donation to Harvest House.
Several Guam residents turned over expired or unused medications on Saturday at five locations on island for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Hosted by the Drug Enforcement Agency, the event is meant to reduce crime and protect the health of the community. The goal is to remove and properly dispose of prescription pills that could be sold illegally or misused.

The national initiative takes place twice a year, in April and October, and is held in both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. On Guam, residents were able to turn over their medications at Agana Shopping Center, Andersen Air Force Bases main base exchange, the Dededo Senior Center, Guam Premier Outlets and Naval Base Guams Navy Exchange.

We dont want these prescription medications ending up where they shouldnt be. If people have stuff they dont need and dont know how to get rid of it well take it, said Kenneth Bowman, resident DEA agent-in-charge for Guam.

The agency does not take over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, Tylenol or vitamin pills, and wont accept used needles, syringes, vape pens or e-cigarette devices.

Guam fortunately does not have a large prescription medication abuse problem, he said, further adding that instances of illegal prescription pill and opioid use are rare.

Somebody may find something in grandmas or grandpas cabinet that they dont use and will go sell it if they think they can. Its really rare though, said Bowman.

There is no limit on the amount turned in, he said. Last October, they had an older man come in with about 30 years worth of unused prescription drugs in 10 boxes.

The drugs are properly disposed of off island in Hawaii until an incinerator on Guam is approved, said Bowman.

Extensions

He added that the Guam National Guard Counter Drug program is a partner agency that helps set up the takeback sites.

Members of the AmeriCorps team from the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority were in attendance at the Agana Shopping Center site to talk about medication safety and the dangers of opioid abuse.

The October takeback is during Red Ribbon Week, a national drug abuse prevention campaign, to honor the memory of murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena.
A number of unidentified billboards urging motorists to vote for the next attorney general has brought to light the Guam Election Commissions lack of authority to enforce political advertisement regulations, one of their mandates under the law.

Its also prompted questions about freedom of speech during election season.

Commissioners addressed a complaint filed against the signs, which have shot up around the island. They variously state, meth prices are cheaper than ever and burglars, thieves & robbers run rampant and urge voters to vote in the attorney general election and choose a safer Guam. Theres no identification or contact info listed on the signs.

Under Chapter 17 of Title 3 of the Guam Code annotated, any ads of a political nature must contain the address and name of the candidate, committee, person or party that paid for it.

Attorney General Leevin Camachos wife, Jennifer Camacho said she had written the commission about the issue several weeks ago. She said it wasnt clear whether the signs were directly aimed at her husband, the incumbent, but added We all have election rules to follow. So I think everyone needs to follow the rules. And were all required to be responsible for the signs.

She said the Department of Public Works had already taken down a number of them that were posted on public property, which was outlawed several years ago. But several remained standing on private property which I think is wrong, she said.

According to the Election Commissions legal counsel, attorney Vince Camacho, theres nothing the commission can do. They have no enforcement power, due to an oversight when the law was changed to ban campaign ads on public easements.

Campaigners used to have to pay the commission a deposit when posting signs on government property along the roadside. Before  a sign violation would prohibit that person from receiving the deposit for the sign permit, Vince Camacho told commissioners Monday, Thats no longer there because they know they dont pay a sign permit.

Under Guams political advertisement law, any purposefully misleading attack on a candidate is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, but penalties for other violations arent outlined in the books.

Besides the lack of enforcement, the signs were so ambiguous that it was unclear if they would even qualify as political advertising under the law, the commissions attorney said.

Its definitely not promoting a person. And its not saying vote for or against a certain issue. Its actually promoting a vote, to just go and vote, he said, and signs posted on private property are protected under the constitution.

Democrat representative and Election Commission chair Alice Taijeron requested that legal counsel look into the signage regulations on the books, and suggested that ad enforcement be added to the list of issues that the commission needs assistance from the Legislature on.

I think we ought to revisit a lot of these definitions in the books that have probably been here a long time, she said.

Other candidates not involved

Attorney Peter Santos, who is vying for the AGs office as a write-in candidate, told Pacific Daily News he had nothing to do with the signage. Nor did the Responsible Guam Political Action Committee that he launched earlier this year.

Former Attorney General Doug Moylan, who is seeking a return to his former office this year, said he hadnt paid for the signs and couldnt speculate on who had. It was not obvious that they were put up to benefit his candidacy, either, he said.

First Amendment

Moylan did chime in that he believed whoever was posting the signs had a right to do so.

If you want to take a sign and put, I dont like the current governor, or I dont like the current Senator X, and put it in the front of your house, what does the government have to do about regulating that?

He added that the banning of political signage on public property might well be a violation of the First Amendment, and he would seek a review of the ban if elected.

It goes to the essence of politics: freedom of speech. That political speech is the most protected, because it preserves democracy.
Solar panels in the CHamoru Village parking lot and two new conservation corps programs are in the works, according to Austin Shelton, director of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant program.

He announced this during the recent G3 Steering Committee meeting.

Shelton said Guam Green Growth will receive a $1.3 million grant from the Office of Insular Affairs Energizing Insular Areas Program.

With these funds, they plan to install solar panels at parking areas in CHamoru Village in Hagatna to offset power used by the G3 Makerspace, where artisans take waste items and turn them into new marketable products.

If we are using renewable energy, that truly creates a circular economy enterprise where we are not burning fossil fuels to do that important work, said Shelton.

The plan is to also include electric vehicle charging stations at CHamoru village and at the University of Guam.

Shelton also announced the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps new cohort will start in February or March 2023.

Participants receive workforce training to prepare for the emerging green economy and also participate in island beautification projects.

To further this goal, Shelton said partnership talks are being held with Kupu in Hawaii, which is one of the biggest conservation organizations in the Pacific region under AmeriCorps.

Members of the special Kupu corps in Guam would be placed with the National Park Service and Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry Division to assist with their work.

Another conservation corps program being planned is called the ArtCorps, funded by the Governors Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant.

The cohort would be made up of local artists to beautify public places.

We will be promoting the education of marine and environmental science and also the sustainable development goals throughout our different villages with new beautiful murals, said Shelton.
Family violence charges have been on the rise, and the Superior Court of Guam is applying for program funds to help officials determine the risk of people re-offending.

Family violence was the most common charge in Superior Court in the past two years, according to the latest data from the Superior Court.

In 2020 there were 329 cases, and in 2021 there were 445 cases.

The data coming through shows that family violence has consistently been one of the highest number of cases, said Superior Court Judge Maria Cenzon. She said the number of family violence cases is closely followed or sometimes surpassed by drug possession cases.

Two judges, Cenzon and Alberto Lamorena, split the docket to take on these cases.

Cenzon said many factors lead to family violence, but often other charges, such as drug possession, are involved in family violence cases.

The pandemic certainly didnt help in terms of socialization, stress levels, loss of income and staying in confined spaces for a long period of time, she said.

Cynthia Cabot, executive director of the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, said the rise in cases may not be because there is more abuse happening, but because more victims are reporting.

With the help of our partners and agencies we work with, more people are understanding the situation they may be in is not OK, that they may be in a domestic violence or sexual violence situation so they can report it or seek services, said Cabot.

Cenzon said a Family Violence Action Plan Committee is working on federal grant applications for programs to determine the risk and potential for rehabilitation of offenders.

Were continuing to try to find ways to solve these problems without adjudication, incarceration and then no response, said Cenzon.

While justice for the victim is needed, so are programs to assess if someone will commit the same crime again, she said.

One program the committee is interested in is the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment, which calculates how someone who has assaulted a partner ranks among similar perpetrators to determine the risk of it happening again. Money is needed to gather, process and store data.
Governor: Building a new hospital serves the best interests of all Guam's people
Letter: We choose medicine over missiles being placed at Eagles Field
Ancestral landowners of the Eagles Field area of Mangilao meet in a conference room at Adelup Oct. 18, 2022, to talk to the governor and administration officials about the site, which the governor plans to lease from the military to build a hospital and medical complex.




Haiti - Politic : Cap will not tolerate those who come to terrorize the population





Thursday the Town Hall of Cap-Haitien published a message to the citizens of the commune inviting them to denounce to the police the criminals, those who disturb public order, announcing that the Cap will not tolerate those who come to terrorize the population. It also calls for the protection of road workers.



"Citizens who live in the municipality of Cap. The municipal administration reminds you that security is not just a matter for the police. It is everyone's business. While the country is going through a bad time with all the political and social unrest, there are a lot of bad people who come among you and cause problems to you and your family.



Let's always be vigilant. Always report to the police all small groups of criminals that we see forming in our neighborhood. We must not tolerate people with illegal weapons among us. So that we can always live in peace in the commune, do not neglect even a second to report to the police and other authorities all the bad people we suspect in our neighborhood.



Also, in the difficult times we are experiencing, the administration asks for everyone's understanding. We continue to lobby for gasoline to continue cleaning the street. You, the citizen, must protect the workers, don't let people tell you to throw stones and bottles at the workers to prevent them from cleaning the street. You can always protest, it's your right, but allowing the work to continue to clean up the streets will be good for your health and that of everyone else in the community.



We will end by saying to continue to cooperate with the police to prevent groups of armed men from taking us hostage in our neighborhood. And sow mourning among us.



Cap likes to welcome everyone, but Cap will not tolerate those who come to terrorize the population, they are the ones who must be feared, we must not be afraid to silence them."



Police number in Cap:

3806-2222

2265-1111

4021-8763

3310-0033



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - France : The strengthening of the operational capacity of the PNH debated





Frantz Elbe, Director General ai of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), met this week with Michel Chanoux, First Counselor and Charge d'affaires of the Embassy of France in Haiti on the evolution of the security situation from the country. A meeting during which the question relating to the strengthening of the operational capacity of the National Police of Haiti was vigorously debated.



These discussions took place in the presence of members of the high command including the DCPA Joany Caneus, the DCPJ Frederic Leconte and the Director of Cabinet Jackson Hilaire.



Executives of the French Armed Forces including Colonel Gregory Charvieux, Defense Attache based in Martinique and Sergeant Chef Christian Souma of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces in the West Indies also took part in these exchanges.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : 2 bandits fell, a Kalashnikov seized





In an exchange of fire with the police, 2 individuals, including one named "Jonas", were fatally injured yesterday Friday, October 28, at Lilavois 47, not far from the Sesles crossroads, as part of a police operation in the stronghold of a gang specializing in kidnappings, armed robberies and rapes.



The police recovered a Kalashnikov which was in the hands of the men who had with them several other armed individuals who managed to flee when the police carried out this intervention.



According to information provided by law enforcement, this gang was involved in the kidnapping of 3 children in Lilavois 35 during the month of October. The thugs demanded 150,000 gourdes for one of the hostages who was only 9 years old and spent 6 days in their hands.



Jonas, who is an influential member of the gang, also participated in the rape of women and shopkeepers frequenting the Lilavois 47 area early in the morning.



The police are looking for the rest of this gang of criminals and are determined to arrest the bandits, who are terrorizing the population, in order to restore a climate of security in the country.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





The National Ambulance Center is running out of fuel

The National Ambulance Center (CAN) is operating at 35% of its capacity due to the shortage of fuel and social tensions, warned Didier Herold Louis, director of CAN. He announces a work stoppage this weekend if the center's reserves are not supplied.



96,000 people fled Port-au-Prince

96,000 people have fled Port-au-Prince in recent months due to the wave of gang violence, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.



Haiti at COP27

The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place from November 6 to 18, in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. This year again, Haiti will be present at this event to defend its interests. This press conference aims to inform the press on Haiti's participation in the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Main speakers:



- James Cadet, Minister of the Environment

- Gertie Pierre, Climate Change/MDE Director

- Raoul Vital, ONQEV/MDE Director



The FUSION calls for the reopening of classes

The Fusion of Social Democrats party is calling for the reopening of classes which should have taken place since October 3, stressing that more than 150,000 teachers are suffering from the blocking of school activities. The Fusion also points out that other sectors that depend on the functioning of the school are in a state of asphyxiation.



NOTICE : Cetoute Jesula must call the Consulate

The Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Paris, asks Mrs. Cetoute Jesula, to get in touch, urgently with the communication service. Phone 0614076199



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Playhouse hires business manager to co-lead with artistic director

Artistic Director Lisa K. Bryant and Managing Director Lex Green will so-lead the Flat Rock Playhouse.

FLAT ROCK  The Flat Rock Playhouse has named an experienced executive with extensive fundraising experience as managing director in charge of key business functions including finance, marketing, development, facilities and new strategic ventures, Joe Ippolito, president of the theater's Board of Trustees, announced Friday.

Robert Lex Green III, who started last week as the "newest Vagabond" on the Rock, will partner with Artistic Director Lisa K. Bryant to lead the Playhouse.

"Lisa will continue to bring her brilliance to all artistic and educational programming," Ippolito said, adding the board was thrilled to combine a "pre-eminent business leader in Lex with a highly accomplished artistic director in Lisa to further elevate every area of FRP and help ensure a healthy long-term future."

Green served most recently as president of Brevard-based Pisgah Health Foundation, where he developed a collaboration with Blue Zones, a national health advocate and launched the worlds 50th Blue Zones Project in Brevard. The project served more than 10,000 individuals in its first two years.

Prior to his service at Pisgah Health Foundation, Green was a Mission Health System regional Director of Philanthropy, spearheading successful multimillion-dollar campaigns. In his home state of Florida, he served as lead staff member for the North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce, recruiting new industry, film projects and tourism. A Certified Public Accountant, Green ran his own accounting firm before moving to Western North Carolina in 2013. In addition, he is a musician and has a lifelong love of the arts. Lex and his wife, Bonnie, live in Brevard and have three grown children, a daughter and two sons.

"As Lisa shared with the staff, Lex brings a huge open heart, a brilliant mind and a legacy of executive successes that he is eager to deploy on behalf of Flat Rock Playhouse," Ippolito said. "Lisa and Lex are already developing a great partnership. In fact, Ive never seen two managers bond so quickly. They will be a great team. They have the full support of the Flat Rock Playhouse Board."




As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content.

When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to.

After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS!

OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK

The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.


remaining of

Thank you for using HudsonValley360! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading.
Remittances and digital transactions continue to grow this year, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)signifying an opportunity for more streamlined financial processes and service providers.

According to the central bank, remittances from overseas Filipinos reached $3.24 billion from January to July 2022, a 2.3% increase from last year. The BSP also noted in the same period the combined value of transactions under PESONet and InstaPay at over P5.37 trillion, a 43% growth from 2021. While these could be attributed to the increase in the number of financial and remittance services, these also caused more problems specifically for businesses: the hassle of connecting with multiple networks and providers, as well as the inefficient and painstaking process to complete the integration.

Equipped with almost 25 years of expertise in the remittance industry, a well-established network through partnerships and over 3,500 physical locations across the country, PERA HUB is introducing its latest innovation as a solution: the Digital Remittance Platform or DRP.

PERA HUB DRP is the first aggregated, single Application Programming Interface (API) platform in Southeast Asia that allows different businesses to integrate and connect to a network of retail and over-the-counter partners, major Philippine banks, remittance companies, digital wallets, and even emerging fintech. The platform, regulated by the BSP, is powered by a modern and secure API developer portal that enables access to PERA HUBs network of financial services easily with an Open API standard.

When talking about APIs and dealing with partners who are Banks, EMIs, or other financial service providers, it is crucial that we always ensure the security of transactions, said Bryan Makasiar, PERA HUB Senior Assistant Vice President for Digital Business. As a company, we were able to establish that capability plus accessibility and convenience through our infrastructure and people, to get the nod from the BSP.

The DRP is best suited for financial services companies looking to increase their distribution channels quickly through PERA HUBs physical network and digital community partners, as well as companies with digital communities aiming to provide reliable and scalable financial services.

This innovation is the recent recipient of the Asian Business Reviews Asian Technology Excellence Awards. For its technological revolution and digital transformation, PERA HUB DRP was given the Philippines Technology Excellence Award for FintechRemittance.

Ian Ocampo, President and CEO of PERA HUB, described the award as a stepping stone towards further innovation and explained the rationale behind the companys establishment of the DRP.

Bryan Makasiar and Ian Ocampo of PERA HUB with the Philippines Technology Excellence Award for FintechRemittance

PERA HUB started in 1998 as a traditional brick and mortar remittance company and grew our network through partnerships with physical locations to expand our branch network. However, we recognized that we need to give our customers options on how they receive their money from their loved ones overseas and receiving it digitally is key to remain relevant in this business, Ocampo said.

PERA HUB saw the opportunity to leverage on our well-established partnerships to create a new platform that would enable businesses to connect to a network of remittance and other financial partners in one go. It opens an opportunity for them to easily integrate and expand their network to new customers by only connecting to one platform, he added.

After over two decades, PERA HUB continues to improve its services for Filipinos, delivering exceptional convenience and choice while making money matters convenient. Aside from Western Union, PERA HUB DRP has also been fully integrated into other remittance providers such as Remitly, Uniteller, Japan Remit, Instant Cash, and Sendah Remit. It will be utilized as well in digital banking apps and fintech solutions like UnionBank, DiskarTech, and AllEasy. For more details, visit perahubdrp.com and like Pera Hub on Facebook for updates.
As it ended Saturday, the first-ever India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral (IMT TRILAT) maritime exercise began a new chapter in the Indian Navys growing efforts to enhance the security of the east coast of southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Region as a whole.

Guided missile stealth frigate INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and the personnel from the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS)  Indias only Special Forces trained and equipped for conduct of special operations in maritime environment  took part in the three-day joint exercise between the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzanian navies which commenced at Tanzanias largest city Dar Es Salaam on October 27.

While the harbour phase witnessed capability-building activities such as small arms training; joint diving operations; damage control and fire fighting exercises besides cross-deck visits, the sea phase included boat operations, fleet manoeuvres, visit, board, search and seizure operations, helicopter operations, small arms firing, formation anchoring and EEZ patrols.

The exercise, stated the Indian Navy, had three broad objectives: capability development to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening maritime cooperation.

These exercises reflect Indias and the Indian Navys commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR  Safety and Growth for All in the Region, it said in a statement.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com earlier, the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash has been building new partnerships and strengthening old ones on its long-range overseas deployment.

Marking a new level of strategic convergence, it has visited Djibouti on the Horn of Africa followed by Maritime Partnership Exercises with the Sudanese Navy and the Royal Moroccan naval ships off Casablanca port.

It also participated in the first joint operational deployment by India and Nigeria in support of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) and in IBSAMAR with Brazilian and South African navies off the coast of South Africas Port Grequhrea, also known as Port Elizabeth.

The exercises not only strengthen bilateral naval ties but also further the Indian Navys operational philosophy of Mission Based Deployments under which ships are regularly deployed in maritime areas of interest to India to ensure that the national interests are protected.

As it assumes the Presidency of the G20 for one year starting in December, India has made it clear that it will always remain an all-weather friend of Africa and that developing long-standing people-to-people links with the African countries will be its top priority.

While Mozambique enjoys a privileged geographical location with its 2500km long coast bordering on the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is a natural and effective transportation gateway into Eastern, Southern and Central Africa with its three deepwater ports in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara that service six landlocked neighbouring countries of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.

In July 2019, Mozambique was the first country Rajnath Singh visited after taking over as the countrys Defence Minister. It was also the first-ever visit of an Indian Defence Minister to the African country.

As Mozambique sought cooperation from India in dealing with the growing menace of terrorism and radicalisation, Singh had assured New Delhis full support to Maputo.

He also handed over two India-made Fast Interceptor Boats (FIBs) to the Mozambican Navy for coastal surveillance.

Strengthening the ongoing Indo-Mozambican defence cooperation, Singh held talks with Mozambique Defence Minister Cristovao Artur Chume on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, last week.

Similarly, this August, Singh held bilateral talks with Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax in New Delhi as the two ministers reviewed the existing military-to-military activities and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in all domains with a focus on defence industry cooperation.

Tax had also visited the Wargaming Development Centre (WARDEC); the Information Fusion Centre  Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and held meetings with the Indian defence industries in Hyderabad.

Also Read: India offers defence hardware to African countries to counter Islamic State
Dozens of British Hindu organisations are protesting against the BBC for what they call the international broadcasters anti-Hindu and anti-India bias running nonstop for many years. The protest will take place at 11 am UK time today in front of the BBC headquarters in London against Hinduphobia and Indiaphobia.

It is similar to the one organised by the British Hindus against The Guardian newspaper in September, where the community said the newspapers coverage of Leicester was based on biased and fake news.

The protesters will also hand over a memorandum to the BBC Director-General Tim Davie. They allege that the BBC has an inherent anti-Hindu bias in its coverage which has become worse over the last 18 years.

In an extraordinarily strong condemnation of the BBC, a statement by the organisers said: The BBCs coverage of the violent attacks on Leicester Hindus by Islamists was the worst reporting seen so far and has contributed to the concealment of an attempt to ethnically cleanse Leicester of Hindus.

The groups say they are determined to protest till the BBC cease its unrelenting vilification and dehumanisation of Hindus globally and of licence-fee paying British Hindus especially.

Some of the organisers of the BBC Protest include well-known people like Dr Vivek Kaul, Dr Sneh S Kathuria, Pt Satish K Sharma, Nitin Mehta MBE and Darshan Singh Nagi.

Citing biased coverage by the BBC, the organisers point out Alasdair Pinkertons research for the 2008 edition of the peer-reviewed Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, saying, Alasdair Pinkerton analysed the coverage of India by the BBC from Indias 1947 independence from British rule to 2008. Pinkerton observed a tumultuous history involving allegations of anti-India bias in the BBCs reportage, particularly during the Cold War, and concluded that the BBCs coverage of South Asian geopolitics and economics showed a pervasive and hostile anti-India bias because of the BBCS alleged imperialist and neo-colonialist stance.

Mentioning an article, Beaten and humiliated by Hindu mobs for being a Muslim in India, The organisers said the headline is designed to create conflict and disorder. It is irresponsible identitarian divide and run cheap, gutter journalism. It is self-evident that reports of this nature cause further inter-communal tension and stigmatise Hindus.

The organisers said the BBC is routinely producing hateful content, adding, When a lie is repeated again and again, it gains credibility. A country which has given shelter to persecuted Parsis, Jews, Tibetans, Bahais and many more has been stigmatised as intolerant!

Pointing out to the BBCs limited vocabulary used to describes Hindus, they said that its reporting only contains the terms, Fear, Hate, Violence, Hindu Muslim, Kashmir, Cow, Mob and Protest to describe India.

The organisers also claimed that increasing numbers of licence fee-paying British citizens and even the British Government feel the BBC is habitually peddling fake narratives on India and Hindus. Your biased reporting on the worlds largest democracy and one of the biggest economies of the world is clearly against the national interests of India & the United Kingdom

Anger against British media houses was ignited by the sporadic but continuing violence from August till September which targeted Hindus shops, homes, temples and cars. Fake information from social media was published by The Guardians and the BBCs reporters without cross-verifying turning the Hindus into aggressors.

In a big shock for the British government, the violence in Leicester also injured dozens of police officers, making Home Secretary Suella Braverman rush to the city. Even the newly-anointed King Charles III inquired about the serious unrest in the city.

Investigations found that Muslim youth were found to be terrorising Hindu families into leaving Leicester in a replay of the ethnic cleansing of the Hindus and Sikhs in Kashmir. The Muslim youth reportedly carried out Muslim Patrols in front of Hindu homes and posted such photographs on social media.

The under-pressure police later debunked most of the fake messages posted by Muslims groups against Leicesters Hindus. It also found that Muslim youth came from outside Leicester to fan the violence.

Also Read: British Hindus set to take on BBC over Hinduphobic coverage of Leicester violence
After Dahmer and Indian Predator Seasons 1 and 2, it appears that the streaming platform has decided to enjoy the genre of crime drama that is based on true events.

Indian Predator Season 3/Screengrab

It's safe to assume that the crime genre has brought in a lot of viewers for the OTT giant, whether it be with shows like the Delhi Crime series which was based on a real incident on the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, commonly known as the Nirbhaya case, involved a rape and fatal assault that occurred on 16 December 2012 in Munirka, a neighbourhood in South West Delhi, or The Case, which is based on a study abroad trip in Perugia, Italy, where Amanda Knox, an American college student, was charged with brutally killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Prior to being cleared in 2015 by Italy's top court, Knox gained notoriety in the media and spent over four years in an Italian prison. Knox finally has a chance to speak out in her own words thanks to this insightful documentary.

"Murder in the Courtroom," the third instalment of the Indian Predator documentary series, was released after two successful seasons. Like the preceding instalments, the documentary is directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni and is based on a genuine story.



Screengrab

The true-crime show is about a group of women who lynched Akku Yadav in the middle of a packed courtroom while claiming to be his victims. What was the true motivation behind this murder? Who was the real murderer, the women or Akku?



Here's Why It Is Worth Your Time

Quick Review

Every iteration of Indian Predator is an improvement. As the thrill factor in criminal drama is increased by the real factor, true happenings have added charm for the viewers. Despite the fact that the past seasons are also based on genuine stories, this instalment is the best one so far.

It tells the true story of the lynching of criminal Akku Yadav by a crowd of hundreds inside a courthouse in the third season.

The show begins with a courtroom scene in which about 50-200 ladies attack Akku Yadav and continue to stab him in their wrath till every body part is dismantled. All the women abruptly vanish from the court after this terrible murder. Even the police officers are left in the dark there. The police quickly learn from their inquiry that they were all Kasturba Nagar-based Dalit women. Five women are then taken into custody by the police. As a result, the other women make it to the police station and assist in freeing those 5 women.



Screengrab

Interviews with Yadav's family lawyer, friends, journalists, and the man chained to Yadav as he was being killed with a hacksaw are also included. Women speak out the loudest, many of whom Akku is accused of harassing and raping. The women of Kasturba Nagar are gloriously unrestrained and feisty in this undoubtedly documentary gem.



After the women were freed, each household prepared meat to commemorate Akku Yadav's passing. However, you might wonder why the women were so enraged. Well, for the unversed, the women of Kasturba Nagar gave the rapist Akku Yadav the code name "Madam," and whenever someone saw him, they would use it to warn the women so that they wouldn't become his preyhis youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl. He was charged with murder, extortion, and assault in addition to rape. He turned himself into the police just days before his horrifying death, claiming that his life was in danger.



Kasturba Nagar Women Turned Into Kali Maa?

Screengrab

We refer to the women of Kasturba Nagar as Kali Maa purely because the goddess and the Divine Mother is the Hindu goddess of time, creation, preservation, and destruction. It wouldn't be incorrect to state that women can transform from "Durga" to "Kali Maa." She is the most merciful goddess of them all, despite how terrifying she may seem. God, as the saying goes, helps those who assist themselves, and this instalment provides an illustration of that.



In order to find a different story, Murder in a Courtroom is more inquisitive and meticulous than its predecessors. However, the subject's inherent characteristicsgruesome, sensational, unprecedented, with undertones of class, caste, and the honour of womenpush viewers in a particular path.

Poster

The interviews with victims and those suspected of killing Akku, together with theatrical recreations of real-life incidents. The show succeeds at keeping viewers interested. This is true even though the filmmakers make no attempt to exploit the subject by using graphic violence. While being limited, the recreations nonetheless manage to add just the perfect amount of drama and suspense.



It Is Based On Real-Story

Indiatimes

Who Is Akku Yadav?

An Indian gangster, robber, house invader, kidnapper, serial rapist, extortionist, and serial killer by the name of Bharat Kalicharan popularly known as Akku Yadav. Yadav was raised in the Kasturba Nagar slum, which is located outside of Nagpur, Maharashtra, the nation's capital.

Patrika

Police records claim that in addition to minor offenders, two competing gangs were also housed in the slum. Akku, a native of the area, had grown from being the milkman's kid to a neighbourhood danger. Vigilantism in Nagpur, according to Swati Mehta's true crime book Killing Justice: Vigilantism in Nagpur.



In accordance with Mehta's book, Yadav's first recorded offence was a 1991 gang rape. There is a rumour among slum dwellers that Yadav may have sexually attacked a lady in almost every other home in light of the more than three killings and 40 rapes. While extortion was the main source of cash for the Yadav group, they also frequently used kidnapping and finally rape to threaten or quiet their victims.



(Also Read: VC Abhilash's 'Sabash Chandra Bose' Is Nostalgic & A Heist Comedy Unlike Any Other)

His crimes, however, lacked any pattern and instead had a casteist undercurrent because of many of his Dalit victims.

What transpired inside the courtroom?

Akku Yadav's Gruesome Death

An uprising broke out in the slum, and furious residents armed themselves with stones and sticks to start hitting Yadav's accomplices whenever they had the chance. Eventually, the criminals fled the ghetto and abandoned their leader.



Screengrab

On August 8, a mob even made an attempt to harm him as he was being escorted to the nearby district court. Yadav lived, but five days later he was scheduled to die. But on August 13, when there was a bail hearing, a large group of women attacked him with knives and stones before lynching him. He received a chilli pepper spray before having his penis amputated. Even though some of the women were imprisoned, all of them admitted culpability to the crime and were ultimately declared not guilty. Hundreds of women were part of the lynching, but the State CID gave a different narrative of what happened. Senior police sources indicate that four men carried out the lynching and that the women who took responsibility for it were merely shielding them. None of the women agreed with the police's version of events.



Watch Indian Predator: Murder In The Courtroom On Netflix

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)
Twitter Inc's top executives, Parag Agrawal, Ned Segal, and Vijaya Gadde, were believed to be sacked after Elon Musk formally took over the social media business with a $44 billion transaction following a lengthy legal battle and months of uncertainty.

Parag Agrawal, Ned Segal, and Vijaya Gadde were among the top Twitter executives let go when Elon Musk took over the company.

According to sources, when the agreement with Elon Musk was completed, CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal were "escorted out" of the social media company's San Francisco offices, albeit not with empty pockets.

The three senior executives of Twitter Inc who were allegedly fired after Elon Musk concluded his takeover are set to get more than $100 million in severance and payouts of previously given equity rewards.

inc42

Reuters quoted sources saying, "Parag Agrawal and Ned Segal were in Twitter's San Francisco headquarters when the deal closed and was escorted out."



The New York Times reported that "at least one of the executives who was fired was escorted out of Twitters office."

According to Bloomberg News calculations, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal is eligible to receive around $50 million, or Rs 412 crore. Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde might each get 305 crores and 140 crores, respectively.

Reuters

Their departures conclude more than six months of public and legal struggle, culminating with Elon Musk, the world's richest person, claiming the Ceo role.



According to the terms of the company's severance policy, like many top leaders at big public companies, Parag Agrawal and his lieutenants were entitled to severance equal to a years salary and cash-outs of unvested equity awards if Twitter was bought and they lost their jobs in the process.

Reuters

A report said that Twitter must also cover their health insurance premiums for a year, amounting to about $31,000 each.



While Ned Segal has announced his departure from the company, Parag Agrawal is yet to comment. Elon Musk tweeted late Thursday, "the bird is freed," a reference to Twitter's emblem, indicating the completion of his acquisition.

Earlier this week, he marched into Twitter's San Francisco offices with a porcelain sink, changed his Twitter profile to "Chief Twit," and posted, "Entering Twitter HQ - let it sink in!"

(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)


Vocational skills competition held in NE China's Liaoning

Xinhua) 13:59, October 29, 2022

A contestant participates in the contest of tea art during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Contestants participate in the contest of hairdressing during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Contestants participate in the contest of benchwork during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of electrical installation during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of sugar art or bakery during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

Contestants participate in the contest of benchwork during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of benchwork during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of flower arrangement during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of artificial intelligence training during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of wall tiling during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

A contestant participates in the contest of industrial robot system maintenance during the 1st Vocational Skills Competition of Liaoning Province in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 27, 2022.

The competition kicked off in Shenyang on Thursday, with more than 1,600 contestants competing in flower arrangement, hairdressing, industrial internet engineering technology, unmanned aerial vehicle installation and maintenance, benchwork, furniture making, wall tiling and other contests. (Xinhua/Yang Qing)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Lets talk about talk. Last Tuesday in the Dail, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald opened Leaders Questions with a query about housing Ukrainians fleeing Putins war. By accident or design she conflated their plight with that of those in this country who are at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

Not content with denying our own people the right to an affordable, secure roof over their heads, the government now extends its catastrophic failure to those coming to Ireland seeking humanitarian assistance, she stated.

In replying, Taoiseach Micheal Martin picked up on the phrase our own people. I know what that was targeted at, he said. I know why that phrase was used ... she is playing both sides in this debate and I regret that she is.

The response was met with cries of righteous indignation from Ms McDonalds colleagues, as might be expected. But was Mr Martin being unfair?

Our own people is a phrase that in the current context has taken on a toxic potency. There is a major issue right now in housing thousands of people fleeing Putins war, along with those fleeing all forms of conflict and pestilence from the developing world. We are literally running out of beds. Some who have arrived in recent weeks have spent their first nights in an expectant sanctuary actually sleeping on the streets.

Changing narrative

In such an environment, the narrative among the public at large is going through a change. In an Irish Times/IPSOS poll published yesterday, 61% of respondents felt there were too many refugees coming here. Compassion fatigue has set in as it was always bound to do. Efforts to expand accommodation by, for instance, erecting modular homes, are being met with resistance. Why, some are asking, cant we sort out our own people first? Why, others whisper, are we going to all this trouble when our own people are homeless?

Heres Danny Healy-Rae in the Dail this week. I am calling for a frank and open debate on the impact and effect the very significant number of refugees and asylum seekers coming into this country is having on our services, be it doctors, social welfare offices, hospitals, education. Our own people cannot get in to social walfare offices.

On Morning Ireland on Wednesday, local councillor in Claremorris, Co Mayo, Richard Finn, was asked about plans to build 28 modular homes in the town in response to the emergency. Cllr Finn said there were plans for 80 luxury apartments on the same site. I wouldnt want to be looking out on modular homes, he said of any prospective buyer. I regard it (the siting of the modular homes) as Putinism. We talk about Putin imposing his will on Ukrainian people. I find it no different than going around the country and doing this.

He was asked what would happen if the plans went ahead. If its taken further people will take action, he said. The upset that Cllr Finn is conveying is understandable, but spoiling the view for new homes must be put in the context of the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since the 1940s.

The radio reporter did a voxpop in downtown Claremorris about the unfolding situation. A lot of people in this town are looking for flats, one man said. We need to look after our own.

Over in Ballina municipal council, Fine Gael councillor John OHara called on hotels to make some beds available for non-refugees who might like a night out. Say if youve to go to a place and youve to go four miles out the road to get accommodation and get a taxi, and you mightnt even get a taxi, why would you go to it? he said. The Ukrainians are grand, he added. They are welcome and they are very unfortunate but theres nothing left here.

Nothing left here? Has Putin been pummelling Ballina with his missiles?

Similar tones were struck at Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parliamentary party meetings during the week. Politicians are reflecting on what they are picking up. The mood is changing and in such a milieu leadership is at a premium. If there is a choice it is to either attempt to continue to fulfil our humanitarian and EU obligations or to cut loose and declare weve enough of providing for those fleeing wars because the country is straining under pressure and the welcome is now impinging on our quality of life. For anybody leading or aspiring to lead the country, that is no choice at all.

Loose language

Against such a background, Ms McDonald referencing our own people should be viewed. She was reading from a script so it wasnt off the cuff. Earlier this year she had to defend Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLoughlainn for using the same phrase in a similar context. She has also had to defend Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan for sending a letter warning of a risk of conflict between Ukrainian refugees and locals if the community did not receive support. So Ms McDonald is aware of the dangers of loose language and sending out signals that can be misinterpreted at such a sensitive time.

Thats the problem with leadership.

Now and again, it requires that negative public sentiment is not surfed but instead addressed calmly for the greater good, even at the cost of short-term popularity.

The leadership qualities of Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar can justly be criticised in many aspects of their respective stewardship, but not on this. Mr Martin has been resolute and clear about our obligations. Mr Varadkar addressed the concerns of his TDs on Wednesday by saying Ireland had to be on the right side of history when the Ukrainian plight is studied in years to come.

Ms McDonald should take note. One, but by no means the only, element of her partys ascent in the last three years can be ascribed to a willingness to surf every wave of discontent, promising that there is always an easier way. Thats grand for the bread-and-butter stuff of politics. In this instance, it can be dangerous. If the leader sends out the wrong signals, then in the current environment its a free-for-all for everybody else in a party.

Was Mr Martin unfair in characterising Ms McDonalds comments last Tuesday as a dog whistle of sorts? Maybe shes entitled to the benefit of the doubt on this occasion. But she would do well to take a lot more care with her responsibilities, particularly if she aspires to lead the country in the near future.
In Leinster House, at the bottom of the main grand steps that lead to the entrance to the Dail chamber are a set of couches.

Situated in the heart of the historic house, these couches are a favourite spot for this and other political correspondents to entrap a TD or minister of choice for a comment or a chat.

Given their central location, when we loiter with intent, it is hard to avoid us.

On Wednesday evening, a senior minister found himself ensnared as he was walking by a small gaggle of hacks.

The topic of choice was Ukraine and just how did the State find itself turning away up to 80 refugees due to a lack of beds.

The minister in question was clear. This is not a money problem.

Money will not be the problem into the New Year when another 10,000-15,000 will be here.

The problem he said bluntly, is the potential disruption to life up and down the country in the coming months.

The threat to social cohesion as he called it will be the greatest challenge.

What has surfaced in recent weeks is an increased question mark about Irelands ability and capacity to honour its pledge to house those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

And more alarming is the reaction in some quarters to people who have dared to ask legitimate questions about our readiness to cope.

Very few of us would argue with the intent of doing all we can to play our part in hosting those fleeing a war, but such an influx of people under any circumstances in such a short space of time will always present difficulties.

TDs, and particularly those in rural constituencies are increasingly warning of rising tensions in their area as the presence of migrants is leading to some resentment building, they say.

They have argued that with hotels full of refugees, the normal tourism trade which has sustained towns all over Ireland is absent.

Restaurants and bars are empty. Shops are down in terms of trade. People are getting angry, we are told.

We know that Mayo TD Michael Ring gave voice to his concerns at a recent Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting and he is not alone in his views.

At Fianna Fails parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, a number of TDs expressed their concern about the capacity of the country to cope.

Clare TD Cathal Crowe said some counties, particularly in the mid-west have reached capacity in terms of education places and healthcare services.

I think it is appropriate to say we have reached capacity in terms of education and healthcare in some counties. We need to be honest, we have exceeded capacity in the mid-west, he told the meeting.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin agreed that some areas are nearing their limits but said Ireland must stand ready to help.

Kilkenny TD John McGuinness also spoke up saying ministers need to be alert to those rising tensions and warned colleagues: You would be wrong to ignore what people are saying to us, you give houses for Ukraine but I am on the housing list. I dont want to feed into this narrative but we have to be very, very careful. The narrative McGuinness was talking about was an anti-migrant one and one which others present at the meeting said would lead to a rise in support for racist hard-right groups.

John Lahart, the Dublin South West TD, warned that such talk of division would be seized upon by the Russian ambassador and exploited in a bid to weaken Western support for Ukraines defence.

We also know such fears about the impact of the arrival of almost 60,000 refugees are even being discussed at the top levels of Government.

Concern is growing within Cabinet that the policy of housing tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees in hotels will impact tourism and the hospitality sector early next year.

Housing crisis

As the Government struggles to accommodate the thousands of Ukrainians forced to flee the war, two senior Cabinet sources confirmed to my colleague Ciara Phelan that discussions have taken place about the impact on pubs and restaurants, particularly in tourist hotspots, in the spring and summer of next year unless other suitable accommodation is found.

The matter has been raised at the Cabinet sub-committee on Ukraine, attended by senior ministers.

But as laudable as our efforts to date have been, it is clear the approach being taken by Government is cracking and there are legitimate questions being asked about Minister Roderic OGormans capacity to handle the scenario.

His less-than-convincing performance on Primetime on Tuesday night illustrated clearly he is allowing the situation run away from him and needs assistance.

The wisdom of having his department take the lead on this situation is proving not to be very wise and calls for a more centralised approach are merited.

But in classic government style, there is a considerable reluctance of other departments to weigh in at a time of crisis and as senior Government figures revealed to me, there is a lot of passing the buck by departments who prefer to remain siloed away and not get their hands dirty.

OGormans admission that hotels will have to be part of the medium to long-term solution of housing refugees will bring a degree of alarm as they are not and were never suitable for long-term stays, especially for children.

Is anyone willing to say what happened last weekend was acceptable? Of course, it wasnt.

The meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on Monday led to the full Cabinet signing off on a suite of new measures yesterday but the fundamental point is that the State has failed to adequately prepare for this eventuality.

Bluntly locating people into hotels without proper consultation or liaison with them or the local community has bred suspicions and fears.

Look at how the Killarney episode was mishandled.

Poor communication fuelled anger and resentment.

The Government has placed itself on the horns of a dilemma.

Proposals to lessen the quality of support offered to those currently living in hotels is a delicate situation to manage.

These people who have fled from Ukraine, up to 10,000 of them are working, are to be asked to pay for their food once current contracts expire.

This raises its own challenges and a great deal of effort, resources and care must be put in place to ensure that cohesion is not tested beyond breaking point.

We must be allowed to discuss this and peoples genuine and legitimate concerns must be addressed.

The next year is likely to be one of great challenge for Ireland with winter coming and Putin stepping up his attempts to drive people out of Ukraine.

Ireland has done spectacularly well in its efforts to help those in need and as a country, we can be proud of our generosity and support.

The Government has repeatedly refused to set a cap on the number of who we can take, emphasising that this is a war effort. That is a laudable and honourable pledge. We just need to be open and honest about what that challenge means.
Myanmars Crisis & the World Myanmar Regime Rebuffs ASEAN Pressure to Implement Peace Plan

Myanmars seat lies empty during the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday. / AFP

Myanmars military regime said renewed pressure from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to implement a peace plan for the strife-torn country would create more negative implications.

The message came after ASEAN foreign ministers met in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss how to ease the intensifying crisis in Myanmar, which has been ravaged by social and political chaos since a military coup last year. The Jakarta meeting was held to prepare recommendations to be submitted to ASEAN leaders at the summit of the 10-nation bloc in Phnom Penh next month.

ASEAN last year proposed a peace plan known as the Five-point Consensus, which requires the junta to end violence and begin a dialogue with all sides of the conflict for the restoration of democracy. The junta agreed to the plan but has failed to implement it.

Thursdays meeting saw ASEAN reaffirm its commitment to the consensus. Myanmar, an ASEAN member, was not invited to the gathering following its failure to honor the peace plan.

The juntas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that as the meeting was held without Myanmar, it would not be bound by its outcomes, but said it was cooperating as a responsible ASEAN member to materialize the peace plan.

Since implementing the five-point consensus is a process, injecting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones, it warned.

ASEAN has been criticized for sticking to the consensus for more than a year without any evidence it has been effective in resolving the crisis.

After agreeing to the plan, the junta has continued its campaign of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings of civilians, and airstrikes on anti-regime resistance forces in a vain attempt to secure control over the country. Regime forces killed at least 75 people in an airstrike on civilians at a concert in Kachin State on Sunday. So far, the regime has killed more than 1,300 people since the February 2021 coup.

Rights groups on Thursday condemned ASEAN for failing to act to stop the violence in Myanmar.

Human Rights Watch expressed huge disappointment at the outcome of Thursdays meeting, saying ASEAN had remained committed to the stalled consensus.

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, it said.
Analysis Myanmars Resistance Forces Treat Prisoners Humanely Despite Junta War Crimes

Detained Mon Taing Pin villagers in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region, before they were killed by regime forces in May. / Supplied

Amid numerous extrajudicial executions, violations of the Geneva Conventions and war crimes by Myanmars junta, resistance groups and their allied ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) reportedly treat their prisoners of war humanely.

The junta repeatedly claims to follow the rules of armed conflict while its forces execute detainees, including supporters and members of the ousted National League for Democracy.

In early October, 11 NLD members and supporters, who were accused of helping resistance forces, were stabbed to death while in junta detention over two days in Nyaung-U, Taung Tha, Natogyi and Kyaukse townships in Mandalay Region. Junta-appointed administrators were involved in the arrests.

In late June, nine resistance members, including four teenagers, in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, were executed after being arrested unarmed while they were traveling to adjacent Shwebo Township for medical training.

In early May, regime forces massacred 29 out of more than 30 male villagers detained during a raid on Mon Taing Pin village in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region.

In July Radio Free Asia and other outlets published images and videos from a soldiers cell phone who took part in the atrocity.

A photo shows five dead villagers who appear to have been stabbed in their abdomens and throats while blindfolded with their hands tied behind their backs.

One of the victims sons told The Irrawaddy said they were accused of helping resistance groups.

A video shows soldiers boasting about how many detainees they have killed and by which methods.

Prisoners of war must be humanely treated without having their health seriously endangered while in custody, according to the Geneva Conventions.

Deprivation of these rights or harming a combatant who has surrendered is a war crime under the charter.

Meanwhile, the civilian National Unity Government has ordered its forces to follow the convention.

Regime Major Aung Kyaw Min was captured unconscious and seriously injured along with 16 comrades by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) during a shootout in Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State, on October 16.

[The KNLA troops] saved my life and properly treated my serious injuries. They treated us humanely, the major told the media.

Zin Moe Aung, formerly of Light Infantry Battalion 434, had been told that resistance forces would cut his throat if he was captured.

But when he was seized by the KNLA and its resistance allies in Ye Township, Mon State, in September, he was treated well.

They treated us like their brothers. I really thank them for their kind and warm treatment, he told the media.

Saw Liston, the Dooplaya District secretary of the KNLAs political wing, the Karen National Union, said the groups policy is to treat prisoners of war humanely.

We are not murderers. We cant act like the regime, he said.
Junta Watch Junta Watch: Leader Wants to Be King; Spokesman Justifies Air Attack on Concert; and More

Min Aung Hlaing visits Naypyitaw State Academy

Junta spokesman tries to justify bombing of Kachin concert

Throughout the history and till now, Tatmadaw [Myanmars military] has never attacked civilians, was junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tuns response published in junta-controlled newspapers on Thursday when asked by CNN about the regimes deadly bombing of an anniversary celebration held by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) on Sunday.

Dont you believe it!

The junta spokesman tried to justify the military operation, saying it was necessary because the Kachin ethnic armed group trained and supplied Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs), which the regime has labeled as terrorists, with weapons and ammunition in Sagaing in central Myanmar.

Sagaing Region, which was the first in Myanmar to launch armed resistance against the regime, has suffered most from the juntas atrocities, ranging from arson attacks and air raids to arbitrary killings. The regime harbors a particular grudge against Sagaing as junta forces have suffered heavy casualties in the region, which has been dubbed by its opponents as the Graveyard of the Regime, and where PDFs have control of trunk roads and have started to establish a parallel administration.

The regime has often complained that the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the KIOs military wing, is supplying arms to PDFs in Sagaing. U Hla Swe, an ex-military officer and senior figure in the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party, at a press conference in Naypyitaw on Aug. 17, urged the regime to bomb the KIAs ordnance factory. The KIA has rejected the juntas peace talks offer, calling the talks a sham.

At least 63 people were killed and some 60 others injured in the juntas aerial bombing of a concert to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the KIO in a village in Kachin States Hpakant on Sunday. The majority of those killed and injured were identified as civilians. But Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun denied civilian casualties, saying there was no civilian in the area as it is KIA-controlled territory.

Some 23 KIA officer cadets were killed when the Myanmar military shelled an officers academy at the KIA headquarters near Laiza on Nov. 19, 2014.

Murderer-cum-intellectual property thief

On Oct. 22, when he met micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the administrative capital, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing called for support to turn Naypyitaw into the academic hub of Myanmar. But it is doubtful that he came up with the idea himself.

In fact, before the coup, detained civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi issued instructions to turn Naypyitaw into the knowledge hub of Myanmar. The Naypyitaw Council, the executive body of the city, was working in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the Presidents Office even before the 2020 general election to establish five universities and an ICT park similar to those in Yangon, Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin, as well as to invite international universities to set up campuses there.

Six months after the military coup in which he seized power from the elected National League for Democracy government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Min Aung Hlaing told his subordinates that Naypyitaw could be turned into a learning hub, as if it were his own idea.

Then, he ordered the establishment of the Naypyitaw State Academy with the stated purpose of producing human resources necessary for the country, and instructed junta education minister Dr. Nyunt Pe at the same time to make sure the academy is ranked among the top global universities.

Nothing more needs to be said if it is his own idea.

Min Aung Hlaing under delusion that he is destined to be king

Though Min Aung Hlaing often says the military takeover was in line with the army-drafted 2008 Constitution, it is common knowledge that he is utterly mad for kingship. His obsession with pagodas and white elephants is testimony to his madness. Because historically, those are things that Myanmar monarchs built or captured to enhance their perceived greatness.

Recently, further proof of Min Aung Hlaings delusions of grandeur was revealed. The sitting Buddha image that he is having built in Naypyitaw, and which is touted as the worlds biggest such statue, sits on a Raja Palin or rulers throne, said Lieutenant Colonel Tint Lwin, who is in charge of carving the Buddha statue, as he recounted his experiences in building the statue during a talk show aired on junta mouthpiece Myawaddy Television on Wednesday.

The statues 18-foot-high plinth includes a 12-foot base built to resemble Raja Palin. In Myanmar culture, Palin is a symbol of kingship and sovereignty. This is why Min Aung Hlaing receives foreign dignitaries and diplomats before the Palin in the Credentials Hall in the Presidential Residence, pretending to be the legitimate head of state.

It should come as no surprise that Min Aung Hlaing is mad for kingship, considering that Sitagu Sayadaw, an influential faith leader who has fallen from grace due to his ties with the regime following last years coup and is now supervising the construction of the Buddha statute, has hailed him a king of great wisdom and generosity.

ASEAN toothless in taming Myanmar junta

The Myanmar military regime has warned the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that forcing it to implement a peace plan agreed by the leaders of the 10-nation bloc last year will do more harm than good for the Myanmar people.

ASEAN last year proposed a peace plan known as the Five-point Consensus, which requires the junta to end violence and begin a dialogue with all sides of the conflict for the restoration of democracy.

The junta nodded to the plan but did not bother to implement it. It is quite clear that it just said yes to buy time and ease international pressure.

After top diplomats of ASEAN reaffirmed the blocs commitment to the consensus on Thursday despite the fact that there has been no tangible proof of the regime implementing it over the past year, the regime has apparently become more assertive, and even warned the bloc to stop putting pressure on it, saying that injecting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones.

The juntas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the regime would not be bound by the outcomes of the meeting as it was held without Myanmar.

Over the past year, the regime has continued its campaign of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings of civilians, and air strikes on anti-regime resistance forces, utterly ignoring the peace plan.
For six years, Academy Award winning movie director Francis Ford Coppola, who has directed such classic movies as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and Patton, has been leasing a two-and-a-half-acre island that is now on the market.

The self-sustaining, solar powered, 2.5 acres private island  called Coral Caye  is located behind the Belize Barrier Reef, and is owned by Los Angeles-based lawyer Terry Tao. It has a main house, two rustic cottages and a dock.

According to a report by the website Mansion Global, Tao bought the island 10-years ago, then building the main house. Coppola later had the two cottages built, in addition to a large pier that stretches out over the water.

Tao told Mansion Global, The tranquil ocean and the warm sunshine were a sanctuary for us all and a deep breath of life in this fast-moving world.

Coral Caye can only be reached via a 25-minute boat ride from Placencia, in southern Belize, listing agent Peter McLean of Corcoran told Mansion Global, adding that Its an island paradise.

For the complete Mansion Global report, click here.
Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has assumed the same role at Twitter, after completing his US$44 billion (A$68.6 billion) takeover of the social media company.

Musk also sacked chief executive Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, legal services chief Vijaya Gadde and general counsel Sean Edgett.

Reports on American websites appear to be largely concerned with the fact that Musk may reverse a lifelong ban that Twitter imposed on former US president Donald Trump.

Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints.



No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

But that may yet take some time judging by Musk's latest tweet after the takeover: "Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes."

In an earlier tweet addressed to advertisers, Musk claimed that his motivation for buying Twitter was 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."

Bloomberg, quoting an anonymous source: "Musk also intends to do away with permanent bans on users because he doesn't believe in lifelong prohibitions, the person said.

"That means people previously booted o the platform may be allowed to return, a category that would include former president Donald Trump, the person said. It's unclear however if Trump would be allowed back on Twitter in the near term."

Dear Twitter Advertisers pic.twitter.com/GMwHmInPAS  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 27, 2022

Soon after he made his bid for Twitter in April, Musk took a stand on the blocking of a story on Hunter Biden, the son of US President Joe Biden, prior to the 2020 presidential elections.

The story, in the New York Post, was about emails found on a laptop belonging to Hunter and was published in October 2020. Twitter refused to allow the article to be posted and blocked anyone who tried to do so.

In the wash-up after the incident, Twitter was forced to change its policy on the publication on material that had been obtained as a result of a data breach.

Gadde was prominent in discussions about Musk's ownership of Twitter, acknowledging that there were significant uncertainties about what the company would look like under his leadership.
Hollywoods greatest superheroes flew to Brazils elections on Friday as the Avengers answered calls for help from supporters of presidential challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Actors behind some of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe took to the Portuguese-language Twitter to encourage Brazilians to cast their votes in Sundays knife-edge poll.

Hunger in Brazil is not fiction, but it can end. Listen to our brothers, vote next Sunday, read a Portuguese tweet from actor Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Nick Fury in the mega-franchise.

Jackson was responding to a tweet from Brazilian comedian Fabio Porchat asking for the Avengers help in the presidential duel between right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and the former president popularly known as Lula.

Lula, who won the first round last month, is a slight favorite over Bolsonaro, a hate figure for environmentalists for his support of logging and mining companies blamed for the destruction of the Amazon.

Here the villains are the empty grocery bags, the guns arriving at the schools, the lack of medicines at the pharmacy This really is work for superheroes. Can anyone hear me? wrote Porchat, who declared his vote for Lula.

Im listening to you here, Jackson replied in Portuguese, adding the hashtag #notallheroeswearcapes and urging his colleagues to join the fight.

Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and Wong answered the call immediately.

We are with you on this mission, Chris Hemsworth replied in Portuguese to Juliette, a Brazilian celebrity.

Brazilian Avengers this Sunday you all have the power to vote, something more powerful than any gavel, the Thor actor added.

With access to quality education, all children can have a better future. Dont wait for it. Vote for it, Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. tweeted, also in Portuguese.

We are united against oppression! wrote British actor Benedict Wong, who plays the magician Wong in the series.

Our sorcerers are working to protect all who mobilize this Sunday to decide their future.

Mark Ruffalo, who last month called on Brazilians to cast their votes for leftist Lula, referenced his Hulk character in his tweet.

Real science makes us stronger, as Bruce Banner proves, he wrote.
Sitting on a gondola, two employees attach a cable to a large mast.

Farther away, others are busy on the ground around several large, broken copper rods as they repair a Ukrainian power plant recently hit by Russian strikes.

The plant operator, who showed some journalists, including those from AFP, around its premises on Thursday, asked them not to reveal the name of the place where this thermal power plant is located for security reasons.

Russia has been conducting repeated strikes against Ukraines energy infrastructure for more than two weeks, resulting in the destruction of at least a third of the grid as winter looms.

As a result, and in order to avoid overloading the distribution network, daily supply disruptions of several hours have been imposed in some regions, in particular in Kyiv, for the past few days.

Authorities there said on Friday those cuts must be increased to unprecedented levels.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that around four million people across the country were affected by the power outages: not only in and around Kyiv, but also in the Zhytomyr, Poltava, Rivne, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Cherkassy and regions Kirovograd.

 Protection against strikes 

Every time a part of the web is hit, the station staff sets about repairing it.

At the plant visited by AFP, which is operated by the private Ukrainian electricity company DTEK, the strikes mainly affected outdoor equipment, particularly transformers and distribution lines.

We are facing such damage for the first time, said an employee, Pavlo. The facility had been hit twice by rockets and then a third time by an Iranian-made suicide drone.

Renovations have been underway for more than two weeks, he added.

We dont know how long it will take. It depends on the material we have to source, deliver, install Its a long process.

There are difficulties because the damaged equipment is unique  its difficult to find the same parts and making new ones is very time-consuming, he said.

And every time the air raid sirens go off, they have to get the tools down and go into the dugout, deep in the bowels of the factory.

This attack lasted about an hour and a half. To pass the time, workers played cards or dominoes, or checked the latest news on their cell phones.

Or they just caught up on sleep.

We work with the absolute minimum number of employees, said Pavlo.
At least nine people, including children, died in two car bomb attacks on the Somalia Ministry of Education in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday, security officials and witnesses said.

Two cars loaded with explosives were detonated minutes apart near the busy Zobe intersection, followed by gunfire.

I was one of the first security officers to reach the area. I saw the bodies of nine people, most of them civilians, including women and children, security official Ahmed Ali said, adding that dozens were injured.

Another security official, Yusuf Abdullahi, exacted a similar tribute.

Police spokesman Sadik Dudishe did not give a death toll but said the incident was being investigated.

The ruthless terrorists killed mothers. Some of them died with their children on their backs, he told reporters at a news conference, adding the attackers targeted students and other civilians.

The security forces response prevented the attackers from reaching their intended location, Dudishe said.

The afternoon blasts shattered windows of nearby buildings, threw up shrapnel and clouds of smoke and dust.

Abdirahman Ise, a witness, said the road was busy when the first explosion went off.

I saw huge smoke around the ministry area and there is massive destruction, said another witness, Amino Salad.

The attack happened at a busy intersection where a truck loaded with explosives exploded on October 14, 2017, killing 512 people and injuring more than 290.

There was no immediate admission of responsibility for the attack, but the Islamist group al-Shabaab remains a potent force in the troubled Horn of Africa nation, despite multinational efforts to weaken its leadership.

The jihadists have been trying to overthrow the fragile, foreign-backed government in Mogadishu for about 15 years.

Its fighters were driven out of the capital by an African Union force in 2011, but the group still controls tracts of land and is capable of launching deadly strikes on civilian and military targets.

They use threats of violence to collect taxes in areas under their jurisdiction.

The group claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel in the port city of Kismayo last week that killed nine and wounded 47 others.

In August, the group launched a 30-hour gun and bomb attack on the popular Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu, killing 21 and wounding 117.

 Total war 

Somalias President-elect Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected in May, has vowed to wage an uncompromising war on the Islamists following the August siege.

In September, he urged citizens to stay away from areas controlled by jihadists and said the armed forces and tribal militias would step up offensives against them.

A joint US-Somalia drone strike on October 1 killed one of the militants senior commanders.

Just hours after his death was announced, a triple bomb blast killed at least 30 people in the southern town of Beledweyne.

In addition to the violence, Somalia  like its neighbors in the Horn of Africa  is being hit by its worst drought in more than 40 years. Four failed rainy seasons have wiped out livestock and crops.
WHY: New York, NY  (NewMediaWire)  October 29, 2022  Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, is reminding buyers of the securities of Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) between February 18, 2021 and March 25, 2022, both dates inclusive (the Class Period ), of the important November 22, 2022 Deadline for Lead Plaintiff.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Barclays securities during the Class Period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of expenses or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To participate in the Barclays class action lawsuit, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=8877 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll free at 866-767-3653 or by email [email protected] or [email protected] for information about the Class Action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you want to appear as lead plaintiff, you must call the court by November 22, 2022 at the latest. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other group members in conducting the litigation.

WHY ROSES LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified advisors with a track record in leadership positions. Frequently, companies that issue notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or meaningful recognition from peers. Many of these law firms do not actually conduct securities class actions, but are merely intermediaries who refer clients or work with law firms that actually conduct the cases. Be wise in choosing a lawyer. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors worldwide and focuses its practice on securities class actions and shareholder derivatives litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest-ever settlement of a securities class action lawsuit against a Chinese company. Rosen Law Firm was ranked #1 in 2017 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for the number of securities class action settlements. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 every year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. 2019 alone
Tens of thousands braved downpours in Taiwan on Saturday to celebrate the island hosting its first LGBTQ pride rally since its border fully reopened.

Taiwan is at the forefront of the burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement in Asia, becoming the first place in the region to legalize marriage equality in 2019.

Its capital, Taipei, annually hosts one of Asias largest Pride marches  except for last year, when a surge in Covid cases forced the event online.

Celebrations were back in full swing on Saturday as protesters donned flashy costumes and wrapped themselves in rainbow flags at Taiwans 20th Pride march. Organizers estimated attendance at 120,000.

I am delighted to be part of the first physical parade in two years, said 40-year-old service industry worker Wolf Yang, who is wearing a gold bodysuit with a matching sequined headdress and nose ring.

Max, a 35-year-old Frenchman, attended the demonstration for the first time since moving to Taiwan last year, along with several friends who had flown in from Japan and South Korea.

I think Taiwan should be proud of that. Its a great thing to recognize gay marriage. Asia and the world must be proud of it.

A record crowd of 200,000 people took part in the 2019 Pride parade to celebrate after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriages earlier this year.

Since then, at least 7,000 same-sex couples have married, although the law still includes restrictions that heterosexual couples are not subject to.

Under current rules, Taiwanese nationals can only marry people from about 30 countries and territories where same-sex marriages are also legal.

College student Virginia Li, 22, said she attended the parade to support gay rights with about 20 friends from the eastern city of Hualien.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday announced an increase in its troop alert level after deadly clashes with rebels in the east.

The MONUSCO mission condemned the hostile actions of the M23 rebel group and called for an immediate cessation of fighting.

It is providing air support, reconnaissance and equipment and medical assistance to the DRC army, the mission said on Twitter.

The peacekeepers said they were mobilized in support of the FARDC army which clashes with the M23 around a strategic motorway this week, with local residents reporting at least ten dead and dozens more injured since Sunday.

MONUSCO said it had set up an operations coordination center with the army and was conducting reconnaissance and surveillance flights, but gave no further details on the alert level.

Several witnesses told AFP by phone on Saturday that the M23 had taken control of Kiwanja and the Rutshuru center along the RN2 highway, which connects the provincial capital of North Kivu, Goma, to the north and Uganda.

M23, a predominantly Congolese Tutsi group, resumed fighting in late 2021 after years of lying dormant.

It has since seized large parts of territory in North Kivu province, including the strategic town of Bunagana on the Uganda border in June.

The groups resurgence has destabilized regional ties in central Africa, with the DRC accusing its smaller neighbor Rwanda of backing the militia.

The rebel group first came to prominence in 2012 when they briefly took Goma before being driven out by a joint Congolese and UN offensive.
Gong Yoo talks about relationships, perspective on the world, and views on fatherhood as he graced Elle Korea's special edition.

In celebration of the publication's 30th anniversary, the Hallyu star joined fellow top stars, both from music and acting for the magazine's theme The Icons.

With Gong Yoo, viewers get to see more of BIGBANG's G-Dragon, BLACKPINK's Jennie, Lee Sung Kyung, Kim Go Eun, and Park Seo Joon.

During his interview with Elle Korea, Gong Yoo opened up about his thoughts on various topics whether it be career or personal views.

Gong Yoo on his 20 Years in the Industry

Before being one of Hallyu's top stars, Gong Yoo made his debut in 2001 after landing a supporting role in the youth drama "School 4."

Since then, he wowed viewers with his charm and superb acting, especially with the K-drama "Coffee Prince" with Yoon Eun Hye, "Goblin" with Kim Go Eun, and the blockbuster K-zombie film "Train to Busan."

Now that he has been in the industry for over 20 years, Gong Yoo says that he has reached the point where he is "flexible" with work.

Moreover, he also spoke about how he stayed focused amid the multiple projects lined up.

He admitted that he is the type of person "who finds it difficult to get started," adding that he can only begin things if he does "a lot of thinking" and that's where he becomes determined.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Chanel Ambassadors Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, More Hailed as 'Icons' of the Industry

Interestingly, his curiosity and persistence allowed him to get focused and immersed in his work.

The top star also mentioned that he also does this with relationships and getting to know people.

"I'm not the type to quickly get close to people, but once the door opens, that connection deepens," he said adding "If I feel like we'll match well together, and it seems fun, then I start to become curious."

Gong Yoo Talks About Fatherhood

One of the interesting topics Gong Yo openly talked about was fatherhood.

When asked about the experience he only felt through his characters, the actor said being a father.

Gong Yoo played various characters and one of which is playing someone else's father like in "Train to Busan" and "The Silent Sea."

With this, the actor said that it is the emotion he is "most curious about" adding that he "can't predict when my present self will come to experience such things."

Playing these types of roles has changed his perspective on raising a child.

For Gong Yoo, he said that during his early 30s, his reaction would be feeling ecstatic seeing a baby; however, he reached a certain age where he questioned himself if he could raise a child well.

"'Do I possess the talent to pull off the role of a father?'' and "Would giving birth to a child in these times even be good for them," he asked himself, adding that he is "bit more fearful and careful" about starting his own family.

READ MORE: Handsome Korean Actors Who Never Seem To Age: Gong Yoo, Hyun Bin, More



KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
The Kenosha News has provided a questionnaire to all local candidates seeking office in the upcoming fall midterm election asking several key questions about their candidacy.

Wisconsin Assembly District 65 encompasses the City of Kenoshas downtown and central area.

Democrat incumbent Tod Ohnstad first won the position during the 2012 general election, and has held the seat since. Republican challenger Frank Petrick is a newcomer to state politics.

Ohnstad is a City of Kenosha resident. He graduated from Altoona Wisconsin High School and attended UW-Parkside. Ohnstad worked for 30 years at AMC/Chrysler and was elected as a United Auto Workers representative for over 25 years. Ohnstad also served on the Kenosha City Council for three terms.

Below are the response of the candidates.

Why are you running for office?

Tod Ohnstad: I am running for re-election because I am the most experienced candidate to represent the working people of this district. These are difficult times which demand the experience and willingness to take on the challenges we face. I love Kenosha and I have devoted my adult life to helping working people here.

Frank Petrick: Did not respond.

What issues do you think are the most important for the office at this time?

Ohnstad: The most important issues are public safety and education. We need to increase the amount of shared revenue to cities in order to provide the necessary police & fire personnel and provide a top-notch public education. We also need to keep government out of our personal decisions. Women should be the ones making their health care decisions not politicians. It is shameful we still arrest people for smoking marijuana while our neighboring states bring in millions of dollars in tax revenues. We need to protect our environment and drinking water. We must provide a fair tax system for working people and opportunities for living wage jobs.

Petrick: Did not respond.

What do you think you will bring to the office?

Ohnstad: When re-elected I will work hard for the hard working people in Kenosha and Wisconsin. I bring a decade of experience in the Assembly and more after first being elected and re-elected by my coworkers and neighbors. I will fight for whats right for my District in Madison. And you can count on me to take your problems with the state seriously and do all I can to get them resolved.

Petrick: Did not respond.

Editors note: Despite numerous requests, candidate Frank Petrick did not respond to requests to participate.
Hubert Butler was born in a very small place, Bennettsbridge in County Kilkenny, yet his outlook was utterly international. Born to an Irish Protestant family on October 23 in 1900, he arrived with a new century that would be tumultuous and see immense changes in the world. Hubert Butler would be directly involved in some of the most dramatic events of that century both internationally and in Ireland.



Born into a minor branch of the Butlers of Ormonde, the family was nevertheless wealthy by the standards of the day. Butler was therefore educated in the English public school system going to Charterhouse and later to Oxford followed by the School of Slavonic Studies in London, where he learned Russian and Serbo Croat. On graduation he taught English in Soviet Russia in Leningrad and translated the major Russian writers including Chekov.



Meeting young Serbs and Croatians in college had sparked his interest in the region so he travelled to Central and Eastern Europe in the 1930s. While the early part of these travels was idyllic, they later awoke Butler to the rising tide of antisemitism in Europe.



In 1938 after the Night of Broken Glass when Jewish communities across the Third Reich were attacked, he travelled to Vienna to help hundreds of Jews to escape Nazi persecution. There he worked with the Quaker community in the city, using his Anglo Irish charm and manners to woo embassy officials and obtain exit visas for the people he was trying to save.



Some of these Jewish families he brought to Bennettsbridge, giving them temporary shelter before they moved on to new lives in other locations.



After World war II, Butler returned to Croatia to investigate what had happened to the hundreds of thousands of victims who had died in Nazi death camps there. At the time it was evident to Butler that no other Western person had been there before him to investigate these appalling war crimes. He discovered evidence of ethnic cleansing of the Orthodox Serbs with the complicity of the local Catholic Church. When he subsequently tried to make this knowledge public, it made him deeply unpopular with the Irish authorities and the Irish Catholic hierarchy.



Butler exposed the behaviour of Ante Pavelic, the leader of a puppet regime in Croatia during WWII when he was the head of the Ustashe, a fascist militia who began a programme of death and persecution mere weeks into their rule. Hubert wrote extensively about what had happened in the concentration camp Jasenovac, where the Ustashe clinically slaughtered thousands of people, mostly Serbs, but also Jews Roma and political opponents.



This ruthless campaign was carried out to make Croatia racially and spiritually pure by forcibly converting Orthodox Serbs to Catholicism with the tacit support of the Catholic hierarchy. Local Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac gave his blessing to the Ustashe and Ante Pavelic when they assumed power, although he later condemned their murderous campaign. He was arrested by Marshall Tito when the communist assumed power in Yugoslavia after the war and was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment. Hubert attended some of the war trials in Zagreb and even interviewed Stepinac briefly on one occasion.



In Ireland Stepinac became a cause celebre due to his incarceration, so when Butler sought to inform a meeting in Dublin about the forced conversion campaign and the Papal Nuncio to Ireland walked out in protest, it was a major controversy. Butler was subsequently ostracised by the national and local Kilkenny establishment. He was forced to resign as Secretary of Kilkenny Architectural Society, the society he had revived and suffered accusations that he was a communist sympathiser and a spy.



Ireland, then dominated utterly by the Catholic Church, was not a place that tolerated dissent, and Butler paid dearly for his honesty. He resigned from KAS despite surviving a motion to expel him, was shunned in the street and was condemned by a Kilkenny Council motion. Butler later said that he had been unaware of the nuncios presence at the meeting and had no intention to cause offence.

Undeterred, Butler continued to write, later investigating how Pavelics fugitive Interior Minister Andrija Artukovic managed to live in Ireland for a year between 1947 and 1948 on false Irish papers that subsequently allowed him to enter America.

When the full extent of the Nazi Holocaust was revealed, Butler was vindicated but was never fully appreciated in Ireland. He received a posthumous apology from the Mayor of Kilkenny in 2000 for the events of the past.



Butler was married to Peggy Guthrie, the sister of Tyrone Guthrie and in 1941 after his fathers death they had returned to make their marital home at Maidenhall, his family home in Bennettsbridge. The couple made the house a centre for intellectual debate and discussion, founding the Kilkenny Lectures to encourage dialogue between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic. In 1944 he revived the Kilkenny Architectural Society and was particularly proud of its role as a place where people of both traditions could meet. Today the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny is named in his and Peggys honour.



Although born into the Protestant Anglo Irish class, Butler as he matured became a passionate nationalist and Wolfe Tone was his personal hero. Throughout his life and in his writings he sought to explore how the identities of Irelands two traditions could be reconciled and live respectfully in harmony. The themes of freedom of thought, the origins of nation states and the violence of totalitarianism defined his work. He also sought to draw attention to the contribution of the Anglo Irish community to Ireland.



He continued to travel and write: in the late 60s he travelled to the Deep South to meet the nascent Civil Rights movement, in 1956 he aided refugees from the Soviet invasion of Hungary and in 1973 explored a US coup detat in Chile. He also remained active in Irish civil rights, campaigning on the pro-choice side in the 1983 8th Amendment to the Constitution campaign.



In his eighties, Hubert found a delayed recognition and appreciation for his writing when the Lilliput Press began to publish his essays in volume form. His unique insights into Eastern Europe and his recognition of the corrupting power of totalitarian states had made his perspective years ahead of his time in the 40 and 50s but now struck a very relevant note. Titles including Escape from the Anthill, The Children of Drancy and The Invader Wore Slippers won him a loyal and devoted readership.



He died aged 91 in 1991. Ironically Butler never considered himself a writer although Roy Foster, the historian said of him that he was one of the great Irish writers. His lessons are still utterly relevant today, particularly those about the aggression of totalitarian empires, the suppression of free speech and the ugly face of extreme nationalism.



His life and his work combined the personal with his devotion to a belief in the need for a more pluralist society. The marginalisation of Hubert Butler for so long meant that Ireland lost the benefit of his wisdom and intellect as the country emerged as an independent nation. Fortunately his books still survive to promote the unique insights of this remarkable man.
Serving and retired gardai at Thomastown Garda Station were honoured at a centenary ceremony and presented with medals last week.

Shortly after 11am the Garda Centenary Unit, under the able direction of Inspector Gavin Hegarty led the march from The Quays in Thomastown stopping at the old garda station on Low Street where

Sergeant Ted Hughes spoke and welcomed all to the event.

We are privileged and lucky to have a great turn out of retired members here today most of them I have personally served with and I am proud and privileged to say that. Thomastown was a transient District for management and I have worked with great people in that regard, he said.

Sgt Hughes also paid tribute to Phyllis Nolan the first woman Superintendent in An Garda Siochana.

I personally worked with Superintendent Nolan and I think we were as famous for working with her as she was for being the first lady superintendent. She obviously had a vision of what An Garda Siochana could be for woman and Im sure she is proud of womans participation and achievements in An Garda Siochana today, he said.

Sgt Hughes also spoke of the history of An Garda Siochana in the Thomastown area.

The station here on Low Street was not without its moments. It was burned on the December 14, 1922 as a consequence of our history and was rebuilt to the building it is today. This station stood in the middle of Thomastown serving both the community and its members until we moved to the new station in 2002.

According to statistics from 1911 Constabulary list, the Thomastown District had a somewhat different geographical layout with stations at Thomastown, Fiddown, Glenmore, Graigue, Hugginstown, Inistioge, Kilmacow, Knocktopher, Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Rower, Slieverue and Templeorum.

South Kilkenny returned into the Thomastown District after years under the Waterford District, added Sgt Hughes.

The celebrations then moved to the community centre where Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Pat Fitzpatrick said it was an honour to speak at the event.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who have served in An Garda Siochana over the past 100 years. I feel it is appropriate to also remember the members that have lost their lives in the line of service. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude for the huge sacrifice they have made for us.

I am sure An Garda Siochana will face many challenges and opportunities as we move into the next century of policing in Ireland but I am certain that they will continue to engage with local communities, listen to their concerns, work together to reduce crime and fear of crime and offer much needed crime prevention advice, he said adding that Kilkenny County Council has always enjoyed a positive and progressive relationship with An Garda Siochana .

I thank all members of who have served in Kilkenny over the years for your service, he concluded.
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - The Mauritian Health and Wellness Ministry announced on Friday that it will introduce a health book for Mauritians aged 60 years and above This is part of a National Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) Strategic and Action Plan 20222026 developed by the Ministry after an intensive consultative process involving the 251,246 senior citizens
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Pro-islamists on Saturday staged a protest march in which hundreds of thousands took part to oppose any attempt to implement secular rule in the Sudan, a reference to the leftist-led agreement currently underway to form a civilian-led, western-supported government in Khartoum
Here's what you need to know: Saturday, October 29
Elon Musk said on October 28 that Twitter "will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints." Musk is seen here in September 2020 near Gruenheide, Germany.
Chinese premier congratulates Brnabic on re-election as Serbian PM

Xinhua) 14:04, October 29, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to Ana Brnabic on her re-election as Serbia's prime minister.

China and Serbia enjoy a profound traditional friendship, and in recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries has been developing vigorously and their practical cooperation in various fields has been continuously expanded and deepened, Li said in his message.

Upholding the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, the two sides have jointly scored a number of landmark cooperation achievements, such as the China-Serbia Friendship Bridge across the Danube, and the Hungary-Serbia Railway, bringing tangible benefits to the people of the two countries, Li noted.

He also said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Serbia relations, and is willing to consolidate its traditional friendship with Serbia and continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to push for greater development of bilateral ties and better benefit the two countries and their people.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
8am (translated by RAWA), September 24, 2022

Female students in Bamyan are complaining about the Taliban's strictness in enforcing good and forbidding evil. Insulting, humiliating, whipping and inspecting clothes under the pretext of not observing hijab are some of the things these students face. Female students complain about the harsh treatment of Taliban's Religious Police and describe the way they are examined as "inhumane"; but women's rights activists believe that Taliban officials want to discourage girls from continuing their education by increasing strictness.

Ayesha (pseudonym), one of the students of Bamyan University, speaking to 8 Subh Newspaper, says that during the last week, at least six female students were whipped by Taliban's Religious Police in separate incidents. According to her, these girls were first insulted by the Taliban's Religious Police in the Dehn-e-Zargaran area and in front of the entrance gate of a private educational center in the center of Bamyan, and then they were whipped.

Samaneh (pseudonym), a student of Bamyan University, explains to 8 Subh Newspaper that Taliban officials started the process of checking the clothes and hijab of female students on Sunday last week. According to Samaneh, students who are wearing colored clothes, jeans and sport shoes were not allowed to enter the university by the Taliban's Religious Police.

Samaneh states: "On Tuesday, at the entrance gate of the university, the Taliban Religious Police stopped a number of female students and asked them to raise their big scarves to check what kind of outfit they were wearing under. When a student raised her big scarf, a Religious Police personale told her, with an insulting look, why she was wearing tight clothes that makes her body visible?"

Samaneh adds that after the insulting treatment and rude words of this Taliban's Religious Police, the female student cried and returned to her home.

Also, in the video clip, sent to the 8 Subh Newspaper by a reader, can be seen that Taliban's Religious Police, standing at the entrance gate of Bamyan University, check the hijab and the clothing of the female students and don't allow the girls who did not observe the hijab based on standards of Taliban.

According to reports, last week a female student fainted while her hijab being checked by Taliban. Her classmates took her to the hospital.

The female students in Bamyan point out that the behavior of the Taliban's Religious Police against the girls of this province is against human dignity. They want the Taliban to respect women's privacy.

On the other hand, a number of women's rights activists in Bamyan call the Taliban's Religious Police against female students in this province as insulting.

Rabia (pseudonym), a women's rights activist, told 8 Subh Newspaper that in the past few days, a large number of female students at Bamyan University, even though they were wearing proper hijab, were insulted by the Taliban's Religious Police and arrested just for wearing jeans and a scarf. They have been subjected to insulting behavior.

This women's rights activist adds that the local officials of the Taliban, especially the employees of the Department for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Bamyan, are trying to dissuade girls and women from universities and make them stay at home with their inhumane and insulting behaviors. Rabia points out: "The Taliban have turned Bamyan University into a place of torture for female students, and no female student feels safe in this university. Everyone is worried and suffering from mental problems."

She asks the international community to help out Afghan women and not let the Taliban completely remove women from society.

The Taliban's strict policies against female students in Bamyan University have intensified after they appointed Salim Faizi as the new chancellor of Bamyan University. Last week, he issued a new order, asking Bamyan University female students to come to the university, fully covered with the clothes and their faces should be covered as well.

About a month ago, the Taliban's Religious Police in Bamyan harassed the women and girls of this province by setting up checkpoints on the public roads of Bamyan city and checking the clothing of women and asking for their Mahram or make escort.
OCHA, October 6, 2022

People in Afghanistan are no strangers to hardships, having endured 40 years of conflict, poverty, displacement, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is now also facing a failing health system and an economy on the brink of collapse.

Even before the Taliban entered the capital, Kabul, on 15 August, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was one of the worst in the world. Nearly half of the countrys 40 million people, or 18.4 million people, already needed humanitarian assistance. One in three Afghans faces food insecurity, and more than half of all children under age 5 are likely to face acute malnutrition.

Protection and safety risks were also reaching record highs, as 1,659 civilians were killed and more than 3,000 injured in the first half of the year.

Women and girls in Afghanistan are facing seriously high levels of gender-based violence, with 51 per cent of women and girls experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Since 15 August, the impact of the crisis on basic services, including financial and health systems, has worsened the situation for vulnerable people across Afghanistan and risks tipping many more people into humanitarian need.

Here are 9 facts you need to know about the situation in Afghanistan now.

1. Millions have fled their homes

Since the beginning of the year, more than half a million women, children and men have fled their homes due to escalating violence. Being displaced puts them at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, with women and girls at greater risk of gender-based violence including sexual violence, early marriage and trafficking. They urgently need food, water and essential health-care services. But most importantly, they seek safety and stability.

In addition, more than 5 million people have been in protracted displacement across Afghanistan since 2012.

2. An economic crisis is looming

Afghanistan faces an economic crisis marked by the sudden withdrawal of large-scale development assistance, lack of access to cash, and reduced overseas remittances. Markets still function, but prices are soaring. As more than 12 million people are facing food insecurity, these poor families are now selling their belongings and borrowing money to buy food.

Limited supplies of cash are also making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to pay salaries on time, procure critical humanitarian supplies and provide rapid assistance.

Finding solutions to facilitate the flow of money into Afghanistan without breaking sanctions is critical to prevent an economic breakdown and to ensure aid organizations can continue addressing urgent needs.

3. Health care is on the verge of collapse

Millions of people in Afghanistan have lost access to basic services such as vaccinations and treatment for malnourished children and pregnant women. Sixty-eight per cent of women surveyed said they faced challenges in accessing health facilities.

Medicines, medical supplies and fuel are running out across the country. Cold chains for vaccines are compromised. Nurses and doctors are not being paid. Only 17 per cent of the 2,300 health facilities of the World Bank-funded Sehatmandi Project remain fully functional. Two thirds have run out of essential medicines.

On 22 September, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths released US$45 million from the UNs Central Emergency Response Fund to help prevent Afghanistans health-care system from falling apart. But much more support is needed.

Afghanistan has made significant health gains over the last 20 years. A roll-back of these gains must be prevented at all costs.

4. Schools have reopened but not for everyone

In September, secondary schools reopened in Afghanistan following months of pandemic-related closures. Sadly, only boys were allowed to attend; girls were left behind.

Education in Afghanistan has progressed significantly over the past two decades. In 2001, barely any of the countrys girls were enrolled in school. But by 2021, the number of schools had tripled and 9.5 million children were enrolled in school, 4 million of whom were girls.

Missing out on education will affect childrens lives, well-being and future. Girls out of school are at greater risk of early and forced marriage, and they face life-threatening health complications from teenage pregnancies.

Girls and boys must receive equal education opportunities for a better future.

5. Womens and girls rights are at risk

The recent crisis has affected everyone in Afghanistan, but women and girls bear the consequences the most.

Their rights and freedom of movement have been curtailed, and womens rights, including to education, work and holding public office, are in danger of being rolled back.

Womens full participation in all aspects of life is essential, not only for their empowerment but also for advancing all of society.

Restricting womens involvement in the workforce, including in humanitarian activities, will directly impact the ability of women and girls to access critical services.

Their experience, capacities and leadership are invaluable for peace and security in Afghanistan.

6. A fourth wave of the pandemic is possible

Afghanistan has just emerged from the peak of a third wave of COVID-19, in which positivity rates surged.

Before August of this year, 2.2 million people had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Afghanistan received 5.24 million doses, but only 3 million of those doses have been administered and 1.6 million doses could expire if not used quickly.

Nine of the countrys 37 COVID-19 hospitals have already closed and all aspects of the pandemic response have slowed down, including surveillance, testing and vaccinations.

If the vaccination drive doesnt resume soon, the country is at risk of a more intense fourth wave amid critical gaps in the health systems medical supplies, personnel and equipment. It is a perfect storm that could lead to a health crisis and cause more deaths.

Swift action is needed to reach the national goal of vaccinating at least 20 per cent of the population by the years end.

7. Drought is causing continued hardship

Afghanistan is facing its second drought in four years, affecting one third of the country. Seventy per cent of all Afghans live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food and income. Opportunities for farm work in drought-affected areas have been cut by 28 per cent.

This has pushed poor families to rely on child labour, early and forced marriage, and risky irregular migration.

The current drought also led to a water scarcity crisis and lack of drinking water. This will further increase sanitation and hygiene needs.

Today, 9 million people in Afghanistan need access to clean water, basic toilets and hygiene. This severe drought will worsen water shortages. Waterborne diseases and cases of acute watery diarrhoea are on the rise.

8. We are still here

Staying and delivering means reaching affected people in Afghanistan, wherever they are, with vital assistance.

Day and night, the UN is working with humanitarians, including local teams, to provide food, water, health care, education, protection and livelihood assistance. To continue this work, the international community must honour its promises and provide urgent and flexible cash funding that can be distributed quickly and allow humanitarians to help those in need.

9. Winter is coming

The struggles and human suffering of millions of Afghans will be exacerbated by the harsh winter, which is only a few weeks away. Plummeting temperatures will lead to an increase in acute respiratory infections and deaths.

Providing much-needed winter assistance early will be a lifeline for millions. Many affected families, particularly those who live in open spaces or tented camps, will desperately need warm clothes and shelter to fend off the bitter cold.

The worlds attention to Afghanistan may soon subside, but the plight of the Afghan people continues. The impact of recent changes will be felt for years and decades. But we will not abandon the people of Afghanistan. We will not abandon the countrys people. We will not abandon ethnic minorities. We will not abandon women and girls.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday visited several ghats in the city ahead of the Chhath festival to ensure preparations were in place for the devotees.

Accompanied by revenue officials, the minister took stock of readiness for Chhath, starting Sunday, at Bhalswa Jheel and Keshavpuram ghats.

Also Read | Mumbai Police Add Attempted Murder Charge Against Arrested Film Producer Kamal Kishor Mishra Accused of Hitting Wife with Car (Watch Video).

"Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is monitoring the preparations for Chhath at the ghats to ensure devotees face no in inconvenience," Gahlot said.

The minister had visited a Chhath ghat at Yamuna near ITO on Friday.

Also Read | Karnataka: 'Cash' Gift to Journalists on Diwali Dents CM Basavaraj Bommai's Image, Say Party Insiders.

Chhath starts with women holding fast and offering "Arghya" to the setting and rising sun god in knee deep water.

The festival will start with huge congregations of devotees at around 1,100 ghats prepared at designated places along the Yamuna as well as other water bodies and artificial ponds across the city.

The revenue department is the nodal agency for Chhath puja arrangements and all other government and civic agencies are working in close coordination to make the festival a success, officials had said earlier.

The department is making arrangements for tents, chairs, tables, lighting, sound system, CCTV, LED screens, power backup etc at all the 1,100 puja sites.

The department will also ensure other facilities such as primary health services, deployment of ambulances and mobile toilet vans, the officials said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, October 29: A layer of pungent haze lingered over Delhi on Saturday morning as the city's air quality neared the "severe" zone amid adverse meteorological conditions -- low temperatures and calm winds -- and an increase in incidents of stubble burning in Punjab.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 396 at 10 am, worsening from 357 at 4 pm on Friday. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali).

Anand Vihar (AQI 454) was the most polluted place in the capital. Wazirpur (439), Narela (423), Ashok Vihar (428), Vivek Vihar (427) and Jahangirpuri (438) were among the monitoring stations that recorded "severe" air quality.

The air quality in the neighbouring cities of Ghaziabad (381), Noida (392), Greater Noida (398), Gurugram (360) and Faridabad (391) also inched closer to the "severe" category.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the concentration of lung-damaging fine particles known as PM2.5 was above 400 micrograms per cubic metre at 10 am, around seven times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, in many areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said calm winds prevailed at night.

Moderate wind speed (up to 8 kmph) is predicted during the day, it added.

In cold conditions, pollutants are trapped close to the ground because of low mixing height -- the vertical height in which pollutants are suspended in the air.

SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, predicted that the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution is likely to increase in the coming days.

The contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution has so far remained low (up to 7 per cent) due to a prolonged rain spell in early October and slow transport-level winds which were not strong enough to carry smoke from farm fires to the national capital.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) reported 2,067 farm fires in Punjab on Friday, the highest so far this season. It logged 124 and 34 cases of stubble burning in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, respectively, on Friday. Commission for Air Quality Management Calls for Collective Action After Delhi's AQI Plunges to 'Severe' Category.

Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, paddy straw burning in adjoining states is a major reason behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. Farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and vegetables.

As per the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Punjab reported 71,304 farm fires between September 15 and November 30 last year and 83,002 farm fires in the corresponding period in 2020. Last year, the share of farm fires in Delhi's PM 2.5 pollution peaked to 48 per cent on November 7.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Varanasi (UP), Oct 29 (PTI) In an effort for a greener tomorrow, Central Reserve Police Force personnel deployed in the security of the Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi mosque here have planted about 75,000 saplings since the launch of the drive in 2019.

Anil Kumar Briksh, Commandant of the 95th Battalion of the CRPF, said the jawans planted the saplings in collaboration with social organisations and government departments at parks, monasteries and educational institutions.

Also Read | Karnataka: Youth Bursts Sky Shot Crackers From Moving Car in Udupi, Arrested (Watch Video).

So far about 75,000 saplings have been planted in the district, he said, adding that CRPF personnel also take an oath to protect the environment.

"It is paramount to make youngsters and children of the country aware about environment protection. We have to inculcate the habit of protecting the environment in the children of the country, only then will the future generations will understand their responsibilities," the officer said.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Three Minor Girls Attempt Suicide by Consuming Sulphas in Indore; Two Dead.

He stressed that apart from planting saplings, it is equally important to protect them.

"It is our endeavour to save at least 50 per cent of the saplings that are being planted," he said.

The officer said after planting the saplings, they administer an oath to people and children to protect the plants.

"We have also formed a monitoring team, whose members take care of the plants as well as planting new saplings in place of the dead plants," he said.

Giving detail, the officer said the CRPF planted 10,000 saplings in Varanasi in 2019 in collaboration with Srijan Social Development Trust, Pollution Control Board and the Forest Department. Saplings of teak, mango, guava, amla, hibiscus, Arjun tree, neem and jamun were planted.

In 2020, 20,000 saplings of Ashoka tree, hibiscus, jamun, guava, amla and Mango were planted.

He said in 2021, 22,000 saplings of peepal, banyan, amla, mango, guava, Ashoka tree, hibiscus, Arjun tree, neem and jamun were planted.

A total of 23,500 saplings have been planted so far in 2022, he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mandsaur (MP), Oct 29 (PTI) Police have seized 1.5 kilograms of smack worth about Rs 1.5 crore from a hidden chamber of a garlic-laden truck in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh and arrested two alleged drug traffickers, an official said on Saturday.

Also Read | Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems by Terrorist Groups is Challenge for Governments Around   Latest Tweet by PTI News.

The drug was sourced from Manipur and being taken to Rajasthan, he said.

Also Read | Karnataka: Youth Bursts Sky Shot Crackers From Moving Car in Udupi, Arrested (Watch Video).

The operation was conducted on Friday based on a tip-off, the police official said.

"After getting the information, the police team intercepted a truck on Gudbheli Road and recovered 1.5 kg of smack kept in a plastic bag that was hidden in a secret chamber of the vehicle," Pipliya Mandi police station in-charge Rakesh Choudhary said.

Two inter-state traffickers, identified as Bhagwati Lal (37) and Chhote Khan (26), both residents of Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan and who were travelling in the truck, were arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

Their interrogation revealed that they had brought the smack from Imphal (Manipur) and were on their way to Pratapgarh, he said.

Further investigation into the case is underway, Choudhary added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for concerted global efforts to deal with the challenge of the use of new technologies by terror groups to foment discord.

In a message at the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee's meeting in Delhi, he expressed concerns over the abuse of new technologies by various terror groups to spread disinformation, foment discord and radicalise youths.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Three Minor Girls Attempt Suicide by Consuming Sulphas in Indore; Two Dead.

The counter-terror meeting in Delhi is being attended by representatives from all 15 member nations of the UN Security Council.

The message by Guterres was read out by an official of the global body.

Also Read | Mumbai: Sparks in Charging Electric Bike Battery Leaves Entire Flat Gutted in Byculla, No Casualty Reported.

"New and emerging technologies have unmatched potential to improve the human conditions everywhere, regrettably they have been also been misused by many including malicious actors," the UN Secretary-General said.

"Terrorists and others posing hateful ideologies are abusing new and emerging technologies to spread disinformation, foment discord, recruit and radicalise, mobilise resources and execute attacks," he said.

Guterres said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted many vulnerabilities to such misuse.

"We must adopt concrete measures to reduce these vulnerabilities while committing to protect all human rights in the digital sphere," he said.

"This can only be achieved through effective multilateralism and international cooperation anchoring our responses in the values and obligations of the UN charter and the universal declaration of human rights," he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Aizawl, Oct 29 (PTI) The influential Young Mizo Association (YMA) urged the Mizoram government to establish relief camps in a "compact" area to accommodate people from Myanmar who have taken shelter in the state following the military coup in the neighbouring country.

More than 30,300 Myanmar nationals have taken shelter in different parts of Mizoram since February last year, as per official estimates.

Also Read | Mumbai: Sparks in Charging Electric Bike Battery Leaves Entire Flat Gutted in Byculla, No Casualty Reported.

Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) general secretary Lalnuntluanga told PTI that a resolution was passed at its general conference held in Saitual district on Thursday for approaching the state government for the establishment of proper and "compact" relief camps for the Myanmar nationals to prevent them from living "scattered" across the state.

Myanmar nationals living in relief camps and villages in different parts of the state might create serious problems in the future, he said.

Also Read | Meghalaya: Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People's Rally on Unemployment Turns Violent in Shillong, Several Injured (Watch Video).

The conference resolved that the government should ensure that Myanmarese people do not live in different parts of the state but only in a particular area, he said.

A senior official of state Home Department, however, said that confining Myanmar nationals to a particular area was technically not feasible.

"How do we set up big relief camps and provide relief to the Myanmar nationals with our limited resources when financial help is not coming from the Centre? It will be a big burden for the government," the official said.

It is easier for them to support themselves with daily wages doing manual labour by living in different places as the government cannot provide them relief regularly, he said.

Also, the district-level committee or village-level committee dealing with the Myanmar nationals can easily manage and administer them when they live in different places, the official said.

Citing the example of Brus relief camps in North Tripura district, another official said that the compact relief camps would result in various law and order problems and misunderstandings between the locals and the Myanmar nationals.

According to the Home Department, 30,385 Myanmar nationals, including 10,013 females and 11,650 children, have taken shelter across all 11 districts of Mizoram as on October 22.

Of them, 13,210 people have been lodged in 160 relief camps, while 17,157 people live outside the relief camps.

Northeastern Champhai district hosts the largest number of people from Myanmar at 9,488, followed by southern Siaha district at 7,247 and the southernmost Lawngtlai district at 5,900, as per Home Department data.

There are 3,306 Myanmar nationals who live in Aizawl.

The Myanmar nationals, mostly from the Chin state, are provided with food and other reliefs by NGOs and village authorities. Many of them also support themselves.

Assam Rifles, which guard the India-Myanmar border, has expressed concern over the increasing number of crimes being committed by Myanmar nationals.

According to Assam Rifles DIG Digvijay Singh, more than 40 Myanmar nationals were apprehended by the paramilitary force in connection with smuggling and other crimes in the last seven months.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gambian environmental groups are opposing a plan to build an American embassy in a park thats home to endangered Western Red Colobus monkeys. https://t.co/CC0kPuU25A Bloomberg (@business) October 28, 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.)
Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega on Thursday said the new U.S. sanctions imposed on his government could only drive more migrants to the U.S. border.

Ortega's comments came after U.S. President Joe Biden announced new sanctions on Nicaragua on Monday. According to Associated Press, Ortega said the U.S. imposed more sanctions around the globe than any other country, "causing the greatest harm" and then complained "about migrants."

"They keep imposing sanctions and more immigrants will go to the United States... As much as they want to close the doors, there's no door they can close to the immigrants," the Nicaraguan president noted.

The AP reported that U.S. border authorities encountered Nicaraguans almost 164,000 times at the southwest border for the fiscal year that ended in September. It was reportedly more than triple the level for the previous year.

Past U.S. sanctions against Nicaragua were aimed at members of Ortega's family and inner circle, while the most recent one involved sanctions on Nicaragua's gold industry.

Biden signed an executive order that makes it illegal for Americans to do business with Nicaragua's gold sector. At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed a sanction on Nicaragua's General Directorate of Mines.

READ NEXT: Nicaragua: Daniel Ortega Launches New Attack Against Catholic Church, Calling It 'Perfect Dictatorship'

U.S. Sanctions on Nicaragua's Gold Industry

The executive order authorizes the U.S. Treasury Department to target certain people that operate or have operated in Nicaragua's gold industry.

Al Jazeera reported that the order also allows Washington to bar new U.S. investments in Nicaraguan economic sectors, imports of specific products from Nicaragua, and exports by U.S. citizens of certain items to the Central American country.

In a statement, U.S. Treasury official Brian E. Nelson said the Ortega-Murill administration's attack on democratic actors and members of civil society in Nicaragua and unjust detention of political prisoners showed that the current leadership feels that "it is not bound by the rule of law."

Daniel Ortega has been detaining political prisoners indefinitely. Nelson noted that the U.S. government will use "every tool" to deny Ortega-Murillo's regime the needed resources.

The Biden administration has also imposed U.S. visa restrictions on Nicaragua's officials and their relatives over the country's poor human rights record.

Human rights groups have condemned Ortega's administration for the wave of arrests it has conducted, with dozens of people detained and sentenced to often long prison terms.

Other opposition figures have already fled the country to seek refuge in Costa Rica. But with Costa Rica's overwhelmed asylum system and struggling economy, many have migrated to the U.S instead.

Human Rights Report in Nicaragua

Authorities in Nicaragua arbitrarily detained seven presidential candidates and 32 prominent government critics between late May and October 2021. According to Human Rights Watch, most of those detained have been facing "treason" charges.

Many criticized the Nicaraguan leadership as most of the critics were subjected to abuses such as prolonged solitary confinement, interrogations on a daily basis, and insufficient food.

Authorities have also not allowed the oppositional figures' lawyers to attend public hearings. Critics were instead assigned to public defenders. Despite repeated requests, most lawyers also had no access to court documents for months.

Aside from the Ortega government's intensified repression, it was also reported of have not taken any emergency measures in response to the pandemic.

Nicaragua had also kept schools open and fired doctors critical of the government, particularly those who disagreed with the administration's response to COVID-19.

Nicaraguan rights groups also reported that more than 100 perceived critics detained earlier remained under custody. Many had been reportedly held for more than a year under abusive conditions.

READ MORE: Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega's Critic Edgard Paralles Picked Up by Two People Not in Police Uniform and Was Detained

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: President of Nicaragua: U.S. Sanctions Violate Human Rights - From TeleSUR English
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
A local builder who tried to get a woman into his car late at night by pretending to be a garda, before intimidating her and assaulting her husband, will be sentenced next week.

Declan McGowan (33) was found guilty following a trial last March of attempted coercion, impersonating a member of An Garda Siochana, assault and assault causing harm at Kimmage Road Lower, Dublin in the early hours of September 18, 2021.

McGowan, of Branswood, Athy, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to all counts, but told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday, October 28 that he accepts the jury's verdicts.

The accused has 31 previous convictions, including three counts for making threats to kill, two for assault causing harm. McGowan also has one District Court conviction for impersonating a member of An Garda Siochana on July 1, 2019.

Garda Aaron Webb told John Moher BL, prosecuting, that Andra Calauz gave evidence during the trial that she stepped outside to have a cigarette following an argument with her husband. She was on the phone with her husband, who was in their nearby home, when a car pulled up.

McGowan told her he was a garda and showed her something on his phone, which Ms Calauz took to be official identification.

The accused started to pay her compliments and told her she was beautiful. Garda Webb said Ms Calauz engaged in conversation with McGowan as she thought he was a garda.

The trial heard he also took her hand, kissed it and hugged her. McGowan asked her to get into the car and said he would take her to a garda station. He also told Ms Calauz that he would contact Tusla to arrange for her children to be taken into care.

Ms Calauz gave evidence that she felt frightened and pressurised by McGowan as he asked her several times to get into his car.

Her husband Daniel Ion gave evidence during the trial that when he arrived on the scene, McGowan started choking him with one hand. He said McGowan was shouting at him to go back inside to his children or he would call Tusla and they would be taken away.

He said McGowan was "screaming" at his wife to get into the car. He said he felt at the time that McGowan was either a corrupt cop or a dangerous man".

Garda Webb told the sentencing hearing that McGowan told the couple that he would get a gun from his car to show them he was a gardai. He said he was a special agent and not a normal garda.

Mr Ion said he told McGowan two or three times to let his wife go and said to his wife in Romanian that she should not get into the car.

Mr Ion left, then called gardai who arrived within minutes and arrested McGowan.

Garda Webb said McGowan also put his number in Ms Calauz's phone and made a call to his phone during the incident.

When gardai arrived, McGowan denied he pretended to be a garda, saying that he was going to call the gardai. During the trial, both victims gave evidence which contradicted this claim.

After his arrest, McGowan denied the assault charges and said he offered the woman a lift, which was refused.

McGowan told gardai at interview that when Mr Ion arrived on the scene, he struck his wife in the face. The accused said he had put his number in Ms Calauz's phone in order to send her the details of Women's Aid.

McGowan admitted to gardai that he had a wheelbrace in the car. He denied ever kissing or hugging the woman and said she was lying.

Victim impact statements written by Ms Calauz and Mr Ion were read to the court by Mr Moher.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Calauz said she is unable to go out alone since this incident. She said she used to be really active with her children, and is scared that she is now missing out. She said the family have also tried unsuccessfully to move home since this incident.

Mr Ion said he suffered bruising to his neck and could not eat for the next two days. He also had to leave his job following these events as his wife did not feel safe when alone with their children. He said his relationship with his wife was also affected.

Mr Ion said McGowan's claims that he was a bad husband and father had also impacted him. He said McGowan had not apologised for these lies and the impact on the family.

Garda Webb agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that McGowan had made bizarre comments at interview, which were suggestive of someone in the throes of a cocaine binge. McGowan also told gardai that his partner had died in tragic circumstances.

Garda Webb accepted Mr Orange's statement that this incident lasted around 15 minutes and had taken place on a public road near housing.

McGowan also gave evidence on his own behalf. He said his drug use had been casual, but escalated following the death of his partner. McGowan told the court that going into custody has saved his life.

McGowan told Mr Maher in cross-examination that he was not taking cocaine in July 2019, when he previously pretended to be a garda.

Mr Orange said the death of McGowan's partner had led to a catastrophic spiral and his client's behaviour was influenced by his drug use at the time.

McGowan is now in a new relationship and the father of two children.

Mr Orange said the events of that night were a bizarre incident which appear to have dark overtones but could also be seen as serious misplaced chivalry on McGowan's part.

Psychological and medical reports were handed into the court on behalf of McGowan alongside a handwritten letter.

Mr Orange said his client has shown the potential for rehabilitation and is anxious to finish his time in custody and become a useful member of society again.

Judge Ryan noted that McGowan had pretended to be a garda on several occasions.

Mr Orange said the events relating to the District Court charge of impersonating a member of An Garda Siochana were different.

McGowan told Judge Ryan that this offence occurred at the time of a family feud where he had shouted he was a garda out of a car window.

Judge Ryan said McGowan cannot have it both ways and say he accepts the jury verdict but that his actions were the result of misplaced chivalry.

She adjourned the case to November 4 for finalisation.
The interim CEO of the HSE Stephen Mulvany has urged healthcare workers to get their flu vaccines and Covid-19 booster vaccines, on a visit to health services in Counties Offaly and Laois today, Thursday 27th October.

As part of a series of visits to services around the country, Mr Mulvany highlighted the significant increase in Covid-19 hospitalisations and what that means for the rest of the hospital and community healthcare system.

The HSE say Emergency Departments continue to be extremely busy with high numbers of patients attending, many of whom present with complex needs requiring admission. It says a range of initiatives are already being implemented as part of the National Service Plan to alleviate pressures in emergency care. These include additional capacity in terms of beds, staffing and strengthening Community Care Teams.

A statement said focus for improvement as part of the Winter Plan includes reductions in the number of patients accommodated on trolleys, reductions in the number of DTOCs (delayed transfers of care), and reductions in overall length of stay within the acute hospital, to support improved patient experience times (PETs) for all patients, and a particular focus for those patients aged over 75.

Mr Mulvany said: As we face into winter, we are already seeing seasonal illnesses take hold, with flu in circulation and a marked increase in RSV in young children, we recorded 325 cases last week when compared to 177 cases the previous week. Last week we also reported 18 Covid-19 outbreaks our hospitals leading to visiting restrictions in some sites which impacts our EDs, patients and our staff as they follow infection prevention and control guidance.

He also speaking about flu and Covid vaccinations, he urged staff to protect themselves, their patients and their families.

"The potential spread of Covid and low booster uptake among healthcare workers is a worry for the health service ahead of winter in terms of the health and wellbeing of our workforce as well as the potential impact of staff illness and absenteeism on our ability to deliver health services. I urge staff to follow the example of the thousands and thousands of staff members who have received the flu vaccine already, and encourage all staff to take up the offer of a Covid booster vaccine, he said.

During his visit, Mr Mulvany met staff involved in a range of initiatives and heard about how acute and community services are collaborating and integrating to improve health outcomes. He acknowledged and thanked staff for their work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore and Portlaoise he met with the hospitals management and the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group CEO. In the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore he met staff working in Emergency and Outpatient services to see the improvements in patient flow and integrated care initiatives which are reducing ED presentations, length of stay and improving access and patient experience through collaborative working with community colleagues.

While in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise saw the new Ambulatory Gynaecology hub and was told about service developments which are improving access, service capacity and waiting times for patients. He thanked staff at both hospitals for their work and took the opportunity to say farewell to Hospital Manager, Michael Knowles who is retiring soon.

Mr Mulvany also visited the HSE offices in Arden Road in Tullamore for a presentation on Enhanced Community Care, jointly chaired by CEO of Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and the Chief Office of Midlands Louth Meath Community Health Organisation. He talked to the Laois/Offaly Home Support Team and then visited Tullamore Primary Care Centre to meet the Offaly CAMHS team, Laois/Offaly ECD, CIT / Reablement Team and the ECC Teams.
If you were to watch Bohemian Rhapsody or Rocketman this past year you might be forgiven for falling into the assumption that being in a band is partying and misadventures. Very little screen time is attributed to the long hours of graft in those early years, perhaps to convey the rise to stardom.

Whether you are Freddie Mercury and Queen or not, the early grind is all the same. In addition to Lypton Village, one thing that sets any band apart in Ireland or globally at the minute was having to contend with Covid-19.

The band known as Lypton Village is made up of Kildares Claire Nolan (lead vocalist/songwriter), Carlos Foster (synths/keys/vocals), Aengus Samuel-Maher or Goose (percussion/electronic drums), Lee Murphy (lead guitar), Gavin Byrne (bass guitar) and Trevor McEvoy (Drums).

In their first gig back from the pandemic, Lypton village were headed across the channel to the Pixie Lott-headlined Sheb Fest in Devon.

Speaking before the gig, lead vocalist Claire Nolan said, It 100% feels like a big step, I cannot wait to get back onto a stage in front of an audience. There is something terrifying and invigorating about standing in front of people who have never heard your songs before and trying to win them over. Its always good to play things live to see if it's working, its all very well to stand in a room and go yeah were deadly but that might not translate.

There is no safety net because if we play at home or up in Dublin we have a group of people who will come to support us.

Upon the bands return from Sheb Fest they received acclaim for their performance from festival goers and organisers alike. An enormous boost for any band to see the fruits of their labour work out the way they had hoped after two years of what they called the great session depression.

In the midst of the aforementioned dark period for us all, Lypton Village had their studio time cut in the middle of recording an album. But decided to give fans a flavour of what they had been up to.

We decided to release a single to show that we had been putting the work in, because he had been working so hard, Claire explained.

The bands single No Offence was released on June 19, 2020 and to the bands delight and surprise got them their first radio play on the popular music station, Radio Nova.

Usually you would have certain contacts that you will email and say up and coming Irish artists and different radio stations have DJs that are primarily focused on that, Claire described.

But a friend of mine Cara Boyce whos a videographer worked for Nova at one stage and mentioned about us and our singleWe got an email back the day of it playing out saying its going to play in 20 minutes. There was this mad dash of us all ringing each other and making sure we were all beside a radio or anywhere we could listen.

The proud moment finally came after the band scrambled for a radio station and screamed at their laptops to load the Nova website faster to hear their song play out.

It was uplifting, because like it was for everybody, it was a difficult time. And for musicians especially, we spent time figuring out whether we were going to be able to make it work and was it feasible, Claire explained.

The two years that we couldn't do anything also brought us closer, like a family. That will stand to us when we come back with our tour and release everything.

The band themselves summed up their journey eloquently as five years together but two years interrupted. The band found one another through a mix of secondary school and college encounters through music until Lypton Village was born.

Once we put the band together we put on some amazing gigs, like we did the Grand Social, the Workman's club up in Dublin and some festivals around Ireland, Claire recalled.

Battle of the bay, Something in the Water, we really hit the ground running in 2019 and we were gigging nearly every week. We decided to record an album, go full steam ahead and then just everything stopped.

The band are now happy to reflect on how things panned out as they grew together and honed their genre-fluid sound. Fans wont have too much longer to wait as the group builds towards new releases in the coming months.

Despite the hard graft and their careers essentially grinding to halt before life restarted for us all, Lypton Village like anyone in an artistic endeavour have had to endure listening to their journey be reduced to a hobby by outside voices.

The hardest part of all of it is people going awh are you still doing the music? or people saying how lucky we are to get to do your hobby for your job. They dont understand what goes into it. I can't speak for every band but for us, Carlos lives in Longford, Goose lives in Offaly, Gavin is in Portlaoise so we are all dotted around the country and are all also working full-time, Claire explained.

We get three hours a week, in a room, to work. Carlos takes a bus and train from Longford to get here for three hours to work intensely for three hours. We might have a few days without him and we send recordings so he can work from home. There is a lot of work that goes into it because nobody is paying you for the rehearsal. Unless you're a session musician, but when you are an original band you are doing that for the passion, love and drive of it.

However, the solace to take from these negative meetings with people on the outside will always be to prove them wrong. There is no motivating factor quite like dealing with someone of a judgemental ilk.

There is an urge and drive that it gives you to prove yourself. I feel immense satisfaction knowing that the show we put out will turn a few heads. I dont think its necessarily a bad thing to take your time to get something right, especially when its a passion. Instead of throwing out content aimlessly, which can be empty, Claire said.

The band after their brilliance in Britain are now working more than ever to put the perfect touches to their next releases as they look to build on the success of their single release and festival shows.

You can find out more about upcoming dates and new releases on their social media.
As the days get shorter and our famous Irish weather returns to something like its normal self, you might find yourself looking for some filler to see you through the gloomy days ahead.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, just released on Disney+, is a series that will more than likely find its way onto your watchlist.

Starring Tatiana Maslany as the eponymous hero, and with cameo appearances from Mark Ruffalo, Megan Thee Stallion and Tim Roth, amongst others, this is a mostly light hearted Marvel mash-up that rarely strays from the confines of its family friendly12+ rating.

The action revolves around Maslanys character Jennifer Walters who, as the show starts out, is an ambitious but slightly diminutive lawyer.

Her cousin just happens to be Bruce Banner (The Hulk). In episode 1, the two go on a road trip and, after a very Marvel-esque run in with a space ship, they have a huge road accident. The fallout from this is that Walters comes into contact with Banners blood and, as tends to happen in all things Marvel, she becomes a member of the Hulk race herself.

From then on, the crux of the plot rests on Walters dilemma. Refusing to rest on her green hued laurels, she insists on pursuing her career as an attorney. And just like that, deus ex machina, with her creation story out of the way, the shows creators really begin to set out their stall.

From the outset, its made quite obvious that the world that She-Hulk inhabits is peopled with toxic masculinity and social media age misogyny. The foil to her newfound superpowers isnt Kriptonite.

The creators of this show have found an alternative, its the Toxic White Male.

For the shows heroine to navigate her way through life as her human self, she unfortunately has to co-exist with people like her slimy workmate Dennis Bukowski, the very caricature of toxicity. Hed much rather rate his female colleagues by their looks than their professional abilities.

And, contrary to what you might expect, when Walters morphs into her Hulk alter-ego, things do not get any easier. Both online and in real life, her credentials are constantly called into question. A zoomed-in social media screen grab has one of her detractors complaining: So we have a MeToo movement, and now all the male heroes are gone?

The fact that MeToo is obliquely mentioned is a nod to what creator Jessica Gao is trying to say. Its obvious that this series aspires to carry a punch, but blink and youll miss it.

This is a cosmetic attempt by those at Marvel HQ to reckon with where we are as a society post MeToo.

If the daily travails that Walters experiences are anything to go by, then the answer must be  not in a very good place.

For anyone in denial about the cultural and economic impact of the Marvel juggernaut, I highly recommend having a look at the closing credits at the end of any episode of She-Hulk.

The sheer amount of artistic, financial and legal talent that must go into producing a series like this is a testament to the impact Marvel has had on the film industry. It also shows the financial clout that it wields.

Whether you think this is a good thing or not is another question. In another era, film legend Michael Caine was posed with such a question.

After starring in Jaws 4, he was asked about the merits of the film. He hadnt seen it. But he did helpfully add: Ive seen the house it bought my mum. Its fantastic.
National Womens Enterprise Day took place across the country on Thursday, October 13. This is an annual initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and the theme for this years event was Our Future, Our Way with the aim of inspiring more women in Ireland to start and grow their own business.

The networking event for entrepreneurs in Leitrim took place in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon. 50 local entrepreneurs and businesswomen participated and speakers included Anne Guckian, Leitrim Office Supplies and Breda McCague, Organisational Transformation Specialist & Lean In Ireland Co-Founder.

The MC for the event was Michelle McLoughlin, solicitor, trainer and mentor.

Joe Lowe of Local Enterprise Office Leitrim said; Now in its sixteenth year, National Womens Enterprise Day is an important milestone in the Local Enterprise Office calendar.

It gives us the opportunity to highlight the success stories of women in Leitrim who continue to do amazing things in business, across every sector.

The day itself is also an opportunity for businesswomen to network, engage, share tips and advice and to find out what supports are available for their business through their Local Enterprise Office.

National Womens Enterprise Day has grown year-on-year with 16 events taking place across the country and over 1,700 female entrepreneurs in attendance.

This growth in popularity has been reflected in the national growth in female entrepreneurship across the country.

Part of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research for 2021, showed that 49% of women surveyed believed they had the necessary skills and knowledge to start a business.

This was up from 39% in 2018. The report also highlighted that Ireland has the third highest rate for early-stage women entrepreneurs across European countries, with over 1,400 women starting a new business in Ireland every month.

National Womens Enterprise Day is just one of the initiatives of the Local Enterprise Offices aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and assisting companies to start up and grow.

Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities are funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland.

www.localenterprise.ie
Halloween fireworks are having a devastating impact nationwide on Guide and Assistance Dogs and their owners, according to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Fireworks are been set off for weeks ahead of Halloween on the last day of October, resulting in distress for pets for several weeks.

The charity, which supports those who are vision impaired and the families of children with autism, says fireworks can be extremely distressing for all animals but particularly working dogs such as Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs. As a result, some dogs are no longer able to support their owners and therefore must be retired.

Ulla Quayles guide dog Sage had to retire in 2020 due to the stress of the impact of fireworks.

"She was only 4 years of age; I should have had another 6 more wonderful years with this amazing dog. She suffered severe trauma from the fireworks and was never the same dog after, she was terrified to leave the house which broke all our hearts as she was a much-loved family member," Ulla said.

Even the trainers in Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind couldn't get her to overcome her fear of noises to the extent she became terrified of doors shutting. She was retired to a lovely family in Kerry where she is living out her days in peace and quiet. Guide Dogs become part of your family and parting with them is agony.

Tim O'Mahony, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind explained: "Situations like Ullas are not uncommon. Not only is the impact on the dog heart-breaking but its devastating for the owner who must wait to be matched with another dog which can take many months. In the meantime, the independence and mobility which they previously enjoyed is hugely curtailed or completely taken away. If a dog has an experience which goes beyond a normal level of stress, such as a firework exploding close to them, this can overly sensitise the dog, similar to PTSD in humans.

"Whilst most dogs can recover, some will overreact to unexpected noise which manifests as a fear reaction. Every Halloween our teams support a number of our Clients whose dogs have been adversely impacted by fireworks".

Tips to protect your dog

Dogs do not like fireworks, so ensure to get plenty of exercise before dark  ideally during school hours or at mealtimes. This will minimise the exposure and tire the dog so that they will be more relaxed and more likely to sleep through the evening.

After dark dogs should be kept indoors as much as possible.

Confine pets to the general living areas rather than quieter areas such as hallways or bedrooms.

Leave the radio and TV on to drown out some of the external noises. Pull your curtains to help reduce visual exposure to fireworks.

Do not scold or fuss over a nervous dog as this only exacerbates the situation and can reinforce the behaviour.

If a dog is particularly stressed, we recommend treating them with natural remedies available from vets and pharmacies.

Remember, no tricks and no treats for your dog. Chocolate is not safe for your pet so do not share any with the dogs.
Martin Brudermuller has not held back. The CEO of BASF  Germany's largest chemical company  who had already predicted that the end of Russian gas supplies would create the biggest economic crisis in Germany since the Second World War, said on Wednesday, October 26, that his company was going to reduce its costs in Europe "as quickly as possible and permanently."

Essentially, this means that the European chemical industry, caught between strict regulations and stratospheric energy prices, no longer has much of a future in Europe. Competitiveness lies elsewhere, and to show the way, BASF is targeting the city of Zhanjiang, in Guangdong, southern China. It is going to invest $10 billion (9.9 billion) to supply the Chinese market with plastics and other chemicals.

Read more Subscribers only Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor: 'Large industrial companies risk relocating if energy remains more expensive in Europe'

Mr. Brudermuller is leaving the current mistrust of China and political flights about the necessary sovereignty of Europe to others. He will not be ashamed to fly with Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his first official visit to China on November 3 and 4, the first by a European leader since 2019.

Less metals for energy transition

The energy crisis has dealt European industries a severe blow. In the shadow of Martin Brudermuller, many players also fear that it is permanent. This is a bad time for France, which was pleased with the slight upturn in its industrial sector. Already, nearly 400 files are piling up in the Finance Ministry's aid service departments, including the Interministerial Committee for Industrial Restructuring, responsible for finding financial solutions for companies in serious difficulties.

Read more Subscribers only As energy prices soar, French factories scale back production

We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback

Glass factories and printing plants: all the most energy-intensive activities have seen their energy bills multiplied, sometimes tenfold, jeopardizing their very existence. On Thursday, September 22, Industry Minister Roland Lescure visited the ailing Aluminium Dunkerque plant. The plant consumes the equivalent of the city of Marseille in terms of electricity. In one year, its bill has risen from 200 million to 600 million, which is unsustainable.

Production has already been reduced by more than 20%. The minister promised 40 million-50 million. According to the European metals union Eurometaux, aluminum and zinc production in Europe was reduced by half in 2022. It's unfortunate, at a time when energy transition will absorb huge quantities of these metals, which are now considered strategic. Europe has never been in greater need of a collective response to this existential problem, but it is still hesitating.
A LIMERICK councillor has expressed his concern at soaring insurance costs being incurred by individual homeowners who have had their land rezoned as being under risk of flooding.

Cllr John ODonoghue (Independent) told a meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District how one man spent a fortune and is suffering huge implications relating to his insurance costs.

To give you a picture of it. A gentleman in Rathkeale was told he was in a flood zone, which will cause him a problem if he wants to apply for planning permission or sell his home in future, he said.

He explained that the man, who is a private homeowner whose house was not in a flood risk zone before, incurred a huge cost in paying for assessments to find out that part of his property is 50mm over the threshold.

How many more properties are going to be involved when we move the goalposts and say that we are going to put a place into a flood (zone) that was never in a flood (zone) before? Cllr ODonoghue asked.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) added to his colleague's point after telling council officials that the local authority must be more sensible when rezoning land in the district as being at risk of flooding.

I have come across some parts of Kildimo that have been totally destroyed and there will be no more planning there, he said.

Its a major issue, half of Kildimo has no insurance despite the fact that there have been no incidents of flooding there and probably never will be, Cllr Keary added.

Cllr Kevin Sheahan (FF) pointed the finger at Dublin, saying that despite the hard-fought efforts of local councillors, the government is legislating against the best interests of its own people.

A council official responded stating the local authority is not responsible for drawing up flood maps and that the responsibility lies with the Office of Public Works (OPW).

We cant just decide that we want to remove somebodys property from a flood map, but if they have a flood report done, they can make a submission and engage with our flood team, they said.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader after the meeting, Cllr ODonoghue said that a "balance must be found" for homeowners who have had their properties drawn into flood (zones) by only a few millimetres.

Whether you are one millimetre or one metre over the threshold, the implications are the same. This is something that is going to affect so many homeowners, rate payers, farmers and business owners down the line, he exclaimed.
THERE is excitement and expectation on the citys northside that Na Piarsaigh can regain the title of Limericks hurling kings once more.

The Elm Drive club, which has four All-Ireland 2022 winners in its ranks, fell short to eventual runners-up Patrickswell at the semi-final stage last year.

But the men-in-blue will be bidding to regain the title they last landed in 2020 with a thumping win over Doon.

Back then, due to Covid-19 restrictions, only a few hundred lucky souls got to see Na Piarsaigh lift a sixth senior hurling title.

But a huge crowd is expected at the Tus Gaelic Grounds this Sunday, throw in 4:15pm, with many locals hoping the Blues will secure a seventh title in only 11 years.

During the week, youngsters at John F Kennedy National School  where Na Piarsaigh captain William ODonoghue and Conor Boylan were educated  donned the distinctive sky-blue as teachers and students alike got ready to cheer on their heroes in hopes they can conquer Kilmallock.

Proudly clutching a hurley, North Circular Road lad Charlie Ryan, 12, predicted a 20 million point win for Na Piarsaigh, before revising that optimistic forecast down to two!

It was a prediction shared by Harry OSullivan, 12, from Ennis Road who said: I think we are a lot better than Kilmallock!

Thomondgates Jamie Murphy, also 12, said: Itll be a tight game. Id say it will be a bit like the Tipperary minor match where the person dropped it into the box, and everyone jumped on it, and the ball goes into the back of the net and we end up winning by a point!.

Charlie said Na Piarsaigh are a brilliant team with brilliant fans.

As Limerick Live left the boys national school, we were bid farewell by the chant of Na Piarsaigh Abu!.

Expect to hear a lot more of this on Sunday!
When the CNRD under Colonel Doumbouya seized power, one of the main issues at stake was control over the bauxite revenues.

by Vijay Prashad

On October 20, 2022, in Guinea, a protest organized by the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) took place. The protesters demanded the ruling military government (the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development, or CNRD) release political detainees and sought to establish a framework for a return to civilian rule. They were met with violent security forces, and in Guineas capital, Conakry, at least five people were injured and three died from gunshot wounds. The main violence was in Conakrys commune of Ratoma, one of the poorest areas in the city.

In September 2021, the CNRD, led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, overthrew the government of Alpha Conde, which had been in power for more than a decade and was steeped in corruption. In 2020, then-President Alpha Condes sonAlpha Mohamed Condeand his minister of defenseMohamed Dianewere accused of bribery in a complaint that the Collective for the Transition in Guinea (CTG) filed with the French National Financial Prosecutors Office. The complaint alleges that these men received bribes from an international consortium in exchange for bauxite mining rights near the city of Boke.

Mamady Doumbouya [ Photo  Wikimedia]

Boke, in northwestern Guinea, is the epicenter of the countrys bauxite mining. Guinea has the worlds largest reserves of bauxite (estimated to be 7.4 billion metric tons) and is the second-largest producer (after Australia) of bauxite, an essential mineral for aluminum. All the mining in Guinea is controlled by multinational firms, such as Alcoa (U.S.), China Hongqiao, and Rio Tinto Alcan (Anglo-Australian), which operate in association with Guinean state entities.

When the CNRD under Colonel Doumbouya seized power, one of the main issues at stake was control over the bauxite revenues. In April 2022, Doumbouya assembled the major mining companies and told them that by the end of May they had to provide a road map for the creation of bauxite refineries in Guinea or else exit the country. Doumbouya said, Despite the mining boom in the bauxite sector, it is clear that the expected revenues are below expectations. We can no longer continue this fools game that perpetuates great inequality between Guinea and the international companies. The deadline was extended to June, and the ultimatums demands to cooperate or leave are ongoing.

Doumbouyas CNRD in Guinea, like the military governments in Burkina Faso and Mali, came to power amid popular sentiment fed up with the oligarchies in their country and with French rule. Doumbouyas 2017 comments in Paris reflect that latter sentiment. He said that French military officers who come to Guinea underestimate the human and intellectual capacities of Africans They have haughty attitudes and take themselves for the colonist who knows everything, who masters everything. This coup governmentformed out of an elite force created by Alpha Conde to fight terrorismhas captured the frustrations of the population, but is unable to construct a viable agenda to exit the countrys dependence on foreign mining companies. In the meantime, the protests for a return to democracy are unlikely to be quelled.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.
A LIMERICK councillor has called for an immediate road safety audit to be carried out at a dangerous junction in west Limerick where, he claims, a young woman was nearly killed in a serious road accident.

Cllr Liam Galvin (FG) told members of the Newcastle West Municipal District that there are far too many accidents taking place at Dores Cross at Templeglantine between Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale.

At the meeting, he mentioned a recent road collision. "A lorry rear-ended a car. The girl was nearly killed. Thats the reality of the danger, Cllr Galvin warned.

He stressed that councillors need to do something to seek funding to do a job on the junction to make it safer, adding that the danger lies with differing speed limits on opposing sides of the junction.

Mayor of the city and county of Limerick, Cllr Francis Foley (FF) seconded the motion noting that traffic calming measures were installed in Templeglantine a number of years ago reducing the speed limit to 50 km/h on the approach to Dores Cross.

Cllr Foley added that the problem remains beyond the cross, where the speed limit increases to 100km/h.

In response to the motion, a council official stated that the local authority has spoken to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) regarding the junction.

TII have committed to carrying out a road safety review at this location. We will share the results of this review once complete, said Seamus O Reilly, Senior Executive Engineer.
THE NATIONAL Gallery of Ireland have announced the return of Your Gallery at School for the 2022-23 period, selecting a Limerick school to take part.

The Catherine McAuley School in Limerick city has been chosen along with 11 other schools nationwide to take part in a series of art workshops, designed specifically for children who may not have access to the gallery due to socio-economic, gender or geographic barriers.

A representative from Catherine McAuley School, Limerick commented: We are thrilled to be participating in the Your Gallery at School initiative, it will greatly enhance the art experience for our students and we can't wait to get started.

Over the course of the 2022-23 school year, the gallery will work with the twelve schools to create a series of tailored activities, appropriate for the students ages and school levels.

Your Gallery at School comprises individual practical workshops, sensory sessions, talks and Q&As for selected schools.

The programme includes Learning through and about art - a practical workshop inspired by the national collection; Wellbeing - a sensory session focusing on slow looking and mindfulness; and Creative Careers - a talk and Q&A with Gallery staff and an established artist, enabling students to learn about a variety of arts careers.

The initiative is sponsored by leading global aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital.

Chief Executive Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital Peter Barrett commented: SMBC Aviation Capital is delighted to see Your Gallery at School go from strength to strength. It is fantastic to see the impact of this programme, which can be seen in the growing number of applications year on year, and we are immensely proud to support it.
THE UNIVERSITY Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) will host its first annual remembrance service in person this decade next weekend.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the last two commemorations have taken place virtually.

But next Sunday, November 6, at 3pm, the Church of the Holy Rosary in the Ennis Road, an in-person remembrance service will happen.

It aims to acknowledge and remember the pregnancies that were lost, and the babies who have died through miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.

Fr Des McAuliffe will lead the service, which can also be viewed live on the parish website at https://www.ourladyoftherosaryparishlimerick.ie/web-cam/ For those people who are unable to attend in person or view live online, the service will be recorded, and subsequently posted to the parish website.Rita OBrien, clinical midwife specialist on bereavement and loss at UMHL said the service was as much for parents and families of babies who died many years ago, as for those more recently bereaved."Were delighted this year to be able to invite people back to attend this service in person. Infant loss and pregnancy loss can be a very lonely grief. This annual event provides a time and space when we can connect with one another as a community, and share our grief journeys," she said.

Following the ceremony, there will be a cup of tea and time for people to chat to each other.



For further information contact Rita OBrien or Marie Hunt, bereavement support department, UMHL on 061-483196.
New Delhi: Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday asked Indias business community to give primacy to products that are made in India.

Addressing the All India Vaishya Federation (AIYF) in Hyderabad, the minister emphasized the need to promote industry and manufacturing in India and said that this would help boost employment and bring in prosperity.

Endorsing PM Modis call to ttourists to spend at least 5% of their travel budget on locally made products, the minister said that our talented artisans, craftsmen and entrepreneurs deserve to be supported and promoted.

Goyal pointed out that in the last 30 years, Indias GDP had grown by 11.8 times. He said there was a time when a large section of the population was focussed upon securing the very basic necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter.

The minister observed that the situation has improved tremendously now due to the governments extensive focus on structural reforms that make sure that people were freed from the constant struggle for the necessities of life.

He said the reform that was closest to his heart was the governments success in building over 12 crore toilets, taking safe sanitation, a very basic necessity, to every household in the nation. It was not just a matter of toilets but that of dignity and self-respect, especially for our women," Goyal stressed.

The minister said that the government had ensured food security to nearly 80 crore citizens by supplying food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and additional 5 kilo food grains per person per month. He said that it should be a matter of gratification to tax payers that their money was being used well to help those in real need.

The minister spoke of the need to secure the basic necessities of women, especially that of menstrual hygiene. Expressing concern over girl children dropping out of schools on attaining puberty, the Minister stressed that the government was providing sanitary napkins at very low prices.

Goyal called for more awareness programs to educate women about various aspects of menstrual hygiene to protect and empower them. The Minister asked AIVF to strive to ensure that in the next one year every single woman in the nation had awareness and access to sanitary pads.

The Minister stressed that India was ready to take decisive steps towards becoming a developed nation, a vishwa guru. He expressed confidence that Indias huge youth population had the capability to drive this quest forward. India is the sole bright spot in the world today. The world is looking towards India with great hope", he added.

Goyal noted that developed nations were now aspiring to enter into FTAs with India and said that the fastest FTA in the world was concluded between India and UAE in just 88 days. He added that the rest of the GCC nations were also gearing up to sign FTAs with India.

The Minister spoke of the Prime Ministers stress on the need to go back to our roots and said that Indias history, its culture, traditions and value systems, had great strength in them. He asked to bring an end to social discrimination and said that divisive tendencies have no place in New India.
Ukraine wants longer range guided rockets from the United States. The United States still refuses but the pressure is building as it become more obvious that the lack of longer-range (300 kilometers) missiles like ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) could be decisive, just as the smaller GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) missile and its 80 kilometers range have been. There are other longer-range missiles available from the United States. There is a longer range GMLRS called ER MLRS with a range of 150 kilometers. The manufacturer has offered to send pre-production ER GMLRS to Ukraine but that requires permission from the U.S. government.

Ukraine has been asking for the ATACMS since June. It is, like GMLRS, carried and launched from the HIMARS truck. There is also a successor to ATACMS called PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) with a range of 650 kilometers. This one, like ER GMLRS, are still in development but are ready for mass production and some development missiles are available for Ukraine to use.

GMLRS, ER GMLRS, ATACMS and PrSM are all developed and produced by Lockheed Martin. GMLRS has been a big seller with about 50,000 missiles produced so far. Ukraine is responsible for depleting American and other NATO nation stockpiles,

All four can be carried and launched from the HIMARS vehicle. All three variants are more expensive than GMLRS, which cost about $150,000 each. ER GMLRS doubles that price and PrSM cost about $1.5 million each. While HIMARS carries six GMLRS or ER GMLRS, it can only carry one ATACMS. The new PrSM is smaller that ATACMS but larger than GMLRS. That means HIMARS can carry two PrSMs.

The original ATACMS had a range of 300 kilometers and a 230 kg (500 pound) warhead. A planned replacement for ATACMS called Deepstrike was renamed Precision Strike Missile or PrSM. Deepstrike was designed to be capable of hitting targets 500 kilometers away and has more capable guidance system features. This includes an optional guidance system that allows PrSM to hit moving targets, especially ships at sea. The U.S. Navy is interested in this because the Marine Corps has already demonstrated that HIMARS can launch GMLRS from the deck of an amphibious assault ship, which has a flight deck similar to the larger nuclear carriers.

The ATACMS is a 610mm ballistic missile that is no longer produced. Its latest upgrades have been to the guidance system. In 2017 ATACMS was given the ability to hit moving targets, specifically ships at sea. ATACMS has sufficient range for that and the U.S. pioneered the development of terminal guidance systems for ballistic missiles in the 1970s (the Pershing mobile missile). Since then, the U.S. has developed similar guidance systems so that high-speed missiles can hit moving targets. It was not difficult to then develop a terminal guidance system for ATACMS that searches for a certain size ship and heads for it while moving at more than a thousand meters a second, which is faster than most bullets. The ATACMS guidance system has also received a proximity detonation capability so that it can be programmed to explode in the air above a target. All the current ATACMS needs is the GPS coordinates of the moving target (which can be on land or sea). Since max flight time (at max range) is only a few minutes it is easy to predict where the moving target will be based on aerial, satellite, or sonar detection. It takes less than a minute to update the guidance system and launch. If nothing else this will give potential naval foes something more to worry about and be a popular export item as well.

Most current ATACMS are armed with a 227 kg (500 pound) high explosive warhead. The U.S. used over 700 ATACMS, most of them in Iraq and Afghanistan combat operations and their performance was excellent, especially the guided ones. Nearly 4,000 ATACMS have been built since the mid-1980s and about 70 percent are still available for use. In addition to those used in combat about three percent were fired for training or testing.

Ukraine demonstrated that using longer-range missiles in HIMARS are much more useful in a near peer war than previously thought. The main reason American leaders give for not providing Ukraine with longer range missiles is the risk of the war escalating. Russia has already done that and the Ukrainians make the case that the longer-range missiles will help speed the end of the war.
If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option.
President Michael D Higgins has today paid tribute to CervicalCheck campaigner, Longford's Lynsey Bennett, who has died at the age of 34.

President Higgins spoke of Lynsey's strength, conviction and courage.

President Higgins stated, People throughout Ireland will have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of Lynsey Bennett.

"All those who watched or heard interviews with Lynsey will have been struck by what an outstanding young woman Lynsey was, driven by a powerful love for her daughters Zoe and Hailee, and by the strength with which she confronted the challenges which she faced.

"What she had to take on, and did so with such conviction and courage, was and will be to the benefit of all women, and thus to all of us.

"I send my deepest condolences to Zoe and Hailee, to her father Coote, to her sisters and to all her family and friends.

Meanwhile, Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy paid tribute to Lynsey on last night's show. In February 2021 he interviewed Lynsey on his show.

He described Lynsey as a beautiful soul and said unfortunately she was one of the people in Ireland that were poorly treated.

He told viewers, "Before we go on, I don't want to let the evening go without mentioning a friend of ours on the show who sat here not too long away, who I'm sorry to say passed away.

"She was a beautiful soul, a kind person and very happy.

"I remember going to meet her in the dressing room backstage and we did a Facetime with her family back home.

"She radiated a lot of goodness and a great deal of kindness. She was a fighter. She kept going and persisting.

"She was an important woman in Ireland because there are a lot of people in Ireland that were poorly treated and deserved a lot more and didn't get what they needed.

"Unfortunately Lynsey was one of those people. So our thoughts are with her tonight especially to her girls Zoe and Hailee."

Lynsey's Funeral Service will take place in St Johns Church, Battery Road, Longford at 12noon on Monday, October 31 followed by interment afterwards in the adjoining churchyard.
The Government has agreed to double the payments people hosting Ukrainian refugees receive in a bid to tackle the emergency accommodation shortage.

From December 1, the monthly payment to people who volunteer as hosts will increase from 400 euro to 800 euro.

It is part of a range of measures approved by Cabinet ministers on Friday which are aimed at increasing the supply of accommodation available to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The Government last week warned that refugees could end up sleeping on the streets in Ireland due to the accommodation shortage.

Under the new plans, refugees will be offered accommodation only. They will be expected to use welfare payments to pay for their food and day-to-day expenses.

It is understood those living in hotels will also be charged for meals.

A refusals policy has also been introduced. It means refugees who refuse an offer of suitable accommodation will not be offered another option.

The Government said the measures were agreed in a bid to move from an emergency response to a more streamlined long-term approach due to the high numbers of people seeking refugee in the country including those seeking asylum under international protection rules.

To date, Ireland has accommodated up to 56,000 men, women and children from Ukraine  with thousands of children in primary and post primary school and also over 10,000 Ukrainians working.

A new 50 million euro community fund was approved in recognition that some communities have welcomed a significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Housing will work with colleagues to develop a programme of supports to ensure that levels of access to public services and community centre facilities for the local community are maintained and expanded.

Ministers also agreed to expand and accelerate the refurbishment programme and the rapid build modular homes programme.

This will include ensuring all available properties, including those with dormitory style configuration, are utilised.

The Government has agreed to substantially increase the number of these units next year.

A call for vacant homes will be launched. It will be led by local authorities with the aim of ensuring a more rapid turnaround of the mobilisation of the offers from the public.
Kyrie Irving likes to live in the midst of controversy. The most recent is a tweet he posted Thursday, in which he didn't write anything but shows the image of a movie that has been described as anti-Semitic. The film is from 2018 and is called "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," based on a book of the same name published in 2015.

The film is sold on Amazon, and has been described by critics as "venomously anti-Semitic." Rolling Stone cites statements claiming that "many high-ranking Jewish celebrities have admitted to worshipping Satan or Lucifer."

Nets disassociate themselves from star's publication

Brooklyn Nets, the team in which Irving plays, immediately disassociated itself from the publication made by its star. "The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and do not tolerate the promotion of any form of hate speech. We believe that in these situations, our first action should be open and honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL [Anti-Defamation League], who have supported us during this time."

According to the film's description on Amazon's site, the film "uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel by demonstrating the true ethnicity of Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Sons of Ham, Shem and Japheth. Discover what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have hidden for centuries regarding the true biblical identity of the so-called blacks in this film packed with tons of research."

One more of his controversial opinions

Irving's tweet adds to other posts he has made over the years in which he expresses his opinion on sensitive and controversial topics.

Just last September, Kyrie shared on his Instagram account a video with a conspiracy theory from 2002 by Alex Jones, who denounced the arrival of a "New World Order".

In 2021, Irving showed his skepticism regarding COVID-19 vaccines, and in 2018, when he was playing with the Boston Celtics, he posted his belief that the Earth is flat, although he later apologized for that comment.
China's automobile manufacturing sector logs revenue growth in Jan.-Sept.

Xinhua) 14:15, October 29, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's automobile manufacturing industry posted steady revenue growth in the first three quarters of this year, official data showed.

The sector raked in some 6.61 trillion yuan (about 922 billion U.S. dollars) during the January-September period, up 6.7 percent from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In the first three quarters, the sector's profit shrank 1.9 percent year on year, with the decline narrowing by 5.4 percentage points over the first eight months, data showed.

In September alone, the industry saw its profit rise 47.4 percent from a year ago, supported by the recovery of supply and industrial chains and growth in new energy vehicle output, the bureau said.

China produced 19.63 million vehicles in the first nine months, up 7.4 percent year on year. A total of 19.47 million automobiles were sold in the country during the period, rising 4.4 percent over last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
WARRENTON  The U.S. Coast Guard has established a new base.

"Today is about the Coast Guard demonstrating its unwavering commitment  unwavering commitment to our operational customers, our people and our families and the future of our service as the Coast Guard's force laydown grows in size and importance in Astoria and throughout Oregon," said Rear Adm. Jon Hickey, the director of operational logistics, during a ceremony held to formally institute Coast Guard Base Astoria.

The base, at Sector Columbia River's facility at the Astoria Regional Airport in Warrenton, will provide operational logistics support for units across the 13th District's footprint in Oregon and southern Washington state, as well as the facility at Tongue Point.

While the sector previously managed its own mission support, the new structure allows the base to handle duties related to administration, medical, shoreside logistics, facilities maintenance, shipping and receiving and more.

"A base and a base detachment exists so those people  those operators, those ships, those air stations can focus on executing operations," Hickey said.

The conversion to a base has taken place at several Coast Guard units across the country in order to enhance mission support.

Todd Wimmer, a commander, has assumed leadership of the new unit. Wimmer served as chief of facilities at a Coast Guard training facility in Petaluma, California, for several years.

The base's establishment comes before the anticipated arrival of two fast response cutters, which will begin being homeported in Astoria in the summer of 2024.

"Leading up to that, there is a significant amount of planning, leadership, mission support, operational coordination to make those arrivals happen and make those cutters fully capable here in Astoria at Tongue Point," Wimmer said.

While the base has a total contingent of 92 people, Hickey said, the number is expected to rise in order to support the arrival of the cutters.

"In short, Base Astoria has a massive amount of responsibility and is absolutely essential to (Pacific) Area and (District) 13 executing its missions," Hickey said.
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the issuance of contracts to develop the F-35 Lightning II, America's fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Since its launch, the program has set the standard for the incorporation of new technologies and components into fighter aircraft, such as thrust vectoring, composite materials, stealth technology, advanced radar and sensors, and integrated avionics to greatly improve pilot situational awareness. But the time has come for necessary upgrades.

Specifically, planned air vehicle growth on the F-35 will exceed the current thrust, power and thermal management (PTMS) capabilities on the fighter jet's F135 engine by the end of the decade. As a result, a propulsion overhaul is needed. There are two schools of thought about how best to accomplish this goal.

Many policymakers in Washington favor a suite of upgrades to the existing F135 engine known as the Enhanced Engine Package (EEP). These modifications would allow the aircraft to continue to meet operational requirements by improving thrust and range by more than 10% each and providing a 50% improvement in thermal management. As a retrofit, it would also allow the military to maintain the F-35' current supply chain, infrastructure and sustainment network.

Despite the clear advantages of pursuing this option, some at the Department of Defense are pushing to instead create an entirely new engine from scratch for the F-35 known as the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). The program, which was previously viewed as unnecessary and as a result was terminated with a bipartisan consensus, has recently been the beneficiary of a new aggressive push in Congress. But resurrecting the AETP now would be a mistake.

For starters, the price tag to develop and produce the AETP could top $6 billion. As Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall put it, that could lead to a "hard trade-off" in operational resources because, in rough terms, that cost amounts to 70 F-35 fighter aircraft that might not be procured due to new engine development costs. It's also worth noting that even more F-35s could be on the chopping block if -- as is too often the case with procurement projects of this ambition and scale -- costs outpace budgets and deadlines are missed.

Given the fact that the United States already has "a fighter gap problem" as some military analysts have put it, and the fact that the Air Force is on track to shed more than 1,500 aircraft over the next five years, any further reduction in service aircraft will significantly diminish America's ability to deter and defend against threats.

Design differences between the AETP and the F135 engine would also mean the Air Force would likely have to field the new engine alone, as the other services can't fit the AETP power plant in their versions of the fighter. The F-35C is the Navy's first stealth fighter and the world's only 5th generation, long-range stealth strike fighter designed and built explicitly for aircraft carrier operations. But the aircraft carrier modifications that would be required to integrate the AETP engine onto the F-35C are beyond the budget of the Navy. The F-35B STOVL Marine Corps variant, meanwhile, is currently totally incompatible with the AETP engine.

In practical terms, this all means that, should the Air Force pursue the AETP engine, it would break the commonality that is a hallmark of the F135 and create serious repair and supply chain issues. An entirely new procurement and maintenance infrastructure, concurrent to that of the F135, would be needed to source production and maintain operational capability for a new AETP engine.

But what could be of the greatest concern, given current geopolitical challenges, is the fact that implementing the AETP would take at least half a decade. Given the fact that such major procurement programs rarely stay on schedule, the true timeline for such upgrades would probably be even longer. Our time and taxpayer dollars would be better spent developing an AETP-like engine for the 6th generation fighter of the future.

The proposed AETP timeline is too long to be impactful and to keep up with the ever-changing threat environment. Russia's war on Ukraine and the threat it poses to our NATO allies, Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait and the fact that Iran is now openly speaking about nuclear bomb prospects all highlight the fact that such a capability gap would be a significant detriment to American national security.

The F-35 is currently a cornerstone of America's ability to project power in the skies. But we must make smart decisions now to ensure that continues to be the case. While the AETP will likely be an important part of any sixth-generation fighter aircraft, and it is important to keep an eye to the future, current threats dictate that we focus on the here and now.

Concentrating on modernization and upgrades, rather than investing billions of taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary new system, is the best way to secure the ongoing operational capabilities of the F-35 fighter as it marks this major inflection point.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. E.G. "Buck" Shuler Jr. is a former command pilot with more than 7,500 flying hours, including 209 combat hours.
29.10.2022 LISTEN

The officials of the Asanteman Great Gospel Crusade, headed by International Evangelist, Daniel Kolenda (Successor of the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke) of Christ for All Nations (CfaN) have finally announced the venue for the upcoming Crusade.

Race Course; a prominent commercial area situated within the CBD of the Kumasi Metropolis has been named as the place where the event will be held.

Speaking on the sidelines of special meeting of all pastors in the Ashanti Region which was held on Monday, 24th October 2022 at the Pentecost International Worship Center (PIWC) auditorium at Asokwa-Kumasi, Rev Dr. Douglas Okonah Frempong-Chairman for the Crusade in a brief meeting with the media said a 20-acre stretch of land at the location has been provided for the holding of the crusade. He added that all preparatory works are in motion to get the place set.

It will be held in conjunction with all churches and para-church organizations in the Ashanti region. Over 150 Christian denominations are involved in this Crusade, he indicated.

On security, he stated that arrangements have been made with the Ashanti Regional Police Command for the deployment of personnel to provide security at the venue.

Rev. Dr. Douglas Okonah Frempong who doubles as the General Overseer for the Center for Christian Outreach Ministries also assured that measures have been put in place to ensure easy control of crowds and traffic. He added that a transport committee has been set up to ensure the availability of vehicles to convey participants back to their destinations.

Speaking at the conference, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong Manso, President of Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council and immediate past General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana said in anticipation that there is going to be a bumper harvestThis crusade is going to be the greatestMen and women will come in their numbers.

Delivering a sermon on unity, he underlined denominational unification as the primary task of the church and a key element for soul-winning.

He explained further that disunity offers the enemy an opportunity.

Rev. Prof. Frimpong Manso stressed that if Churches unite, what they seek in Kumasi through the crusade will be phenomenal. All of us should be together and harvest together, he admonished.

The CfaN Executive Director for Africa, Rev. John Darku, spoke passionately at the meeting and encouraged all the Pastors to do their best to help disciple the over 1 million souls that would be saved during the Crusade.

Rev. Darku maintained that there would be a special fire conference for all believers during the mornings of the crusade from 6am to 9am.
SO MUCH noise made about the construction of the on-going Kumasi Central Market excited me to visit the project site for myself on a sunny Monday morning, October 10, 2022. Traders, both male and female, who have been evicted to allow for the construction of the new ultra-modern market facility have taken over the streets and the pedestrian paths close to the market to display their wares.

The redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market is the phase two of the Kejetia project initiated by the Government of Ghana. The project, which is planned to be bigger than the Kejetia Market, is estimated to cost 248 million. It is expected to house 6500 rental spaces, 5400 cold storage units and 800 kiosks, 50 eateries and many more, all of which will fit into the four-storey massive market.

But until the project is completed and stores are allocated, ejected businessmen and women as well as petty traders and hawkers, who are engaged in brisk business activities will have no choice but to sell on the streets and pavements.

The situation has made movement into and out of the area very difficult. As I maneuvered my way through the crowd of people under the scorching sun, I could not help but feel suffocated by the thick polluted air. I wondered how traders managed to cope with such an environment as they plied their trade.

Buyers at the market come from far and near. Some come from Ejisu, Offinso, and many more places in Ashanti and other nearby regions. Other buyers come from countries such as Benin, Togo, and other neighboring countries. They all converge at the busy streets right in front of the Kumasi Central Market which is currently under construction.

The second phase of the redevelopment of the Kejetia Market was programmed to begin on May 2, 2019, but because of the congestion problem at the market and the difficulty in allocating stores to all the traders at the completed Kejetia Market, the project had to begin on March 30,2022, and it is projected to be completed in June 2024.

However, the congestion problem has not been thoroughly addressed yet. I don't think that it will be solved until the Central Market project is completed. Until its completion, authorities have tried to put in place temporary measures to reduce the congestion problem that currently faces the market.

Kumasi city managers have, in collaboration with other municipal assemblies, adopted decentralisation methods by convincing traders to relocate to satellite markets constructed at Abinkyi, Bantama, Tafo-Pankrono and other places to discourage buyers from flocking to the central market area to transact business.

Though this measure has relatively helped in reducing the pressure placed on the small area where the traders have had to occupy, the problem of congestion still persists.

Furthermore, vehicles find it difficult to manoeuver through the streets overtaken by buyers and sellers who sometimes seem oblivious to cars honking at them to make way for them to pass. A driver can spend nearly 30 minutes on that short stretch of road just trying to navigate through without hitting someone.

Pedestrians, especially first timers, find it so difficult to find their way through the market. I got lost on several occasions because of how packed the place was. When I was tired and needed a place to rest for a while, I quickly found to my horror that there was no such place of rest. I had to keep walking to avoid a stampede.

Another problem that I noticed at the Central Market was about sanitation. There were heaps of rubbish everywhere I turned. The piled-up garbage seemed to have been left for weeks. The gutters were also chocked emitting offensive smell yet some market women kept pouring dirty water into them.

I ended my tour at the beautiful Kejetia Market. Through interactions with some of the traders, I was better informed about some of the problems facing them. While some of them expressed displeasure at the obscure location of their shops making buyers find it difficult to patronise their goods, others complained about high electricity bills.

There is no doubt in my mind as I conclude that strategic measures can be taken by city managers to address the problems stated in this write-up to improve upon the trading conditions at the Kumasi business district before and after the completion of the redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market project.

To achieve economic boom at the new market, government must involve the traders in every decision-making process. The traders must also be given an opportunity to elect leaders who can properly communicate their concerns. The traders must also be arranged according to the commodities they sell so that buyers can easily locate them.

I believe that when these suggestions are considered and implemented, the Kumasi Central Market will be one of the better-managed business centres in Africa.

BY Stella Botwe, Kumasi
Mrs Cecilia Kagya - Agyemang Bono East Regional Director for the Department of Agriculture has hinted that the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs increased the Agriculture sector growth rate to 6.2 percent in 2017, 7.3%, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Mrs Kagya-Agyemang further explained that the purpose of the PFJ was to modernize the agricultural sector in order to improve food security, create employment opportunities and reduce poverty in the country, however sustaining it gains through stakeholder support in promoting agricultural sector activities would go a long way to mitigating poverty.

She disclosed this on Wednesday during the regional joint sector review on sustaining the gains of PFJ for a resilient national food system at Techiman the Bono East Regional capital and mentioned that the outbreak of Covid-19 and the effects of the Russian-Ukraine conflict has resulted in the high cost of fertilizer and fuel leading to limited use of inorganic fertilizer, indeed under these circumstances, it has become imperative to take actions that would sustain the gains of PFJ.

Mrs Kagya-Agyemang noted that the PFJ has come to improve food security and Foster the growth of agriculture in the country, its gains has become enormous including the abundance of food in the system.

She explained that the only problem facing the system was the prices of food and this is because there is no price control on the product due cost of production such as the cost of fertilizer and inputs in the sector.

Mrs Kagya-Agyemang encourage farmers to continue patronizing organic fertilizers since they were less costly and could also aid in promoting shifting from inorganic to organic fertilizer usage for quality crop production.

Madam Amina Waja and Mr Francis Chaa both farmers in the Sene West district urged government and its partners to support farmers in the area with agro mechanical systems such as providing tractors for ploughing and other logistics to improve farming in the area.

Mr Eric Kontomah Bono East Regional Crop officer in a presentation mentioned that the PFJ focused on growing commodities including Cereals: such as maize, rice and sorghum, Legumes: were soyabean, groundnuts and cowpea, while Vegetables: includes tomatoes, onions, pepper, cabbage, cucumber lettuce and carrot among others.

Mr Kontomah pointed out that the PFJ made great gains such as sustainability of food, increasing use of inorganic fertilizers by farmers, use of improved seeds due to climate variation, improved extension services and increased awareness and adoption, use of organic foliar fertilizers by farmers and standardization of packaging of inputs.

He called for adequate recruitment of agriculture extension officers, provision of electronic registration for farmers under the PFJ programme in the southern sector, recruit adequate staff to safeguard the distribution of the inputs to Farmers at the various sales point in the districts and improving the road network in the region to improve agricultural development.
Etelle, pity we still haven't managed to talk yet. Bad weather conditions, in the part of the Central Region of Ghana where I currently live (Gomoa Buduburam), have disrupted Ghana's complacent telcos' broadband Internet services here, alas.

Be that as it may, we aren't sleeping: The battle is joined, and, we have the advantage of lion-heartedness on our side - against those who profit mightily from selling the toxic agrochemicals killing us slowly here, to the large-scale commercial mono-croppers, whose chosen agribusiness model, has wrought such egregious-destruction, environmentally, across the entire landmass of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Ghana.

As a wise and aspirational African people, we must definitely end mono-cropping, and convert to organic farming underpinned by agroforestry principles, as soon as practicable.

As it happens, my dear friend and kindred-spirit, Issa Ouedraogo has the perfect agrisector social impact business model, bedrocked on agroforestry principles, which can be replicated nationwide, to convert all farming in Ghana to climate-resilient climate-smart organic farming.

Issa's agrisector social impact business model, provides a perfect local green solution, for a perennial local food security assurance challenge, at a time when rural Ghana is being impacted so negatively, by global climate change.

That is why for common-good public health reasons, concerned environmental activists in my native Ghana, are determined to end the baleful influence, on our ruling-elites, of the powerful big foreign corporations, which have shown so clearly that they love filthy lucre, more than committing to being guided by ethical ESG common-good-sharing values.

Fair profits earned through protecting and enhancing all life in our shared-home, our biosphere, is the only way forward, for a heavily polluted planet threatened by the unfathomable greed that drives the Moringa's of this world.

Ultimately, environmental activists worldwide will prevail, because it will become clearer and clearer to the world's climate-denying doubting-Thomases (amongst whose ranks, one counts your own nation, the U.S.A.'s blind and narrow-minded fascist Trumpian-MAGA-folk), that humankind will end up becoming extinct if we don't stop being beholden to the world's 1-percenters.

We must stop acquiescing to their ruthless and relentless drive for endless profits, at the expense of the welfare and well-being of humanity and Mother Nature.

It is this that informs our own fight here in Ghana, to get Moringa's undeserved role, as stewards of earmarked agroforestry funds for Africa, taken away from the washed-out racist French greenwashing-carpetbaggers, who run it in Ghana. But I digress.

The bald truth, is that the destruction wrought by the world's 1-percenters is widespread. They must not be allowed to continue getting away with it - in their ruthless and relentless pursuit of profits.

What all humans need to understand, clearly, is that Mother Nature is incredibly resilient. Ditto that barring it being smashed to smithereens by an object from outer space, there can be no doubt that even if it ends up becoming uninhabitable, today, for humans, in a few million years, hence, the planet Earth will have recovered from the harm wrought by humankind - and will be thriving, once again, sans unthinking and selfish humanity.

So, my dear lion-hearted Amazon-Queen friend, Etelle, ultimately, it is us humans, who are risk, existentially, not the planet Earth. Simple, really. Cool.
In a landmark decision, Kenyan prosecutors said on Friday they would charge police officers with crimes against humanity over a deadly crackdown on post-election protests in 2017.

The charges cover rape, murder and torture and include the case of a six-month-old baby girl whose death became a symbol of police brutality during the bloody election aftermath.

"This is the first case of crimes against humanity charged under Kenyan domestic law using the International Crimes Act and also the first criminal prosecution of electoral-related sexual violence," the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji said, without disclosing the numbers of police being charged.

The police crackdown following the disputed presidential election in August 2017 saw dozens of people killed over a four-month period.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documented 94 deaths during the crisis as well as 201 cases of sexual violence and over 300 injuries -- the majority of which were attributed to security forces.

"The attacks were planned, coordinated and not random," the DPP statement said, saying various offences such as torture, rape and sexual violence "were committed by or under the authority of senior national police officers".

The baby, Samantha Pendo, died after being beaten by police during a raid on her house as protests flared in the western city of Kisumu.

Extra-judicial killings are rife in Kenya, and justice is rare with few examples of police being held to account.

'Groundbreaking' decision

The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, welcomed the "groundbreaking" decision, saying it was "an important advance towards accountability for gross human rights violations in Kenya."

The move "is a positive step towards justice and accountability for survivors and families of victims, including in the context of electoral violence, and can strengthen prevention of future violations," Turk said in a statement.

A Kenyan inquest in 2019 had found five police commanders liable for Pendo's death.

Kenyan police are often accused by rights groups of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings, especially in poor neighbourhoods.

They have also been accused in the past of running hit squads targeting those -- including activists and lawyers -- investigating alleged rights abuses by police.

The 2017 protests erupted after victory was declared for then president Uhuru Kenyatta, angering supporters of his rival, the veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The result was annulled by the Supreme Court after a challenge by Odinga, but he boycotted the rerun which was won by Kenyatta.

According to Missing Voices, a campaign group focused on extrajudicial killings in Kenya, there have been 1,264 deaths at the hands of police since it began collecting data in 2017.
Nigeria on Friday said it had beefed up security and called for the public to be vigilant but calm after the United States and Britain warned of a high "terror" threat in the capital Abuja.

Without giving details on any specific threat, the US on Thursday ordered diplomats' families to leave Abuja due to what it called a "heightened risk of terrorist attacks."

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been on high alert since Sunday, when several Western embassies changed their travel advisories citing an elevated risk of attack in Abuja.

Nigerian troops are fighting jihadist insurgents mostly in the northeast, though there are small cells in other parts of the country.

Militants linked to the Islamic state group claimed several attacks near the capital in the past six months, including a mass jailbreak in July.

The incident in Kuje, in which more than 400 inmates including dozens of suspected jihadists escaped, had prompted Buhari to say he was "disappointed" with his intelligence services.

But since then, "security measures have been reinforced in and around the FCT," a statement from President Muhammadu Buhari's office said on Friday, citing "heightened monitoring and interception of terrorist communications."

"Terror is a reality the world over. However, it does not mean an attack in Abuja is imminent," it added.

The president said he gave his "assurances that the government is on top of the security situation."

"Attacks are being foiled. Security agents are proactively rooting out threats to keep citizens safe -- much of their work unseen and necessarily confidential."

While he ordered "additional precautionary measures be put in place," Buhari said that "the recent changes in travel advice from the US and UK governments should not be a cause for panic."

On Thursday, Nigerian police instructed "all strategic police managers in charge of commands and tactical formations within the country to beef up security in their respective jurisdictions, especially in the FCT."

Soft targets

The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba said "all emergency numbers" should be activated to help insure "a 24/7 prompt response with combatant officers and men on standby."

The statement came as the US State Department ordered the departure of diplomatic dependents from Abuja.

It initially said in a statement on Thursday that non-emergency government employees and their families had been ordered to leave. On Friday, the State Department clarified that the order to evacuate applied to families and not employees, who had however been authorised but not ordered to go.

"Terrorists may attack with little or no warning," targeting malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars or schools, the State Department said in its country summary for Nigeria.

The United States, Britain, Australia and Canada had issued warnings last weekend, although the three latter countries had not ordered any evacuation of staff or their families as of Friday.

Separately, the US warned this week of a possible "terrorist" attack in South Africa's largest city Johannesburg.

Some European embassies and international organisations have not updated their risk assessments or travel advisories for Nigeria.

"We have no crisis to manage, we are managing the panic," a senior security manager with an international organisation based in Abuja told AFP, asking to remain anonymous.

"We don't know what the motive is (behind the US evacuation). We are taking some precautionary measures/actions, but activities are normal," he added.

On Thursday, Jabi Lake Mall, a major shopping centre in Abuja was temporarily shut down for unspecified security reasons.

Nigeria's military is stretched thin, with soldiers deployed throughout most of the West African nation of some 200 million people.

The last time a jihadist group -- Boko Haram -- attacked the city centre was in 2014.

In addition to the ongoing terrorism threat, the capital is also surrounded by states with rampant banditry -- gangs of gunmen who kidnap and kill with no ideological motivation.

Analysts have warned that insecurity could worsen with the start of political campaigning for the general election to replace Buhari next year.
The Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, sees former President John Dramani Mahamas economic address as a comforter to suffering Ghanaians.

According to him, the speech came at a time when Ghanaians were willing to be addressed about the country's recent economic quagmire.

In a social media post sighted by Modernghana News on Friday, October 28, the policy advisor wrote, JM has taken the lead in addressing the nation when it mattered most. Respect!

The former President charged the ruling government to put on hold all non-essential projects for the sake of the struggling Ghanaian economy.

He stressed that non-essential projects such as the National Cathedral, 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.

He insists that if the National Cathedral must be built, it must be done 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.

The 2020 presidential candidate of the opposition NDC was delivering an address to the nation at the UPSA auditorium on Thursday, October 27, when he shared these proposals.

Despite sharing in the idea that the Ghanaian economy reaching its worst state, the former President is also confident that things can get better.

During his address, John Dramani Mahama used the opportunity to call on Ghanaians to have hope and support the government.

Together we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want regardless of how bad the situation is. I still have hope that we can turn things around. Wholeheartedly, I believe in the resilience of our people, ex-President Mahama stressed.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, a Ghanaian investigative journalist has slammed President Akufo-Addo over his reasons for still keeping embattled Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta at the post.

He noted that the Presidents decision will further delay negotiations with the IMF.

According to him, the Finance Minister would not hasten talks with the IMF knowing very well that he would be fired soon after he concludes the negotiations.

In a tweet on Friday, October 28, spotted by Modernghana News, the award-winning journalist further expressed disappointment about the fact that the over 80 majority MPs could swallow the "shallow" excuse from the president.

The man leading the IMF talks knows that his sacking depends on how soon he finishes the talks. And the NPP MPs accepted the joke? Manasseh queried.

On Tuesday, some 85 of the members of the Majority Caucus in Ghana's Parliament called on the President to dismiss the Finance Minister and the Minister of state in charge of the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

They said the two are unfit to remain at post following the worsening economic crisis.

They also vowed to boycott government businesses in Parliament should the President fail to dismiss Ken Ofori-Atta.

However, a day after, on Wednesday, October 26, they (the Majority Caucus) met the President and agreed to his appeal to allow the Finance Minister conclude negotiations with IMF before a determination can be made on the proposed dismissal.
On Thursday, October 20, the office of the President released a two-page statement detailing guidelines on the government's response system to address issues in the public domain.

A portion of the statement intimated that to quickly respond and correct misinformation about government policies and activities, active public relations (PR) mechanisms such as the creation of social media handles for appointees are very necessary.

All Government appointees, including Ministers and Chief Executive Officers, should have an active social media presence. Those who are not present on social media should contact the Minister for Information to assist in setting up social media accounts.

These accounts should promote Government activities, as well as the activities of the institutions to enable them respond timeously to issues, the statement said.

In reaction, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the directive should be the least of governments worries in this economic quagmire.

In the legislators tweet on Friday, October 28, he intimated that it is very alarming, ridiculous and a big doom to Ghanaians if President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo spends time on the creation of social media accounts rather than issuing policies to restructure the country's ailing economy.

Its most alarming & ridiculous to discover per this intercepted circular from Prez Akufo-Addo to his Ministers & other appointees that he really believes the solution to the abysmal output of his govt lies in PR & active social media accounts of his appointees. Were doomed! he wrote.
Kwame Jantuah

29.10.2022 LISTEN

The Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah has implored President Akufo-Addo to ensure his address to the nation on Sunday gives confidence to the Ghanaian people.

In the midst of hardships in the country, the President has announced that he will be addressing the country on Sunday, October 30.

Ahead of his address, former President John Dramani Mahama has taken the lead to speak to Ghanaians.

At the auditorium of UPSA on Thursday, October 27, the leading member of the opposition NDC lamented the many hardships in the country and proposed that President Akufo-Addo cuts expenditure and reduce the size of his government.

Speaking to Starr FM in an interview, Kwame Jantuah noted that it is important President Akufo-Addos speech does not centre on the address by John Dramani Mahama.

I expect on Sunday that the President will not come and repeat some of the things hes been repeating. He should come and give fresh alternatives, fresh things that Ghanaians can say we are gradually beginning to have confidence in our President. By the next two years when he leaves we can all say that we went wow, we went through a crisis but President Akufo-Addo was able to take us out of it. That is what we are looking for, he shouldnt even go to Mahamas speech, he shouldnt go there, Kwame Jantuah shared.

He continued, He [Akufo-Addo] is the President, so the speech that he gives to us should give us confidence, and comfort and move the country forward. I would have loved it after President Akufo Addos speech on Sunday, that week hell call a meeting of himself, ex-President Mahama, ex-President Kufuor if he can make it, reps of Chiefs, reps of civil society, MPs, Judges, lets all sit around the table and lets see how we can bring what the former President has said, and what I have said together as a template to move this country forward. That will be fantastic.

But President AKufo-Addo is confident his government has what it takes to breathe life back into the economy to set the country on the path of growth and development.
Samuel Bryan Buabeng, Head of New Media at the Office of the President, sees former President Mahamas quest to come back to power as needless.

He claimed that Mr. Mahama has nothing better to offer Ghanaians even if he is dashed the second term he has been dying for.

The outspoken presidential staffer claims a mere comedian like Oliver Khan, who is fondly known as "The Ship Dealer," would be better off as President than Mr. Mahama.

In a tweet on Friday, October 28, spotted by Modernghana News, Mr. Bryan Buabeng posited that the 2020 NDC Presidential candidate will continue the era of 'create, loot and share.'

Ghanaians will be better off with Oliver Khan 'The Ship Dealer' as president than Mahama! The Bole Messiah is staging a comeback to continue his create loot and share enterprise. #Gobnomics, his tweet reads.

The former President charged the ruling government to put on hold all non-essential projects for the sake of the struggling Ghanaian economy.

He stressed that non-essential projects such as the National Cathedral, 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.

He insists that if the National Cathedral must be built, it must be done 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.

The 2020 presidential candidate of the opposition NDC was delivering an address to the nation at the UPSA auditorium on Thursday, October 27, when he shared these proposals.

Despite sharing in the idea that the Ghanaian economy reaching its worst state, the former President is also confident that things can get better.

During his address, John Dramani Mahama used the opportunity to call on Ghanaians to have hope and support the government.

Together we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want regardless of how bad the situation is. I still have hope that we can turn things around. Wholeheartedly, I believe in the resilience of our people, ex-President Mahama stressed.
Former President John Dramani Mahama's spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, described the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as stubborn after its members criticism of the former Presidents speech on the economy.

Though some NPP members who commented on Mr. Mahamas speech described it as hypocritical and in bad faith, among others, Mr. Ofosu said the NPP needed to show humility given the current economic crisis.

It is a bit disappointing that they remain obstinate and have not shown any inclination towards addressing the problems we face.

Any objective-minded Ghanaian who listened to the former President on Thursday would admit that he spoke to the issues in a manner that they should be spoken to.

Among other things, Mr. Mahama urged the President to cut down on the size of Presidential staffers, reduce the number of ministers to 65, jettison the Finance Minister and stop funding the national cathedral project.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu added that the NPP was certain to lose the next election because of its manner of governance.

I am certain that if they do not listen to the wise prescription as put out by President Mahama, it is only a matter of time before the people boot them out at the earliest opportunity and then they will learn in humility in opposition.

citinewsroom
Since their return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have imposed a fundamentalist version of Islam. Foreign journalists, who have been tolerated by the regime, say it is becoming more difficult to report freely.

Since the takeover, it's been getting more and more difficult to report, Kiana Hayeri told RFI while on a visit to Bayeux in Normandy earlier this month.

So far, as foreigners we've been privileged compared to Afghan journalists, but it's getting more difficult and it's going to get worse.

The Iranian-Canadian photojournalist has been based in Kabul for some time now, benefiting from her status as a foreigner.

Hayeri says her appearance, her double nationality and the fact that she speaks the language have been a blessing, particularly when visiting Herat women's prison, in western Afghanistan.

I was able to go in for 15 days. For the first few days I had somebody with me but then I was on my own. So definitely my identity has been a privilege but now, with the Taliban coming back into power, it's actually a disadvantage."

She spent time with women who had been jailed for murdering their husbands, a theme all too common in a country where women are considered second-rate citizens, and have no legal recourse to challenge their husbands in cases of domestic violence.

What will happen now that the Taliban are cutting back on accreditation for journalists covering stories like these, she wonders.

Forgotten promises

Since the Taliban retook control in August 2021, renewing visas has become extremely difficult, especially for freelancers, Hayeri says. Her steady work for the New York Times has meant she can continue working, for now.

Hayeri was invited to display 25 of her photographs in large format outdoors around the town of Bayeux as part of the 2022 Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award for War Correspondents event in October.

It's an opportunity to show the public moments she spent with women and girls and reveal how they cope with the difficulties of everyday life, from access to education, health and work.

Since the takeover, girls can no longer go to high school and, while women can still attend university in some areas, the future for girls is in jeopardy as they will not have the necessary qualifications to go on to higher education.

The title of Hayeri's exhibition, "Promises written on the ice, left in the sun", sums up the dilemma faced by Afghan women.

The photographs on display in Bayeux were taken prior to the takeover. But the threat of violence, punishment and repression is never far away, especially as the Taliban reassert their power across the country.

Bridging the gap

Despite this, Hayeri says she deliberately tends to lean to the light, rather than the dark to highlight women's resilience in the face of so much destruction and poverty. It is important, she feels, not to alienate people with overly graphic scenes.

Early on, from the first body of work I did in Iran, I learned that people connect with familiar moments. A mother and daughter hugging  these ordinary events are what really bridge the gap.

Hayeri explains that hopes were lifted with the American invasion in 2001, and the strong words of then-US first lady Laura Bush, who proclaimed that women's rights would be at last recognised.

For a while, women and girls were able to participate in society in relative freedom. But true emancipation has never emerged.

After Kabul and Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, a lot of women left, a lot who had benefited from 20 years of progress, with rights to education and work. Those who have stayed really and truly feel abandoned by the international community, she explains.

Extreme poverty

Although Taliban leaders have publicly promised a more tolerant and open brand of rule compared with their first stint in power, from 1996-2001, the proof is yet to be seen.

Any future Afghan government must adhere to Afghanistan's international obligations, the G7 leaders said at the end of August, insisting on human rights, particularly for women and ethnic minorities.

In the face of inaction, international aid has been cut.

More than half the population, or around 25 million people, are now living in poverty, according to the United Nations.

While overall violence has significantly declined across Afghanistan since last year, there have been regular bomb attacks in Kabul and other cities, particularly against education centres.

Kiana Hayeri's exhibition "Promises written on the ice, left in the sun" is open to the public in Bayeux, until 30 October 2022.
29.10.2022 LISTEN

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has asked whether Members of Parliament (MPs) took bribe to approve the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta when he was nominated by President Akufo-Addo.

His question comes after a Professor at the University of Ghana Ransford Gyampo questioned the motive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who are seeking to impeach Mr Ofori-Atta.

Prof Gyampo had said the NDC Members of Parliament who are seeking to impeach the Finance Minister knew all the problems about Mr Ofori-Atta yet they approved his nomination.

You have seen this before, you said all these about Ofori-Atta, during vetting they raised these issues yet they passed him. The majority side were always going to support but the Minority foisted him on us.

They had all the right to deny him but they did not. They knew these yet, approved the nomination of the Finance Minister

When Ofori-Atta appeared before them, I don't know whether you saw their composure, they were quiet, they gave him the chance, they said they are not going to support yet they voted for him. They said Hawa Koomson, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Agri cMinister won't be approved yet they passed them, he dsaid on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday October 28.

But speaking also on the same show, Martin Kpebu asked  Is it true that the MPs took bribe to approve the Minister?

In response, Prof Gyamp said You and I were not there so I cant talk about that.

The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion for the removal of the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta .

The motion was filed by Asawase Member of Parliament Muntaka Mubarak and dated October 24, 2022.

The opposition lawmakers believe the Finance Minister has failed in managing the economy.

3news.com
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sisala East, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia has supported calls by former President John Dramani Mahama for the government to halt the construction of the national cathedral.

Addressing the state of the Ghanaian economy on Thursday, the leading member of the opposition NDC urged the government to stop channeling public funds into the cathedral project.

He said if the project must be built in the midst of the economic challenges, it should be built with funds from the private sector.

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.

Speaking to Starr FM in an interview on Saturday, Amidu Issahaku Chinnia who is the Deputy Minister for Water Resource and Sanitation says he agrees with the former President.

According to him, Ghana needs to invest in productive areas that will support the revitalization of the economy.

I agree because privately all of us can contribute, I should be willing to contribute because it will be a good national asset and a facility to have in the country. So if all of us can consciously contribute privately to support the team to build it is fine.

But for now we need to invest our resources in productive areas that will generate jobs and will bring back the economy to life, Mr. Issahaku Chinnia indicated.
A political science lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi has shared the view that President Akufo-Addo does not take advice.

According to him, one of the main challenges of the ruling government is its unwillingness to open up and accept correction when things go bad.

Speaking to Starr FM in an interview, Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi said the adamant posture of the President has led to the failures of the government.

Unfortunately, this particular arm of the government is a stiff neck. It is not really interested in opening up to allow for correction that will inure to the collective good of our humanity as a people. I believe that that is where the challenge is.

Economic arm or the leadership that is driving this government seems to be faltering. Clearly, they are not delivering. Thats why Ghanaians are complaining and civil societies among others have called upon the executive head to remove the gentleman in question. So there will be a certain appropriate space to allow for new hands with new ideas to support the kind of development agenda that we are seeking, Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi shared.

The economist further shared that from his observation, it is clear that President Akufo-Addo does not believe in reshuffling with the thinking that he has the best men at post.

He is of the view that the legislature within their own ranks has some role to play, to be able to challenge what the executive arm of the government is doing.
Photographs of bruised and naked migrants at the Greek Turkish border have drawn international condemnation. Ankara and Athens have blamed each other for the incident. Rights groups warn that escalating Greek Turkish tensions risk having a terrible impact on refugees.

Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi accused Turkish authorities of stripping naked 92 male migrants and forcing them into Greece.

The men were found by Greek police close to the two countries' northern border, some with injuries. The UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, said it was deeply distressed by the images and reports of the naked migrants and called for an investigation. Ankara has blamed Greek authorities for the incident.

"It's natural for Greece to attempt to slander Turkey as its own crimes multiply," said Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, adding, "one has to be truly shameless and reckless to try to appear right even in the most unfair situation."

The ugly incident and resulting blame game is the latest in an increasingly bitter war of words and videos between Athens and Ankara over the migrant crisis.

Attacking immigrants

Ankara has released numerous videos of Greek coast guards purportedly pushing migrants and refugees back to Turkey. Athens too has released a video on Twitter, accusing Turkish authorities of attacking migrants.

"These people, because we are talking about people, women, men, and children, are trapped in a strategic game between Greece and Turkey," warned Eva Cosse, the representative in Greece of Human Rights Watch.

Greece and Turkey have been increasingly at odds over a range of territorial disputes centered on the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Athens fears migration could be the latest front in bilateral tensions.

Athaniosos Drougos, a defense analyst at Greece's War College, does not believe the situation will degenerate into outright war..

"But on the other hand," he says, "we will have some hybrid asymetrc episodes with the case of illegal immigration, especially from the Evros river."

The river Evros forms part of the border between Turkey and Greece. Two years ago, a migrant crisis erupted after Ankara, then hosting four million refugees, declared it was opening its border with Greece.

Greek security forces used teargas and rubber bullets in a weeks-long campaign against people trying to enter the country.

In Turkey, there's been growing public animosity towards migrants and refugees. And President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is under pressure to address the issue in the run-up to elections next year. He accuses Greece and Europe of failing to share the refugee burden.

"What I see now is the politicisation of the issue by the (Turkish) opposition parties mainly and the instrumental position of the refugee issue by the government in their relationship with Europe," observed Didem Danis of the Istanbul-based Association for Migration Research.

Highest price

"Of course, this creates a very difficult situation for the refugees because they feel more and more anxious about their everyday survival," added Danis.

And experts warn that refugees will pay the highest price in this escalating diplomatic war.

"Unfortunately, every now and then, we hear about the demise of people who are trying to cross, for the pushbacks conducted on both sides," said Omar Kadkoy of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey.

"And the only people who are losing in this journey are those asylum seekers or people who want to have a better future for themselves. But trying to cross the borders nowadays is definitely riskier than it was," added Kadkoy.

Earlier this month,18 migrants and refugees drowned while crossing from Turkey to a Greek island. Dozens more are missing. Rescue workers and islanders worked through the night in a desperate struggle to reach survivors. Most of the victims were women and children.

Greek and Turkish authorities blamed each other for the deaths. The only thing both sides appear to agree on is that this tragedy will not be the last.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday announced an increase in its "troop alert level" following deadly clashes with rebels in the east.

The MONUSCO mission condemned "the hostile acts of M23" rebel group and called for an immediate halt to the fighting.

It was providing "air support, intelligence and equipment" as well as medical assistance to the DRC's army, the mission said on Twitter.

The peacekeepers said they were "mobilised in support" of the FARDC army which clashed this week with the M23 around a strategic highway, with residents reporting at least ten people dead since Sunday and dozens more injured.

MONUSCO said it had set up an "operations coordination centre" with the army and was carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance flights, but did not provide further details about the alert level.

Several witnesses told AFP by telephone on Saturday that the M23 had seized control of Kiwanja and Rutshuru-centre, along the RN2 highway linking the North Kivu provincial capital Goma with the north and Uganda.

M23, a mostly Congolese Tutsi group, resumed fighting in late 2021 after lying dormant for years.

It has since captured swathes of territory in North Kivu province, including the strategic town of Bunagana on the Ugandan border in June.

The group's resurgence has destabilised regional relations in central Africa, with the DRC accusing its smaller neighbour Rwanda of backing the militia.

The rebel group first leapt to prominence in 2012 when it briefly captured Goma before a joint Congolese-UN offensive drove it out.

The militia is one of scores of armed groups that roam eastern DRC, many of them a legacy of two regional wars that flared late last century.
Many Indians have welcomed the nomination of Rishi Sunak as Britain's prime minister. Sunak becomes the first Indian-origin Hindu to lead the United Kingdom.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate 42-year-old Sunak. His 24 October success in securing the Tory leadership coincided with Diwali, the festival of lights, which Hindus believe is a promise of prosperity.

Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership, Modi said as other comentators dubbed Sunak's victory as a matter of pride for Indians worldwide.

Indian newspapers have repeatedly reminded readers of Sunak's religion. He's a practicing Hindu, but have tended to gloss over his immaculate British upbringing or his tenuous links to India where Oxford-educated Sunak has no remaining blood relatives.

Sunak was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who moved to Britain from Nairobi in 1966. His grandparents migrated to Africa in the mid-1930s from Gujranwala, which is now in Punjab province, and part of Pakistan.

I know many Indians now think an Indian will rule over the old colonial masters, commented former British Labour Party politician Meghnath Desai, referring to 200 years of Britain's commercial and military rule in the Indian subcontinent.

Hard-selling achievers is a convenient way of grabbing the limelight by entities which have nothing to offer, added analyst Shivaji Sarkar, speaking with RFI.

Economists say Punjabi-speaking Sunak will rather first fix Britain's economy than double down on his diaspora campaign in north London where he spoke of improving ties with India.

He is a British prime minister, he is a British politician and he will work within the constraints that British policy places on him, added Navtej Sarna, a former Indian ambassador to the United States.

Let us not load the relationship with unrealistic expectations, Sarna told India Today television after Sunak, son-in-law to an Indian software tycoon, became Britain's third prime minister this year.

Some Indians have evoked the prospect of commerce flowering to 99 billion euros by 2030 from the current 17 billion euros, through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which they believe the Fullbright scholar will launch without batting an eyelid.

But if there is a contest between what India wants and what the UK wants, then he has to decide in favour of the UK,cautioned Suresh Goel, another former diplomat.

The FTA all but sank when Indian-origin British Home Secretary Suella Braverman publicly linked the deal to London's concerns over migration from India and overstay issues.

Braverman resigned on suspicion of having ignored government confidentiality rules. Six days later Sunak gave her back her old job.

Britain is now the fifth nation where an Indian-origin politician has risen to the highest office. The others are Portugal, Guyana, Surinam and Mauritius -- which has had two presidents of Indian descent.
Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu

29.10.2022 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon Constituency, Habib Iddrisu has rubbished claims that the government handed over wrong information and cooked data to officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to him, the IMF has complete trust in President Akufo-Addo and his government because they have been honest from the start of the negotiations.

He noted that the IMF has hastened the negotiations with the officials of government contrary to assertions that government is facing difficulties.

It is never true that the government has given the IMF wrong information.

The IMF has trust in the government and the President and that is why the negotiations are being sped up, Hon. Habib Iddrisu told Joy News on Saturday.

He further shared that with the talks with the IMF at an advanced stage, he is convinced that a deal will be sealed before the middle of November.

The MP who is also the Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament believes this will allow the Finance Minister to make inputs into the 2023 Budget before it is presented to Parliament.

I am convinced that by 15th November, the government will have the IMF agreement incorporated into the budget, Hon. Habib Iddrisu.

Officials of government led by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta have been in talks with the IMF for a support programme to restore the ailing Ghanaian economy.

While Finance and economic experts continually cast doubts over the possibility of a deal being reached before the end of the year, the ruling government is confident that it will be done in three weeks' time.
29.10.2022 LISTEN

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).

A MEDICAL doctor-turned preacher, Dr. Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Nigeria, reportedly shared a message which was re-shared by many years ago.

The message did not only excite my spirit but also confirmed a bad attitude I have observed in the Body of Christ. I wrote about it years ago, and I am inspired to revisit it considering its occurrence today.

Pastor Enenche purportedly wrote, Iron sharpens iron. So, look for the kind of person that sharpens you. Beware who you call your friend. Friendship is by choice and not by force. And friendship is not for fun. In the late 70s and early 80s, when believers met each other, their mode of greeting was, How are you, brother? Have you heard about the Welsh Revival? Did you read about Evan Roberts? I saw something in 'Herald of His coming' that just shook me.

I read something about Smith Wigglesworth. Did you hear that John Hyde stained the wall of his room with the breath of his prayer? I read that Maria Woodworth Ether was approaching a place to preach and fifty miles from the place where she was, people were falling under the anointing

Those were the kinds of things we said to each other. When you heard these, they set you ablaze.

Your friend might say to you, When I read that, I locked up myself for ten hours. I did not come out.

And you look at him, you said how many hours? I will see you later! You just go into the room and lock yourself up: What! What am I doing with my life? And you go on and on.

That was how we sharpened each other in those days. Iron sharpens iron. We learned of William Booth of the Salvation Army. We learned of Charles G. Finney riding a horse through town and everyone was crying for his or her sinsWe read of D. L. Moody: they said, God is looking for a man to use, and he is looking for a man that will not care who takes the glory. D. L. Moody, a shoe maker, said, By the grace of God, I will be that man

When you read that, it sets you on fire. And if you heard it from someone who read it from somewhere and shared it with you, you would be sharpened. That was how we sharpened each other. Today, it is different. When two pastors meet, you hear things like, Pastor, how is the church building? Have you finished it now? I like this neck tie of yours; where did you buy it from? This wristwatch is powerful! Who helped you to get this car? Can you assist me to get the car also? I like it!

Your suit is powerful. Is it ready-made or someone sewed it? Who is your barber? I like the way you cut your hair. These are the vanities believers discuss these days  things of no eternal consequences. It is very rare before you can come into the presence of a servant of God and leave edified. We rarely hear that a person went to see a man of God, a real man of God and left there challenged, with his soul set on fire. It is very rare,

In April 2013, the Holy Spirit led me to read the Bible in an unusual way. I deeply hungered for the Word of God. That was after I had begun reading books and sermons written by Kenneth E. Hagin, Bishop Dag Heward Mills, Charles Spurgeon, A. A. Allen and D. L Moody.

I also bought a lot of books and read others on the Internet. The Spirit of God also led me to the ministries of Apostle Alfred Nyamekye, the late Prophet T. B Joshua, the late Bishop Justice Kojo Bentil and other anointed men of God.

My spiritual life and understanding of scriptures improved greatly. The Lord Jesus Christ has a plan for all His followers. When He calls you to follow Him and you sincerely give yourself up to Him to make you the kind of person He wants you to be, He will help you to seek His kingdom and righteousness first. Seeking to be in a holy alignment with the Holy Spirit is the principal thing in a Christian's walk with God.

Unfortunately, today like Dr. Enenche said, many Christians have no regard for the instructions of God to read, study and obey them. We have no burden to seek first spiritual growth and believe God for material wealth to follow as we work hard.

The consequence is the modern church is filled with PERSUASIVE WORDS but without the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives as expected.

If believers in a church doze off and yawn as the pastor preaches or teaches early Sunday morning, what do you think is the cause? If believers in a church do not gradually grow up spiritually to conform to the image of Christ after years, what do you think is the cause? There is no fire; there is no or little move of the Holy Spirit in the church. So, demons have the freedom to put the people to sleep and prevent them from hearing the Word of God.

If we, children of God, will repent, lock up ourselves in our closets to fast, pray, read good Christians books and the Bible, and rid ourselves of sin, we will do the mighty works John Wesley, John Knox, Evangelist Francis Akwasi Amoako, Billy Graham and Reinhard Bonnke, did.

Above all, we will preach, teach and heal as the Lord Jesus Christ did. It is written, The student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6: 40, NIV).

Who is it that is sharpening you? Who are the people around you sharpening your life? Please, watch your company. Some pastors had more fire until they entered the circle of friends they are in today. Watch the persons you call friends. Iron sharpens iron. Nothing sharpens iron like iron (Dr. Paul Enenche).

By James Quansah,

[email protected]
IT WAS instructive to watch the group that calls itself the 'Majority Caucus' in Parliament address a press conference the other day, to request the President to get rid of some members of his Cabinet.

Their reason for the request was that those Cabinet members had contributed to the worsening of the economy. And so on and so forth.

I commend the Parliamentary group for having had the courage to bring into the open, concerns which they had probably expressed before, to the Executive, in one way or the other.

By the way, backbench revolts of the type exhibited at the press conference, are not at all a new thing. They occur even in countries whose administrations come under the rubric of totalitarian rule. As for democracies, the evidence is quite simply overwhelming. Why, in Great Britain, we recently saw the 'crowning' and booting-out of whole Prime Ministers, not just ministers! Fail to inspire confidence on the backbenches, and you're a goner.

I am, however, not quite overwhelmed with praise for the Ghana Majority Caucus for the way they have acted. The trouble is that, in my opinion, we have been sitting down and watching a far greater crisis evolve before our very eyes, than the one represented by our need to go to the IMF for balance of payments support and/or help with debt relief.

Yes, the economic crisis is in need of urgent and quick resolution. But remember that in Great Britain (for instance), we once had a Prime Minister who was so enraged by what foreign speculators were doing to his country's economy that he coined an unflattering name for them that has stayed in the language: the gnomes of Zurich! The name has stuck, for that type of operation never ends.

On the other hand, what galamsey is doling to Ghana is conceivably unprecedented anywhere else in the world. Yes, there is serious devastation in the Amazon valley Brazil. But the water sources there are not as threatened as those in Ghana compared to the anarchy in the coca-growing areas of Colombia (to be sure). But cocaine does not threaten the total environment there, as it does in the farmlands dotted around the Ankobrah River, the Offin, Oti, the Pra, the Tano, the Birim, and the Densu, for instance.

I ask our MPs: When did you last ask for the head of a minister because forest reserves and water bodies were being destroyed with impunity before your very.? We shall go to the IMF and come back, with a structural adjustment programme in our pockets (or not, as the case may be!) but where can we get another Ankobrah or Birim?

In other words, where lie our priorities? Now, that is not an idle question. Perhaps, if our MPs had  collectively  shown as much concern over the visibly atrocious destruction inflicted upon our water-bodies, and severely punished those responsible, they would have driven some fear into the hearts and minds of the economic managers, too, and thereby saved the Cedi by default?

They did pass the Mines and Minerals Amendment (Act 995). Yes. But have they followed it up? How many questions have the asked in Parliament about the failure of the Executive to prosecute any galamsey operators under Act 995?

By the way, why was there so little publicity about the passing into law of Act 995? As far as I know, there was no report IN THE MEDIA about the DEBATE ON THE BILL! All we heard was from the President (when he informed the Council of State that such an Act had received the Assent from him!

(By the way, if you want to find out more about the strange circumstances that surround the passing of Act 995, try and retrieve the debate on it in the Hansard Reports on the Internet!).

I see that the Minority caucus has also advertised a motion of censure to be moved against the same two ministers targeted by the majority caucus. My message to them is the same as the one to the majority, namely, Please don't be so selective about the issues relating to the economic welfare of Ghana that you take seriously. For you are charged with responsibility for no less a commodity than  THE FUTURE OF THE NATION OF GHANA!

It's the only nation we've got!

By Cameron Duodu
Eric Vincent, a 22-year-old self-acclaimed electrician has been remanded into prison custody for stealing by a Hohoe Circuit Court.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will reappear on November 09.

The accused is said to have dishonestly appropriated 22 slippers and six sandals valued GH500.00.

Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, prosecuting, told the Court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey that the complainant is a trader and a resident of Hohoe Zongo.

He said the accused person who claimed to be an electrician had no place of abode but had been hovering around the Hohoe market and the lorry station area.

Chief Inspector Aziati said on October 22, the complainant sent GH500.00 to her daughter at Nima in Accra to purchase footwears for her, which was delivered through a driver, who is a witness in the case.

He said after arrival at the Hohoe station, and the goods were being discharged, the suspect was seen hovering around booth of the vehicles, where it was later discovered that the footwears could not be traced with the suspect vanishing from sight.

He said the driver then became suspicious that it was the accused person who could have stolen the footwear.

Chief Inspector Aziati said on October 24, the complainant spotted the accused person offering some footwear for sale.

He said she then caused the accused persons arrest and handed him over to the Police.

Chief Inspector Aziati said Vincent was re-arrested and during investigations, he stated that even though he was seen selling some footwear, he found it on the floor of the Hohoe lorry station.

GNA
Commercial drivers in the Bono Region have vehemently opposed the implementation of the 'Passenger manifest and e-ticketing and digital payment app' OYA App.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) launched the APP in August, to specifically bring solutions to vehicle manifest databases, digital payment of transport fares, luggage tagging, and ticket printing among others.

According to the Union, the OYA App would not only enhance driver professionalism, but also help with early and easy identification of accident victims and quick contact with their next of kin to ensure adequate medical care and treatment.

But a meeting to facilitate the implementation of the App organised by the Bono Regional Branch of the Union for commercial drivers in Sunyani ended abruptly, amid heated arguments.

Tempers flared up when the Union was unable to justify a proposed Gh1.00 which would be collected from passengers who boarded their vehicles, in line with the implementation of the OYA App.

According to the aggrieved drivers, they did not understand why the Union should charge passengers an additional Gh1.00 after they (passengers) had already paid their lorry fares.

They, therefore, called on the leadership of the Union to come clear about the implementation of the APP, saying until they were convinced, there was no way they would cooperate for the implementation of the App at the various GPRTU bus terminals in the region.

We really dont understand the concept of the APP, particularly the collection of Gh1.00 from passengers. Our executives claim the Gh1.00 is a form of insurance package, but we have already insured our vehicles, Nana Oppong, one of the drivers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Another driver, Adjei Manu also cautioned the Union to suspend the implementation of the App, saying that would cause confusion at the lorry terminals.

Mr. Kwame Frimpong, the Bono Regional Vice Chairman of the GPRTU, later in an interview with the GNA described the App as a laudable initiative, saying its implementation would benefit both drivers and passengers.

He admitted that driver and passenger education on the App in the region was poor and assured the Union would intensify the education.

GNA
Rebels seized more territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, prompting the UN peacekeeping mission to increase its "troop alert level" and boost support for the army.

The M23 rebel fighters had seized control of Kiwanju and Rutshuru-centre along the strategic RN2 highway in the eastern province of North Kivu, local officials and witnesses told AFP by telephone.

Rebels had also been seen at Rugari, just 30 kilometres (20 miles) down the RN2 from provincial capital Goma, which it links with the north and Uganda.

Four peacekeepers were wounded by mortar fire and shooting at Kiwanja, the mission announced.

"Kiwanja and Rutshuru-centre are in M23 hands," said civil society representative Jacques Niyonzima.

"The rebels have held two meetings and told local people to go about their work and those displaced to return to their villages, saying security was now guaranteed," he said.

At Kiwanja, "in our area we recorded three deaths, a man, a woman and her child, killed by shells that landed on houses", said local resident Eric Muhindo.

A general hospital official in Rutshuru added: "There were several wounded in Kiwanja after a small amount of resistance".

"Calm has returned. People are moving about and shops are opening," the official said, asking not to be named.

In the capital Kinshasa, the presidency said head of state Felix Tshisekedi was holding a "meeting on national security in the light of the change in the security situation in the east of the country".

Hostile acts

The MONUSCO mission condemned "the hostile acts of M23", the rebel group, and called for an immediate halt to the fighting.

The mission said on Twitter it was providing "air support, intelligence and equipment" as well as medical assistance.

The peacekeepers said they were "mobilised in support" of DRC's army after residents reported at least ten people dead since Sunday and dozens more injured near RN2.

The MONUSCO said it had set up an "operations coordination centre" with the army and was carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance flights, but did not provide further details about the alert level.

M23, a mostly Congolese Tutsi group, resumed fighting in late 2021 after lying dormant for years, accusing the government of failing to honour an agreement to rehabilitate its fighters.

It has since captured swathes of territory in North Kivu, including the key town of Bunagana on the Ugandan border in June.

The frontline between Congolese troops and M23 rebels had been calm in recent weeks until last week, when clashes erupted again.

Last Sunday, M23 fighters captured the village of Ntamugenga in the Rutshuru area. It lies four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the RN2 where the clashes spread on Thursday.

The UN humanitarian affairs office in the DRC said this week around 34,500 people had fled the Rutshuru region.

The group's resurgence has destabilised regional relations in central Africa, with the DRC accusing its smaller neighbour Rwanda of backing the militia.

Rwanda denies the charges and counters that DRC works with a notorious Hutu rebel movement involved in the 1994 genocide of Tutsis, which Kinshasa also denies.

A report by independent UN experts seen by AFP in August found that Kigali had provided direct support to the M23.

And this week a US representative to the United Nations spoke of Rwandan defence forces providing assistance to the M23.

M23 first leapt to prominence in 2012 when it briefly captured Goma before a joint Congolese-UN offensive drove it out.

The militia is one of scores of armed groups that roam eastern DRC, many of them a legacy of two regional wars that flared late last century.
Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin has said the anti-LGBT Bill currently before parliament will be passed before the next elections.

The Speaker, earlier this week, asked the Committee working on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill to expedite works in presenting its report to the house for a debate.

Speaking at a media engagement, Rt. Hon Bagbin emphasized that the sexual rights and human values Bill that is being handled by the committee will definitely be passed before the next elections. That Bill will go through.

The Minority had accused the Committee of deliberately delaying work on the Bill and threatened to block the passage of government Bills if the anti-LGBT Bill was not worked on speedily.

While data indicates that most Ghanaians are in favour of the Bill, it has faced criticism from renowned artists and academics.

The Bill prescribes that people of the same sex who engage in sexual activity could spend up to 10 years in jail.

Varying forms of support for the LGBTQ+ community will also be criminalized if the Bill is passed into law.

It has, however, generated some widespread conversation, with many expressing varied views about some clauses in the document.

When we talk about sexual rights, we are talking about things that will add value to human beings by way of creating opportunities and equal playing ground in giving privileges and rights to everyone and removing all the restrictions and hurdles to make people freer. That is what we call human rights, whatever negates this is not a human right, the Speaker of Parliament added.

Following the heated conversations amidst pressure on Parliament to pass the Bill, there have been speculations that MPs who support the Bill may be denied some privileges from members of the international community.

Many persons and institutions have filed memoranda in support of the Bill and to help fine-tune it.

A number of renowned legal, academic and civil society professionals have also filed documents challenging the legislation.

In the memorandum, they contend that the Bill is an impermissible invasion of the inviolability of human dignity.

They further argued that pushing through the Bill will be to challenge Ghana's constitution and democracy.

-citinewsroom
An aspiring Volta regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Member of Parliament for North Dayi, George Loh has showered praises on Members of Parliament from both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and NDC, for responding to the call to intervene in the ongoing economic situation in the country.

The move according to the private legal practitioner is what the people of Ghana want in this trying times.

I believe the constituents of these parliamentarians will be happy about their representatives because their actions were prompt. This is why they are voted for to take actions that inure to their benefit.

Some over 100 majority MPs a The minority has also filed for a censure to remove finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta from office following Ghana's Economic crisis.

According to the disgruntled MPs, they will not participate in any government business until the minister is removed from office or voluntarily resigns.

Just last week, George Loh called on the legislature to urgently summon the Finance Minister and others, to answer questions on the state of the economy.

I think that parliament is important in this matter because it is the representative of the people. Their intervention will bring clarify to what is happening.

He argues because you know one of their functions is supervising the public purse and from the way things are going, they may need to invite the Governor of the bank of Ghana, head of the economic management team, they may need to invite the minister of finance and his team to get an explanation and find out what the minster is doing to turn this tide because it's dangerous; I mean it's throwing our economy out of gear and parliament has a responsibility to be seeing doing something to help the situation.

Parliament is yet to begin debate on the censure but the former North Dayi lawmaker believes the intervention alone is enough commitment shown by the lawmakers.

By Citi Newsroom
Hybrid Radio Measure to Launch in Australia

Australian broadcast industry body Commercial Radio & Audio will introduce a new hybrid audience measurement system for its GfK metropolitan radio surveys, from March next year, and describes it as 'the most significant investment and change to [radio measurement] in Australia since ratings began'.



CRA is the country's peak radio industry body, promoting the effectiveness of radio and audio to advertisers, managing national, metropolitan and regional audience measurement surveys, setting standards and intervening on regulatory and legislative matters. The new system will base radio ratings predominantly on electronic diaries, plus live radio streaming data obtained from station web server logs and the GfK Sensic tagging system. Streaming data will be verified by and integrated with data from panels of respondents wearing GfK's MediaWatch wearable meter.



CRA Chief Executive Ford Ennals says the new approach, described as 'the first iteration of the new hybrid methodology', will provide more robust and granular listening data for agencies and advertisers and enable a deeper view of the size of the streaming audience'. He adds: 'We also plan to provide additional information on podcast listening by including podcast consumption questions into the lifestyle questionnaire that is part of the diary. These insights will provide information such as podcasting listening frequency, time of day and other data'.



GfK Media Measurement Director Deb Hishon (pictured), interviewed at the body's Audio Unlimited event, said: 'We are excited to work with the radio industry on Radio360, a project that has seen extensive data science applied and rigorous testing. We are using every available measurement tool to ensure the system is designed to future-proof radio audience measurement for the Australian market. GfK's Radio360 provides users, for the first time ever, the ability to analyse and plan against radio streaming and linear audiences; it also opens the door to new audience insights into listening for an event or specific period, such as the summer period which is not measured under the current system'.



CRA recently appointed John Musgrove, previously Head of Insights and Research at broadcaster Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) in the new role of Head of Research.



Web sites: www.commercialradio.com.au and www.gfk.com .




(Natural News) Dairy farmers in Australia are now being forced to inject the gene-altering mRNA vaccine that contains spike protein so they could remain in business. Just like in humans, the experimental jabs are causing severe damage to the animals and many of them died instantly.

Independent media portal InfoWars recently reported that 35 out of 200 cows died immediately after being administered the injection. (Related: LETHAL INJECTIONS: 18% of cattle DIE immediately following mRNA vaccination.)

Analysts consider the mandatory vaccination of cows as a direct attack on food supply. Many of them are asking if the milk and other by-products would contain the spike protein that actually harmed the animals.

Dairy herd DNA is altered. Milk is altered and you consume it. Butter constitution, yogurt, cheese and meat are altered. Will chicken and other meats be next? Principia Scientific International (PSI), a legally registered company in the U.K. incorporated for charitable purposes, said in a statement posted on its website.

According to the firm, all should be careful when consuming dairy products as well as beef products like burgers. PSI further suggested growing their own food and developing herds that are private, none tagged and never vaccinated.

Time to set up a community farm association with member farmers who are not part of the system, have herds or animals that are not jabbed or tagged so a community of private people can be consumers of organically produced livestock, it added.

There is no science behind mandatory COVID-19 mRNA injections in animals

New South Wales (NSW) was the first to have cattle herds injected with mRNA. The NSW governments reason for the animal vaccination drive is to protect them not just from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) but also from foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease.

As per Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole, this move is an important milestone toward securing the vaccine technology that will protect Australias $28.7 billion livestock industry.

The NSW Nationals in Government are taking the threat of FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease extremely seriously, and this milestone is another step forward in preparing for a potential outbreak, Toole said. He added that he has already written to the vaccine manufacturer to take his challenge to develop vaccines ready for use and manufacture in NSW by August 1 next year.

In other words, theres no science involved in the recent mRNA vaccination drive on cattle herds.

COVID-19 demonstrated to us that all possible avenues in developing vaccines must be explored and we will leave no stone unturned, Toole said, referring to how the approval of the vaccine mandate has been fast-tracked.

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said U.S. biotechnology company Tiba Biotech has been given free rein to churn out as many mRNA injections as possible to supposedly protect Australias multi-billion livestock industry. He said it is critical to developing mRNA vaccines for FMD and lumpy skin as quickly as possible.

Visit Vaccines.news for more news related to the lethal mRNA vaccines that are now being administered to animals.

Watch the below video where Dr. Jane Ruby exposed sociopaths preparing to inject cattle and animals with mRNA vaccines.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ZOOTARDS ON PARADE: Toronto Zoo absurdly claims its animals are VOLUNTARILY getting injected with the COVID vaccine.

MIND-BLOWING: Oakland and Denver zoos giving COVID-19 spike protein vaccines to animals  including bears, gorillas, tigers and mountain lions.

Now theyre vaccinating gorillas at the zoo for coronavirus.

INSANITY: Phoenix Zoo vaccinates 75 ANIMALS for COVID-19  all of them endangered species.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Principia-Scientific.com

NexusNewsFeed.com

NSW.gov.au

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The United States Army missed its recruitment goal for the 2022 fiscal year by 25 percent, or 15,000 new soldiers. This comes as the Army already cut its projection for how many new people it could bring into the military.

The militarys recruiting shortfall is occurring despite the fact that a recent Gallup survey noted that 64 percent of Americans have confidence in the nations military. The Army is only projected to recruit around 10,000 people this year, and the number of new recruits for 2023 could decline even further. (Related: U.S. Army recommends soldiers suffering under #Bidenflation apply for food stamps  while Congress spends tens of billions on foreign aid.)

The Army is also set to lose tens of thousands of national guard and reserve soldiers who have refused to get vaccinated against Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Roughly 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 Reserve soldiers have already been cut off from their military benefits for not complying with the vaccine mandate, according to the Army.

That same vaccine mandate could also be the main reason why thousands of young Americans were opting not to join the armed forces.

Meanwhile, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth noted that the Army is spending more than ever before on new technologies to replace its aging military infrastructure. But all of this new military tech will be worthless, especially when compared to other major military powers like China, if the Army cant recruit enough people to be trained on how to handle the new tech.

We can develop all of the most high-tech weapons systems like we are working on right now, but if we dont have the kinds of talented, motivated individuals to use those weapons systems, we wont be able to do what we need to do, said Wormuth.

Number of openings in military keeps increasing

The Army, the largest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, has a current workforce of around 466,000 people. Given the poor state of the economy and the labor market, where the gap between the number of job openings and job seekers remains wide, the Army is having difficulty retaining its people and finding new recruits.

Were competing for talent just like all of the folks in industry are, and the job market is hot right now, said Wormuth. Wages have gone up a lot, and thats great for Americans, but its making it harder for us in the Army to compete.

Wormuth noted that all other branches of the military are having trouble recruiting, and she noted that a variety of factors other than the economy are affecting enlistment. A lot of people who do want to sign up are turned away due to learning losses due to the shutdown of schools and the decline in fitness standards among American youth.

Only about 23 percent of kids between 16 and 21 are able to meet our standards, and some of that, frankly, is reflective of the problem that we have in our country with obesity, said Wormuth. She added that behavioral health and misconduct are also factors.

Perhaps more worryingly for the secretary is the decreasing propensity to serve, or the inclination among the population to serve their country by joining the military. Wormuth regarded this to be a really hard problem.

Right now, only nine percent of young Americans say that theyre interested in joining the military, she said, noting that declining propensity to serve is one of the militarys long-term challenges.

Thats going to take time to change, but a lot of it I think is about getting out there and doing a better job of talking to young Americans about what the Army can do for them, and the incredible breadth of skills that they can have access to in the Army, said Wormuth. We have over 178 military occupational specialties in the Army and its not just infantry.

Weve got data scientists, nurses, doctors, lawyers, paralegals, and I think weve got to do a better job of explaining that to young Americans and their parents.

Watch this clip from Wake Up America on Newsmax as hosts Carl Higbie and Amanda Brilhante discuss why all branches of the military are seeing massive recruiting shortfalls.

This is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

U.S. military degrading rapidly under Biden, Dem-controlled Congress now rated weak even as global threats are rising.

Woke U.S. military failing to recruit because nobody wants to defend American degeneracy.

Active-duty serviceman blames woke policies for Armys worst recruiting year in nearly five decades.

Navy offering up to $65,000 to pay off student loans of recruits as enlistment figures continue to decline.

Americans are refusing to join the military despite generous enlistment incentives.

Sources include:

CNBC.com

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Election integrity is on the line in the November 2022 midterms. Host James White talked about this topic with his guests Roy McKenzie and Jane Rectenwald, both from the Montana Election Integrity Project, during the Oct. 17 episode of Critical Disclosure on Brighteon.TV.

White pointed out that election integrity is one of the important issues facing America based on polls. This is in spite of a certain group urging people to forget, let go and move on from the 2020 elections. According to White, corruption in America is nationwide  and his home state of Montana is not exempt.

McKenzie cited an example of this corruption in the form of election software company Konnech and its CEO Eugene Yu. Every American ought to know about Konnech and Yu as Montanans use the companys software for its voting system, he said. According to McKenzie, the Montana State Legislature had already written to the states Attorney General Austin Knudsen to look into Konnechs software.

He also cited the arrest of Yu in connection with the data of U.S. poll workers being found on servers in China. A grand jury testimony in Los Angeles County led to the Konnech CEOs arrest in connection with the companys PollChief software. (Related: Software CEO charged with stealing massive amounts of election data in Los Angeles, sending it to China.)

McKenzie said Montana is also using another piece of software that was originally developed by Konnech called AB Vote, which serves as the online absentee voting portal software used by the United States uniformed and overseas citizens to vote during elections. The company that currently administers AB Vote software is Votem, which purchased access to the software in 2016. Incidentally, Yu is also a member of the board of advisors for Votem.

So, he has influence over the decisions of the company. And that should give people pause and this is worthy of investigation. So, going back here, why is this important? With the PollChief software, we saw that poll worker data was sent over to China. What does that mean for this voting portal that Montana uses? It means that the voters name, their date of birth, their precinct or county is shared with the system vendor, McKenzie said.

Montana online voting portal not a secure portal

The Montana Federal Voting Assistance Program grant proposal submitted by Montana Secretary of State in 2012 has specifically stated that the system vendor can access that information. According to McKenzie, this online voting portal is not a secure portal because it gets a users IP address and browser information when they log in.

Someone who is smart could do a reverse IP lookup on maybe a general ballot submission and see their deployment location. So, this has far-reaching implications even greater in my opinion than just the PollChief softwares election worker data, he said.

White pointed out that enemies of America, namely China, can find out based on looking at the IP address where the vote was made and trace it back from its location. He added that it could expose the location of a high-level military officer, which could put their life in danger from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other enemies.

McKenzie agreed, mentioning that Yu intentionally sent PollChiefs 1.8 million poll workers data to software developers in China. This, in turn, could be used by the CCP to know about troop locations or do clandestine operations. He reiterated that such a concern is definitely a security breach that should not be pooh-poohed.

Watch the Oct. 17 episode of Critical Disclosure below. Critical Disclosure airs every Monday at 7-8 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Stunning: Montana election integrity organization found more than 120,000 invalid votes cast during 2020 election.

Election company Konnech that illegally stored election data in communist China EXPOSED for contributing all political cash to Biden and other Democrats.

Breaking: Election software CEO arrested for storing data in China is deemed significant flight risk caught with luggage on way to MI airport left his cell phone behind has substantial ties to China.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NYPost.com
(Natural News) A panel of experts, including physicians and a funeral home director, discuss how they are seeing more and more young people die because of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

This discussion, hosted by the RAIR Foundation, was meant to talk about matters involving the theme Sudden Death of Youth. It was co-hosted by Dr. Sam Dube and activist Glen Macko. The focus of the discussion was the phenomena of fully vaccinated, but otherwise healthy individuals between the ages of 10 and 40 suddenly dying.

The speakers shared personal stories of seeing patients injured and killed by the vaccine. According to Dube, this was done so that the panels viewers can better understand and better see whats happening, in the hopes that you can save lives, and help people who have been so affected.

Some of the victims they discussed included a fit and healthy 28-year-old woman who died just 90 minutes after she was vaccinated. The panel noted that she was coerced into taking the vaccine because her physicians refused to provide her with minor surgery unless she was vaccinated.

Another victim they discussed was a healthy 30-year-old man who dropped dead out of nowhere. When his body was autopsied, they found his arteries were severely blocked. Another was a mother of two girls in her 30s who never woke up after going to sleep one night. She had no comorbidities and was considered very healthy.

This panel discussion was held less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it was officially recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for all children in the United States as part of their annual vaccination schedule. States will decide, based on the influence of this recommendation, whether to mandate the vaccine for school entry. (Related: Post-mortem examinations find massive blood clot biostructures in bodies of the vaccinated.)

Vaccinated people dying with strange clots in their veins

Dr. Kirk A. Milhoan, a 20-year pediatric cardiologist with a specialty in dealing with heart-related health complications, noted that he has treated close to 700 COVID-19 patients.

Ive been seeing an increase in adverse events in teenagers from the boosters and vaccine recently, he said. And now Im seeing a much worse course with COVID for those who have been vaccinated and boosted, as opposed to those who havent.

Dr. Ryan Cole, a pathologist trained by the Mayo Clinic, warned that he has seen patterns change in tissues as well as blood since the rollout of the vaccines.

Once the shots rolled out, we started seeing all sorts of conditions that increased, and now recently, weve seen a big increase in the youth of sudden death since the rollout of not just the shots but the boosters as well, said Cole.

He added later during the panel that he and many other physicians already understand clearly how the COVID-19 vaccines are affecting people, especially young and healthy people, including many athletes who have dropped dead since the beginning of the vaccine rollout.

To introduce [the vaccine] into the body, into these young individuals with a statistically zero risk from COVID really is concerning, he said.

Richard Hirschman, an embalmer and funeral director from Alabama with over 20 years of experience, said he has also noticed a huge change in the demographic of the people that come to his funeral home.

Since 2021, more people under 40 who suddenly died have been arriving, and many of them showed abnormal blood clotting, Hirschman said. He described their blood as stringy, rubber-like protein clots. This change in the nature of peoples blood echoes what Cole warned about.

We were finding clots in the arteries as well as in the veins, he said. The veins are typically where we find clots. But we would hardly ever see a clot in the artery itself.

Learn more about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines at VaccineDamage.news.

Watch this short clip from Frontline Health discussing how Hirschman kept finding clots in the bodies of the vaccinated.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden lied as Americans died: Coffin suppliers, insurance companies, embalmers, funeral directors and miscarriage reports confirm vax deaths spiked as teh CDC hid critical data.

Never seen before: Embalmers finding long, rubbery clots inside corpses since implementation of COVID vaccines.

EXCLUSIVE: Natural News releases post-vaccine clot ICP-MS elemental analysis results, comparing clots to human blood  findings reveal these clots are NOT blood clots.

Dr. Jane Ruby: Two new stunning discoveries found in blood clots from the COVID vaccinated  Brighteon.TV.

WATCH: Dr. Jane Ruby offers fresh insights about self-assembling clots and nanowires found in fully vaccinated cadavers.

Sources include:

RAIRFoundation.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) What happened: Vice President Kamala Harris went to Minnesota over the weekend and was asked about her support for the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a controversial organization that has helped put violent offenders back on the street. Harris argued that those criticizingor simply pointing outher support for the fund were playing political games and peddling misinformation and disinformation.

(Article by Andrew Stiles republished from FreeBeacon.com)

The bottom line: Harris did promote the Minnesota Freedom Fund, urging supporters to donate in June 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. If youre able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota, Harris wrote on Twitter.

Why it matters: The Minnesota Freedom Fund raised tens of millions of dollars in the weeks following Floyds death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The group used a small portion of those fundsjust $210,000 out of the $3.5 million it had spent by September 2020to post bail for individuals arrested during the violent protests, riots, and looting that followed.

 Once the protests had died down, the Minnesota Freedom Fund used its massive fundraising haul to post bail for violent offenders who would go on to be charged with murder following their release. In August 2021, the fund bailed out career criminal George Howard following his arrest on a domestic violence charge. Three weeks later, he was charged with murder after allegedly shooting a 38-year-old Hispanic man during a road rage incident.

 The fund also helped secure the release of Shawn Michael Tillman, a repeat felon who was arrested for murder in May 2022 after allegedly shooting a passenger on a train platform in St. Paul. Tillman had previously been convicted on multiple counts of indecent exposure, as well as assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was released from jail weeks before the alleged murder after the Minnesota Freedom Fund posted his bail following another arrest for indecent exposure.

What theyre saying: Glenn Kessler, the top fact-checker at the Washington Post, didnt even bother to assess Harriss claim. He simply re-upped his so-called fact check from two years ago, which criticized Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) for writing: Kamala Harris helped violent rioters in Minnesota get out of jail to do more damage. Kessler didnt assign a rating to this arguably true statement but suggested that, in theory, Cotton would have been eligible for one Pinocchio because he was wrong to suggest that the donations led to the release of many protesters or rioters, even though thats not what Cotton said.

OUR FACT CHECK:

The Washington Free Beacon is committed to holding our elected leaders accountable by fact-checking their statements for dangerous misinformation that threatens to destroy our cherished democracy. What follows is the full excerpt from Harriss interview with a local news station in Minneapolis on October 22.

WCCO 4 News:

The Minnesota GOP is holding a press conference this afternoon to criticize you for your support a couple of years ago, before you were the vice president, for something called the Minnesota Freedom Fund that was really set up to help those who are arrested in the aftermath of the George Floyd riotshelp them get out [on bail]. Its since been sort of morphed into something else and has been used to help people get out who have been accused of many other crimes. Do you have any thoughts about this?

Kamala Harris:

Well, first of all, I am a child of parents who marched for civil rights in the 1960s in America, and I have always been and will always be a supporter of peaceful protests. Many peaceful protests over the history of our country have led to an expansion of rights and an expansion of civil rights. So thats where I stand on peaceful protest, and I think that unfortunately what were seeing is people are playing political games right now. Were 18 days from midterms, and we have sadly not seen a lack of misinformation and disinformation and I think this is another one of those examples.

OUR VERDICT:

Harris is not what anyone would call an eloquent public speaker. It is often difficult to discern what the hell she is talking about. This is especially true in unscripted interviews when a reporter asks a question that isnt a total softball. Her answer to this particular question is characteristically meandering and dismissive.

Nevertheless, her attempt to dismiss an indisputable facther support for the Minnesota Freedom Fundas misinformation and disinformation is dangerously false. The reporters description of the fund was fair and accurate. Harris is the one peddling misinformation and threatening to erode the core democratic principles upon which this country was founded.

4 CLINTONS

Read more at: FreeBeacon.com
(Natural News) Another group heavily financed by liberal billionaire George Soros is joining a growing network of organizations he funds calling on Big Tech to do more to censor so-called election disinformation before the midterms.

(Article by Joseph Vazquez republished from NewsBusters.org)

Leftist group Global Witness released a co-authored piece of propaganda disguised as an investigation with New York Universitys Cyber Security for Democracy team (C4D) whining that Facebook and TikTok werent censoring enough.

The groups Oct. 21 press release on its report, headlined Facebook and TikTok fail to block deceptive ads with blatant US midterms disinformation, claimed its experiment was engineered to determine how well social media platforms are living up to their promises to stop disinformation that can destabilise democratic processes.

Soros Open Society Foundations gave Global Witness $17,657,000 between 2016 and 2020 alone. The group has offices in London, Brussels and Washington D.C.

The group complained that TikTok approved 90 percent of ads featuring misleading and false election disinformation while Facebook allegedly approved a significant number of similarly inaccurate and false ads. Global Witness Senior Advisor John Lloyd tried to drum up fear about a supposed threat to democracy if Big Tech companies didnt up the ante on their censorship operations:

It is high time they got their houses in order and started properly resourcing the detection and prevention of disinformation, before its too late. Our democracy rests on their willingness to act.

Multiple media outlets like The New York Times and The Hill gobbled up and regurgitated Global Witness talking points without mentioning the groups financial ties to Soros:

The New York Times: TikTok failed to stop most misleading political ads in a test run by researchers.

The Hill: TikTok, Facebook failed to remove ads spreading election misinformation: report.

Fortune: TikTok let through 90% of ads spreading baseless claims around U.S. midterms, new report finds.

Associated Press: Report: TikTok bad at culling US election misinformation ads.

The Guardian: We risk another crisis: TikTok in danger of being major vector of election misinformation.

Global Witness, however, praised YouTube for its obsession with censoring election content while still finding room to suggest it doesnt go far enough in censoring election content in Brazil. Could that be because Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump? Bolsonaro is currently in the middle of a highly contested election against leftist and disgraced former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva.

Only YouTube succeeded both in detecting the ads and suspending the channel carrying them, though this is in glaring contrast to the platforms record in Brazil, where similar ads were approved, Global Witness and C4D wrote in the report.

YouTube, in particular, certainly seems to be taking its cues from Soros-funded groups. The Soros-funded Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) spearheaded an Oct. 13 open letter signed by 11 other liberal groups pining for Big Tech companies like YouTube to [t]ake immediate steps to curb the spread of voting disinformation in the midterms and future elections and to help prevent the undermining of our democracy. LCCHR, in addition to six of the 12 signatories, were funded to the tune of $30,325,500 by Soros between 2016 and 2020.

But thats not all.

The Soros-funded International Fact-Checking Network at the liberal Poynter Institute for Media Studies also put election pressure on YouTube. The IFCN published an open letter Jan. 12 to YouTube demanding it silence free speech on issues such as elections and COVID-19. The whole world witnessed the consequences of disinformation when a violent mob assaulted the U.S. Capitol last year. From the eve of the U.S. presidential election to the day after, YouTube videos supporting the fraud narrative were watched more than 33 million times, the letter whined.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org
(Natural News) A family therapist recently spoke out against the trend among mental health professionals who affirm a childs gender identity instead of investigating the root issues that cause youth to question their biological sex.

(Article by Jean Mondore republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

Stephanie Winn is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Oregon who used to work with transgender identifying children. Although she has stopped treating these clients after receiving threats from anonymous dissenters, Winn has continued to reject the method of affirming gender dysphoria, which many therapists use regularly.

Were just told that if someone tells you they identify in this way, thats the end of the story, Winn told Fox News. Dont ask any questions, just affirm, just agree, and then usher them along this path of medicalization.

Many of my colleagues have abandoned our duty of care, either due to ignorance or cowardice, she added.

Winn described the role of therapists in contemporary society as green-lighting or rubber-stamping people along into these medical procedures when thats never been our role in the treatment of any other issue.

Were going to see a transition regret crisis, Winn said about the alarming increase in the number of children identifying as something other than their biological sex. Unfortunately, we are going to have to worry about some of the most frightening mental health outcomes as part of that.

The other dangerous expectation of modern therapy is to drive a wedge between families, she explained. Were expected to tell parents that they must let their children lead, even though children need structure, rules, discipline and boundaries.

In addition to practicing as a marriage and family therapist, Winn also writes a blog in which she has several posts related to helping people who have turned away from the transgender lifestyle. Her most recent article is a guide for detransitioners, lost-in-transitioners, and other survivors of gender malpractice to learn how to file a complaint against gender affirming care.

Resources for people whove been harmed by gender medicine are presently insufficient to address the scope and severity of their needs, she wrote in a Twitter post announcing her new book. Id like to change that.
(Natural News) It has come to light that The Atlantic, which was founded upon the commitment to be the organ of no party or clique, is a longtime proponent of mass sterilization and eugenics.

In its November 1950 issue, The Atlantic published an article called Sterilization that weight and measured the benefits of mass sterilization, particularly among lesser folks with health issues such as manic depression and epilepsy. The piece also targeted certain chronic criminals for elimination of their reproductive capacity.

Because it was believed by the writer of this piece that such defects are hereditary, the claim was made that there are millions of individuals markedly unfit to live in society because many of them cannot care for themselves or their children and are a burden to their families or communities.

Employing a survival-of-the-fittest perfect race ideology similar to what swept Nazi Germany, the writer of this piece in The Atlantic alleged that it would simply be irresponsible to allow people deemed as defective to procreate and possibly spread their disabilities more widely through future generations. (Related: Back in February, The Atlantic tried to blame climate change for Joe Bidens failed economic policies.)

The Atlantic was advocating for the transgender mutilation of children back in late 1950

It was Lithuanian eugenicist Dr. Abraham Myerson who is responsible for this 1950s piece in The Atlantic, which further and openly calls for the lesser-than in society to be sterilized in order to prevent them from ever reproducing.

Believing himself to be one of societys superiors, Myerson advocated for eliminating from the gene pool those deemed to be socially inadequate by reason of heredity, meaning they come from a lesser-than family.

The Atlantic reportedly extracted the article in question from Myersons book, Speaking of Man, which was originally published by a group called Knopf that has since become part of Penguin Random House.

Interestingly, Myersons piece also makes reference to what we now know of as the transgender mutilation of children, which was described as such back in the late 1950s:

As for meddling with the sexual organs, there is a deepseated repugnance which is socially instinctive and could be overcome only by great force or very intensive social education.

In the years that would follow the publishing of this statement, which laid the groundwork for todays transgender craze, The Atlantic would publish more gender mutilation propaganda, including that written by womens rights activist Harriet Pilpel.

For several years, we have heard warnings about the population crisis, Pilpel wrote in 1969. Indeed, so concerned are we that there now are voices in the land calling for compulsory sterilization and compulsory birth control, for the withholding of public support for illegitimate children in excess of a certain number, for conditioning welfare monies or parole or whatever on coerced sterilization, and so on.

Yet little is done to make sterilization easily available on a voluntary basis, particularly to the poor and underprivileged.

As you can see, the narrative was already being established more than half a decade ago for the removal of childrens sexual organs. What was not explicitly stated, probably because it had not yet been dreamed up by the globalists, was that this would be accomplished through an LGBT agenda of be yourself by permanently destroying your own body parts.

All in all, The Atlantic has time and time again promoted sterilization and eugenics against those deemed to be a burden to society. The far-left rag has always looked at some people as being not quite as equal as other people, which defies everything upon which our country was founded, including the notion that all men are created equal.

More related news can be found at Depopulation.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TheAtlantic.com

NaturalNews.com
An unexpected river that was discovered beneath the Antarctic ice sheet has an impact on how the ice flows and melts, possibly accelerating ice loss as global temperatures rise.

A recent study reveals the 460 km river and describes how it gathers water from an area the size of France and Germany put together at the bottom of the Antarctic ice sheet. Its discovery demonstrates that the ice sheet's base has much more active water flow than was previously believed, which may make it more vulnerable to climatic changes.

Researchers from Newcastle University, the University of Waterloo in Canada, Imperial College London, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu worked on the study.

4.3-Meter Rise

Co-author Professor Martin Siegert, from the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said that a few decades ago when lakes were first found beneath the Antarctic ice, people believed the water bodies were separate from one another. They are now beginning to realize that there are entire systems underground that are linked by enormous river networks like they could be if there weren't tens of thousands of meters of ice covering them.

The area where this study was conducted has sufficient ice to raise the water levels worldwide by 4.3 meters. How quickly and how much of this ice melts depends on how slick the ice base is. This process might be significantly influenced by the recently discovered river system.

Water Under the Ice

There are two main ways that water can enter beneath ice sheets: either through melting at the base brought on by friction even as the ice moves over land and the natural heat of the Earth or through surface meltwater flowing downward through deep crevasses.

The ice sheets surrounding the south and north poles, however, differ in some ways. In Greenland, the summer months see intense melting of the surface during which enormous volumes of water channel through deep crevasses known as moulins.

However, because the summers continue to be too cold, there is not enough surface melting to form moulins in Antarctica. This led to the assumption that there was not a lot of water present at the bottom of the Antarctic ice sheets.

The discovery flips this notion on its head by demonstrating that there is enough water from the basal melt alone to develop into vast river systems beneath kilometers of ice.

The discovery was made using a combination of ice sheet hydrology modeling and airborne radar surveys that enable scientists to investigate beneath the ice. The team concentrated on an understudied and largely inaccessible region that contains ice from both the West and East Antarctic ice sheets and flows into the Weddell Sea.

Read also: Antarctic Ice Loss is at Its Highest in 5,500 Years Following New Study on Local Sea Level Change

Missing Link

Dr. Christine Dow, the study's lead researcher from the University of Waterloo said that it is a testament to how much more needs to be understood about the continent that such a vast system could remain undiscovered until now.

She said that satellite measurements show how much ice is being lost from Antarctica's regions, but the reason why is still unknown. Dow said that this finding might fill in a gap in their models. They might be drastically underestimating the speed the system will melt if they don't take these river systems into account.

According to NASA, with the help of their ICESat-2, or Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, scientists were able to precisely map the subglacial lakes. The satellite measures the elevation of the ice surface. Despite its colossal thickness, the height changes as lakes beneath the ice sheet fill or empty.

Dow added that Models and forecasts of how the ice will behave in the future under continued global warming and how significantly this could raise sea levels worldwide can only be made by understanding why ice is being lost.

The Whole System

Co-author Dr. Neil Ross, from the University of Newcastle, said that to understand what melting looks like, earlier studies looked into the relationship between ocean water and the edges of ice sheets. To understand what melting looks like, earlier studies looked into the relationship between ocean water and the edges of ice sheets.

When predicting the potential effects of climate change in the area, it is also necessary to take into account the presence of sizable under-ice rivers.

To apply their frameworks to other regions and better understand how a changing Antarctica might affect the planet, the team is currently looking to collect more information from surveys about all these mechanisms, Phys Org reports.

The study by Dow and her colleagues was published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Related article: As Antarctic Ice Sheet Continues to Melt Due to Global Warming, Sea Level Rises
Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat Holding, has broken ground on its new Sitra Logistics Park, a world class warehousing facility, which will serve the kingdoms logistics industry.

The 87,382 sqm Sitra Logistics Park includes a number of facilities for industrial, commercial, and logistical use, which can be tailored according to tenants requirements.

Among the Parks biggest clients is Trident Warehousing, which signed a 10-year lease agreement valued at $7 million for an 8,137 sqm facility.

Edamah said it will be working with Trident Warehousing and their business associate Hoover Circular Solutions, a leading provider of sustainable packaging and fleet management solutions based in Texas, US, to create a facility that meets their technical and operational requirements.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials from Edamah; Trident Warehousing; Hoover Circular Solutions; Economic Development Board (EDB); financing partner Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB); project contractor Poullaides Construction Company; lead consultant Ansari Engineering Services; and cost consultants DG Jones.

Edamah CEO Amin Al Arrayed said: "We are excited to officially begin work on a project that is of national strategic importance and aligned with our goal to build for Bahrain through the careful selection of projects that contribute to the economy and respond to market needs. The Park will support the kingdoms growing logistics industry, as well as attract foreign investment and create jobs."

"With excellent road, air, and sea connectivity to the rest of GCC, along with dedicated facilities such as this Park, Bahrain is rapidly evolving into a highly integrated logistics hub," stated Al Arrayed.

"Sitra Logistics Park has been designed as a one-stop shop for all logistical needs, with office spaces, warehouses, and distribution centre to enhance production capacities," he added.

Edamahs diverse portfolio spans retail, hospitality, commercial and industrial properties across the Kingdom. It aims to drive sustainable economic growth while also creating benefits for local communities.-TradeArabia News Service
Washington/Dhaka, Oct 29 (UNI) Human Rights Congress for Bangladeshi Minorities (HRCBM) welcome US resolution on Bangladesh Genocide by Pakistan in 1971.

HRCBM held a press conference on Friday at the National Press Club in Washington DC to discuss the importance and implications of the bipartisan House Resolution H. Res.1430 Recognizing the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, introduced before the US Congress by the Congressmen Steve Chabot and Ro Khanna on October 14, 2022, according to a statement.

In her opening remarks, HRCBMs Executive Director Priya Saha thanked Congressmen Steve Chabot (Ohio) and Ro Khanna (California) for introducing the historic resolution Re.1430 on October 14, 2022, detailed how the Pakistani government conducted one of the worst genocides in history in erstwhile East Pakistan, i.e., todays Bangladesh over a period of nine months in 1971.



She reported that the armed forces of Pakistan and their Bangladeshi Islamist allies -- Jamat- E- Islami, Al-Badar Al Shams, and Razakaar militia -- brutally raped over 400,000 women, slaughtered approximately 3 million unarmed civilians, and forced nearly 10 million people to leave the country and seek refuge in neighbouring India.

Her report also included the fact that the Pakistani military and its Bangladeshi Islamist allies murdered 1,111 Bengali intellectuals, to turn Bangladesh into an intellectual eunuch, and that in 2017 the Bangladesh Parliament designated March 25 as Genocide Remembrance Day.

She concluded her statement by thanking Bangladeshi Consul General based in Florida, journalists, academics, members of civic society, and relatives of genocide victims who joined the press conference.

Presenters included Professor of distinction Sachi G. Dastidar, who presented his published research on the genocide.

Speaking from Dhaka, wellknown journalist and freedom fighter, Saleem Samad reported that the Pakistani Armed forces and its Bangladeshi allies Jamat-E- Islami, Al-Badar, Al-Shams, and Rajakaar militia forces employed rape as a tool of extermination in that horrible crime against humanity and urged everyone to recruit additional co-sponsors for the resolution.

Samad recalled that the Pakistani military and their Bangladeshi collaborators particularly targeted the Hindus for slaughtering.

Columbia University lecturer in Bengali and General Secretary of the Bangladeshi Hindu Buddhist & Christian Unity Council, USA, Dr. Dwijen Bhattacharjya complimented both Congressmen for introducing this important resolution and pointed out that this would encourage other nations to recognise the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971.

S M Alam, Consul General of Bangladesh in Florida appreciated Congressmen Steve Chabot and Ro Khanna for introducing the resolution and requested the members of the Bangladeshi diaspora to engage with other legislators to support the bill.

President of ISPAD and community leader Dilip Nath appreciated the two lawmakers for bringing this resolution in the United States Congress. He also urged the members of the Bangladeshi community in the U. S. to work hard for getting this important resolution adopted.

Razzak Baloch, Organizer, Baloch Human Rights, praised Congressman Steve Chabot and Congresswoman Ro Khanna and condemned the Pakistani army for the genocide it conducted in Bangladesh in 1971.

He also pointed out that Pakistani army is still training terrorists and supplying them around the world.

He expressed hope that someday soon, Baluchistan would also gain independence from Pakistan like Bangladesh did.

Upon supporting the legislation, Munawar Laghari, the Executive Director of Sindhi Foundation, mentioned that Pakistan is currently conducting a genocide against the Baluchis, and Sindhis like it did in Bangladesh in 1971.



This press conference was moderated by Adelle Nazarian, Media Fellow GIIS Communication and Legislative Director of the Hindu Pact. She urged all the Bangladeshi human rights activists living in the US to request their local representative to support the H. Res. 1430 of October 14, 2022.

UNI MAZ SY
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Microendoscopes are the cornerstone of modern medical diagnostics - they allow us to see what we could not even describe two decades ago. The technology is constantly improving, with ICTER scientists contributing to the development of the probes.

Microendoscopes using fiber optics are becoming increasingly important imaging tools, but they have physical limitations. They are essential for applications that require a long working distance, high resolution, and a minimum probe diameter. The research paper titled "Superior imaging performance of all-fiber, two- focusing-element microendoscopes," by Dr. Karol Karnowski of ICTER, Dr. Gavrielle Untracht of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Dr. Michael Hackmann of the University of Western Australia (UWA), Onur Cetinkaya of ICTER and Prof. David Sampson of the University of Surrey, sheds new light on modern microendoscopes. It is noteworthy that the research work started while the authors worked in the same research group at UWA.

In it, the researchers showed that endoscopic imaging probes, particularly those for so-called side viewing, combining fiber-optic (GRIN) and spherical lenses, offer excellent performance over the entire range of numerical apertures and open the way to a broader range of imaging applications. In the publication, the performance of endoscopic imaging probes is comparable to commonly used single focusing element probes.

What are microendoscopes?

Miniature fiber-optic probes, or micro-endoscopes, allow imaging of tissue microstructures deep into the specimen or patient. Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is particularly promising. It is suitable for volumetric imaging of external tissues and the interior of organs (e.g., the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or lung tubules).

Three main ranges of fiber optic probes can be distinguished. Studies of large, hollow organs (such as those above the upper respiratory tract) require the largest imaging depth ranges (up to 15 mm or more from the probe surface), which can usually be achieved with low-resolution Gaussian beams (spot size in focus in the range of 30-100 m). The intermediate resolution range (10-30 m) is helpful for broader applications, such as imaging the esophagus, smaller airways, blood vessels, bladder, ovaries, or ear canal. The biggest challenge is obtaining beams with a resolution better than 10 m, potentially helpful for animal model studies.

When developing a probe, one must be mindful of design parameters' trade-offs and their impact on imaging performance. Optical systems with a large numerical aperture (high resolution) tend to have a shorter working distance (WD). In addition, better resolution and longer working distance are more difficult to achieve as the probe diameter is reduced. This can be particularly problematic for side viewing probes - a greater minimum working distance is required compared to their forward imaging counterparts. Suppose the probe is encased in a catheter or needle. In that case, this increases the required minimum working distance - in many cases, this is the limiting factor in minimum achievable resolution or probe diameter.

It's worth noting that engineers are usually interested in minimizing the probe diameter for reduced perturbation to the sample and patient comfort. A smaller probe means a more flexible catheter and, therefore, better tolerance of the test by the patient. Thus, one of the best solutions is using monolithic fiber optic probes, whose diameter is limited by the thickness of the optical fibers. Such probes are characterized by ease of fabrication, thanks to fiber-optic welding technology, which avoids the need for tedious alignment and bonding (usually gluing) of individual micro-optical components.

Different types of microendoscopes

The most popular designs of fiber-optic imaging probes are those based on two types of focusing elements: GRIN fiber probes (GFP - GRIN fiber probes) and ball lens probes (BLP - ball lens probes). GRIN probes are easy to make, and their GRIN refractive power is not lost when the refractive index of the surrounding medium is close to that of the fiber used. Commercially available GRIN fibers limit achievable designs. High resolution is tough to achieve with GRIN fibers with small core diameters.

For lateral viewing probes, the curved surface of the fiber (and potentially the catheter) introduces distortion that can adversely affect imaging quality. Spherical BLP probes will not have this problem, but a sphere bigger than the fiber diameter is often required to achieve a resolution comparable to GFP probes. The focusing power of a BLP probe depends on the refractive index of the surrounding medium, which is an important issue when working in a medium with close or near biological samples.

One solution to improve the performance of probes is to use multiple light focusing elements, similar to the design of lenses with a long working distance. Studies have shown that combining numerous light-focusing elements provides better results for many imaging purposes. Probes with multiple focusing elements can achieve better resolution with smaller diameters while offering longer working distances without sacrificing resolution.

How do we improve the probes?

In their latest work, researchers led by Dr. Karnowski have shown that probes with two focusing elements using both GRIN segments and spherical lenses - called GRIN-ball-lens probes (GBLP) - significantly improve the performance of monolithic fiber optic probes. Their first modeling results have already been shown at conferences in 2018 and 2019. GBP probes were compared to the most commonly used GFP and BLP probes and showed performance benefits, especially for applications requiring longer operating distances, better resolution, and small size.

For intuitive visualization of probe performance, the researchers introduced a novel way to comprehensively present simulation results, especially useful when more than two variables are used. Analysis of the effect of GRIN fiber length and spherical lens size led to two interesting conclusions: for optimal results, the range of GRIN fiber length can be kept in the field of 0.25-0.4 pitch length (so-called pitch length); even if the working distance (WD) gain is not so significant for GBLP probes with high numerical aperture, the authors showed that the same or better performance in terms of working distance is achieved for a search with twice the diameter. Moreover, the novel GBLP probes offer higher resolution compared to BLP probes.

The paper's conclusion reads:

We have demonstrated the potential of GBLP probe design for applications with increased working distance, significant for lateral imaging probes, with a highly reduced impact of the refractive index of the probe's environment and a significantly smaller size compared to BLP or GFP probes. These advantages make GBLP probes a tool worth considering for many imaging applications in biological and biomedical research, particularly for projects requiring micro endoscopes.
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has developed a novel nanotechnology that triggers potent therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses and demonstrated its efficacy in mouse models of multiple cancers. Led by Co-director Ralph Weichselbaum, investigator Wenbin Lin and postdoctoral researcher Kaiting Yang at the Ludwig Center at Chicago, the study describes the synthesis, mechanism of action and preclinical assessment of the nanoparticle, which is loaded with a drug that activates a protein central to the efficient induction of anti-cancer immunity. The study, which overcomes significant technical barriers to targeting that protein-;stimulator of interferon genes, or STING-;for cancer therapy, appears in the current issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

The nanoparticles developed by the Lin lab release a drug that targets macrophages and can activate potent antitumor immune responses that extend the survival of mice bearing a variety of tumors. When used in combination with radiotherapy and immunotherapy, they even help control 'cold tumors' that are otherwise almost completely impervious to immune attack." Chicago Center Co-Director Ralph Weichselbaum

STING is part of cellular sensing system for DNA fragments, which are generated by infection or cancer treatments that damage DNA, like radiotherapy and some chemotherapies. Its activation promotes inflammation and drives immune cells like macrophages and dendritic cells to process and present cancer antigens to T cells, helping to stimulate and direct the immune assault on tumors. Though STING is a prized target for drug development, the drug-like molecules that can activate the molecular sensor-;known as cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs)-;have been plagued by issues of poor bioavailability, low stability and high toxicity in the absence of any means to target them specifically to tumors.

To better target such drugs, Weichselbaum, Lin, Yang and colleagues encapsulated a type of CDN in self-assembling spherical particles called nanoscale coordination polymers. A single dose of the nanoparticles, called ZnCDA (owing to the zinc ions at their core), suppressed tumor growth in two mouse models of colon cancer: a subcutaneously injected solid tumor and a model of liver metastases. ZnCDA also extended survival in a model of B-cell lymphoma, suppressed tumors in melanoma and prostate cancer models and induced anti-tumor effects in a model of a type of lung cancer that resists STING activators.

Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

Nanoparticles injected into the blood tend to accumulate in tumors because their malformed blood vessels are leaky and because tumors have poor drainage systems. However, the researchers noticed that ZnCDA gathered in tumors at levels too high to be attributable to passive accumulation alone.

"The accumulation of ZnCDA also activates STING in the cells that line tumor blood vessels, and this disrupts the tumor vasculature, increasing its leakiness and enhancing the accumulation of the nanoparticles," said Lin. "In a sense, the nanoparticles drive their own delivery to malignant tissues, limiting toxicity and increasing the efficiency of drug delivery."

Macrophages in tumors exist in a biological gradient between two states, or phenotypes: one, known as M1, in which they stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and attack cancer cells themselves-;literally eating them up-;or another (M2), in which they support cancer cell proliferation and survival.

"We found that ZnCDA is taken up particularly well by a subpopulation of macrophages in which it switches on gene expression programs that both push them toward the M1 state and promote their presentation of cancer antigens to T cells," said Yang.

The researchers also tested the therapeutic potential of ZnCDA against two types of tumors, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. Both diseases are generally incurable and aggressive, characterized by cold tumors that resist radiotherapy and all existing immunotherapies.

The researchers found that, with ZnCDA treatment, a mouse model of pancreatic cancer became vulnerable to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, extending the survival of tumor-bearing mice. When radiotherapy was added to the regimen, the extension of survival was even more dramatic. The researchers also showed that ZnCDA could traverse the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in gliomas, where it drew T cells into tumors and, when combined with anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, prolonged the survival of treated mice. Adding radiotherapy to the mix, once again, extended survival.

With proof-of-concept in hand, the researchers are now poised to translate this nanotechnology for future use in the clinic.
The 10th annual Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute Symposium brought fascinating reports of progress in understanding Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases. The event was held at the Belfer Research Building on Oct. 25, before an in-person and Zoom audience.

Sponsored by Weill Cornell Medicine's Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute and its home department, the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, the event offered four presentations from leading investigators in the field.

"With some recent new science, we know at least that we're looking in the right direction, and that ultimately science will defeat this terrible disease," said Board of Fellows Vice Chair Robert J. Appel, in welcoming remarks.

A global effort is required to move the field forward, noted Appel Institute Director Dr. Li Gan, who is also the Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Distinguished Professor in Neurodegenerative Diseases in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine. "Our mission at the Appel Institute is to work collaboratively, both together and with the greatest minds in the world, to find treatment for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, fronto-temporal dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases."

In the first presentation, Dr. Karen Duff, director of the University College London center of the UK Dementia Research Institute, described her recent work on tau, one of the two proteins that form large aggregates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Many scientists suspect that aggregates of tau, which spread via an infection-like chain-reaction process in the brain, are the ultimate drivers of neuron loss and dementia in Alzheimer's. Aggregates of amyloid beta, the other hallmark protein in Alzheimer's, accumulate in early, relatively asymptomatic stages of the disease, but their relevance after dementia occurs is unclear.

We have some drugs now for targeting amyloid beta, but we really are still very much in the dark as to how to target tau and prevent it from causing further degeneration." Dr. Karen Duff, director of the University College London center of the UK Dementia Research Institute

She and her colleagues are trying to understand better how tau aggregates form and spread. They have begun to zero in on small capsules called extracellular vesicles, which cells use to package molecules they want to send to other cellsor just want to get rid of. The researchers are finding evidence that the most "infectious," disease-relevant types of tau aggregates somehow form within these extracellular vesicles, and also use the vesicles as vectors for their neuron-to-neuron spread.

Dr. Kenneth Kosik, the Harriman Professor of Neuroscience and co-director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of California Santa Barbara, presented some findings from his lab's investigation of tau aggregation. He and his colleagues have found evidence that this aggregation can be triggered by lipidswater-shunning molecules that include cholesterols and other fats. Dr. Kosik and his team suspect that in at least some tau-linked brain disorders, tau or its aggregates also cause damage to the lipids that make up brain cell membranes, setting up a vicious cycle: Tau-damaged lipid membranes lead brain cells to make more lipids, which then accelerate tau aggregation. This process, Dr. Kosik said, may happen differently in different brain cells, helping to account for the diversity of tau-linked brain conditions including Alzheimer's, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and fronto-temporal dementia.

Neuroscience eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

Dr. Catherine Kaczorowski, professor and Evnin Family Chair in Alzheimer's Research at The Jackson Laboratory, described how her Alzheimer's work represents a departure from the usual emphasis on tau, amyloid beta and other suspected culprits. She and her colleagues have bred a large, genetically diverse colony of mice, and have been examining how natural gene variants protect some of these animals from the effects of early-onset Alzheimer's mutations. One discovery from this effort, in 2017, was a super-protective variant in the gene encoding apo-E, a protein that shuttles cholesterol to neurons in the brain. The finding effectively anticipated the discovery, two years later, of a very similar protective mutation in a Colombian womanwho harbored an aggressive early-onset Alzheimer's mutation but died in her late 70s with only mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Kaczorowski's overall strategy is to identify natural resilience factors like these, so they can be translated into therapies to "convert someone who is destined to have dementia" to the path of normal cognitive aging.

Dr. Zhuhao Wu, an assistant professor of neuroscience in the Appel Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, explained his own promising direction in neurodegenerative disease research: zooming out to get a holistic view of the whole brain. His lab uses special 3D imaging techniques with fluorescent probes to profile different cell types across brain regions, trace long-distance connections between neurons, or delineate other brain features, down to cellular-level resolution. As Dr. Wu emphasized, the brain is an enormously complex, integrated, and macro-scale organ that can never be fully understoodin health or diseaseby looking only at its subregions.

This whole-brain approach faces many hurdles, not least the problem of computing and memory overload when dealing with such vast complexity. Even a mouse brain is a challenge in terms of data-crunching. However, Dr. Wu said, "we are teaming with a stellar group of scientists to image an entire human brain at cellular resolutionwhich has never been done before. This effort will lead to the development of a new platform to empower broad brain research topics."
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Plon show that reputation plays a key role in determining which rewarding policies people adopt. Using game theory, they explain why individuals learn to use rewards to specifically promote good behavior.

Often, we use positive incentives like rewards to promote cooperative behavior. But why do we predominantly reward cooperation? Why is defection rarely rewarded? Or more generally, why do we bother to engage in any form of rewarding in the first place? Theoretical work done by researchers Saptarshi Pal and Christian Hilbe at the Max Planck Research Group 'Dynamics of Social Behaviour' suggests that reputation effects can explain why individuals learn to reward socially.

With tools from evolutionary game theory, the researchers construct a model where individuals in a population (the players) can adopt different strategies of cooperation and rewarding over time. In this model, the players' reputation is a key element. The players know, with a degree of certainty (characterized by the information transmissibility of the population), how their interaction partners are going to react to their behavior (that is, which behaviors they deem worthy of rewards). If the information transmissibility is sufficiently high, players learn to reward cooperation. In contrast, without sufficient information about peers, players refrain from using rewards. The researchers show that these effects of reputation also play out in a similar way when individuals interact in groups with more than two individuals.

Antisocial rewarding

In addition to highlighting the role of reputation in catalyzing cooperation and social rewarding, the scientists identify a couple of scenarios where antisocial rewarding may evolve. Antisocial rewarding either requires populations to be assorted or rewards to be mutually beneficial for both the recipient and the provider of the reward.

These conditions under which people may learn to reward defection are however a bit restrictive since they additionally require information to be scarce." Saptarshi Pal, Max Planck Research Group

The results from this study suggest that rewards are only effective in promoting cooperation when they can sway individuals to act opportunistically. These opportunistic players only cooperate when they anticipate a reward for their cooperation. A higher information transmissibility increases both, the incentive to reward others for cooperating, and the incentive to cooperate in the first place. Overall, the model suggests that when people reward cooperation in an environment where information transmissibility is high, they ultimately benefit themselves. This interpretation takes the altruism out of social rewarding - people may not use rewards to enhance others' welfare, but to help themselves.
China's top procuratorate orders arrest of former provincial political advisor

Xinhua) 14:15, October 29, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Sun Yuanliang, former vice chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for suspected bribe-taking.

The National Commission of Supervision has completed an investigation into Sun's case and handed it over to prosecutors, the SPP said.

Further handling of the case is underway.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

To thousands of Indian expatriates in Bahrain, Diwali celebrations are one of the ways to affirm the link towards Indian heritage.

Indian families, every year, put in concerted efforts to make the festival special for them and the young ones. The general traditions followed by Indian families in Bahrain while celebrating Diwali include performing ritual prayers, decorating the house with lights, along with drawing rangolis.

Taking family photos and exchanging gifts have also become integral parts of the celebrations. One interesting aspect of the celebrations is that the traditions brought to Bahrain by the Indian expatriates have endured with the young generation, something which makes the elderly Indians really proud of.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Bahrain resident Sudeep Deshpande, a renowned artist and an architectural consultant, says Diwali is unique in many forms. Unlike all festivals, I have always felt Diwali is one such festival where celebration blends with togetherness.

As a child, it is the celebration that matters to us, in terms of sweets, delicious food and burning crackers. But when we grow up, Diwali becomes an occasion of solidifying family and social ties. Taking a nostalgic trip down the lane, he said: The peculiar memory I have is the aroma of firecrackers, which fills the air during Diwali celebrations.

Being an artist, Diwali embodies a lot of colors and energy, which gives me an enthusiasm to paint. My family consisting of eight cats, along with friends are all set to celebrate this years Diwali in a big way.

Diwali is the festival of lights. It is also the occasion of lighting up hopes and positivity. Every diya reflects the hope of life and highlights the necessity to live ones life to the fullest. In todays times, to be able to live with your loved ones is the greatest blessing.

Bahrain resident Sumithra Prashanth, who hails from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, says various distinct flavours and traditions embellish Diwali celebrations in the state. Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is a great occasion for massive celebrations in Tamil Nadu. In my place, the preparations begin a week ahead of Diwali.

All the members of the family come together and prepare a wide variety of sweets and savories to be shared with families and friends. On the day of the festival, all family members wake up early around 4 am and perform Ganga Snanam, a traditional ritual of applying herbal oil over the body followed by a shower, after which pooja ceremonies are conducted..

During the course of the day we meet and greet friends with sweets and savories. Women at home prepare a special herbal concoction named Diwali Lehyam, which will be fed to all family members for internal cleansing and detoxification post which families come together and have lunch with great joy.

Kids and family members get decked up in colourful attires. Before the break of dusk, the lamps are lit in and around the house and crackers are burst with family and friends and the fun and frolic continues throughout the night.

Sumithra said it has been an overwhelming experience to see the enthusiasm with which Diwali is celebrated in the Kingdom. Here in Bahrain the festival is celebrated almost as similar to that in India highlighting the fact that Bahrain is a great nation and extremely expat friendly when it comes to inclusivity.

We, here, generally celebrate Diwali with friends and relatives. The planning begins well in advance with cleaning and decorating the house with lights. Indian shops and supermarkets offer a wide variety of sweets and other Diwali items.

Diwali shopping is one special affair we really enjoy. We all wear traditional clothes and light up diyas. We also host many guests throughout the week as part of Diwali celebrations. All prominent retail brands in the Kingdom and Indian stores have Diwali shopping offerings. Shoppers can buy a wide range of Diwali products including earthen lamps, decorative items and other Diwali goodies across the Kingdom.
Bahrain to get its first Dates Factory

Bahrain to get its first Dates Factory

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The wait is finally over. Bahrain, once known as the land of million palm trees, is set to give its datepalm sector a new boost amid the global race towards food security.

This includes constructing Bahrains first Date Factory for which the Ministry of Works has launched a new tender after a similar move in 2021.

The move gains importance as countries expand their domestic food production to achieve food independence.

However, experts point out that a critical part of the solution lies in growing more climate-resilient crops including dates.

The 2021 ten - der was for building a BD300,000 (USD 797,872) date factory in Hawrat Aali that could process 5,000 tonnes of dates annually, eventually increasing to 15,000 tonnes, when fully operational.

The new tender also plans the project in Howrat Aali.

According to the tender description, the upcoming factory will have a main factory building, areas of unloading, storage, dates packaging, laboratory, offices and supporting facilities.

The tender is offering a 12-month contract for the project.

The project comes as Bahrain bids to join the Saudi Arabia-based International Dates Council to help develop more sustainable farming techniques and increase productivity.

The council currently has 12 members.

The new dates factory project is part of Bahrains strategic project for food security.

The project also comes as demand for dates has seen a drastic rise amid the pandemic and increased awareness and search for healthier sugar alternatives.

Bahrain reportedly produced 13,000 tonnes of dates in 2019 from about 2,490.00 hectares.

Historically, the production of dates in Bahrain reached an all-time high of 38,242 tonnes in 1977 and an all-time low of 5,712 tonnes in 1990.

To bring that into perspective, know that, in 2017, date production was 7,54,761 tonnes in Saudi Arabia, 15,90,414 tonnes in Egypt and 4,75,286 tonnes in UAE.

However, over the last decades, the number of date palms in the Kingdom has decreased from 892,000 to 534,000.

The island currently has over 100 date palm cultivars, which produces at least 23 varieties.

It is worth knowing that the Middle East date market, according to Univdatos, is expected to reach US$ 9.1 billion by 2025.

UAEbased Al Barakah Dates has earlier announced plans to expand its facility in the Dubai Industrial City to be able to process 100,000 tons of date and date products annually.

This is equivalent to almost half the UAEs entire domestic harvest.

Tender closes in December Those interested in taking up the job should purchase the tender before the 1st of December 2022.

The closing date is the 7th of December 2022. Make bids with a BD4,000 bond.

The tender fee is BD100.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A 32-year-old woman convicted of robberies has had her appeal against a three-year prison term rejected by the Cassation Court.

Police arrested the woman, an Arab national, following an investigation into a complaint filed by an Asian national.

Investigators later found the hand of the woman in multiple robberies recorded in Manama and Muharraq, charge sheets say.

She robbed several people and from several shops in the two governorates, said police.

Incidents leading to the arrest started with police investigating the gold chain snatching case filed on the 15th of October 2021 by the victim.

The complaint said a woman approached the victim under the pretext of seeking help but attacked and strangled him before fleeing with the chain he was wearing.

Muharraq Police said they opened an investigation soon after registering the complaint.

As per the report, the incident occurred at a mobile shop in Busaiteen.

Cops said they tracked down the suspect using security camera footage and other evidence collected.

Investigators told the court the woman was a habitual offender, with her also involved in similar crimes in Muharraq and Capital governorates.

We also caught the suspect red-handed while attempting to commit a similar crime in the Isa Town area, police told the court. The woman, however, denied all charges pressed against her during interrogation.

She claimed that she was abroad at the time of the crimes.

The victim had told investigators that the woman came directly to him while he was inside the shop that day.

The woman gave me a phone and asked me to talk to her neighbour.

She claimed she could not understand the language of the person at the other end.

However, whenI refused, she rushed towards me and grabbed me forcefully so I could hardly move or resist her She then snatched the gold chain I was wearing and ran away in a jiffy.

Investigators said the suspect had also committed similar robberies by stopping cars and asking for lifts.

She acted like a poor woman struggling to meet ends while asking drivers for money.

Unsuspecting travellers, who stopped were attacked and robbed, cops said.

The court also ordered the deportation of the woman from the Kingdom after completing her jail terms.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A man charged with infringement of a trademark stands acquitted after the court finds that the company registered the trademark a year after the alleged crime.

Rejecting the case, the Lower Criminal Court said for a trademark to remain valid, its owner should first register it as per legal procedures.

As such, this incident is not punishable by law, for the charge against the defendant was made a year prior to registering the trademark with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Accordingly, the court acquits the defendant of the charge, the court ruled.

Court files say the company accused the man of illegally using a trademark owned by them on an app, misleading customers, based on which the Public Prosecution referred him to a trial court in 2020.

The man, however, denied the charges, where his lawyer, Dr Mohammed Al Kooheji, told the court that the alleged crime occurred a year before trade mark registration.

The lawyer told the court that the company registered the complaint in August 2020, which precedes the date of the trademark creation in August 2021.

The app developed by the defendant, an Asian national, was not an alternative to the companys app but was for requiring customers to register as a prerequisite for using the application.

The defendant, the lawyer said, had presented this idea to the companys officials, but the company surprised him by filing a complaint.

Furthermore, the app was not in use and hence no damage to the plaintiff, as it was taken down after receiving a notice.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday welcomed the U S -bro - kered maritime demarcation deal signed by Israel and Lebanon as historic.

The deal, Bahrain said, constitutes a positive opportunity to benefit from offshore energy exploration.

Bahrain said the move confirms the importance of dialogue and common understanding in settling disputes and promoting security, stability and peace.

There, however, 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 US official who mediated the accord, Amos Hochstein.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed separately in Jerusalem. Following this, the leader of Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, announced the end of his armed groups mobilization. Nasrallah said in a televised speech that the signing of the deal is a very big victory for Lebanon.
GUATEMALA, Guatemala City, Oct. 28, 2022 /CNW/ - Gremial de Recursos Naturales, Minas y Canteras (GRENAT), the national mining association in Guatemala, today announced its adoption of Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), a made-in-Canada corporate social responsibility performance system that improves environmental and social practices in the mining sector.

As a result, GRENAT and its affiliated companies will adopt a set of indicators that will allow them to measure and publicly report on the most integral aspects of its mining industry, including those focused on environmental stewardship and effective community engagement.

"Since its origins, mining has been constantly evolving. And this evolution would not be complete without including responsible actions to help our planet, take care of our natural resources, and of course, our communities," said Valery Zurita, Executive Director of GRENAT. "Joining TSM will allow us to create an even more responsible model of mining for Guatemala and keep evolving in the right direction, in line with our commitment to national development and the creation of prosperity for new generations."

GRENAT joins ten other mining associations around the world, the fourth in Latin America together with Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, in adopting the TSM standard. Guatemala's mining chamber will tailor TSM's performance areas to reflect the unique aspects of its mining industry and commits to implementation in the next five years.

TSM is a globally recognized sustainability program that supports mining companies in managing key environmental and social responsibilities. TSM was the first mining sustainability standard in the world to require site-level assessments and is mandatory for all companies that are members of implementing associations. Through TSM, eight critical aspects of social and environmental performance are evaluated, independently validated, and publicly reported against 30 distinct performance indicators.

"We feel privileged that Guatemala has chosen TSM to drive positive change in its mining sector and are very proud of TSM's increasingly international reach," said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, a TSM partner. "The past several years have witnessed TSM's adoption by other mining associations around the world and the program is now in the process of being implemented in Canada, Norway, Finland, Spain, Botswana, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Australia and Colombia, allowing us to say that TSM is a truly global standard."

Performance in TSM is evaluated across a set of detailed environmental and social performance standards, including climate change, tailings management, water stewardship, Indigenous and community relationships, safety and health, biodiversity conservation, crisis management and preventing child and forced labour. TSM helps drive performance improvement where it counts  at the site level  and contributes to securing support for mining activities from the communities where it operates.

"Adherence to the TSM standard has been fundamental for the Colombian mining sector as it has allowed our member companies to enhance their awareness of sustainability indicators and develop a work strategy to improve their performance," said Juan Camilo Narino, President of the Asociacion Colombiana de Mineria, a TSM partner. "TSM is essential to our social license to operate and we congratulate Guatemala's mining association on its adoption of the standard and for starting on its journey in sustainable mining."

To ensure TSM reflects the expectations of civil society and industry stakeholders, it was designed and continues to be shaped by an independent, multi-interest advisory panel. As part of its implementation, GRENAT will implement a similar advisory body to provide this valuable oversight function.

About TSM

The Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative is a globally recognized sustainability program that supports mining companies in managing key environmental and social responsibilities. Mining companies are expected to report regularly on the implementation of each protocol. In addition, their activities will be evaluated by an external auditor every three years. Please visit www.TSMinitiative.com.

About GRENAT

The Guild of Natural Resources, Mines and Quarries -GRENAT-, part of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala, was created in 1985 with the purpose of overseeing the operation of Responsible Mining and its promotion as an engine of economic and social development for Guatemala. For Grenat, Responsible Mining is understood as operations that are carried out within the framework of the law, acting with transparency, ethics, and defense of human rights to bring economic and social development to the communities. www.grenat.gt

SOURCE Towards Sustainable Mining

For further information: Please contact: Cynthia Waldmeier, TSM Communications, Email: [email protected], Phone: 0 11 613 894 2128
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has said his team are focused on retaining their Premier League title this season. City won the English ...





Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has said his team are focused on retaining their Premier League title this season.





City won the English top flight for the fourth time under Pep Guardiola last beating a tough challenge from Liverpool.





While there is the general feeling that Pep Guardiola and his team are focusing on winning the Champions League for the first, the Spaniard said the focus is actually on winning Premier League again.





The Citizens are two points off Arsenal in the top spot and Guardiola said he is pleased with his sides start to the campaign.





I saw this season when we were in the States [during pre-season], I said I like what I see, he told reporters on Friday.





Thats why I say you[City players] are a genius guys, you are still there. You could be thinking okay back-to-back, just focus on the Champions League.





Now Ive won already four Premier Leagues but have to play more. Its completely the opposite. Thats why we are there.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has distanced herself from the planned naira redesign, which was anno...

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has distanced herself from the planned naira redesign, which was announced by the Central Bank governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, 48 hours ago.





The Minister, who disowned the policy, said it doesnt receive the blessing of the Ministry of Finance and warned of the dire consequences.





Reacting to questions from Senator Bamidele Opeyemi representing Ekiti Central Senatorial district on Friday at the National Assembly, where she appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance for the 2023 budget defence of the ministry, the minister maintained that the policy may be good, but coming at the wrong time.

Opeyemi said the pronouncement may have triggered a rise in naira to US dollars in terms of value, given that naira has jumped from N740 to N788 to a US dollar due to rush in exchange of stashed funds.





Opeyemi said: To me, the policy may be well conceived, but the timing going by realities on ground is very wrong as the Naira may fall to as low as N1,000 to a US dollar before January 31, 2023 fixed for full implementation of the policy, he said.





Responding, the Minister said, she read the news in the media and has nothing to do with it.





Distinguished Senators, we were not consulted at the Ministry of Finance by the CBN on the planned Naira redesigning and cannot comment on it as regards merits or otherwise.





However, as a privileged Nigerian at the top of Nigerias fiscal management, the policy as rolled out at this time, portends serious consequences on the value of Naira to other foreign currencies.





I will, however, appeal to this Committee to invite the CBN governor for required explanations as regards merits of the planned policy and rightness or otherwise of its implementation now, she said.
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh has said he is not interested in the long-running r...

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh has said he is not interested in the long-running rift between the partys presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state.

Metuh made this assertion on Thursday in an interview on Channels Televisions Politics Today.

He said his appeal to them is to focus on issues.

Metuh said, My appeal to them is to focus on things that will broaden and enhance good governance in this country and deepen democracy as well.

Asked about is opinion about the PDP crisis, Metuh simply said, Surulere, adding that the leadership of the party knows what to do. Im not interested in partisan politics.

Recall that Metuh resigned from the PDP

In a letter to PDP The National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Metuh said being a member of the PDP or any political party wont allow him to work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people.





He stated, During my three weeks trip for medical and personal reasons, I came to the realization that I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria.





The reason for this decision is that from my experience and the nature of politics and development in Nigeria, I believe that I will contribute more to Democracy and good governance in Nigeria by being non-partisan.





Being Non-Partisan gives me the status to work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people without the hinderance of partisanship.





In that regard, I write respectfully, to formally inform you of my resignation from the PDP and cessation of partisan politics, the letter partly read.





Any future participation in politics will only be limited to non-partisan involvements in areas of sustaining and deepening democracy and governance in Nigerian and at the global level.





He urged Ayu to insist on issue-based engagement in our political space as the country cannot afford the bitterness and divisions that may arise otherwise.





Ayu has been in the news for months over calls for his resignation by Wike and some PDP governors and stalwarts, who insist that a northerner should not be the partys national chairman and presidential candidate.





Wike and his allies including Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, have not been seen in any of Atikus rallies.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has explained why he is visiting the United States.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has explained why he is visiting the United States.





Atiku said the visit would afford him the opportunity of high-level engagements aimed at setting the pace for building an economically stronger and more secure Nigeria.





Atiku is in the US alongside some of his campaign team members like former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, and others.





However, Atiku said he would meet with the Nigerian and US business community while in the US.





The PDP presidential candidate said he would outline his plans and vision for Nigeria during his engagements.





Speaking through his spokesman, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President said he would be in the US for a week.





A statement by Ibe reads: The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar on Thursday arrived in Washington DC, United States on a working visit.





The visit will afford the PDP presidential candidate the opportunity of high-level engagements aimed at setting the pace for building an economically stronger and more secure Nigeria.





According to the statement, Atiku will be in the US for a week-long engagement that will opportune the frontline presidential candidate to share his vision for Nigeria with US business communities and young Nigerian professionals in North America.
Thank you for using NNY360!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Locally reported news and sports

Stay Current with What's Happening

Get the most of NNY360, register today!

By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com
A fireball, a kind of extra bright meteor, flashes across the Baton Rouge sky on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Steven Tilley, president of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society captured the fireball with special sky viewing cameras he owns. Fireballs are common in the Earths sky but arent always seen. Another fireball was spotted over Baton Rouge and the New Orleans area about 6:56 a.m. Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022.
Huawei has now started selling the Mate 50 Pro in Europe. Still the companys current flagship, the Mate 50 Pro has arrived in Europe for 100 less than Huawei advertised it for last month. Arguably one of the best camera flagships released this year, the lack of Google Mobile Services still presents the same issues for most audiences outside China.

4 Reviews

Last month, Huawei confirmed via press release that the Mate 50 Pro would soon be available from 1,299 in the Eurozone, or 1,399 with 512 GB of storage. With Huawei confirming that Mate 50E and Mate 50 RS Porsche Design will not be coming to Europe and no further decision apparent for the Mate 50, the Mate 50 Pro is the series only representative. While that is the case, Huawei has actually dropped the Mate 50 Pros launch price between last months announcement and now.

Specifically, Huawei has positioned the Mate 50 Pro at 1,199, which is still an awful lot for a smartphone or any persuasion, let alone one that lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS). Additionally, Huawei has decided to throw in a pair of FreeBuds Pro 2 earbuds with initial orders, effectively further reducing the Mate 50 Pros price, although you still must pay 1,199. For reference, Huawei typically sells the FreeBuds Pro 2 for roughly 180 in the Eurozone.
The Indiana Dunes National Park will lead a hike along the Great Marsh Trail in Beverly Shores.

National Park Service Rangers will lead the guided hike from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the trail that passes through a remnant of the vast wetland that once spanned Lake Michigan's southern coast and is now a resting spot for migrating birds. Wood ducks, blackbirds, egrets and even sandhill cranes can be spotted at the wetland just south of Lake Michigan.

Great Marsh Trail has two parking lots north of the fire department at 500 S. Broadway in Beverly Shore. The hike is free and open to the public.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County also is hosting several events for nature lovers.

A Hibernation Hike will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 6 at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook. The Forest Preserve District will lead a free all-ages hike through the woods to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm to see who's hibernating.

A Geocaching Adventure will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at Hickory Creek Preserve  LaPorte Road Access in Mokena.

"Participants will learn how to search for and place geocaches. All participants will leave with swag, or stuff we all get," the Forest Preserve said in a press release. "A mobile device with the Geocaching.com app is recommended. For those without, Forest Preserve staff will have an iPad and smartphone available for group use. Meet at Shagbark Grove Shelter."

A Sensory Sunday will take place from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

"This independent program is for guests with sensory-processing needs, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and those who would benefit from a small-group experience," the Forest Preserve said in a press release. "The center will be open only to registered participants. Buddy bags with sensory gadgets and a limited supply of noise-canceling headphones will be available for visitor use. Seven handheld audio units providing a narrative of the All-Persons Trail will be available for checkout for guests with visual impairments."

The Forest Preserve also will host a Meet a Beekeeper from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 and Dec. 4 at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township, a Nature Play Day from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Crafting a la Cache  Knit a Toque! from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.

One can meet a beekeeper with 15 years of experience, learn about how leaves grow and change and knit their own winter toque or beanie.

For more information, visit nps.gov/indu/index.htm or ReconnectWithNature.org.
Its hard to believe 15 years have passed since the young wife of an Illinois cop vanished, setting off a media frenzy thats persisted to this day.

Its just as hard to believe the wife, Stacy Peterson, is still alive or will ever be found.

Stacys sister, Cassandra Cales, has not given up on searching and even believes she located her remains in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lockport several times over the years, but said she could not convince the cops to recover them from the water.

Stacys husband, former Bolingbrook police Sgt. Drew Peterson, claimed at the time of her disappearance that there was no point in looking for her. Peterson, who was 49 when he married a 19-year-old Stacy in October 2003, insisted his wife ran off with another man, possibly to the tropics, abandoning him, their two children and another two from Petersons previous marriage.

Drew Peterson In this May 8, 2009 file photo, former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson arrives for court in Joliet, Ill.

The reason the mother of those other two children was no longer around was that she turned up drowned in her dry bathtub three and a half years before Stacy disappeared.

This wife, Kathleen Savio, was Petersons third. Savio and Peterson were in the midst of a contentious divorce when she died. Photos of the death scene appear somewhat suspicious, as it looks more like her body was jammed into a relatively small bathtub and not as if it came to rest naturally after she slipped and hit her head, which was the prevailing theory among law enforcement.

In fact, the detectives from the Illinois State Police were so convinced from the very beginning that Savios death was an accident that they didnt go to the trouble of conducting much of an investigation, neglecting to dust for fingerprints and failing to collect a single scrap of physical evidence.

Drew Peterson In this courtroom sketch Drew Peterson, right, address the court and Judge Edward Burmila during Peterson's sentencing Thursday at the Will Co

This proved somewhat problematic for the state police a few years later when Stacy disappeared and people started asking uncomfortable questions about the wife before her and how she died.

By that time, the cul-de-sac outside Petersons home was jammed with cable television trucks, reporters and photographers, not to mention those who were simply curious and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Even Geraldo Rivera made an appearance in the cul-de-sac, as did Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles Police Department detective who, by that time, was working for Fox News.

For all the attention paid to Stacys disappearance, the authorities were unable to find her, and her husband, whom the state police announced was the sole suspect in her potential homicide, has never been charged with harming her.

That said, Peterson hardly skated after Stacy vanished. With the media asking so many questions, the state police turned a fresh eye to Savios death. Her body was disinterred and two additional autopsies  one performed by celebrity forensic pathologist Michael Baden on behalf of Fox News  were conducted.

Drew Peterson Trial Photo, flowers and a small angel statue surround the grave marker of Kathleen Savio, the third wife of former Bolingbrook, Ill., police office

The autopsy performed in the immediate aftermath of Savios death found no indication of foul play. Yet somehow, after her body had been in the ground for three and a half years, the new autopsies determined she was the victim of a homicide.

Peterson was eventually charged with murder and taken into custody. He then spent the next three years in the Will County Jail waiting to go to trial.

When he finally got his day in court, things seemed to be going Petersons way. Blunders by the prosecution led to motions for mistrials, and an unsettled Will County States Attorney Jim Glasgow explained that his struggles were due to illness and fatigue. But then, near the end of the trial, Joel Brodsky, one of the half-dozen attorneys on Petersons legal team, decided to put Savios divorce attorney on the witness stand, and to say the result was an unmitigated disaster would be putting it mildly.

Soon after, Peterson was found guilty and sentenced to 38 years in prison.

Drew Peterson In this courtroom sketch, Joel Brodsky, left, attorney for Drew Peterson, second from left, look on as Will County State's Attorney James Glas

All these years later, Petersons trying to convince a judge he deserves a new trial. He bases this in large part on Brodskys performance as an attorney, claiming he was ineffective.

Fifteen years to the day after Stacy disappeared, Brodsky claimed he was too busy to talk. If he was in fact too busy, its not because he was practicing law, as he lost his license some years ago.

In addition to his problems with Brodsky, Petersons petition for a new trial mentions a movie that was played continuously during (his) trial which portrayed him in a very negative light, blaming it for the guilty verdict.

That movie, Drew Peterson: Untouchable, starring Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson and Charlie Koznick as intrepid reporter Joe Hosey, is available for streaming on Amazon for just $12.99 and is totally worth the price, especially if it helped put a wife killer in prison.

And while youre Amazon shopping, it wouldnt hurt if you picked up a copy of the book the movie was based on, Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson.

A sequel to the book and movie might be in order as well, considering Peterson was subsequently found guilty of plotting Glasgows murder from behind the walls of an Illinois prison.

Peterson was sentenced to 40 years for the murder for hire scheme, a full two more than he got for actually killing Savio.

The Illinois Department of Corrections also shipped Peterson off to a federal prison here in Indiana, then to a state prison in Indiana.

The Illinois Department of Corrections tried to keep Petersons location a secret, but less than a year ago I figured out they were holding him at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City when I got a hold of a letter he wrote to Dateline personality Natalie Morales.

Peterson turns 69 in January, and his scheduled release date is six decades away. He may never face justice for Stacys disappearance, but he wont ever make it out of prison alive either.
GARY  Local leaders hope to create a program that will "enhance, promote, attract and support businesses in the city of Gary," said Chuck Hughes, president and CEO of the Gary Chamber of Commerce.

About eight months ago, Gary Common Council President William Godwin, D-1st, tasked the Gary Chamber of Commerce, the Urban League of NWI, Inc. and the Miller Business Association with creating a program that would aid entrepreneurs throughout the city.

The collaboration is a wonderful thing because we touch the entire community," Hughes said during an Oct. 13 Ways and Means Committee meeting.

The organizations created a proposal for a four-year program focused on promoting tourism, educating current and aspiring entrepreneurs, providing direct grants to small businesses and nonprofits and generally supporting and strengthening local organizations.

The groups are requesting $2.5 million of the $80.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding the city received. Vanessa Allen-McCloud, president and CEO of the Urban League, said the money would be split three ways, with each organization leading a different element of the initiative. The MBA would be focused on promoting tourism: adding water safety signage around the city's beaches, installing bike racks and trash cans along Lake Street and possibly identifying a building that could be turned into a tourism and cultural center with a small museum. The Urban League would take the lead on educating entrepreneurs: hosting business boot camps multiple times a year, ensuring aspiring business owners get necessary certifications and helping them write business plans. The Chamber of Commerce would give businesses advice and would host a competition that awards funds to the participants with the best business plans.

All small businesses and nonprofits in the city would be eligible for the direct grants, Godwin explained, not just those who are members of the Chamber of Commerce or the MBA.

Though the requested $2.5 million would support the program for four years, Godwin said the plan is to continue the initiative beyond 2026.

Ways and Means Committee Chair Tai Adkins, D-4th, said she wanted to see assurances that the program would impact the entire city, not just the Miller neighborhood.

If this is a program to benefit the masses, how are you going to connect to those business entities that are not associated with Miller, that are not in the Miller Business Association, that are not a member of the Chamber, that do not get resources from the Urban League?" Adkins asked.

Adkins also asked the three groups to think about ways of drawing tourism to the city's downtown, not just to the lakefront.

Godwin said representatives from the three groups should meet monthly. Some of the $2.5 million would go toward paying a Certified Public Accountant to ensure the money is used properly, McCloud said.

There are members of this community who have the acumen, have the ability and have the desire to be business people," Hughes said. "(This program) will show potential business people that you can operate a business in Gary and you wont be alone.

The ordinance will go before the Ways and Means Committee again at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5.
UNION MILLS  A LaPorte County woman has moved on but will never forget the sight of a burning cross outside the home of her biracial family nearly 30 years ago, she said.

A then 19-year-old Hanna man, who admitted to making the cross out of scrap lumber at his home and setting it ablaze at the family's home, said his actions were not racially motivated.

Allen Stevens, now chairman of the LaPorte County Republican Party and a member of the South Central School Board, said he soon turned himself in to police and ever since has led his life in a more positive fashion.

Debra Dudley, 43, said her family moved to Union Mills to escape deteriorating conditions in East Orange, New Jersey. A few months later, Dudley said, her father unexpectedly passed away from an aneurysm.

Dudley said her mother was then alone in a strange area, raising Dudley and her two teenage brothers and trying to figure out how to make ends meet.

Then, several weeks later, in March 1993, Dudley said, her family saw the 6-foot-tall gasoline-soaked cross burning at night in their driveway.

Dudley said it was at that moment she wished her father was there even more to protect her.

I was scared. I was terrified. I distinctly remember just missing my father and wishing my father was there, she said.

Five days later, a police report disclosed Stevens contacted LaPorte County police and confessed to an active role in the crossing burning.

While being questioned, he told an investigator the only other person involved was a 17-year-old friend.

Stevens said the actions were not racially motivated but were in response to claims that a teenager had committed various criminal acts, according to the police report.

To get him to stop, police said Stevens explained, the cross burning was his idea.

We figured it was something he could relate to," Stevens told police, according to the report. "It would have more of a significance for him than say, you know, if we did it, you know, to a white person."

According to police, the cross was transported to the familys home in a truck belonging to Stevens' parents. They set it up outside the home, doused it with gasoline and set it on fire with a cigarette lighter, according to police.

Dudley said the family member accused of crimes denied the claims and was never charged.

The now 48-year-old Stevens said he made a mistake in taking the law into his own hands in such a horribly short-sighted, ill-conceived way.

He said the remorse and embarrassment he felt from his actions caused him to turn himself in a few days after the incident.

Stevens was given 180 days on probation along with 20 hours of community service for class A misdemeanor trespassing, according to court records. He was also required to write a letter of apology to the family.

Stevens said that the change he felt from his guilty conscience was immediate and that he continued leading a life opposite from his previous actions while married and raising three children.

Im far from a racist. I've got a track record that proves otherwise, he said.

Since becoming party chairman in March 2021, Stevens said he has reached out to African Americans and Hispanics and has increased the number of local political candidates and precinct committeepersons who are members of minority groups.

He said he also pushed for the recent decision by the LaPorte County commissioners to make Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the end of slavery, a local holiday.

In addition, Stevens said hes urged the commissioners to adopt a hiring ordinance aimed at increasing the number of county employees who are minorities to reflect the percentage of their population in the county.

Dudley works in the Adult Protective Services Division of the LaPorte County prosecutors office. Prosecutor John Lake, a Democrat, is running for a second term against Republican Sean Fagan.

Stevens alleged the light being shed on his past is politically motivated.

I have a record to prove Im far from some racist or some kind of animal or something Im sure the Democrats are going to try and portray me as, he said.

Dudley said the upcoming Nov. 8 election had no influence on her speaking publicly now.

I dont have any political agenda. I just want people, in general, to just be aware the incident did occur. Just be aware, she said.
VALPARAISO  As Election Day gets closer and closer, thousands of votes have already been cast in Porter County.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, 2,224 absentee ballots had been turned in. Also, 7,336 people voted early in person.

Were getting there, Porter County Clerk Jessica Bailey told the Election Board. The last two weeks are really crunch time.

This Saturday and next, early voting sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Bailey said. Theyre also open during those hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Early voting sites are Chesterton Town Hall, Hebron Community Center, North County Government Complex in Portage, Union Township Fire Station No. 2, United Steelworkers Local 6787 on Ind. 149 and the Valparaiso Fire Training Center at 355 Evans Ave. in Valparaiso.

In addition, the votemobile will be at Kouts Public Library, South Haven Public Library and Jamestown Apartments at various times until early voting ends at noon Nov. 7.

The 44 vote centers will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 8. Porter County voters can visit any of the countys polling places open that day, regardless of where they live within the county.

This is the first general election in which vote centers will be used in the county. They were first used in the spring. Locations can also be found at porterco.org.
The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's California home and severely beating her husband with a hammer appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election, defended former President Donald Trump and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories.

David DePape, 42, grew up in Powell River, British Columbia, before leaving about 20 years ago to follow an older girlfriend to San Francisco. A street address listed for DePape in the Bay Area college town of Berkeley led to a post office box at a UPS Store.

DePape was arrested at the Pelosi home early Friday. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said she expected to file multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and elder abuse.

Stepfather Gene DePape said the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.

David was never violent that I seen and was never in any trouble although he was very reclusive and played too much video games," Gene DePape said.

He said he hasnt seen his stepson since 2003 and tried to get in touch with him several times over the years without success.

In 2007, I tried to get in touch but his girlfriend hung up on me when I asked to talk to him, Gene DePape said.

David DePape was known in Berkeley as a pro-nudity activist who had picketed naked at protests against local ordinances requiring people to be clothed in public.

Gene DePape said the girlfriend whom his son followed to California was named Gypsy and they had two children together. DePape also has a child with a different woman, his stepfather said.

Photographs published by The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday identified DePape frolicking nude outside city hall with dozens of others at the 2013 wedding of pro-nudity activist Gypsy Taub, who was marrying another man. Taub did not respond Friday to calls or emails.

A 2013 article in The Chronicle described David DePape as a hemp jewelry maker who lived in a Victorian flat in Berkeley with Taub, who hosted a talk show on local public-access TV called Uncensored 9/11, in which she appeared naked and pushed conspiracy theories that the 2001 terrorist attacks were an inside job.

A pair of web blogs posted in recent months online under the name David DePape contained rants about technology, aliens, communists, religious minorities and global elites.

An Aug. 24 entry titled Q, displayed a scatological collection of memes that included photos of the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and made reference to QAnon, the baseless pro-Trump conspiracy theory that espouses the belief that the country is run by a deep state cabal of child sex traffickers, satanic pedophiles and baby-eating cannibals.

Big Brother has deemed doing your own research as a thought crime, read a post that appeared to blend references to QAnon with George Orwells dystopian novel 1984.

In an Aug. 25 entry titled Gun Rights, the poster wrote: You no longer have rights. Your basic human rights hinder Big Brothers ability to enslave and control you in a complete and totalizing way.

The web hosting service WordPress removed one of the sites Friday afternoon for violating its terms of service.

On a different site, someone posting under DePape's name repeated false claims about COVID vaccines and wearing masks, questioned whether climate change is real and displayed an illustration of a zombified Hillary Clinton dining on human flesh.

There appeared to be no direct posts about Pelosi, but there were entries defending former President Donald Trump and Ye, the rapper formally known as Kayne West who recently made antisemitic comments.

In other posts, the writer said Jews helped finance Hitler's political rise in Germany and suggested an antisemitic plot was involved in Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine.

In a Sept. 27 post, the writer said any journalists who denied Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election should be dragged straight out into the street and shot.

AP Global Investigative Reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington and Breaking News Investigative Reporter Bernard Condon from New York. Reporters Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco and news researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I loved putting up twinkling bats and watching midnight monster-chiller-horror movies.

Not this year.

The world is too scary. Politics is too creepy. Horror is too real.

When I was a child, on Oct. 31, my older brother would put on a vinyl LP of Mussorgskys Night on Bald Mountain that he had carefully cleaned. The eerie music was used by Walt Disney in the segment of his animated masterpiece Fantasia about the surreal celebration of evil during the night of the witches Sabbath.

Chernabog, the lord of evil and death, wrapped in a dark cape, stands atop a jagged peak, summoning ghosts, witches and vampires to swirl out of the mountain and pay homage. I was so relieved when, at dawn, church bells rang and drove them off.

But now the bad spirits are lurking all around us. They will not be driven off.

America seems haunted by random violence and casual cruelty every day. In New York, subway riders getting pushed onto the tracks and innocent bystanders being shot. Officials across the country facing kidnapping plots, armed visits to their homes, assaults and death threats. No place seems safe, from parks to schools to the supposedly impregnable, guarded Capitol and homes of the wealthy and well known.
Almost exactly three years before Elon Musk finalized his purchase of Twitter this week, he tweeted his thoughts on the platforms primary financial engine: I hate advertising.

On Thursday, Mr. Musk extended a truce of sorts to Twitters advertisers, saying in a tweet that he aims to make Twitter the most respected advertising platform in the world.

He explained that he bought the company because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square and because he feared that social media was in danger of splintering into echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.

He sought to ease Madison Avenues fears about brand safety  that their ads could appear next to distasteful content and be soiled by association  by stressing that Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences! Without making any promises about content moderation, which many advertising trade groups have encouraged in recent years, Mr. Musk promised a platform that followed government regulations and was warm and welcoming to all.
You shouldnt have to change your hair to get an education.

KATE WILLIAMS, whose 14-year-old daughter, Ruby, was disciplined by her school in London because of her Afro hairstyle. Britains national equality body told schools on Thursday that students should not be stopped from wearing their hair in natural Afro styles.
A former U.S. Capitol Police officer was found guilty on Friday of obstruction of justice for trying to cover up the fact that he had sent Facebook messages to a Jan. 6 rioter offering advice on how to avoid getting caught, the authorities said.

The man, Michael A. Riley, 51, could face up to 20 years in prison, following a trial in U.S. District Court in Washington, federal prosecutors said. A jury was unable to reach a verdict on another obstruction of justice charge related to Mr. Rileys communication with the rioter, federal prosecutors said. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors intend to retry him on that count.

Mr. Riley, a member of the agencys K-9 unit with more than 25 years on the force, was the only Capitol Police officer charged with a crime in connection with the attack on the Capitol, when many of his fellow officers were beaten by a mob of Trump followers spurred on by the lie of widespread election fraud.

Christopher Macchiaroli, a lawyer for Mr. Riley, said Friday night that his client had not obstructed a grand jury proceeding and would appeal the guilty verdict if it stands. He said that the federal judge on the case, Amy Berman Jackson, had yet to rule on a motion for judgment of acquittal.
Authorities investigating the attack on Paul Pelosi are looking into whether the suspect in the assault is the same person responsible for blog posts that espoused antisemitism and other hateful comments, according to Brooke Jenkins, the San Francisco district attorney.

Asked whether there were links between the suspect, David DePape, 42, and the blog posts, Ms. Jenkins said in an interview with The New York Times that it was an element of the ongoing investigation, but that nothing had been determined yet.

Two blogs written by a user who called himself daviddepape contain an array of angry and paranoid postings, including antisemitic sentiments and concerns about pedophilia, anti-white racism and elite control of the internet.

Image David DePape in 2013. Credit... Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle, via Associated Press

Law enforcement authorities have not said whether the blogs  or a Facebook page bearing the same name  were written by the Mr. DePape who is in custody in San Francisco and accused of assaulting Mr. Pelosi with a hammer.
A number of Western powers have hit back at President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia after he declared that Moscow was in a battle with Western elites, not with the West itself, and denied that Moscow was preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Mr. Putin, addressing an annual foreign policy conference outside Moscow on Thursday, also repeated Russias unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine was preparing to detonate a dirty bomb to spread radioactive material on its territory and then blame Moscow.

Here are some responses to his speech:
Ukraines Foreign Ministry condemned Russias commissioner for human rights, saying that her actions facilitating the movement of Ukrainian children to Russia to be placed into Russian families constitute a criminal offense.

Russia has for months been promoting its efforts to transfer abandoned or orphaned children from Ukraine to Russia to have them placed in Russian families. In May, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a decree to simplify the process through which Ukrainian children who were orphaned or left without parental care can obtain Russian citizenship.

The transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia and their adoption by Russian families is a potential war crime, and Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that it was also a gross violation of the legislation of Ukraine.

Russias commissioner for childrens rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, has organized the transfers. She said this week that about 350 children were placed in Russian families. Ms. Lvova-Belova has previously said she herself had taken in a teenager from Mariupol, a city besieged by Russia early in the war, and recently announced that the boy had obtained Russian citizenship.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian forces advanced on the Russian-occupied city of Kherson in the south on Friday, and the two sides battled over smaller cities in the east, as the armies fought not only each other but also a thick clay muck that can swallow vehicles wheels and soldiers boots whole.

It is the muddy season, called bezdorizhzhya in Ukrainian and rasputitsa in Russian. In any language it turns warfare  especially offensive operations  into a slow, arduous slog, exposing troops and equipment to enemy fire.

In the southern Kherson region, a largely agricultural area where wide-open plains are crisscrossed with irrigation canals, the chilly, wet weather is making conditions particularly difficult, slowing Ukraines offensive. Ill-prepared Russian troops are suffering from the lack of warm clothes, Ukraines military command said in a statement on Friday, leading to widespread theft and looting.

Muddy season strikes twice a year in many rural areas of Eastern Europe, with the spring thaw and again with autumn rains, before the winter freeze. Where roads are unpaved, it can be immobilizing. The same conditions hampered Napoleons invasion of Russia in 1812, Hitlers invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine early this year.
To Mr. Lamm, the new laws offer the opportunity for employers to make sure theyre not setting salaries arbitrarily: Its kind of a test for companies in a way.

Jaywalking Law: California has had one of the strictest jaywalking laws in the nation. Starting Jan. 1, California has had one of the strictest jaywalking laws in the nation. Starting Jan. 1, that will no longer be the case

Remaking a River: Taming the Los Angeles River helped Los Angeles emerge as a global megalopolis, but it also left a gaping scar across the territory. Taming the Los Angeles River helped Los Angeles emerge as a global megalopolis, but it also left a gaping scar across the territory. Imagining the rivers future poses new challenges

A Piece of Black History Destroyed: Lincoln Heights  a historically Black community in a predominantly white, rural county in Northern California  endured for decades. Lincoln Heights  a historically Black community in a predominantly white, rural county in Northern California  endured for decades. Then came the Mill fire

Employee Strike: In one of the nations biggest strikes in recent years, teaching assistants, researchers and other workers across the University of California system In one of the nations biggest strikes in recent years, teaching assistants, researchers and other workers across the University of California system walked off the job to demand higher pay.

When Colorado enacted its rules that require all employers to include salary ranges on internal and external job posts, Tim Meurer worked as a talent acquisition consultant in the state. At most companies, he said, pay was not consistent across positions, partly because recruiters had an open checkbook when they made offers. They hired candidates at the lowest price they could get them, regardless of the roles target range.

Managers expected that revealing salaries for new positions would upset some employees, and they were right. H.R. was extremely busy for probably six months where they had to explain exactly why each individual person was paid what they were paid, Mr. Meurer said.

But ultimately, the law changed the system for the best, he said. It forced managers to really hold people accountable and have documented processes as to why theyre paying people, why theyre moving peoples compensation, why people are titled the way they were titled, Mr. Meurer said.

He now works at a small fintech company based in Boulder called Tilled, which aims to pay between the minimum and middle of the market range for every position. For promotions, the company pays higher in the range. The law, he said, forces you to have that kind of rigor around your compensation so that you are consistent in the way that youre hiring.

Is it more expensive? Absolutely, Mr. Meurer said. I think by and large, companies were getting away with underpaying people.

New York Citys law has been met with some resistance by employers and recruiters, who argue that it will introduce hurdles in an already tight labor market.
Two days after the death of Sacheen Littlefeather, her estranged sister was angrily scrolling Twitter.

She was furious, she said in an interview this week, at the outpouring of praise for Littlefeather, the actress and activist who became famous when Marlon Brando sent her to the 1973 Oscars to refuse his best actor award and denounce Hollywoods treatment of Native Americans.

I was reading what all these people were saying: Oh, rest in peace and she was a saint, and she sacrificed herself, the sister, Rozalind Cruz, said. The sisters had been estranged for about 13 years for a variety of reasons, Cruz said, but at that point she still believed her family had Indian ancestry.

Then she saw tweets by the writer Jacqueline Keeler, a citizen of Navajo Nation who has stirred controversy with her efforts to expose what she calls pretendians. Keeler was disputing Littlefeathers claims that her father was White Mountain Apache and Yaqui.
Few things trigger New Yorkers as much as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the bureaucracy that runs one of the citys biggest fixations  the subway. So when the authority hired Sarah Meyer to deal with passenger complaints as its first chief customer officer, she braced for fury.

At the time she was hired five years ago, the usual frustrations  train delays, filthy conditions, crowded stations  had become unbearable, with a barrage of system failures snarling service. Ms. Meyers appointment provided that rising anger with a target: a petite, redheaded mom from Manhattan who was more adept with PowerPoint presentations than with irate passengers.

Exhausted from what she described as the negativity, Ms. Meyer, 39, resigned this summer to spend more time with her two young daughters, having helped improve the way the transit authority interacts and communicates with the public. The authority plans to hire a permanent replacement, but for now, her temporary fill-in, Shanifah Rieara, inherits the challenge of luring people back to a system whose ridership has been greatly diminished by the coronavirus pandemic and may never recover.

And, of course, whoever holds the job must know how to handle this infamously blunt city.

Ms. Meyer was harassed endlessly in her role with the transit authority. In one instance at a community meeting in Union Square, she said a pair of local residents likened her to Adolf Hitler in response to the authoritys moving of a bus stop by 200 feet  about the length of a block. During another public meeting, hecklers pelted her with rubber bands and subway tokens. On Twitter, a stream of anonymous strangers called her inept and told her to quit.
The photographs in this collection start the way so many things do: with a gift.

While just 12 years old, in June 1967, as San Franciscos Summer of Love was unfolding in the Haight-Ashbury district, I got caught climbing out a window of our Berkeley home one night to attend a Jimi Hendrix concert. I was sent to spend the summer with relatives in the Midwest. There, my paternal grandmother, Lillian, gave me a Kodak Instamatic camera and some film; it was meant to keep me busy and out of trouble as we traveled from city to city to visit cousins Id never met.

Not long after I arrived in St. Paul, Minn., Black communities throughout the Midwest erupted in rebellion. What became known as the Long Hot Summer of 1967 had begun. It was soon after, in Chicago, that I first pointed my lens at an unfamiliar world around me, one where Black Americans were facing injustice and intense police repression. By the time I returned to Berkeley that fall, my worldview had been completely altered.
State by state, it is hard to draw a line between school closures and learning loss, since some states that stayed closed longest fared best, and vice versa. Earlier research showed a clearer relationship between school closures and learning loss at the district level, but at a news conference announcing the latest N.A.E.P. report, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics said, Theres nothing in this data that tells us there is a measurable difference in the performance between states and districts based solely on how long schools were closed.

In New York City, the nations largest school district, schools reopened in September 2020. There, average scores for reading fell by about a point for fourth graders and improved by about a point for eighth graders; in math, fourth-grade scores fell by nine points (statewide scores fell by 12) and eighth-grade scores fell by four points (statewide scores fell by six). In Los Angeles, the second-largest district, schools stayed closed through January 2021. There, average scores actually improved in fourth-grade reading, eighth-grade math and eighth-grade reading, where they improved by a robust nine points (to 257 from 248). Scores fell only in fourth-grade math (to 220 from 224).

In a vacuum, the pandemic declines look like bad news, if at a relatively small scale. But none of this happened in a vacuum. Ive mentioned the million deaths not to fearmonger about how much higher those numbers might have been without school closures  the scale of that impact is, I believe, an open question  but just to point out the enormous and widespread human impact of the disease itself. And that impact was much larger than measured simply by mortality. More than 3.5 million Americans were hospitalized, according to one estimate, and probably at least as many suffered from long Covid. In the spring of 2020, the countrys unemployment rate exploded, jumping to nearly 15 percent from about 4 percent; for a brief period in April, six million new jobless claims were filed each week. In a single quarter, U.S. GDP fell by 9 percent. Murder rates grew by 30 percent; deadly car crashes spiked, too. Overdose deaths rose 30 percent in 2020 and 15 percent in 2021. According to some research, rates of depression tripled in the United States when the pandemic first hit. Some 600,000 teachers left the profession.

This is the world in which American students  most of them learning remotely for many months, many of them for close to a year, and some for longer  fell off by a handful of points, on their reading and math exams, compared with their prepandemic peers.

The sudden onset of the pandemic has been the most catastrophic event in recent American history, making the expectation that there would not be something called learning loss bizarre, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor wrote recently in The New Yorker. The idea that life would simply churn on in the same way it always has only underscores the extent to which there have been two distinct experiences of the pandemic, she went on, emphasizing how much harder the pandemic was for the poor and marginalized to navigate, compared with those for whom its secondary effects were buffeted by wealth.

International comparisons offer another bit of context for test score declines. In England, schools closed in the spring of 2020, opening again in some places in early summer and across the country in the fall (with an Omicron interruption of about a month that winter of 2021). In retrospect, that would have been a plausible but relatively aggressive school reopening approach in the United States, where many schools stayed remote well into the 2020-2021 school year. It also resulted in a drop of six percentage points in proficiency scores, roughly comparable to the American experience. In other words, in England, with a close-to-optimal school reopening, they fared no better.

In the Netherlands, where schools were even less disrupted than in Britain, student performance fell by three percentage points  a bit better, but still below the standards set in prepandemic years. At the most extreme end of the spectrum, there is Sweden, which did not close schools at all, and which, some reporting has suggested, experienced no such declines. But the country also suspended its testing program, which means the data on which such claims might be based is pretty shaky.
LAS VEGAS  The lobby of the Sahara hotel and casino looked like a wake. Across the shiny expanse of sand-colored marble, clusters of black-clad mourners huddled together, speaking in hushed, worried tones. Some turned to alcohol to drown their sorrows, passing around a half-empty bottle of tequila even though it was only noon. Others openly wept.

There were more fishnet tights, corsets and spiked dog collars than one sees at most vigils, but that was to be expected given the circumstances: The crowd wasnt supposed to be in the Sahara. They were, at that very moment, supposed to be across the street at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, moshing and cheering and wailing their brains out at the first day of the When We Were Young festival  a much-anticipated gathering of some of the biggest emo and pop-punk acts of the 2000s. It advertised artists and bands such as My Chemical Romance, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Jimmy Eat World and Paramore. It was the Warped Tour on steroids. It was Willy Wonkas chocolate factory, if Willy Wonka were a scene kid who peddled post-hardcore punk rock instead of candy. It was a chance for aging emos to relive their LiveJournal days, except better, because now they have disposable income and their parents cant tell them what to wear.

Instead, Mother Nature, the National Weather Service and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department had conspired against them. On Saturday, merely hours before the first day of the festival, organizers sent an email informing attendees that because of dangerous 30 to 40 m.p.h. sustained winds with potential 60 m.p.h. gusts, the first day of the festival had been canceled. Concertgoers who had bought their tickets directly from the festival would receive a refund within 30 days.
When commutes recommenced, so did the frantic logistical after-school juggle that so many parents are familiar with  the confounding question of what happens between the end of the school day and the end of the workday, before managing that tiny sliver of time in which dinner has to be on the table.

That was the part that many parents of school-age children were most nervous about, and it remains a challenge, particularly for women. Working parents said the return to an office brought back the herculean task of arranging a familys schedule and figuring out car pools, with some mothers feeling like the burden fell disproportionately on them.

The pandemic also gave people a chance to spend more time with their families, take lunchtime walks, fit in therapy appointments and get proper sleep. Life could be lived differently.

Despite the disruption to their at-home lifestyle, readers who saw the value in being back said they agreed with their offices return policy. Some even expressed pleasure in being back  when it was on terms that accommodated at least part of their pandemic habits.

As a hybrid worker, I believe I get the best of both worlds, and I appreciate each type of work day, wrote Mel Burt-Gracik, a learning and development manager at a manufacturing company in Southern California. I love the flexibility on my homework days (as my kids call them), taking breaks as I see fit, adding in time for exercise while Im not commuting and making healthy meals for my family.

On real work days (also named by my progeny) I love dressing up, seeing people in meetings or in the hallway, and all the ways I can contribute to a culture of connection and care by being present with people.

Many people are finding that the offices they were nervous about coming back to arent the offices they left. They wrote about work environments that were less rigid, and which catered more to their needs. They no longer felt pressure to respond to emails at all hours, and were permitted to come in late or to leave early.
Months After the Floods, Eastern Kentucky Families Take Measure of What Was Lost

With hundreds of houses damaged or even washed away, a question looms in parts of the region: How many families who persevered there for generations will now leave for good?

Oct. 29, 2022

LOST CREEK, Ky.  On the night of the flash floods, Vanessa Baker was last seen on her front porch, the place where cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents would gather in the evenings after supper, talking as twilight settled into the hollow.

But on that terrifying night in late July, the porch was suddenly looking out on a ravenous sea. Ms. Baker, a 60-year-old school secretary, was clutching the hands of her husband and brother-in-law when they were pulled under the dark floodwaters. Three months later, the official list of the missing, once running to the hundreds, has been whittled to only her name.

Weve held out hope and held out hope, said one of Ms. Bakers nephews, Anthony Mullins, 40, the pastor of a nearby church. But he knew how long it had been.

The accounting of all that has been lost in the hollows and valleys of eastern Kentucky since that last week of July, when torrential rains turned quiet creeks into raging rivers in a matter of minutes, runs on and on.
Follow our live coverage of the 2022 midterm elections for the latest news and updates.

Former President Barack Obama was twice interrupted by hecklers on Saturday at a campaign rally in Detroit for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats, a reminder that it is easier to call for civility in American politics than to achieve it.

In the first incident, less than 10 minutes after Mr. Obama took the stage, a man in the crowd shouted at him while he was lamenting Fridays attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, Paul Pelosi, and the rise of violent political rhetoric.

Weve got politicians who work to stir up division to try to make us angry and afraid of one another for their own advantage, Mr. Obama said. Sometimes it can turn dangerous.

Moments later, the man, who was not identified, shouted Mr. President at Mr. Obama, creating an off-script exchange that the former president tried to use to drive home his point. The rest of what the man said was not picked up by microphones or cameras.
Mr. Paracha was held first at a U.S. military prison in Bagram, Afghanistan, where he had a heart attack, his lawyers said. Rather than send him to the secret prison network run by the C.I.A., where prisoners were tortured, the Bush administration moved him to Guantanamo in his 14th month of U.S. detention. He became an early example of the challenge of holding aging and infirm prisoners at the remote U.S. Navy base, which flies in military medical specialists from the United States.

Saifullah should never have been in Guantanamo, said Clive Stafford Smith, a human rights lawyer who has been visiting him at the prison since 2005. Because he was the oldest person there, I constantly feared he would have his fourth heart attack and die there. So I am so happy that he is finally going home.

He had long suffered from diabetes, coronary artery disease and high blood pressure, but would not have heart surgery at Guantanamo, which sends residents to the United States for cardiac treatment.

In his early years of custody, the prison airlifted a mobile cardiac catheterization lab to the base for the procedure, but he said through lawyers that he wanted to have the operation in a hospital that specialized in heart care in either the United States or Pakistan.

In April 2019, a photograph of him reading inside a communal cell appeared with an article in The New York Times about a U.S. military effort to adapt detention facilities for wartime prisoners who were expected to die at Guantanamo.

In his file, U.S. intelligence agencies said he had helped Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, facilitate financial transactions and propaganda after the attacks, and said he met with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan before the attacks as part of a delegation of Pakistani dignitaries.
Since 1892, the statue of Ambrose P. Hill, a Confederate lieutenant general, has towered over a busy intersection in Richmond, Va., built over the spot where his remains are buried.

The statue is the last Confederate monument in the city, and it could soon be gone.

Judge D. Eugene Cheek Sr., of the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, this week ruled that the city had the right to dismantle the statue and donate it to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The remains of the general will be reburied at a cemetery in Culpeper, about 85 miles north, according to his ruling.

Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond said the ruling allowed the city to improve traffic safety at the intersection. But it also represented a victory for those in Richmond who have been fighting to rid the city of symbols of the Confederacy and the memorials, street names and markers that glorified it.

This is the last stand for the Lost Cause in our city, he said in a statement, referring to the movement after the Civil War by former Confederates to justify the Confederacy.
About a year into the pandemic, Kianna, a high school student in Baltimore, was feeling increasingly isolated. While sitting alone in her bedroom there was too much time to think, she said, so sometimes she would fixate on her seclusion or start critiquing her appearance.

I remember just being on TikTok for hours during my day, added Kianna, 17, who asked to be referred to by only her first name when speaking about her mental health. Thats when my self-esteem started declining.

At the time, in early 2021, her 10th grade classes were virtual, and she had begun texting with her friends instead of talking to them. Her anxiety bred headaches, poor sleep and the odd feeling of living outside of her body. Then, she started seeing videos on TikTok about depersonalization disorder, a type of dissociative condition that can make people feel disconnected, as though their body is detached from their thoughts, almost like being in a dream.

I have this, she recalled thinking to herself. But mental illness wasnt the type of thing she would normally discuss with her friends or family. She didnt tell anyone about her revelation. I was so in my head that something was wrong with me.
Hong Kong: Student mentoring scheme kicks off

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at the Kick-off Ceremony of the Strive & Rise Programme and announced the official launch of its first phase.

When delivering his opening remarks during the event, Mr Chan said the programme aims to support junior secondary school students who are in need of societal support for upward social mobility.

He noted that the first phase of the scheme, being a milestone of the tripartite collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community, has admitted all 2,800 eligible mentees, 40% more than the enrolment target, in a spirit of supporting as many as possible.

Meanwhile, the programme has received support from more than 120 enterprises and organisations in terms of sponsorship, nomination of mentors and planning of group activities for mentees.

The initiative is also underpinned by a number of star tutors who will share their experiences and insights related to their respective professional fields with mentees through group activities.

Mr Chan, accompanied by Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun, also witnessed the oath-taking by mentees, as well as their parents and mentors, to pledge their active participation in the project.

He said he hopes that all mentees will actively participate in the diversified activities under the plan of action and better equip themselves upon their mentors' guidance, so as to set and attain personal goals with a positive attitude.

The programme has received sponsorship in the amount of $140 million thus far. Under its first phase, which lasts for one year, mentees will be paired up with mentors on a 1:1 basis and some 800 group activity sessions will be made available for the mentees' enrolment.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Interview: China advocates, practices true multilateralism -- former Japanese PM

Xinhua) 14:17, October 29, 2022

TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- By putting forward the vision of building a human community with a shared future and the Belt and Road Initiative, China has safeguarded fairness and justice in the international community, and advocated and practiced true multilateralism, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Hatoyama applauded China's remarkable achievements and development.

He said the world today faces both geopolitical conflicts and difficulties rarely seen in history, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But the fate of countries around the world is linked, and a crisis in one country affects other countries.

Therefore, it is very important to have an overall view of a human community with a shared future, and China's proposal of this concept is correct and of great significance, Hatoyama said.

He said he has studied the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and very much agrees with "the Chinese path to modernization" and other important contents.

Every country needs to achieve modernization with a development approach suited to its own national conditions. Therefore, it is important for each country to develop in its own way, and it is wrong to force a particular approach on others, Hatoyama said.

Hatoyama pointed out that some countries always believe that they are 100 percent right, and keep imposing their own definitions of "freedom," "democracy" and "human rights" on other countries, which is what has caused the world to fall into the danger of division and the emergence of an exclusive "clique."

China's emphasis on "the Chinese path to modernization" is admirable, Hatoyama said, adding that China has adopted the right approach by advocating a development model that suits its own national conditions and adapting to the trend of the times.

Speaking of the relationship between China and Japan, Hatoyama said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He hopes that, in this special year, the two sides will carry out cooperation having the new era in mind and make joint efforts to promote the development of Asia and the world.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
NAIROBI, Kenya  At least 35 people were injured and numerous others killed when two explosions rocked Somalias capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, the authorities and an ambulance service director said, in the latest attack to hit the city as the government undertakes a fresh large-scale offensive to battle the terrorist group Al Shabab.

The Saturday afternoon explosions happened near the ministry of education, close to a bustling junction that is home to numerous businesses and government offices. Videos and photos shared on social media and on the national broadcaster showed plumes of smoke rising from the area, with massive destruction to nearby buildings and people covered with blood being carried from the scene of the attack.

Sadik Dodishe, the national police spokesman, said in a news conference that police were still counting the casualties but that those killed included women and children. Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, the founder of Aamin Ambulance, the only free emergency transport service in the capital, said in an interview that the service had delivered 35 injured people to different hospitals. He also said one of their ambulances had been destroyed and its driver injured by the second explosion.

It is another tough day in Mogadishu, Dr. Adan said.

The Somali Journalists Syndicate said in a statement that one journalist had been killed and two others injured as they sped to cover the twin explosions. Mohamed Isse Koonaa, a journalist with the local Universal TV, was killed, while Feisal Omar, a Reuters photographer, and Abdukadir Mohamed Abdulle, a freelance journalist with Voice of America, suffered injuries.
Nearly 300 people were eventually arrested in the scheme, including Mr. da Silva. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison on charges that he accepted a condo and home improvements from companies bidding on government contracts. But after 17 months, he was released and his convictions were later nullified after the Supreme Court ruled that the judge in his cases was biased. While Mr. da Silva was not cleared of wrongdoing, the decision allowed him to run for president again.

Mr. Bolsonaro is a former Army captain who served three decades in Congress as a fringe far-right lawmaker known for extreme statements. In 2018, in the wake of Mr. da Silvas prison sentence, Mr. Bolsonaro rode the global wave of right-wing populism to the presidency, promising to root out what he called the corruption of Brazils leftists.

His four years since have been tumultuous. He has attacked judges, journalists, political rivals and environmentalists, while also publicly doubting the science behind Covid-19. He pushed unproven drugs during the pandemic and delayed in buying vaccines. The coronavirus killed nearly 700,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest official toll, after the United States.

Yet despite the turmoil, Mr. Bolsonaros support has endured. He far outperformed polls expectations in the first round of voting on Oct. 2, and while recent polls have shown Mr. da Silva still in the lead, Mr. Bolsonaro was within striking distance.

The presidents base is a bloc known as beef, bibles and bullets, representing people connected to the agribusiness industry, evangelical movement, and law enforcement and the military. Under a slogan of God, homeland, family and freedom, he has focused his pitch on warnings about the left trying to change what he calls Brazilians traditional way of life.
Flash flooding and landslides have left at least 45 people dead and nearly 20 others missing as Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae battered the Philippines, officials said on Saturday.

Nalgae, called Paeng in the Philippines, made landfall early Saturday and was expected to continue barreling across the Southeast Asian nation over the weekend, bringing strong winds and torrential rain to large areas of the country  including Manila, the capital  the state weather agency said.

Overnight, rescuers reached submerged villages on rubber boats and canoes, searching for stranded people and pulling bodies out of the water and mud left by the storm. Rescue operations continued during the day as the storm moved westward with maximum sustained winds of 59 miles per hour and gusts up to 99 m.p.h.

By early afternoon, more than 409,000 people had been affected by the storm and 61,000 were displaced across the Philippines, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
MELBOURNE, Australia  Seventeen Australian citizens  four women and 13 children  on Thursday began the long journey home from detention camps in northeast Syria, where they have languished since the fall of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, in 2019.

By Saturday, they had returned to New South Wales, Australia, according to a statement from Clare ONeil, the Australian minister for home affairs.

The focus has been the safety and security of all Australians as well as the safety of those involved in the operation, Ms. ONeil said. Informed by national security advice, the Government has carefully considered the range of security, community and welfare factors in making the decision to repatriate.

Dozens of other Australians are still being held at the camps. But there are hopes that this will be the first of several releases sponsored by the government. Many of the people who remain are children who have spent most or even all of their lives in detention.
There were many moving parts to the deal allowing for the export of grain from Ukrainian ports that Russia said on Saturday it was suspending indefinitely.

Heres what to know about the grain problem, and how the deal addressed it.

Why was Ukrainian grain stuck inside the country?

After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, it deployed warships along Ukraines Black Sea coast. Ukraine mined those waters to deter a Russian naval attack. That meant that the ports used to export Ukrainian grain were blocked for commercial shipping. Russia also pilfered grain stocks, mined grain fields so that they couldnt be harvested and destroyed grain storage facilities.
PIOMBINO, Italy  When Italy, in a major strategic shift, decided to break its dependence on cheap Russian gas in response to Vladimir V. Putins invasion of Ukraine, the government needed alternatives.

It scrambled to sign contracts with suppliers in countries like Algeria and Azerbaijan, and sped up its investment in wind and solar energy. But it also decided to purchase two large vessels able to turn shipments of liquefied natural gas from the United States, Qatar and sub-Saharan nations into gas that could run through onshore pipelines. A single one of them, destined for Piombino, a seaside port of 32,000 people on the Tuscan coast with a long history of industrial development, would help replace more than 15 percent of the gas once imported from Russia.

Piombinos unit is essential  it is a matter of national security, former Prime Minister Mario Draghi said last month. It is essential for our gas supplies.

But in a complicated wrinkle for the new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, whose top stated priorities are reducing energy costs and maintaining support for Ukraine, the mayor of Piombino, who is from Ms. Melonis own Brothers of Italy party, has led vibrant protests against the project.
KHERSON REGION, Ukraine  On the screen of a thermal imaging camera, the Russian armored personnel carrier disappeared in a silent puff of smoke.

What a beautiful explosion, said First Lt. Serhiy, a Ukrainian drone pilot who watched as his weapon buzzed into a Russian-controlled village and picked off the armored vehicle, a blast that was audible seconds later at his position about four miles away.

We used to cheer, we used to shout, Hurray! but were used to it now, he said.

The war in Ukraine has been fought primarily through the air, with artillery, rockets, missiles and drones. And for months, Russia had the upper hand, able to lob munitions at Ukrainian cities, towns and military targets from positions well beyond the reach of Ukrainian weapons.
All of that has helped bolster support for him and his political allies. Many Israelis still view him as the most qualified candidate to handle the countrys security, diplomacy and economy.

Even his corruption trial, in which the Jerusalem District Court is slogging its way through a list of more than 300 witnesses, has earned him added sympathy and admiration from Israelis who agree with his claims that he has been framed by a liberal deep state, and the court proceedings have largely dropped from the public agenda.

One reason for Mr. Netanyahus success, according to Ms. Mualem and several current and former Netanyahu aides and strategists, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, is his unrivaled domination of the social network realm. That allows him to bypass the mainstream media, which he has long viewed as biased, and speak directly to his public. Fluent in Jewish language and sentiment, Ms. Mualem said, he also manages to appeal to ultra-Orthodox voters, even though he is secular.

Mr. Netanyahus focus is on getting every Likud voter out on Election Day, after tens of thousands sat out the 2021 election or voted for other parties.
Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times

Cross said school administrators have expressed a willingness to meet, but there are no signs of an agreement. Encounters with staff members entering and leaving the building have been both tense and emotional.

At times, protesters yelled at the stoic administrators. One day they chanted the victims names.
By Elisabeth Bik Dr. Bik is a microbiologist who has worked at Stanford University and for the Dutch National Institute for Health.

One evening in January 2014, I sat at my computer at home, sifting through scientific papers. Being a microbiologist, this wasnt unusual, although I certainly didnt expect to find what I did that night.

These particular papers were write-ups of medical research, with many including photographs of biological samples, like tissue. One picture caught my eye. Was there something familiar about it? Curious, I quickly scrolled back through other papers by the same authors, checking their images against each other.

There it was. A section of the same photo being used in two different papers to represent results from three entirely different experiments.

Whats more, the authors seemed to be deliberately covering their tracks. Although the photos were of the same sample, one appeared to have been flipped back-to-front, while the other appeared to have been stretched and cropped differently.

Two papers, three experiments, one image These figures show western blots, which are used to detect the presence of a specific protein in tissues or bodily fluids. First paper Stretched Second paper, first repetition Flipped and tilted Second paper, second repetition First paper Second paper, first repetition Stretched Second paper, second repetition Flipped and tilted Sources: REDOX regulation of IL-13 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells: usage of alternate pathways mediates distinct gene expression patterns, by Debasmita Mandal, Pingfu Fu and Alan D. Levine (first paper), Elevated IL-13R2 in intestinal epithelial cells from ulcerative colitis or colorectal cancer initiates MAPK pathway, by Debasmita Mandal and Alan D. Levine (second paper).

Although this was eight years ago, I distinctly recall how angry it made me. This was cheating, pure and simple. By editing an image to produce a desired result, a scientist can manufacture proof for a favored hypothesis, or create a signal out of noise. Scientists must rely on and build on one anothers work. Cheating is a transgression against everything that science should be. If scientific papers contain errors or  much worse  fraudulent data and fabricated imagery, other researchers are likely to waste time and grant money chasing theories based on made-up results.

But were those duplicated images just an isolated case? With little clue about how big this would get, I began searching for suspicious figures in biomedical journals.

Manipulated imagery in scientific papers can look ordinary at first glance. Consider this figure from a study about a chemical called d-Limonene, arguing for its potential in fighting cancerous tumors. On closer examination, this image contains regions that appear to have been copied and pasted  as well as duplicated and flipped. A cell culture in this image from a paper on gastric cancer appears to have been rotated and reused. This kind of behavior suggests an intention to mislead. In some cases, like this photograph of bacteria under a microscope, there are so many repeated areas that its unclear whether any of the pixels in the image reflect the results of an actual experiment. All of these images have been taken from papers that were retracted after I reported concerns about image manipulation.

Since childhood, Ive been blessed with what Im told is a better-than-average ability to spot repeating patterns. Its a questionable blessing when youre focused more on the floor tiles than on the person youre supposed to talk to. However, this ability, combined with my  what some might call obsessive  personality, helped me when hunting duplications in scientific images by eye.

By day I went to my job in a lab at Stanford University, but I was soon spending every evening and most weekends looking for suspicious images. In 2016, I published an analysis of 20,621 peer-reviewed papers, discovering problematic images in no fewer than one in 25. Half of these appeared to have been manipulated deliberately  rotated, flipped, stretched or otherwise Photoshopped. With a sense of unease about how much bad science might be in journals, I quit my full-time job in 2019 so that I could devote myself to finding and reporting more cases of scientific fraud.

Using my pattern-matching eyes and lots of caffeine, I have analyzed more than 100,000 papers since 2014 and found apparent image duplication in 4,800 and similar evidence of error, cheating or other ethical problems in an additional 1,700. Ive reported 2,500 of these to their journals editors and  after learning the hard way that journals often do not respond to these cases  posted many of those papers along with 3,500 more to PubPeer, a website where scientific literature is discussed in public.

While some of this research may be relatively unimportant, not all of it is. Earlier this year, Science magazine asked me to comment on apparently manipulated photos appearing in influential Alzheimers disease research conducted at the University of Minnesota. The paper claimed to demonstrate a unique piece of evidence about the underlying cause of Alzheimers.

Matthew Schrag, a Vanderbilt University neuroscientist and physician, had already found dozens of suspicious images in papers authored by one of the researchers, Sylvain Lesne. Checking his findings, I agreed and found even more. (A representative from the University of Minnesota said that the university is reviewing questions about his work.)

Other researchers have been unable to reproduce the University of Minnesotas famous study. Now that images in these papers have shown signs of deliberate manipulation, it raises questions about an entire line of research, which means potentially millions of dollars of wasted grant money and years of false hope for patients. All may not be entirely lost, though; the pharmaceutical companies Biogen and Eisai recently said that an anti-amyloid drug they are developing for Alzheimers disease is showing promise.

In 2018, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston accused a former employee, Dr. Piero Anversa, and his laboratory of having falsified or fabricated data and imagery in 31 scientific papers over nearly two decades. Dr. Anversas lab had pioneered the theory that stem cells taken from bone marrow could regenerate the human heart by being injected into it. According to a Reuters analysis, the National Institutes of Health spent at least $588 million to pursue this line of research. Other scientists were never able to replicate his astounding results. Dr. Anversa placed the blame on a colleague and said that he had not been aware that cheating was occurring in his lab.

Just last month, the Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Gregg Semenza had to retract four of his papers following the revelation that they contain images that appear to have been manipulated or duplicated. The prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences had published the retracted articles. The pseudonymous Clare Francis, a science detective like me, made the discovery.

Elisabeth Bik in her home office. Amy Osborne/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

Most of my fellow detectives remain anonymous, operating under pseudonyms such as Smut Clyde or Cheshire. Criticizing other scientists work is often not well received, and concerns about negative career consequences can prevent scientists from speaking out. Image problems I have reported under my full name have resulted in hateful messages, angry videos on social media sites and two lawsuit threats.

The Times attempted to contact the lead scientists of the retracted papers with images reprinted in this essay. Only one responded; the others did not write back or declined to comment. The author who responded, Thomas J. Webster, said publishing the images had been an honest mistake.

Of course, the images themselves dont directly reveal how they came into being or which authors were involved in making them. Although some duplicated images appear to be the result of intentional editing, it is possible that others are created from sloppy lab work, accidental mislabeling or miscommunication between colleagues.

Several things could lead researchers to cheat. For a start, most scientists feel the pressure to publish. Publications are essential to a scientists career and crucial to earning academic tenure. Employers might demand a quota of published articles over time, pay bonuses or promote staff members upon publication. In general, studies reporting successful outcomes have a higher chance of getting published than those failing to confirm a hypothesis. So when a scientists research shows a negative result, cheating can be tempting. Or perhaps a scientist has received praise and attention in the past for a notable discovery but has entered a fallow stretch of research. In those cases, they may be tempted to adjust their findings to make them look more compelling. And some labs are run by overly demanding  perhaps even bullying  professors. As a result, to get a letter of recommendation that will enable them to escape to a new position, young researchers may become desperate to please.

Before scientific papers are published, they undergo peer review, a process in which two or three independent scientists judge an article for scientific rigor and correct analysis. But peer review is unpaid and undervalued, and the system is based on a trusting, non-adversarial relationship. Peer review is not set up to detect fraud.

Often, problems with data  tables, statistical tests, charts and photos  are not caught until after publication, when a much wider audience reads the study. Minor errors can be addressed with a correction. But a paper should be retracted if critics can demonstrate scientific misconduct such as Photoshopping or faked data. After retraction, it will still be available to read or download but will be marked as untrustworthy.

Unfortunately, many scientific journals and academic institutions are slow to respond to evidence of image manipulation  if they take action at all. So far, my work has resulted in 956 corrections and 923 retractions, but a majority of the papers I have reported to the journals remain unaddressed.

Scientific publishers care enormously about their reputations, and research institutions might be embarrassed to admit that misconduct occurred within their walls. When confronted with duplicated images, they often conclude that errors occurred. The institutions may fire some junior researchers, but the laboratory leaders usually stay firmly in place.

Things could be about to get even worse. Artificial intelligence might help detect duplicated data in research, but it can also be used to generate fake data. It is easy nowadays to produce fabricated photos or videos of events that never happened, and A.I.-generated images might have already started to poison the scientific literature. As A.I. technology develops, it will become significantly harder to distinguish fake from real.

Science needs to get serious about research fraud. Journals should be much faster at retracting papers containing Photoshopped images or manipulated data  and should not publish them in the first place. Scientists who find flaws in published results should not be threatened with lawsuits in an attempt to silence criticism.

Here is a list of things I believe must change:

Journals must carry out better quality control. Publishers should hire image analysts and statistical experts to screen accepted papers before publication. Journals need to act much faster  for example, within six months  when evidence of image manipulation arises. We need national and international science integrity organizations that can independently investigate suspected cases of fraud and have some ability to punish the guilty. Legitimate criticism of scientific research should receive legal protection. Journals should pay the data detectives who find fatal errors or misconduct in published papers, similar to how tech companies pay bounties to computer security experts who find bugs in software. As it becomes harder to distinguish between fake and real data, science might need to move toward a model based on reproduction, where Ph.D. students earn credit for replicating published studies, while the researchers whose work is reproduced get credit as well.

Despite all these problems, I believe in science. Firmly. We need trustworthy science to help us deal with consequential issues like climate change and pandemics. But science needs to be quicker and better at correcting itself.
It looks like JavaScript is either disabled or turned off. Please enable JavaScript to correctly view this web site.

Parece que JavaScript esta desactivado o apagado. Por favor, activar JavaScript para ver este sitio de web.

Afigura-se o JavaScript esta desativado ou desligado. Por favor ative o JavaScript para visualizar este site.

Il semble que JavaScript est dasactive. S'il vous plait, activer JavaScript pour visualiser ce site.
A man has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of a father-of-three in Antrim.

Northern Irish police said the man, 43, was taken into custody on Friday and was helping them with their inquiries.

It is the third arrest by detectives investigating the death of Liam Christie on October 20, who was shot up to eight times.

Mr Christies body was found in a house in the Craighill area of Antrim.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly said: Our investigation into this appalling murder is ongoing and I continue to appeal to the public for information.

We are particularly interested in any dash-cam footage from the Ballycraigy Estate and surrounding area of Antrim between 7am on Wednesday 19th October and 12pm on Thursday 20th October.

Earlier this week a 44-year-old man was charged with murder and firearm offences in connection with the death of Mr Christie.

A 31-year-old man previously arrested over the murder was released on police bail.
A WOMAN accused of theft offences involving over 200,000 at a bank in Offaly is also alleged to have set fire to the building.

Maureen McCormack (50), Esker, Banagher, Galway, appeared before Tullamore District Court charged with nine offences.

Ms McCormack is accused of stealing about 145,495, property of Bank of Ireland, at Bank of Ireland, Banagher on approximate dates between January 1, 2017 and October 6, 2021.

She is further accused of theft and fraud offences involving the same bank and two named individuals.

It is alleged that on November 7, 2012 at Bank of Ireland, Banagher she stole 7,844, the property of those two people, and on December 2, 2013 also at that bank, she stole 33,419.50 from the same two people.

Also, between November 7, 2012 and December 2, 2013, at Bank of Ireland, Banagher, Ms McCormack is accused of dishonestly by deception inducing those people to give her 41,263.50, with the intention of making gain for herself, causing loss to another.

The woman is also alleged to have forged the signature of one of the two persons on a Banagher Credit Union cheque at Bank of Ireland, Banagher on July 28, 2016, and on July 29, 2016 it is alleged she forged that person's signature on a Bank of Ireland lodgement slip.

Two more charges relate to alleged offences on November 7, 2016 involving about 21,008.25.

Ms McCormack is accused of stealing that amount at Bank of Ireland, Banagher from two other people and dishonestly by deception inducing them to give her 21,008.25.

Finally, she faces a charge of damaging the Bank of Ireland in Banagher by fire, without lawful excuse, on October 6, 2021.

When Ms McCormack appeared in court evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning her was given by Detective Garda Helen Colleran, Birr Garda Station.

Detective Garda Colleran told Judge Andrew Cody the accused made no reply when cautioned.

Judge Cody remanded the accused on her own bail of 500 to appear in court again on December 7 next for service of the book of evidence.
OFFALY Hospice 2023 Calendar is ready to launch and will be on sale for 5 within days so keep a lookout for it in numerous shops around the county as well as in the Offaly Hospice Charity Shop on Main St in Tullamore and online.

All credit has to go to Michael Carroll for every aspect of the work involved in producing such a fabulous calendar each year.

We can never thank Michael enough. The calendar would not be possible without the commitment and dedication that he gives to producing the calendar from beginning to end each year, pointed out Mary Murphy of Offaly Hospice.

Michael explained: ``The theme of this year's calendar is 'How the Midlands is changing and evolving into the future'.

The objective is to showcase a broad range of initiatives including

Renewable energy and battery storage projects supporting Ireland's drive towards a greener and more sustainable future

*Connecting established and new communities through creativity and action  *

Providing people with safe spaces and the opportunity to promote and maintain psychological, physical and spiritual health and wellbeing

Leveraging our bogs to enhance the environment, increase tourism and provide safe and inclusive spaces for all.

Leveraging the ever-improving Greenways along the Grand Canal to provide enjoyable and safe options for all forms of exercise and transportation.

Celebrating the leading-edge scientific research happening in Birr castle

A wide range of sporting initiatives to promote health and wellbeing.

I hope that you enjoy this year's calendar as much as I enjoyed gathering the photographs and meeting many interesting people along the way, " added Michael.

For more information contact 0579328634 or email offalyhospice@gmail.com
Downing Street has confirmed that King Charles has been advised not to attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month - but Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has said it is "up to him" whether he attends.
A Calgary man has been found not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of manslaughter for killing his friend and blackjack partner of 30 years during a fight over money.
Britain has denied Russian claims that Royal Navy personnel blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, saying the story is "invented".
Eurasia Review 26 Oct 2022

In the ongoing farce that is Britains Tory government, we now have our third Prime Minister in seven weeks  Rishi Sunak, the..
Political leaders across the island of Ireland have criticised the UK Government for failing to call an election in Northern Ireland.
 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd.

All rights reserved.

One News is a registered trademark

of One News Page Ltd.
Rishi Sunak is moving into No 10 on Saturday, the Prime Ministers press secretary confirmed after removal vans were spotted in Downing Street.
A coroner has said an inquest into the death will be held in the UK
Wibbitz Top Stories 28 Nov 2022

Iran Says the US , Should Be Kicked Out , of World Cup Tournament.

CNN reports that Iran has called for the United

States..
A Just Stop Oil extremist glued his own head to the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting in the latest attack on a works of art.
After a Wave of Crackdowns, Cambodia Redefines Gambling Law and Enforcement

Published October 29, 2022 by Lee R

A move led by the Cambodian PM has resulted in a redefinition of licensing and enforcement.

Scandal-embattled Cambodia has issued much-needed revisions to casino laws.

The Updates

In a report published in Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia Gaming Authority General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia CGMC is redefining the requirements for operating gaming businesses in the jurisdiction.

Targets

The report indicates the goal targets gambling operators and casino managers to better uphold commercial gambling laws by identifying and protecting the rights of legitimate operators across a landscape engulfed with ongoing crackdowns on illegal offerings.

CGMC Position

The CGMC released the following explanation:

The guidelines aim to crack down on all illegal gambling activities and gambling dens and to promote legal commercial gambling.

First Step

First, some housecleaning: all casino operators and owners have been ordered to apply for a licence or renew their casino licences to continue operation.

Where Operations are Permitted

The geographical locations of the operations must be identified in individual casino development proposals, with licencees eligible only to operate in premises identified in the casino licenses they possess, in full compliance with the requirements of the Law on the Management of Commercial Gambling and relevant legal documents.

Certification to Continue

Those casino operators or casino owners who previously applied for casino licences from Cambodias Ministry of Economy and Finance and remain compliant will receive a certificate of legality permitting further operations in 2022.

All who receive certificates will be expected to operate under strict CGMC control and supervision in a region where the lack of compliance has been too abundant of late.

Recent Scandal

Last September 30, a two-week crackdown on illegal activity ordered by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen resulted in the take-down of 1700 dens in Phnom Penh, necessitating the updates.

Calling out Law Enforcement

The Prime Minister was also vocal in reiterating his expectation of law enforcement officials to continue enforcing existing casino laws and cracking down on expanding illegal activity.

Cambodia PM Speaks

The PM went so far as to call into question the efforts of local authorities to enforce gambling regulations to this point:

Regarding the issue of safety in villages and communes, which we have been implementing for many years, why is it that gambling places seem to appear out of nowhere and for everybody to see, and local authorities seem to ignore these places and fail to eliminate them?

Outlook

Beyond revamping gambling requirements, Cambodia still clearly has to address lax enforcement of existing and updated guidelines to eradicate illegal play and achieve a functional regulation model.
Oswego County Recognizes Operation Green Light

Oswego County continues its support of Operation Green Light, a mission to show support for military veterans. The nationwide initiative aims to raise awareness of the various challenges that veterans face and the resources that are available to them and their families at the county, state and federal level.

The Oswego County Veterans Services office is proud to support Oswego County veterans, family members and spouses, said Oswego County Veterans Services Director Eric Boozer. Our staff can answer questions about benefits and assist with filing claims.

The Oswego County Legislature recently recognized Operation Green Light, acknowledging the contributions and sacrifices of the men and women that served in the Armed Forces.

The cupola of the Oswego County Courthouse will be illuminated in green light during the month of November to honor veterans and their immeasurable sacrifice. Oswego City will join the commemoration and light up the railroad pedestrian bridge in green in support of Operation Green Light. Fulton also plans to display green lights at various municipal locations across the city, including in the community room windows at City Hall.

County residents and businesses are encouraged to display a green light as well, showing veterans that they are seen, supported and appreciated. Participants can share their support on social media with the hashtag #OperationGreenLight.

Operation Green Light is a collaboration between the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), New York State County Executives Association (NYSCEA), the NYS County Veteran Service Officers Association and the 62 counties of New York State. The initiative was developed in 2021, adopted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National Association of County Veteran Service Officers (NACVSO) this year. Oswego County is among the many counties that joined the operation last year and continue to support it.

For more information about Operation Green Light, visit https://www.nysac.org/operationgreenlight. To schedule an appointment with Oswego County Veterans Services, please call the office at 315-591-9100 or visit its website at www.oswegocounty.com/veterans.

The Oswego County Legislatures Human Services Committee presents Oswego County Veterans Services Director Eric Boozer with a proclamation recognizing Operation Green Light, an initiative to support military veterans. The Oswego County Courthouse will be illuminated green during the month of November in support of the operation. Pictured from left are Herbert Yerdon, District 2; Oswego County Director of Mental Hygiene Services Nicole Kolmsee; Committee Vice Chairman James Karasek, District 22; his service dog, Isabel; Director Boozer; Committee Chairman Roy E. Reehil, District 5; Michael Yerdon, District 1; and James Scanlon, District 16.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Photo: (Photo : Pexel/Caleb Oquendo)

School doors have been opened now that the world is past the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students do not want to go to school more than ever.

Before the pandemic began in 2019, almost 6 percent of the nation's students missed school for more than 15 days on an average per year for a combination of reasons. These students are termed "chronically absent."

While schools welcome students for face-to-face classes, the number of chronically absent students has nearly doubled, and more schools report an increasing number of students missing classes or school altogether.

According to data released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 87 percent of public schools reported that children's socio-emotional development had been negatively impacted during the 2021-22 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of these absences are because of pandemic-related policies, such as students being asked to stay home if they show any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Moreover, the more than 1 million U.S. deaths due to the pandemic have also forced many students to miss school to tend to other family members.

How to end chronic absences of students?

But for those students who are emotionally not ready and would rather miss school, what can parents and schools do?

In his article in Phys.Org., Joshua Childs, Assistant Professor of Education Policy from the University of Texas, Austin, and a researcher who studies chronic absences, suggested five ways wherein parents and schools can team up to improve a child's school attendance.

1. School to collect, analyze and explain attendance data.

Schools collect overall attendance data based on the number of students present on a given day. However, many schools focus their care and concern only on unexcused absences, those without excuse letters from parents and doctors.

According to Childs, this can be a problem as kids are missing learning opportunities for not being in school regardless of why they are not in school.

Teachers who use data to further understand the reasons for the absences can discover and improve ways to encourage chronically absent students to return to school.

In Illinois, students can have up to five mental health days and make up for missed homework and exams upon returning to school. One elementary school in San Francisco has a raffle game for all kids who attend school on Mondays and Fridays, and winners receive prizes. This is their way of encouraging students not to miss school on days that are "frequently skipped." On the other hand, a program in Pittsburgh high schools gives a scholarship benefit to college students who get good grades and have more than 90% attendance.

2. Take advantage of technology.

Many schools already use text messaging to communicate with students and their families. Some schools use this to alert parents if their kids miss a class or school without their permission, encouraging parents to help the school get them back to school.

Four Georgia school districts lessened chronic absence by 8 percent after parents received text messages informing them that their children were absent and warning them that missing school may hinder their kids from graduating.

3. Pair chronic absentee students with mentors.

Schools can launch a formal program that can match chronically absent students with mentors who can assist them in connecting with others at school, get help with missed homework, and even find school staff who can provide mental and social services.

A mentoring program launched in New York City had chronically absent students back in school for almost two weeks of learning after mentoring connections and creating relationships with adults.

Mentorship programs have shown a lot of testimonies stating that students have been helped in school through high school - students' families get checked regularly, and students get academic support. They are taught how to navigate social dynamics within the school.

Read Also: Blame Smartphones And Gadgets: Parents, Teachers Resorting To Bribery To Force Children Into Reading More Books

4. Connect students to mental and physical health services.

According to the study, "Masking Attendance: How Education Policy Distracts from the Wicked Problem(s) of Chronic Absenteeism," mental and physical health are the leading reasons why students miss schools, such as dental cavities, asthma or other breathing conditions, and anxiety and stress from violence or hunger.

According to research in Pennsylvania, school nurses can play an essential role in identifying and addressing these health problems that cause students to miss school. School teachers and nurses should team up to build critical services like medical check-ups and referrals to expert practitioners.

School counselors are also crucial in providing the support students need to make them go and stay in school. More than academic support, these chronically absent students may need connection with therapists to help them with their trauma or food banks to satisfy their hunger.

Local school districts in California launched student-retention efforts where the school's main goal is to meet the needs of students and their families. As a result, many students went back to school.

5. Reach out to the community and build local partnerships.

Bring together community-based organizations to have experts improve school attendance because schools will not be able to solve attendance issues on their own.

Cities like Chicago and Long Beach, California, have sent their district and school employees out to survey the local neighborhoods about the causes of students' absences. The activity helped them to identify potential barriers and provide solutions to the problems.

Furthermore, it highlights the value of the school to community members.

Related Article: How Hunger Affects Children's Learning Abilities; Studies Says Hunger Impacts a Child's School Performance
Photo: (Photo : DENIS CHARLET/AFP via Getty Images)

One Arizona teen took the experiences he gathered in high school government and successfully turned them into his own business, and it is now attracting a lot of attention in the state, according to Local Today.

Cooper Weissman is not your ordinary high school student. The Valley high schooler has already accomplished much in his young life, including advocating for more financial literacy for children and founding a blockchain development company.

Weissman also started a company that offers schools a new way to purchase their supplies, and he got this great idea from his time in student government. He explained that they have a lot of student government funding from planning events and making a profit, but they are very restricted in how they can use those funds.

Weissman finds a way to get around the red tape

Weissman said that is because schools in Arizona have a restrictive list of approved vendors, whether purchasing supplies for the front office or buying decorations for a dance.

He added that list of approved vendors was only set up to accommodate basic school supplies like pencils and paper. Weissman noted that whenever clubs or schools needed something, there was no one-stop-shop, all-encompassing vendor to meet those needs.

Weissman turned this problem into an opportunity. He managed to get around the red tape, starting his own company that is called Dynamic Purchasing Solutions. He said they got approved by that vendor list, so any club or school in the district can go to Dynamic Purchasing Solutions. He added that they could then go to other businesses, buy the schools' products, and ship them directly to them.

Weissman's company essentially operates as an intermediary between otherwise unapproved vendors and the schools. This gives the schools more freedom to purchase the needed supplies.

Read Also: Mystery Outbreak in Virginia High School as Nearly Half of Student Population Are out Sick Due to Flu-Like Symptoms

Program has expanded to 43 schools

Word about the teen's innovative program spread before long, and other Arizona schools have also become interested. Weissman said that they have expanded to 43 schools. He added that there tend to be around 50 clubs at each school, and they are quickly growing in that market.

Weissman was the one who handled the orders and invoices when things started. He now has hired two interns from his high school with the company and its operations growing. Weissman needs all the help he can get with college life on the horizon for him.

He told KTAR that he could focus on building the long-term plan for the company. He noted that as he moves into college, he will continue to have that role, and if the business continues to expand, he expects to take on more employees.

Related Article: Early Rise in Respiratory Viruses in Kids Overwhelming Some Hospitals in the US
. . . .To Educate 50,000 Youths And Provide Tech Training/Scholarships To Over 1,000 Youth Across Africa





Binance Charity, the philanthropic arm of Binance, the worlds leading cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure provider has partnered with Utiva, a technology education company in Africa that helps young people learn tech skills. The new partnership is set to educate 50,000 young people in technology and provide scholarships for 1,000 Africans in a 1-year intensive skill training program.



The education program is aimed at young people (18 - 35) from over 19 countries across Africa. It consists of virtual workshops, which will run every weekend over the next 12 months, where students will learn tech skills and access virtual mentoring as a part of the project design.



Additionally, students who partake in the training will have access to fully funded year-long scholarships, which will provide access to Utivas top technology skill training for free. The collaboration aims to build a path for economic prosperity for the continent through skill training and access to vast job opportunities in the technology and Web3 sectors.



We believe the benefits and vast opportunities of Web3 must be accessible to all. Advancing tech education and professional training are critical to making this happen. Were proud to be partnering with Utiva, to engage the youth across Africa as we support the continent's next generation of industry shapers, said Helen Hai, Head of Binance Charity.



Launched at the Utiva office in Lagos Nigeria on Thursday, October 20, 2022, the workshop hosted about 50 young people who will be a part of the first cohort of people that will access the fully-funded training and sponsorship.



Africans are talented and hardworking but most times, the constraints of resources can be a major limiting factor when pursuing a laudable aspiration like moving into technology. We are super excited that Binance Charity understands the African pain point and has partnered with us at Utiva to help thousands of Africans and break the barrier to entry for many, said Eyitayo Ogunmola, CEO of Utiva.



At the launch workshop, students took part in a 4-hour training on Blockchain Technology and Software Development. This is the beginning of a 12-month commitment to the educational program.



Maxwell Maxwell, one of the students said, It was my aspiration to learn Data Science but I have always been limited by financial constraints. Now, my dreams are close to being fulfilled.



This initiative is part of the wider Binance Scholar Program launched earlier this year and now has active projects in Ukraine, South Africa, France, and Brazil. The initiative is enabling the next generation of digital leaders to develop their skills, knowledge, and experience without financial barriers.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Blessed Clementina R/C Basic School, Ashiaman, has commemorated its 30th anniversary with a series of events which saw the active participation of past and present staff and students.



Speaking at a grand durbar to mark the milestone, the Headmistress of the school, Agnes Abigail Tweneboah Kodua, expressed joy at the successes the school has attained. As an institution, we have worked extremely hard, since our founding, to educate the whole child, taking into account their cognitive, spiritual, and physical development, she stated.



The Headmistress reserved special commendation for the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA, which she says has been crucial in providing needed infrastructure. The infrastructure includes a well-equipped Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) lab, equipped wiith about 15 desktop computers and other accessories.



When I took over as headmistress, we lacked some of these facilities but thanks to the PTA team, we now have one that has been renovated and is well-equipped. Additionally, we now have whiteboards in the classroom. We have given thousands of kids a foundation for academic and social success as a school, and we still do so today, the educationist said.



She added that the founder's dedication and hard work as well as that of its current and former teachers has ensured that the school has become one of the top elementary schools in the Ashaiman area, topping its peers in academics, sports, and discipline.



The school was established with the aim of giving holistic training and development to the children of the parishioners and now to the whole Ashaiman community. Since the schools inception, we have been the eye of basic schools in Ashaiman be it in academics, sports, and all around. Every year as a public school we excel in BECE, we get at least more than four pupils come out with flying colours every year, Mrs. Tweneboah Kodua noted.



As part of the festivities, former students made charitable donations to the school, in a bid to enhance teaching and learning. Other activities included repainting the entire school block to give it a facelift, as well as distributing sanitation supplies like veronica buckets, tissues, and sanitisers to the schools to improve general sanitation.



Located in Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra, Blessed Clementina was established as a private catholic school in September 1989 with the goal of educating children of the parishioners. To meet the educational needs of wards in the township and beyond, the school was later integrated into the general public mainstream in September 1992.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The world faces "probably the most dangerous" decade since the end of World War Two, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned.



In a wide-ranging speech on Thursday, he sought to justify Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a move that has left his country internationally isolated.



Mr Putin also accused the West of nuclear blackmail against Russia to force allies to turn away from Moscow.



The West has denounced recent veiled nuclear threats by the Kremlin.



Earlier this week, the Nato military alliance condemned unsubstantiated claims by Russia that Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb" - conventional explosives laced with radioactive material.



Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said alliance members "reject this allegation" and "Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation".



President Putin was speaking to the annual Valdai forum after a series of recent military defeats in Ukraine and growing public anger at home over a drive to mobilise some 300,000 Russians for the war effort.



The day before his address in Moscow, he had overseen routine nuclear exercises that involved a supposed nuclear strike in retaliation for an enemy's massive nuclear attack. "We've never proactively said anything about Russia's possible use of nuclear weapons. We've only responded with hints to comments voiced by the leaders of Western countries," he told his audience.



President Putin singled out former UK prime minister Liz Truss for suggesting during an August campaign event that she would be ready to press the nuclear button if circumstances required her to do so. He said he was surprised the UK's allies did not object: "What were we supposed to do? Keep silent? Pretend that we didn't hear it?"



However, he has himself repeatedly warned that Russia would use "all available means" to protect itself, in what has been widely seen as a clear nuclear threat.



US President Joe Biden accused the Russian leader of engaging in "very dangerous" rhetoric around the potential use of nuclear weapons.



"Why is he talking about the ability to use a tactical nuclear weapon?" Mr Biden asked during an interview with US media. "If he has no intention, why does he keep talking about it?"



He repeated his recent attacks on the West, and what he called its "dangerous, bloody and dirty game" of denying countries their sovereignty and uniqueness. The West's "undivided dominance" over world affairs was now coming to an end, he asserted.



"We're 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 West was no more able to be in charge - but was "desperately trying" to do so. He said a "future world order is being formed before our eyes", and accused the West, led by the US, of trying to destroy Russia. No evidence was provided to back up his claims.









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
The Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) has joined the inter-agency task force working to improve royalty payments and collections due the state from the mining sector.



The EOCO is the newest member of a group of related agencies in the extractive and minerals sub-sector, led by the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).



The inter-agency collaboration is born out of a framework to enhance the collection of royalties, expand the royalties net and streamline communication on royalties payment, especially from the non-gold mining sector, such as salt mining, sand winning, limestone, granite and quarrying.



The MIIF is the statutory body that receives royalties on behalf of the state and manages the equity interest of the government in large-scale mining companies.



The fund invests the dividends and royalties on behalf of the people of Ghana.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIIF, Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng, welcomed the inclusion of EOCO on the inter-agency task force.



The inclusion of EOCO adds a new dimension to this all-important initiative and we will leverage its expertise and infrastructure to help identify and collect royalties from these mineral types, he said.



Inter-agency framework results so far



He added that the payment of royalties from quarries since the inter-agency collaboration started in December last year had gone up by over 100 per cent.



For the first time in Ghanas history, sand winners who had never paid royalties to the state are now making good their commitments and paying royalties. The salt and limestone sectors are performing above 200 per cent on pre-November 2021 figures. We could end the year at around GH30 million, which was lost to the state previously, Mr Koranteng said.



He explained that the collaboration was also yielding reconciliation of data, collection of data and information sharing much quicker.



We are dilating on the same information and adopting a singular multifaceted strategy because we are all in one room thinking about solutions and efficiency.



This helps us to leverage our experiences for innovation, he added.



He said through the inter-agency task force, the Business Development Unit of MIIF had built a geo-mapping system covering most of the non-gold minerals.



We are working together with the relevant laws and mandates, leaving no room for exploitation by those who want to take advantage of the system by deliberately living in the crevasses. This is the true benefit of working together, he emphasised.



EOCOs role



The EOCO, established by the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), is a specialised agency to monitor and investigate economic crimes and, on the authority of the Attorney-General, prosecute these offences to recover the proceeds of crime and provide for related matters.



The non-payment of royalties offends the law, the CEO of MIIF said.



Mr Koranteng added that there had been instances when some of the practices of companies in the mining sector bordered on clear attempts to evade their payment obligation through very complex schemes.



What EOCO further brought to the inter-agency was a law enforcement muscle and also the ability to detect and investigate these practices, he added.



The Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, said the office had a mandate to investigate crimes and prevent the occurrence of same.



To be able to do this, we need to better understand the mining sector to enable a full deployment of our resources, collect and package evidence professionally and protect data collected. This is what we bring to the inter-agency framework, she said.



Background



The collaboration, which was initiated by MIIF in December last year, has improved the efficiency in the collection of non-gold royalties through the collaborative efforts of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), which is responsible for the collection of royalties on behalf of MIIF, the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), which assesses standards and accurate production measurements of minerals, and the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the mining sector.



The inter-agency task force comprises officials from the Minerals Commission, GSA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the GRA.

Source: Graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has taken an exception to a Supreme Court ruling that struck out as unconstitutional a law on the licence to grow cannabis in Ghana.



He said the apex court, in the case of Ezuame Mannan vs Attorney-General, struck out Section 43 of the Narcotic Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019) without hearing from us.



In his view, he as the Speaker of Parliament had no knowledge of that suit yet the Supreme Court delivered a judgement on the case.



If the Speaker is a party to a suit, at least the Speaker should be served but there was no service on us, he said.



The Supreme Court in July 2022 declared as unconstitutional a section of the Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) which allows licence to be granted to an entity to cultivate a small quantity of cannabis, popularly referred to as "wee" in Ghana for industrial and medicinal purposes.



In a 4-3 majority decision on Wednesday (July 28, 2022), a seven-member panel of the apex court held that Section 43 of Act 1019 violated Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution, which details the processes a bill must go through before it is passed into law by Parliament, and was therefore null and void.



The plaintiff's action succeeds. Accordingly, Section 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) is thereby declared null and void and struck out as unconstitutional as it contravenes the letter and spirit of the Constitution, 1992, particularly Article 106 (2) (a) (b), (5) and (6) thereof, the court held.



The case which culminated in the judgment was filed by one Ezuame Mannan against the Attorney-General.



Justices on the majority side were Justices Jones Dotse, Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi.



Justices Nene Amegatcher, Prof Nii Ashie Kotey and Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu dissented.



What the law says



Section 43 of Act 1019 stipulates that the Minister on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a licence for the cultivation of cannabis popularly referred to as "wee" in Ghana, which is not more than 0.3 % THC content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed for medicinal purposes.



Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution which is titled Mode of Exercising Legislative Powers deals with the processes a bill must go through before it can be passed into law by Parliament.



Article 106 (2) states that No bill, other than such a bill as is referred to in paragraph (a) of Article 108 of this constitution, shall be introduced in parliament unless -



(a) it is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum setting out in detail the policy and principles of the bill, the defects of the existing law, the remedies proposed to deal with those defects and the necessity for its introduction,



(b) it has been published in the Gazette at least fourteen days before the date of its introduction in Parliament



Article 106(5) of the 1992 Constitution states that where a bill has been deliberated upon by the appropriate committee, it shall be reported to Parliament, while Article 106 (6) stipulates that the report of the committee, together with the explanatory memorandum to the bill, shall form the basis for a full debate on the bill for its passage, with or without amendments, or its rejection, by Parliament.



Speaker Bagbin's concern about not being served



No service



Addressing Parliament on the floor Thursday, October 27, 2022, Mr Bagbin said There was no service on us [Parliament] and maybe the Attorney-General assumed that responsibility without consulting us and the Supreme Court proceeded to give some judgement.



I think something is amiss and we have to rectify it, the Speaker stated.



"We should be heard"



The Speaker said it must be known that it was not in all cases that the Attorney-General was sufficiently empowered to represent Parliament in the court.



To avert such development, he said the Parliamentary Service Board had engaged two law firms to assist Parliament in legal matters.



Mr Bagbin, however, directed the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the Leader of the House, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, to inform the Attorney-General about the matter.



If there are any further need for further discussion, we are available to do so but we must do something to close this gap of miscommunication and get inputs from Parliament



When there are matters before the court having some impact or effect on what we do here, we should be heard, the Speaker added.



Reasons for judgement



On August 12, 2022, the Supreme Court held that it struck out the law on licence to grow cannabis because Parliament was not transparent in its passage.



The court held there was no debate in Parliament on it before its passage into law as stipulated by Articles 106 (5) (6) of the 1992 Constitution.



Again, the apex court considered that the explanatory memorandum attached to the bill placed before Parliament did not set out in details the policy change, the defects in the existing law, and the necessity to introduce a law to licence the cultivation of cannabis.



Such an omission, the court held, was a violation of Article 106 (2) of the 1992 Constitution.



In view of the said violations, the court held that Section 43 of the Narcotic Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019) was unconstitutional.



The mode of introduction of Section 43 of Act 1019 violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Accordingly, Section 43 is hereby struck out as unconstitutional.



The lack of debate on Section 43 of Act 1019 amounts to not only a direct violation of the letter of Article 106 of the Constitution, but also a violation of the spirit of the law.



There was conspicuously, no debate over such a critical shift in policy by Parliament. Needless to say, this conduct and mode of law-making defeats the transparency and accountability enjoined by the Constitution, the court held.



Section 43 of Act 1019 allows the Minister of Interior, upon the recommendation of the Narcotics Control Commission, to grant an entity the licence to cultivate cannabis of not more than 0.3 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content for industrial and medicinal purposes.



Background



Ghana initiated processes to permit the farming or cultivation of cannabis or Indian hemp "wee" under license.



In 2020, some countries in Africa through their national legislations decided to permit the cultivation and export of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes, with some other countries authorizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes.



Ghana, having passed the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) joined these African countries in exploring the purported prospects in cannabis.



The Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), which was passed by Parliament on March 20, 2020 and assented to by the President on May 11, 2020, have enshrined special provision relating to cannabis.



Section 43 of Act 1019 states that, the Minister, on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a licence for the cultivation of cannabis which has not more than 0.3% THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed or for medicinal purposes.







Source: Graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
At least 33 people have been arrested at demonstrations in Malawi, including the organisers, after police accused them of inciting violence.



People frustrated with rising living costs and government corruption joined the protests, which began in the cities of Blantyre and Zomba on Thursday, before spreading to the capital city of Lilongwe on Friday.



They say cabinet ministers and senior government officials already under corruption investigation must be investigated, not just fired or forced to resign.



Earlier this week Agriculture Minister Lobin Lowe and his deputy, Madalitso Wirima, were sacked for alleged incompetence and negligence by the president.



According to the presidency, the agriculture ministry had failed to follow correct procedures when trying to source fertiliser from a British firm, which has since demanded a commission fee of about $725,000 (627,000) from Malawi despite the contract being cancelled.



The government is now paying this sum even though they are getting nothing in return. Multiple newspapers in Malawi - including the Nyasa Times and the Times of Malawi - allege the government was duped. The company has not commented publicly on the claims.



Despite the arrests of protesters on Friday, more anti-government rallies are planned in the northern city of Mzuzu.

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
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.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
An image of the Calakmul LIDAR survey is shown in a handout image. The use of LIDAR technology is allowing archeologists to peel away the rainforest and reveal the remains of an ancient Mayan city nearly twice the size of the City of Vancouver. University of Calgary archeologist Kathryn Reese-Taylor will be heading to the site in April. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Bajo Laberinto Archaeological Project and Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia **MANDATORY CREDIT**
The Muck: How Much Should Poker Pros Tip a Dealer?

October 28, 2022 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

Poker dealer tipping has replaced the Robbi-Garrett story on poker Twitter thanks to a tweet from poker vlogger Lex Ozias (@LexOpoker1) that sparked a heated debate.

Ozias's hot take, which read "If you play poker for a living: size of pot won shouldnt dictate size of tip to dealer," received the same reception as just about any other controversial opinion on social media  a mix of insults, contrasting views, and those who agree.

"Love getting on the tables and stacking guys like you," Michael Mcardle (@m_mcardle12) tweeted at Ozias, for example.

The vlogger who has over 47,000 YouTube subscribers is certainly entitled to his opinion. Following a number of responses to his initial tweet, he followed up with a deeper explanation into his views on pros tipping dealers.

I may tip smaller per hand but I tip much much more $ annually compared to the random rec. I may play 1,200+ hours https://t.co/V529sdgwYR  Lex O Poker (@LexOpoker1)

Ozias made it clear he was only referring to those who play poker professionally. Thus, he wasn't concerned with the opinions of recreational players. That, of course, didn't stop the non-pros from chiming in.

Opinions All Over the Place

One of the most common arguments to the initial tweet was that, to some, it seems silly to tip the same in a $100 pot as a $100,000 pot. But one poker fan made a valid counterpoint by rhetorically asking if a dealer works harder to push a six-figure pot versus a standard $1/$3 pot.

Another main talking point was in relation to the salary structure of a poker dealer. In the United States, at nearly every card room, dealers are paid a low hourly wage, usually between $10-$15.

Similar to bartenders and servers, they rely mostly on tips, which means they desperately need players to be generous or the mortgage won't get paid. Some suggested that casinos pay employees a livable wage instead of forcing them to rely on tips. That could be a viable option, one in which many dealers would prefer, but would likely lead to increased rake to cover the added dealer salary expenses.

@thetruewarlock @LexOpoker1 I am an over tipper typically. But you are 100% correct. The idea of the customers payi https://t.co/d6zgbz9YzT  Jaime velez (@Dabears_guy69)

"Dude, f**k these haters. You tip your tip and let them tip theirs. For what its worth, Im with you. A great dealer, whos entertaining, fast, remembers my name, doesnt screw up the deal, etc., is always going to get a better tip," @SeanHud argued.

"Should dealers make more then $25 an hr? Seems insane. $1 -$2 per hand is more then enough outside of maybe high stakes or streamed games," Andrew B. Arthur tweeted.

"I would never comment on your [lack of] tips but you opened the door. It is your right to tip however you want but please dont try influence others with your lack of generosity & paint it as helpful. Additionally, I know very few pros that tip as little as you," Kim Stone, a Texas poker player wrote.

"Makes no sense. You win 100 in a 1/2 game vs winning 100k in a 100/200 game wouldn't rate the same tip," Allen Kessler commented.

A few commenters attempted to make the comparison to restaurant dining. But that's a tough comparison to make considering, in the US, the standard for good service at a sit-down restaurant is 20% or above. No poker pro could ever earn a living playin cards if they tipped 20% of the money in each pot they won, obviously.

@rjtauro79 You cannot compare restaurant dining to gambling for thousands of dollars for a living  Lex O Poker (@LexOpoker1)

Herbie Teope, an avid poker enthusiast and Kansas City Chiefs beat writer for the Kansas City Star, told PokerNews he is "of the belief the size of the pot dictates the tip" and wholeheartedly disagrees with Ozias's take.

Poker pro Charlie Carrel brought up an interesting question in relation to the tipping issue.

Hypothetical:  Charlie Carrel (@Charlie_Carrel)

What the Poker Dealers Say

Perhaps a bit surprising, but quite a few poker dealers seem to side with Ozias. Some dealers would prefer being paid a solid hourly wage and receive full benefits in place of the current structure.

"Tipping has become a way of subsidizing s***y jobs," Justin McCluen, a former poker dealer in Des Moines, Iowa told PokerNews. "The only people I truly believe deserve a tip are people that deliver food, especially in their own vehicles. I'm asking them to do something I don't want to do."

@LexOpoker1 as a dealer I actually agree because Im also a very fast and efficient one I does suck when it just s https://t.co/feM81sZm3V  QxTerity (@qx_tr)

"I'm a dealer and 100% agree with this statement. I also play quite a bit so I guess I better understand the players side," Lee Bradbury tweeted.

Final Take

Poker dealers are as important to this industry as anyone. The skilled dealers should be compensated fairly, whether that comes from the casino paying a reasonable salary or from tips. If the hourly wage isn't sufficient enough for a dealer to get by financially, it is up to the poker community to step up and tip generously whether you're a pro or recreational player.

In any industry, employees who are paid well are more likely to work hard than those who aren't. If you value having a quality dealer at your table, and it makes no sense why any pro wouldn't, you shouldn't expect great service from underpaid workers.

That said, tip shaming is just as bad as not tipping at all or being a cheap tipper. Tip the amount that makes you feel comfortable, but take into consideration the person you're tipping has bills to pay and you couldn't play this game for a living in a land-based casino without them.

Sharelines How much should you tip a poker dealer? PokerNews Op-Ed
The final high roller of the PokerStars European Poker Tour London, inside the Hilton Park Lane has come to an end, with Adam Miller taking home the 10,300 EPT London High Roller trophy along with the 312,383 up top after a deal was reached at heads-up play.

The American cash game specialist and former Deliveroo CFO took down his first major high roller title, much to his surprise.

I wouldnt have expected that of the tournaments that Ive played, winning the 10K high roller was the one that I was going to bink but Ill take it" Miller said after the his winner photo.

There were definitely a lot of crushers in the field [but] I think I played well and kept my composure. Like anything you have to kind of get a good run of cards to win these things

Former Deliveroo CFO Adam Miller ends his maiden EPT in style with #EPTLondon 10K High Roller victory and 312K! > https://t.co/Z5x8TclOmX  PokerStars Blog (@PokerStarsBlog)

Miller entered heads up play with a sizeable chip lead over Renan Bruschi and earned the victory following a top-60 finish in the 5,300 EPT Main Event here at EPT London, as well as making the final table in the 8-Game Mix. He topped the 158 entry field, which created the 1,532,600 prize and paid the top 23 players.

10,300 EPT High Roller Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize Money 1 Adam Miller United States 312,383* 2 Renan Bruschi Brazil 270,217* 3 Daniel Aziz Brazil 160,050 4 Alex Keating United States 123,100 5 Juan Pardo Spain 94,700 6 Sita Divari Thailand 72,850 7 Mike Watson Canada 59,200 8 Davidi Kitai Belguim 49,350 9 Marcello Marigliano Italy 41,100

*Indicates heads-up deal

Day 3 Action

The last 11 players returned to their bags to begin the final day, with Lars Kamphues the first to go after losing with pocket jacks against nines.

That was followed by the final hand for Santhosh Suvarna, when a river ended his run in tenth place. Suvarna was fresh off a runner-up finish in the 3,000 Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty event, and added 35,750 in winnings here after registering for this tournament at the last minute. Suvarnas elimination brought the field down to the final table.

Final Tabble

Final Table Play

Marcello Marigliano entered the final table as the short stack, and was the first to exit after running into Millers pocket aces. After staying alive earlier by hitting a runner-runner straight, Davidi Kitai was next out when his last two big blinds ran into Bruschis jacks.

Mike Watson doubled on the first hand of the day, but he was unable to build much further and finished in seventh place after losing a battle of the blinds to Sita Divari, who finished in sixth.

Juan Pardo entered the day leading the pack, coming off a win in the 10,200 Mystery Bounty and runner-up finish in the 50,000 Super High Roller. His run ended here in fifth place, and added another 94,700 to his haul in the English Capital.

Alex Keating regained some ground as the short stack of the final four, but his queens lost to flopped quads for a disappointing exit. Shortly after knocking out Keating, Daniel Aziz saw his pocket pair come second best to finish in third.

Renan Bruschi

Bruschi did well to reach heads up play, having entered the day as the overall short stack. After a deal was reached, Bruschi finally bowed out to Miller for his second runner-up finish of the series.

winner Adam George Miller

Miller will now look to build off this success, which could include other high roller in the future. Ill probably travel to some more bigger events now in the coming months. I'm pretty excited to do some more of these, hopefully I'll continue to run well

This concludes PokerNews coverage for the 10,300 EPT High Roller, but stay tuned for more updates from poker tournaments around the world.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Republicans have managed to issue vague tweets of support for Paul Pelosi after a man inspired by their rhetoric and the January 6th election denial sold not only by former President Trump but also elected Republicans viciously attacked the Speakers husband with a hammer, sending him to surgery.

CNN reported on the attackers obsession with Republican claims that the election was stolen and denial of the January 6th attack:

Last year, David DePape posted links on his Facebook page to multiple videos produced by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell falsely alleging that the 2020 election was stolen. Other posts included transphobic images and linked to websites claiming Covid-19 vaccines were deadly. The death rates being promoted are what ever THEY want to be promoted as the death rate, one post read.

DePape also posted links to YouTube videos with titles like Democrat FARCE Commission to Investigate January 6th Capitol Riot COLLAPSES in Congress!!! and Global Elites Plan To Take Control Of YOUR Money! (Revealed)

Republicans have managed to squeeze out the very most backbone theyve managed since Trump by saying meekly: hey, violence isnt okay.

Becky and I are thankful to hear that Mr. Pelosi is expected to recover from this horrible attack, and were praying for his entire family. Violence is unacceptable.  John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) October 28, 2022

That is not actually how a leader goes about calming down their base.

A real leader would say: The election was not stolen, you are not being targeted, January 6th was a deadly terrorist attack incited by Donald Trump which resulted in police officers dying and having to leave the force, your vote does count, Covid vaccines are not killing people, trans people arent grooming your kids, the truth about slavery isnt going to hurt you, and Democrats are not going to destroy your way of life.

But if they said all of that, how would they get out the vote? And so they pander.

This isnt meant as a hot take gotcha. Its actually long past due.

This country is still reeling from the impact of the Trump domestic terrorist attack of January 6th, largely because Republicans decided to not only defend it but lionize the attackers as heroes. They do this because they are cowards who put their own power over the good of the country.

Yes, its been a long road getting here  littered with violent rhetoric, threats, actual political terrorism, and so many conspiracy theories.

 at least 104 political ads from Republican candidates running for U.S. Congress, governor, or attorney general this year that display and feature firearms or weapons. Many even include implicit or explicit threats against political opponents or the government, the Center for American Progress found in July.

Some of these ads show the Republican shooting at Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Joe Biden, and more.

There are too many examples to list, but heres just a few:

In a February 2022 ad that aired during the Super Bowl, Arizona senate candidate Jim Lamon is in a showdown with President Joe Biden, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Lamon shoots at the Democrats, disarming them and forcing them to flee the town.

In an August 2021 ad, Mike Collins uses a firearm to blow up Nancy Pelosis plan for America. He then states: Conservatives have gotten steamrolled thanks to spineless politicians for far too long, and its time to fight back. And if you think Im just going to fight the Democrats, think again. Because in the swamp, its RINO season too, before shooting at a cardboard rhino.

In a recent July 2022 ad, Jerone Davison uses an AR-15 to scare off a dozen angry Democrats in klan hoods.

A March 2022 ad shows Josh Clark holding an firearm, explaining hes giving away an AR-15 every week until the election to ensure that Georgians are equipped and ready to protect their family and to fight against tyranny and evil when necessary  against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The ad then shows Clark shooting an AR-15 at targets, with his children and others also taking turns firing the weapon.

In case its not clear that Republicans are continuing to be cowards even as Paul Pelosi is in surgery for an attack inspired by their own rhetoric and by rhetoric of their party leaders, this is the same party running these ads below  these violent, ugly, disgusting ads.

So its become hard to argue that violence to the level of political terrorism is not a large part of the Republican Party brand.

Conservative David Frum called it out exactly:

Coming soon: "It's outrageous that anybody would hold me responsible for this heinous act just because I starred in a campaign ad firing hundreds of rounds from a machine gun at a photo of Nancy Pelosi."  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

He listed a sampling of these ads:

Former governor of Missouri. pic.twitter.com/ae2qmMWagD  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Member US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/hi3YLaLEYc  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Speakers, 2020 national political convention pic.twitter.com/vkXrtVHzWA  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Member, US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/5GB6DiUx3Y  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Governor of a state pic.twitter.com/NtZfL20j3e  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Governor of a state pic.twitter.com/srNChDgA7Y  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Member, US House of Representatives pic.twitter.com/REHseHEIgF  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Defeated candidate US Senate pic.twitter.com/7RPzJfZ1Mf  David Frum (@davidfrum) October 28, 2022

Gosh, who would have thought being in bed with the gun manufacturing lobby and fetishizing weapons of mass destruction to be caressed lovingly on your Christmas card would ever lead to violence.

Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said of Pelosi, I want you to watch Nancy Pelosi hand me that gavel. It will be hard not to hit her with it.

Oh. Thats totally normal.

This is what it takes to win with the incel crowd  threaten to hurt a woman because you allegedly have different policy ideas.

Its not as if Pelosis party incited and participated in a coup against their own country and tried to assassinate Kevin, as Kevins party did to the United States and to Speaker Pelosi  BEFORE he felt compelled to share his fantasy about hitting the Speaker. So its a wonder what would even justify such a thought.

Still, we dont hear such things from Pelosi herself or from Republican former Vice President Pence, who was also an assassination target by Trumps terrorists.

Republicans are set to take control of at least part of Congress and put some of the most dangerous Republicans into even larger positions of power.

Thats not a party thats sorry or even acknowledging the role theyve played in both the January 6th terrorist attack or this horrific attack on Paul Pelosi, which was meant for the Speaker herself, in yet another January 6th repeat.

The media wont hold them accountable, so we have to do it ourselves. The best way to hold Republicans accountable is at the ballot box. Vote early, take others to vote on election day, work election protection, and talk to your community about whats at stake.

We cant allow Republicans to continue this reign of terror.
One of the Marine Corps' most prominent heroes is on course to visit Aiken in a few days, in support of a fundraiser to help such local organizations as Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Charleston resident James Livingston, who retired as a major general, is to be the featured speaker Nov. 10 at Art 4 Vets, an art auction to be held at Southside Gallery, at 2258 Whiskey Road, from 5-9 p.m.

The Georgia native's honor came in the wake of his action in South Vietnam May 2, 1968, with the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. He was a captain at the time and demonstrated "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty" while serving as his unit's commanding officer, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's website.

The fundraiser is to be held under a tent, with creations by dozens of local artists to be offered. Each item's auction price is to be split among between the artist, the galler and a local organization (as chosen by the winning bidder) to support veterans. Admission to the event is $45 and includes dinner and two tickets to happy hour.

Thom Abbott, co-owner of the gallery, noted that some of the artists with creations being offered are military veterans. Among that group is retired homebuilder Stan Kliebenstein, an Army vet (1968-69) who served overseas. Kliebenstein, working from home, is now "building wooden, usually American flags out of recycled, repurposed materials," and some of his creations are currently on display in Abbott's gallery.

On board to benefit are American Legion Post 26, Aiken's chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5877, Aiken's chapter of the Marine Corps League, South Aiken High School's Naval Junior ROTC unit and the USC Aiken Office of Veteran and Military Student Success.

Auctioneer duties are to be handled by a prominent local businessman: Andrew Siders, a former Marine now largely known as Aiken County Council's vice chairman.

The initial Arts 4 Vets event was held at Southside Gallery in November 2021, with the featured speaker being retired four-star Army general Gus Perna, described in a Department of Defense report as the COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic czar, in charge of Operation Warp Speed. This year's fundraiser is to have a slightly different layout, in order to provide a drier environment in case of rain, which caused some issues at the 2021 gathering.

Livingston, this year's featured speaker, "became a trusted commander during his more than three decades in the service" and "learned leadership skills early in his career and put them to good use in 1968 when he helped liberate a Vietnamese village and save stranded Marines," as noted on a Department of Defense website. "For that, he earned the Medal of Honor."

Plans are for him to speak around 7:15 p.m. and bring 38 copies of his book, "Noble Warrior," for sale and signing, as well as six copies of a book, to be sold by auction, focusing on Medal of Honor recipients. About 100 artworks will be offered in a silent auction, said Abbott.

Livingston, now 82, grew up on his family's farm in Towns, Georgia, about 100 miles west of Savannah, and retired on Sept. 1, 1995, wrapping a 33-year career.
Meredith Connelly is in the final stretch of making some mushrooms.

In her Charlotte-based studio, the artist is checking the LED lights that will make her thermoplastic installations glow. She is attaching stemming to new forms just created. She is coating them all with silicone for optimal outdoor weatherproofing.

From Nov. 5 to Dec. 11, more than 100 of these illuminated fungi facsimiles will proliferate Charleston's Hampton Park. They will radiate from the Rose Pavilion in winsome, luminous formations, wending magically through the parks landscape and beckoning the city dweller to follow them.

Mushrooms is a site-specific installation conceived and created by Connelly set to sprout up for five weeks in the citys historic park. It represents the latest in the Art in the Parks series, with works commissioned by Charleston Parks Conservancy. All of the installations are temporary, remaining up for a year or less.

Return of Art in the Parks

The installation follows a two-year pandemic pause in the project, and the first in the series under the leadership of Natalie Jones, who recently joined the conservancy as its director of public art and programs.

Jones, who has worked in museums in Charlotte, first spotted Connellys work on Instagram. She identified it as a perfect fit for the Art in the Parks program, which seeks to make public art accessible in the city of Charleston.

Part of the aim for this program is just to get folks into the park to engage in a different way, she said. Work ties into the neighborhood to connect with residents, while also seeking to tap into people visiting Charleston.

Jones was drawn to the artists work by the fact that it was sculptural and environmentally centered, with a manageable scale suitable for the relaunch of the program in a dynamic fashion.

In Hampton Park, the 100-plus thermal plastic installations will range in sizes up to about 12 inches, and will be positioned in organic groupings, emerging from plantings.

Like many of Connellys installations, Mushrooms underscores the importance of connectivity through an authentic, accessible and multisensory experience dreamed up to appeal to arts lovers of all ages.

Breaking down barriers

After initially meeting with Connelly, the conservancy knew the commission was a fit for them. It will be the multidisciplinary artists first public foray outside of North Carolina, though another project is now underway for Nashville.

She has so much knowledge, Jones said. She comes from a museum background as well as being a formally trained artist. So it just seemed like everything gelled together.

Even with Connellys bona fides within hallowed museum walls, the nature-loving artist finds herself increasingly drawn to outdoor spaces, which can build bridges for the community to more deeply engage with art.

A lot of times there are barriers that keep someone from having an artistic and creative moment, she said, noting that visitors can at times be more comfortable outdoors than in going through the doors of a museum or gallery.

Putting it out in the community removes barriers and opens doors for that access point to occur.

Her vision for such community-based public projects has resonated in Charlotte. Her work has been commissioned by the Arts and Science Council's Community Supported Arts Program, the I Heart Rail Trail and Charlotte SHOUT! through CLT Center City Partners.

In 2018 and 2019, Connelly created a series of site-based, immersive installations for the U.S. National Whitewater Center, resulting in 400 works of mushrooms and cocoons along a half-mile trail. And it was a hands-down hit, dramatically increasing winter footfall from its previous average of 4,000 visitors to 250,000.

Another, titled Fairy Ring, takes the form of a permanent installation at Atherton Mill in Charlottes South End. Informed by how ancient cultures engage with the notion of a perfect circle, it invites visitors to walk into such a circle and have their own experience with it, which Connelly hopes can foster healing.

A new audience

Connelly sees young arts enthusiasts as particularly open to work thats larger than life. She thus creates her installations to accommodate them, with multiple viewpoints for differing heights. She also aims to promote education on science and technology.

Part of the appeal for Connelly is the temporary nature of many of her outdoor projects, which can lend a sense of mystery and transience to the experience.

Even people that visit the park regularly are going to stumble upon something unexpected, physical and different than what they typically see when they're over in that space, she said. Its a really conceptual piece of the puzzle thats interesting to me.

There are numerous ways to engage with Mushrooms. The Charleston Parks Conservancy is also coordinating programming around the installation, including the creation of a mushroom activity booklet and guide available via its website.

The public is invited to view the installation any time the park is open and is encouraged to come out on Nov. 5 for the launch. Check the schedule for designated viewing nights when the installation is illuminated.

At 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19, the artist will join a discussion on Mushrooms at the Gibbes Museum of Art, which will be followed by a 5 p.m. site visit and artist-led tour. For more information visit charlestonparksconservancy.org.
The United States does not have a state-sanctioned religion and has long prided itself as a country where its citizens can worship freely.

Yet there still remain differing views and opinions on the nation's religious roots and whether Christianity, the largest faith group in the nation, should inform public policy, according to a recent survey.

The Winthrop Poll's Southern Focus Survey covered a number of hot-button topics that included abortion, former President Donald Trump's connection to the events that took place on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol and the related congressional hearings, racial discrimination and the Confederate battle flag.

The survey, which questioned more than 2,200 adults in 11 Southern states, also asked about the role of religion in government.

Half of all respondents said the federal government should not declare the United States a Christian nation. More than a third said the federal government shouldnt advocate Christian values, and half agreed that the federal government should enforce strict separation of church and state.

However, half of the respondents also agreed that the federal government should allow the display of religious symbols in public spaces.

To get some further perspective around the topics of religion and government, The Post and Courier reached out to five faith leaders across the state from Protestant, Catholic and Jewish traditions. We asked them: Do you think the U.S. is a Christian nation? Do you think it should be a Christian nation? Do you think the government should play a role in promoting Christian values?

Here are their responses, which have been edited for length and clarity.

Rabbi Stephanie Alexander, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, Charleston

This is not a question of personal opinion nor a matter for community debate. The United States is not a Christian nation nor was it intended to be. As President George Washington affirmed to the Jewish community of Newport, Rhode Island: The Government of the United States  gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.

And as he further explained to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia: If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention, where I had the honor to preside, might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it; and if I could now conceive that the general government might ever be so administered as to render the liberty of conscience insecure, I beg you will be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horror of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.

There are currently roughly 1,500 religious groups in the United States. This is the heart of our countrys strength, not its weakness  but only when we respect one another, make space for one another; demonstrate enough humility and restraint to refrain from promoting any one set of values, practices, or beliefs over any others. Both our democracy and our individual faiths are strengthened when we champion a religious freedom that equally encompasses all Americans of every faith and every creed.

The Rev. Cress Darwin, Second Presbyterian, Charleston

As a father, citizen, and churchman, it is vital that I embody values that are consistent with what I proclaim. These values are articulated in Christian Scripture but recognized in other faiths and secular writings  each one but a prompt to be considered in the complexity of these rancorous times.

Joy versus happiness

Peace: It is more than the absence of conflict

Patience: It leads to forbearance

Kindness: not to be confused with enabling or backbone-free behavior

Goodness: that which is moral and/or virtuous

Faithfulness: loyalty, constancy, devotion to something that may vary greatly among people.

Gentleness: a hallmark of which is humility

Self-control: a necessary ability to reining in ones passions

Love: that which is the deciding, overriding factor for gracious, successful living with purpose and integrity.

Is the United States a Christian nation? No. Just look at statistics. Should the actions of our communities and Congress be guided by the above list of values? Yes.

I believe that all individuals and entities could be and should be driven by the above values, values that resonate beyond confines of one way of believing.

You dont have to be Christian to lead a moral or ethical life. However, Christians would lead such a life in generosity and forbearance in loving obedience to Jesus.

The Rev. Kylon Middleton, Mt. Zion AME, Charleston

The United States federal government was the first national government established with no official state-endorsed religion.

Given the religious pluralism that now exists in this country, as a matter of law, including constitutional law, the United States is a secular nation, not a Christian one.

As an ordained pastor in a Christian denomination, I am good with that because I think the principle of separating church from state was integral to the framers' understanding of religious freedom. They believed that any governmental intervention in the religious affairs of citizens would necessarily infringe on their religious freedom.

I realize the aforementioned poll was conducted in the 11 Southern states of the United States but that is not reflective of the overall national sentiment or reality. A new study from the Pew Research Center shows that America's Christian majority has been shrinking for years, and if recent trends continue, Christians could make up less than half the U.S. population within a few decades.

In my opinion, as a Christian who has seen the religious right manipulate a political agenda that continues to infringe upon the social values of our culture, I believe that the role of the Church and other religious organizations is to protect and strengthen morality in society. Government should reflect the shared values of all of its citizens and should maintain a nation under God where liberty and justice are for all.

Father Jay Scott Newman, St. Mary's Catholic, Greenville

The United States was founded largely by the descendants of those who came to North America from Europe seeking religious freedom according to their conscience. The first immigrants who organized our Republic were fleeing from the wars of religion which had created chaos in the wake of the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation, and so their unique settlement of religious differences was that our government would have no religion so that all citizens could have whatever religion they chose for themselves.

Most of those responsible for the founding and framing of our Republic were Christians, but the government they established is deliberately non-confessional. In this sense, the United States of America is historically a nation of Christians but not a Christian nation in the sense that confessional states like Catholic Spain, Anglican England or Reformed Holland were.

The primary challenge to this settlement since the mid-20th century comes from the secular political left which confuses the correct separation of church and state with the incorrect separation of religion from public life. The non-confessional state exists precisely so that citizens of all faiths may practice their religion publicly and make religiously informed arguments in the public square about how we should all live together in peace.

I believe that the robust engagement of public religious arguments about how our common life should be shaped in law is both compatible with and demanded by a non-confessional government which respects the religious freedom of all citizens.

The Rev. Amenti Sujai, Ph.D., associate professor of church history at Dickerson-Green Seminary at Allen University in Columbia, pastor of St. Matthew-Taylors United Methodist

1. This nations system of government was developed by limited, enlightened deists. Therefore, it was not founded as a Christian nation.

2. This diverse nation should not be a Christian nation. Rather, it should be a nation that follows Jesus Great Commandment of Love and other ethical and moral principles such as the Buddhas Four Noble Truths.

3. Moral principles that recognize and honor the value of all beings and the entire earth could inform public policy. The government should not play any role that helps to cultivate, promote, support, or honor a culture of lying.
A federal judge ordered a disbarred Lancaster attorney to pay restitution after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud her clients and the U.S. government, stopping short of imposing additional time behind bars.

Christi Anne Misocky was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2020 on six charges related to conspiracy to commit fraud, court records show.

Misocky conspired from 2017 to 2019 with two acquaintances  Howard Everett Anderson and George Dusean Norman, both of Rock Hill  to use her client's personal information to pass counterfeit and forged securities.

Misocky attempted in October 2018 to use a fraudulent driver's license and Social Security card at a North Charleston car dealership, according to the indictment. The following month, she used two counterfeit checks in the total amount of $21,000 to purchase a new vehicle from a different North Charleston dealership.

Her law office specialized in adoption and real estate, according to her LinkedIn. She said she was valedictorian of her graduating class at Charlotte School of Law, which shuttered in 2019 after it failed to qualify for federal student loan funding, according to a local TV news report.

Drugs and alcohol led the former attorney down a path of deceit and crime, according to information provided at Misocky's Oct. 28 sentencing hearing in Charleston's U.S. District Court.

The 50-year-old, whose blond hair was pulled back in an updo, told the judge she was "drowned in drugs and alcohol" at the time of the conspiracy. She said she has been sober for more than three years.

Assistant U.S. District Attorney Winston Holliday recommended a non-custodial sentence, noting that Misocky has been remorseful about her crimes and forthcoming with the government.

Misocky entered into a plea agreement on July 6, 2021, through which she pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining five federal charges. Her co-defendants have since also pleaded guilty.

The S.C. Supreme Court disbarred Misocky in January. The North Carolina State Bar suspended her license to practice law in the state in 2021 after Misocky failed to comply with their investigation into more than a dozen grievances filed against her dating to 2017.

District Judge Richard M. Gergel ordered Misocky at her sentencing hearing to pay roughly $5,000 in restitution to her former clients. Gergel noted Misocky's crimes amounted to "egregious misconduct on part of a lawyer," but said she had already suffered consequences  including disbarment and 73 days in the county jail.

"This is in her past and not in her future," Gergel said.

As part of her sentence, Misocky must submit to substance abuse testing as well as participate in mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.

Misocky said at the hearing that she has no intention to reapply to the bar. The former attorney now works at Target, where she said she is up for a promotion.
Were relieved that police audio recordings seem to confirm S.C. Circuit Judge Carmen Mullens claim that she was actually trying to help a troubled man when she suggested that police fabricate an excuse to arrest him.

The last thing we need is a judge who lies about what she was doing when she interjected herself into a dispute in her neighborhood. Of course, the next-to-last thing we need is a judge who interjects herself into a dispute in her neighborhood by implying that police should violate someones rights, and then continues to do so even after it becomes clear that she is making them uncomfortable.

And frankly, we dont need judges interjecting themselves into any legal matters outside of their courtrooms.

You know how upset we all get when a local city council member or legislator pulls the do you know who I am routine to try to get out of a DUI or traffic ticket or get police to intervene inappropriately in a personal or business dispute? We should be doubly upset when judges do that.

As The Post and Couriers Glenn Smith reports, in addition to confirming Judge Mullens claim that she was trying to get the man arrested to ensure his safety, audio from the December 2017 incident confirms deputies account of what happened when the judge showed up at the home of a neighbor who had called the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office to remove the man, who had been living on her property.

Judge Mullen urged deputies to take the man to the hospital and, when they said they couldnt, changed tactics: She urged deputies to arrest him for credit card fraud, trespassing, harassment or disorderly conduct. She offered to sign a warrant on the spot. When deputies said there was no evidence to support any of those charges, she suggested that someone could drive the man to a gas station that had a restraining order against him so he could be arrested for trespassing there. A deputy pointed out that this would be entrapment  something she surely knew  and Judge Mullen replied: Yeah, Im not worried about that.

This isnt the first time Judge Mullens conduct has been called into question. She is the subject of a pair of official complaints over the role she played in keeping secret a $4.3 million insurance settlement that Alex Murdaugh collected on behalf of but did not deliver to the sons of the disgraced attorneys late housekeeper.

A year after that episode was brought to light in the aftermath of the double-murder of Mr. Murdaugh's wife and son, the complaints are still winding their way through the murky and secretive judicial discipline system, and the S.C. Supreme Court has not answered our call to find a way to both allow and require Judge Mullen to give a public explanation for her actions.

We understand the need for due process when the court is deciding whether to discipline lawyers and judges, although we dont understand the need for the secrecy. But the court needs to understand the damage that is done to the judiciary when it allows public suspicions to linger unanswered.

Its possible that Judge Mullen did nothing improper in the Murdaugh case, that she was merely a bit too trusting with the attorneys in what was presented to her as an uncontested case, and too casual about court filings. But there simply are no circumstances under which it is appropriate for a judge to try to badger police into drumming up reasons to arrest someone.

While we sympathize with her desire to help the distressed man she had known for decades, she should have recognized that a judge has no business interfering with how police are responding to a call. Having failed to do that, she should have recognized the first time deputies rejected her entreaties that she had crossed the line, and backed off.

Unfortunately, Judge Mullen's conduct raises an uncomfortable question: Is she an outlier, or is this routine but under-the-radar behavior among other judges? We want to believe its the former, but we cant ignore the fact that we only learned about this five-year-old incident after her involvement in the Murdaugh saga subjected the judge to a level of public scrutiny that most judges never receive.

Our society is at a dangerous place, with public trust in vital institutions crumbling the nation over. The latest news about Judge Mullen threatens to further undermine confidence in our judicial system. The S.C. Supreme Court cannot afford to let this matter go unaddressed while its byzantine system of judicial discipline proceeds at its glacial pace.

Whether it sanctions her or not, the court must act quickly to make it clear that such behavior crosses the line. Otherwise, it invites the public to believe that this is not only acceptable but commonplace.
From Winthrop University to Coastal Carolina, mold reports plague universities across South Carolina. Here's a rundown of issues at some of the state's colleges. Read moreMold notebook: Which SC colleges had the most mold reports
The Citadel

Location: Charleston

Enrollment (rounded): 2,300

After a newsworthy mold outbreak in 2017, The Citadel installed dehumidifiers in every cadets room.

The school said temperature sensors had been improperly placed in rooms, creating unneeded moisture problems  and mold. Those sensors have since been moved, the school said.

Since 2020, The Citadel recorded 16 reports of mold, according to the college. Most appeared to be minor cases in bathrooms and under sinks.

College of Charleston

Location: Charleston

Enrollment (rounded): 11,000

College of Charleston had the second-highest tally of complaints among South Carolina's public higher education institutions, with 422 reports during the past two years.

Housing officials said 119 of those reports were "founded," meaning staff found mold present. The rest were determined to be cases of students mistaking mold for other things, including dust and rust.

Of the 422 complaints, McAlister Hall had the most with 108. Of those, 37 were confirmed. With more than 500 beds, McAlister Hall is among the largest dorms on campus and is being renovated. Berry Hall had 91 mold reports, including 30 that the university confirmed. College Lodge had 28 reports, of which five were founded.

Kelly House had 52, with 23 founded cases. The building's repair records show the challenges of identifying and ridding rooms of mold. An inspection in October 2021 by a private contractor found high amounts of cladosporium in air ducts, a problem that a previous cleaning hadn't solved. Mold also was found on walls, cabinets and windows.

College officials spent more than $78,000 on mold remediation contractors and inspectors during the past two years, records show.

Coastal Carolina

Location: Conway

Enrollment (rounded): 10,400

Coastal Carolina had at least 220 mold-related complaints during the past two years spread across a campus with about 4,600 beds.

Blue Ridge, Ingle Hall, Piedmont Hall and Eaglin Hall saw the most mold complaints.

Said one Blue Ridge resident: "Everyone in my room is experiencing symptoms of black mold. After looking in our air vents I found that they are absolutely disgusting." Students have posted comments on social media about mold and the "coastal cough," generating tens of thousands of views.

Steve Harrison, CCUs vice president for auxiliary services, said the university works with a company to test for potential microbial growth in all residence halls at least twice a year.

Clemson

Location: Clemson

Enrollment (rounded): 26,400

Clemson had more than 320 reports related to mold during the past two years, with its Lightsey Bridge 1 and 2 complex leading the pack with nearly 70 cases, followed by Calhoun Courts with 36.

Francis Marion University

Location: Florence

Enrollment (rounded): 4,300

Francis Marion manages nearly 600 housing units on its campus. During the past two years, the school logged 184 complaints about mold, according to internal university records. A sample:

BLACK MOLD!!! In bathroom. We have allergies and it needs to be fixed ASAP.

The mold in my room has become so bad that I do not feel safe staying on campus. The mold is in the carpet, around my air vent and on the ceiling."

Hello, I was going through my closet and discovered mold ... Im allergic to mold. It has even got on a pair of my shoes.

University spokesman John Sweeney said all mold issues were handled by the universitys maintenance staff, and that they involved surface level cleanings.

The university didnt hire outside companies to address mold, he said. The school sees roughly twice as many mold reports during the fall semester than the spring, work orders show.

Furman University

Location: Greenville

Enrollment (rounded): 2,600

News reports in 2021 described how several Furman students were affected by mold exposures, including one who said she ended up in a hospital because of a reaction. The school later said independent inspectors had found only a limited amount of mold.

The Paladin, the school's newspaper, last spring did an in-depth investigation into mold in a dorm. A reporter polled 26 residents in one apartment block; 20 noted visible mold in their living spaces.

School officials told The Post and Courier that six dorm units had mold issues in the previous two years. The school said it spent $18,302 for cleaning services, which ranged from wiping down surfaces to cleaning duct work.

Students caused most issues, officials said, by not correctly setting thermostats or by failing to run bathroom vent fans.

Winthrop University

Location: Rock Hill

Enrollment (rounded): 5,200

Winthrop had more than 270 reports of mold in dorm rooms over the past two years, highlighting the challenge of keeping up older buildings.

Examples of what maintenance crews documented:

From January 2022 in Courtyard: "Resident in bedroom B states that there is mold growing from their air vent in the bedroom, which is causing an allergic reaction."

From Lee Wicker Hall in August 2020: "One of the beds has mold growing on it."

From Richardson in February 2021: "There is visible mildew growth on the ceiling to the left side of the space above the resident's bed. Resident has continued health issues."

University officials said that Richardson and Wofford, two halls built in the mid-1960s, have been closed as part of a campus revitalization plan. The buildings will be demolished and replaced. Those older dorms house more than 760 beds.

James Grigg, associate vice president for facilities management, said the state's "hot and humid summers cause many challenges to institutions as they maintain indoor air environments," along with old HVAC or ventilation units.

University of South Carolina branch campuses

Locations: Aiken, Beaufort-area, Spartanburg

When first asked for mold-related documents, USC-Aiken (3,500 students, rounded) initially demanded that The Post and Courier pay nearly $3,700 to fulfill an open records request. After the newspaper narrowed the scope of its request, the university said it had five documented mold complaints during the past two years.

USC-Upstate in Spartanburg (6,000 students, rounded) reported 16 mold cases.

USC-Beaufort (2,000 students, rounded) reported 31 across its three campuses in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Examples of student complaints there:

"Walls behind fridge are coated with mold. Mold ruined a pillow I had sitting on my desk."

"Mold in bathroom. My roommate and I are very allergic to mold."

"There is black mold on the ceiling over the shower and I have asthma. So I cannot be around this."

Morris College

Location: Sumter

Enrollment (rounded): 400

John Harrell, a Charleston attorney, said his experience suing this private college in Sumter opened his eyes to what he believes is a national crisis.

He filed a lawsuit in late 2017 alleging that moldy dorms sickened students. The suit said the school should have warned students which dorms had mold issues, and that officials ignored students' pleas for help.

The lawsuit sought $55 million in damages  a hefty number for a small school. Harrell said he mainly asked for that amount as a wake-up call.

He said Morris officials approached the situation as if it didnt happen here."

For this report, college President Leroy Staggers told The Sumter Item that the school has corrected its mold issues.

It hired a mold contractor to remediate campus buildings, he said. The school also trained and certified its five maintenance staffers to address mold outbreaks.

In 2020, Morris students and administrators settled the lawsuit  for an undisclosed amount.

Overall, Harrell said he was left feeling that mold would emerge as a major source of litigation. One of the most interesting parts of the case was that other schools approached us saying, Us too. I really believe mold is widespread and affects thousands of students.

Bruce Mills of The (Sumter) Item contributed to this report.
The sudden death earlier this year of Amya Carr, co-captain of South Carolina State University's dance team, spawned a still-unfinished state investigation while continuing to raise questions about whether authorities properly looked into what happened.

Carr had been diagnosed with asthma as an infant, but her problems seemed to grow worse her sophomore year when she moved into Hugine Suites at South Carolina State University, her mother, Valencia Canzater, told The Post and Courier earlier this year.

She was constantly having flare-ups at school, Canzater said. More than she had when she would come home to me.

Mold is a well-documented cause of asthma flare-ups.

SC State logged 43 complaints about mold during the past two years, school's records show. Of those 43 reports, 32 were in Hugine Suites, a complex of buildings that can house more than 700 students.

Some involved seemingly benign cases of mold in bathrooms. Others hinted at more serious issues: Students found mold on their couch, one report said. "Very bad mold issue," a maintenance crew reported in another. In a third, students reported a hole in the ceiling, and that they could see mold in it. Students found mold on a mattress and chairs in other instances.

The night before she died, Carr spoke to her mother by phone, her mother said. Carr was having breathing problems but planned to use her nebulizer, an inhaler that delivers medicine to treat these attacks.

That night, fellow students rushed her to the hospital. Doctors tried to resuscitate her but her lungs had already been filled with too much fluid from the bad asthma attack she was having, a report by campus police said.

But records show SC States campus police failed to immediately notify the State Law Enforcement Division about Amyas death.

State law requires universities to report on-campus deaths and sexual assaults so SLED agents can do independent investigations.

Sam Watson, the university spokesman, said officials complied with the law "because Ms. Carrs death did not result from an incident occurring on campus." The university eventually notified SLED  five weeks after Carr's death.

Meantime, the Orangeburg County Coroners Office didnt perform an autopsy, which might have pinpointed what triggered the attack.

The coroner, Samuetta Marshall, is a graduate of SC State, and her deputy coroner, Michael Bartley, was a former SC State campus police chief. The school fired him in 2012, and he later pleaded guilty to federal charges that he participated in a kickback scheme.

Neither Marshall nor Bartley responded to multiple requests for comment by phone and email. The coroner's office failed to respond to multiple Freedom of Information Act requests.

"It's highly concerning," said Taylor Smith, an attorney for the South Carolina Press Association, referring to the coroner's lack of response to an open records request. "It invites suspicion as to why they've handled this specific case like this."

Investigators with SLED have yet to close their case.

Watson, SC State spokesman, said the school cannot comment on Carrs case until SLED finishes its work. He urged The Post and Courier to refrain from writing about the case. A responsible news organization would wait for that, he said.

Watson acknowledged that SC State has had mold complaints but said that's normal. Every campus that has water, facilities and showers is going to encounter mold on occasion.

Watson noted that no complaints had been lodged in connection with the suite where Carr lived on campus.

South Carolina State University never has received any information indicating that mold played a role in Ms. Carrs death, he said in an emailed statement.

Watson also would not discuss Bartleys role in the investigation or his prior employment with the university as its police chief. I am not going to go down any type of rabbit holes with you, he said.

Glenn Smith contributed to this report.
About $100 million - that's how much in potential savings were lost due to project delays stemming from a procurement protest and subsequent appeals, according to Guam Power Authority General Manager John Benavente.

The project, GPA's third phase renewable energy procurement, intended to utilize U.S. Navy properties and was supposed to be the first of the utility-scale projects to incorporate battery storage technology that could power the island with green energy at night. All of the utility-scale renewables have been solar power so far.

Procurement protests that proceeded to the Superior Court of Guam, however, resulted in significant delays. The case was eventually decided in favor of the government, but the Navy then withdrew the use of properties for the renewable facilities, due to a need to site military assets.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Officials are now looking at other federal properties to house renewable energy projects, but for now, the Phase III project is in abeyance. According to documents from the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, the Phase III project award had been canceled.

"We won the battle but lost the war. Because the (project) proponent no longer wants to even give a bid for a price because of the changes on the supply chain and issues in the world today," Benavente told members of the Public Utilities Commission last week Thursday, as he spoke on a petition to go out for bid on a fourth phase of renewable energy projects.

"Therefore, we lost out in, I'd like to say $100 million of savings potentially for the ratepayers of Guam. And all because of a protest that really, at the end of the day, didn't pan out to be anything," Benavente added, stating further that he would like to pursue changes in the procurement process at some point in order to avoid a similar situation for upcoming projects.

The PUC ultimately approved GPA's Phase IV renewable energy multistep bid documents at Thursday's meeting. Any projects under this procurement must be commissioned within 36 months after a contract award, and must include energy storage that can distribute power at other times of the day.

There are a few reasons to pursue the procurement, PUC Administrative Law Judge Fred Horecky said at the meeting.

The first is that Guam law establishes renewable energy portfolio standards with the goal of reaching 50% renewable energy by 2035 and 100% by 2045.

But most important for ratepayers is the idea that more renewable energy can reduce energy costs, Horecky said.

On the same day that the PUC approved the Phase IV procurement, the body also decided to raise the fuel surcharge - the portion of monthly power bills that pay for fuel oil.

GPA's underrecovery, or losses between the price of fuel and the current surcharge, is hovering around $40 million, necessitating another rate increase in what has been a long line of increases.

The construction of the new power plant at Ukudu, anticipated to be completed in 2024, and additional renewable energy projects are expected to reduce fuel imports, lowering the overall cost of power.

Right now, the cost of the Phase IV projects is not known, but "that is what the procurement will show us," Horecky said Thursday.

Once the procurement is done, GPA will come back to the PUC with cost estimates and for additional approval.

There are some infrastructure estimates out of GPA's updated Integrated Resource Plan, which presents a total of about $232 million in projects.

"But that cost did not include power plants. So, we'll find out after the bids what those costs will be," Horecky said.

There are some obstacles for the procurement, however, one being land to build the facilities.

"The proponents will either have to buy land or lease land, ... and also there's the issue about integration studies," the ALJ added.

The studies will say what steps will have to be taken to integrate the renewable projects with the power grid, which will be at the bidder's costs and will have to be taken into account, Horecky said.
The Left hungers for racismof the approved sortbut it is hard to find. Trevor Noah, the host of the Daily Show, went looking for racism in the ascension of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Noah purported to see a backlash against Sunak, for which there is zero evidence. To be fair, though, when has a total lack of evidence ever stopped a liberal comedianisnt the Daily Show supposed to be comedy?or newsman?

Noahs racism-hunting safari did not go over well in Great Britain. The London Times reports:

Rishi Sunak has insisted Britain is not a racist country after a US talk show host claimed there had been a backlash over the countrys first prime minister of colour. Trevor Noah, 38, who presents The Daily Show, caused anger after a segment from the programme was uploaded to Twitter titled Unpacking the Backlash to Rishi Sunak. In the two-minute 52 second clip, viewed more than one million times, Noah insisted there were people saying that Indians are going to take over Great Britain in response to Sunak becoming PM.

Has anyone said any such thing? No.

[H]is comments were questioned by Britons including the former health secretary Sajid Javid, while Sir Trevor Phillips, ex-head of the Commission for Racial Equality, called them completely wrong.

That is putting it politely.

Phillips said: This is basically smugness on steroids. Hes making his audience feel comfortable and superior about a country they know absolutely nothing about. This is an audience that likes to think that it  and only it  understands racism and that it is an enlightened elite that can look down on everybody else. Thats who he is playing to.

Smugness on steroids describes American liberalism very well. And ignorance of other countries is more or less universal on the American Left.

Noah claimed that there was a racist backlash against Sunak. But there wasnt:

He said: Watching the story of Rishi Sunak becoming Englands first prime minister of colour, of Indian descent, of all these things and then seeing the backlash is one of the more telling things about how people view the role that they or their people have played in history. And what I mean by that is this, you hear a lot of the people saying: Oh, theyre taking over, now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain and whats next?

A lot of people? Name one.

Noah failed to mention any examples of a race backlash in Britain, instead namechecking the right-wing Fox News host Tucker Carlson. He said: You see people like Tucker Carlson all the time saying You know what theyre trying to do? They wont stop until black people and women are in positions of power  so what?

Of course, Carlson never said any such thing. How pathetic are American liberals like Trevor Noah? The Brits piled on:

Javid, who was Sunaks predecessor as chancellor of the exchequer, said Noah was simply wrong. He tweeted: 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.

Completely detached from reality describes our liberals well.

The prime ministers spokesman said Sunak doesnt believe Britain is a racist country. Social media users also questioned Noahs comments with some accusing him of projecting American views of race onto Britain. Tom Holland, the historian and author, wrote: As ever, the inability of American liberals to understand the world beyond the US in anything but American terms is a thing of wonder.

I think these Brits have an outdated concept of American race relationsI am talking about normal Americans, not liberalsbut that is another story. For now, lets just note the absurdity of the Daily Show going prospecting for racism in, of all places, the fact that the son of Indian immigrants is now the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The Washington Free Beacon has compiled volume 17 of its Joe Bidens Senior Moment of the Week series. Moment has silently morphed into moments as we achieve exit velocity. Andrew Stiles writes in the story accompanying the video:

Watch me, President Joe Biden told MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart this week during one of the most awkward interviews in the history of American politics.

So we did. It was similar to watching John Fetterman, the stroke victim and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, bumble his way through a debate after his campaign allies in the media insisted he was fine.

Am I dont have the same pace? the president asked Capehart during a discussion about his fitness for office. Everything physically about me is still functioning well, so you know, and mentally too. The evidence suggests otherwise.
El presidente @PedroCastilloTe anuncio hoy, durante encuentro con la poblacion, dirigentes, organizaciones sociales y sociedad civil de Yanahuara, en Pasco; que revisara los contratos de los ministerios con el sector privado a fin de poner un plazo para que culminen las obras. pic.twitter.com/ZzTZJBU0KS
Wearing a scarf around her head and resting her cheek on a bible, Mercy Egbe, 35, was in a ward at the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation Centre, Abuja, Nigerias capital city, waiting for the return of her daughter from the surgical theatre.

The mother of four had travelled from Ore, Ondo State, a day before to get a surgical procedure for her three years old Sharon.

Sharon was born with a cleft lip, a condition resulting in a split in the upper lip that extends to the nose. It is one of the most common birth defects globally.

Ms Egbe told PREMIUM TIMES how she had hoped for a miracle for the past three years of her daughters life.

Her father was the first to notice the opening on her lips a few hours after she was born, she said, recalling the struggle of having a child with a cleft lip.

Ms Egbe said in less than three days after Sharons birth, words had travelled around their community that she had a child with a cut lip.

This made the family deny Sharon the usual naming ceremony given seven days after birth.

From that moment on, we faced different forms of stigma from families, friends and members of the community. Many times, I hid her from people, Ms Egbe said as she cuddled little Sharon who had just been taken out of the theatre.

The fear of exposing Sharon to any form of stigmatisation also informed Ms Egbes decision to keep her away from school until she clocked three.

A birth defect

Cleft lip and cleft palate are facial and oral malformations that occur very early in pregnancy while the baby is developing inside the mother.

This occurs when there is not enough tissue in the mouth or lip area, and the tissue available does not join together properly, a consultant maxillofacial surgeon, Seidu Bello, told PREMIUM TIMES immediately after Sharons surgery.

Mr Bello said although there are no established causes, scientists believe clefts are due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

He said some studies also suggested that poor nutrition, infections, consumption of tobacco, alcohol and certain medicines during pregnancy may be responsible.

A woman already pregnant for five months can detect if she will deliver a baby with cleft or not with the help of ultrasound, he said.

Although there are varying opinions on the actual incidence of clefts, most experts agree that in part, it depends on ethnicity.

According to Smile Train, the worlds largest cleft charity organisation, one in 700 children is born with cleft globally.

In Africa, at least 32,000 children are born with cleft annually, with about 20 per cent (6,186) in Nigeria.

Children born with clefts find it difficult to breastfeed and also have difficulties swallowing, resulting in malnourishment.

They are also known to have severe speech impairments which makes them subject to stigmatisation within their families and communities, a situation that forces them to isolate themselves from others.

You will barely see Sharon relating with other children, Mrs Egbe said. She prefers to stay alone and when people are around, she covers her mouth with her hands.

Fortunately, this birth defect can be corrected surgically. Cleft treatment is designed to restore a normal look as well as improve affected functions such as a babys ability to suckle as well as the ability to speak properly later in life.

However, if the cleft is not repaired in childhood, such a person will develop speech problems, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Adegbayi Adekunle, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Adekunle said problems in ones ability to speak result in other issues in terms of psychosocial development, communication and the way such a person is perceived in society.

He said it is best to present the child for a surgical procedure in the first year of life.

Sadly, many children with cleft lips or palates are unable to get the help they need, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria.

Lack of income to cover surgery costs, misconceptions, stigma and discrimination associated with cleft patients, and low awareness level are some barriers preventing such children from undergoing the surgical operation they need.

Poverty, Misconceptions

The surgeon, Mr Bello, said there are lots of misconceptions around cleft cases that have prevented people from accessing treatment.

He said children from three months old are eligible to undergo surgical treatment but some parents hide their kids for longer years due to fear of stigmatisation.

I once performed cleft surgery on a 70 years old man. That is to tell you people stay too long before seeking treatment, he said.

The surgeons claim is supported by some mothers who narrated their struggles from having a child with a cleft.

Ms Egbe said she had made several attempts to access treatment but the high cost discouraged her.

She said her lack of money was the major reason for preventing her daughter from undergoing the required operation at an earlier age.

At a time, we took her to the health facility but the money they requested was too much for her father to pay so we decided to wait for a miracle, she said.

Meanwhile, luck shone on Sharon a few days after her parents decided to enrol her in a nearby school.

A journalist like you, saw Sharons lips and told us we can access a free surgical operation in Abuja and that was how we got here today, Ms Egbe said.

The free surgical operation which Sharon benefited from was sponsored by Smile Train.

Like Sharon, 10 years old Roselyn is also a beneficiary of the surgical intervention.

Roselyns mother, Mary Shehu, a trader residing in Mararaba in Nasarawa State, recalled an incident during her daughters birth.

She said when the traditional birth attendant handed her Roselyn for the first time, at about 8 a.m. on 28 May 2012, she instantly noticed an opening on the newborns lip.

The discovery, she added, coincided with an unusual attitude from the TBA.

She recalled the TBA and her neighbour explaining their superstitious beliefs about the evil she must have done to cause her babys condition.

I cried so much because it is something I never expected to happen to me. I didnt know anything about what this meant, she said.

Ms Shehus pain of having a child born with a cleft lip worsened when her mother-in-law began shouting and hurling curses at her for giving birth to a child with deformity.

No child has been born with any of such diseases in our family line, this is all your fault, Ms Shehu quoted her mother-in-law as saying when she narrated her story to PREMIUM TIMES.

From that moment, she said, she began to be ashamed of herself and her baby. She would always cover the childs face whenever someone visited their home.

When I need to go out, I leave Roselyn at home to avoid unnecessary stares from passersby, she said.

Ms Shehu said she never knew about the treatment options available for cleft. I didnt know it was treatable, I just accepted it as my fate, she said.

All of these happened in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital where Ms Shehus family resided before their eventual relocation to Mararaba, a move she attributed to too many misconceptions about her childs condition.

Following her relocation, she was advised by a friend to take Roselyn to the hospital for a reconstruction surgical operation, a decision she said changed her daughters life.

Stigmatisation

Like Ms Egbe, Karen Joseph, a civil servant whose son had a cleft palate, said she concealed the identity of her baby since birth due to fear of stigmatisation.

Ms Joseph said she failed to carry out the usual naming ceremony after seven days of birth to prevent people from noticing the abnormality with her child.

She said few persons who visited her home after the babys arrival questioned her involvement in the childs health status.

Are you sure nobody has this in your family? I think there is something you are not telling us, she quoted some relatives as saying.

These judgemental reactions from close relations heightened her decision to hide her child to protect him from bullying and stigmatisation.

I presented my son for a surgical procedure when he was seven months old, I am grateful to God for his healing, she said.

Relief

Before the arrival of Smile Train in Nigeria, many people were living with untreated clefts due to the cost of surgery, while others were unaware that it is a treatable condition.

Victoria Awazie, the Senior Programme Manager West Africa for Smile Train, said about 33,000 cleft patients have been treated in Nigeria since 2007.

Ms Awazie said the organisation has a presence in over 90 countries around the world with 43 in the African region. The organisation partners with hospitals in different states and countries to offer free treatment for both adults and children born with cleft lip and palate.

In Nigeria, we have 44 health facilities that partner with Smile Train. Some of them are the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, National Hospital, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, she said.

She said the organisation also offers comprehensive care to patients which includes free nutrition treatment, free surgery, free speech therapy and free oral health care, amongst others.

We also offer physio-socio support to patients and caregivers who most times have suffered stigmatisation from family and the society, she said.

Low awareness

Ms Awazie said the awareness level of cleft generally is poor, especially in rural communities. She said the situation is worse in the northern part of Nigeria where most cases of cleft are recorded.

She said the majority of persons are unaware cleft is a treatable deformity.

She explained that some mothers of cleft patients have been thrown out of their matrimonial homes due to ignorance. These issues and many others prompted Smile Train to carry out various programmes to create awareness through its partners in different states.

Sometimes, we go to the marketplace, religious centres, and community influencers to enlighten people on cleft and debunk misconceptions about the condition.

We also let them know cleft is a treatable deformity because there are lots of stigmatisation on children born with cleft, she said.

The oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Mr Adekunle, said ignorance on cleft is a big challenge that must be tackled.

From our experience, we have encountered children and adults who do not know that treatment was available for cleft, he said.

He said that is the reason some persons did not access treatment until adulthood.

Missing out

Ms Awazie also said some children miss out on treatment because they were not born in a health facility.

When a child with cleft is born in a proper health facility, the health workers will take necessary action and advise the mother of steps in accessing treatment, she said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Of the 18 candidates contesting to become Nigerias next president, just one is female. But she, along with 13 others, does not have a realistic chance of winning. Most analysts agree that only four candidates  Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)  can win or shape the destination of the presidency in February next year. Despite the clamour for leaders from a new generation, Peter Obi is the youngest of the quartet at 61. They all know each other, and Nigerian politics, well.

Mr Obi was elected governor of Anambra as a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2006 and left the PDP on the eve of the presidential primaries earlier this year to actualise his ambitions. This was a similar path towed by Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was twice elected as governor of Kano as a member of the PDP but left to help form the NNPP as a vehicle to seek the presidency. He also contested in the 2015 primaries that produced incumbent President Buhari as the APC flagbearer. The man he beat into third place, Atiku Abubakar, who is now seeking the presidency for the second consecutive cycle as the PDP presidential nominee, had Mr Obi as his running mate in 2019. His first foray into seeking the presidency in the current democratic dispensation was in 2007 when he ran as the Action Congress nominee, a party largely propped up by Bola Tinubu. The APC nominee himself facilitated the evolution of opposition through the merger of four parties which created the current ruling party.

What are they promising?

Nigeria is currently faced with an environmental crisis, with floods subsuming parts of the country and displacing millions. Coupled with security and economic challenges, the parties have elected flagbearers with government experience. All four frontrunners have served as fixtures in Nigerias Fourth Republic, three as state governors and one as vice president.

One of the most recent platforms for campaigns was an interaction in Kaduna with the Arewa Joint Committee  which includes the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum among its six organisations. In keeping with his reputation for largely eschewing associating himself with the Northern elite, Mr Kwankwaso did not attend. However, the other three candidates were present and set out their agendas.

Atiku focused on security, employment, industry and transport infrastructure. But the PDP nominees response to a question about why the north should trust him was interpreted as being divisive in nature and insulting to the regions endorsing candidates from other parts of the country. His claim that the North does not need a Yoruba or Igbo president, direct jabs at two direct rivals for the presidency, has not helped suggestions that he will pander to the populous North to get elected.

Mr Tinubu also focused on security, power infrastructure projects, improved education, and oil and gas exploration and discussed the need for a diversified economy with planned investments in agriculture and solid minerals in the region. His response to a question on climate change, where he appeared to lay responsibility on the west to provide investment and financial support to enable the countries that are taking the economic hit, despite contributing little to climate change, was a narrative that circulated extensively online.

Before Mr Obi made his address, he was the source of some controversy as the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accused Mr Obi of using security officials to block his movement during the Anambra governorship elections in November 2013. In his remarks, Mr Obi made promises to deal with insecurity, boost the economy, fight corruption and improve agricultural investment in the north. He also mentioned addressing out-of-school children in the region and promised to lead an all-inclusive government and ensure nationwide development.

The evolving dynamics of the campaign season

All four candidates will remain in the spotlight in the run-up to the election. Videos and statements of their public comments are being unearthed to either support or denigrate their campaigns on social media. However, an often-ignored area in the campaign process is that it is in many ways a referendum on the performance of the ruling party. Mr Tinubu will be expected to receive the support of the electorate backing the ruling party, but increasing criticism of the governments performance in economy, security and environmental issues has bolstered the opposition. So too has the governments, now lifted, ban on Twitter and response to the #EndSARS protests, particularly among Nigerias ever-growing youth population. Mr Obi seems set to benefit most from this youth disgruntlement, a probable advantage of fewer years in partisan politics compared to the other three who assumed elected office when democracy returned in 1999, yet his chances of winning are complicated by the lack of a strong national structure.

But what remains to be seen is whether the decision of the electorate is anchored around manifestos and promises or if ethnic and religious considerations continue to take centre stage.

Idayat Hassan is the Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A United States court on Friday sentenced a self-confessed conspirator in the alleged $20 million fraud allegedly organised by Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, to three years probation.

The court also awarded $4,000 as fine against Ebony Mayfiled, who, had in June, pleaded guilty to the charge of signing and submitting fake documents to facilitate the alleged fraud.

The US government accused her of signing and submitting the fabricated documents between 2016 and 2018, to help Mr Onyema, owner of Air Peace, a major Nigerian commercial airline, to move $20 million from Nigeria to the US in an alleged money laundering scheme.

She was charged in 2019, and she initially pleaded not guilty to all eight charges at the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta.

But she changed her plea to plead guilty to one of the charges in June, after entering into a plea agreement that saw the US government drop the seven remaining charges against her.

The law under which she was charged provided for maximum five years jail term for the offence she pleaded guilty to.

Following her guilty plea, her lawyer filed for a variance of sentence on 13 October, begging to be sentenced to a probated sentence or what is called supervised release, instead of imprisonment.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier on Friday that the US government, in its response, agreed to a lower limit of sentence range, which includes house detention for six months.

At the sentencing on Friday, the judge, Eleanor Ross, after discussing the pre-sentence report with lawyers to the parties, and listening to Ms Mayfield briefly, imposed a total of THREE (3) YEARS of probation on her.

The judge also ordered $4,000 fine (the interest is waived); $100 special assessment; and additional requirements.

He also gave her limited appellate rights, and noted that she was ready on bail.

Supervised release

The courts decision is a concession to the defendants request for probated sentence or what her lawyer called conditional release.

The defence lawyer, Manubir Arora, had said imprisonment is not the only form of punishment and stressed that probation alone is a viable alternative form of punishment.

Under the probated sentence, Ms Mayfields lawyers said, her travel would be restricted and her associations would be regulated.

She would also be subject to random searches of her person and premises and subject to other special conditions such as house arrest and intermittent confinement.

A probation officer would also be appointed to monitor her during the three years period.

In Ms Mayfields case, probation serves all the goals of sentencing even though the guidelines may call for imprisonment, her lawyer wrote.

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 also said her participation in the alleged crime brought shame upon her family.

Im innocent  Onyema

Again, Mr Onyema, denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations on Friday.

Mr Onyema and another official of Air Peace, Ejiroghene Eghagha, maintained their innocence in a press release by their lawyers.

The statement by A.O. Alegeh & Co law firm was silent on the 36 charges of fraud and money laundering still pending against Mr Onyema and his co-defendant at the same court where Ms Mayfield was prosecuted.

But they maintained in their press release that the fact that Ms Mayfield was not given any prison sentence, confinement or home detention by the court confirmed that there was no fraud in the $20 million deal.

This confirms the position of our clients that there was no fraudulent intent in all the Letters of Credit, there was no victim in any way, manner or form.

All the funds involved were legitimate funds belonging to Our Clients. There was no loss of money or any damage whatsoever to any third party, the press statement read.

It added that the US government, which has yet to terminate the pending 36 charges against Mr Onyema and his co-defendant, admitted in court today that no bank suffered any financial loss in this matter.

The statement also denied that Mr Onyema paid Ms Mayfield $20,000 for her roles in the alleged fraud.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Mayfield had claimed she received $20,000 while she participated in the conspiracy between 2016 and 2018.

Denying the claim, Mr Onyemas lawyers said: Our Clients never took loans or credit from any US Bank and Ebony was never paid the sum of $20,000.00 at any time to commit any fraud, as is being peddled by a section of the Nigerian Press. Ebony, like other Springfield Aviation Company Inc. staff was only paid her bi-weekly salary and/or allowances.

These stories are far from the truth and are deliberately being peddled by a section of the Nigerian Press for ulterior motives.

The statement insisted that all steps taken in respect of the Letters of Credit were taken in good faith and with legitimate funds.

All the aircraft involved were brought into Nigeria abd utilised in the operations of Air Peace Limited. There was no victim. There was no loss of funds to any person and there was no criminal intent whatsoever.

The law firm added that various law enforcement agencies in Nigeria had reviewed the case and no evidence of criminality has been established against our Clients.

Mayfields case closed, Mr Onyemas charges remain

Ms Mayfields sentencing on Friday brought her trial to conclusion, the judge said.

But the separate case in which Mr Onyema and an Air Peace official are charged remains.

Mr Onyema and Air Peace Limiteds Head of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, still have 36 charges of fraud and money laundering pending against them since 2019 at the same court.

Prosecutors said Mr Onyema engaged, Ms Mayfield, a 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.

But 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, Ms Mayfield 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.

The fake documents allegedly submitted by the conspirators 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.

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.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigerian Police Public Relation Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Saturday said the news about an imminent terrorist attack is sponsored to create fear.

He asked Nigerians to disregard the news, as it is fake news.

We, therefore, urge residents of the FCT and Nigerians at large to disregard this fake news, which was purportedly sponsored to create fear in our people and heat up the polity, Mr Adejobi said.

He added that it was disheartening to see news making rounds that every area of the FCT had been saturated with bombs.

We still reiterate that the Federal Capital Territory is safe and there is no imminent threat, neither is the FCT being saturated with bombs, as speculated in the news.

even from some individuals who are presumed to be peace ambassadors and patriotic agents of national unity in Nigeria.

Such news, he said, will do Nigeria no good as it will further create panic in citizens and residents of the FCT and Nigeria at large.

Mr Adejobi said the police will continue to adopt all effective operational strategies to decimate the activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the country.

Since the Sunday advisory by the US, many other foreign missions have issued similar advisories, PREMIUM TIMES reported.

The Nigerian government has, however, advised citizens not to panic and said security agencies were working hard to prevent any attack.

The US Department of State, in a further escalation of the threat, approved the departure of its citizens willing to leave Nigeria due to the alert. The US embassy also suspended consular services in Abuja.

Julius Berger on Friday asked its expatriates to avoid public gatherings until Monday, 31 October.

A popular mall, Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, also shut down on Thursday citing security reasons.

READ ALSO:

However, the Nigerian government, through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, condemned the US and UK advisories. The government insisted that Nigeria, including the capital Abuja, is safe. Mr Mohammed said all countries including the US, have their own challenges.

President Muhammadu Buhari has also urged Nigerians to be calm but vigilant.

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari also advised the nations security establishment and entire citizens to continue being vigilant and careful with security, saying it is important to avoid panic.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the search operation at the TradeMoore estate in Lugbe on Monday.

Officials at the estate said two suspected terrorists were arrested during the operation. The chairman of the residents association at the estate said the operation was conducted alongside US Forces.

The State Security Service (SSS) on Friday confirmed that its officials conducted a search operation at an estate in Abuja. It, however, denied that the operation was conducted in partnership with American soldiers.

Nigeria is facing various forms of insecurity including attacks by Boko Haram and its affiliates in the North-east, armed bandits in the North-west and North-central and violent secessionists in the South-east.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Yobe State Chapter said it has boycotted all state government activities due to intimidation and harassment of its members by security operatives.

The chairman and secretary of the chapel Ahmed Abba and Michael Oshomah in a statement on Friday said security men attached to Yobe State Government House are harassing and intimidating its members while on their legitimate engagements.

The statement reads as follows:

The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Yobe State Chapter, at its emergency meeting held on Friday, 28th October 2022 resolved to boycott all the state governments activities due to the following reasons:

1. Intimidation and harassment of its members by security operatives attached to the government house.

2. Lack of formal invitation to government activities. As members of the fourth estate of realm, part of our responsibilities is to inform the public on happenings in the state including the government house.

Regrettably, however, for over one year of the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni, the governors spokesman, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, had never sent formal invitation for coverage of the governors activities to the chapel, contrary to the practice in the past.

This has negatively affected the operations of representatives of national dailies operating in the State.

3. Lack of accessibility to Governor Mai Mala Buni by working journalists in the state.

READ ALSO:

The chapel finds it disturbing, that despite the governors historic reign as APC Extraordinary Caretaker National Chairman, and being a Governor for over 3 years where he had been addressing the press in Abuja and other parts of the country, but never addressed national dailies in his own state to speak on his administrations policies and programmes, which confirms his inaccessibility to resident journalists.

4. The chapel also resolves that its members are to desist from using press releases issued from Yobe State government without prior contact with our members.

The chapel calls on heads of security agencies in the state to sensitise their personnel on media security relation.

The chapel finds it necessary to take this critical decision in other to alert relevant stakeholders and appropriate authorities to take decisive action towards addressing the above issues amicably.

Finally, the working journalists in Yobe state wish to inform the public and the government of Yobe State that our action should not be judged by sentiment, but on the basis of our position as one of the major stakeholders of our democracy.

It is also important to note that the coming election is very critical in our Nations democracy and therefore it is a fatal mistake to refuse to carry resident journalists along.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Paul Pelosi, husband to United States Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was on Friday brutally attacked in his home in California.

He was attacked by a suspect, who the police have identified as David DePape. He assaulted the farmer using a hammer, which they both struggled over, according to reports.

The 42-year-old man (suspect) is facing criminal charges, including attempted homicide.

According to the BBC, a spokesperson for Mrs Pelosi said on Friday afternoon that Mr Pelosi was attacked at home by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker.

He was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, the spokesman continued, adding that his doctors expect a full recovery.

San Francisco Police Chief, William Scott in a news conference on Friday, said officers responded to a call at around 02:27 local time (09:27 GMT) where they found Mr Pelosi and the suspect struggling over a hammer, but it was wrestled from Mr Pelosis control by the suspect, who violently assaulted him with it.

The suspect was then tackled and disarmed by officers. He had attempted to tie up Mr Pelosi until Nancy got home, law enforcement sources told CBS News.

Mr DaPape is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and several other felonies, Mr Scott said.

The motive for the attack was still unclear. However, witnesses noted that he was asking the whereabouts of the speaker when he broke in.

READ ALSO:

Mrs Pelosi is one of the most powerful politicians in the country. She was re-elected to a fourth term as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2021, making her second in line to the presidency after Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Since the January 2022 Capitol Riot, members of Congress have been on high-alert over security threats.

Mrs Pelosis office was ransacked by supporters of former President Donald Trump during the attack.

Last year, her San Francisco home was reportedly vandalised with graffiti saying cancel rent and we want everything. Protesters left the head of a pig on her driveway.

President Joe Biden has since condemned the attack on Mr Pelosi, describing it as despicable.

Enough is enough. Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against the violence in our politics, regardless of what your politics are, Reuters quoted Mr Biden as saying in Philadelphia.

Vice President Kamala Harris in a tweet said, Doug and I are appalled by the attack on Paul Pelosi, Speaker Pelosis husband. The entire Pelosi family is in our hearts and we wish him a speedy recovery.

This is an outrage and our hearts are with the entire Pelosi family. We pray Paul will make a full recovery. There can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families. This man should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, former Vice President Mike Pence wrote in a tweet.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The United Nations on Friday urged member states to develop media and information literacy policies that put facts first.

I call on Member States to develop media and information literacy policies that put science, knowledge and facts first, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres said at the closing of the Global MIL Week held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He invited participants of this years event to join in rebuilding the trust that our societies need, and that our collective future requires.

Mr Guterres noted that trust is the bedrock of every society which connects people to their leaders.

It builds faith in institutions, and brings people together, he said, adding that when trust is chipped away, societies crumble.

Speaking to the harms of false information, Mr Guterres said misinformation at the peak of COVID-19, caused suffering and even death.

This led to launching of the Verified initiative to reach millions worldwide with facts and science about the virus.

READ ALSO:

And its why I have called for a global code of conduct that promotes integrity in public information, and improves media and information literacy. So people can make choices based on fact  not fiction, he said.

The eleventh Global MIL week was held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 24 to 31 October.

Themed Nurturing Trust: A Media and Information Literacy Imperative, the event saw attendance from different parts of the world.

A proud Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the huge success of the 2022 Global MIL Week in Abuja, coupled with the first hand experience of our guests from all over the world, is a clear testimony to the organisational ability and warmth of our people.

He commended the Nigerian security agencies for ensuring the safety of participants as well as residents of the capital territory despite security alerts issued by foreign missions in Nigeria.

Mr Mohammed added that Nigeria is committed to pursuing, supporting and promoting the right MIL policies and programmes that will enhance the development of the capacities of our citizens, particularly the youth, in the effective use of Media and Information

Literacy.

We also commit to working with UNESCO to establish a UNESCO International MIL institute in Nigeria and look forward to receiving the necessary assistance in this regard.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


China's postal industry registers growth in first 9 months

Xinhua) 15:09, October 29, 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's postal industry reported stable growth in business revenue in the first nine months of this year, data from the State Post Bureau showed.

During the period, the revenue of the postal sector totaled 995.1 billion yuan (about 139.2 billion U.S. dollars), up 7.2 percent, year on year.

In September alone, the sector raked in 115.92 billion yuan in business revenue, marking a year-on-year growth of 4.1 percent.

China's express delivery service companies handled 80.01 billion parcels in the first nine months, surging 4.2 percent from a year earlier. Their business revenue amounted to 768.89 billion yuan during the period, up 3.5 percent year on year.

In September, the business revenue of the express service industry increased 0.3 percent from a year ago to stand at 92.46 billion yuan.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
El Departamento de Justicia/FBI de la Embajada desarrollo el Programa Ejecutivo Internacional, un esfuerzo regional continuo de los Estados Unidos con socios estrategicos de aplicacion de la ley para combatir el terrorismo y las amenazas del crimen organizado transnacional pic.twitter.com/9UHyFcecls
FARO, Portugal, Oct. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metaverse - As part of its efforts to shed light on afro heritage through NFTs, Emsany announced the launch of its Dahomey Initiative. It consists of an art contest, a metaverse exhibition, and a series of talks around The Warriors of Dahomey, the emblematic ladies who conquered the territory where Benin is.

Since the inception of its NFT Marketplace , the first of its kind that addresses the needs of afro creators, Emsany has identified the need to leverage the use of NFTs to commemorate the African heritage.

Emsany's Dahomey Initiative began with the organization of an NFT Art Contest, which encourages the community of African artists to create authentic artwork inspired by the legendary tales of Dahomey Warriors so that everyone continues remembering them as a symbol of femininity and bravery.

The contest is open to the public and aims to explore the artists' creativity in conjunction with the proposed theme. A jury of art connoisseurs from diverse art fields, including crypto-art and fine arts experts, will evaluate the entries that are part of Emsany's Dahomey NFT Art Contest.

Right after the contest, Emsany's Dahomey Metaverse Gallery will showcase the top fifty NFTs minted during the art competition and will highlight how the Metaverse allows organizing art galleries in a unique setup and with a myriad of possibilities. This event will occur in December exclusively on the Metaverse.

In parallel to the contest, Emsany will be holding a series of talks about the impact of female warriors on the development and empowerment of African women, featuring notable guests who will share their success stories with the community.

"With this initiative, Emsany strives to increase recognition of African culture and history and the role of women in shaping the past, the present, and the future of African societies.", said Anas El Arras, Founder, and CEO of Emsany.

Mikael Naciri, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of Emsany added: "We are delighted to announce that we will dedicate a percentage of proceeds from sales of any Emsany's Dahomey Initiative-related artwork and NFTs to social initiatives promoting women's inclusion in Benin, the land that, once upon a time, The Warriors of Dahomey conquered."

About Emsany

Emsany is the pioneering cross-chain NFT Marketplace that bridges the gap between opportunities in Web3, Blockchain, NFTs, and the Metaverse & Afro Art, Artists, Museums, Galleries, and Creators.

Media Inquiries: Jean Fernandes, +351289170481, jean@emsany.io, contact@emsany.io

SOURCE Cision Portugal SA
NCL Awards 100 Educators Across the U.S. and Canada with a Free Cruise Aboard Norwegian Prima and Donates Nearly $170,000 to Schools and Teachers Around the Country

GRAMMY Award-Winning Artist Kelly Clarkson Performs Onboard as Part of Norwegian's Giving Joy Award Ceremony

GALVESTON, Texas, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, commemorated the debut of its all-new Norwegian Prima, and the brand's first-ever voyage from Galveston, Texas, with an exclusive concert by GRAMMY Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson.

The ship also served as the special venue for this year's Norwegian's Giving Joy awards ceremony, during which the Cruise Line and Clarkson recognized 100 teachers with a free cruise, and nearly $170,000 for the top three Grand Prize winners and their schools.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and GRAMMY Award-winning artist and godmother of Norwegian Encore, Kelly Clarkson, hosted an exclusive concert on board Norwegian Prima to celebrate the ships debut in Texas, and to honor the 100 winners of Norwegians Giving Joy campaign which recognizes teachers for the meaningful work they do every day. Kelly Clarkson with Top Three Grand Prize Norwegian's Giving Joy winners and Christine Da Silva Norwegian Prima makes her inaugural debut in Galveston, Texas. Norwegians Giving Joy top three grand prize winners embrace after learning they have each won nearly $40,000 donated by NCL partners.

Norwegian's Giving Joy program recognizes deserving educators for their unwavering commitment to bringing joy to the classroom. To celebrate these incredible individuals, and their often-times undervalued profession, as well as to kick-off Norwegian Prima's first voyage from Texas, Norwegian Cruise Line hosted a showstopping award celebration. Special guests included NCL President and CEO Harry Sommer; Norwegian Bliss Godfather Elvis Duran, American radio personality and host of "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show;" and superstar and godmother to Norwegian Encore, Kelly Clarkson, who delivered a stellar performance of her chart-topping hits including "Miss Independent," "Stronger," and "Since You've Been Gone."

"It was such an honor to celebrate the 100 deserving winners of Norwegian's Giving Joy program at Norwegian Prima's inaugural sailing, which embarked from my home state of Texas!" said Clarkson. "Teachers are our true everyday unsung heroes, and they play an integral role in our society, not only shaping the future of their students, but the future of their communities as well. I couldn't miss the opportunity to participate in this program and give a special performance before they set sail on the trip of a lifetime!"

To conclude the Norwegian's Giving Joy Award Ceremony, Sommer, unveiled the top three Grand Prize winners who received the most votes, awarding them with donations for their schools.

The Grand Prize winners are:

Patricia Hosmer from Bayonne High School in Bayonne, N.J. ($25,000)

from Bayonne High School in Theresa Schrager from Falcon Cove Middle School, Fla. ($15,000)

from Falcon Cove Middle School, Fla. Anthony Stirpe from New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, N.Y. ($10,000)

In addition to the expected donations to their schools, each of the Grand Prize winners received a big surprise  nearly $40,000 each in prize money thanks to Norwegian Cruise Line partners, who were moved by the ethos of Norwegian's Giving Joy annual teacher recognition program and inspired to participate. To see the complete list of participating sponsors, click here.

"Norwegian Prima's debut in Galveston was extra special," said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. "We really did it bigand what better place to do it big than in Texas. We introduced our new, magnificent ship to a market new to NCL, we welcomed 100 unbelievably deserving teachers to experience her, awarded the Grand Prize winners with nearly $40,000 in surprise prize money in addition to a donation for their school  and we put on an unforgettable celebration with two of our NCL godparents, Elvis Duran and Kelly Clarkson."

The annual program is designed to highlight the connection between travel and education and to recognize teachers for their unwavering dedication to inspiring students every day. To date the program has awarded 230 teachers across the U.S. and Canada with free cruises and donated over $350,000 to schools and educators since 2019. To learn more about this year's 100 winners and their heart-warming stories, and to support those in your communities, click here.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line
Major Price Models in the Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement Market

The report discusses in detail each pricing model and the pros and cons attached to every pricing model prevalent in the market. Also, the report provides insights with respect to the category supply chain and the margins of various suppliers within the supply chain.

The most widely adopted pricing models in the Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement Market

Contract-based pricing model



Cost-plus pricing model



Volume-based pricing model

Learn about various other pricing models: Request for a sample report

Spend Growth and Demand by Region

The Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement market will register an incremental spend of about USD 4.07 Billion during the forecast period. However, 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. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions.

To get a detailed analysis of the regional factors driving the Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement Report:

https://www.spendedge.com/sample-report/off-road-vehicles-procurement-report

Subscribe to our "Free Limited Period Starter Procurement Plan" to get the following:

View 6 full reports

View 800+ report samples

Pre-order upcoming reports

Dedicated account manager

Subscribe Now!

Most Adopted Procurement Strategies by Buyers Across the Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement Market

The report provides a detailed 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. Adoption of these procurement strategies will enable the buyers to reduce category TCO and achieve cost savings while sourcing for thermal equipment requirements.

To get the exact information on various procurement strategies:

Get the FREE Sample Report Now!

This Off-Road Vehicles Sourcing and Procurement Market report answers help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers, for instance:

Am I engaging with the right suppliers?

Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers?

Which supplier selection criteria are relevant?

What are the workplace computing devices category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx?

Our Top Selling Procurement Reports:

Deep Sea Freight - Forecast and Analysis: The asset recovery services will grow at a CAGR of 2.55% during 2022-2026. A.P. Moller - Maersk AS, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Yang Ming Marine Transport. are among the prominent suppliers in the deep sea freight market. Click here to download the free sample of this report.



Road Freight Transportation Services Sourcing and Procurement Report: Off-Road Vehicles Procurement Market, prices will increase by 3%-6% during the forecast period and suppliers will have moderate bargaining power in this market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.



Fleet Management Services: Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report offers key advisory and intelligence to help buyers identify and shortlist the most suitable suppliers for their fleet management services requirements. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.

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
NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) between November 4, 2021 and April 4, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 12, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Block securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Block class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9176 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 12, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Block lacked adequate protocols restricting access to customer sensitive information; (2) as a result, a former employee was able to download certain reports of Block's subsidiary, Cash App Investing, containing full customer names and brokerage account numbers, as well as brokerage portfolio value, brokerage portfolio holdings and/or stock trading activity; (3) as a result, Block was reasonably likely to suffer significant damage, including reputational harm; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendant's positive statements about Block's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Block class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=9176 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
United States Special Forces Disabled Officer with PTSD Sentenced to 60 Months (Five Years) in Prison Despite Being Free for Two Years and Assisting Others

TACOMA, Wash., Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Puget Law Group Partner, Jared Ausserer, announced the firm would be appealing the three guilty verdicts (of seven changers) in the State of Washington v. Army Special Forces Officer (SPO) Colonel Owen Ray. Colonel Ray is a decorated veteran Army Special Forces officer with 25 years of service including serving as the Military Aide for President Barack Obama.

Puget Law Group

"We thank the jury and the Court for their hard work, attention, and for the multiple not-guilty verdicts for Colonel Owen Ray. However, Colonel Ray does not agree with the guilty verdicts and will be appealing all convictions," stated Ausserer. "It was clear, based on our discussion with the jury afterwards, there was a misunderstanding and misapplication of the law. That, along with several issues, will be challenged on appeal."

Colonel Ray was charged with kidnapping in the first degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, three counts of harassment, and reckless endangerment. The Court dismissed a count of assault in the second-degree mid-trial, the jury found Colonel Ray not guilty of kidnapping and two counts of harassment. The jury found Colonel Ray guilty of one count of assault in the second degree, one count of harassment, and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from the late evening of December 26, 2020, when Colonel Ray suffered an emotional and mental breakdown from the cumulative impacts of untreated mental and physical health issues, operational and career stress across eight deployments, high-pressure jobs, and severe relationship distress resulted in a state of complete mental exhaustion.

Intent on self-harm-suicide, Colonel Ray had a handgun when his wife called 911. He holstered his weapon and proceeded upstairs. Triggered by the overwhelming police response that surrounded his house, Colonel Ray kicked in a door at which time the door allegedly hit his wife  the only physical injury stemming from the event. The event led to a standoff with local police but ended peaceably. Despite the absence of loss of life, Colonel Ray was sentenced to 60 months (five years) behind bars today.

The US Army evaluated all aspects of the incident and concluded that there would be no charges against Colonel Ray and he was honorably discharged. Colonel Ray was found to be 100% permanently disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the severity of his service-connected health conditions, including chronic and severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), depression, While on bail for 20 months Colonel Ray diligently addressed his cumulative cost of decades of war. He has completed inpatient treatment programs comprehensive inpatient and outpatient treatment to address health challenges.

While Colonel Ray is heartbroken by his uncharacteristic behavior and acknowledges responsibility for the actions, video and 911 transcript evidence, proved his intent was solely to harm himself and no one other than himself.

"There are no words that adequately explain how sorry I am for any fear that my children and wife felt the evening I decided to end my life. I deeply regret any unintended physical harm that my wife encountered due to me kicking the door. I never meant to hurt anyone other than myself," Colonel Ray stated. "For the last two years I have worked, in complete compliance with the court and legal system, and sought medical treatment to heal mentally and physically. I have faith that the night I decided to live verses ending my life will lead to restoration and hope  not just for myself but for my family and others."

Colonel Ray has been advocating for mental health reform in the Armed Forces, including recognizing the issues surrounding our soldiers and the pressures this country places on them. Prior to his sentencing he was speaking and writing on mental health awareness and support. Part of Colonel Ray's healing journey has been to help others by launching the Restore and Repurpose website www.owenray.com.

SOURCE Jared Ausserer, Puget Law Group
MADRID, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Forum "20 years of FIL: Democracy and Liberty", the president of Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo, Dionisio Gutierrez, talked about the scourge of corruption in Latin America with Sergio Moro, the judge who uncovered "Operation Lava Jato", considered one of the biggest political scandals in the history of Latin America. Moro also served as Minister of Justice and is now an elected Senator in Brazil.

Dionisio Gutierrez interviews brazilian judge Sergio Moro Tweet this Dionisio Gutierrez Sergio Moro Razon de estado Dionisio Gutierrez Sergio Moro Razon de Estado

Gutierrez referred to the social consequences of corruption, the impact it has on democracy and how this causes the advance of authoritarian populism: "Throughout the history of mankind, one of the phenomena that has most destroyed illusions, hopes, nations and democracies is corruption. This vice causes nations to live in conflict, poverty, underdevelopment. Corruption is the poison of democracy, a virus that is all too common, especially in the political class of Latin America".

On this point, Moro pointed out: "When corruption spreads, a complex system of corruption is built, which is what was identified in Operation Lava Jato. This ends up undermining citizens' trust in democracies and favoring the emergence of populist and authoritarian regimes. The right medicine is to strengthen the Rule of Law".

Gutierrez added that: "Corruption starts in the political parties because many people come to them looking for power to steal; and they don't care that corruption discredits politics, destroys the institutions of democracy and disappoints voters. For this reason, if Latin America wants to return to the path of development and prosperity, it needs to rescue the values of liberal democracy, the division of powers and the rule of law".

Gutierrez concluded by praising Moro's trajectory: "Senator, you understood something that very few in Latin America understand, which is the importance of the rule of law, respect for the law, and that impunity should not be the practice that causes so much frustration and disenchantment with democracy".

Dionisio Gutierrez is an entrepreneur, activist and communicator with a PhD in Sociology and Political Science. He is president of the Latin American think-tank Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo and host of the weekly television program Razon de Estado, which is broadcast in several countries in the region.

SOURCE Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan welcomed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans statement that Armenia has agreed to work around Russias proposals on establishing relations with Azerbaijan.

Harutyunyan issued a statement, saying:

In recent days, the attention of all Armenians, without exaggeration, is riveted on the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. A number of power centres submitted proposals to the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the key issues regarding the settlement.

The proposed principles and approaches, in case of their acceptance and realisation, will have a crucial importance for both the Republic of Artsakh and its people, and for Armenia and other countries of the region.

Thats why we have no right to make mistakes as any of them may become fatal. We are confident that those proposals and principles that deny the right of people of Artsakh to self-determination, deprive of the prospects of fair settlement of the conflict and bring into a question the existence of Artsakh should be rejected once and forever. This stems not only from the interests of the Republic of Artsakh, but also from those of the entire Armenian people, as the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh together form a single homeland and inseparable set of values and interests.

We welcome the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia stating that Armenia agreed to work towards the establishment of interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in early September of the current year, based on the principles and parameters presented by Russia, and is ready to reaffirm this at the high-level meeting to be held in Sochi on October 31.

Of course, as a result of the negotiation process, we would like to achieve a fair and final settlement of the Karabakh conflict and international recognition of the independent status of the Republic of Artsakh. However, taking into account the existing challenges and limited possibilities, in our opinion, the Russian proposals mostly meet the minimum standards that allow to ensure the security of Artsakh and do not throw into question its future.

We voice hope that as a result of the tripartite summit to be held on October 31, it will be possible to ensure the elements related to the fate of Artsakh. First of all, we are talking about the [indefinite] extension of the mission of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Artsakh. Their presence in Artsakh is of vital importance, because since November 2020, Russian peacekeepers bear the main responsibility for the security of the Republic of Artsakh and its people. The second key parameter is the maintenance of at least the current status of Artsakh.

The statement of the President of the Russian Federation during the meeting of the "Valdai" International Club inspires certain hopes that these goals are completely achievable.

We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic and, first of all, the inalienable right of the Artsakh people to self-determination will be fully protected during the upcoming negotiations. International recognition of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and the results of the realization of that right has no alternative.

We are confident that with joint efforts we will succeed in preventing the legitimization of the consequences of the illegal use of force by Azerbaijan and its allies against the Republic of Artsakh, thus ensuring conditions for a safe and prosperous future of our homeland and people.
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Family-friendly Halloween fun October 31 at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. All are welcome.

The Church of Scientology is pulling out all the stops for the annual Halloween extravaganza this Monday.

The Church of Scientology of Los Angeles is the place to be for a safe and memorable Halloween celebration. Tweet this Family-friendly Halloween party at the Church of Scientology in East Hollywood with 100,000 pieces of candy at 20 trick-or-treat stations, photo booths and Halloween games galore.

The entire family is invited to the East Hollywood Halloween Spooktacular from 4-9 p.m. at 4810 Sunset Blvd.

Expect plenty of free "treats" and activities, including more than 100,000 pieces of candy at 20 different trick-or-treat stations all up and down L. Ron Hubbard Way. There will be pumpkin carving, Halloween photo booths and Halloween games galore.

It's the place to be for a totally safe and memorable Halloween celebration for the entire family.

"I think that it's awesome that the Church of Scientology put this together," said a Batman look-alike at the drive-through treat station at the Church last year in a video on the new interactive section on the Scientology website , also available on the Scientology channel on YouTube . "It's a community thing. We need more of this kind of thing, especially with the pandemic that just passed, it's nice to have people get together."

Come in costume and bring home memorable pictures of the kids with their favorite Halloween characters.

Join the fun at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles for a Spook-tacular Halloween celebration.

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is designed to provide ideal facilities for Scientologists on their ascent to higher states of spiritual freedom and to serve as a home for the entire communitya meeting ground of cooperative effort to uplift people of all denominations. The Church was dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in 2010 .

The Church of Scientology Los Angeles is featured in an episode of Inside Scientology on the Scientology Network, available on DIRECTV channel 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, through mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

For more information, visit the website of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles or the new interactive timeline at Scientology.org/our-help-is-yours/ .

SOURCE Church of Scientology International
NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 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 AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (AGFS), relating to its proposed acquisition by Paine Schwartz Partners. Under the terms of the agreement, AGFS shareholders are expected to receive $3.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/agrofresh-solutions-inc. 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 AGFS 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
SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a world-leading vaping brand, will launch its latest products, the XROS 3 and XROS 3 Mini, on 28th October on its official website, which is predicted to be sold in early December. The Company recently showcased the new model at the two-day Vapexpo in Paris.

The XROS series has built up a worldwide following as one of the most reliable and powerful vape products available on the market. The Company has sold in excess of 40 million units since launching the series in 2020. The XROS has also picked up multiple plaudits for its innovative and trendy design, including a prestigious Red Dot Award in 2022 and multiple Muse Design Awards.

"In keeping with our company spirit of 'Cross the Limit', the XROS series continues to push back the boundaries in terms of what a vaping product can bring to customers," said Thalia Cheng, chief marketing officer of VAPORESSO. "We built the XROS 3 with our customers in mind, allowing them to enjoy our leading vape product performance and an aesthetic that is universally celebrated.

Packed with a 1,000 mAh high-density battery, the XROS 3 provides users with a solid and reliable vaping solution that can be used for 48 hours on a single charge. Type-C charging ensures greater convenience, while the draw activation ensures the product won't malfunction in users' pockets.

The product comes with a sleek rounded design that ensures the mouthpiece fits perfectly between the user's lips, providing an accurate MTL experience. The round-edge bottom of the vape delivers a modern and timeless design. Additionally, the neon indicator to show how much battery power is left combines aesthetics with function to provide users with comfort and practicality.

The XROS 3 also features the COREX Heating technology for rapid and even heating, a precise adjustable airflow, and VAPORESSO's SSS technology to prevent leakage. In addition to no leakage, the design means users can top-fill the vape without needing to remove the head, allowing them to easily switch between Tight MTL to Restricted DTL pods.

About VAPORESSO

VAPORESSO was created in 2015 and is dedicated to establishing a smoke-free world while raising the quality of life for its users. Based on its continuous innovation, strict quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO creates products that can fit all levels and styles of vapers.

[email protected]

SOURCE VAPORESSO
Dar Es Salaam, Oct 29 : Tanzanian Health authorities have said the government has set aside 8 billion Tanzanian shillings (about $3.4 million) for training 139 medical specialists.

Ummy Mwalimu, the Health Minister, on Friday said the training of the medical specialists under the government scholarships was aimed at filling the shortage of the highly required medical personnel.

"The 139 medical personnel that will benefit from the scholarships is the brainchild of President Samia Suluhu Hassan," Mwalimu told a news conference in the capital Dodoma.

She added that 136 of the selected 139 medical specialists will be trained abroad and three will be trained within the east African nation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Upon completion of their studies the medical specialists will be assigned to work in public hospitals for three consecutive years, said the Minister.

She added that the medical specialists have been selected from the country's leading medical facilities.
Washington, Oct 29 : US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband was "violently assaulted" by an individual who broke into his home in San Francisco, California, according to a spokesperson.

The incident took place early Friday morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The assailant is in custody and the motivation for the attack is under investigation," Drew Hammill, an aide to Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement.

The speaker's husband, Paul Pelosi, was taken to the hospital, where the 82-year-old is receiving medical care and is expected to "make a full recovery," Hammill added.

Nancy Pelosi was not in San Francisco when the incident happened.
Beirut, Oct 29 : Lebanese President Michel Aoun and a visiting Cypriot delegation have kicked off the negotiation to demarcate maritime borders, said a statement by Lebanon's Presidency.

"We aim to solve the pending issue of maritime border demarcation with Cyprus after having agreed on our southern maritime borders with Israel," President Aoun said on Friday.

"There is no need for a mediator between Lebanon and Cyprus because we are neighbouring and friendly countries, and this makes our task easy," he added during his meeting with Cypriot Special Envoy Tasos Tzionis.

"Lebanon is a friendly country; we consider ourselves at home during our presence in this country. We've had a friendly and constructive discussion about maritime border demarcation," Tzionis said.

"We are very optimistic that after the technical work today, we will settle all the demarcation issues, which is not a difficult task, and the timing is very appropriate; that's what our two countries need after launching exploration work," the Cypriot envoy said.

Tzionis also assured that "there is no problem between Lebanon and Cyprus that cannot be easily resolved".

Lebanon and Cyprus agreed on a proposed maritime border in 2007, but Lebanon never ratified the agreement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following the meeting with the Cypriot delegation, Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab declared that Lebanon has to reach an agreement with Syria on northern border demarcation to proceed with maritime demarcation with Cyprus as there is a common border point between the three countries.

Earlier this week, Syria postponed a scheduled visit by a Lebanese delegation for talks on maritime borders because of "prior engagements from the Syrian side".
United Nations, Oct 29 : The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for a year, till October 31, 2023.

The extension, authorised by Resolution 2656, is the first substantive renewal of UNSMIL's mandate since September 2021. In the past year or so, the Security Council had to approve five technical rollovers to keep the mandate going as council members struggled to agree on the leadership structure of the mission.

Resolution 2656, unanimously supported by the 15-member council, welcomes the appointment of Abdoulaye Bathily as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, and urges all Libyan parties and key stakeholders to engage constructively and fully with the Special Representative in fulfillment of his mandate, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resolution recognises the desire of the Libyan people for elections and urges the Libyan political institutions and key stakeholders to agree on a roadmap to deliver these elections as soon as possible, aiming at forming a unified Libyan government able to govern across the country and represent the whole people of Libya.

The resolution emphasises that there can be no military solution in Libya, and calls on all parties to refrain from violence or any other actions that could escalate tensions, exacerbate conflicts, and undermine the political process or the October 23, 2020, cease-fire in Libya.

It calls on all parties to implement the cease-fire agreement in full and urges UN member states to respect and support its full implementation, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries from Libya without further delay.
Geneva, Oct 29 : The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order globally surged to 103 million in the first half of 2022, meaning that one in 77 people on Earth is forcibly displaced, the UNHCR said in Geneva.

This is an increase of 13.6 million, or 15 per cent, compared to the end of 2021, more than the entire population of Belgium, Burundi or Cuba, according to the latest report from UNHCR released on Friday.

According to the report, the total number of refugees and people in need of international protection worldwide rose by 24 per cent from 25.7 million at the end of 2021 to 32 million by mid-2022. At the end of June this year, more than half (56 per cent) of all refugees were Syrian, Venezuelan or Ukrainian.

In mid-2022, the report showed, Turkey hosted 3.7 million refugees, the largest refugee population worldwide. Colombia was second with 2.5 million and Germany third with 2.2 million refugees, followed by Pakistan and Uganda (1.5 million each), Xinhua news agency reported.

The UNHCR report also showed that the number of asylum-seekers waiting for a decision had climbed to 4.9 million by mid-2022 from 4.6 million at the end of 2021.

In the first half of this year, more than 9.6 million new displacements due to conflict and violence were reported. The vast majority were in Ukraine, which accounted for 74 per cent of all new internal displacements.

During the same period, significant displacements of people were also reported in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, as well as in Myanmar, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Mozambique and Congo.
Nis : , Oct 29 (IANS) EU pledged to allocate 165 million euros ($165 million) to aid Serbia amid the ongoing energy crisis, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said.

She made the remarks on Friday after she met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at a gas infrastructure construction site near the city of Nis in Serbia.

Vucic and Von der Leyen toured the construction work at the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector, which should be completed by September 2023, the Serbian President's office said in a statement.

THe European Commission President called on Serbia to join the EU's joint procurement of natural gas and highlighted the importance of diversification of gas procurement as well, Xinhua news agency reported.

THe Serbian President hailed that the EU allocated support worth 500 million euros for the Western Balkans, related to investments in electrical transmission interconnection between countries in the region, and the EU co-financed the construction of natural gas pipeline interconnector with Bulgaria. (1 euro = 1 US dollar)
Nicosia, Oct 29 : Hundreds of asylum seekers fled the main reception centre in Cyprus for irregular migrants after a fire broke out there amid clashes, police said.

Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou said a large force of regular and anti-riot police officers was trying to contain the situation on Friday at the overcrowded Pournara reception centre, some 20 km west of the capital Nicosia, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The police force is doing whatever is possible to protect both residents of communities in the region and the migrants themselves," he was quoted as saying by the local media.

Media reports said the reception centre was evacuated after people started to hurl stones at each other and set prefabricated buildings and tents on fire.

The police used teargas to control marauding crowds.

Twenty people were injured, including three security officers.

While three asylum seekers were taken to hospital, about 20 tents were destroyed.

Police said that large groups of asylum seekers fled the centre and were moving towards nearby communities in the area.

The Pournara centre was designed to host up to 1,000 people, but reports said the actual number of people living there is much higher.

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has said that the authorities have been struggling to cope with a large influx of asylum seekers this year.

He said that 17,000 people had arrived through irregular channels in Cyprus up to last week, double the number of arrivals during the same period of 2021.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he is ready to sign a document based on 15 points during the upcoming meeting in Russia, and adopt that document as a basis for signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Speaking about the NK conflict settlement during the Civil Contract Party congress, Pashinyan said: Thereve been attempts lately to create an impression within the Armenian society that there is a Russian proposal which is positive for us, and that there is a Western proposal which is negative for us, and that the Armenian government is rejecting the Russian program and is accepting the Western one. This has absolutely nothing to do with reality.

However, Pashinyan emphasized that indeed there is the Russian and Western perception of a solution to the issue. Armenia has agreed with the Russian perception and reached a principled agreement in January of 2021, and the key provision of these agreements is that Russia is the guarantor of security of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, Pashinyan said.

And we agreed around this scenario and plan. This plan was presented to Armenia in a working regime in August of 2022. Furthermore, the agreement was the following, that it is presented in August and in September the Russian Co-Chair will return to receive our final position. And during the very first meeting in September we gave consent to the implementation of this plan for one simple reason  because that was our agreement back since January of 2021. On Monday, during the upcoming meeting in Sochi I am ready to officially accept, if necessary to sign in the trilateral meeting format a document on reaching agreement based on those 15 points. Meaning, to accept that document as a basis for signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Pashinyan said, adding that hes said this yesterday during the closed meeting of the CSTO leaders at the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pashinyan expressed hope that Russia will support its own proposals. He said that whether this will bring security and peace to NK and Armenia is an important nuance. Yes, it also mentions the Russian peacekeepers. We certainly want the Russian peacekeepers to continue their activities in Nagorno Karabakh. I am officially declaring, I am ready to sign the document in Sochi and accept that the Russian peacekeeping presence in NK gets unconditionally, without any terms extended for ten, fifteen or twenty years. I am proposing the Russian President to make this offer, Pashinyan said.

He said if needed he will submit the proposal, but Russia has to support it. And if Armenia and Russia agree, they will be majority.

Pashinyan also highlighted addressing the activities of the peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh. He said that the events in Parukh are not forgotten. Theres been an agreement on the highest level that this issue must be resolved. Meaning, the Azeri troops must withdraw from the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers. But this promise, commitment hasnt been fulfilled so far. Pashinyan emphasized that there must be an answer whether or not Russia is coherently and strongly defending its proposals.

I am stating that I am ready to sign that paper in Sochi: based on Russias proposals, to sign the paper extending the peacekeepers, Pashinyan said.
Milan, Oct 29 : Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is set to miss out on two months of action having undergone surgery after being stabbed in the back in a shocking attack in Italy.

The Spanish centre-back was one of six victims involved in the attack on Thursday. It has been confirmed that one victim has passed away following the attack, with others airlifted to hospital - including Mari.

The attacker, according to the Italian police, was a 46-year-old man with mental health issues and he was detained after the incident in the supermarket and was put in a psychiatric ward under guard.

It has now been confirmed that Mari will be out of action for at least two months following an operation on Friday. Mari commented on the incident and said he was lucky to be alive after seeing a man die in front of him.

"I was lucky, because I saw a person die in front of me," Mari was quoted as saying by Sky News in the aftermath of the attack.

The on-loan Arsenal defender also took to Twitter and said that he and his family were fine despite the unfortunate incident and thanked everyone for their messages. He also extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the man who lost his life during the attack.

"After the hard moment, we experienced yesterday, both my family and I want to communicate that fortunately we are all fine despite the circumstances, and we want to thank all the messages of support and affection that we are receiving." "In addition, we want to send our condolences and all our strength to the family and friends of the deceased person, and we sincerely wish that all injured people recover as soon as possible," tweeted Mari.

His loan club Monza have now confirmed that the 29-year-old has undergone reconstructive surgery on his back injuries and looks likely to be missing until the new year.

An official statement from the Serie A club read: "The specialists of the General Surgery-Trauma Team of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan carried out this morning the surgery to reconstruct the two injured muscles on Pablo MarA's back.

"The surgery went well and a hospital stay of two or three days is expected. After the resignation, the player will be able to start a rehabilitation process. This type of muscle injury usually requires two months of rest before you can resume physical activities."
San Francisco, Oct 29 : General Motors has temporarily paused paid advertising on Twitter, as the automaker wants to understand the direction the micro-blogging platform will take under Elon Musk.

It's still unclear what percentage of GM's total advertising budget is meant for Twitter.

"We are engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership," the company told TechCrunch.

"As is normal course of business with a significant change in a media platform, we have temporarily paused our paid advertising. Our customer care interactions on Twitter will continue," the company spokesperson said late on Friday.

Ford, GM, Stellantis, Porsche, VW and Volvo, along with new companies like Rivian, have accounts on Twitter.

The decision by General Motors to stay away from paid advertising on Twitter came as Musk tried to quell fears about the future of advertising on the platform via an open letter.

"There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it has been wrong," said the Tesla CEO.

He told advertisers that he wants the platform to be the most respected advertising platform in the world.

In the letter, he said that Twitter cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.

He said that it is essential to show Twitter users advertising that is as relevant as possible to their needs.

"Low relevancy ads are spam, but highly relevant ads are actually content," Musk noted.
Chennai, Oct 29 : The Tamil Nadu government will hold area sabha meetings for the first time on November 1 with state Chief Minister M.K. Stalin participating in the area sabha meet of Tambaram corporation in Ward no 6.

The Chief Minister will interact with people and listen to their grievances, according to local body officials.

The area sabhas will meet once every three months, and according to Urban local body officials, a minimum of 200 people are required to convene an area sabha meeting.

The area sabha and ward committees will be constituted for urban local bodies and the number of participants depends upon the size of the population of each urban local body.

According to the area committee rules, only people belonging to a particular area sabha can participate in the meeting. The meeting would discuss the pending works, works completed, and needs of the people.

The area sabhas are considered as decentralising governance in the best possible manner and is a highly democratic structure.

A senior official of the Urban local body department told IANS, "The area sabhas have been a long-pending demand from the public, and Tamil Nadu government is now fulfilling it. Hope this will help the public to air their grievances and get their issues settled."
Bengaluru, Oct 29 : Controversy over Karnataka CMO's alleged "cash" gifts to journalists on Diwali has dented Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's image, say party insiders.

According to sources, Bommai's close associates allegedly distributed a box containing sweets and Rs 1-2.50 lakh in cash to senior journalists in the state. Following the incident, the social media is abuzz with memes and reactions trolling the chief minister for bribing the mediapersons.

The social media posts have also targeted journalists branding them as "shameless" and asking them to return the cash.

Disappointed over exclusion from it, some of the journalists highlighted the issue, whereas some of the senior journalists returned the gifts.

Two of the editors have also written to Chief Minister Bommai condemning the act. However, the chief minister claimed that he was unaware of the development. He also called up the editors and apologised, the sources said.

Janadhikara Sangharsha Parishat organisation has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against CMO for trying to bribe journalists.

Meanwhile, opposition party Congress has targetted ruling BJP over the issue and demanded a probe into it.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : These days the reach of social media knows no bounds, which makes the 'social media influencers' really powerful when it comes to spreading any message.

People look up to these influencers and at times consider them as role models. But when these influencers are seen spreading a wrong message to the society, they have to be dealt with according to the law.

In the recent past, there have been several instances where children and even youngsters, after watching videos on social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, tried to perform similar stunts and got injured or killed in the process.

While the police have booked several social media influencers for violating the law, more needs to be done.

On September 27, Delhi Police had arrested social media influencer Bobby Kataria after his video of smoking inside an aeroplane in January this year went viral on social media. However, he was released on bail the next day. He later said that the video clip was part of his biopic that he was shooting inside the aeroplane.

Earlier in August this year, a video of Kataria had gone viral, in which he was seen sitting on a chair in the middle of the road and drinking liquor in full public view in Uttarakhand with a song playing in the background.

After the video evoked strong reactions on social media, the Uttarakhand Police booked him under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 336 (act which endangers human life or the personal safety of others), 290 (public nuisance) and 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the IT Act.

However, while the police took suo motu cognisance of the matter and initiated action as per the law in the case of Kataria, there have been several instances wherein youngsters have died while performing stunts with the police terming them as accidental death and initiating proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

In June this year, a 10-year-old boy was suffocated to death with a skipping rope while trying to enact a stunt he had watched in a video.

The incident took place in North-East Delhi's Kartar Nagar area. However, the police termed it as an accidental death, and no case was registered and proceedings were initiated under Section 174 of the CrPC.

In 2017, two teenagers in East Delhi were crushed to death by a speeding train after they got influenced by a video on a social media platform, trying to shoot a stunt in front of an approaching train. The victims -- Shubham Saini and Yash Chindaliya, both aged 15 -- were Class 10 students of a private school in Mayur Vihar.

A senior police officer said that they run campaigns from time to time to create awareness among the youngsters to not perform risky stunts.

"Making videos while performing stunts can cause injury and this is also against the law. When we find such videos circulating on social media, action as per the law is initiated," said the officer.
Understanding what the user or consumer wants, which is helpful in creating content, is the key to understanding the creator economy. But, 'what the user or consumer wants is changing by the minute.

Ever since the pandemic, the inclination towards consuming short-form content increased all around the world, but it took off especially in smaller towns and cities in India. As more and more people from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities came online, they looked for explainer content that could help them provide for themselves and for their families.

At Josh Talks, a vast majority (approximately 80 per cent) of our audience belongs to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, aged between 18 and 34 years. The desire among this audience is not just to consume 'entertaining' content, but also to learn by way of associating themselves to a role model or community and do that by consuming content in their preferred languages.

Releasing new and engaging content in regional languages, that is specifically helpful to non-English speakers, has contributed greatly to our user base.

At Josh Talks, we are adding value to our users' personal and professional lives by curating content that helps them progress in their lives. We recognise that there is a lot of diversity in terms of who watches what type of content.

Audiences are likely to be retained significantly when they are provided content that adds high value in a short span of time. This is why, as a creator or even a platform in the creator ecosystem, it is crucial to research, understand their needs and curate accordingly.

Over the last seven years, we have grown our content platform into 10 regional languages and expanded to include informative categories of Josh Talks Aasha (a women centric channel), Josh Money (providing content on financial literacy to youth from Tier 2 and beyond cities), and Josh Maati (highlighting stories from the grassroots of India).

Additionally, since a large portion of our audience aspires to take the government exams, we launched Josh Talks UPSC and Josh Talks IAS Academy to cater to their needs.

Going forward, we will continue to focus on the needs and aspirations of our audience and curate content accordingly. Since a large part of our audience on the Josh Talks Hindi channel belongs to Bihar, we recently launched Josh Talks Bihar which has witnessed quick growth in a short span of time. We are also going hyper-local to address micro-audiences and are set to launch district-specific channels starting with Josh Talks Darbhanga.

Across all our channels, we have received more than 2 Billion lifetime views. We release an average of 230 videos every month that garner more than 100 Million monthly views. Our online community has grown to 18.1 Million subscribers, majority of whom belong to Tier 2+ cities.

(Dev Chaudhary is Head of Josh Talks, which is available in 10 languages and has 100 million average monthly views across all platforms. The views expressed are personal)
San Francisco, Oct 29 : As Elon Musk fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal in a dramatic style, two men carrying boxes were seen outside the entrance of Twitter's San Francisco headquarters, claiming they have been laid off by Musk. One of them, however, turned out to be a fake employee, at least.

One man "Rahul Ligma" identified himself as a software engineer at Twitter, who later turned out to be someone whose name does not even exist in Twitter's Slack or email system.

There is also no evidence that the employee exists on LinkedIn, reports The Verge.

After seeing these two men with boxes in their hands, several media outlets had earlier reported that laid-off Twitter employees were leaving the Twitter building.

Musk poked fun at media outlets, tweeting: "One of the best trolls ever." Ligma told media persons that it makes him worry about the future of our democracy... the future of celebrity conservatorship".

"Michelle Obama wouldn't have happened if Elon Musk owned Twitter. Obama in 2008 wouldn't have happened without Elon Musk owning Twitter," he was quoted as saying.

"I even own a Tesla, man. I'm a big fan of clean energy, climate change, even free speech," Ligma told media persons.

Musk fired Agrawal, Segal, the company's policy chief Vijaya Gadde; Sean Edgett, Twitter's general counsel; and chief customer officer Sarah Personette.

The executives Musk fired were set to receive handsome payouts.
Chennai, Oct 29 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Tamil Nadu police, and Central intelligence agencies are probing the role of former Kerala state secretary of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), C.A. Rauf, in the recent Coimbatore blast.

Rauf, who was in hiding ever since the PFI was banned in the country, was arrested on Thursday early morning after NIA cordoned off his residence at Pattambi in Kerala.

He is also arraigned in the murder of the RSS leader Sreenivasan at Palakkad. Kerala police have arraigned him in the case as one of the key conspirators in the murder of Sreenivasan who was a former district-level leader of the RSS.

Sources in the intelligence agencies told IANS that Rauf was in hiding in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu ever since the PFI was banned in the country. Jameesha Mubin, who was charred to death in the Coimbatore car blast on October 23, had visited Kerala several times and police are investigating whether he was harboured by the PFI there.

Another accused Firoz Ismail has, according to investigators, admitted to his relationship with Islamic State (IS) and was deported from UAE in 2019 due to this connection. Firoz has also told the investigators that he had been to Kerala several times and met Mohammed Azharuddin, a conspirator in the Sri Lanka Easter bomb attack. Azharuddin is currently jailed in Viyyur Central jail.

Rauf was a key person who had organised the hartal after PFI was banned which led to widespread stoning and physical assault against transport buses and motor vehicles.

The central intelligence agencies are tracing the phone details of Rauf and are conducting investigation into whether he was instrumental in motivating the deceased Jameesha Mubin and his six accomplices who are jailed under UAPA as accused in the car blast case.
Islamabad, Oct 29 : ARY Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Iqbal has called for an independent investigation overseen by the UN Human Rights Office into the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif under mysterious circumstances in Kenya and expressed misgivings about the probe being conducted by the government.

In a statement, Iqbal said he would provide his full cooperation to any such independent investigation that seeks to get to the full truth behind Sharif's killing "with a view to bringing those responsible to justice", The Express Tribune reported.

"It has been stated that I should be included in the investigation into the killing of Arshad. I do not believe in the independence of the investigation being undertaken by the present PML-N government but I will answer any questions put to me," the statement read.

He denied the "wild and baseless" allegations recently levelled against him by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and termed them a continuation of the smear campaign perpetuated against him ever since the PML-N-led government came into power earlier this year.

"Let me say categorically that I had no involvement whatsoever in the gruesome act against my brother," Iqbal asserted and expressed shock that no commission has yet been formed.

"Instead the government has been holding multiple press conferences at which outlandish insinuations have been thrown around implying that I am part of a conspiracy. It is disgusting to try and politicise his death in this way," he added.

"The government has been running a smear campaign against me since coming into power in April 2022, calling me a gold smuggler and arms dealer, among other things. It started with Maryam Nawaz, and the campaign continues under current government ministers. The FBR, FIA, PEMRA and SECP have been weaponised to politically attack me, with numerous FIRs, arrest warrants and a sedition case issued against me." Expressing misgivings about returning home, he said that the unwarranted attacks on him and the persecution of journalists by the PML-N government have left him "fearing for my safety and unable to return to Pakistan for the past six months", The Express Tribune reported.

"No words can express how shocked and heartbroken I am by the brutal killing of my brother Arshad Sharif. Arshad's death is an immense loss to all of Pakistan and to journalism globally. My thoughts are with his family and all those who are mourning him." Iqbal also stated that "we knew that the threats to Arshad's life were legitimate" as he repeatedly appealed in writing to all relevant sectors of government for protection.

However, he regretted that instead of receiving help, the slain journalist was targeted with cases of sedition, multiple FIRs and arrest warrants, which compelled him to make the difficult choice to leave Pakistan.

"As friends and colleagues, we stood by him and his choices, so following standard procedure our offices helped him with his travel plans. Since when is helping a friend a crime?" he asked.

"Since the beginning of my career I have always done my utmost to protect my people, and they can vouch for this. It is not easy to be a journalist in Pakistan. All of us face various threats and it is my job to mitigate them. Over the years, we have lost many colleagues in our country's war against terrorism, and we continue to support their families to this day," he added.
Lahore, Oct 29 : As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) much awaited long march is underway, the government has received a report indicating fears of armed groups participating in the party's rally.

According to sources, reports of most wanted and criminal elements joining the long march have been received, Geo News reported.

Fears of these subversive elements causing trouble and deteriorating the law and order situation have also been reported, as per the sources.

Sources said that these disruptive gangs are being led by PTI leaders Ali Amin Gandapur, Shehryar Afridi, and Qasim Suri.

Earlier as well, during PTI's long marches, armed men and weapons were seized as stated in the report.

As per the source, the Chief Minister's Office in Punjab province is being used to facilitate criminal elements.

Under the patronage of the Punjab government, the report highlighted that it may be difficult to control the law and order situation.

The danger of armed groups arriving in the march from Gujrat, Lahore's suburbs, Attock, Peshawar, Gujar Garhi, Bara, and Badaber exists as the march moves ahead, according to sources.

The report stated that terrorist organisations can also take advantage of the situation under such circumstances, Geo News reported.

It should be noted that the PTI's long march, led by party Chairman Imran Khan, began from Lahore's Liberty Chowk earlier this morning and has started moving toward Islamabad.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Besides the Russian proposals, the proposals developed by Western countries in terms of negotiations with Azerbaijan are not unacceptable for Armenia too, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

I have to say that the proposals developed by Western countries arent unacceptable for us too. One of the options, saying that lets not focus too much on the Karabakh issue now, basically lets consider this state to some extent a status quo, record and solve the issue of the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations  is not unacceptable, it is acceptable. Another approach is, lets go and resolve the NK issue. Now a question could arise, which from these sides considers NK as part of Azerbaijan and which doesnt. Unfortunately, the international community, all countries without exception consider Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and this is seen in all documents, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said the Armenian side is ready for and wants peace. However, the Armenian PM emphasized that peace has never been established in such conflicts without a guarantor of the agreements around peace.

It could be the superpowers. Who is helping us achieve peace and who is guaranteeing the implementation of agreements, the PM said.

Pashinyan said that if in the past the Civil Contract Partys greatest mission was to establish democracy in Armenia, today its biggest mission is to open an era of peaceful development for Armenia.
Lahore, Oct 29 : Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) ChairAman Imran Khan has kicked off his much-awaited 'Haqeeqi Azadi march towards Islamabad with a no-holds-barred speech targeting the countrys premier spy chief and other intelligence officers.

Addressing from atop a container at the starting point of the march, the LibAerty Roundabout, Khan incriminated the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general (DG) for holding a "political presser", and called out two other army officers for playing the role of "Dirty Harry" for picking up and torturing a party senator, Dawn news reported.

Seeking the attention of army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the former Prime Minister said these officers were tarnishing the image of the institution.

On Thursday, in an unprecedented appearance at a media conference by a spy chief, ISI chief Lt Gen NadAeem Anjum spoke alongside armed forces' spokesman Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar.

The officers alleged their leadership was being maligned for refusing to help the former premier through "illegal and extra-constitutional means" ahead of a confidence vote in parliament earlier this year and that Khan attempted to entice the army chief with an "indefinite extension" in a last-ditch attempt to save his government, Dawn reported.

Khan began his speech on Friday by castigating the ISI DG for claiming his organisation was apolitical and neutral.

He said the spy chief actually delivered a "political presser" and conveniently ignored any reference to the "group of thieves" that got its Rs1.1 trillion theft written off.

"I haven't even heard (former interior minister) Sheikh Rashid conducting such a candid political news conference," he quipped.

The former premier warned Gen Anjum that he also held many secrets, but was staying mum for the interests of the country and state institutions, Dawn reported.

"I am not like the absconder Nawaz Sharif that I will run away to London and then spew venom against the army," he remarked, maintaining he had always done constructive criticism against the army and other state institutions because he wanted to see Pakistan an independent and sovereign state.

He also took on ISI DG-C Maj Gen Faisal Naseer and Islamabad Sector Commander Faheem Raza for allegedly picking up the party's septuagenarian senator, Azam Swati, and torturing him.

The former premier further accused the officers of torturing party leader Dr Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqi.
Ahmedabad, Oct 29 : In present times Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is more relevant because the country needs a leader like him, a man of few words but a doer, not at all vindictive, putting national interest ahead and burying personal differences, says Urvish Kothari, an author who has read about Sardar Patel exhaustively.

He has authored a few books on Sardar Patel in Gujarati, of which two are 'Sardar: Sacho Manas, Sachi Vaat,' 'Sardar Ek Dantkatha Nahi, Jivant Katha'. Presently he is penning a book in English on Sardar Patel.

Talking to IANS, Urvish Kothari said, "When I hear present day politicians making tall claims of following Sardar Patel, I wonder whether they have really read and understood Patel at all, because he was man of action. The unification of the country is a classic example, about which the Sardar himself never claimed any credit."

Nor was Patel vindictive. Citing an example of it, Kothari said, "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jamnagar's ruler Jamsaheb's wavelength never met, when he was convincing rulers to merge their states in Union of India, Jamsaheb was heading demand of United States of Saurashtra. Seeing it as a hurdle, Sardar Vallabhbhai reached out to him through Jamsaheb's brother Himmatsinhji, invited him to dinner at his Delhi residence and convinced him to merge his state with the Union of India."

Even at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation level, if Patel had differences with any officer, but felt that the officer's strengths can be used for nation building, he would reach out to him without hesitation or reservation, said Kothari.

Even in his personal or social life Vallabhbhai and his brother Vitthalbhai were real reformists and broad minded. Giving an example of Vitthalbhai Patel Kothari remembers, "Vitthalbhai was on tour to England, where Patel youths had organized a felicitation function for him. When he learned that all the youths were Patels, he questioned the youths that even after reaching England have you not risen above your Patel identity?"

Patel had never identified himself as a Patel or Patidar leader. He was above casteism. Kothari strongly believes that calling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel a Patel leader is not respect to him and but an insult, because he was the leader of all castes and creeds. Today's leaders should follow this philosophy.

He feels that using Sardar Patel's name for political gains by any leader or party is also an insult to him.

All those who are talking about the pride of Sardar Patel, either have heard, read a little and never tried to understand him.

It hurts when Sardar Patel is used to diminish other freedom fighters or leaders. He may have differences with other leaders, but when it came to national interest, on various occasions he either put differences behind or buried them and never made ego issues.

There is also an attempt to create a narrative that without Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi would have never become such a tall leader.

Kothari's understanding of relations between two leader is: "There is no doubt that Sardar Patel's legal practise was doing very good, even had made place for himself in freedom movement before Gandhi entered the movement. But Patel was so heavily influenced by Gandhi's thoughts, philosophy and work, that it carved a completely ew Sardar, who started working on prohibition, to unite the society, and for social reforms. The fact remains that without Gandhiji, we would have not got the Sardar Patel that we all know and read about."

The scholar strongly suggests that present day leaders should learn administration from the life of Sardar Patel, as "he was a great administrator, unfortunately these issues are never discussed or learned from such stalwarts and icons".

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The history textbooks of the 21st century India find little to no space and mention of the unprecedented contribution of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel towards the nation.

From undertaking essential reforms to contributing his political and diplomatic acumen in the Constituent Assembly, his aura inspired the people who succeeded him, Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) professor M. Jagadesh Kumar told IANS.

Has the country's first home minister -- popularly known as the "Iron Man of India" -- been given his rightful place in textbooks? Responding to this, the UGC chairman said: "Our youngsters need to be told about Patel's contributions at the school level. He worked endlessly to weed out alcohol consumption, untouchability, and caste discrimination and led a tirade in favour of women's emancipation in Gujarat and other places." The notion of integrating India flowed in his blood as he integrated farmers' satyagraha, such as Kheda and Bardoli satyagraha, into the national movement.

His dream of creating a 'Shresth Bharat' materialised by setting up the modern all-India services system.

"For this, he was also given the title 'Patron Saint of India's Civil Servants'. Sardar Patel will continue to inspire us to keep India stronger and united," the UGC chairman said.

He is remembered for his pivotal role in the unification of British India.

Faced with the hurdle of amassing the diverse states that the motherland was fragmented into, Sardar Patel's unwavering grit overturned most of these resilient rulers.

In addition to bringing the subcontinent under a single umbrella, Patel's political involvements were unmatched.

However, in textbooks, there is very little inclusion of Sardar Patel's contribution, Kumar added.

UGC believes that the need of the hour is to provide the students with more information by giving space to Patel's enormous history of courage in the textbooks.

"With such inclusion, young minds would be stimulated to derive inspiration and work towards revamping the development of our country," Kumar said.

Patel's fraternal nature and skills are not forgotten even today. "For instance, in Gujarat, the Statue of Unity was built to commemorate this great figure," he added.

The 182-metre statue is the tallest in the world.

"However, this isn't enough. Recently, with the rise in forces attempting to vitiate the Indian atmosphere, we must hark back to the history of this gallant debutant to fight against these unnatural forces.

"Teachers and principals of different government schools said that there is some content available in school books, on Sardar Patel but it is not enough. school going children to be told much more about Patel's contributions from freedom struggle to his administrative abilities as a Home Minister," Kumar said.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The invaluable contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the unification of the country as its first Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, cannot be ignored, but since the past several decades, questions are being raised on respect accorded to the stalwart.

The BJP has been alleging that the Congress has always neglected Patel's role in order to glorify the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Politically, the BJP has staked its claim to the political legacy of Sardar Patel in Gujarat as well as across the country. Although the BJP claims that Patel was sympathetic towards the RSS, various opposition parties remind the saffron party that after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, Patel had banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as the Home Minister.

While talking to IANS, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar recalled the era of independence and said that the Congress which had promised to give 'Purna Swaraj' or complete freedom, instead led to creation of a divided India.

At the time of the crisis, Patel played an important role in the country's integration as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister. Hailing Patel, the Sangh leader said that if the issue of Jammu and Kashmir was also handled by the former instead of Jawaharlal Nehru, then this problem would not have arisen.

Recalling Patel's role during the partition, Kumar claimed that the former had played a major role in stopping the massacre of Hindus coming from Pakistan and providing all kinds of assistance to them on their arrival.

He also claimed that Patel praised the Sangh for helping the Hindus and persecuted people from other communities who came to India in 1947 from Pakistan.

Responding to a question about the ban imposed by Patel on the Sangh at the time of Gandhi's assassination, the senior Sangh leader said that it was the Congress's decision to ban the RSS after the assassination of Gandhi. Due to the pressure from the Congress, Patel had to ban the Sangh, but as soon as the facts of the investigation came before him, he played a crucial role in removing the ban on the Sangh calling it "innocent".

Kumar said that the Congress tried to spread canards in this regard from the beginning, but till date it could not prove the allegation that RSS was involved in Gandhi's assassination.

Reiterating political attacks on the Congress, Kumar also said that unfortunately, the ability, skill, contribution, stature and popularity of Patel did not go down well with the Nehru-Gandhi family running the Congress. Therefore, the Nehru-Gandhi family behaved badly with Patel.

Patel was insulted even while alive and was deprived of the honour he deserved after his death. It is because of these sins and crimes, the Congress stands marginalised in politics today.
A lawyer by profession, most of his life was spent in agitation for India's freedom, but Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's equal, if not greater, contribution was quickly transforming into an astute administrator, who made decisive interventions in several key matters, including the early political direction of the first Kashmir war.

His role in painstakingly welding the newly-Independent country -- a patchwork of British-ruled territory and princely states -- into an organic whole, and laying the foundations for its efficient administration, are well-known, but the same attributes made him suitable for taking decisions in other fields, including defence.

These attributes included quick comprehension of issues, decisive directions, infallibly ascertaining the calibre of officials on the task and backing them, and a marked lack of desire for pomp and protocol.

Image Source: IANS News

Lt. Gen. Lionel Protip 'Bogey' Sen, who as Brigadier then commanded the first major formation in Jammu and Kashmir tasked to tackle and evict the Pashtun tribal raiders from Pakistan, witnessed, and recorded, the Sardar's acute grasp of the situation and quick decision-making.

It was early November 1947. The brave actions of Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal, Chief of Staff of the state forces, had forestalled the raiders' rapid advance, and the gallantry of the Indian Army's Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai, who led the first formation into the Valley, had prevented Srinagar's fall and kept the airstrip, which was essential to ferry in troops, in Indian hands.

They both laid down their lives even as they achieved their objectives, but the situation was still dangerously uncertain.

Brigadier Sen reached Srinagar on November 2, and on November 4 -- a day after Major Somnath Sharma's gallant defence of the Badgam airstrip till his last breath -- was informed that Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel and Defence Minister Baldev Singh had landed in the Valley and were on their way to his headquarters.

He recounts, in his memoir "Slender was the Thread", that he took them into the Operations Room for a briefing where he stressed that Srinagar was "very definitely threatened".

"Sardar Baldev Singh was wide awake and had taken in all I said. Sardar Patel had, however, closed his eyes soon after I had begun the briefing and I assumed that he was feeling the effects of the air journey and had fallen asleep. The briefing completed, I therefore looked at Sardar Baldev Singh and asked him a direct question: 'Am I expected to eject the tribesmen from the Valley regardless of the fate that may befall Srinagar, or is the town to be saved?'

"Sardar Patel stirred. The Tiger had not been asleep, and had heard every word of the briefing. A strong and determined man, and one of few words. 'Of course, Srinagar must be saved,' he snapped."

Image Source: IANS News

Then, Brig. Sen said that he needed more troops quickly, and "if possible", artillery. Sardar Patel, he recounts, rose and said he was returning to Delhi immediately and "you will get what you want as quickly as I can get them to you".

Seeing them off, he asked the Sardar if he could drive him back to the airfield. "'No, Brigadier,' he replied, 'don't bother to come to the airport to see me off. You have got more important things to do than wasting your time doing that.' He climbed into his own vehicle, and with a wave of his hand, was off."

Brig. Sen wrote that the same evening he was intimated that two more infantry battalions, an armoured car squadron, and a field artillery battery was being despatched to the Valley by road, and the engineers were making the road from Pathankot to Jammu capable of sending large bodies of troops by surface transport.

"Sardar Patel lived up to his reputation as a man of action."

And that wasn't all. As Brig. Sen, the very next day (November 5), devised a gambit to inflict a decisive defeat on the invaders by dangling a bait to get them together by a feigned retreat, his plan, whose purpose was secret, created consternation among both his superiors and National Conference leaders.

Image Source: IANS News

D.P. Dhar, then an aide of Sheikh Abdullah, who was also helping the Indian Army in Kashmir, later confessed that he had rushed to Delhi to personally meet Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to seek that the Brigade Commander be changed.

"Pandit Nehru had agreed, but Sardar Patel, who was also present. was adamant that no change of commander was called for, regardless of the merit or demerit of withdrawing. Sardar Patel's view prevailed."

But, Brig. Sen -- in whom the Sardar's trust would be vindicated in the next few days -- was not the sole beneficiary of the leader's support.

V.P. Menon, who worked tirelessly with the Sardar for nearly two years to integrate the princely states, himself admitted that he was ready to quit government service after Independence following three decades of dealing with constitutional reforms, but Sardar had convinced him to take over as the Secretary of the States Department.

"Sardar told me that because of the abnormal situation in the country, people like myself should not think in terms of rest or retirement. He added that I had taken a prominent part in the transfer of power and that I should consider it my bounden duty to work for the consolidation of freedom," Menon wrote in "The Story of the Integration of Indian States".

The very next day, as Menon expressed his misgivings at being free with his opinion in their relationship as Minister and Secretary, the Sardar dismissed his fears on this account, and also assured him that the previous bad blood between the Congress and the permanent civil servants was also a matter of the past, and "for his part, he would do everything possible to bring about a most cordial atmosphere between the Cabinet and the Services".

And, Menon noted, "he kept his word." (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Many of the larger Princely States tinkered with the idea of remaining independent in the run-up to Independence. The dramatis personae who thought of this third Dominion or Princestan idea were principally the Nawab of Bhopal, Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, egged on by the Nizam of Hyderabad, Maharaja of Kashmir and Maharaja of Travancore.

The feudal princes were clear in their minds -- why join either of the new Dominions on offer, stay out of the ambit. So Hari Singh in Kashmir thought of Dogristan, Nizam in Hyderabad thought Osmanistan, Travancore tried to deal directly with the British using Thorium as the bargaining chip, but Nehru, Sardar Patel and Lord Mountbatten the Viceroy wanted no leeway to be given to them. The Nizam was the richest and he had been accorded the title of His Exalted Highness by the ruling British. Ironically, Hari Singh, a Hindu King, presided over a Muslim majority and the Nizam, a Muslim King, presided over a Hindu majority.

A jittery Nizam of Hyderabad who was living in a dream world of his own tried once again on July 9, 1947, to persuade the Viceroy to come in on his side in his fight to retain Hyderabad's independence from both the Dominions. He dashed off a fervent and emotional missive to Mountbatten and he made a telling point in his letter, for the door appeared ajar and his understanding showed that he could kick it wide open.

The wily Nizam realised that clause 7 of the Indian Independence Bill gave him and the other bigger states leverage. He was disappointed that the British were choosing to shortchange their loyal subjects bound by treaties for years. Of course he didn't count for a resolute Patel who would simply not allow such a happening.

"My dear Lord Mountbatten," the Nizam wrote to the Viceroy, "during the last few days, I have seen clause 7 of the Indian Independence Bill as reported in the Press. I regret that as so happened in recent months, the clause, though it was closely discussed with Indian leaders, was never disclosed to, much less discussed with representatives of my State.

"I was distressed to see that the clause not only contains a unilateral repudiation by the British Government of the Treaties which have for so many years bound my State and my Dynasty to the British, but also appears to contemplate that unless I join one or other of the two Dominions, my State will no longer form part of the British Commonwealth.

"The Treaties by which the British Govt many years ago guaranteed the protection of my State and Dynasty against external aggression and internal disorder have constantly been solemnly confirmed in recent years, notably by Sir Stafford Cripps in 1941. I thought I could safely rely on British arms and the British word. Having been persuaded in consequence right up to the last moment to refrain from increasing my Army and adapting my State factories for the manufacture of arms and equipment, nevertheless repudiation of clause 7 of the Bill has been made not only without my consent but without any consultation with me or my government." On July 16, 1947, the Secretary of State for India and Burma, the Earl of Listowel, had read out the Indian Independence Bill and therein was the contentious clause 7 that the Nizam was referring to:

"Clause 7, subsection (1) and the proviso to the clause deal with relations with the Indian States. Your Lordships will remember that the Cabinet Mission in their Memorandum of May 12, 1946, informed the States that His Majesty's Government would in no circumstances transfer Paramountcy to an Indian Government. To that pledge we firmly adhere.

"But the time is fast approaching when the transfer of power to two Dominion governments will make it quite impossible for us to carry out our obligations towards the States, which depend for their fulfilment on the continuing responsibility of Great Britain for the Government of India. If we cannot in future discharge our obligations, we must clearly release them also from their engagements.

"We are, therefore, proposing that from the date when the new Dominions are set up the treaties and agreements which gave us suzerainty over the States will become void.

"From that moment the appointments and functions of the Crown Representative and his officers will terminate and the States will be the masters of their own fate. They will then be entirely free to choose whether to associate with one or other of the Dominion Governments or to STAND ALONE and His Majesty's Government will not use the slightest pressure to influence their momentous and voluntary decision.

"But I think it can hardly be doubted that it would be in the best interests of their own people, and of India as a whole, that in the fullness of time all the States should find their appropriate place within one or other of the new Dominions. It would be a tragedy for India, if the States were not to enrich the Motherland to which they belong with the martial valour for which they are renowned, and which they have displayed so gallantly in two world wars, with the tradition of service that animates their rules, and with the advanced social institutions that some of them possess.

"Whatever the future relationship between the new Dominions and the States may be, it will require prolonged consideration and discussion before the final adjustment can be made. We, therefore, welcome the setting up by the Interim Government of States Departments, to handle negotiations with the Governments of the States. But the success of this negotiating machinery pre-supposes genuine goodwill and absence of suspicion on both sides.

"The assurance given by Sardar Patel, the Home Member, that it is not the desire of Congress to meddle in the domestic affairs of the States, is a welcome indication that Congress will not use its political strength to exert unfair pressure on their rulers. Sardar Patel's statement that the federal subjects on which the States are invited to accede are limited to defence, foreign affairs and communications, and the moderation and reasonableness of his whole approach, are another sign that the Dominion of India will scrupulously respect the autonomy of the States. Mr Jinnah has also stated most emphatically that the Government of Pakistan will endorse the free choice of the States." The Nizam's letter to Mountbatten went on to say:

"Your Excellency knows that while you were in England, I asked that my State should be accorded Dominion status when the British leave India. I had always hitherto felt that after more than a century of faithful alliance in which I reposed all my confidence in the British I should certainly be able to remain, without question, a member of the family of the British Commonwealth.

"Clause 7 appears to deny me even that. I still hope that no differences will be allowed to interfere between me and direct relations with His Majesty's Govt. I was recently informed that your Excellency had undertaken to have a declaration in Parliament that the establishment of such relations can be made.

"My hope is that once established these relations will lead to a closer union between my State and the British Crown with which I have been for so many years in faithful alliance. I feel bound to make this protest against the way in which my State is being abandoned by its old ally, the British Govt. The ties which have bound me in loyal devotion to the King Emperor are being served.

"I hope Your Excellency will place my letter before HMG. I shall for the moment refrain from publishing it lest it should in any way embarrass my old friends and allies in the eyes of the world. I must nevertheless retain my right to publish it at a later stage if it should become necessary in the interests of my State." Neither the Viceroy, nor the Labour Government back home in Britain entertained any sympathy for Hyderabad, no matter how great his wealth, his past associations or the size of his state, to opt out of India. It was pointed out to him that HMG (His Majesty's Government) would never accept a Dominion government, which was, as in Hyderabad's case, completely surrounded by territory which in the circumstances would be hostile.

Mountbatten's quick take on the matter was: It would be like Poland (referring to what happened during the Second World War, which had recently concluded) all over again. For him there was only one solution -- for Hyderabad to sign up under the same three headings as had been accepted by the other Princely States, and then begin bargaining with Menon, Patel and Nehru for special concessions.

The advice was strong and solid, but the Nizam's advisers both in his court and in the Political Department headed by that man Sir Conrad Corfield persuaded him not to take it.

He began to build up his Army to fight for his independence, confident that in the end his faithful ally -- Britain -- would come to his rescue. All of Mountbatten's pleadings were in vain, not even his promise that he would secure considerable concessions from the Indian Union if the Nizam signed the dotted line, would make the stubborn Nizam change his mind.

As such, Hyderabad remained independent when British Raj ended, but as soon as their influence began to wane, Patel and Menon ambuscaded the Nizam. So long as Mountbatten remained Governor General of India, the charade of Nizam's personal negotiations with Mountbatten continued as Patel and Menon held their hand.

Two days after Mountbatten departed from India, the Nizam indicated that he was prepared to accept the arrangement known as the Mountbatten Plan. Replied Sardar Patel who had by now hit his stride: "Tell him it is too late, the Mountbatten Plan has sailed for home." Shortly thereafter, Operation Polo, or Police Action, was set in motion and the Indian Army moved into Hyderabad and occupied it. The Nizam was kept on as a figurehead.

Leonard Mosley writing in 'Downfall of the Empire - The Last Days of the British Raj', says, "As a Princely Order, their day was done and they knew it. They had been swallowed into the belly of India in a few short weeks after centuries of arrogant independence from the rest of the sub-continent. The act of gobbling them up had been a remarkable achievement on the part of India's strategists ... for it was almost bloodless ... the Congress Party had two people to thank: Mountbatten for his blandishments and persuasiveness and V.P. Menon for his shrewdness in inventing the tactics and recruiting the Viceroy himself to carry them out." It was nothing short of the great double-cross for the Nizam who believed that the Crown Representative -- Lord Mountbatten -- would protect his interests at all costs. In fact, the Nizam's belief was that he was double-crossed twice, first when the Crown and its Paramountcy didn't come to his rescue at the time of Independence, and a second time when he tried remaining defiant and independent and his plans were circumvented by Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon using 'police action' to take over Hyderabad.

(Sandeep Bamzai is the Editor-In-Chief of IANS and author of 'Princestan: How Nehru, Patel and Mountbatten Made India' (Rupa), which won the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Book Award 2020-21 in the non-fiction category.)
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Stanley Wolpert captures the enigma of Nehru vs Patel distinctly in 'Nehru: A Tryst with Destiny': "Gandhi's death reunited Nehru and Patel. Their reconciliation not only saved Congress and India's central government from collapse, but it kept Nehru in power. Without the Sardar's strength and support Nehru might have broken down or been forced out of high office. Vallabhbhai ran India's administration for the next two years (before his death) while Nehru indulged mostly in foreign affairs and high Himalayan adventures.

"The Sardar, as Congress's strongman was called, was determined to stay and solve whatever problems remained, rather than running away from them. He had long viewed Nehru as a weak sister and often wondered why Gandhi thought so highly of him." This is probably the most accurate summation of Nehru and Patel, twins intertwined in India's freedom movement struggle and the establishment of a strong united India.

Alex Von Tunzelmann writing in 'Indian Summer' says: "Whatever may be said about Mountbatten's tactics or the machinations of Patel, their achievement remains remarkable. Between them, and in less than a year, it may be argued that these two men achieved a larger India, more closely integrated, than had 90 years of British raj, 180 years of the Mughal Empire, or 130 years of Asoka and the Maurya rulers...

"He (Sardar Patel) was impervious to Mountbatten's famous charm, describing the new Viceroy as 'a toy for Jawaharlalji to play with while we arrange the revolution'... For Patel's part, he realised immediately that Mountbatten, with his own semi-royal status and personal friendship with many of the princes, was uniquely suited to help India achieve its aim of leaving no state behind." Says Leonard Mosley in 'The Last Days of the British Raj': "Sir Conrad Corfield and other defenders of the Princes were, however, being a little too optimistic. At the very moment that they breathed the heady air of victory, something came out of the blue and floored them. The blow came from the clasped hands of those two able political operators, Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon.

"When the Congress Party and Nehru decided to form a States Ministry they picked Patel as the obvious man to head it. Their mood was belligerent. They despised the Princes and they resented the British for lapsing paramountcy. They hoped and expected that the strong man of the Party would roll up his dhoti and wade in with sound, fury, and effect.

"Patel was far too wily a negotiator to do such a thing, particularly since he had the measure of Sir Conrad Corfield and admired him as a skilled and dangerous adversary. This was, he decided, no time for flailing fists and loud cries of screaming rage and fury. The blow must be subtle, unexpected, and must leave no unnecessary bruises..." Another insight comes from V. Shankar, private secretary to Patel, who wrote in 'My Reminiscences of Sardar Patel Vol. 1': "But he (Sardar) had to contend with two important factors, one of them being Lord Mountbatten... Sardar had to be particularly patient because very often Lord Mountbatten succeeded in enlisting Pandit Nehru's sympathies for his point of view...

"He was convinced that, in this matter of national importance, police action could not be ruled out in the case of Hyderabad and that the threat of its accession to Pakistan must be removed at all costs. As regards Junagadh he was not prepared for any compromise and finally succeeded in evolving and executing his own plans despite Lord Mountbatten's counsels against precipitating matters or his suggestion of a plebiscite (under UN auspices)...

"He (Sardar) remarked with a twinkle in his eye, 'Don't you see we have two UN experts -- one the Prime Minister (Nehru) and the other Lord Mountbatten -- and I have to steer my way between them. However, I have my own idea of plebiscite. You wait and see." Shankar and V.P. Menon are the two people along with his daughter Maniben who understood Sardar Patel best due to their constant proximity with him during those days.

V. Shankar says: "Hyderabad occupied a special position in the British scheme of things and therefore touched a special chord in Lord Mountbatten ... The 'faithful ally' concept still ruled the attitude of every British of importance ... all the other rulers were watching whether the Indian government would concede to it a position different from the other states ... Lastly, on Hyderabad, Pandit Nehru and some others in Delhi were prepared to take a special line; in this Mrs Sarojini Naidu and Miss Padmaja Naidu, both of whom occupied a special position in Pandit Nehru's esteem, were not without influence ...

"Apart from Lord Mountbatten's understandable sympathy for the Muslim position in Hyderabad, shared by Pandit Nehru, in anything that concerned Pakistan even indirectly, he was for compromise and conciliation to the maximum extent possible ... Sardar (Patel) was aware of the influence which Lord Mountbatten exercised over both Pandit Nehru and Gandhiji; often that influence was decisive ... Sardar had made up his mind that Hyderabad must fit into his policy regarding the Indian states ... I know how deeply anguished he used to feel at his helplessness in settling the problem with his accustomed swiftness. ...

"Very tactfully, Sardar Patel waited for Mountbatten to first go from India forever, which he did on June 21, 1948 -- lest he should interfere in the matter. Patel's most formidable obstacle lay in Mountbatten and Nehru, who had been converted by Mountbatten to his point of view -- not to let the Indian Army move into Hyderabad. Had Gandhi been alive, perhaps Nehru-Gandhi combine would not have allowed the action that Sardar took -- Gandhi being a pacifist.

"Sardar Patel had fixed the zero hour for the Army to move into Hyderabad twice, and twice he had to postpone it under intense political pressure from Nehru and Rajaji. They instead directed V.P. Menon and H.M. Patel to draft a suitable reply to the Nizam on his appeal.

"While the reply to the Nizam was being readied, Sardar Patel summarily announced that the Army had already moved in, and nothing could be done to halt it. This he did after taking the Defence Minister, Baldev Singh, into confidence! Had Sardar Patel not showed such determination and guts, and had he not ignored the tame alternative suggested by Nehru and Rajaji, Hyderabad would have been another Kashmir or Pakistan! "... the decision about the Police Action in Hyderabad in which case Sardar (Patel) described the dissent of Rajaji and Pandit Nehru as 'the wailing of two widows as to how their departed husband (meaning Gandhiji) would have reacted to the decision involving such a departure from non-violence'.

"Meanwhile, a fanatical Muslim organisation, Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, headed by one Kasim Razvi had been fomenting trouble. They came to be known as the Razakars. At the instance of Kasim Razvi, the Nizam appointed Mir Laik Ali, a Hyderabadi businessman, who had also been a representative of Pakistan at the UN, the president of his Executive Council. With this the Hyderabad Government came virtually under Razvi.

"Razvi later met Sardar and Menon in Delhi to tell that Hyderabad would never surrender its independence, and that Hindus were happy under the Nizam; but if India insisted on a plebiscite, it is the sword which would decide the final result. Razvi further told Sardar Patel, 'We shall fight and die to the last men', to which Patel responded, 'How can I stop you from committing suicide?'" On the use of force by India to settle the Hyderabad issue, V. Shankar writes in 'My Reminiscences of Sardar Patel, Vol 1': "The entire staff for the purpose had been alerted and the timing depended on how long it would take for Sardar to overcome the resistance to this course by C. Rajagopalachari, who succeeded Lord Mountbatten as Governor General, and by Pandit Nehru, who found in C. Rajagopalachari an intellectual support for his non-violent policy towards Hyderabad." Shankar quotes Sardar's response to a query: "Many have asked me the question what is going to happen to Hyderabad. They forget that when I spoke at Junagadh, I said openly that if Hyderabad did not behave properly, it would have to go the way Junagadh did. The words still stand and I stand by these words." Shankar further states in Vol. 2: "The situation in Hyderabad was progressing towards a climax. Under Sardar's constant pressure, and despite the opposition of Pandit Nehru and Rajaji, the decision was taken to march into Hyderabad and thereby to put an end both to the suspended animation in which the State stood and the atrocities on the local population which had become a matter of daily occurrence." In a Cabinet meeting on September 8, 1948, while the States Ministry under Sardar Patel pressed for occupation of Hyderabad to put an end to the chaos there, Nehru strongly opposed the move and was highly critical of the attitude of the States Ministry. However, Sardar Patel prevailed.

Sardar Patel's daughter's 'The Diary of Maniben Patel: 1936-50' states: "About Hyderabad, Bapu (her father, Sardar Patel) said if his counselling had been accepted -- the problem would have been long solved ... Bapu replied (to Rajaji), '...Our viewpoint is different. I don't want the future generation to curse me that these people when they got an opportunity did not do it and kept this ulcer (Hyderabad princely state) in the heart of India ... It is States Ministry's (which was under Sardar Patel) function (to make Hyderabad state accede to India).

"How long are you and Panditji going to bypass the States Ministry and carry on ... Bapu told Rajaji that Jawaharlal continued his aberration for an hour and a half in the Cabinet -- that we should decide our attitude about Hyderabad. The question will be raised in the UN ... Bapu said, 'I am very clear in my mind -- if we have to fight -- Nizam is finished. We cannot keep this ulcer in the heart of the Union. His dynasty is finished.' He (Jawaharlal) was very angry/hot on this point." The particular prisms through which Nehru and Patel have been viewed may vary and differ, but what cannot be disputed is that they were both important to the integration of Princely States and in the modern construct of a unified new India.

Their tactics may have been different, the role of Lord Mountbatten too cannot be ignored in this grand canvas of 560-odd States -- big and small -- which needed to be digested without ulcers. Much akin to a relay race in which batons were handed over by Nehru to Mountbatten to Sardar Patel and V.P. Menon in a tough race which they completed in record time.

(Sandeep Bamzai is the Editor-In-Chief of IANS and author of 'Princestan: How Nehru, Patel and Mountbatten Made India' (Rupa), which won the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Book Award 2020-21 in the non-fiction category.)
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The idea and ideal of India came into being due to the enormous contributions of Gandhiji, Nehru and Patel, all three Anglophiles, all well versed in the art of cerebral warfare.

Sun Tzu, military strategist and writer of the seminal 'Art of War', says that in the midst of chaos, there is an opportunity. The troika of the freedom movement -- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh -- were more than adept in their understanding of dealing with the British. I guess they followed Tzu's template: he will win who knows to fight and when not to fight. And equally: appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.

In many ways, Nehru and Patel played the proverbial good cop-bad cop with the errant and sometimes rogue princes, operating sometimes in synchronicity and sometimes individually. That there is today an India to think and talk about is very largely due to Sardar Patel's statesmanship and firm administration which not only abolished all the states with the consent of the rulers, but also evoked patriotic sentiments in them to such an extent that they were grateful to him for all that he had done.

Shyama Prasad Mookerji chose to call him "the most valiant champion of India's freedom and the strongest unifying force in our national life." Mookerji found in the Sardar "a rare combination of idealism and realism, of strength and generosity which made him a leader and a statesman who had no equal." V. Shankar, who was Sardar's secretary from 1946 to 1950, and had a bird's eye view of the Integration of the states recounted: "Though a strong party man, Sardar could, in the wider interests of the country not only bend but also secure the co-operation of other elements in the national life.

"One outstanding example of it was the manner in which he advised Pandit Nehru to form his Government after Independence which not only had a truly national character but in support of which he had no compunction in securing the services of lifelong opponents of the Congress such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Shri Shyama Prasad Mookerji.

"One of the greatest proof of his broadmindedness was the manner in which he could rise above party politics and implement policies which might mean a dilution of party commitment in the larger interests of the country. I cannot think of any contemporary politician of those days or those who have risen to prominence ever since who could make such a deep impression even on those who were opposed to him." (V. Shankar, 'My Reminiscences of Sardar Patel'; Vol. 2, Delhi: Macmillan & Co., 1975, p.132) When Kashmir was invaded by the raiders, a furious Sardar hit back saying: "I should like to make one thing clear, that we shall not surrender an inch of Kashmir territory to anybody." (Life & Work of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, p. 54) As explained earlier, Sardar's inherent distrust of Sheikh Abdullah meant had he remained alive, perhaps India's Kashmir policy would have been dictated differently from Nehru's. H.V. Kamath, member of the Constituent Assembly, records: "Sardar Patel once told me, with a ring of sadness in his voice, that 'if Jawaharlal and Gopalaswami Ayyangar had not made Kashmir their close preserve, separating it from my portfolio of Home and States,' he would have tackled the issue as purposefully as he had already done the Hyderabad problem. It is also a matter of regret that Nehru paid no heed to his warning on China ... ." (H.V. Kamath, 'His Variegated Role in the Constituent Assembly', in Maniben Patel and G.M. Nandurkar, ed., 'This Was Sardar -- The Commemorative Volume', Ahmedabad: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Smarak Bhavan, 1974, p. 335) Nehru heeding Mountbatten's advice to go to the UN meant that Sardar Patel recorded his displeasure over the decision:

"I myself felt that we should never have gone to the UNO and if we had taken timely action when we went to the UNO, we could have settled the whole case much more quickly and satisfactorily from our point of view, whereas at the UNO not only has the dispute been prolonged, but the merits of our case have been completely lost in the interaction of power politics ... ." (Durga Das, 'Sardar Patel's Correspondence, 1945-50', Vol. 6, Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House, 1973) Winston Churchill, a Royalist who wanted a part of India to be retained through Princestan, lamented the disappearance of the title of the Emperor of India from the royal titles and arrogantly said in 1948 that "power will go into the hands of rascals, rogues and free-booters ... These are men of straw of whom no trace will be found after a few years'. Churchill had also predicted complete balkanization of India. But the Sardar proved Churchill wrong.

From his sick-bed at Dehra Dun, Patel gave Churchill a rude and angry reply, calling him an unashamed imperialist at a time when imperialism was on its last legs, describing him as "the proverbial last ditcher for whom obstinacy and stupid consistency count more than reason, imagination or wisdom." To capture the contrast between Sardar Patel and Nehru, I once asked the co-founder of the Jan Sangh and founder of the Praja Parishad, Balraj Madhok, in Jammu to write about the two during my editorship of 'Mail Today' (2012-2015). His insight from personal memory is contrary to how Rajmohan Gandhi perceived the so-called differences between the two: "I met Sardar Patel on March 8, 1948, at his residence in New Delhi to apprise him of the worsening situation in Jammu & Kashmir. As the founder secretary of the Jammu-Kashmir Praja Parishad, I raised concerns of the minorities in the state and the impending loss of Muslim majority regions of Gilgit, Baltistan and the so-called Azad Kashmir to Pakistan.

"Sardar Patel heard me patiently for over half an hour without any reaction or comment. After I had finished, he gave a short and crisp reply: 'You are trying to convince a convinced man. But I can do nothing. JawaharLal has kept Jammu & Kashmir under his direct charge. You meet him. I will ask him to give you an appointment.' "Disappointed at the reply, I implored him to act, saying the people of Jammu and Kashmir looked to him for relief and redress. He must do something for them.

"My plea had the desired effect and he opened up. In a firm tone he said: 'I know your problem. If and when the matter is entrusted to me, I will set things right in one month's time. But just now, I am not in a position to do anything. You meet Jawahar Lal and explain the situation to him.' "As I was about to take leave of him, he asked me if I had brought anything in writing. I then handed him the memorandum that I had prepared for his consideration as also the map of the state. Patel then asked me to hand it over to his daughter, Mani Ben.

"It was a thrilling experience. Dressed in a crumpled khadi kurta and dhoti, jacket and a coarse shawl, he looked every inch a farmer and son of the soil with his dark, wrinkled and rugged face. His quiet confidence that he would tackle the Kashmir problem in a month's time, if it were entrusted to him, and his brevity and economy of words impressed me. I found him true to the reputation that he had earned as an Iron Man who spoke little but acted firmly and effectively.

"My experience of Jawahar Lal Nehru, whom I met two days later on October 10, was quite different. The contrast between the two giants was glaring.

"My externment from the state by Sheikh Abdullah soon after forced me to stay on in Delhi. This afforded me an opportunity to remain in touch with Sardar Patel. His deft handling of the Hyderabad State with minimal loss of life (only four jawans of the Indian Army were killed in the Hyderabad action) brought out the contrast between Nehru and Patel." (Sandeep Bamzai is the Editor-In-Chief of IANS and author of 'Princestan: How Nehru, Patel and Mountbatten Made India' (Rupa), which won the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Book Award 2020-21 in the non-fiction category)
New Delhi, Oct 29 : It is said that when one works in an abattoir long enough, one goes deaf to the blood and guts of slaughter. In the much-hyped Nehru vs Sardar surround sound, there are certain urban legends that prevail.

To believe everything that one hears and reads now is much like meshugas. Truth cannot be patinated. Once injected with the truth serum of history, a new strain emerges.

Much has been written about the ruptures between the twin leaders of the national freedom movement -- Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru -- and more so on the fractures that appeared in running the country after India attained independence.

Obviously, both were chosen by Gandhiji himself to lead the country as heir apparents, Nehru being much younger than Patel. Both were tall leaders who commanded enormous respect for their role in the independence struggle. Many people have many takes on this cleft. Yes there were differences of opinion, obviously when men of the stature of Nehru and Sardar Patel are involved, that is bound to happen.

When the Defence Committee waited for V.P. Menon and Sam Manekshaw to return from Jammu with the signed Instrument of Accession and Nehru vacillated -- even as Sheikh Abdullah sitting in the ante room of the PM's residence on York Road slipped in a note to him saying that Kashmir would be lost forever if the Indian Army wasn't airlifted on priority as the marauders had virtually reached the gates of Srinagar burning the power station at Mahura and Maharaja Hari Singh had fled to the plains of Jammu -- it was Sardar who asked Nehru: "Jawahar, Kashmir chahiye ki nahin?" But both leaders were level headed and chose to work together for nation-building.

V.P. Menon, who worked in complete synchronicity with Sardar Patel on the crucial issue of integrating the Princely States, says this about the Iron Man of India: "Leadership is of two kinds -- a leader like Napoleon, who was master of both policy and detail, wanted merely the instruments to carry out his orders. Sardar's leadership was of a different category -- having selected his men, he trusted them entirely to implement his policy without full and frank consultation. Whenever we entered into any discussion, we did so as personal friends rather than minister and secretary (in the Ministry of States)." P.N. Chopra, who dealt with the selected works of Patel extensively across several volumes, says: "The differences between Sardar and Nehru perhaps might not have aggravated but for certain elements such as Mridula Sarabhai, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai and a few others in the Congress Party." Rajmohan Gandhi, who has done extensive work on Sardar Patel, sums up the aperture while reviewing Patel's daughter Maniben's book on her father based on her jottings in a diary, in his own biography of the Sardar, "Patel: A Life".

He pulls no punches on the fabled rivalry between Nehru and Patel. History tells us that the conflict was acute, but Rajmohan Gandhi dispels this notion by quoting from history. Patel, who had used sharp language for Nehru, was also the one who had written to Jawaharlal in August 1947: "My services will be at your disposal, I hope, for the rest of your life and you will have unquestioned loyalty ... from me ... Our combination is unbreakable and therein lies our strength." Of course there were differences of opinion between the two -- more so because their style of functioning was different -- but Sardar, as is clear from his public comments, always stood by Nehru.

On February 4, 1948, after the Mahatma's assassination, Vallabhbhai, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was 14 years older than Nehru, called Jawaharlal "my leader" in a speech to Congress MPs and added: "I am one with the Prime Minister on all national issues. For over a quarter of a century both of us sat at the feet of our master and struggled together for the freedom of India. It is unthinkable today, when the Mahatma is no more, that we should quarrel." That such an agreement and unity existed, and that it survived until Patel's death in December 1950, will not of course be believed by any who only read Patel's stark comments about Nehru in the Maniben diaries.

No doubt Maniben only recorded what she heard, but in this volume the remarks are presented without any reference to their context, according to Rajmohan Gandhi. (Moreover, the editing is such that in many cases it is impossible to make out whether a barbed remark is Patel's or that of a visitor, or where the remark was made.) Rajmohan Gandhi wrote: "The Patel-Nehru conflicts are well known. At the end of 1949, when the first President for the Republic had to be found, Nehru wanted Rajaji but after an initial ambivalence Patel supported Rajendra Prasad, who was chosen.

"In August 1950, the Sardar was again on the winning side, and Nehru on the losing, when Purshottam Das Tandon won a contest for the Congress presidentship, defeating Acharya Kripalani, whom Nehru had backed. Bitter words marked both contests, but the relationship did not break.

"If unaware of other facts, the reader of these diary entries will believe that over Kashmir, Hyderabad and the Indo-Pak Pact of 1950, the Nehru-Patel differences were unbridgeable. But were they? While disliking the reference of Kashmir to the UN, Patel went along with the removal of Hari Singh, the empowerment of Sheikh Abdullah and the provision of Article 370.

"As for the Nehru-Liaqat Pact of April 1950, over which Shyama Prasad Mookerjee resigned from the Union cabinet, Patel pledged his 'whole strength and energy to making a success of the Agreement and vindicating the stand of the Prime Minister,' and he also pointed out that "ugly and deplorable incidents from our side" had "weakened our position".

"On his part, though unsure of the timing of Patel's Hyderabad operation, Nehru went along with it. Historically, which is more remarkable -- the Patel-Nehru differences, which were undoubtedly important, or the fact that the two stayed together? Those riveted only by the differences have to face some ambiguities.

"Thus in the Diary, Patel says conflicting things about Kashmir. While on July 23, 1949, he seems to want to do "battle for the whole of Kashmir" (p.291), on September 27, 1950, referring to Kashmir, the Sardar tells R.K. Patil: "Now how long can India bear this burden." (p. 425).

"Questions about what Patel 'really' thought on an issue cannot be resolved by referring to the Diary." In a public statement on April 7, 1947, Patel captured the prevailing sentiment best when he said: "Our leader in uprooting British rule was Gandhiji, in administration, our leader is Jawaharlal Nehru, his cleverness, efficiency and sacrifice are incomparable. I have gone there to serve Jawaharlalji as loyally as I have served Gandhiji, it is my duty to help according to my capacity and I am doing that." (P.N. Chopra, 'Collected Works of Patel', Volume 12).

A discordant note is run by A.G. Noorani while writing in 'Frontline' magazine. He claims that Patel wasn't the real Bismarck, but Lord Mountbatten was the real fulcrum behind the integration of the Princely States: "Credit for the crucial phase of the integration of the princely states belongs mainly to the Viceroy and Governor-General, Lord Mountbatten, and his Constitutional Adviser, V.P. Menon. Patel played a supportive and ancillary role.

"The task was outsourced by him with the Cabinet's full authorisation to Mountbatten.

"The two White Papers on Indian states, published by the Ministry of States over which he presided, record the two distinct phases of the process of integration.

"One was their accession to India before Independence on August 15, 1947, abandoning for good all pretensions to independent statehood on the lapse of the 'paramountcy' of the British Crown. It was a bogus doctrine which British colonialists conveniently evolved with the support of their pliable lawyers.

"No one refuted it more devastatingly than did Dr B.R. Ambedkar on the eve of Independence. This first phase, the accession, before August 15, 1947, was of crucial importance. Jinnah egged on the states to declare themselves independent and thus Balkanise India. Mountbatten foiled his plans.

"The next phase, that of integration with federal India, was plain sailing. The princes were, as it were, lodged in the harem. Those who were small needed slight cajoling to sign agreements for merger with the Provinces of the erstwhile British India; the medium ones formed Unions; the large ones stood alone like the other states." (Sandeep Bamzai is the Editor-In-Chief of IANS and author of 'Princestan: How Nehru, Patel and Mountbatten Made India' (Rupa), which won the Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) Book Award 2020-21 in the non-fiction category.)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London, Oct 29 : Liverpool will aim to reach an unbeaten milestone at Anfield when they face Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Reds can extend their run of successive home games without a loss to 30 with a win or draw against Jesse Marsch's team. It would be their joint-sixth-longest such run in club history. In the 29 matches during the streak so far, Jurgen Klopp's side have won 22 times and registered 17 clean sheets.

The last meeting between the sides was the corresponding fixture of 2021-22 - Liverpool won 6-0 to record their biggest ever victory over Leeds.

Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk were on the scoresheet that night - it was the first time both centre-backs in a Reds XI had scored in the same league game since September 1968, when Ron Yeats and Tommy Smith did so against Leicester City.

Klopp's men had won 3-0 at Elland Road earlier in the campaign as Liverpool achieved a fifth Premier League double over Leeds. Inside Anfield: Last season's 6-0 win over Leeds The Reds are unbeaten in their last 12 contests with Leeds in all competitions and have won the previous five at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah is two goals away from moving up to joint-seventh place on the club's all-time league scorers list, alongside Jack Parkinson. His current total is 121.

The Egypt international has scored five times in his last five matches in league and cup, and seven in his last nine.

James Milner made 54 appearances and scored five goals for Leeds at the start of his career (between 2002 and 2004).

Leeds' last Anfield victory came in April 2001 when they won 2-1, with Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer netting in the first half. Steven Gerrard scored for Liverpool and was later sent off.

Marsch has managed against the Reds twice before in his career, with Red Bull Salzburg in the group phase of the Champions League in 2019-20. He lost both matches, including a 4-3 defeat at Anfield.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan met with representatives of the political forces of the Artsakh Parliament on October 29.

The latest foreign political developments taking place around Artsakh and the Artsakh governments actions in this regard were discussed, the presidency said in a press release.

Chief of Staff of the Artsakh presidency Karen Shahramanyan, Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan and Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan also participated in the meeting.
Tumakuru : , Oct 29 (IANS) Karnataka unit of Bajrang Dal on Saturday lodged a police complaint against Christian missionaries for distributing books similar to Bhagavad Gita with an intention of religious conversion.

The complaint was lodged in Tumakuru city and Kora police stations of Tumakuru district in Karnataka. According to police, missionaries have taken up a huge drive in Tumakuru aiming at converting Hindus to Christianity.

Incidents of distribution, selling of books resembling Bhagavad Gita have come to light in various parts of the district, the Bajrang Dal said.

In the book, Hindu Gods and Goddesses are insulted. It also says Baba Adam is equal to Brahma, Mahadev, Mohammad and that Adinath, revered by Jains, has taken birth as Baba Adam, the book claims.

It also claims that Baba Adam came from the planet of Brahma and is the reincarnation of Lord Brahma.

Bajrang Dal has alleged that distribution, selling of the book titled 'Geetheye Ninna Jnana Amruta' in Kannada language has been taken up aggressively. People from other states have come to Tumakuru and carried out the missionary work.

The books are being printed from Kabir Printing Press in New Delhi. The complaint has also been submitted to the Superintendent of Police in Tumakuru district to stop forces which are operating with an intention.

Further investigation is on.
Chennai, Oct 29 : Producer, dance choreographer and actor Raghava Lawrence on his birthday on Saturday said that he has resolved to distribute food to the hungry whenever possible.

Taking to Twitter, the actor, who is known to be a philanthropist and a big fan of Rajinikanth, posted a picture of himself with the superstar, whom he calls his Thalaivar.

He wrote: "I'm extremely happy to take blessings from Thalaivar and Guru on my birthday. Every year, I decide to do some service." "This year I'm planning to do Annadhanam as I know the value of hunger. I will visit places personally and distribute food whenever I can. I need your blessings!" The actor, who recently requested the public to not donate anymore to the trust he runs for the underprivileged as he now could take care of its needs all by himself, had also said that those receiving help must not fall at his feet but that he must be the one to fall at people's feet and offer them help.

On the work front, Raghava Lawrence will next be seen in director P. Vasu's upcoming 'Chandramukhi 2' in which he plays the lead.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Everyone deserves a spooky cocktail to celebrate Halloween. It's time to get fancy, celebrate, and spice up your at-home drinking with these intriguing cocktails! Cocktails by Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Wee Beastie

The Witch's Magic Mule

Ingredients:

50 ml - Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or

20 ml - Lemon Juice

20 ml - Ginger Syrup

2 dashes - Angostura Bitters

Soda Water

Method:

Take a sling glass and pour in the whisky, along with the lemon juice, bitters and ginger syrup.

Add a few mint leaves, then crushed ice, until the glass is two-thirds full.

Give it a mix, shake in more crushed ice and top with soda water.

Keep the whisky's flavour's front of mind with a mint sprig and a lemon slice on top.

Trick or Treat Old Fashioned Ingredients:

45 ml - Glenmorangie Lasanta

7.5 ml - Sweet Vermouth 5 ml - Gingerbread Syrup

2 dashes - Angostura Bitters

Method:

Pour everything into a mixing glass, add ice cubes and stir for a few moments.

Strain into a chilled rocks glass, over more ice cubes, then set off the rich swirl of flavours with a spiralling lemon twist.

Cookie Monster Sour Ingredients:

50 ml - Glenmorangie Lasanta

10 ml - Gingerbread Syrup

10 ml - Vanilla Syrup

20 ml - Lemon Syrup

2 dashes - Angostura Bitters

2 dashes - Chocolate Bitters

10 ml - Egg White

Method:

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

Fill the shaker with cubed ice and shake for 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a chilled rocks glass over cubed ice.

Garnish with a ginger biscuit dipped in white chocolate.

Bloody Rob Roy Ingredients:

50ml Ardbeg Wee Beastie

20ml Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes Angosutra Bitters

Orange Twist

Cherry

Method:

Add all liquid ingredients to a mixing glass, stir for dilution.

Strain into a coupe glass, garnish and serve Bramble Bite

Ingredients:

50ml Ardbeg Wee Beastie

20ml Fresh Lemon Juice

10ml Vanilla Syrup

15ml Blackberry Liqueur

Mint Sprig

Blackberry

Method:

Add Ardbeg, lemon juice and syrup to a stemmed water goblet half-filled with crushed ice.

Muddle a little before adding more crushed ice.

Drizzle with blackberry liqueur and garnish with a mint sprig and blackberry Bubble Beast

Ingredients:

50ml Ardbeg Wee Beastie

15ml Nocino

30ml Acidulated Carrot Juice

5ml Tonic Syrup

60-90ml Soda Water

1 pinch salt

Basil

Saffron

Method:

Add all liquid ingredients to a collins glass, gently stir and then add ice.

Top with soda water before garnish.

Cocktails by Belvedere & Hennessy The Lakeside

Ingredients:

40 ml - Belvedere Vodka

15 ml - Fino Sherry

25 ml - Fresh Lemon Juice

25 ml - Honey Water

2 chunks - Fresh Cucumber

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker over cubed ice and shake vigorously.

Fine strain into a chilled coupette.

Garnish with fresh cucumber.

Belvedere Bloody Sour Ingredients:

40 ml - Belvedere Vodka

30 ml - Italian Bitter Liqueur

25 ml - Fresh Lemon Juice

20 ml - Honey Water

1 egg white

2 dashes - Angostura Bitters

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice and dry shake to froth egg white.

Add ice and shake for a second time.

Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with either blackberries or cherries.

The Rubin Ingredients:

30 ml - Belvedere Vodka

20 ml - Bianco Vermouth

20 ml - Fresh Grapefruit Juice

20 ml - Fresh Orange Juice

30 ml - Cold Green Tea

Tonic Water

Method:

Add all ingredients into a spritz/wine glass.

Fill with ice and gently stir.

Top with a splash of tonic water and garnish with a wedge of Grapefruit.

Hennessy 11:11 Ingredients:

50 ml Hennessy V.S 5 ml Raw cane syrup (or demerara syrup)

1 Dash Smoked chili bitters

1 Dash Angostura bitters

1 Orange twist

Method:

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.

Stir to chill.

Strain into a rocks glass with ice.

Garnish with an orange twist.

Hennessy zombie Ingredients:

45 ml Hennessy V.S 15 ml Maraschino Liqueur

60 ml Enriched coconut milk (preferably organic)

3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

1 Freshly grated nutmeg

Method:

Add all ingredients to a shaker with very finely cracked or shaved ice.

Shake to chill.

Pour the entire shaker into a highball glass.

Top up with crushed ice.

Add the Angostura bitters.

Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

Add a cherry on top (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Hyderabad, Oct 29 : In a major development in the sensational MLAs poaching case, the Telangana High Court on Saturday set aside the lower court's order rejecting remand of the three accused allegedly linked to BJP.

The High Court directed Ramachandra Bharathi alias Satish Sharma, Kore Nanda Kumar alias Nandu and Simhayaji to surrender before Cyberabad police within 24 hours.

It also asked the lower court to send the accused to remand if the police produce them again.

Justice Chillakur Sumalatha passed the orders on a criminal revision petition filed by the Cyberabad police seeking to set aside the ACB special court judge order rejecting remand of the accused.

The First Additional Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases had rejected the remand application of the accused when they were presented before him late on Thursday night. The judge observed that the police failed to comply with the mandatory procedure of issuing notices to the accused under section 41A of Criminal Procedure Code.

Challenging this order, the Cyberabad police had approached the High Court. The High Court judge observed the lower court did not take into consideration Supreme Court judgment about notices under section 41 of CrPC. The judge noted that if the investigating officer feels that there is no need for issuing notice, he can act accordingly.

The three accused said to be BJP agents were arrested by the police from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad on the night of October 26 when they were allegedly trying to lure four MLAs of TRS with offers of huge money.

Cyberabad police conducted the raid on a tip-off by Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the MLAs. He alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three others.

The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act. They were produced before a magistrate on the night of October 27 but he refused to send them to judicial custody, citing lack of evidence.

Following the court orders, police released the accused. Later, the police approached Telangana High Court challenging the orders of the lower court.

Audio tapes of the telephonic conversation between Ramachandra Bharati and Rohit Reddy were leaked by the TRS team on Friday. The accused discussed the 'deal' to buy MLAs and also mentioned the names of some top BJP leaders.
Chennai, Oct 29 : Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has signed two films with popular production house Lyca Productions, best known for having produced director Mani Ratnam's magnum opus 'Ponniyin Selvan 1' along with 'Madras Talkies'.

Work on these films will begin soon after 'Jailer', the film that Rajinikanth is currently working on.

Sources said that of the two films that Rajinikanth will work with Lyca, one is to be officially launched on November 5 in a grand fashion.

Image Source: IANS News

They said that already the unit of the first film has begun work and is finalising the list of actors who will be a part of the film.

Meanwhile, work on 'Jailer' continues at a brisk pace. The film, apart from Rajinikanth, also features actress Ramya Pandian, Malayalam actor Vinayakan, comedian Yogi Babu and actor Vasanth Ravi.

'Jailer', which is Rajinikanth's 169th film, is being produced by Kalanithi Maran of Sun Pictures and has Anirudh scoring its music.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Bikash Bhattacharjee, one of the greatest artists to come out of India, is recognised with restoring realism through his exquisite oil paintings and expressing the hopes, fears, and dualities of the people of Bengal in his work. His development as an artist happened in line with his ongoing commitment to finding his characters. He was admired for his talent for bringing the emotions of his adopted subjects to life. He created an impression by using intricate technical procedures to convey the empathy he felt for them.

The Arts Trust website hosts a specially curated online retrospective that pays homage to the influential artist and showcases a selection of works from the years 1950 to 2000.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New Delhi, Oct 29 : A team of researchers has found a sharp increase in the incidence of stroke in young adults, especially among the working professionals.

Among young people who had a stroke, there was a significant increase in the proportion who were in more skilled occupations, particularly for professional or managerial jobs.

This could suggest a role for work-related stress, low physical activity, and long working hours, each of which were more strongly associated with risk of stroke than heart attack.

The findings from the study published in the journal JAMA on the 'World Stroke Day 2022', which analysed the rate of new stroke cases in Oxfordshire in the UK over the last 20 years, reflect emerging evidence that young stroke is a growing problem in high-income countries.

"Establishing the importance of known risk factors in young stroke will help to raise general awareness of the need for better control. We also need better ways of identifying young people at high risk of stroke, as current risk models are based on predictors of stroke in older people," said Medical Research Foundation Fellow, Dr Linxin Li, from the University of Oxford.

Stroke is a major health problem that can have devastating consequences. It happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, causing the death of brain cells and dysfunction in one or more parts of the brain.

The restricted blood supply can be the result of an artery supplying blood to brain becoming blocked, a blood vessel rupturing causing a bleed inside the brain, or a brief reduction in the blood supply to the brain.

The traditional view is that vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, play a minor role in young stroke, but recent studies have begun to contradict this view.

Dr Li's research focuses on multiple types of stroke, such as ischaemic strokes, caused by a blockage of arteries, 'mini-strokes' (transient ischaemic attacks) and bleeding in the brain (intracerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhage).

The researchers found that between 2002-2010 and 2010-2018, there was a 67 per cent increase in stroke incidence among younger adults (under 55 years), and a 15 per cent decrease among older adults (55 years or older).

A similar divergence in incidence was not found for other vascular events, such as heart attacks.

"Historically, we've thought of stroke as only affecting older adults, but studies like this suggest a growing problem in young adults," said Dr Angela Hind, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Foundation.

"Stroke in young adults can have a huge impact, often occurring when they are starting a family or already have young children to look after, and have yet to reach the peak of their careers. The economic, social and personal consequences can be devastating," Hind added.
Kolkata, Oct 29 : A special CBI court on Saturday remanded Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal to an additional 14-day judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal.

The court in Asansol witnessed heated arguments during the course of hearing as Mondal's counsel, Sajal Dasgupta, alleged that the CBI was conducting its probe to target a particular political party.

"The central agency has filed a total of five charge sheets in the matter, with the sole intention of blocking my client's bail plea," Dasgupta said and questioned whether Mondal will not be granted bail unless he changes his political party or takes retirement from politics.

In his argument, the CBI counsel said that Mondal was not cooperating during the course of interrogation.

Objecting to this point, Dasgupta stressed that his client is not aware of anything related to cattle-smuggling, hence he is unable to divulge anything.

Judge Rajesh Chakraborty then asked the CBI counsel to provide a specific date by when the central probe agency is expected to complete its investigation.

To this, the CBI counsel said although the investigation is almost at its final stage, it will take some more time.

The judge fixed the next date of hearing to November 11.

The CBI had recently submitted a fresh charge sheet at the Asansol court, in which the agency named Mondal as the direct beneficiary of the scam.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking changes in remission and parole rules in context with the parole given to rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and the release of the rapists of Bilkis Bano.

Maliwal has sought stricter laws and rules for the release of rapists and the conditions that need to be put before even considering such moves.

"On August 15 this year, the rapists of Bilkis Bano were let off by the Gujarat Government citing the 1992 remission policy that allowed prisoners to apply for reduction of their sentence. Apparently, this was done despite CBI and Special Judge (CBI) raising objections against the release of the convicts. The media has also reported that some of the rapists of Bilkis Bano were charged for crimes such as 'outraging the modesty of women' when they had been released on parole. Despite this, their sentence was reduced as even the Ministry of Home Affairs, Union Government recommended the premature release of the convicts of Bilkis Bano," Swati Maliwal has said in the letter.

She further said that recently, the Government of Haryana has released Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim on parole who has been convicted of rapes and murders and is serving a life sentence in a jail in Rohtak.

"It has been observed that the convict has been released multiple times during his incarceration. This time, when out on parole, he has held several 'Pravachan Sabhas and released music videos promoting himself. In fact, recently several senior functionaries of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Government including the Deputy Speaker and Mayor (Haryana) and Transport Minister (Himachal Pradesh) attended his 'Pravachan Sabhas' and pledged their complete allegiance and support to him," the DCW chief said.

The DCW chief has said, "These incidents are deeply disturbing and reflect the "connivance of highly placed politicians with influential convicts. The politicians continue to use rapists to further their vote bank politics, especially when elections are round the comer, which happen to be the case in both Gujarat and Haryana." "If influential people enjoying political clout can seek undue benefits while serving life sentences in heinous crimes against women and children, justice is clearly denied and any steps of the Government for ensuring safety of women and children are rendered devoid of any merit," she has pointed out in the letter.

Clearly, the existing rules and policies vis a vis remission, parole and even furlough in the country are extremely weak and can be easily manipulated by politicians and convicts for their own benefit. Therefore, to avoid any further misuse of the laws and policies, there is an urgent need to review them and make them more stringent so that justice is served, Maliwal has urged in the letter.

Maliwal has requested the Prime Minister to instruct to take up the matter of the premature release of Bilkis Bano's rapists with the Gujarat Government and Ministry of Home Affairs, so that the rapists are made to serve their complete jail term along with the matter of the parole of Gurmeet Ram Rahim with the Haryana Government.

The DCW chief has also sought the assurance of strict action against senior functionaries of the Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Governments who have attended the Sabhas of rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

Maliwal has also urged in the letter to set up a high-level committee to ensure stringent laws and policies regarding remission, parole and furlough for convicts serving sentences in serious crimes against women and children. The sentence of convicts in cases of crimes against women and children should not be reduced under any circumstances, she has said in the letter.
Chennai, Oct 29 : There is nothing called a beneficial date for investors in the case of systematic investment plan (SIP) of mutual funds, said WhiteOak Capital AMC on Saturday.

According to a study made by the company, the date of investment does not make any difference as regards returns.

"The study of the last 26 years' index data reveals no meaningful difference between the average return of different dates' 10 years SIPs," WhiteOak AMC said.

In the long term it hardly matters if the investor invests via Daily, Weekly, or Monthly SIP Frequency, as per the company.

All three frequencies end up generating somewhat similar returns. What is important is to focus on investing a small amount regularly for the long term.

According to the fund house, the mid-cap segment is a good investment option for investors seeking to invest via the long-term SIP route.

It added that small and midcap (SMID) segments may offer many opportunities for potential higher growth.
Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov has called on Washington to return the nuclear weapons that it deployed to other countries back to the US, Tass informs.

October 29, 2022, 09:55 Russian envoy calls on Washington to return nuclear weapons back to US territory

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARTSAKHPRESS: "In these times of tensions and increased risks, nuclear states have a special responsibility to prevent escalation. That said, I once again call on Washington to return all the nuclear weapons deployed overseas back to its national territory, eliminate overseas infrastructure for their storage and maintenance, and to abandon the practice of simulating the use of such weapons involving troops from non-nuclear countries as part of NATOs joint nuclear missions, which run counter to the basic principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty," the envoy said, commenting on a Politico article saying that the US would speed up plans to store upgraded B61-12 air-dropped gravity bombs in Europe.

"Administration officials traditionally refer to these weapons as tactical ones and argue that Russias arsenal of similar weapons is several times larger than the US one. However, they dont reveal the fact that all our tactical nuclear weapons are stored in centralized facilities in Russia and cannot pose a threat to the United States," Antonov emphasized. "As for US air-dropped bombs, they are deployed to European countries with short flight times to Russias border. This is why B61-12 bombs have strategic importance despite their limited capacity," he noted.

"Moreover, the US Armed Forces, together with NATO partners, regularly hold drills practicing the use of these weapons. Such training is currently taking place as part of the Steadfast Noon exercise. The North Atlantic alliances leadership claims that the activity is not targeted against Russia. The question is then who is it that the alliance is practicing using nuclear weapons against if it is our country that is described as the most significant and direct threat to security in its strategic concept?" the Russian ambassador added.
Seoul, Oct 29 : Gen Z's 'It' boys have now wrapped up their first world tour 'TOMORROW X TOGETHER WORLD TOUR ACT: LOVESICK', concluding the grand series of 19 concerts in 13 cities.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER (SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN, and HUENINGKAI) captivated the worldwide audience with groundbreaking performances starting with the concert in Seoul in July, followed by crowd-pulling stages in the seven US cities -- Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Upon completing the US leg of the world tour, the quintet extended their shows in two cities in Japan, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila, throughout September and October.

Gen Z's 'It' boys truly manifested their growth as the leading act of the fourth generation throughout 'ACT: LOVESICK' with dynamic stage composition and musical versatility.

The act dazzled the fans with performances that brought back the group's earlier times, like "CROWN," "Can't you See Me?," and "Run Away." TOMORROW X TOGETHER continued the exuberant energy with the lead singles of the more recent albums like "0X1LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)," "LO$ER=LOVER," and "Good Boy Gone Bad." TOMORROW X TOGETHER further dazed the audience by presenting a collaborative stage with their fellow Gen Z artists during the two-day Los Angeles shows.

Salem Ilese joined the stage to sing "PS5," and iann dior appeared to perform "Valley of Lies (feat. iann dior)." The quintet created a meaningful connection with fans in Asia by singing the original Japanese track "Force" and "Ring" while eliciting cheers by singing a popular song in the local music scene in Jakarta.

Along with their spectacular performance, TOMORROW X TOGETHER delivered their affection and appreciation to the global fans (MOA) by communicating with them in local languages.

MOA reciprocated with elated cheer and waved the beautifully lit light sticks called 'MOA Bong.' The fans raised the energy with a full-throated singalong of the Korean lyrics and the chanting of the names of the five members.

At the final show of the 'ACT: LOVE SICK' in Manila, the act delivered a heartfelt message to the fans as the action-packed show approached the end by saying, "The first world tour was an opportunity for us five members to become a stronger team. Most importantly, words cannot express how grateful we are, as 'ACT: LOVESICK' would not have come true without our MOA's love and support. Unfortunately, 'ACT: LOVESICK' has ended, but TOMORROW X TOGETHER will continue to bring great music and performance, so please look forward to our next chapter." While on tour, Gen Z's 'It' boys received their very first nomination for MTV European Music Awards for 'Best Asia Act.' TOMORROW X TOGETHER also received an American Music Awards nomination for 'Favourite K-Pop Artist.'
Bengaluru, Oct 29 : The Karnataka government on Saturday held a meeting with the representatives of cab aggregators Uber, Ola and Rapido over high auto-rickshaw prices.

However, the auto rickshaw union cried foul and dubbed the meeting just an "eye wash".

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary N.V Prasad and Transport Department Commissioner THM Kumar of the Transport Department.

Though the details of the meeting were not made public, sources said that requests have been placed before the department to fix Rs 100 per kilometre for auto rickshaws.

The government is all set to fix the fares for cab aggregators in the wake of allegations of charging exorbitant prices. The High Court had also given directions for the government to fix the price within 15 days.

Sources say that the cab service providers are pressing for a 30 per cent hike of fares. However, the Transport Department is maintaining that they have not got any such demands.

The High Court is taking up the matter of fixing fares on November 7.

However, senior advocate Amruthesh, who represents auto unions stated after the meeting that it's just an eye wash. The meeting ended without fixing fares.

He further stated that the meeting was held only to inform the court on November 7 that they had held a meeting in this regard. "For five to six years cab aggregators have been looting the public's money. It was explained in detail in the meeting, but it ended without taking any decision, he added.

The Transport Department has given the cab aggregators a free ride without any restrictions. No auto union leaders have been invited for the meeting, he charged.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday played an audio clip of an alleged BJP man purportedly luring a TRS MLA in Telangana and discussing the party's bid to poach AAP MLAs in the national capital.

The Deputy Chief Minister also showed the photograph of three men in the briefing and alleged that "all three Dalals (brokers) have been caught with Rs 100 crore kept aside for poaching the TRS MLAs." Addressing the media briefing, Sisodia alleged, "Today, a huge example has come to the fore of operation lotus, which is being carried out by the BJP. The way they buy legislators, they topple the elected governments.. such links have been found in Delhi and Telangana. AAP has proof of it." On October 27, three men were arrested during raids in Telangana and Rs 100 crore were seized, Sisodia said.

"All three men are linked to the BJP. There were attempts to poach four TRS MLAs. On October 28 (Friday), audio clips surfaced, which further gave details of the conspiracy," Sisodia alleged.

"In this audio, the BJP's dalal can be heard luring a TRS MLA to the BJP, saying they were also trying to poach 43 Delhi MLAs and that money has been kept aside for this purpose. He can be heard saying that he has spoken to Shah and B.L. Santosh," Sisodia said.

"They tried to do this in Delhi and Punjab but they were unsuccessful. Similar attempts have been made in eight states. In Telangana, operation Lotus has been exposed," Sisodia alleged.

"If it is Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP's dalal is referring to, he should immediately be arrested and questioned," the Delhi deputy chief minister demanded.

Sisodia further said that it is very dangerous for a country if its home minister is involved in such a conspiracy.

He also demanded that probe agency should investigate the matter so that truth can come out.
Chennai, Oct 29 : Prince of pop Armaan Malik will perform at the Winter Music Fest, which is being held at The Agenda, Dubai Media City in Dubai on November 25.

Known for his hit songs in multiple languages including 'Pehla Pyaar', 'Wajah Tum Ho', 'Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon' and many more, Armaan returns to Dubai for an unforgettable live performance.

An excited Armaan Malik said: "Dubai is one of my favourite cities in the world and I always make it a point to visit it at least once a year; be it for work or vacation. I have performed in Dubai on multiple occasions and it's always an amazing time but Winter Music Fest will be different because you will listen to some exclusive edits and an unheard set list. I look forward to seeing my Armaanians there!" Armaan recently announced his first-ever pan India tour called 'Next 2 You'.

He will perform in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Hyderabad from November 19 to December 3 2022.

He has also been nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards 2022 under 'Best India Act' for his English single 'You'. Earlier this year, he featured with international pop star Ed Sheeran's 'Step'.
Hyderabad, Oct 29 : The Telangana High Court on Saturday stayed the ongoing investigation into 'MLAs poaching' case till further orders.

A single judge bench of the court passed the interim orders on a petition by the BJP seeking probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged attempt to buy four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy asked the state government and other respondents to file the counter by November 4.

Petitioner's counsel Rachna Reddy said the court deferred the investigation temporarily until further orders of the court.

She said since the TRS leaders were taking BJP's name in the case without prima facie or circumstantial evidence, the petitioner approached the High Court seeking transfer of the case to CBI for an impartial investigation.

The judge made it clear that his order is only for a few days and hence not in conflict with the order passed by another single judge allowing the remand of the accused.

Earlier, Justice S. Sumalatha set aside the order of a lower court rejecting remand for the three accused. The judge asked the lower court to remand the accused to judicial custody upon their production by the police.

Justice Chillakur Sumalatha passed the orders on a criminal revision petition filed by the Cyberabad police seeking to set aside the ACB special court judge order rejecting remand of the accused.

The First Additional Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases had rejected the remand application when the accused were presented before him late on Thursday night. The judge observed that the police failed to comply with the mandatory procedure of issuing notices to the accused under section 41A of Criminal Procedure Code.

Challenging this order, the Cyberabad police had approached the High Court. The High Court judge observed the lower court did not take into consideration Supreme Court judgment about notices under section 41 of CrPC. The judge noted that if the investigating officer feels that there is no need for issuing notice, he can act accordingly.

A couple of hours after this order, Cyberabad police arrested Ramachandra Bharathi alias Satish Sharma, Kore Nanda Kumar alias Nandu and Simhayaji.

The three accused, allegedly to be BJP agents, were arrested by the police from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad on the night of October 26 when they were allegedly trying to lure four MLAs of TRS with offers of huge money.

Cyberabad police conducted the raid on a tip-off by Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the MLAs. He alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three others.

The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chennai, Oct 29 : Jameesha Mubin, who was killed in the car blast near the Sangameshar temple, Ukkadam, Coimbatore on October 23, had earlier conducted a recce of three temples including the Sangameswar temple, along with his two accomplishes.

A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu police told IANS that the group was planning a major strike in the city.

According to investigators, Jameesha Mubin, the 'terrorist' who exploded in the car explosion, had carried out a lone wolf attack which is typical of the ISIS model of suicide bombings. It may be noted that Mubin was following IS ideology.

The investigation team also told IANS that Mubin, Afsar Khan and Mohammed Azharuddin had visited Sangameswarar temple, Mundhi Vinayagar temple and Koniamman temple to conduct recce of the three temples.

According to information, police are studying the surveillance camera near the three temples and corroborating with the information revealed by the accomplices of Mubin who are in police custody.

Police said that Mubin, Azharudhin and Afsar Khan had sourced the two LPG cylinders from an agency near Gandhi park in Coimbatore and had procured three metal cans loaded with the explosives, marbles, and nails and were expecting a major blast to damage the temple and surroundings and kill many people. However, only one cylinder exploded and there was not much damage to the temple and people around the area.

Mubin, who was killed in the explosion, is the first accused in the case along with Mohammed Azharuddin, Afsar Khan, Feroze Ismail, Mohammed Talha, Mohammed Nawaz Ismail and Mohammed Riyaz.

Of the accused who are charged under the UAPA, Mohammed Talha is the son of Nawas Khan who is the brother of S.A. Basha, the founder of Islamic terror organization, Al-Umma that had planned and executed the Coimbatore serial blasts on February 14, 1998, in which 56 people lost their lives and 200 were injured. The blasts that took place at 12 places in 11 locations of Coimbatore were planned to kill the then Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader, Lal Krishna Advani.

The police are also investigating the role of former Kerala state secretary of the banned PFI, C.A. Rauf, who was arrested on Thursday night by the NIA from his residence at Pattambi in Palakkad district of Kerala. Palakkad district is adjacent to Coimbatore.
Chandigarh, Oct 29 : A total of 49,67,092 voters in nine districts of Haryana will exercise franchise in the first phase of polling for 1,278 Panchayat Samiti and 175 Zilla Parishad members on Sunday, said state Election Commissioner Dhanpat Singh.

He said 6,019 polling booths have been set up and all preparations have been completed for conducting a free and transparent poll.

In 61 blocks of Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Nuh, Panchkula, Panipat and Yamunanagar districts polling will be held.

An additional police force has been deployed in sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths, he said.

In view of inconvenience caused to the voters, adequate arrangements have been made for drinking water, uninterrupted electricity and wheelchair so that persons with disabilities and the elderly can easily cast their votes.

Singh said after the panchayat elections in all 22 districts are over on November 27, the counting of ballot will take place simultaneously.

He said time all activities related to panchayat elections can be seen on the 'Mhari Panchayat' portal developed by NIC. In this, the nominations of the candidates and the final list of the candidates will be uploaded.
Panaji, Oct 29 : Former AICC secretary Girish Chodankar on Saturday said the 'Bharat Joda Yatra' led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is gaining support from 'non-Congress and anti-Congress' people as well.

Chodankar, who joined the rally in Mahbubnagar in Telangana, said the yatra, covering a distance of 3,570 km in six months, is for "uniting the people of India divided by the BJP".

"We are gaining support from unexpected corners, especially those non-Congress and anti-Congress people as well as students and youth of the country," Chodankar said.

Chodankar said many "non-Congress and anti-Congress" individuals are now participating in the yatra and listening to what the Congress wanted to tell the nation.

"This is a big change the way the yatra has transformed. Apart from this, students and youth who are frustrated with the BJP government over empty promises on jobs are participating in the yatra in big numbers," he said.

Chodankar said that whenever injustice is done on people, Rahul Gandhi has become their voice.

"He had launched Kisan Sandesh Yatra in 2011 and raised the issue of killing of innocent farmers in Bhatta Parsaul on the issue of farmers land acquisition. The achievements of this Padayatra were reforms brought in the Land Acquisition Act with pro farmers law called Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act," he said.

"Now, Rahul Gandhi launched the Bharat Jodo Yatra to save our Bharat from divisive forces," Chodankar said.
Kandhamal : , Oct 29 (IANS/ 101Reporters) It is 3.45 a.m. and Srimati Mailik (49) is up and about. In less than an hour, she finishes her household chores - cleaning the house, washing clothes and preparing lunch - and sets out along with 15 other women and their children into the lush green forest surrounding her village.

Fear of snakes, insect bites and wild animals looms large all throughout the journey along the uneven path, with thick bushes engulfing both sides. For the next seven to eight hours, they will collect mahua flowers, locally called mahuli. This is what a routine day looks like for these women through the peak summer months.

"There is no fixed time when we return - at times by noon, or later. In summers, mahua collection can fetch us a good revenue if the flowers are sold at good rates," Srimati says.

However, women of Mardigocha village in Odisha's Kandhamal district have been gathering mahuli without any sale for the last four months. The entire collection of 21 quintals of dried flowers lie in a closed room, tightly packed in gunny sacks.

This year, they claim to have witnessed a bumper harvest. The huge supply has brought prices down by half. In the absence of a proper procurement system, they could not find genuine buyers. From last year's Rs 40 to 50 a quintal, the prices crashed to Rs 20.

A time-sensitive produce In most households in and around forests, women venture into the jungle to undertake the labour-intensive task of collecting minor forest produce (MFPs). "My husband works at construction sites or does odd jobs. The jungles are for us (women). We collect MFPs. We keep whatever we want for our family's consumption and sell the rest," says Ambika Malik, a villager.

Mahua flowers are eaten as cooked vegetables, or dried and used in bread, made into jam, mixed raw in cattle fodder, and extracted as liquor. It contributes nearly a third of the annual income of these tribal and other traditional forest-dwelling communities.

Flowers are dried for three days after collection. "They should be devoid of any moisture content. Or else, the quality dips. But due to the ongoing rains even in October, storage and drying have become a major challenge this year," Srimati informs.

The women sell mahua flowers in the nearest market in Khajuripada town, six km from the village. "To reach there, we walk with the produce mounted on our heads for nearly three hours. There is no road to the town. We have to take an unpaved and rocky path cutting through the hill," another villager says.

The revenue generated through the sale of mahuli is kept aside for meeting medical emergencies or for family functions. "We are unwilling to sell at a low price. But if we do not sell it on time, the quality might dip. And if we sell it at low prices, we suffer losses," Srimati tells their tale of desperation.

No price-protection mechanism "We spend the entire day seeking better prices. However, by the end of the day, if we are not able to sell, we agree to whatever prices the traders offer. Under any circumstances, it is not viable to carry mahuli back to the village," says Maiti Hansdah of Sanjhili, located in the buffer zone of Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district. She, along with her sister-in-law, collected two quintals of the flower this season, but are yet to sell any.

In Burudihi of Sambalpur district's Kuchinda block, traders come to the village for procurement. "One of them bought mahua for Rs 30 per kg from five households and verbally booked a quintal from different households at the same price, saying he will return in a day to buy. Though the villagers stored away the quantity, he returned only after 20 days to offer less than Rs 20 per kg," says Fuljensia Tete.

In some places, people are forced to barter mahua at local stores. "The flowers that I exchanged for groceries will be sold at hefty rates. Because we have not been able to sell any of it for money, we have to barter it for ration," says Susham Nayak from Daspalla block of Nayagarh district.

The rates tend to fluctuate under the direct influence of traders, the villagers claim. The prices are generally high when the flowering starts, but it gradually dips to a bare minimum. "If there is a fixed rate which we are aware of, it will help us understand our finances better and sell the flowers accordingly. In absence of a Minimum Support Price (MSP), we continue to struggle," Nayak adds.

Conflicting laws on procurement Recently, mahua was included under the Centre's 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price and Development of Value Chain for MFP', making it eligible for sale under MSP. But in Odisha, the storage, possession and sale of mahua are strictly regulated under the Excise Rules, affecting the livelihood prospects of forest dwellers.

The MSP is decided by the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation (TDCC), which functions under Odisha SC/ST Development Department. The TDCC does not procure mahua flowers because of the Excise law.

"The storage, export and sale of mahua flowers, which are used to make liquor, are regulated under the Excise policy. To avoid any overlap, mahua flowers do not come under the TDCC ambit. The same goes for many other forest products, as they conflict with certain other State or Central laws," says Chandan Gupta, marketing manager, TDCC.

Under the State Excise Rules, "storage or possession of mahua flower shall remain open for inspection at any time by day or night by any officer of the Excise or Police Department." Mahua has always been controlled by the State Excise laws, except for a brief period when it was nationalised in 1991. Its procurement and trading again came under existing Excise law from March 1992.

The Excise Department issues permits for collection and storage by charging a nominal licence fee. After the enactment of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Policy, 2000, the procurement and trade rights of mahua were handed over to village panchayats, but it continued to be regulated by the Excise Department under the Bihar and Orissa Excise Act, 1915, thus making illegal the storage and collection beyond a certain amount by forest-dwelling communities.

"Mahua flowers are used for various purposes, but the law defines the produce as an intoxicant. As a result, it comes under the control of the Excise Act. This contravenes the objectives of the NTFP Policy, which primarily aims at enabling the primary gatherers to earn enhanced income," says Y Giri Rao, Executive Director of research advocacy organisation Vasundhara.

"Even the Forest Rights Act, 2006, vests the right to collect, store, process and sell the MFPs. As it is a Central law, legally it overrides the State law," Rao explains.

"The excise policy regulates the storage of more than two quintals, for which a licence is required," says Rama Chandra Palata, Deputy Excise Commissioner, Excise Directorate. Regarding traders, Palata says, "A lot of traders from nearby states are involved, which leads to illegal exports and lack of proper payment. Our teams keep intercepting them during their routine inspections." (Aishwarya Mohanty is a Bhubaneshwar-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)
Islamabad, Oct 29 : Pakistan Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has assailed PTI chief Imran Khan over Friday's speech in which he critcised the army's top brass, media reported.

"This narrative has been destroyed in Pakistan, Imran Khan sahib, and is now only being celebrated in India," she said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Dawn reported.

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif responded to Imran's speech at Shahdara earlier on Saturday where the latter took aim at the DG ISI.

In a tweet, Asif said: "Today, war is fought on the basis of media and narrative. In this age, by making the army the topic of his speeches by targeting the ISI, Imran Khan is creating a narrative that can be of India but not of a Pakistani." He added: "Especially of that Pakistani who was given complete cooperation by those very institutions, and given respect by the country - which was undeserved.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb categorically ruled out any negotiations or talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.

"I've categorically said this person is not worth talking to - he is a liar," she said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, adding that negotiations could not be done on the streets.

Separately, state-run PTV reported that Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a nine-member committee to look after the law and order situation amid the PTI's long march to Islamabad.

The committee is headed by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and includes Marriyum among others.
The statement of the President of the Russian Federation during the meeting of the "Valdai" International Club inspires certain hopes that these goals are completely achievable.

October 29, 2022, 11:04 The statement of the President of the Russian Federation inspires certain hopes. We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic will be fully protected. President Harutyunyan

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan wrote on his Facebook page, referring to the latest developments of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations and the expectations related to the future of Artsakh in that context.

"A number of power centres submitted proposals to the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the key issues regarding the settlement.

The proposed principles and approaches, in case of their acceptance and realisation, will have a crucial importance for both the Republic of Artsakh and its people, and for Armenia and other countries of the region.



Thats why we have no right to make mistakes as any of them may become fatal. We are confident that those proposals and principles that deny the right of people of Artsakh to self-determination, deprive of the prospects of fair settlement of the conflict and bring into a question the existence of Artsakh should be rejected once and forever. This stems not only from the interests of the Republic of Artsakh, but also from those of the entire Armenian people, as the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh together form a single homeland and inseparable set of values and interests.



We welcome the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia stating that Armenia agreed to work towards the establishment of interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in early September of the current year, based on the principles and parameters presented by Russia, and is ready to reaffirm this at the high-level meeting to be held in Sochi on October 31.



Of course, as a result of the negotiation process, we would like to achieve a fair and final settlement of the Karabakh conflict and international recognition of the independent status of the Republic of Artsakh. However, taking into account the existing challenges and limited possibilities, in our opinion, the Russian proposals mostly meet the minimum standards that allow to ensure the security of Artsakh and do not throw into question its future.



We voice hope that as a result of the tripartite summit to be held on October 31, it will be possible to ensure the elements related to the fate of Artsakh. First of all, we are talking about the untimely extension of the mission of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Artsakh. Their presence in Artsakh is of vital importance, because since November 2020, Russian peacekeepers bear the main responsibility for the security of the Republic of Artsakh and its people. The second key parameter is the maintenance of at least the current status of Artsakh.



The statement of the President of the Russian Federation during the meeting of the "Valdai" International Club inspires certain hopes that these goals are completely achievable.



We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic and, first of all, the inalienable right of the Artsakh people to self-determination will be fully protected during the upcoming negotiations. International recognition of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and the results of the realization of that right has no alternative.



We are confident that with joint efforts we will succeed in preventing the legitimization of the consequences of the illegal use of force by Azerbaijan and its allies against the Republic of Artsakh, thus ensuring conditions for a safe and prosperous future of our homeland and people," President Harutyunyan wrote.
New Delhi, Oct 29: In a clever legal move, contractor Gurinder Singh Bhappa key accused in the infamous Rs 1000 crore Irrigation Department scam has asked the court to release his 8 prime properties attached by the Vigilance Bureau with the corruption case. The matter is now fixed for the next hearing on November 10 before Additional Sessions Judge Harpal Singh.

Gurinder has contended that these properties are in the joint ownership of his other members of the family who want to sell them off. No other members of his family are accused in the corruption case hence they cannot be stopped from selling their properties. He has offered to deposit money equivalent to the value of his share in these properties.

The VB, through Public Prosecutor S S Sahota, has responded by a strongly worded reply to Gurinder's application saying that the properties in question cannot be legally detached from the pending case because the value of the Rs 1000 crore scam had been just an estimate while the exact magnitude of the scandal may vary as evidence emerges.

It is learnt that Gurinder offered to deposit a meagre amount of around Rs 8 crore on the basis of value mentioned in sale deeds registered a decade ago. The market value of these properties is now estimated to be over Rs 100 crore.

The VB got the valuation of the property done by government departments as per norms and found that Gurinder was hiding the real value which amounts to hoodwinking the law.

Counsel for Gurinder explained that the value of any property is variable depending on market mood. Had the value of a Rs 100 crore property attached by VB decreased to Rs 80 lakh during the pendency of the case, will the Bureau fill the gap by paying Rs 20 lakh from its pocket after the accused is acquitted, he remarked.

Similarly, the value of the property sought to be detached has to be calculated at the time of its registered purchase, he stressed.

In another related development, some time ago Gurinder managed to get a favourable order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and succeeded in getting payments for some works that were earlier held back by the Irrigation Department due to the corruption case. An amount of over Rs 65 crore was released to him with applicable interest.

The VB officers investigating the case are now questioning the role of the present Irrigation Department officers as they promptly released the payment without going in for a review of the court decision. The Department could have also moved the Apex Court if efforts in the High Court had failed as the sum involved was large. But the Department did not do it for reasons best known to its officers.

A fresh look into the Irrigation Department scam by the new team of VB has found glaring discrepancies in the investigations done by the previous team under the leadership of B. K. Uppal, the then Director VB. Several guilty engineers and other officers who were involved in the fraudulent allotment of tenders to the blue-eyed contractor were arbitrarily and unreasonably excluded from the 13 charge sheets filed in courts.

A senior officer associated with the case suspects that those who greased the palms of the then-officers at the helm were allowed to go scot-free. "We are now consulting legal experts for initiating possible course correction measures," says the officer who does not want to be quoted.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Mumbai, Oct 29 : Maharashtra State Covid-19 Task Force (SCTF) has expressed fresh concerns as the after-effects of the Coronavirus like diabetes, brain fog and heart diseases are shooting up, officials said here on Saturday.

It has called for monitoring and follow-up of recovered Covid-19 patients as necessary besides recommending use of face masks in hospitals and clinics by medicos, healthcare workers and others.

The SCTF said after studying the Covid-19 variant XBB found in the state, Singapore and other countries, it has concluded that even if the number of cases increases, the new variant seems 'mild'.

Accordingly, most patients can be treated in home isolation with a minimum number needing hospitalisation.

Dr. Shubhangi Deshmukh, head of Holistic Healthcare & Panchakarma Centre, in the posh Powai - the first specialising in post-Covid treatment-cum-rehab in Maharashtra - said that recovered Covid-19 patients complaining of all types of residual or even new health issues have been flocking to her clinic for treatment.

"So far, we have successively treated and rehabilitated more than 6,000 patients for issues like weakened lungs, breathing problems, general body weakness, bone and limbs problems, respiratory or digestive-related issues. Most of these complications are an outcome of the powerful Covid-19 drugs given during treatment, though it was not necessary," Dr. Deshmukh explained to IANS.

According to the State Health Department, till date, 36 XBB variant cases have been detected, of which 32 were treated in home quarantine and the rest four had to be admitted, but nobody required oxygen support or ventilators.

The maximum was in Pune (21), Thane (10), Nagpur (2), and one each in Raigad, Akola and Amravati.

Of the 36, six were previous Covid-19 patients, while 34 were fully vaccinated including five with booster doses.

Meanwhile, the state Covid-19 cumulative cases since March 2020 have risen to 81,31,458 while a staggering 148,385 deaths have been reported so far - both highest in the country, with a current recovery rate of 98.16 percent.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Oct 29 : A 17-year-old teenager has been stabbed to death by two juveniles near his house here in Patel Nagar area, the police said on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Manoj Kumar Negi, a police officer said, adding the two accused have been apprehended.

The gruesome episode was captured in a CCTV camera installed in the area.

In the CCTV footage, two teenagers are seen engaged in a scuffle. After a while, another boy comes -- seems to be carrying something in his hand, comes there, and attacks the victim.

The teenagers later can be seen fleeing while the victim can be seen faltering and taking his mobile phone out of the pocket. But soon he collapses near a bike on the street, and a knife can be seen stuck on his back.

While he was lying in a pool of blood on the streets, people kept watching and passing through the narrow street without helping him, as per the CCTV footage.

A senior police officer said that at 9.22 p.m. on Friday night, an information was received at Patel Nagar police station about a stabbing incident.

Manoj was taken to Sardar Patel hospital where he was declared brought dead.

"On the basis of a statement given by the victim's father, Chandan Singh Negi, a case under section 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC has been registered," the police official said.

"In his statement, Manoj's father also alleged when he was taking his son to the hospital, Manoj told him that the two juveniles were making comments on his sister and had indulged in eve teasing," said a police officer.

"Manoj had even warned and slapped one juvenile a few days ago. Aggrieved by this act, the accused with the motive to take revenge, stabbed Manoj multiple times with knives on Friday night while he was coming home after attending computer class," said the police officer.

"The accused juveniles have been apprehended and a knife used to commit the crime has also been recovered from their possession." Police said that till date no complaint has been made by the victim girl or from her family members regarding molestation or sexual harassment at Patel Nagar police station.

"Further investigation is going on and if any conspiracy on the part of any other person shall be found, legal action shall be taken up accordingly," the police said.
Moscow, Oct 29 : Britain's Royal Navy played a part in orchestrating and staging the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday, the media reported.

The accusation follows the Russian Foreign Ministry's claim that NATO conducted a military exercise during the summer, close to the location where the undersea explosions occurred, RT reported.

Writing on its official Telegram channel, the ministry alleged that Royal Navy operatives "took part in planning, supporting and implementing" a "terrorist attack" to blow up the gas pipelines on September 26.

According to the Defence Ministry, the same British operatives were involved in the training of Ukrainian military personnel who recently attacked ships of Russia's Black Sea fleet, which were implementing a grain deal between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the UN and Turkey, RT reported.

The pipelines, which were built to deliver Russian natural gas directly to Germany, abruptly lost pressure on September 26, following a series of underwater explosions off the Danish island of Bornholm.

Both Western countries and Russia sounded the alarm about the incident, with Moscow denouncing it as a terrorist attack and calling for an investigation into the matter.

In late September, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that this summer, NATO conducted military drills not far from Bornholm, which featured intensive use of "deep-sea equipment'' .

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal, citing German officials familiar with the investigation, reported that the blasts which damaged the pipelines were caused by sabotage.

While the officials stopped short of naming the culprit, they were said to be "working under the assumption that Russia was behind the blasts".

Moscow has repeatedly denied that it had anything to do with the incident, RT reported.

Meanwhile, Sky News has cited a UK defence official as saying Nord Stream 1 and 2 could have been damaged by a remotely detonated underwater explosive device.

At that time, the broadcaster said the pipelines might have been breached by mines lowered to the seabed, or explosives dropped from a boat or planted by an undersea drone.
Hyderabad, Oct 29 : After a hectic 'RRR' promotion tour in Japan, actor Ram Charan has hit the safari trail in Africa. The actor is currently in Tanzania, taking in the sights and sounds of the rich wildlife from close quarters.

Ram Charan is vacationing in the most untouched and untamed part of Africa with his family and friends, and appears to be enjoying every moment in the lap of nature.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the actor could be seen driving around, cooking eggs along with the locals and also taking pictures of big cats in their natural habitat.

Ram Charan and his wife Upasana had earlier shared pics of their sojourn in Japan. The actor, along with co-star Jr NTR, and 'RRR' director S.S. Rajamouli had toured Japan to promote the movie, which recently had its theatrical release there.

'RRR' became a pan-India hit this year, grossing more than Rs 1,000 crore.
Chandigarh, Oct 29 : More than 105 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy arrived in marketing yards in Punjab, out of which 104 lakh MT paddy was procured till Saturday.

In neighbouring Haryana, a record 52 lakh MT paddy has been procured and Rs 10,000 crore paid to farmers.

Punjab Food Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said timely purchase, payment and lifting is going on smoothly in each 'mandi'. All arrangements of 'bardana', labour and transportation have been made.

As of now, the marketing yards are witnessing an arrival of nearly 7.5 lakh MT in a day, and almost all paddy is purchased by the end of the day.

About the minimum support price (MSP) payment, Kataruchak said nearly Rs 15,400 crore has been released directly into the accounts of farmers and another Rs 2,000 crore has been approved and would be released on Monday.

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said the government had set a target of making payment to the farmers in just 48 hours.

Chairing a review meeting here, Chautala directed the officers to submit a report regarding the compensation of the crops damaged by the recent heavy rains so that the farmers could get their compensation at the earliest.

He said 46 lakh MT paddy was procured till this date last year, whereas this time 52,47,111 MT paddy has been procured, which is 13 per cent more.

In Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal districts, there has been more procurement than normal, he said.

Regarding procurement of bajra, Chautala said 81,313 MT has been procured by HAFED at the MSP. The highest purchase of 22,223 MT was done in Bhiwani. Similarly, 15,710.45 MT has been procured in Jhajjar and 14,757 MT in Mahendragarh.

The procurement of groundnut will start on November 1. For this, seven marketing yards have been set up in Fatehabad, Hisar and Sirsa districts. The groundnut would be procured at Rs 5,850 per quintal.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, along with other naval commanders will review the major operational, materiel, logistics, training and administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last few months at the second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference scheduled to held here between October 31 and November 3.

At the conference, the senior naval officers will deliberate upon the future plans for important activities and initiatives. The conference will also dwell upon the dynamics of the geostrategic situation of the region and the Navy's readiness to deal with the same.

The conference serves as a platform for naval commanders to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level through an institutionalised forum.

Due to the dynamic and fast-paced developments in security imperatives in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as in other parts of the world, the conference has its own significance and relevance.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the conference and interact with the naval commanders on matters pertaining to national security.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Manoj Pande and the Chief of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, would also interact with the naval commanders during the conference to address the convergence of the three services vis-a-vis the common operational environment, and avenues of augmenting tri-service synergy and readiness towards the defence of the nation and India's national interests.

The Navy has focused on being a combat ready, credible and cohesive force with a future-ready outlook and continues to assiduously execute its mandate. The Navy has witnessed significant growth in its operational tasking over the years in consonance with India's rising maritime interests.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday while speaking on the amendments to the IT intermediary Rules 2021 said protection of Constitutional rights of Indian citizens is a must, adding India is a trustee of rights of its citizens and Digital Nagriks.

In a major push towards an Open, Safe and Trusted and Accountable Internet, the Ministry of Electronics and IT notified these amendments aimed at protecting the rights of "Digital Nagriks".

It also enhances due diligence requirements and ensuring accountability of social media and other intermediaries. They have been notified against the backdrop of complaints regarding the action/inaction on the part of the intermediaries on user grievances regarding objectionable content or suspension of their accounts.

The intermediaries now will be expected to ensure that there is no uploading of content that intentionally communicates any misinformation or information that is patently false or untrue hence entrusting an important responsibility on intermediaries.

The rules also have made it explicit for the intermediary to respect the rights accorded to the citizens of India under the Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Elaborating on the new sets of rules, Chandrasekhar said these amendments have been made to ensure that internet is open, safe and trusted and accountable for our "digital nagriks".

The amendments were notified after the Ministry followed an exhaustive public consultation process involving all stakeholders.

Sharing the government's vision and intent to work along with intermediaries for achieving the common goal of keeping the internet safe and trusted, the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship affirmed that "these rules marks new partnership between the government and intermediaries in making and keeping our internet safe, trusted and accountable".

Currently, intermediaries are only required to inform users about not uploading certain categories of harmful/unlawful content.

These amendments impose a legal obligation on intermediaries to take reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading such content.

The new provision will ensure that the intermediary's obligation is not a mere formality.
Kolkata, Oct 29 : The West Bengal government might take a concrete decision on the payment of dearness allowance (DA) arrears to the state government employees and make an announcement on this count before November 4, sources said.

Incidentally, November 4 is the deadline for Chief Secretary H.K. Dwivedi and Finance Secretary Manoj Pant to file affidavit in the Calcutta High Court, explaining why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for not honouring its judgement directing the state government to clear DA arrears by August 19.

According to sources, the state government is now left with three choices. First, the Chief Secretary and the Finance Secretary file affidavit as directed by the court on September 22. In that case, the legal discourse will be based on the arguments mentioned in the affidavit.

Second, the state government challenges the Calcutta High Court order on payment of DA arrears in the Supreme Court, which will lead to another round of legal battle. The Confederation of State Government Employees, which has been fighting a long legal battle on this issue, has already filed a caveat in the apex court on this count.

Third, the state government takes a decision and makes an announcement on arrear payment, and accordingly update the high court in this matter to avoid contempt of court proceedings.

Till now there has been no hint on the part of the state's legal department about approaching the Supreme Court, and hence the state government employees are hopeful of some positive announcement before November 4.

According to the General Secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees, Malay Mukherjee, they are ready to fight the matter till the end at the apex court if the state government wishes to.

"We are confident of victory. But I think another legal battle will only add to the delay. Hence, it would be wise on the part of the state government to make an announcement on this count before November 4, and avoid contempt of court proceedings," Mukherjee said.
Hyderabad, Oct 29 : The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Saturday released a 'chargesheet' against the BJP for miserably failing the country and for its indifferent attitude towards Telangana.

TRS working president and minister K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) released the chargesheet ahead of the November 3 by-election to Munugode Assembly seat.

The minister lashed out at the BJP-led central government for what he called its failed promises and blatant lies.

Mentioning a host of contemporary issues in the chargesheet, KTR came down heavily on the ruling dispensation at the centre. He told reporters that the TRS is filing the chargesheet on behalf of various aggrieved sections of the society.

The TRS leader alleged that the BJP government has not allocated even a single rupee to Telangana in the last eight years.

"We are asking for votes by showcasing the development done in the last eight years and promising what we will do to Munugode if we win. On the contrary, the BJP is resorting to personal abuses and making degrading remarks on our honourable chief minister," KTR said.

The chargesheet has mentioned that the BJP did not get moved by the plight of fluoride victims in Munugode nor they safeguarded the livelihood of weavers. It also speaks about the ruling BJP's gross injustice towards Telangana like dishonouring the reorganisation act promises, and the party's decisions against the interests of Telangana.

The document also highlighted the effect of the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials on the commoners and how Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-farmer policies are sounding a death knell for the farming sector.

The 13-page document also explains in detail how the central BJP government and some BJP-ruled states cheated the backward classes. It also speaks about how the BJP misled the citizens of the country and how they fooled the youth of the nation and the way they discriminated against the students of Telangana.

KTR said that the BJP has sold the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and many navaratna and miniratna companies. He added that the Modi government has tripled the price of cooking gas cylinders thus making life miserable for crores of Indians.

The minister went all guns blazing on the BJP for benefitting their 'corporate friends'.

"On one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote off corporate loans worth Rs 11.5 lakh crore while on the other, he is terming the welfare schemes given to the poor as freebies and revdis," KTR said.

He pointed out that after the independence, in 67 years, all the PMs have cumulatively made a debt of Rs 55.97 lakh crore while PM Narendra Modi himself made a debt of Rs 110 lakh crore in just 8 years.

KTR has appealed to the voters of Munugode to be aware of the 'jumlas' and 'jhoot' of the BJP and asked the electorate to punish the saffron party in the ensuing bypoll.
After two decades of being split into two or three state state Senate districts, Cayuga County will have one representative beginning in January.

Three candidates are running in the new 48th Senate District, which includes all of Cayuga County and most of Onondaga County. State Sen. Rachel May, a Syracuse Democrat, is the incumbent. She is seeking her third two-year term. Her opponents are Julie Abbott, a Republican from Skaneateles who serves as an Onondaga County legislator, and Justin Coretti, an Owasco attorney and the Conservative candidate in the race.

Before being elected to the state Senate in 2018, May was the director of sustainability education at Syracuse University. She told The Citizen she enjoys her current position because it allows her to solve problems and listen to constituents about what they view as the important issues.

"I think between some of the real concerns we're seeing about our smaller cities and our environment there are some big issues to work on," May said. "I think the issues about the Finger Lakes and water quality are massive. And the Micron deal coming here is going to pose a lot of exciting challenges but working on things like affordable housing and transportation. Those are going to be really important."

Abbott is a former journalist  she was an anchor on NewsChannel 9 in Syracuse  and was a Skaneateles school board member before being appointed as an Onondaga County legislator. She was elected to a full two-year term in 2019 and reelected in 2021.

Her inspiration for running is central New York. Between agriculture, the Finger Lakes and children of the region, she wants to strike the right balance between supporting farms and protecting the environment.

"Everything that is in this district motivates me," Abbott said.

Coretti was not planning to run for political office this year, but challenged Abbott for the Conservative nomination. His primary bid was successful and he has the party's ballot line for the upcoming general election.

He thinks he offers something different than Abbott and May, both of whom he believes are not conservative enough for the district.

"Somebody needs to do this job and needs to get some stuff done up in Albany because nothing appears to be getting done," Coretti said.

The candidates have different priorities if they are elected to represent the 48th district. May wants to focus on quality-of-life issues, such as crime, education, housing, transportation and workforce development. Abbott wants to rein in government spending, cut taxes, reexamine criminal justice reforms made by the Democratic-led state Legislature and address mental health needs. Coretti says tackling crime, especially offenses linked to substance abuse, and improving the region's economy are among his top priorities.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting begins on Saturday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6.

On the issues

Bail reform

Abbott: She thinks that while the bail reform law is well intended, it is "hurting our communities." She would like to revamp the law. "It needs to change," she said.

Coretti: He wants the law abolished. "I don't think the bail reform is necessary," he said. He supports more funding for law enforcement and a greater focus on treating substance abuse.

May: She agrees that crime must be addressed, but doesn't think further changes to bail reform is the answer. She also noted that recent data shows bail reform has not been linked to an increase in crime. She supports policies to combat crime, such as addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Farmworker overtime threshold

Abbott: She opposes lowering the overtime standard for farmworkers from 60 to 40 hours over the next 10 years. She thinks the state Legislature should take action to reverse the plan accepted by state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. She also criticized state subsidies to help farms cover overtime costs.

Coretti: While he thinks it's unfair that farmworkers are held to a different overtime standard than workers in other industries, he also does not want to harm farms. He thinks the economic impact of such a change should be examined.

May: She supports the 40-hour threshold and views the state subsidies as a way to "soften the blow" for farmers.

Education aid

Abbott: She wants the state to develop a "fair and equitable formula" to determine aid for school districts like Auburn. She does not want a formula that gives downstate school districts more money than upstate schools. "We have to invest equally in the education of all of our students," she said.

Coretti: He supports education funding, but also wants targeted help for students with special needs. As an attorney, he's worked with families of students with disabilities. He thinks the educational programs for these students should be updated and the state should provide more aid.

May: The first focus, she said, is on ensuring the funding is available. She said state Sen. Shelley Mayer, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, has been holding hearings and roundtables on the school aid formula. The metrics used to determine aid are outdated, which affects Auburn and other districts. "I think we have to take a very hard look at how that money is allocated and make sure that it's going to the kids and the teachers who need it the most."

Water quality

Abbott: She wants to improve how the state distributes grant money for water quality projects. She thinks there is too much bureaucracy in the process and it "disincentivizes our groups from wanting and being able to attain the money."

Coretti: He doesn't want to see greater state oversight  "nothing really in New York state government makes think of efficiency," he says  but does support local efforts to ensure the safety of drinking water supplies.

May: She wants to include all stakeholders in watersheds, including farmers and landowners, to ensure that any investments are targeted to protect waterways. She has introduced three bills to bolster water quality efforts, including one that she said would protect water from privatization.

Economic development

Abbott: She believes Micron's decision to build a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Onondaga County is a positive development, but she acknowledged it required federal and state incentives "because we are so business unfriendly just to compete within our own nation." She supports continuing incentives to attract employers to central New York. "This is nothing but marketing," she said. "It's the way of the world if you want to draw businesses here, and we need businesses here."

Coretti: He supports lower taxes and incentives for people to buy homes to attract new residents. Broadband is also a priority. Better high-speed internet access, he said, could draw remote workers who can locate anywhere.

May: She also mentioned Micron's plans for central New York. She noted that the company has said they chose the Syracuse area because of its diverse workforce, good schools, recreational opportunities and good quality of life. She credited the state's investments in education, infrastructure and recreation. "I'm really proud that we made those investments and it's paying off," she said. "I think we keep investing in people and places and that's how we continue to attract the global businesses that are really looking for high-quality places to move to."
Hyderabad, Oct 29 : Hyderabad police on Saturday conducted a cordon and search operation at Paramount Colony in Tolichowki after receiving information regarding illegal stay of several foreigners in the area.

During the search operation involving 400 police personnel, 41 invalid visa and passport holders were identified who are being questioned, said the inspector of Banjara Hills police station.

Five suspects, who made transactions related to narcotic substances, were detained.

The police also seized 29 vehicles which did not have any valid document or number, including three four-wheelers, one three-wheeler and 25 two-wheelers.

The police said that an air rifle and some materials related to 'Hukka' were also seized.

The police have not revealed the nationalities of those who were found to be staying with invalid visas and passports. Several foreigners, mostly from African countries, stay in the Paramount Colony.

The three-and-a-half-hour long cordon and search operation was conducted under the supervision of Joel Davis, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone; Chakravarthi, DDCP, Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW); and Iqbal Siddiqui, Additional DCP, West Zone.

Meanwhile, the cyber crime police of Central Crime Station (CCS), Detective Department, Hyderabad, arrested a Nigerian national for duping a woman to the tune of Rs 18 lakh in the guise of marriage proposal. Amuluonye Prince Felix (50) was arrested from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The arrest was made during an investigation following a complaint from a woman, a resident of SR Nagar area in Hyderabad. The complainant had uploaded her marriage profile on a Telugu matrimonial site. A person, who introduced himself as Varun Rao, working as a civil engineer in the US, contacted her and showed interest in marrying her.

After that both exchanged their phone numbers and started chatting and calling on WhatsApp. Later, 'Varun Rao' said that he will send a gift from the US as a token of their friendship. He informed her that he is sending gold ornaments, US dollar and valuable phones in a gift parcel.

On June 1, the complainant received a call from a person claiming to be calling from the Customs department at Delhi airport. He told her that there is a gift parcel for her which contains valuable items and for claiming the same she needs pay some money laundering charges, income tax charges, anti-terrorist charges, GST etc. The woman paid an amount of Rs 18 lakh to the accused in different instalments.

During the investigation, the cyber crime police traced the accused in Greater Noida and arrested him. On interrogation, he revealed his name as Amulyans Prince Felix.

Felix came to India on a business visa in 2012 and continued to stay here even after his visa expired. He hatched a plan to indulge in online fraud with the help of his friends for which he created fake profiles on different matrimonial sites, and sent requests to innocent unmarried women using foreign numbers, introducing himself as someone living abroad.

Felix used mobile numbers starting with +44 and +1. After some time, he used to inform the victims that he was sending valuable gifts to them as a token of their friendship. After that, he extorted huge amounts under various charges from the victims.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The head of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards has told Iranians to end the weeks-long demonstrations that have gripped the country, warning that Saturday would be their "last day" of protest, a media report said.

Speaking at the funeral of victims of an attack carried out by Islamic State in the city of Shiraz on Wednesday, Hossein Salami called on Iranian youth specifically to desist from protesting, CNN reported.

"Today is the last day of the riots. Do not come to the streets again. What do you want from this nation," Salami asked, the report said.

Protests have swept through the Islamic Republic for weeks following the death of Mahsa Amini who died on September 16 after being detained by "morality police" and taken to a "re-education centre", allegedly for not abiding by the country's conservative dress code.

Protesters in the eastern city of Zahedan encountered teargas and gunfire following Friday prayers, according to videos posted on social media and provided by IranWire, an activist website. At least one 12-year-old boy was shot, according to a video posted on activist group 1500tasvir's social channels.

Salami criticised the supposed influence of American and Israeli politicians on the protest movement, alleging that they do "not call you directly, but through their media they force you to face your society", CNN reported.

He previously issued a warning to Saudi Arabia last week as his government continued to face off against protesters at home. "You are involved in this matter and know that you are vulnerable, it is better to be careful," he said on the sidelines of a military drill last week.

Salami was referring to what state news outlets called a "media war" that they say is being waged against "the Iranian youth and nation" by foreign conspirators seeking to create unrest in the country by supporting protesters there, CNN reported.

Then, on Thursday Iran again warned Saudi Arabia, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom, to "stop interfering in the country's internal affairs."
New York, Oct 29 : A Pakistani suspected of links to Al-Qaeda has been released after 19 years in US custody and sent back to his home country, the US Defence Department said on Saturday.

Saifullah Paracha, 75, spent 18 years in the notorious Guantanamo detention centre operated by the US on its military base in the island of Cuba, and a year before that in the Bagram US military prison in Afghanistan after his capture in Thailand in 2003.

He was not formally charged with a crime in a court or tried by a military commission like some of the others detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Paracha was among several people captured in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda in 2001 on the New York World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in Washington using hijacked jetliners.

"It was determined that continued law of war detention of Saifullah Paracha was no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the US," the Defence Department said.

"The US appreciates the willingness of Pakistan and other partners to support ongoing US efforts focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility," it added.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said: "We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family." The ministry said it had conducted "an extensive inter-agency process" for the repatriation.

Before Paracha's capture in Thailand, his son Uzair had been arrested in New York and tried.

But Uzair Paracha's conviction on charges of aiding terrorists and the sentence of 30 years was later overturned, based on new findings and he was sent back to Pakistan.

Saifullah Paracha who was educated in the US, was working as a businessman in Pakistan and had business interests in the US.

According to reports, he had been lured to Thailand by an offer of a business opportunity and seized on arrival.

One of his businesses was in the media sphere and he has admitted to approaching Al-Qaeda chieftain Osama bin Laden in public for interviews, but denied that he had been secretly in touch with him as alleged.

He was also accused by the US of financial involvement with Al-Qaeda.

The oldest prisoner while at Guantanamo Bay, he had needed special treatments for heart ailments.

The US government has been under pressure from human rights groups as well as from US lawmakers to shut down the Guantanamo detention facility and a review board was set up for vetting those detained to see if they can be released.

The board recommended Paracha's release last year and it took more than a year to arrange the transfer to Pakistan.

The Defence Department did not say if any conditions were set for his transfer to Pakistan.

Detainees sent back to countries like Saudi Arabia had been put through a rehabilitation programme.

According to the Defence Department, 35 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay and of them, three have been convicted by military courts and nine are under trial.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Washington, Oct 29 : After 65 lakh deaths and 63 crore cases globally, an interim report by the minority oversight staff of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP), has concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic was "more likely than not, the result of a research-related incident".

Vanity Fair, in partnership with ProPublica, scanned through hundreds of pages of the Senate researchers' findings and 236-page analysis, and has now published a detailed report.

Commissioned by Senator Richard Burr (Republican, North Carolina), a nine-person team, including Toy Reid who is China specialist for the Rand Corporation, "examined voluminous evidence, most of it open source but some classified, and weighed the major credible theories for how the novel coronavirus first made the leap to humans".

As part of his investigation, Reid used a virtual private network, or VPN, to access dispatches archived on the website of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) which is state-run and funded.

"These dispatches remain on the internet, but their meaning can't be unlocked by just anyone. Using his hard-earned expertise, Reid believes he unearthed secrets that were hiding in plain sight," the report said.

Ever since the Chinese city of Wuhan was identified as ground zero for the Covid-19 pandemic, a contingent of scientists have suspected that the virus could have leaked from one of the WIV's complex of laboratories.

"The WIV is, after all, the venue for some of China's riskiest coronavirus research. Scientists there have mixed components of different coronaviruses and created new strains, in an effort to predict the risks of human infection and to develop vaccines and treatments. Critics argue that creating viruses that don't exist in nature runs the risk of unleashing them," the report mentioned.

The Wuhan lab's newer Zhengdian campus, about 18 miles to the south, is home to the institute's most prestigious laboratory, a bio-safety level 4 (BSL-4) facility.

As Reid burrowed into the party branch dispatches, he became riveted by the unfolding picture.

"They described intense pressure to produce scientific breakthroughs that would elevate China's standing on the world stage, despite a dire lack of essential resources," the report noted.

Even at the BSL-4 lab, they repeatedly lamented the problem of "the three 'nos': no equipment and technology standards, no design and construction teams, and no experience operating or maintaining [a lab of this caliber]," according to the report.

In the fall of 2019, the dispatches took a darker turn. They referenced inhumane working conditions and "hidden safety dangers." On November 12 of that year, a dispatch by party branch members at the BSL-4 laboratory appeared to reference a "biosecurity breach".

"What has been included in the interim report are the facts the Committee has determined are ready for, and worthy of, publication at this time. The Committee's bipartisan oversight investigation is still ongoing, and what is worthy of inclusion will find its way into the final report," a spokesperson for the Senate HELP minority committee told Vanity Fair and ProPublica.

The interim report also raises questions about how quickly vaccines were developed in China by some teams, including one led by a military virologist named Zhou Yusen.

The report called it "unusual" that two military Covid-19 vaccine development teams were able to reach early milestones even faster than the major drug companies who were part of the US government's Operation Warp Speed programme.

"The lack of transparency from government and public health officials in the (People's Republic of China) with respect to the origins of SARS-CoV-2 prevents reaching a more definitive conclusion," the report said.

China has always denied that Covid virus was a leak from the Wuhan lab.

A Chinese Embassy spokesperson dismissed allegations of a lab leak and said that an international team convened by the World Health Organisation concluded that "the allegation of lab leaking is extremely unlikely. The conclusion should be respected".

"From the very beginning, China has taken a scientific, professional, serious and responsible attitude in origin tracing," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Navsari : , Oct 29 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday that the people of Gujarat are eagerly waiting for ousting the 'tyrant' and 'corrupt' BJP leaders from the state.

Mann, accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, said the people are fed up with the 27-year rule of the BJP in Gujarat and they have made their mind to show door to the saffron party.

He said the day is not far when people will teach the BJP leaders a lesson in the ensuing Assembly polls, adding that Gujarat will follow Punjab and Delhi to throw the saffron party out of the state.

The Punjab Chief Minister said the Congress and the BJP have 'mercilessly' plundered the assets of the country, while the Congress has started this malpractice, the BJP leaders took it to the zenith.

Mann also said that the winds of change are blowing in Gujarat and the day is not far when AAP will sweep the elections.

Calling upon the people to support AAP, the Punjab Chief Minister adding that even trees shed their leaves in every season. However, he said that it is surprising that people have not thrown out the BJP from Gujarat in the last 27 years.

The Punjab Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that the Congress and the BJP have connived with each other to make a mockery of the democratic values in the country, adding that leaders of these two parties have plundered money far more mercilessly than even the Britishers.

He also said that the huge gatherings at AAP rallies show that people are fed up from the incumbent government.

Mann said the people want change from this 'ineffective, tyrant and corrupt government'.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Delhi Police on Saturday registered an FIR against news and opinion website 'The Wire' and its senior editors based on a complaint filed by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, alleging that the portal "forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish his reputation".

The complaint has been filed against 'The Wire' founder Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor Sidharth Bhatia, editor M.K. Venu, deputy editor and executive news producer Jahnavi Sen, Foundation for Independent Journalism and other unknown persons for offence punishable under Sections 420, 468, 469, 471, 500 r/w 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

"I am filing the complaint for the offences of cheating, forgery for the purpose of cheating, forgery for the purpose of harming reputation, using forged document or electronic record as genuine, and defamation, among other provisions of IPC ('The Wire', Siddharth Varadarajan, Sidharth Bhatia, MK Venu and Jahnavi Sen shall be collectively termed as 'Accused')," Malviya stated in his complaint.

He alleged that on October 10, 'The Wire' had published a defamatory report titled 'If BJP's Amit Malviya Reports Your Post, Instagram Will Take it Down - No Questions Asked'.

"This report was authored by Jahnavi Sen who claimed that BJP's IT department chief has such power in Meta (the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram) that if any post on the platform is reported by him, the said post is removed by Meta officials without any questions being asked," Malviya stated.

"Jahnavi Sen further claimed that even if the publisher of the post appeals to Instagram against the removal, it does not get accepted by the system as the complainant has privileges of being on an alleged XCheck list' or 'Cross Check program'," Malviya added.

"As per the report, persons with 'XCheck' privileges are provided with direct authority to take down posts on Meta platforms. Pursuant to the report dated October 10, a series of forged and fabricated documents were being created and published by the accused persons along with other unknown persons in order to defame and cause harm to the reputation of myself and BJP," he alleged.

Earlier on October 6, 'The Wire' had published a report stating that Meta has removed an Instagram post published by the handle '@cringearchivist' within a few minutes of it being published by them on the platform.

The report suggested that the Instagram post pertained to a temple dedicated to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, showing a priest performing 'aarti' of his idol.

The report claimed that the said post was removed citing Instagram's guidelines against nudity/sexual activity and further alleged that Malviya had certain privileges to take down posts from Meta-owned Instagram.

Soon after the report was published, several questions were raised over its authenticity and the credibility of the sources cited by 'The Wire'.

On October 11, Andy Stone, the Communication Head of Meta, issued a statement that the documents presented by 'The Wire' in its report were "fabricated".

"The posts in question were surfaced for review by automated systems, not humans. And the underlying documentation appears to be fabricated," Stone had said in a tweet.

Later, 'The Wire' also issued an apology stating that it rushed to publish the story it believed was reliable without having the associated technical evidence.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Before the announcement of the dates for Assembly elections, the ruling BJP government in Gujarat seems to have played a crucial political bet on Saturday by announcing the formation of a committee to study various aspects on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

During a conversation with IANS, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, said that this decision should not be linked to the election strategy, terming it a 'historic decision' taken in the national interest.

Rupala, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, spoke on a range of issues including the decision of the Gujarat government on UCC, the entry of Aam Aadmi Party in state Assembly elections and its aggressive campaign, and the prospects of the Congress.

Here are some excerpts from the conversation: Q: Many questions are being raised regarding the timing of Gujarat government's decision to form a committee on Uniform Civil Code. Why this decision was taken at this time when the Assembly elections are so close? A: The discussion should be on whether this decision is right or wrong. Is there any mistake in the initiative to make Uniform Civil Code which has been started by the Gujarat government... discussion should be on this matter. The country needed this for a very long time. Congratulations to the Gujarat government that they have started working on this. This is not a political but a historical decision taken under national policy.

Q: But how will the Uniform Civil Code be implemented in the state? A: It is clear in the decision of the Gujarat government itself that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of a retired high court judge. This committee will give its recommendations to the state government after in-depth deliberation on all aspects of the Constitution, Law and Uniform Civil Code of India. On those recommendations, the state government will try to make it legal.

Q: But your opponents say that the Aam Aadmi Party tried to snatch the issue of Hindutva from the BJP by demanding to put the picture of Lakshmi-Ganesh on the currency notes, in response to which the BJP government had to take this decision.

A: This decision is not politically motivated in any way. It is neither in favour of Hindu nor in favour of Muslim. This is not a decision taken in favour or against anyone, but to make everyone equal. It should not be confused with election strategy.

Q: What will you say on the stance of the opposition parties? A: The opposition parties are not concerned about national interest and national policy but they are more concerned about their vote bank. That is why they are doing such things to please a particular section. I challenge the opposition parties to clarify their stance and tell in whose favour this decision is. Is it in favour of Hindus or in favour of Muslims or in favour of all? This is a decision to strengthen national policy and democracy. My appeal to all the opposition parties is that everyone should support it in the national interest.

Q: BJP is in power continuously since 1995 in Gujarat. In the earlier elections, the main contest of AAP has been with the Congress, but this time the Congress seems to be calm and the Aam Aadmi Party is campaigning very aggressively. In such a situation, with whom is going to be the main contest of BJP this time in Gujarat -- Congress or AAP? A: It will not be fair to say that Congress has has been finished in Gujarat. Congress will remain as the main opposition party here and as far as AAP is concerned, it has already contested elections in other states by talking big.... This is AAP's election strategy and it is fighting accordingly but Congress will remain as main opposition party in the state.

Q: But you are also going to announce the name of the chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat.

A: In a democracy, everyone has the right to declare his/her candidate.

Q: According to you, what is going to be the biggest issue in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections this time? A: People have seen how our governments (in state as well as Centre) are continuously working in the interest of Gujarat and the country. That is why this time also, the people of Gujarat are going to vote to form the BJP government in the state, putting their stamp on the agenda of development.

Q: How many seats BJP is going to win this time? A: It is certain that this time by winning the maximum number of seats till now, BJP is going to form the government once again with a thumping majority in the state.
Mumbai, Oct 29 : A minor boy was killed and at least two others injured when the portion of a tenement crashed at Govandi in north-east Mumbai, late on Saturday, the BMC Disaster Control said.

The incident occurred at the Dattnagar slums in Chitah Camp area around 7 p.m.

A portion of the balcony on the upper floor of a two-storey structure suddenly came crashing down.

The tragedy claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy, Pranav Ashok Mane, said the BMC.

Two others, 8-year-old Prince Ashish Kolji, and 45-year-old Jafar Mandal, were rushed to the Govandi Shatabdi Hospital where their condition is described as stable.

The legality or otherwise of the two-storey structure, stated to be an old construction, is not clear and further investigation is underway.
Seoul, Oct 29 : About 50 people are receiving CPR after suffering cardiac arrest in Seoul's Itaewon district, as huge crowds of people stampeded at Halloween parties, according to fire authorities.

Emergency officials received at least 81 calls from people in Itaewon saying they were having difficulty breathing, Yonhap news agency reported.

The stampede took place near the Hamilton Hotel in the nightlife district of Itaewon, as a large number of people were believed to have entered a narrow alley near the hotel.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who presided over an emergency meeting on the stampede, ordered officials to swiftly administer first aid and treat the injured, the presidential office said.

Yoon also ordered officials to deploy emergency medical officials to Itaewon and secure emergency beds.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed officials to make utmost efforts to minimise damages.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is on a visit to Europe, decided to return home in the wake of the accident, city officials said.

A total of 142 firefighting vehicles have been mobilised for the area.

Including some 50 people who suffered cardiac arrest, fire authorities estimated about 100 people were hurt.

As of around 1 a.m. Sunday (local time), a total of 21 people, mostly women in their 20s, had been sent to emergency rooms, officials said.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Indian Navy has been represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS (Special Forces) at the first edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise among the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzanian navies that commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

The exercise has three broad objectives: capability development to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices, enhancing inter-operability, and strengthening maritime cooperation.

The exercise is scheduled over a three-day period from October 27-29 and includes harbour and sea phases, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement on Saturday.

As part of the harbour phase, capability building activities such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure; small arms training; joint diving operations; damage control and fire fighting exercises; and cross deck visits are scheduled.

The sea phase includes boat operations, fleet manoeuvres, visit, board, search and seizure operations, helicopter operations, small arms firing, formation anchoring and EEZ patrols.

These exercises reflect India's and the Indian Navy's commitment to enhancing maritime security and cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR, Safety and Growth for All in the Region.
The candidates for the 24th Congressional District seat, U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and Steven Holden, believe crime is a problem. But that's where their agreement ends.

Tenney, R-Canandaigua, blames Democratic policies, such as New York's bail reform law, for empowering criminals. But Holden, D-Camillus, disputes that his party is soft on crime.

Question: Over the last few years, there has been an increase in crime. New data shows that shootings and other violent crime increased for the first couple of years of the COVID pandemic, but now street crimes (robberies and theft) are on the rise. What should Congress do to help law enforcement combat this rise in crime?

Steven Holden: I have cared about the issue of crime for years, so much so that I earned a criminal justice degree early in my academic career. My opponent will say we have crime because Democrats dont care about peoples safety. The claim is that serious crime, including murder, are most prevalent in Blue states with largely Democratic leadership. The Republican line is that Democrats are soft on crime and that most murders occurred in urban centers in blue states. Republicans blame this perception on police reform. But what are the facts? According to (https://www.thirdway.org/report/the-red-state-murder-problem), the US saw a 30% spike in murder rates in 2020, and it continued to rise in 2021. Based on a rate per 100,000 residents, eight of the top 10 worse murder rate states voted for Trump in 2020, and none have supported a Democrat since 1996:

 Mississippi20.50

 Louisiana15.79

 Kentucky14.32

 Alabama14.2

 Missouri14.0

 South Carolina10.72

 New Mexico10.70 (Biden)

 Georgia10.50 (Biden)

 Arkansas10.29

 Tennessee9.90

In comparison, the murder rate in New York was 4.11 and California was 5.59. Murder rates are 40% higher in Trump states than Biden states. Jacksonville (19.97) vs. New York City (5.94) vs. Los Angeles (6.74); Chicago is one of the leaders at 28.49, but most guns committed in these crimes are purchased in Indiana, where there are more lax gun laws.

Regarding bail reform, without strong evidence, the bail reform law that took effect in 2020 is being blamed by some for the spike in crime across New York state. The law was meant to keep individuals who are accused of low-level, non-violent crimes out of prison because they are unable to post cash bail. Prison time, while awaiting trial, often has serious economic consequences. The law has been refined twice, to include more judicial discretion. Data from the NYS Unified Court System states that the re-arrest rate is under 20%. Data also show that people released without bail are rearrested at rates like those released after paying bailbail was not a deterrent. Crime is spiking everywhere, including states without bail reform laws. To blame Democrat policies for this regrettable increase in violence sweeping our nation is to ignore the facts.
Belgaum : , Oct 29 (IANS) The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre on Saturday observed the 104th 'Sharqat Day' in homage to the gallant soldiers of the regiment, who sacrificed their lives on this day in 1918 in Mesopotamia, present day Iraq.

The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, earlier known as the 114 Maharattas, wrote an immortal saga with their blood, courage and endurance. In recognition of their gallant act and valour, the Battalion was awarded the battle honour 'Sharqat'.

In this particular action, the unit won two distinguished service orders, four military crosses, six Indian order of merit, 16 Indian distinguished service medals and eight mention in dispatches, a total of 36 gallantry awards which till today have not been surpassed by any unit of the Indian Army in a single operation.

To conmemorate the occasion, a special Sainik Sammelan was held which was attended by all serving officers, junior commissioned officers, other ranks and civil defence employees of the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre followed by a wreath-laying ceremony organised at the Sharqat War Memorial here to pay homage to the bravehearts of the regiment who made the supreme sacrifice.

Brigadier Joydip Mukherjee, Commandant, the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre, Belgaum, laid the wreath and exhorted all ranks to dedicate themselves to attain glory for the regiment, army and the nation.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Three abandoned children, including two boys and a girl, were reunited with their families with the help of Delhi Police.

A senior officer said that on Friday, the police were on patrol duty at Lahori Gate when they spotted three children near Naya Bazar. When asked, the children disclosed their names and the area they lived in.

"The information about the abandoned children was passed to the senior officers. A team was formed to trace the parents of the children. The police examined CCTV footages and circulated the photos of the children on social media to trace their families," the police said.

Manual search was also made at all the nearby areas while shopkeepers, street vendors, passers-by were asked about the children.

Finally the shanties of the girl was traced in Meena Bazar.

"After the mother of the missing girl met her, the grandmother of the other two boys also reached there and identified them," the police said.

The children were safely handed over to their families after proper verification under Operation Milap.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : A passenger who had sustained injuries due to turbulence while travelling in a SpiceJet aircraft has died, the airline said on Saturday.

"A passenger who was injured during the severe turbulence encountered by SpiceJet flight on May 1 sadly passed away last month," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

The airline said that it extended all possible assistance including taking care of the passenger's medical and hospital expenses.

"The company extended all possible assistance including taking care of the passenger's medical and hospital expenses. Compensation is being paid as per norms," the spokesperson said.

"The seat belt sign was on when the aircraft had encountered turbulence. Multiple announcements were made by the pilots and crew instructing passengers to remain seated and keep their seat belt fastened, which was unfortunately not followed by some passengers resulting in injuries," the airline spokesperson said.

As per reports, family members of Akbar Ansari, who was 48 years old, said he was on ventilator support for more than a month before succumbing to injuries on September 26.
Seoul, Oct 29 : Fifty-nine people were killed and 150 others were injured in a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district, as huge crowds of people stampeded at Halloween parties, according to fire authorities.

A total of 46 people were confirmed dead at the scene, and the remaining 13 were pronounced dead after they were sent to hospitals, officials said, Yonhap news agency reported.

Choi Seong-beom, head of the fire department in Yongsan, which includes Itaewon, told reporters there were a large number of casualties during Halloween festivities.

The stampede took place near the Hamilton Hotel in the nightlife district of Itaewon, as a large number of people were believed to have entered a narrow alley near the hotel.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who presided over an emergency meeting on the stampede, ordered officials to swiftly administer first aid and treat the injured, the presidential office said.

Yoon also ordered officials to deploy emergency medical officials to Itaewon and secure emergency beds.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed the officials to make utmost efforts to minimise damages.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is on a visit to Europe, decided to return home in the wake of the accident, city officials said.

A total of 142 firefighting vehicles were mobilised for the area.
New Delhi, Oct 29 : The Election Commission (EC) would be hosting a two-day international conference on the theme 'Role, Framework & Capacity of Election Management Bodies', an official said on Saturday.

The two-day conference is scheduled to be held on October 31 and November 1 in the national capital, the EC said in a statement.

The EC leads the Cohort on Election Integrity -- which was established as a follow on to the 'Summit for Democracy' held in December, 2021.

It will be inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The concluding session will be chaired by Election Commissioner, Anup Chandra Pandey.

The EC, as the lead for the Cohort on Election Integrity, took a collaborative approach and invited Greece, Mauritius and IFES to be co-leads for the Cohort.

It also invited United Nations Development Programme and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Nearly 50 participants from 11 election management bodies from 11 countries including Armenia, Mauritius, Nepal, Cabo Verde, Australia, Chile, Federated States of Micronesia, Greece, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, and many more countries are expected to be represented by their missions in Delhi.

'Summit for Democracy', was an initiative of the US President and hosted in December 2021.
Surat : , Oct 29 (IANS) Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Alpesh Kathiriya is likely to join Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday in presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Kathiriya told reporters on Saturday that on Sunday, AAP convener Kejriwal will be addressing a public rally at Gariyadhar in Bhavnagar district, when he and his colleague Dharmesh Malaviya will join the AAP.

His announcement has come on the day when Kejriwal asserted that the people of Gujarat will elect an AAP chief ministerial candidate.

Kathiriya is a lawyer by qualification. He is seen as an "urban face" who is also "polite".

He belongs to the Leuva sub-caste of Patidar community, which has a considerable presence in Saurashtra and can influence the voters.

According to AAP sources, the party is looking for an "urban face" having influence on the Patidar community.

The party had also approached Naresh Patel in the past but it did not work out.

Sources said that with Kathiriya on its side now, the AAP will try to not only woo Patidars but urban youth as well.
Hyderabad, Oct 30 : A city court on Saturday remanded to judicial custody three accused in the sensational 'MLAs poaching' case, hours after they were re-arrested on the orders of the Telangana High Court.

Cyberabad police produced Ramachandra Bharathi a.k.a. Satish Sharma, Kore Nanda Kumar a.k.a. Nandu and Simhayaji before ACB Court judge at his residence in Saroornagar.

The judge remanded them to 14-day judicial custody. The accused were subsequently shifted to Chanchalguda Central Jail.

Earlier, the High Court set aside ACB Court's order rejecting the remand of the accused Aallegedly linked to BJP.

The High Court directed the lower court to send the accused to remand if the police produce them again.

Following the order, Cyberabad police re-arrested the accused and taken them to Moinabad police station where a case was registered against them after they were caught at farmhouse on October 26 while trying to lure four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with offers of huge sums of money.

Justice Chillakur Sumalatha of the High Court passed the orders on a criminal revision petition filed by the Cyberabad police seeking to set aside the ACB special court judge order rejecting remand of the accused.

The ACB Court judge had rejected the remand application of the accused when they were presented before him late on Thursday night.

The judge had observed that the police failed to comply with the mandatory procedure of issuing notices to the accused under section 41A of Criminal Procedure Code.

Challenging this order, the Cyberabad police had approached the High Court. The High Court judge observed the lower court did not take into consideration Supreme Court judgment about notices under section 41 of CrPC. The judge noted that if the investigating officer feels that there is no need for issuing notice, he can act accordingly.

The three accused said to be BJP agents were arrested by the police from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad on the night of October 26 when they were allegedly trying to lure four MLAs of TRS with offers of huge money.

Cyberabad police conducted the raid on a tip-off by Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the MLAs. He alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three others.

The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.

They were produced before a magistrate on the night of October 27 but he refused to send them to judicial custody, citing lack of evidence.

Following the court orders, police released the accused. Later, the police approached Telangana High Court challenging the orders of the lower court.

Audio tapes of the telephonic conversation between Ramachandra Bharati and Rohit Reddy were leaked by the TRS team on Friday. The accused discussed the 'deal' to buy MLAs and also mentioned the names of some top BJP leaders.
Seoul, Oct 30 : As many as 120 people were killed while 100 others were injured in a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district, as huge crowds of people stampeded at Halloween parties, according to fire authorities.

Choi Seong-beom, Head of the Fire Department in Yongsan, which includes Itaewon, told reporters there were a large number of casualties during Halloween festivities, Yonhap news agency reported.

The stampede took place near the Hamilton Hotel in the nightlife district of Itaewon, as a large number of people were believed to have entered a narrow alley near the hotel.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who presided over an emergency meeting on the stampede, ordered officials to swiftly administer first aid and treat the injured, the presidential office said.

Yoon also ordered officials to deploy emergency medical officials to Itaewon and secure emergency beds.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed the officials to make utmost efforts to minimise damages.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is on a visit to Europe, decided to return home in the wake of the accident, city officials said.

A total of 142 firefighting vehicles were mobilised for the area.
Aizawl, Oct 30 : The Young Mizo Association (YMA), the largest and most influential civil society organisation in Mizoram, has urged the state government to set up suitable relief camps in a compact area for nearly 30,500 Myanmar nationals, who took shelter in the state after the military seized power through a coup in the neighbouring country in February last year.

The YMA's demand to set up proper relief camps in a defined area is significant in view of the reports of rising crimes committed by Myanmar nationals in the northeastern state, which shares a 510km unfenced border with the adjoining country.

As per official records, majority of nearly 30,500 Myanmar refugees, including 11,798 children and 10,047 women, are sheltered in more than 156 camps in all the 11 districts in Mizoram while a large number of them took shelter in the relatives' houses, community, centres, rented houses, government buildings and shelter houses set up by various NGOs, including the YMA.

The Mizoram government officials said that considering the small size of the state, construction of relief camps in a specific compact area is administratively and strategically not practical as it would lead to many problems, including law and order.

The YMA General Secretary, Lalnuntluanga said that the organisation during a general conference held on Thursday adopted a resolution to approach the state government for the establishment of proper and compact relief camps for the Myanmar refugees to avoid their scattered living across the state.

He added that the delegates in the conference have observed that currently the Myanmar nationals are being kept and scattered in various relief camps, villages and different houses in all parts of the state and these might create serious problems in near future.

The Assam Rifles, which guarded the porous India-Myanmar border, has also expressed concern about the increasing number of crimes, including smuggling by Myanmar nationals.

Assam Rifles officials said that they apprehended 35 Myanmar nationals this year in various anti-smuggling operations while Mizoram police also arrested many Myanmarese for their involvement in illicit trade.

To deal with the situation, Assam Rifles Inspector General (East), Major General V.K. Nambiar recently held a first ever conclave with the influential NGOs of Mizoram, including YMA and requested them to be proactive to curb the rising illegal activities involving Myanmar nationals.

An Assam Rifles official said that various avenues of cooperation between the armed forces and common people were highlighted in the conclave which also expressed concern on the recent increasing trends of smuggling of narcotics which adversely affects the livelihood of the locals.

There were several instance of crimes, including murder and buglary, committed by the Myanmar nationals in remote villages. Inappropriate activities of the Myanmar people might create misunderstanding with the local residents in the future, the official added.

The state government recently issued orders asking the Myanmar nationals not to purchase land, house and run businesses in the state following reports of shops being set up by the Myanmar nationals in some villages.
Seoul, Oct 30 : As many as 146 people have been killed while 150 others were injured in a deadly stampede in Seoul's Itaewon district, as huge crowds of partygoers stampeded at late-night Halloween celebrations, fire authorities said on Sunday.

The accident took place on Saturday evening in a narrow downhill alley near Hamilton Hotel in the famous nightlife district after a throng of partygoers flooded into it, according to witnesses.

Tens of thousands of people were visiting the area for Halloween parties, Yonhap news agency reported.

A total of 146 people had been confirmed dead as of early Sunday morning with 150 others injured, fire authorities said, adding the death toll could rise further.

Choi Seong-beom, Head of the Fire Department in Yongsan, which includes Itaewon, told reporters "many casualties were incurred as a crowd of people fell over during Halloween parties".

Victims in their 20s accounted for the age group most affected by the accident, the authorities also said.

Fire authorities initially received dozens of reports from people in the Itaewon area about patients with breathing difficulties. Rescuers sent to the scene had administered CPR on dozens of victims on a nearby road.

"As people in the front fell over, those in the back were crushed," a witness in his 20s told Yonhap news agency.

Rumours at the scene were that a crowd of people had flocked to a place to see a celebrity or candies laced with drugs had been distributed at clubs, but the exact cause of the accident is yet to be known.

Shortly after the stampede, President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over two successive emergency meetings, ordering officials to swiftly administer first aid and treat the injured, the presidential office said.

Yoon also ordered officials to deploy emergency medical officials to Itaewon and secure emergency beds.

After presiding over an emergency meeting on the stampede, Yoon instructed officials to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident.

Separately, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed officials to make utmost efforts to minimise damages.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is on a visit to Europe, decided to return home in the wake of the accident, city officials said.

A total of 848 personnel, including 346 firefighters, were mobilised for the area.

Police plan to launch an investigation soon into whether bars and clubs in the area were in compliance with safety regulations.
For residents of the Finger Lakes, there is a connection between climate change and water quality.

In Auburn, the city gets its drinking water from Owasco Lake. The emergence of harmful algal blooms has become a late summer tradition. There has been plenty of research done on what's causing the blooms to develop. One of the contributing factors: climate change.

The Citizen asked the candidates for the 24th Congressional District seat, Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney and Democratic challenger Steven Holden, for their positions on addressing climate change and how to protect water resources in the region.

Climate change

Question: There is a disagreement over how best to tackle climate change. What policies do you support to combat climate change?

Tenney: I believe firmly that we can secure our energy independence as a nation while continuing to be good stewards of our environment, and I am leading the way in Congress to make sure this is exactly what we do. I recently joined with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce the Clean Energy Future Through Innovation Act, which aims to lower carbon emissions in the power sector by 80% over the next 30 years by embracing a balanced all-of-the-above strategy. This bill harnesses the free market to increase investments in bold forward-thinking technologies that will drive down energy costs, reduce emissions, and unleash unprecedented innovation. Unlike the radical Green New Deal policies that would bankrupt our nation and raise consumer costs, the legislation I introduced is reasonable and responsible. It brings together a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure America continues to prioritize practical and realistic energy solutions.

Holden: Climate change is real, and it poses a threat to life on earth that we cant ignore. The number of global refugees rose to 27 million this year, and we have no solution to deal with this level of human tragedy. If we fail to respond to climate change, by 2050, 1.5 billion people will be displaced by extreme weather events and famine. Time is running out! Our near future holds periods of intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, and catastrophic storms. The cause is the accumulation of greenhouse gasses from burning fossil fuels. We must wean ourselves from these products and create an economy based on green energy. The US can become a global leader in this new economy, which will create millions of new jobs, while reducing our dependence on oil producers that threaten our national security. Climate change deniers who stubbornly remain addicted to the money from big oil and other greenhouse gas producers are standing in the way of progress. They, like my opponent who promotes fracking, will always choose environmental polluters over environmental protectors. Named to the League of Conservation Voters list of the Dirty Dozen in 2018, my opponent proposes to deny federal energy grants to any state that bans fracking, a destructive technology that threatens the ecology of a district that depends for its economy on the purity of Finger Lakes and its many waterways. Cutting such funding would be detrimental to our District due to it being the home of two nuclear sites that rely on Federal funds to provide clean energy to millions of New York residents.

Water quality

Q: The health of the Finger Lakes is important because many of these lakes serve as drinking water sources for nearby communities. (Owasco Lake, for example, provides drinking water to the city of Auburn and neighboring towns.) What will you do in Congress to ensure that these waters remain safe for Auburnians and others to drink?

Holden: New York's abundant rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters are used for drinking water, recreation, fishing, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. We call NY24 The Lake District because of the beautiful lakes and natural resources we have in this region. I like to say, water is life and clean water is essential to the quality of our lives. Many of the lakes provide drinking water to residents. I will work toward ensuring that our lands and waters are protected by programs that track the quality of the waters, identify and investigate sources of pollution, control these sources and develop strategies to address water quality threats. The Green Initiative for New York, the only statewide ballot initiative to pass last year, passed on a bipartisan basis, and it is something that we can build upon at the Federal level.
Noida, Oct 30 : Four armed miscreants were arrested after an encounter took place between the police and the former near Noida's Sector-58 police station area, police said.

Of the four miscreants, three were seriously injured and the fourth miscreant was allegedly trying to escape from the police.

More than 60 cases have been registered against the four miscreants. One of these miscreants has more than 45 cases registered against him in Delhi-NCR for committing robbery, theft, murder, including other incidents.

According to information received by the police, an encounter took place between the police and the miscreants on the service road of Sector-57 near Sector 58 police station area, following which the miscreants started firing on the police. In retaliation, the police also opened fire in which three miscreants were injured, who have been arrested.

The Police have arrested the three miscreants identified as Golu, Jagat and Manish during the encounter.

An accomplice of the miscreants had escaped due to extreme darkness during the encounter, however he has also been arrested now.

The Police have recovered three 315 bore pistols, live cartridges and kiosks each and one motorcycle without a number plate, one auto rickshaw without number plate, one illegal knife and seven mobile phones from the possession of the arrested miscreants.

Nearly 60 cases are registered against this gang of criminals committing crimes of serious nature like theft, robbery/snatching etc.

Nearly 45 cases of robbery, burglary and murder are registered against Golu in Delhi and NCR region. He has also earlier served a jail sentence for his involvment in a murder case.

IANS pkt/khz/
"He's a game-changer. Leaders face an uphill battle: culture, talent, and leveraging data strategically to drive competitive edge. As the father of Azure Cognitive Services, Yu-Ting is helping our clients win."

Vaital, a global software and AI innovation startup, today announced Yu-Ting Kuo, retired Microsoft Corporate Vice President and current MIT Sloan Executive Board member has joined its Board of Directors.

Widely recognized as the father of Azure Cognitive Services, Kou founded and led Microsofts Computer Vision Group, establishing a worldwide network of AI research labs and engineering teams around the globe. Yu-Ting joins Vaital after retiring from Microsoft in December. He continues his work as adjunct faculty and mentor for student entrepreneurs at MIT, Oxford, and National Tsing Hua University, where he teaches PhD and Masters' coursework in machine learning and AI ethics.

He's a game-changer. Every day I meet with leaders struggling to move faster. They face an uphill battle when it comes to culture, talent, and leveraging data strategically to drive competitive edge, said David Yunger, CEO of Vaital. "Yu-Ting is helping our clients win."

"If you consider the seismic shift we're seeing in artificial intelligence, Yu-Ting is at the epicenter. It's a blessing and honor to welcome him to our board at Vaital. Our team and clients are already benefiting immeasurably from his leadership as the pioneer of AI and Computer Vision on the Microsoft cloud.

About Vaital

Vaital is a global software + services and AI innovation firm dedicated to transforming data into growth. Founded in 2019, Vaital solves unsolvable problems for clients ranging from startups to global 50 enterprises. Vaital leverages data and AI to grow their clients' revenue and profitability at speed and scale. Learn more at Vaital.com.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP If you would like to know more about the Bluecrew, LLC lawsuit, please call (800) 568-8020 today to speak to an experienced California employment attorney.

The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Bluecrew, LLC and Bluecrew Staffing, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Bluecrew, LLC and Bluecrew Staffing, Inc., class action lawsuit, Case No. CGC-22-602240, is currently pending in the San Francisco Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Defendants allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, (f) failed to pay sick pay wages, and (g) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections  201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

As a results of rigorous work schedules, Plaintiff and other California Class Members are from time to time unable to take thirty (30) minute off duty meal breaks and are not fully relieved of duty for their meal periods. Additionally, Defendant allegedly failed to provide second meal breaks for employees working more than ten (10) hours.

If you would like to know more about the Bluecrew, LLC and Bluecrew Staffing, Inc. lawsuit, please call (800) 568-8020 today to speak to an experienced California employment attorney.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
Chinese disarmament ambassador blasts U.S. Nuclear Posture Review

Xinhua) 15:59, October 29, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song on Friday blasted the newly released Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) of the United States.

In his remarks at a plenary meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, Li said the NPR released on Thursday reveals how the United States, with its nuclear weapons in hand, observes the world and deals with other countries.

"This document hypes up major-power competition and bloc confrontation, which reflects the logic of hegemonism seeking absolute military superiority. This is clearly against the world's desire to prevent nuclear war and avoid a nuclear arms race," he said.

The latest U.S. nuclear strategy, together with its related policies and plans, will definitely have a complex, far-reaching and seriously negative impact on global strategic security and stability, the strategic security relationship among major powers, as well as on the international and multilateral nuclear arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation processes, he warned.

In this NPR, the United States has made irresponsible remarks and accusations as well as groundless speculation on China's normal modernization of its nuclear forces. It has brazenly "tailored" a nuclear deterrence strategy against China. China is seriously concerned about and firmly opposes such a move, said Li.

We urge the U.S. not to assess China in the hegemonistic way that the U.S. behaves itself and imagine other countries as rivals or adversaries.

Li noted that China has the capability and confidence in safeguarding its national security interests and that China will not be intimidated by the nuclear blackmail of the U.S.

"We urge the United States to abandon the Cold War mentality and the logic of hegemonism, pursue a rational and responsible nuclear policy, fulfill its special and primary responsibility in nuclear disarmament, and play its due role in maintaining global strategic stability and world peace and security," said Li.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
October marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the fourth-costliest hurricane on record for the United States, causing phenomenal damage along the coasts of New Jersey and New York.

For this week's episode, Gary Szatkowski, a meteorologist working for the National Weather Service in South Jersey when Sandy hit, joins the Lee meteorologists for a look back at the system that became known as Superstorm Sandy.

In his retirement, Szatkowski now works part time for the online weather service, Currently.

Also, be sure to check back Monday for our next episode. Climatologist Judah Cohen joins the team for the first of a two-part winter weather forecast series.

About the Across the Sky podcast

The weekly weather podcast is hosted on a rotation by the Lee Weather team:

Matt Holiner of Lee Enterprises' Midwest group in Chicago, Kirsten Lang of the Tulsa World in Oklahoma, Joe Martucci of the Press of Atlantic City, N.J., and Sean Sublette of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently walked into the Twitter HQ to formally complete the takeover of the social-media company after months of speculation and controversies. A number of high-ranking officials - including CEO Parag Agarwal - were almost instantly shown the door, there is also speculation now on how well Musk would be able to steer both Twitter and Tesla.

Musk is the man in charge for not just Tesla but a brain-chip startup called Neuralink, tunneling firm the Boring company and spacecraft manufacturing company SpaceX. With Twitter now added to the high-profile briefcase of the world's wealthiest person, is Musk pushing his limits? He is stretching himself thin," Dennis Dick, retail trader at Triple D Trading, was quoted as saying by Reuters. "You have to be concerned that maybe we're not going to get as much attention on Tesla as we were (getting) in the past because Twitter's going to be a big project for him."

Many also believe that the Twitter acquisition could not have come at a more precarious time for Tesla, the world's biggest electric vehicle manufacturer. While the EV giant does enjoy a massive dominance in the battery-powered personal mobility space, recent times have seen rivals - most well-established auto giants like Mercedes, Ford, GM and Volkswagen - have been gunning for glory. Perhaps at Tesla's expense.

Tesla has been trying to foray into newer paths in a bid to ramp up production as well as sales. Musk has been eying new markets to expand Tesla's presence, even hinting at a new and more affordable EV that would cost less than the Model 3. He has also been scouting for new sites for newer manufacturing plants which could come up in the UK and somewhere in south-east Asia.

But this is precisely what the concern may be, now with Musk focusing on Twitter. Will he be able to spearhead Tesla's advance as well as he has in the past? Or will Twitter and setting the bird free consume most of his energy?

First Published Date:
In Brown Boy: A Memoir (Scribner, Apr.), Pakistani Canadian writer Aziz questions concepts of identity and success.

What do Americans get wrong about Canada?

Many Americans view Canada as a liberal multiracial utopia where everyone is respected, yet theres racism, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiment. In this book, I tried to show a picture often not shown at all.

You were an indifferent student until you were struck by Barack Obamas presidential campaign in 2008. Why does representation matter?

Any teacher can lecture about diversity; until you see someone who resembles you and has done something significant, only then can you be awakened. America electing its first Black president was a watershed moment. Obamas internationalism spoke to mehed lived in Indonesia, his father was Kenyan, his college roommate was Pakistani. He received a lot of racial abuse and Islamophobic abuse. Some even asked, Where was he really from? That otherness was instigated.

What would failure have looked like to you?

Ending up where I started without any intellectual development. This book isnt just this gliding journey upwards. Meritocracy impacts the psychology and health of minorities in particular. Its this Faustian bargain: heres all this prestige, yet well take something from you. Failure would have been being condemned in perpetuity to the same spot.

You write, I boomeranged between invisibility and presence, between misrepresentation and clarified reality.... I had become a hyphenated man; no, I was the hyphen. What is the hyphen?

You have this self-image of the identity youre building, yet the white majority perceives you in a very specific way. To change that, you educate yourself, get a good job, dress well, and move up the economic ladder. But some perceptions dont change, or if they do its conditional if you get out of line or raise your voice. Its like walking a tightrope with a blindfold. W.E.B. Du Bois called it a double consciousness. I wanted to capture both sides of the hyphen.

What advice do you have for BIPOC readers who are charting their own route?

Develop the intellectual and verbal tools to understand what the system is, and how it has impacted you and your ancestors. The system wasnt made for us. I didnt let the system break my spirit; I didnt succumb to my rage. Maybe those who read this book will see themselves in it and come away with their world expanded slightly more. That would be success to me.
In Screaming on the Inside (Mariner, Dec.), New York Times opinion and parenting newsletter writer Jessica Grose explains the ways in which morally charged American cultural narratives and societal messaging hurt mothers, selling them fake images of perfection. Grose spoke with PW about how the roots of these unrealistic expectations run deep in U.S. history and how becoming aware of systemic sources of stress and perfectionism can lead to greater self-compassion.

Why are American moms so stressed?

Over the past 200 years, American culture has become more individualistic and less community-minded. When I sold the book, the title was All-Powerful and Totally Useless, because thats what mothers are constantly told that we areeverything you do is so consequential for your children, but society doesnt value you at all, or the act of caretaking, or raising children. Ultimately, its this individualistic culture thats at the root of it. Although everyone I interviewed came from different backgrounds, there was the same thread of Im doing something wrong, I could have done this better, Im failing in some way. Hearing that over and over is powerful because its universal.

Where do these impossible standards come from?

Theres so much beneath the surface of our experiences thats contradictory and strange. We cant afford to work but we also cant afford to stay home, despite pressure to do both simultaneously. Its an unreasonable and unsustainable situation. So many times while doing the research and talking to parents, it was clear that the random array of expectations were all living under not only make no sense but are in direct contradiction with each other. Theres no way we can be all these things at all the same time. In the book, I quote Ann Crittendens writing in The Price of Motherhoodall of the lip service to motherhood still floats in the air, as insubstantial as clouds of angel dustand it rings so true for modern moms.

How does social media cultivate unrealistic expectations of mothers?

Most of us are savvy enough to know, at least intellectually, that these idealized images on social media are not real life. And yet we still perform it back ourselves and we internalize it as what we should be doing. Humans are social animals; we compare ourselves, which is normal. But just having that many images in your face of the most lacquered perfection does something to your brain.

What pressing systemic changes are in the works?

I, and lots of other people, have been writing for years about how all these systems that surround American mothers are shoddy and underfunded. No childcare, no paid leavethings that are table stakes in most wealthy democracies, we dont have them. The thing that gives me the greatest hope is legislation proposing paid parental leave. More states passed paid leave as the book was being written. Everyone can understand that newborn babies need a lot of attention and care, and biological mothers need time to recover. Its among the most popular of the changes that would help parents.

Return to the main feature.
Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here

New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here.

NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com.
Coconino County moved to a medium community level for COVID-19 the week ending Oct. 22, according to the latest reports, as both COVID and monkeypox case counts continued to rise.

New COVID admissions rose to 10.5 per 100,000, above the 10.0 per 100,000 threshold for a medium level. Last week it was at 8.4 per 100,000. The percent of staffed in-patient beds occupied by COVID patients rose to 5% this week (from 4.5% last week), remaining at a low level.

Case counts rose for the second week in a row to 203 (a rate of 142.3 per 100,000) from 157 the week ending Oct. 15 (110.0 per 100,000). Positivity rates also continued to rise to 16.2% from 13.7% the week before. The number of COVID tests conducted in the country increased slightly from 1,118 to 1,302.

County residents aged 65 and older had the highest case rate (277 per 100,000) and positivity (21.2%) for the week, followed by those between the ages of 5 and 17 (a positivity rate of 20.0%).

Hospitalizations increased this week (19 from 14 the week ending Oct. 15), as did the incidence of COVID-like illness in county hospitals (to 8% from 6.8% the week before). One COVID-related death was reported this week, after two weeks with no deaths.

Coconino County also added to its monkeypox cases again this week. A total of seven cases have been reported in the county as of Oct. 24 (from six the week before).

Across the United States, 28,244 total monkeypox cases have been confirmed as of Thursday, compared to 27,835 the prior week. A total of 538 were reported in Arizona (523 the week before), according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.

Coconino County Health and Human Services is continuing to encourage residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations for both COVID and the flu. It is safe to receive both vaccinations at the same time.

"People should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine," it posted on social media. "If you haven't gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can and ideally get a flu vaccine by the end of October."

Information about COVID in Coconino County, including vaccination and testing locations, is available at coconino.az.gov/2294/COVID-19-Information. Monkeypox information can be found at coconino.az.gov/monkeypox.
Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Members from the University of Georgia chapters of College Republicans and Young Democrats took the stage at the UGA chapel for their Great Debate on Wednesday night. Both groups discussed various policy issues, as the polls close in under two weeks.
Receipt paper is a medium often discarded  crumpled in the bottom of bags, tucked into glove compartments or thrown away with other bits of uninteresting paper. For Jeremy Smith, however, receipt paper holds the daily paper trail of the last two and a half years of his life. For 1,000 days, Smith has been recording scenes from his life through drawings on rolls of receipt paper.
You are the owner of this article.
The next generation of lunar explorers is training in the deserts of northern Arizona.

NASA this week concluded a round of simulated missions through the Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) program at Black Point Lava Flow, a volcanic area about 40 miles northeast of Flagstaff. The program tested technology and equipment to be used in future Artemis moon missions -- which have upcoming launch attempt on Nov. 14 -- including a new pressurized lunar rover that will allow astronauts to traverse the moons surface for weeks at a time.

The area is no stranger to lunar explorers. Since the Apollo missions of the 1960s, all NASA astronauts that have walked on the moon, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, have trained here. The unique geology of volcanic cinders and rocky deserts that make up the San Francisco volcanic field serves as analog for the moons barren surface.

But unlike the brief reach of the Apollo missions, NASAs upcoming Artemis missions will endeavor to create a much more long-term human presence near the south pole of the moon. Leaning on international cooperation and commercial competition, NASA hopes Artemis will be successful in the development of an orbiting lunar gateway, landing craft and a base camp that, according to the NASA website, will allow astronauts to stay on the moons surface for two months at a time.

Named after the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt, the Artemis missions intend to land astronauts  including the first woman and the first person of color  on the moon within the next few years. The missions will be broken into three parts.

Artemis I is all about testing our systems, the rocket and the spacecraft to make sure they're ready and safe to fly humans, explained Patricia Moore, NASA outreach strategist. Once Artemis I is concluded we'll move on to Artemis II, where we'll have astronauts fly in orbit around the moon and come back home safely. Then Artemis III is our big moon landing, where we have the first woman on the surface of the moon. Then we'll move forward with even more exciting missions, staying on the moon longer and longer with each time.

Its all part of NASAs moon-to-Mars exploration approach, said Barbara Janoiko, mission manager for this years Desert RATS. She explained that the lessons learned through the Artemis missions will ultimately be applied to NASA efforts to land humans on Mars.

Testing the tech

A wide array of Artemis mission technology was tested by this years Desert RATS. Communication systems were one focus, said NASA communications engineer Mike Zemba. Even though they intend to use some familiar technologies, such as Wi-Fi and LTE transmission common to cellphones, theres still a need to experiment with these systems prior to the launch of the missions.

We want to make sure we understand how they perform in that lunar environment because it's nothing like the Earth environment, Zemba said. He explained there are two main differences between the surface of the moon and the surface of Earth relevant to the function of communication systems: topography and humidity.

The moon has some dramatic topographical features that dwarf those of Earth. For instance, Shackleton Crater near the lunar south pole is just as wide but nearly three times as deep as the Grand Canyon  a formidable obstacle to the transmission of radio waves.

On the flip side, the utter lack of humidity on the moon means less interference between radio waves and air moisture.

If youve ever had satellite TV, you know rain can come in and knock it out, Zemba explained. Thats one of the reason we do testing in the desert. But even in the desert, theres still more water in the soil than on the moon.

Desert RATS also tested sample collection tools -- which is a fancy way of saying shovels, scoops and grabbers.

A big thing we learned is simpler is better, said Austin Roberts, project engineer.

He displayed a series of chunky stainless steel and aluminum tools that would be used to collect material from the moons surface. Nearly unbreakable, these tools are what Roberts called Apollo heritage and are designed to pick up and place objects of interest into vacuum chambers carried by astronauts.

Things like ice or other exotic things, Roberts said. We can't just bring that back into the cabin and let it vent everywhere, so we have to put it in a sealed container.

Lighting configurations were another important piece of Desert RATS testing, as the suns low angle is known to create long, dark shadows on the lunar south pole. To simulate this, the Desert RATS crew used an artificial sun  an ultra-bright LED light that shines at a strength of 32,000 lumens, roughly 16 times as bright as the average car headlight. While this pales in comparison to the actual sun, it was enough to create the long shadows that Artemis astronauts should expect.

Those long shadows are going to create areas where you just can't see what you need to see to do geology, explained engineer Jason Poffenberger, who has the distinctive responsibility to operate the artificial sun during testing.

It was kind of my job to be annoying, Poffenberger laughed. They said I was good at it.

But of all the systems tested during Desert RATS, none was quite as striking as the new, pressurized lunar rover.

The rover

According to Janoiko, the new lunar rover is a critical piece of moon-to-Mars architecture.

Its one of the major mobility elements, Janoiko said. We've been working on it out here with our partners from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Like some kind of hulking, bulbous insect, the rover locomotes on six pairs of independently suspended and operated wheels, allowing the rover to rotate in place and move in any direction with a zero-degree turn radius, and making it incredibly useful for backing out of sticky situations or docking into port.

When moving, the rover crawls over terrain in a deliberate way. With an unimpressive maximum speed of about 10 miles per hour, the rovers shining feature is not its agility, but its endurance.

The pressurized rover design should support a two-crew member complement for up to 30 days on the lunar surface, Janoiko said. And the lifespan of the rover is about 10 years.

During the Desert RATS testing, subjects were asked to perform day in the life exercises while living in the rover for three days at a time.

As a pressurized vehicle, the Artemis rover does not require its operators to wear space suits, making it far more comfortable than the open-air rovers of the Apollo missions. But comfort is still a relative term. Despite its size, the interior of the rover is still pretty cramped for a living space.

Directly behind the pilot seats is an area of maybe 30 square feet that contains a water faucet, storage and two single bunks astride a shared toilet. There are retractable curtains for some meager privacy, but it is still difficult to imagine being refined to such a space, unable to feel fresh air on ones skin for weeks, maybe months at a time.

Nonetheless, the life-support capabilities of the pressurized rover combined with its long-ranging battery life means that astronauts will be able to use this vehicle to explore more of the moons surface than ever before possible. Where Apollo missions allowed astronauts to roam the moon for a matter of hours, Artemis missions will see astronauts roaming for weeks.

But why?

Along with the personal sacrifices of safety and comfort given by Artemis astronauts, lot of time and money is going into the missions. For Artemis-related activities alone, NASAs request budget for fiscal year 2023 is roughly $7.5 billion, to speak nothing of spending in the coming years. It begs NASAs fundamental question: Whats up there that is so valuable to life on earth?

The short answer is that they dont know, but they want to find out.

One of the reasons why we're interested in the lunar south pole is to look for the permanently shadowed regions that might contain ices, including water ice, said Lauren Edgar, astrogeologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. It's also a whole new part of the moon that we haven't been to before. So there's a lot that we can learn about the formation and evolution of the moon by going into this region.

Apart from knowledge about the moons formation, Edgar also mentioned that the potential discovery of water ices on the moon could be useful for future missions.

In Janoikos view, Artemis missions are the first steps to expanding the human habitat beyond Earth.

Exploring and expanding our human presence in the universe is just really exciting, she said. If we can enable exploration on other planets and surfaces that might enable other places to live for our children, and our childrens children.

Its not about reaching a predicted outcome, said mission manager Marc Reagan.

This is partly a scientific endeavor that teaches us about our place in the cosmos and teaches us about how this planet came to support life, he said. It teaches us about our place in the universe and, and where this all fits in and where it all came from. To me that's kind of a human objective that transcends any numbered objective with a commercial payoff down the line.

For Reagan, its hard to separate this transcendent human objective from an esoteric, even religious sense, that reaching into the stars is part of the human destiny.

He quoted German rocket designer Krafft Ehricke: If God wanted man to become a spacefaring species, he would have given man a Moon.

But in some ways, this quasi-religious rationale for a multi-billion dollar investment into the supposed human destiny for expansion into space grates against the history of the northern Arizona landscape. Here, the fallout of colonialism under Manifest Destiny  Americas other god-ordered call to expansion  casts long shadows of its own, still visible through the disparity between investments in an idealized future and a very real present.

Traveling the desert land between Flagstaff and the Desert RATS testing site, one passes an old tank emblazoned with the spray-painted words Water is Life. Just a few miles north of where NASA astronauts tested their rover lies the border to the Navajo Nation, where one in three residences still go without running water. On the wall of an abandoned hotel in Gray Mountain, only a few minutes from Desert RATS, a large mural reads American Rent is Due.

Its a dry and harsh landscape, said Verdella Begaye, who operates the gas station in Gray Mountain. She reported that she has family that survive without basic necessities in Cameron, about 10 miles from the Desert RATS testing site.

They still need help, she said. They need electricity, they need water.

Despite being the only business dispensing fuel, food and water within 10 miles of the Desert RATS site, Begaye said she had not seen any increased business or sales over the two weeks that NASA was conducting tests in her backyard. She was surprised to learn of their presence. If it had been more known, she said, it might be something big to the people around here.

All other needs aside, Begaye agreed that the idea of exploring the moon and Mars makes sense, in a way.

The world is changing, she said. And I have no idea where this is going. Its all up in the air for me.

Begaye seemed open-minded to the idea that there could be vital lessons waiting in stars. She hoped that whatever the Artemis missions discover would be worth it.

And help us, she added. In some means.
Britain on October 29 denied a Russian Defense Ministry claim that British Navy personnel blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, saying the accusation is the latest "invented story put out by Moscow.

Britain's Defense Ministry said in a statement that Russias accusation was designed to detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The Russian Defense Ministry is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale," the statement added. "This invented story, says more about the arguments going on inside the Russian Government than it does about the west."

Russia has previously said the leaks appeared to be the result of state-sponsored "terrorism" and blamed the West for the explosions in September, which ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines on the bed of the Baltic Sea built to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany.

Sweden and Denmark have both concluded that four leaks on Nord Stream 1 and 2 were caused by explosions but have not said who might be responsible. NATO and several European countries suspect Russia carried out the sabotage.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said allegations of Russian responsibility for the damage were "stupid," and Russian officials have pointed the finger at Washington, saying it had a motive as it wants to sell more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe. The United States has denied involvement.

The Russian Defense Ministrys statement said that representatives of a unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision, and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 this year -- blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines."

Russia did not give evidence for its claim but described the saboteurs as British specialists, saying they belonged to the same unit that directed Ukrainian drone attacks on October 29 on ships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

The Russian Army accused Ukraine of conducting the "massive" drone attack earlier on October 29. It said the ships that were affected are involved in guaranteeing the safety of grain shipments from three Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea under an international deal reached in July.

"The preparation of this terrorist act and the training of servicemen of the Ukrainian 73rd Special Center for Naval Operations were carried out under the guidance of British specialists located in the town of Ochakiv," the ministry said.

The Russian Army claimed to have destroyed nine drones and seven maritime ones in the attack in the occupied port of Sevastopol, headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

As a result of the operational measures taken by the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, all the air drones were destroyed, though minor damage was done to the minesweeper Ivan Golubets," the ministry said.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed administrator of Sevastopol, said the drone attack was the "most massive" the peninsula had seen.

The city's services were on alert, but no civilian infrastructure had been damaged, he said.

The Ukrainian military command has not commented on the Russian statements regarding the alleged attack.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
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.
The European Union has urged Kosovo to allow more time for a phaseout of old Serbian license plates still being used by ethnic Serbs in the country.

"Kosovo should allow for a longer transition period," Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security at the European Commission, said on October 29.



"This has been the consistent advice of Kosovo's closest partners, including the EU and the U.S. It is disappointing to see it has not been followed," she added.

Her comment came a day after Prime Minister Albin Kurti unveiled a plan to implement a new license-plate-registration rule under which the phaseout would take place gradually.



He said drivers would first be given warnings during the initial three-week period starting on November 1. That is to be followed by a two-month period when fines will be issued. There will then be another two-month period during which temporary license plates will be valid.



If drivers do not change their plates by April 21, their vehicles will be confiscated.



Kurti announced the compromise plan a day after minority Serbs threatened to again block roads if authorities in Pristina did not agree to delay implementation of the phaseout.



The European Union said Kosovo had the right to phase out the old car plates and had taken a step in the right direction, but pointed to an agreement from 2016 that foresaw a 12-month time frame for the process, which it said had not been followed.

The United States also issued a statement saying it preferred an extension of the implementation of the rule.



"Kosovo has the right to implement the license plate regime under the Brussels Agreement, but an extension of the timeline is in the interest of making progress on the EU-facilitated dialogue to normalize Kosovo-Serbia relations," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in the statement on October 28.



Massrali urged all parties to maintain calm, exercise restraint, and "avoid any actions or rhetoric that could jeopardize the stability on the ground, particularly in the north of Kosovo."



Kosovo has attempted a few times this year to require its Serbian minority to change old car plates that date to before 1999, when Kosovo was still part of Serbia.



The attempts have been met with strong and sometimes violent resistance by ethnic Serbs who live in the northern part of the country.

Kosovo and Serbia fought a war in 1998-99, with Kosovo eventually declaring independence 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 the acronyms of Kosovar 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 Serbian majorities.

With reporting by Reuters
Moscows invasion of Ukraine has dealt a deep blow to Russian foreign policy and left the countrys diplomats with an impossible task of trying to pursue the Kremlins goals amid increasing isolation.

Thats the assessment delivered by Boris Bondarev, a counselor at Russia's permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva and a 20-year veteran of the countrys foreign service. He resigned in May because he felt the war had shown how repressive and warped Russia and its leaders had become.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The attack on Ukraine has made Russian diplomacy virtually impossible in any practical sense, Bondarev told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. For me, [the war] was absolutely unimaginable, and I realized that it goes against everything that Russian diplomats should do.

Bondarev made international headlines when he quit in protest over the Kremlins February 24 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, he has issued a broad condemnation of Russian leadership over the past two decades under President Vladimir Putin, whose autocratic rule he blames for having transformed the diplomatic service into one deluded by its own propaganda and isolated on the global stage.

I observed the evolving decline in our diplomacy [and] its slide into an abyss of provocations and lies, he said. But still, until there was war and until blood was shed, I -- like many of my colleagues -- believed that I could still work.

According to Bondarev, diplomats who cabled assertions and talking points that had been echoed across Russian propaganda networks back to Moscow were rewarded, while those who challenged assumptions and questioned the official line were suppressed.

He credits this willful blindness as helping to breed to a culture that allowed for the Kremlins miscalculations that led to its war with Ukraine, where it predicted a quick victory over Kyiv but instead suffered heavy casualties and continues to face embarrassing setbacks on the battlefield.

The further this went on, the more it became clear that [Putin] was becoming the main target of all this [aggressive] Foreign Ministry rhetoric, Bondarev said. This works [against] Russian diplomacy, as [other diplomats] dont want to communicate with people who talk like thugs and hooligans. But this vocabulary was encouraged, as apparently the main customer -- [Putin] -- likes it.

An Uncertain Future

Bondarev, who joined the Russian Foreign Ministry in 2000, remains critical of the state of the countrys diplomatic corps, saying that it has become filled with yes men, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov becoming a leading target of his criticism.

It seems to me that [Lavrovs] pliability and unwillingness to quarrel with anyone [and] to defend his opinion led to the fact that the Foreign Ministry turned into a thoughtless body for the whims and instructions of those at the very top, he said.

The former Russian diplomat also provided a fuller account of his decision to resign and his experiences over the course of his two-decade career in a 6,500-word essay that was published in Foreign Affairs magazine in October.

WATCH: 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.

That essay quickly earned him condemnation in Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova comparing Bondarev at a recent press briefing to General Andrey Vlasov, a World War II-era Soviet general who was executed for treason for collaborating with Nazi Germany.

Bondarev heavily criticized the state of Russian leadership and the direction of its foreign policy in the essay and wrote that Western-led sanctions against Moscow following its 2014 forceful annexation of the Crimean Peninsula -- which targeted key high-tech components needed to produce military hardware -- were far more damaging than admitted by Russian officials.

He writes that they left our military weaker than the West understood and are one reason Russia has had so much trouble with its invasion.

Any cease-fire in Ukraine, Bondarev wrote, would only give Putin time to regroup and rearm. Instead, he says that only a comprehensive rout by Ukrainian forces will be able to stop the war. He adds that so long as Putin and the current leadership remain in power in the Kremlin, any cease-fire or talks are unlikely to yield lasting results.

As long as Putin is in power, he wrote, Ukraine will have no one in Moscow with whom to genuinely negotiate.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by Igor Sevryugin for Current Time
The firing of Denis Skopin, an associate professor at St. Petersburg State University (SPSU), for his opposition to the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine is the latest instance of a deepening crackdown on academic freedom inside Russia.

Skopin -- who taught philosophy in the universitys Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences -- was fired on October 26 for his participation in a protest against Moscows mobilization of military-age men to fight in Ukraine, where he was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in jail. While detained, Skopin and other protesters were also allegedly pressured by authorities to submit summonses to their local military enlistment office.

According to the dismissal order issued by the university, Skopin was fired for his opposition to Moscows February 24 invasion of Ukraine and for protesting against the mobilization drive that began on September 21: The act committed by the employee is immoral and incompatible with the implementation of educational functions and the continuation of this work, the order stated.

A university is a place where people should think, where qualities such as critical thinking and independent thought should be encouraged, Skopin told RFE/RLs North.Realities during an interview. Unfortunately, this is no longer possible in today's Russia.

Russia has worked over the past two decades to make its universities more prestigious and aligned with European standards -- building up exchange programs and partnerships with international institutions and trying to attract foreign talent. But as geopolitical tensions have grown with the West, Russian authorities have become increasingly apprehensive about alleged Western influence through its higher education system and have targeted students and staff who have expressed opposition views or engaged in peaceful protests.

This political pressure appears to have reached its zenith following the Kremlins war with Ukraine, which has led to strict laws on public gatherings and freedom of expression and a more blatant approach to censoring academic institutions in Russia.

Everything happening now in Russian universities will lead to -- if not the complete destruction of the educational system in the country -- then to a deep crisis, Skopin said.

SPSUs Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, known informally as Smolny College, earned a reputation in Russia as an open and forward-leaning institution. Home to the countrys first liberal arts curriculum, it had a joint agreement with Bard College in the U.S. state of New York and hosted hundreds of Russian and American students in its academic exchange program, where they received diplomas from both universities.

This had long made it a target by the Russian authorities. In June 2021, the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office declared Bard an undesirable organization representing a threat to the foundations of Russia's constitutional order. Russias Justice Ministry formalized the designation nine days later, making Bard's involvement a potential crime and effectively ending its partnership with SPSU.

The faculty was the flagship for education in Russia, Skopin said. But there is a strong bureaucratic and political pressure on the entire academic environment in today's Russia.

Academia Under Pressure

Beyond the firing of Skopin, interference into SPSU and other prestigious higher education institutions in Russia is on the rise.

At Moscows Higher School of Economics (HSE), students have been pressured with threats of expulsion for participating in anti-war rallies. The university has also seen the closure of several academic programs, the politically motivated dismissals of professors who expressed anti-Kremlin views, and a general crackdown on any public criticism of the government.

In the aftermath of the war in Ukraine, HSE rector Nikita Anisimov signed an open letter from more than 300 university heads in support of Russias invasion.

Universities have always been a pillar of the state, the letter read. Its very important at this time to support our country, our army[and] our president.

At SPSU, Smolny College continues to be targeted. While the faculty is still officially running, it has been hollowed out by program changes and the firings of several leading professors.

Students enrolled in the university also report that expulsion orders have been issued to some students who were known to have joined protests against the war in Ukraine. In September, two faculty members -- Zhanna Chernova and Viktor Kaplun -- were fired without explanation.

In the face of such challenges, Skopin says he considers the decision to fire him illegal and plans to dispute the decision.

On his last day of teaching, students came out to applaud for their professor in support, and a group of staff at the university wrote a collective letter to the administration to reconsider the move.

I would like justice to prevail, Skopin said.

Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL's North.Realities
Russia's announcement that it is suspending its participation in a Black Sea grain export deal requires a strong international response from the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 29.

"This is a completely transparent attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale famine for Africa, for Asia," Zelenskiy said in a video address, adding that Russia should be kicked out of the G20.



"Why can a handful of people somewhere in the Kremlin decide whether there will be food on the tables of people in Egypt or Bangladesh?" Zelenskiy asked. "Russian terror and blackmail must lose. Humanity must win."

Russia told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter that it was suspending the deal for an "indefinite term" because it could not "guarantee safety of civilian ships" traveling under the pact, Reuters reported.

U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the move as "purely outrageous" and said it would increase starvation.

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.

"There's no merit to what they're doing. The UN negotiated that deal and that should be the end of it," Biden told reporters.

The United Nations urged Russia not to withdraw from the deal, and deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said negotiations with Russia were ongoing.

"It is vitally important that all parties refrain from any actions that could jeopardize the Black Sea Grain Initiative," Haq said, using the formal name for the deal.

The European Union said it supported UN-led efforts to keep the Ukraine grain deal alive.

Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy at the European Commission, said the EU stressed that "all parties must refrain from any unilateral action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the world."

Russia also asked the UN Security Council to meet on October 31 to discuss an alleged attack on its Black Sea Fleet, Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky said.

It said some of the ships attacked in Sevastopol in the early hours of October 29 were civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that in light of the attack, which it said Ukraine carried out "with the participation of British experts," Russia "suspends participation in the implementation of agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports."

The ministry said earlier that drones were used in the attack and that they were all destroyed. Only one Russian ship, a minesweeper, sustained minor damage, it said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier on Twitter that Ukraine had previously warned that Russia planned to "ruin" the grain-export deal.

Kuleba called on "all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations."

The grain export deal between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations allowed a resumption of grain exports. Under the July 22 agreement, Ukraine was able to restart its Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports, and some Russian fertilizer exports also resumed.

The agreement was set to last 120 days with the option for renewal on November 19 "if no party objects," a UN spokesman said on October 28.

Russia had threatened to pull out of the agreement on grounds that the grain was not being sent to poorer countries, which at the time the deal was signed desperately needed the grain to ensure their populations did not starve.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscows withdrawal from the deal would deprive Ukraine of a major part of its hard-currency revenues and at the same time would drive up global food prices and inflation in Europe.

Photo Gallery: Ukrainian Farmers Risk Their Lives As Global Food Crisis Looms The inability of Ukraine to transport millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products amid Russia's invasion has aggravated a global food crisis. The country is a major exporter of seed oils, corn, and wheat, but the war and Russia's blockade of Ukraine's ports have effectively stopped a significant amount of that flow. While Ukraine's leaders seek ways to export the country's agricultural output, its farmers face perilous conditions as a result of the ongoing conflict. Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on  

Email to a Friend

Share on LinkedIn





The United Nations on October 28 had urged parties to the Black Sea Grain Initiative to renew it.

"We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The agreement freed up exports from three of Ukraine's ports -- Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne -- which had been blockaded since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

The deal set up a corridor that is exclusively humanitarian, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said.

The ministry says that since the first ship left the port in Odesa on August 1, Ukraine has exported more than 9 million tons of food, of which more than 5 million tons went to countries in Africa and Asia.

At the same time, 190,000 tons of wheat were sent to countries on the brink of famine within the framework of the UN World Food Program, the ministry said.

"Ukraine remains a reliable partner for the civilized world and is ready to continue promptly collecting and shipping agricultural products to ensure global food security," the ministry added.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Residents across the United States anxiously look forward to Election Day on November 8. Depending on ones political preference, the day could end with a feeling of brightness and hope or darkness and despair. The heavens, as if recognizing this confluence of inferred light and dark, will add to the drama of the day with a total lunar eclipse.

The good news for northern Arizona residents? Unlike the total lunar eclipse earlier this year, this one will be completely visible from these parts. The bad news (unless youre a night owl or extremely early riser)? The event plays out in the wee hours of the morning  as in 3:16-4:41 a.m.

Lunar eclipses occur only when the moon is in its full phase, whereas solar eclipses take place only when the moon is new. A full moon happens when it is opposite the sun, with Earth in between the two bodies. Thus, when the moon is full, it will rise on the eastern horizon as the sun sets on the western horizon. The alignment of the three bodies is usually a bit off kilter but occasionally, they all line up just right so that Earth is in the path of the sun and blocks its light from reaching the moon. The result of the moons passing through Earths shadow is a darkening of the moon, or lunar eclipse.

The deeper into the shadow of Earth the moon moves, the greater the eclipse. A partial eclipse happens if only part of the moon passes through Earths shadow. However, if the entire surface of the moon moves into shadow, then a total lunar eclipse occurs. The process begins with a thin, crescent-shaped shadow appearing on the moons edge. This shadow will grow and spread until the moon is completely covered. This marks the beginning of totality. The moon will eventually brighten again as it moves back out of Earths shadow.

For the November 8 eclipse, this will happen within about 1.5 hours. The moon continues to brighten until it is no longer in shadow, thus ending the partial phase of the eclipse.

Earths shadow actually consists of two parts. The penumbra is the lighter, outside portion while the umbra is the darker, central part. The appearance of the umbra is far more prominent and, for most people, indicates the true beginning of the eclipse. The timing for the various stages of the November 8 eclipse, as seen from northern Arizona, are:

1:02 am MST Penumbral eclipse begins

2:08 am MST Partial (umbral) eclipse begins

3:16 am MST Total eclipse begins

4:41 am MST Total eclipse ends

5:49 am MST Partial (umbral) eclipse ends

6:56 am MST Penumbral eclipse ends

This eclipse will be easy to view (if clouds dont obscure the view) since no special equipment is needed. However, binoculars or a telescope will still offer a fascinating view, revealing craters, mountains, and other features moving in and out of Earths shadow. Those people wanting to see such views, or who would like to learn more about eclipses, can join a livestream presentation by Lowell Observatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsXS3iDs0yA. This will run from 2-7 a.m. on the morning of the 8th.
On December 24, 2021, NASAs InSight lander recorded a magnitude 4 marsquake with a distinct signature rippling across the surface of Mars. In a pair of papers in the journal Science, planetary researchers now show that this event, and another detected on September 18, 2021, were caused by a meteoroid impact and use the surface waves produced by the collisions to untangle the structure of the Martian crust. Whats more, the December 24, 2021 meteoroid excavated boulder-size chunks of ice buried closer to the Martian equator than ever found before.

The InSight scientists determined the December 24, 2021 quake resulted from a meteoroid impact when they looked at before-and-after images from NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and spotted a new, yawning crater.

The image of the impact was unlike any I had seen before, with the massive crater, the exposed ice, and the dramatic blast zone preserved in the Martian dust, said Dr. Liliya Posiolova, a leader of the Orbital Science and Operations Group at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) and the lead author of the first Science paper.

I couldnt help but imagine what it must have been like to witness the impact, the atmospheric blast, and debris ejected miles downrange.

The meteoroid is estimated to have spanned 5 to 12 m (16-39 feet)  small enough that it would have burned up in Earths atmosphere, but not in Mars thin atmosphere.

The impact was in a Martian region called Amazonis Planitia. It created a crater about 150 m (492 feet) across and 21 m (70 feet) deep.

Some of the ejected material thrown by the impact flew as far as 37 km (23 miles) away.

With images and seismic data documenting the event, this is believed to be one of the largest craters ever witnessed forming any place in the Solar System.

Its unprecedented to find a fresh impact of this size, said Dr. Ingrid Daubar, a researcher at Brown University and a co-author of the first paper.

Its an exciting moment in geologic history, and we got to witness it.

In the second Science paper, the scientists used surface waves from the two meteorite impacts on Mars to study the structure of the Martian crust.

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 study lead author Dr. Doyeon Kim, a researcher in the Institute of Geophysics at ETH Zurich and the Department of Geology at the University of Maryland.

The authors analyzed the velocity of surface waves coming from the two impacts. This allowed them to exploit the relationship between surface wave velocity, frequency and depth to estimate the average properties of the crust 4.8 to 30 km (3-18.6 miles) below the surface of Mars.

On average, the Martian crust between InSights 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, said Dr. Nicholas Schmerr, a researcher in the Department of Geology at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the second 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, theres 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 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, said Dr. Vedran Lekic, a researcher in the Department of Geology at the University of Maryland and a co-author of the second paper.

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 weve 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 scientists found that their initial results appear to disprove this idea, even suggesting the crust structures may be surprisingly similar at certain depths.

We hope that our research will continue to help researchers investigate similar mysteries and form better models of Mars as exploration continues, they said.

_____

L.V. Posiolova et al. 2022. Largest recent impact craters on Mars: Orbital imaging and surface seismic co-investigation. Science 378 (6618): 412-417; doi: 10.1126/science.abq7704

D. Kim et al. 2022. Surface waves and crustal structure on Mars. Science 378 (6618): 417-421; doi: 10.1126/science.abq7157
An Ashland man admitted in federal court earlier this week to sexually assaulting a girl on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Jordan Cody Washee, 30, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of abusive sexual contact. The victim was 11 years old when the abuse began, and continued until she was 13.

The victim reported to law enforcement that starting in 2011 and through 2012, Washee sexually assaulted her over a dozen times, according to court documents. Agents interviewed Washee in March of this year, and he denied the allegations before admitting the victim was telling the truth.

A grand jury indicted Washee in U.S. District Court with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact in August. Washee reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors earlier this month, after which prosecutors dropped the aggravated sexual abuse charge. At his change of plea hearing Thursday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Montana, Washee disputed the number of times he assaulted the victim.

Washee is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2023, and faces up to 10 years in prison. The FBI and the Big Horn County Sheriffs Office investigated the case against Washee.

The same day Washee admitted to molesting a girl on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, a federal judge sentenced a 52-year-old man to life in prison for kidnapping a girl from the Crow Indian Reservation. Angelo Corey Stackhouse was also convicted of kidnapping a girl in Billings, along with drug and sex trafficking.

Last month, the recently established Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services launched the tribe's sex offender registration program. Agents with Investigative Services assumed responsibility of documenting sex offenders living on the reservation in accordance with the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The General Statistic Office of Vietnam informed that the number of international arrivals to the country in October reached 484,400 turns, an increase of 12.1 percent over last month and 45.9 times over the same period last year as Vietnam has re-opened the tourism market and international flights have been resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic.


Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

YAN'AN, Shaanxi/ANYANG, Henan, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed advancing rural revitalization across the board and striving tirelessly to achieve agricultural and rural modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection trip.

Getting off the train on Wednesday afternoon, Xi headed directly to the village of Nangou in Yan'an by vehicle.

In an orchard there, Xi chatted with local villagers, asking in detail about how they grew apple trees and picked fruits, what species of apple they planted, at what prices their apples were sold, and their income. He also inquired about how the village developed apple planting and other industries.

In a workshop of the village, Xi was briefed on the development of the local apple industry and checked the production line for sorting and packaging apples.

Chatting with villagers outside, Xi said that he lived in northern Shaanxi for seven years. During that time, he saw villagers live in harsh conditions, and he kept thinking about ways to make their lives better.

"Now villagers have jobs and stable income, while children have a good education and the elderly are covered by medical insurance," Xi said. "Lives are getting better and better."

"The changes in northern Shaanxi reflect the changes in China," Xi added.

In governing the country, the CPC must do things for the people and do things well for the people, Xi stressed.

While visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in the city, Xi expressed the hope that the school will uphold the Yan'an Spirit when imparting knowledge and cultivating virtues. In a classroom, Xi asked the students about their ideals and what they wanted to do when they grew up.

Xi encouraged the students to set great goals early and aspire to contribute to and carry forward the socialist cause.

On Friday morning, Xi visited the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, Henan Province. The canal, an irrigation project built on the steep Taihang Mountains, is dubbed the "man-made river in the sky."

Xi said socialism is earned through enterprise, hard work and sacrifice. This has been true in the past and will remain so in the new era, he said.

Walking along a trail, Xi viewed the Hongqi Canal, stressing that the spirit of the Hongqi Canal is consistent with the Yan'an Spirit.

It only takes one generation or two to realize the Second Centenary Goal, Xi said. "We are living in an extraordinary time and should live up to it."

On Friday afternoon, Xi visited the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang.

Observing the bronze and jade wares and oracle bone inscriptions, Xi said that Chinese civilization has a long history without discontinuity and has shaped our great nation. This nation will continue to be great, he said.

Xi called for efforts to build cultural confidence and enhance the confidence and pride of being Chinese.



Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
Two people, one of whom was a teen from Billings, died earlier this week in a head-on crash west of Belgrade.

The 18-year-old Billings woman was driving on Interstate 90 on Thursday night when her vehicle collided with an SUV traveling in the wrong lane, according to a statement from the Montana Highway Patrol.

The Billings woman was going east on the interstate, MHP reported. About halfway between Manhattan and Belgrade, an SUV going west in the eastbound lane hit her vehicle head-on. The SUV was driven by a 25-year-old woman from Bozeman. Both were traveling alone.

Emergency crews responded within minutes of the crash occurring, but pronounced both drivers dead at the scene. Intoxication is suspected to be a factor in the crash, which is still under investigation. Both women were wearing seat belts when the wreck occurred, according to MHP.

Following Thursdays fatal crash, 176 people have died on Montanas roads in 2022, according to data from MHP. Despite a historic and horrific pileup this year outside of Hardin over the summer in which six people were killed, deadly crashes are down compared to last year. By the end of October in 2021, MHP reported 192 deaths. That year ended with around 215 fatalities.

In the autumn and winter months, MHP Sgt. Jay Nelson previously told the Gazette, fatal wrecks tend to decrease while minor crashes experience an uptick. Motorists are drive more slowly, he said, but theyre doing so in icy conditions.

Intoxicated drivers, whether under the influence of alcohol or drugs, account for about half of all fatalities investigated by MHP so far this year, according to preliminary MHP data.
Page Content

Effective Oct. 1, Maryland employers are obligated to reasonably accommodate not only the disabilities of employees, but also the disabilities of applicants.



Until the new legislation was passed, Maryland's disability discrimination law applied only to employees. The expansion of Maryland's disability discrimination law aligns it with federal requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA generally applies to employers that have 15 or more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.

As is the case under the ADA, Maryland's new law does not require employers to provide an accommodation if it would cause undue hardship on the conduct of the employer's business. Maryland's new law is the most recent extension of anti-discrimination laws to people with disabilities.

Nine years earlier, Maryland amended its Fair Employment Practices Act to require employers with at least 15 employees to provide accommodations to employees with disabilities contributed to or caused by pregnancy, unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the employer's business.

Takeaways

Particularly in light of Maryland's antidiscrimination law, Maryland employers are encouraged to do the following:

Review hiring practices to ensure that those involved in hiring understand the obligation to accommodate not only employees with disabilities, but also applicants with disabilities.

Train managers on how to recognize applicant accommodation requests and how to effectively address those requests with the human resources department and senior management.

Analyze accommodation requests on an individualized basis, keeping in mind the importance of engaging in an interactive dialog.

Train managers involved in the hiring process to ensure that hiring decisions are based upon merit, not upon any legally impermissible factors.

Review existing insurances, including employment practices liability insurance, to determine whether the insurances provide sufficient protection for claims that may be brought by applicants under the new Maryland law.

Marc R. Engel and Nicole M. Behrman are attorneys with Lerch Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Md.  2022. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission via Lexology.
Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.



We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.



A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
The race for Morton County's state's attorney pits a former assistant prosecutor against the 35-year incumbent who fired her midway through the campaign over allegations of a hostile work environment -- an investigation that has both highlighted and shrouded the campaign.

Gabrielle Goter, 39, had served as assistant states attorney since 2010. Shes running against her former boss, Allen Koppy, 66, who has held the countys top prosecutor post since 1987.

Koppy fired Goter in September after an investigation was initiated by the countys human resources department and conducted by a Minnesota law firm. The report substantiated allegations that Goter used her leadership position in the office to foster an environment of fear and intimidation. Witnesses interviewed by the department consistently described her as a workplace bully, the document stated.

The report did not substantiate allegations against Goter of preferential treatment, retaliation against people in the workplace, training issues and disproportionate work assignments. It also was critical of Koppy's leadership.

Koppy on June 27 placed Goter on administrative leave at the direction of the human resources department. She continued to handle cases until Koppy fired her on Sept. 12.

Goter denied the allegations against her and sought reinstatement to her job through the Morton County Commission. She told the commission in a written document that county policies and procedures were violated, investigators made no attempt to remain neutral, and that her firing was the result of gender discrimination. Commissioners at a special meeting on Oct. 19 unanimously denied her request for reinstatement.

Goter

This is Goter's second run at the state's attorney job. She ran against Koppy in the 2018 election and outpolled him in the primary. He won the seat in the general election. She again garnered more votes than Koppy in this year's June primary, which narrows the field to two candidates.

The county commissions decision earlier this month not to reinstate her didnt change her mind about seeking the post.

I believe in the states attorneys mission and believe I would be the best person for the job, Goter said in an interview.

The states attorney position in Morton County should mix the handling of cases with administrative duties, according to Goter. She said the office has stagnated, and that Koppy takes fewer cases and less responsibility than newly hired assistant prosecutors.

When you have a boss thats that checked out, who doesnt know whats going on with staff and doesnt know whats going on with cases, it makes it really hard, she said.

During the trial of Chad Isaak, who was convicted of fatally shooting and stabbing four people at a Mandan rental property business, Koppy couldnt be found, Goter said.

I wasnt surprised, she said. It was the biggest case in Morton County history and hes nowhere to be seen.

Goter said she developed the budget for the office during her time there and took the lead in handling late-night and weekend calls from law enforcement. She called the investigation and her termination the worst thing thats ever happened in my life. She said that if elected shed make sure staff is utilized in ways that make sense and focus on building or rebuilding relationships.

We need to be clear about expectations and where people stand from the beginning, she said.

She sees the states attorneys role as that of an advocate for the people of the county. The office needs additional attorneys, with proper training and compensation, and professionalism and accountability have to be top priorities, she said.

The Missouri Valley Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Goter, citing her expertise, skill and dedication, adding that she has fostered a helpful working relationship with local law enforcement.

Koppy

Koppy decided early this year that he had "another run in me." He started circulating nominating petitions on Jan. 1, the first day it was permitted.

I know this job, he said. Its really enjoyable working with the people in the states attorney office. Its fun to come to work every day.

Koppy said states attorneys act as watchdogs and sort of like an undertaker of social ills. Hes not running on any sort of agenda.

Just taking care of business as it comes along, he said.

Koppy said he understands the workings of a small office in a small community. He believes his track record and the way hes conducted himself through the years -- following advice he took from a commencement speech years ago -- is one of his assets.

You dont need to be a horses patoot to be a good advocate or trial lawyer, he said.

The report on which Goters firing was based also was critical of Koppy. It referred to him as a disengaged states attorney, and stated that Goter was allowed to act the way she did without intervention by the elected states attorney. Koppy said hes delegated the responsibilities of the office, adding that its a misperception that he doesnt have a courtroom presence as he handles a number of noncriminal traffic and mental health cases.

The public doesnt see what goes on in the office, the inner workings, because youre constantly doing your job, he said. Im in the courtroom all the time.

If he's elected, Koppy doesnt see any changes coming about as a result of the investigation.

Keep the ship going the way it is, he said.

The Isaak trial required the attention of two of the office's five attorneys and two of five assistants, according to Koppy. His attendance would have left one attorney and one attorney-in-training to manage the everyday business. Those duties were less attractive than the case that was drawing national attention, he said, but "they still needed attention, just as much as Isaak."

His absence also reflected another piece of advice from that commencement speech: share the spotlight.

"Gabrielle was assigned to the Isaak case," he said. "It was her time to shine in the courtroom and the media. If I were there, the spotlight may have been diverted to me as I am the elected official. I wanted her to gain this type of experience and notoriety without the pressure of her boss deterring the attention."

He was not present in person at the commission meetings where Goters request for reinstatement was considered. He attended by electronic means but did not participate in that discussion. He said he respects Goter and the two have gotten along in the past. His only comment on the decision to fire her was that it was very hard.

Goter garnered 1,517 votes or just more than 53% in the June 14 primary election. Koppy had 1,333 or about 47%, according to the North Dakota Secretary of State's website. The top two candidates in the primary move on to the general election. There was not a third candidate.

Koppy in the 1990 and 1994 state's attorney races defeated Goters father, Wayne Goter.

The state's attorney is elected for a four-year term. The position has a salary range of $73,216 to $117,145, depending on the experience of the person elected, according to Wendy Bent, county Human Resources Director.
A spokeswoman said under the Australian Consumer Law, businesses must not mislead or deceive consumers in their advertising or marketing, including about the quality, composition, benefits or performance characteristics of their products. Whether or not a particular claim is misleading requires consideration of the individual circumstances in each case, and the overall impression conveyed to consumers by the claim, she said. Chris Campbell from AWTA Product Testing said consumers should be told the products tested had a thread count of about 300 and not 1000 and more, as claimed. He said some manufacturers counted multiple fine synthetic filaments in a yarn instead of counting the yarn as a single thread. There is a lot of misleading marketing licence taken with this, Campbell said. The quality of the threads is more important than the quantity. Campbell said dishonest marketing had proliferated with the growth in online retailing.

Its become a marketing war. They are all trying to outdo each other and say I can give you the best value sheet with the highest thread count, he said. It has grown as online shopping has developed. Cotton sheets advertised with 1000 thread count for $79. Dr Stephen Michielsen, a professor in the school of fashion and textiles at RMIT University in Melbourne, who analysed the AWTA results said they showed that the three brands tested were being marketed as having much higher thread counts than counts using international standards. Dr Michielsen has more than 30 years of experience in the textiles industry and as an academic. They ended up with numbers that are unreasonably high because they did not follow the international standards on how they are supposed to be calculated, he said. Two class actions have been launched in the US by consumers alleging bedsheets bought from Ross Stores and from Macys had lower thread counts than promoted on the products. A class action lawsuit against Ross Stores taken to the US District Court for the Northern District of California was settled late last year after the plaintiff alleged that the bedsheets she bought from Ross were represented to have a higher thread count than they actually had.

Another class action lawsuit has been filed in Ohio federal court by consumers claiming that Macys Stores West Inc. misled them about the thread count of its cotton-polyester bedsheets. Consumer law expert Professor Jeannie Paterson from the University of Melbourne said the Australian Consumer Law includes provisions against misleading and deceptive conduct. It also provides guarantees for consumers which say goods must match their description, be fit for the promoted purpose and must be acceptable quality. When they are advertised as being of particular quality and dont meet that quality, they contravene multiple provisions in the Australian Consumer Law and will contravene some penalty provisions as well which means the ACCC could impose penalties on the providers. It is quite significant, she said. Paterson said the courts would consider the normal understanding of a reasonable consumer. [Some retailers] are saying you are getting a sheet that is good quality for a reduced price. But if the sheet isnt of that quality, then people are being misled because they think they are buying a premium product for a discount when in fact they are not buying the premium product. And that is misleading, she said.

If they are justifying the thread count by a different way of counting threads than people in the market normally understand and if they are still promoting the thread counts as being great sheets for a low price, it is still misleading consumers because it is not consistent with the expectation of those consumers. Goods have to meet their description, meet the purpose they are promoted for and be of acceptable quality. What is said in the marketing and the packaging really matters. If the overall message is that this is a good quality high thread count sheet when in fact they are using some other method of counting the thread, which means the sheet is a coarser quality than consumers would think, then that is problematic. You cant hide behind, Oh well, we do it a different way, we use a different measure. That is not how it works. The courts look at the impression that is reasonably created in the audience to whom the advertising is directed, and that is quite a different test to whether the consumer could have found something out somewhere else or the consumer should have understood there is a different measure. Loading Professor Justin Malbon from Griffith University law school said marketing claims that sheets have a higher thread count than they actually have, are potentially in breach of section 18 of the Australian Consumer Law.
This story is part of the October 30 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories .

Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, performer Emma Watkins.

For my year 6 formal  a big deal when youre 12  I wore a silver feather boa-lined skirt and matching cape. It was like a dance costume, which doesnt surprise me. Credit:Jared Lyons

How would you describe your style? I wear a lot of dresses in floral patterns and bright colours. Learning to dance growing up I was always encouraged to wear black, so now if I see a pretty floral, thats the end of me.

Whats the oldest thing in your wardrobe? My first tutu from when I was four; its white with smocking and quite special.

And the most recent addition? A new Rains raincoat in a very practical grey. I would never buy such a thing  my husband bought it for me. We recently moved to the NSW Southern Highlands, where the weather is a bit like Scotland, so I have an array of raincoats, including a colourful Gorman one that makes me look like a rainbow when Im feeding the goats.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the October 30 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . For as long as anyone can remember, the Australian domestic dream has been depicted as a couple with 2.4 kids and a white picket fence. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, however, not only is one in four households already child-free in 2022, but its predicted that between next year and 2029, the number of couples living without children will overtake the number of couples who have kids. Not to be confused with childlessness (childless by circumstance), the reasons couples are increasingly opting out of parenthood are varied. One study by Melbournes Deakin University found a lack of maternal instinct was common among respondents who didnt want children, yet a desire for independence and career opportunity, overpopulation and climate change pop up regularly in other surveys. What does a life look like when you choose to remain childfree? Three couples share their journeys. I didnt realise motherhood could be a choice Trudie McConnochie, a 42-year-old freelance writer and editor, and her husband Matthew (surname withheld), a 42-year-old analyst, had their parenthood conversation soon after they met. Trudie McConnochie says that for her and her husband Matthew, the benefits to living childfree have been immeasurable. Matthew and I had the baby conversation on our third date. Maybe it was a little premature, but because we met when we were 36, I was aware that I couldnt be in a long-term relationship with a man who wanted something I knew wasnt for me. I also didnt want to take that away from someone who really wanted it. Fortunately, Matthew had already made the decision independently that fatherhood wasnt for him. I was thrilled to discover we were on the same page about what life for us could look like as a couple. We married 18 months ago.

Advertisement

Like most women of my generation, I spent my childhood and even my teen years assuming I would have children one day, because that was the societal expectation placed on us. It was only when I went to uni and became friends with someone older who said she wasnt going to have children that I realised I had a choice. Hearing her say that was such a revelation for me because until that point, I didnt realise you could opt out. That conversation got me thinking about what I wanted my future to look like, and the more I thought about it, the more I understood on a deep level that motherhood simply wasnt for me. Loading The best way to articulate it is that it isnt a conscious decision; I certainly didnt make a list of pros and cons about finances, property or career projection. Its an intuitive call, a knowing. When youre of childbearing age, there are plenty of people out there who feel entitled to interrogate you on what youre planning on doing with your reproductive organs and then make judgments based on your response. No matter how often I explained that my life choices werent a condemnation of their life choices, people seemed threatened by my less-than-conventional path. Theres also an idea that if you dont want to have children of your own and youre happily married, you mustnt like children very much. We love kids and adore our nieces, but just because we love spending time with them doesnt mean we want that for ourselves. Im conscious of the fact that an increasing number of younger women are opting out of motherhood, and I can understand why. I cant say whats wrong or right for anyone else, but for Matthew and me, the benefits to living childfree have been immeasurable. We have plenty of time to devote to creative projects and to travel. Theres so much more wed like to do and see. Had he wanted children, it would have been a deal breaker for us

Advertisement

Having met at a young age, Tenille Williams, a 35-year-old business owner, and Jamie Williams, a 33-year-old metal fabricator, were thrilled to discover they were on the same page where children were concerned. Its incredibly offensive, says Tenille Williams of peoples criticism of her decision not to have children. But by the time you get to your mid-30s, you just learn to live with it, she says. Perhaps its because we got together so young [the couple met in high school and have been together for 18 years], but Jamie and I never had to have any of those awkward should we or shouldnt we? conversations when it came to starting a family. As soon as I realised we were serious about each other, I told him that I never wanted to have children and said it would be a deal breaker for us if he did. Luckily, Jamie agreed and weve never looked back. Weve been happily married for 15 years. Loading I knew motherhood wasnt for me from an early age, but when you make that kind of declaration in your teenage years, people tend to dismiss it. I cant tell you how many times I was on the receiving end of comments like, Youre too young to know what you want and, Youll get clucky when youre older. Now we hear things like, You dont know what real love is until you have children. Its incredibly offensive, but by the time you get to your mid-30s, you just learn to live with it. I get asked all the time why were staying childfree, but I guess it really all comes down to the fact that we couldnt think of one good reason to have children. Over the years, Ive seen so many women  and men  struggle with the realities of parenthood, and quite a few seem to lose sight of who they used to be before they had children. I get the feeling it would be bad for our mental health. The environment also comes into play; considering what weve witnessed over the last few years with climate change and the pandemic, it reinforces our belief that were better off not bringing children into this world. There are plenty of benefits to not having kids. Obviously, we have more time to enjoy together as a couple, more time for fun, hobbies and travel, and the ability to keep discovering who we are as individuals. We can also focus on building our careers and finances without having to worry about anyone else. I know full well that had we gone the traditional road, I would have been a stay-at-home mum and my options would have been limited.

Advertisement

Despite all the changes that have been made in society over the past few decades, its almost always the mums who have to shoulder most of the burden of looking after the family, and that doesnt sound like the greatest deal to me. I really cant imagine a world where were happier with children than without them. How can I look after another human when I can barely look after myself? Mindful of the strain children would put on her health, 27-year-old disability advocate and author Zoe Simmons and her partner (name withheld), a 28-year-old carpenter, have decided that childfree is best for them. I know, deep within my core, that the added responsibility of a child would put a strain on my mental health, and that kind of life is not fair on anybody, says Zoe Simmons. Credit:Emma Veness Photography Ive battled mental health issues  bipolar disorder and anxiety  for as long as I can remember, but last year I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a nerve disorder that causes debilitating pain, extreme fatigue and cognitive issues. I also have adenomyosis, which causes abdominal pain worse than a broken bone. Theyre pieces of a puzzle which allow me to make the following point: how can I ever successfully look after another human if I have difficulty managing my own body and mind? Id already decided before Id started experiencing agonising pain that motherhood would never be for me. When I started voicing my intention to live a childfree life, I was told I would change my mind as I got older, but my resolve has only strengthened. To my partners credit, he never questioned my decision at the beginning and wholeheartedly agrees with us remaining kid-free. He can see how difficult things are for me. Some days I use mobility aids and struggle to get more than one thing done. If I work, I cant cook or clean and if I clean, Im wiped out for any other activity. If I got pregnant, I wouldnt be able to have my usual medication for a long period of time and Id be so incredibly sick Id have to give up my career as well.

Advertisement
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the October 30 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . Melissa Doyle is no stranger to labels. There are the obvious: journalist, wife, mother. Then theres the one she cant shake.

I read it just last night  former Sunrise host  and I think, Is that what I am forever? Im super proud of it. It was an extraordinary part of my career, but you do kind of go, Ive done a few other things, too. I left Sunrise over nine years ago and I still get comments on social media We miss you on Sunrise, which is lovely, but you realise that people still see you in a certain way. Im sure there are actors out there  not that Im likening myself to one  but those whove had a defining role. I mean, Rachel from Friends will always be Rachel from Friends, whereas in real life Jennifer [Aniston] has done so many other amazing things. But I take it as a compliment. As proud as Mel is of her 11-year reign as the Queen of Australian brekky TV, this neat little label doesnt quite cover the magnitude of a career spanning more than three decades across TV, radio and print, not to mention additional flagship presenting roles for Today Tonight, Sunday Night and This Is Your Life. But Mels illustrious career didnt give her immunity to the challenges the last few years have thrown at us all. In mid-2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mel found herself in a discombobulated state: shed just turned 50, her eldest child Nick was about to fly the coop to study in the United States, and she had lost her

job at Channel Seven after 25 years. I was always adamant that my job didnt define me, that I was much more than what I did, she says. But when it changes, you realise that so much of yourself is wrapped up in your job. Its a huge part of who you are, especially if youve been doing it a long time. You go to a party and meet someone and the first thing they say is, What do you do? Its part of how we relate to one another, so it took a bit of adjustment.

Advertisement

Loss of identity is something we all experience at one point  and lets be honest, a hell of a lot of people did over the past few years. But it can also be a gift. Change is a good thing. It lets you explore other things. Maybe its all part of the bigger picture. Aje Simone jacket dress, $475 Credit:Hugh Stewart Whats abundantly clear is that Mels mind runs at a hundred miles an hour, and she admits shes always thinking about the next story. Along with her trademark sunny disposition, theres a dogged determination that comes with being a perpetually curious journalist. Loading During those early lockdowns, when most of us were concocting Zoom quizzes or making impressive dents in our wine cabinets, she was ready to drive her family crazy with her next all-consuming project: a book on resilience. The finished product, 15 Seconds of Brave: The Wisdom of Survivors, is a reminder that at the root of Mels many achievements, shes a brilliant storyteller. It features eight survivors stories and how they dealt with complex and harrowing issues that include insurmountable grief, alcoholism, crippling depression, and becoming paraplegic. Youd be forgiven for thinking the book could be a particularly gruelling exercise in toxic positivity; instead, it manages to achieve a balance between heartbreaking and heartwarming while including tangible coping mechanisms for everyday life. Something thats immediately apparent is that her subjects arent

just case studies to Mel  theyre her friends. I have this habit when

I interview people of keeping some of them. When theyve shared a harrowing experience, I find it hard to just say thanks very much and walk away. And, you know, some of them came to me through Sunday Night

and were tough interviews to do. I felt a duty of care in the aftermath of them sharing everything.

Advertisement

Among the exceptional people featured are Danny Abdallah, the father who lost three of his children and niece to a drunk driver; Grace Akallo, a former Ugandan child soldier; and Kat Barlow, a beautifully sanguine mother whose son, Noah, has a rare terminal disease. I have this habit when I interview people of keeping some of them. When theyve shared a harrowing experience, I find it hard to just say thanks very much and walk away. Mel explains that if these survivors can get through the worst experiences imaginable, then surely we can apply their attitudes and methods to areas in our own lives when we feel off-kilter. Her own motto for lifes setbacks is simple: control the controllable. But she also has her secret weapon  the unwavering support of her family. Ginger & Smart Novelist jacket, $465, and pants, $345. Credit:Hugh Stewart Mel met her husband, John Dunlop, when she was just 23 and theyre now in their 27th year of marriage, with two grown-up children, Nick, 21, and Talia, 18. While Mel says they dont overanalyse matters, it appears good old-fashioned compatibility is the linchpin to their successful marriage.

Advertisement

John is the steady, sensible one. Im the one with 400 million ideas and am constantly going Oh my god, Im going to do this and Lets try that. He just looks at me with that look like, Okay, just sit down for a minute, dear. He knows when the bills are due and where the keys are and reminds me about the important things in life when I forget. Im so grateful to him. Theres no way I could have got up at stupid oclock for so many years, or moved onto Sunday Night and travelled the world, or all the things Ive done in my career without him supporting me 100 per cent. They are a tight-knit family and, like many mothers, Mel is discovering the double-edged poignancy of an empty (or at least emptier) nest since Nick left home in late 2020. She says her feelings are reminiscent of the kids starting school. But there is also so much joy to be had in Mels evolving relationship with her children. Its funny; you raise them to fly the nest but forget to get yourself ready. We just got off the phone to Nick and hes doing well, she says. Its hard having him living on the other side of the world, but thank goodness for FaceTime. Talia is never allowed to leave  ever. Shes at uni in Sydney so shes still at home. Its funny; you raise them to fly the nest but forget to get yourself ready. Loading When they start school, its the same. You spend all this time getting them ready, but I remember dropping them off and bursting into tears. Its the same with Nick leaving home. We were so excited and kept making sure he was on top of it and enthused and he went off, fist pumping the air and John and I looked at each other and went, Oh my god! Its an odd feeling.

Advertisement

Ive loved the changing relationship [with Nick and Talia], the redefining of it all. Now theyre able to have different conversations and theyre both lovely young humans, so the fact theyre mine is a bonus. Ginger & Smart Novelist jacket, $465, and Novelist pants, $345. Credit:Hugh Stewart With her profile, Mel has lived over half her life in the public eye, but says she largely manages to avoid being negatively affected by it. All my friends are from my life in other areas  I dont socialise in the flash circles. Theyre from school or uni or mothers group. I feel like I just lead a very normal life. I will get upset if somethings written thats untrue or is trying to poke a bear, but Ive also got to the point where I know the truth and I know the people that matter in my life  and if they know the truth, thats all that matters. That probably sounds a bit flippant, but I value the opinions of those who matter to me and if someone else wants to make some dumb comment then, whatever. Everyone kept saying to me, How do you feel about turning 50? And I thought, What do you mean? I feel fine. Another topic that has lit a fire within Mel in the past few years is the subject of ageing. While she has a talent for capturing the zeitgeist, she says her ongoing projects reflect how shes feeling at that given time.

Advertisement
A consortium of the nations top lawyers has called for compensation for people held on remand then acquitted, after The Sun-Herald revealed the wait time to get a verdict in the Supreme Court has blown out to a median of 956 days.

Last week, the Herald revealed that seven people spent more than 15 years in total behind bars for a murder they did not commit.

Stacey Kelly Greenup was arrested at Kingsford in June 2020, then released from prison in September 2022 after being found not guilty of Vergel Velasquezs murder. Credit:NSW Police

The case highlighted how wait times between arrest and finalisation in the Supreme Court had risen from 782 days in 2020, according to data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling for legal costs, at minimum, to be awarded in those circumstances.
Parents are being called up to the front line of Australias mental health crisis as experts brace for the cumulative impact of the pandemic, climate disasters and rising cost of living pressures.

Data from the NSW Suicide Monitoring System showed that suspected deaths in the state this year have trended above the numbers recorded over the past three years.

NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor plans to offer 200,000 parents suicide prevention training. Credit:Oscar Colman

From mid-November, the NSW government will train 200,000 parents to be first responders to identify people at risk of suicide, develop a safety plan and refer them for help.

Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said she believed the program would be the largest single suicide prevention training effort in the world.
Schools with healthy balance sheets have more options available to acquit time in lieu but every dollar where time in lieu is acquitted by replacing a teacher with a casual relief teacher or paying them for their time in lieu is a dollar not spent on students. Loading Anthony Hall, managing director of Victorian camp provider Halls Outdoor Education, said that since the new agreement had been confirmed, many schools had either deferred booking a camp next year, or cut the duration. We would have 20 per cent of schools saying that they cannot book school camps for next year, or they have decreased the amount of time theyll go on camps because there is no increased funding and any funding for casual relief teachers has to come out of the normal school budget, Hall said. Hall said schools that had booked camps every year for a decade were holding off until they had more certainty about how to manage the cost of time in lieu for teachers.

Weve got schools that have been going with us for the last 10 or 15 years that are saying, We cant commit now for term one next year, we cant put a deposit down because we dont know how we are going to fund it yet, he said. AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace defended the deal and called on the Victorian government to boost funding to public schools to help fund time in lieu payments. Its a significant milestone that, for the first time, the Victorian government has agreed to the provision of time in lieu for school activities that occur outside the paid working week, Peace said. Australian Education Unions Meredith Peace says the new deal addresses unreasonable teacher workloads. At a time when were witnessing wage theft in many industries, continuing to rely on education staff to work for free is no longer viable or appropriate, and we welcome the state governments recognition of this.

A union survey of 10,800 government school staff last year found teachers work an average of 15 hours of unpaid overtime a week. It is the Andrews governments responsibility to deliver the funding and resources public schools need to provide a high-quality education to all students, both within and outside the classroom. Loading An Education Department spokeswoman said time in lieu was an obligation under Fair Work  it should not impact school camps or excursions. The spokeswoman said the department would provide guidance and support to schools to ensure students had the same access to camps and excursions in 2023. The cost of employing casual relief teachers comes out of school funding.

A $113 million department program to encourage students to go on camp has been extended in 2023. It provides free camps to students in schools that either did not run camps between 2018 and 2021, had a COVID shutdown of more than five days last year, is regional, or has high disadvantage. But the program does not include increased funding for schools, and Berwick Lodge Primary principal Henry Grossek said it did nothing to help them meet the increased time-in-lieu costs of offering camps next year. This is simply a half measure approach which will do nothing to assist schools in meeting the time in lieu costs of running camps next year, Grossek said. Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek during COVID school closures. Credit:Paul Jeffers Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Colin Axup said time-in-lieu provisions significantly add to the cost of a camp.

For a three-day camp, each staff member would on average accrue two days of time in lieu that has to be acquitted with either two days or the equivalent time off, or two days of salary, he said. While we support the introduction of time in lieu in principle, we have significant concerns about the impact it will have on educational programs such as camps. Colin Axup says staff will accrue on average two days of leave on a three-day camp. Credit:Joe Armao King called on the Department of Education to give schools extra funding to pay teachers for extra hours during camps and overseas trips, like schools receive funding for swimming programs. Loading
Melbournes racing events are likely to be a sea of ponchos, umbrellas and possibly gumboots, with rain and even snow predicted for Victoria over the next week.

Melburnians should not be deceived by the patches of blue sky on Saturday morning, as Derby Day crowds can expect a shower or two during the day with a not-so-warm maximum temperature of 17 degrees.

Rain invariably fails to dampen the spirits of Melbourne Cup revellers, like this group in 2010. Credit:Paul Rovere

It is a long weekend for many, with hordes of Melburnians taking Monday off ahead of Tuesdays Cup Day public holiday, but winter is lingering in the city, reluctant to make way for a spring racing carnival, outdoor barbecues or picnics.

Sunday will be sunny with a high of 21 degrees, but a late shower is expected and winds are forecast to reach up to 45km/h in the afternoon.
Firefighters in western Montana have pulled a doe and her fawn from the icy Clark Fork River in sub-zero temperatures. Missoula firefighter Brett Cunniff says the deer darted up the bank and ran away after they were rescued Friday morning, so crews hope they're OK. Someone reported the deer had fallen through the ice at about 7:30 a.m. The National Weather Service says the temperature at the time was minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Fire crews used a ladder and ropes to pull the animals to safety. Cuniff says such rescues are not uncommon, but they usually involve dogs. He says he's never been involved in rescuing a deer before.
Western Australias police commissioner has said he is horrified by the alleged murder of 15-year-old Noongar boy Cassius Turvey, but has warned against making statements that could prejudice future court proceedings.

The comments from Police Commissioner Col Blanch come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on the case, stating the attack was clearly racially motivated.

Cassius Turvey, before and after the alleged attack.

We are a better country than that and my heart goes out to the family and the friends. This is just a terrible tragedy, he said.

In a statement to media on Friday afternoon, Blanch said justice for Cassius was a top priority and that WA Police were dedicated to stamping out racism in the state.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has revealed that the budget razor gang has already locked in the next stage of the governments spending audit as it prepares to find billions of dollars in more savings ahead of the next budget in May.

Gallagher also confirmed that a new process for government grants would be finalised in the coming months, which would force ministers to be more transparent when they override the advice of their departments.

Katy Gallagher says the next stage of the spending audit has already been locked in. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Describing the $22 billion worth of savings and redirection of spending in last weeks budget as a reasonable start, Gallagher confirmed the waste and rorts audit will now continue on an ongoing basis.

But she said the government would start calling it the spending audit as it will tackle a broader range of discretionary spending over the coming budgets.
If anybody wants to say that to me, what I would say first is, Explain what you mean by woke, and then we can have the conversation, she told the presenter. If you cant explain it, dont hand me that word. Dont use a word you cannot describe. Because you dont know what you mean. She went on to imply that some people might be uncomfortable with a black Welsh family on TV, and they used the word woke to explain away their objections. Woke, she suggests, might be a cover-all lip-curl for any social change that makes you uneasy for reasons you darent examine.

The word woke originates in African-American slang and goes back as far as the 1930s, when black people urged each other to stay woke to injustice. It even pops up in the lyrics of a Lead Belly song. Loading It was popularised during the Black Lives Matter movement and then went mainstream through internet meme culture, and is now widely used by white people. (This has led to charges of cultural appropriation from some, which is a pleasingly woke response.) Now the word is being held captive by people who wish to disparage the identity politics and social activism of the left. When it comes to cultural appropriation, I am solidly pro-freedom  people will use language how they like, and it evolves as people do. But it does seem that the people who throw around woke are often using it to obscure meaning rather than illuminate it.

You can say many things about the young art defacers, but they are not woke. They are hardly virtue-signalling keyboard warriors. They have planned and executed an attack, evading security and attracting world-wide publicity for their cause. They will suffer real consequences for their crimes, possibly the loss of liberty. Woke seems too weak a word for them. What their critics wont acknowledge is they follow in a proud tradition of art vandalism for political causes. The suffragettes were mad for it. In 1914, Mary Richardson, a suffragette and member of the Womens Social and Political Union, took a meat chopper to Velazquezs The Toilet of Venus, also known as the Rokeby Venus, and described memorably as one of the most famous bottoms of all time. Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst is arrested outside Buckingham Palace in 1914. Credit:File Yes, I am a suffragette, Richardson reportedly cried as she was dragged from the crime scene. You can get another picture, but you cannot get a life, as they are killing Mrs Pankhurst. Emmeline Pankhurst, the famous militant suffragette, was enduring one of multiple jail terms at the time (many of the jailed suffragettes went on hunger strikes in prison and were force-fed).

Other suffragettes attacked other paintings to protest Pankhursts incarceration  they generally chose works depicting beautiful women, to attract maximum attention but also to protest the objectification of women (apparently men used to go to the National Gallery to gawp at Venuss lovely bottom; they didnt have the internet or Kim Kardashian then). In 1913, three women used hammers to smash the glass on 13 paintings in the Manchester Museum of Art, choosing works by the Pre-Raphaelite and Victorian masters. So, were the suffragettes woke? Certainly, they were subjected to contempt and mockery, directly proportional to the size of the threat they posed to existing power structures. But they were not pure, which is something the woke-critics most object to about the virtue-signalling, morally judgmental left: a totalitarian drive for moral purity. The suffragette movement was disrupted by the advent of World War I, which ended up advancing their cause overall. Many of them turned their energies to campaigning for conscription. Later, Mary Richardson joined the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley. I was first attracted to the Blackshirts because I saw in them the courage, the action, the loyalty, the gift of service, and the ability to serve which I had known in the suffragette movement, she said.
Academics, charities and social service groups have welcomed the Victorian oppositions election pledge to offer free lunches to all public school students, but one academic says the program could cost double the Coalitions $300 million commitment.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said on Sunday that if the Coalition was elected it would run a two-year pilot program costing $300 million to provide healthy lunches for prep to year 12 students and guaranteed the program would be extended from selected state primary schools to all Victorian state schools by 2026.

But Southern Cross University education professor Pasi Sahlberg said providing universal lunches in all state schools would eventually cost closer to $600 million per year.

Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert who has advocated for free school lunches in Australia, said a conservative estimate puts healthy lunches at $5 per student per day. If each of Victorias 650,000 public school students opted in to the program, it would cost just under $600 million.
London: The Kremlin has suspended participation in a United Nation-brokered deal that had unblocked the movement of Ukrainian grain out of its southern ports, threatening to deepen the global food crisis.

Russias defence ministry linked its decision to an attack on Saturday on ships in the port of Sevastopol in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

A Russian military boat guards an area with the grain storage in the background at the Mariupol Sea Port. Credit:AP

It accused Ukrainian armed forces of attacking the Black Sea Fleet with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy specialists had helped coordinate the terrorist attack. The suspension will cut Ukrainian grain exports from its crucial Black Sea ports.

In connection with the actions of the Ukrainian armed forces... the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea Initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period, the foreign ministry said.
It also exposed uneasiness about Americas all too toxic electoral climate and the dangerous link between extremism fostered on social media and violence against political figures. Loading The prospect of more polarising speech also surrounds Elon Musks takeover of Twitter, as the billionaire owner has been deluged with pleas and demands from banned account holders to be let back into the platform. In the aftermath of Paul Pelosis attack, politicians from both sides of the aisle posted messages online condemning the violence. Among them was former vice president Mike Pence, who was also targeted on January 6 for certifying Joe Bidens election victory. He tweeted: This is an outrage and our hearts are with the entire Pelosi family.

There can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families. This man should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, he added. Rioters hunted for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Credit:AP At a function in the swing state of Pennsylvania, President Biden described the attack as despicable and tied the incident to the lies spread about the 2020 election. What makes us think that one party can talk about stolen elections, COVID being a hoax, that its all a bunch of lies, and it [does] not affect people who may not be so well-balanced? he asked. Enough is enough is enough. Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against violence in our politics, no matter what your politics are.

Loading Figures from the US Capitol Police show that in the five years after Trump was elected president in 2016, the number of recorded threats against members of Congress from both sides of politics increased significantly. In 2021, a record 9625 threats were made against members of the House and Senate. This compares to 6955 threats investigated in 2019 and 3939 in 2017. The examples are chilling. In Seattle, for example, a man who had sent an angry email to progressive Democrat Pramila Jayapal repeatedly showed up outside her house, armed with a semiautomatic handgun and shouting threats and profanities. In Maine, one person sent Republican Senator Susan Collins a video of a beheading and threatened to perform specific acts of violence against her, while another smashed a window at her home.

And in Washington, Republican Adam Kinzinger, a member of the January 6 committee probing the attack on the US capitol, has had no shortage of callers to his Congressional office issuing death threats against him and his family. Loading Going to come protest in front of your house this weekend, one caller said in a message on his office voicemail. We know where your family is Gonna get your wife. Gonna get your kids. Coming against the backdrop of next weeks midterm elections simply heightens the fear of what might transpire. Indeed, hours after DePape had been taken into custody, a joint bulletin issued by intelligence agencies on Friday warned of a heightened threat to the midterms, fuelled by ideological grievances and a rise in domestic violent extremism.

Potential targets of DVE violence include candidates running for public office, elected officials, election workers, political rallies, political party representatives, racial and religious minorities, or perceived ideological opponents, the bulletin, which was released by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Counterterrorism Centre and the Capitol Police. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott. Credit:AP It was an ominous reminder that America is at a crossroads, and that the events that unfolded at the Capitol on January 6 last year were likely just the beginning. The obvious question is: can Americas democracy survive in this environment where violence is increasingly part of the political discourse? And as the rhetoric and extremism grows, how long before a politician gets killed?
~ Stakeholders are still not paid, and they can walk out on carnival. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Rolando Brison called on the government to look into the status of St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) whose financials are not in order. The UP member of Parliament said that this foundation is receiving government subsidies and they are expected to share information with the government in order to comply with the subsidy ordinance. He called on his colleagues in parliament to read the report from SOAB on their website and they would see for themselves the status of SCDF and its financials.

Besides that, Brison said several stakeholders that participated in the carnival are still not being paid. He said that based on what he has seen there is an impending disaster come April 2023, he asked what if these stakeholders that have not been paid decided to walk out at the beginning of carnival 2023 and not at the end like they did last year.

Brison said SCDF is financially not able to host the carnival any longer and he has sounded the alarm several times.

The UPP Faction leader said that the decree to audit SCDF is still there in the Minister's office since it was the former minister who wanted to audit SCDF based on an instruction the minister was given.

The MP credited SCDF for their hard work but felt no one should put carnival at risk. He calls on the government to set the record straight when it comes to the lack of communication between the government and the SCDF.

After the presentation in parliament on Friday the SCDF sent out an email to the Council of Ministers and Members of Parliament basically complaining about the statements made by the member of parliament on the floor of parliament. The SCDF went as far as asking that Brison be issued a cease and desist

Below is the full email from SCDF to the COM and parliament.

Honorable Ministers, Members of Parliament, Pleasant Day to you,

As the new President of the SCDF, I am not a man of many words, but I am a man of my word and I'm a man of little niceties. I speak plainly so I am not misunderstood. I give respect and hope to be respected in return.

Once again today MP Brison used his position in Parliament to undermine and sabotage the SCDF. MP Brison has no clue about the preparations we have already made for Carnival 2023 and has no care for the long-term business relationships the SCDF has which he continues to put in jeopardy. Our progress has been great on the financial front and I have personally devoted the last few months to this. The MP's comments were baseless.

Since we met with Parliament earlier this year, once in a five-hour closed-door session and then in an open meeting we have not heard a word from the government. But here was MP Brison again painting the SCDF black and trying to hang a question mark over Carnival 2023 by asking Parliament and Government to consider what would happen if April comes and there is no Carnival. A very mischievous and wicked comment to make.

When in the 53 years of Carnival has there ever been no Carnival? Despite the underfunded challenges each President has faced for decades. Never! Because the volunteers of Carnival make it happen. We are well underway with Carnival 2023 and beyond and the media has covered it. MP Brison mentions people who are upset but why are he and the government always so eager to believe one-sided stories and not simply ask the SCDF? Why? Everything people say and do is Gospel, and we are the devils.

The Honorable Prime Minister told the media that she was looking forward to amicable discussions with the SCDF. This has not happened. The SCDF has sought a meeting since June 22 with the Minister of TEATT, but this has not happened. The SCDF has twice sought a meeting with the Minister of Culture, but this has not happened. That makes it over two years and one President later that the SCDF has been seeking an audience to discuss this issue. Still no audience. How much more begging do we have to do?

I have publicly stated that in my tenure we intend to take Carnival back to its roots. All preparations are underway for that including the cooperation of the Culture Department and going into the schools. Our schedule is about to be launched. So we ask that MP Brison cease and desist with the detrimental comments about our foundation.

We also ask again for a meeting with the government (COM or a Minister) to finally have an amicable discussion. There is plenty we have to say and plenty we can do together. The secretariat of COM can consider this an official request for said meeting.

Carnival 2023 is the first "normal" Carnival we will have since 2019. We are excited about it and we are moving forward.

Sincerely

President - SCDF

St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation
Were excited to provide Starlink to over 100 schools in Chile and Brazil, and the Polaris Dawn crew recently talked to children at the first school in Chile to be connected as part of this effort!  https://t.co/gvmjxjgOIh pic.twitter.com/ER0ank0gyv
Calibre Receives Eenvironmental Approval for Development and Operation of the High-Grade Eastern Borosi Gold Project and Achieves Zero Scope-2 CO2e Emissions in Nicaragua

Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (aCalibrea or the aCompanya  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/calibre-mining-corp/) is pleased to announce that the Company has been granted the key environmental permits for the development and production of the open pit and underground mines within the Eastern Borosi Project (aEBPa) from the corresponding Nicaraguan authorities.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has signed a two-year contract with CEPAM (Comercializadora de EnergAa para AmArica), ensuring that 100% of the power purchased for the Nicaraguan operations is certified clean energy. The agreement eliminates all of Calibrea?s Scope 2 (purchased electricity) carbon emissions in Nicaragua, representing approximately 30% of our total emissions (CO2e) within the country.

Calibre is advancing the high-grade EBP open pit and underground satellite deposits expected to be in production during 2023 feeding into the Companya?s Libertad processing facility. EBP represents Calibrea?s third major environmental mine development approval within three years, demonstrating the Companya?s unyielding commitment to stakeholder engagement and transparent communications within a clearly defined mining regulatory environment. EBP is a large 176 km2 land package with numerous low sulphidation gold-silver vein targets and strong potential for discovery of new zones and expanded resources.

Darren Hall, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre stated: aApproval of the EBP permits mark another significant milestone in the Companya?s efforts to organically grow gold production. The permits were obtained three months ahead of schedule thanks to a positive community engagement process and successful public consultation. This success will allow Calibre to develop EBP and to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of host communities in the Atlantic Region of Nicaragua. With open pit reserves at EBP grading 6.8 g/t Au in combination with the high grade 6.5 g/t Au reserves at Pavon Central, we remain on track for grade-driven production increase in 2023.a

aBy purchasing clean energy rather than non-renewable power, as of 2022 Calibre will have zero Scope 2 CO2e emissions in Nicaragua. This is a material achievement of our sustainability strategy, through which we seek to join efforts in response to global challenges such as climate change.a

aAdditionally, the Company received environmental approval to begin drilling on the La Fortuna concession located approximately 50 kilometres southwest of the Libertad mill facility. La Fortuna represents an exciting undrilled epithermal gold opportunity as confirmed by field work completed over the past 12 months. A drill has been mobilized to La Fortuna with a first pass program to begin early November. Additionally, Calibre was recently granted three new mineral concessions and has begun reconnaissance stage exploration work.a

In its ongoing concession management program, since 2020 Calibre has submitted 44 concession applications in Nicaragua. Of these, 27 concessions have been granted, 14 continue in the consultation process and, in June 2022, the Company elected to desist with its applications for two full concessions and part of a third.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

aDarren Halla

Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com

W: www.calibremining.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger & Marc Ollinger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre is a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Calibre is focused on delivering sustainable value for shareholders, local communities and all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth. With a strong balance sheet, no debt, a proven management team, strong operating cash flow, accretive development projects and district-scale exploration opportunities Calibre will unlock significant value.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa (collectively aforward-looking statementsa) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as \expect\, \plan\, \anticipate\, \project\, \target\, \potential\, \schedule\, \forecast\, \budget\, \estimate\, \intend\ or \believe\ and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions \will\, \would\, \may\, \could\, \should\ or \might\ occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibrea?s control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibrea?s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2021, available on www.sedar.com. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibrea?s forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibrea?s forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managementa?s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Beware of spoilers for the episode in the article. Please do not continue reading if you havent watched the episode yet and you are not okay with being spoiled.

This episode felt like a Halloween special episode with its black and white scenes in the Shadowlands, gloomy atmosphere and its other primary setting, the mysterious Helix Institute. A big theme of this episode was that things aren't always as they seem and we must not judge a book by its cover.

The Shade :

The episode begins with Pat and the Shades adventure as they are trapped in the Shadowlands. The Shade is not able to use his powers to escape the Shadowlands due to the corruption of Jennies ring. Whilst the Shade blames Pat for them ending up in the Shadowlands he also ran to save the girls too, he cares. The Shade says one thing but his actions throughout his time on the show have shown us that he isn't a completely terrible person ( he is more grey than anything ). He even warns Pat about how the Shadowlands work and how to survive there, he could have simply left Pat and tried to make it out alone but he didnt do that.

The Shade explains that places are only significant if they are important to a particular person in the Shadowlands , the Blue Valley diner becomes important to the Shade as the place he refused to forgive the Gambler ( something he clearly regrets but doesnt want to admit ). The shadow apparition of the Gambler clearly got to him so he ran.

In the second instance the Shade scrambled as he tried to run away from his painful memories of sisters death too. The Shade has spent his whole life running away from his past mistakes, after the Gamblers death he even mysteriously leaves Blue Valley. Running away has been his default for so long. Pat helping the Shade to deal with his feelings was an important step for the Shades character development. The scenes with the Shade were also important for Pat to see that the Shade is not just a villain he is human too and he has made mistakes in his life just like everyone else and he is capable of doing good. The Shade will thus seek to do good by helping Jennie and Todd, which is a good first step.

Pat :

Pat was haunted by his own horrible fathers shadow apparition. His father was verbally abusive to him as a child and Pat has carried that childhood trauma in his adult life. Pat is a far better father than his own father ever was to him but I think part of the issue with Pat is he has had to be the support for so many people in his life that he hasnt been able to just have someone support him at least not outside of his healthy relationship with Barbara. Pat was literally a superhero sidekick. Pat telling his father's shadow apparition I still miss you as he walked away was sad but Pat is a very strong person and every bit the leader his father believed he wasn't. Pat is a great leader. The show has for the past three seasons dealt with this theme of parenthood intertwined with that of legacy. Courtney and Pat both have or had a terrible biological father. It's nice that they have both found each other. I really hope Pat gets to hear Courtney call him Dad.

Pat's Dad and Barbara's shadow apparitions brought forth into the light from the shadows the fact that whilst Pat isn't verbally abusive as a father his own childhood trauma has influenced his own parenthood regarding how he treats Mike, which has unintentionally made Mike feel the exact same way Pat felt as a child ( giving insight to the audiences about Pat and Mike's relationship and why it is the way it is). Mike really wants and needs his father's approval which Pat doesn't give him ( which Pat also wanted from his own Dad as a child ). We also finally found out that Mike's mother abandoned him when he was around three /four years old. That's horrible. No matter how strong and independent Mike seems to be, that will affect any child.

Pat clearly has a lot of his own issues , he has never mentioned Mike's mother or talked about her with him at all. Pats Dad's shadow apparition saying Mike feels as unwanted as Courtney does, gave me season One flashbacks to Mike being jealous that Courtney and Pat had gotten so close and they were spending so much time together. Looking back Mike probably felt as though Courtney was replacing him. That feels like amazing foreshadowing leading up to this point which is a great quality about this show. Mike was barely in the episode but the episode is extremely important for his character development not just Pats.

Jennie and Todd:

Todd's powers are clearly as uncontrollable as they are due to his own childhood trauma which was eating away at him for a long time. Nurse Love says Todd's powers can swallow up the whole world if he doesn't get his powers under control which shows just how consistent the power development on the show is. Emotions have always had such a big impact on superpowers on this show, when Courtney lost faith in her being Stargirl in season One she wasnt able to use the staff. Jennie saving Todd was an amazing moment , particularly the scene of their younger selves running towards each other and embracing. Alan Scott used his ring to reunite his children from the grave. Jennie and Todd being each other's balance ( the light and the darkness) is powerful. I'm glad the episode ended with the siblings reunited.

Courtney :

Courtney ends up trapped at the Helix Institute after Pat and the Shade end up in the Shadowlands. I initially thought Courtney really needed the staff this episode until I realized Courtney's heart and empathy is really her greatest power , she is a natural born leader and her empathy is one of the reasons people are drawn to her. Courtney was able to convince Mr Bones to take her suggestion to help Todd all without having to use the staff. I liked that when Courtney was talking about Pat with Nurse Love she referred to him as her father. Pat is her Dad just like Barbara is Mike's Mother , Pat and Barbara are the only real Dad and Mum they have ever had.

The Helix Institute :

We see minor glimpses of a few residents of the Helix Institute beyond Todd Rice in the episode. Penny dreadful , Tao Jones and Carcharo namely. Mr Bones is considering forming his own superhero team. Will the team be heroes or villains or something in between ?. That part of the episode and the minor glimpses of the Helix residents felt like the setup for something bigger (this isnt the last we have seen of the Helix institute). Before the CW sale I would have assumed that was the setup for another CW television show spinoff.

Mr Bones :

The episode marked a new change to the main story as Nurse Love and Mr Bones didn't actually seem like the bad guys this time around. Whilst they were trying to do good, trapping people (Courtney and Jennie were definitely trapped for a small period of time) isn't good either. Do we buy that they are completely good ? As we've seen before with this show, good and evil can be complex. Nurse Love said none of the residents at the Helix institute are there against their will (which Todd confirmed ) and she allowed Pat and the crew to leave but Im still not sure they can be trusted fully Mr Bones knows information about the JSA , everything from Courtney and her staff , Yolanda and her suit , Rick and the Hourglass and Beth and the goggles. He has clearly been keeping an eye on the JSA.

Courtney coming face to face with Mr Bones was a big moment for the episode. Mr Bones story is heartbreaking , he is unable to touch anyone. Nurse Love rescuing him explains their strong connection. So he appears to be trying to do the right thing and help other people like him. This is an interesting change from the comics since Mr Bones is a JSA villain in the comics. Mr Bones and Nurse Love also said that they didn't install the hidden cameras in Blue Valley and they arent spying on the JSA , they said they found out all of that information on the JSA from research and honestly it is believable. Courtney walks around in Blue Valley with the cosmic staff during the day without her costume and mask on sometimes which we saw in an earlier episode this season.

That ending scene:

The ending of this episode confirms that the murder mystery has not been solved at all. Todd was too uncontrollable to have been the Gamblers killer so it's highly unlikely he was sent to Blue Valley to murder the Gambler. In the final scene of the episode a hooded figure is seen spying on the JSA underneath Blue Valley , who is this mysterious villain ? Why is he /she spying on the JSA ?

Additional Notes :

1. Part of me is still hoping for a full on Helix institute vs JSA battle scene , just because I know it would look really cool.

2. Is this the beginning of a Pat and Shade friendship ? Nothing bonds people together quite like a trip to the Shadowlands. It did a lot for Courtney and Cindy so maybe we might get a Pat and Shade friendship out of it too.

3. Episode 8 had a lot of Pat scenes , does it qualify as a Pat centric episode ?

4. Pat and Courtney having to ride a bus home was a light way to end the episode after a very emotional hour. The Shade could have taken them back home first before going to save Sandy though.

5. Pat was definitely affected by his experience in the Shadowlands. I hope he starts focusing on helping Mike now and he finds someone he can talk with about his experience.

6. Fun fact Carcharo the Helix institute member is actually Yolandas cousin in the comics.

7. Jennie , Todd and the Shade ended up going on an adventure to help Sandy Hawkins (Wesley Dodds the Sandman's nephew ). I hope we get to see Sandy on the show eventually.

Join me weekly for more reviews of Stargirl season 3 on the CW.

"Do you believe that Mr Bones isnt involved at all in the Gamblers murder ?"

"Who are your primary suspects for the murder ?"

"What did you think of the episode ?"

Let us know in the comments below.
Lisbon (Portugal), 29 October 2022 (SPS) - Sahrawi human rights activist Sultana Sid Brahim Khaya has expressed her condemnation of the repressive practices pursued by the Moroccan occupation against defenseless Sahrawis in the occupied cities of Western Sahara.



Sultana Khaya, during her meeting with the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Portuguese Parliament, expressed her strong condemnation of the repressive practices pursued by the Moroccan occupation against the Sahrawis in the occupied cities of Western Sahara, expressing her astonishment at the unjustified silence of the international community regarding these violations.



Sultana Khaya briefed the members of the parliamentary committee about what she was subjected to as a human rights activist by the Moroccan occupation, which exercised the most heinous forms of repression, abuse and intimidation against her, reflecting on the suffering of the Sahrawi civilian population in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and the continuous violation of human rights by the Moroccan security services.



062/T
It is so well known that the completely invented stories about schools being forced to offer litter boxes to students are false that the republican candidate for US Senate in New Hampshire, Don Bolduc, has got to know he is full of shit and just riling up an under-informed crowd.

CNN:

Don Bolduc, a retired Army brigadier general who is challenging Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, made the comments while speaking to supporters in North Hampton, according to audio obtained by CNN's KFile from an attendee. The claim, which has occasionally been cited by some Republican politicians, has been repeatedly debunked.

"Guess what? We have furries and fuzzies in classrooms," Bolduc told the crowd. "They lick themselves, they're cats. When they don't like something, they hiss  people walk down the hallway and jump out," he said, as a hissing sound could be heard.

"And get this, get this," he continued. "They're putting litter boxes, right? Litter boxes for that.  These are the same people that are concerned about spreading germs. Yet they let children lick themselves and then touch everything. And they're starting to lick each other."

"I wish I was making it up," concluded Bolduc. "I honestly wish it was a 'Saturday Night Live' skit."
Lisbon (Portugal), 29 October 2022 (SPS) - Angolan Women's External Relations Officer Augusta Leonel on Saturday reiterated support for Sahrawi women in their just struggle for freedom and independence.



During a meeting with Sahrawi human rights activist Sultana Khaya on the sidelines of the Congress of Democratic Women in Portugal, Mr. Augusta Leonel expressed the solidarity and support of Angolan women for the struggle of women in the Sahrawi Republic against the Moroccan occupation to end all forms of colonialism in the African continent.



Sahrawi human rights activist Sultana sid Brahim Khaya was received Friday by the Committee on Rights and Freedoms of the Portuguese Parliament, where she briefed the members of the Portuguese Parliamentary Committee on the gravity of the situation in occupied Western Sahara, as well as the systematic violations of human rights committed by the occupying state against defenseless Sahrawis.



062/T
Catholic writer Dr. Taylor Marshall, author of Antichrist and Apocalypse: The 21 Prophecies of Revelation Unveiled and Described and Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, recently invited exorcist Father Chad Ripperger onto his podcast for some straight-talk about traditional gender roles in demonic possession. The Exorcist Father Chad Ripperger, whose name already sounds like a horror movie, is the author of the recently published Dominion: The Nature of Diabolic Warfare, and had this to say about women:

Most exorcists, about 80 or more percent of the people that come to them are women. There are two factors that we have, uh, observed, in what we think is the cause of that. First is that women are more victimizable and so they're more likely to become subject to, um, diabolic influence because they're victimized more often. Possession among women is also very often more tied to their, uh, victimization than it is their own particular sin, whereas men, it tends to be kind of the other way around [] It's usually because some guy's band, he's been watching porn, or something like that. With women, it's been she was molested when she was seven or something like that and so that's how the demon initially got in.

There might be something interesting to unpack here, if the Exorcist Father Chad Ripperger was speaking metaphorically. Could it be that what he calls "demonic possession" is actually just a person's repressed trauma, or else the manifestations of the toxic masculinity that society bombards upon men? What's that? No, it's because women are "victimizable" and dudes jerk off while listening to rock music? Okay cool got it.

The Exorcist Father Chad Ripperger also goes onto explain that Satan has always hated women, going all the way back to Eve. And also that women are more likely to stop and ask a stranger for directions, which makes them more susceptible to meeting demons in the first place.

So glad we have those demons to retroactively reinforce our assumptions about traditional gender roles!
David Nicklaus David Nicklaus is a business columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow David Nicklaus Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Had Edward Jones been a bit quicker, it might be in the banking business by now. Instead, the century-old brokerage firm appears to have hit a political roadblock.

Edward Jones, based in Des Peres, applied in 2020 to own a Utah-chartered bank, saying it wanted to offer clients a centralized source for saving, spending and borrowing. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had just approved similar charters for financial technology firm Square and student-loan giant Nelnet.

This month, though, Edward Jones withdrew its application. The firm said it determined that approval by the FDIC board is not expected at this time. We remain focused on meeting the saving, spending and borrowing needs of our more than 8 million clients and are committed to helping them achieve financially what is most important to them and their families.

The political winds shifted after Edward Jones filed its application. Two years ago, the FDICs board had a Republican majority and a chairwoman, Jelena McWilliams, who vowed to speed new-bank approvals.

The agencys board now consists of three Democratic appointees. Its acting chairman, Martin Gruenberg, voted against Squares application in 2020.

The type of charter that Square got, and Edward Jones sought, is called an industrial loan company. ILCs, which can be owned by companies that arent primarily in the banking business, have been controversial since Walmart applied unsuccessfully for one in 2005.

Critics, including banking and consumer groups, complain that ILCs are more lightly regulated than other banks. They also say ILCs are risky because the parent companies arent required to cover losses.

Im not sure the ILC charter should exist, said Jesse Van Tol, chief executive of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, which opposed Edward Jones application. It is a loophole that allows certain entities to get the privileges of being a bank while avoiding some of the obligations that other banks face.

Only two dozen ILCs exist today, owned by companies that include Toyota, investment giant UBS and insurance giant United Healthcare. They represent less than 1% of U.S. bank assets and James Barth, an Auburn University finance professor who has studied the industry, says they tend to be better capitalized and more profitable than other banks.

Barth isnt surprised that banking groups oppose new competition, but he thinks they overstate the risk of ILCs.

A bill has been introduced in Congress to eliminate the ILC charter, and its sponsors argue that mixing banking and commerce makes the financial system less stable. Barth isnt so sure. The troublesome aspect is a lack of evidence, he said. ILCs havent caused a crisis.

What community banks and credit unions are really worried about is new competition. They raise the specter of a Walmart or Amazon someday opening a bank and using its market power to squash rivals.

Meanwhile, Edward Jones can offer other banks CDs and mortgages to its customers, but it cant cut out the middleman and issue its own. The Edward Jones application looked like horizontal integration, said Joseph Haslag, an economics professor at the University of Missouri. It looked like the kind of product expansion and innovation that is customer-based.

Edward Jones could opt to become a bank holding company and acquire a commercial bank, as its St. Louis rival Stifel Financial did 15 years ago, or it can wait and hope that the political winds shift back in ILCs favor.

Given the banking industrys lobbying clout and its fear of competition, that might be a long wait.
Matt Hancock, the U.Ks scandal-prone former health secretary, sought an unlikely form of redemption: attempting to win Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here  a grueling, often gruesome reality TV show set in the Australian jungle. Hancock led Britains response to COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic, telling people to stay away from others to protect the health service, then breaking his Governments own rules, when video emerged of him kissing and groping an aide he was having an affair with. Viewers have upended expectations by voting Hancock through to the show's final, but he finished third.
After moving to St. Louis in 2015, Holly and Isaac Pollack spent six years living in a 1,500-square-foot duplex in University City, sharing its one full bathroom with their children. "Every year we said we're not renewing this lease," Holly says. But the couple just couldn't find a house they could commit to. That is, until August 2021, when they discovered the perfect home in which to raise their family.

The Pollacks were working with a real-estate agent and searching in a very targeted geographic area, but when nothing seemed to fit, they gave up their search and once again re-signed their lease. Two weeks later, the agent called them to say there was a house they had to see. Located just north of the University City Loop on a historic street in the West End neighborhood, the house was built in 1891, designed as the personal residence of renowned architect Theodore Link. Link designed more than 100 buildings in St. Louis  most notably Union Station. He also served for a time as the superintendent of public parks in the city.

In addition to its historic pedigree, the home's location was ideal for the Pollacks  walking distance to their synagogue near the Loop and within city limits where their kids attend St. Louis Public Schools and Isaac is an associate superintendent.

"We felt strongly that it was important for us as a family to move into St. Louis city and to help contribute to its growth, specifically in support of the families that have remained in the city," Isaac says. "We wanted to live in a diverse neighborhood and contribute to the wealth and growth of the existing and future members of the community we were joining. We also wanted to find a home that would fit the needs of our growing family."

While much of the home's original charm remained intact, it had a newly remodeled chef's kitchen that was perfect for cooking and entertaining. The bathrooms had all been updated, and the layout of the second and third floors was particularly functional.

"It was designed for a big family, and we are a big family," Holly says. "I never thought we'd live in a house where all my kids could have their own bedrooms or that we could afford that, and then all of the sudden there was this house with seven bedrooms. It just felt right."

The Pollacks made an offer the next day, which was accepted, and quickly backed out of their lease and moved in. For the kids, who had always shared rooms, it took some adjusting to the large house  at 4,900 square feet, it is more than three times the size of their duplex  but now they love having their own spaces as well as shared ones like a third-floor playroom and large, fenced-in yard.

Holly and Isaac love the huge, tastefully remodeled kitchen, which was one of the biggest selling points of the house. With two refrigerators, two dishwashers, two ovens, a large center island and built-in bench seating for dining, there is plenty of room to prepare big meals while the entire family hangs out. Navy blue custom cabinets with gold hardware, white quartz countertops, classic white subway tile and hardwood floors give the space a timeless look that complements the home's original architecture.

Large widows throughout the house, including a pair tucked under a unique archway at the top of the staircase landing, flood the space with light, another factor that attracted the Pollacks to the home.

"Our old house was very dark. Walking in here feels like a breath of fresh air," Holly says.

They also appreciate the home's well-preserved original details such as its intricately carved wood front door, which bears Link's initial and '91 for the year the home was built. A small leaded glass window alongside the door adds charm to both the covered front porch and entry foyer. Other favorites include 10-foot ceilings with original crown molding, the original wood staircase, stained glass windows on the third floor stair landing, and a unique tile mosaic on the hearth of the dining room fireplace.

The home is well lived in and filled with furnishings that were mostly handed down by family and friends, in addition to bargain finds from Facebook Marketplace. Holly got an old church pew that now sits in the foyer for free and restored it with her dad's help. A large vintage dining room table and chairs were handed down by a close family friend.

Artwork depicting images of Holly's hometown of New Orleans by New Orleans-based artists adorn the walls of the main floor. The couple spent seven years living there and return with the family every year for Mardi Gras, so it holds a special place in their hearts. They have several paintings by renowned New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne, including a piece Isaac got signed with a special note to Holly for their first Anniversary.

Over the past year, the Pollacks have enjoyed becoming part of the neighborhood, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and making the house their family home.

"It has been perfect for our needs," says Isaac. "It represents our love for the history of the city and our desire to be a part of its resurgence."

Holly and Isaac Pollack Ages  Holly is 38, and Isaac is 39. Occupations  Holly is a nurse at St. Louis Children's Hospital, and Isaac is the associate superintendent of school turnaround and innovation for St. Louis Public Schools Home  West End neighborhood Family  The Pollacks have four children: Nisa, 12, Ezra, 11, Micah, 8 and Ayla, 6
ST. LOUIS  A jury found a man not guilty of a 2018 murder in a trial this week, but still convicted him on a gun possession charge.

Jimmie Duncan, 34, of University City, was also found not guilty on Friday of armed criminal action. Duncan's 15-year sentence and earlier guilty plea were vacated in September 2021 after a judge agreed Duncan received ineffective counsel during his 2019 trial.

During this week's trial, Duncan argued that the fatal shooting of Robert Lamont Lee, 25, on Oct. 8, 2018, in the 1400 block of Belt Avenue, happened after Duncan and he fought over a gun. Duncan said he was trying to stop his friend Lee from grabbing the gun because Lee intended to hurt Lee's mother and brother. He said Lee accidently shot himself in the head.

Prosecutors grilled Duncan on his friendship, asking why he left the scene instead of helping: "You drove off because you knew he was dying," said Marvin Teer, chief trial assistant for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office.

"No sir, I didn't know if he was dead of not," Duncan said. "I just panicked and drove off."

Duncan was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, a felony, because of previously drug convictions.

Editor's note: Updated at 12:50 p.m. Nov. 3 to correct that Duncan pleaded guilty at his first trial.
ST. LOUIS  Police officers were called to the home of Orlando Harris on Oct. 15, nine days before he went on a shooting rampage inside a St. Louis high school. Harris mother had asked officers to remove the weapon, an AR-15 rifle, from her home, citing her sons mental health struggles. Police had been called to the home before.

St. Louis police had also been informed that Harris, 19, recently failed a federal background check when he tried to buy a weapon from a local dealer.

So why didnt police confiscate the AR-15 before Mondays attack at Central Visual and Performing Arts and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, which left two people dead and seven others injured?

They say slight differences in state and federal gun possession laws tied their hands when Harris mother asked them to remove the weapon on Oct. 15. They also point to a controversial new law in Missouri that claims state statutes supersede federal law when it comes to gun possession.

It is our belief that under existing state law SLMPD would have no authority to seize the firearm in question, police Sgt. Charles Wall said in a statement.

But some experts side with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, whose spokesperson said the state Legislature granted courts some control over gun possession when an individual suffers from a mental health condition.

Federal law declares that if a person has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution, they may not buy or possess a gun. Harris family has said that he was committed before the shooting. When he tried to buy a gun from a licensed dealer in St. Charles on Oct. 8, he failed the federal background check and was stopped from buying the weapon.

St. Louis police confirmed they were notified by the FBI that Harris had failed the background check, as a new federal law requires. The NICS Denial Identification Act went into effect Oct. 1.

Police had also made multiple mental health-related trips to Harris home, where he lived with his mother. Records show officers were called to the home five other times in the past two years, including for a crisis response, a violent and/or weapon call and a suicide attempt.

But Missouri law does not include language that prohibits a person who has been involuntarily committed from possessing a gun  it prohibits gun ownership only if the more serious step is taken of declaring a person incompetent.

So Harris eventually bought the AR-15 from a private seller, which does not require a background check. After the police visit, the gun was transferred to a third person, known to the family. But it somehow ended up back with Harris, who then kept it in a storage locker.

Federal law normally supersedes state law. But Missouri recently passed a law, now tied up in courts, called the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which claims state law supersedes federal law on issues of gun ownership.

For that reason, police say, they didnt take Harris gun. They say they didnt have the authority.

Under the Second Amendment Preservation Act, St. Louis police can only enforce federal laws if there is an existing state law congruent to the federal law being enforced, Wall said in his statement.

There is no indication from court records that the more serious step had been taken of declaring Harris incompetent and assigning him a legal guardian, which would have made possession of the gun illegal under both state and federal law.

Once someone is committed to a mental institution, they have a hearing before a judge, said Peter Joy, director of the Criminal Justice Clinic at Washington University. The judge then determines if the person is mentally incompetent, incapacitated or disabled.

If Harris mother previously had him committed, as she said, that would have been enough for police to take the gun when they went to the home on Oct. 15.

If a person has been adjudicated in front of a judge and committed to a mental health facility, they cannot purchase guns and they cannot possess them, said Kevin Jamison, a Kansas City-area attorney who specializes in firearm law. This kid did seem to have some mental health problems, and his family could certainly have committed him to a mental health facility by bringing action in probate court.

Also, Jamison said, theres nothing in the Second Amendment Preservation Act that would have prevented local police from removing a gun from the shooter. It deals exclusively with prohibiting the federal government from enforcing gun laws in Missouri, and the law also faces ongoing legal challenges questioning its legitimacy.

Still, there is enough uncertainty among police to prevent an officer from taking a gun even if there are warning signs and they have the right to, said Republican state Rep. Lane Roberts, the former director of public safety for the state and former Joplin police chief.

Roberts said the new state law might not have legally prevented an officer from taking Harris gun, but it has that effect in practice.

Every law has potential for unintended consequences, and this is one of them, said Roberts, who reluctantly voted for the bill despite concerns about consequences for police officers and departments who enforce federal gun laws. Police are going to err on the side of caution, Robert said.

Joy agreed  police caution is inevitable in a state where guns are so deeply embedded in the culture.

Its obvious in a tragic situation like this where everybody wishes police wouldve taken the gun, but whether they had enough evidence to take the gun is something else, Joy said. Especially in a state like Missouri where the laws are so pro-gun ownership that with gun possession, a lot of law enforcement officers are very cautious.

Post-Dispatch reporter Kim Bell contributed to this story.

A quiet morning, then screams and bullets: How the St. Louis school shooting unfolded Six people tell the Post-Dispatch the story of Monday's school shooting in south St. Louis: How they survived, what they saw, and what happened next.
Trump follower and Arizona Republican candidate for governor Keri Lake declared she would not accept the election result if she did not win. Groups of armed people are congregating at polling booths, a strategy organized by national and state-affiliated organizations and elected, office-holding politicians to keep "mules" from stuffing ballot boxes.

Mediocre lyricist Kanye West, now named Ye, continues to make anti-Semitic statements, despite having supposedly lost billions of dollars (like Trump, West seems to lie about his income) in endorsements. David DePape assaulted Paul Pelosi, the husband of US Senator Nancy Pelosi, in their home. DePape had intended to assaultassassinate?Speaker Pelosi, yelling "where is Nancy?", echoing the chants by insurrectionists attacking the US capitol on January 6.

Georgia Meloni, from the Brothers of Italy party, a political descendant of Mussolini political legacy, was recently elected Prime Minister of Italy. Marjorie Taylor Green wants to continue to tradition of white Christian nationalism. Elon Musk, who inherited wealth from the family emerald mining business during apartheid South Africa and relies on tax breaks and bullying to get his way, just took over at Twitter, ousting leadership; immediately, the app was filled with vile and violent hate speech. Even conservative Stallworth Bill Kristol has used the F word more than once to describe other Republicans.

Too often, Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy are used as a reference for fascism. But where did these fascists learn their trade? Numerous scholars have researched and reported on how German fascists were inspired by US history, from Jim Crow Black codes and the attempted extermination of indigenous peoples to eugenics-inspired public policy. Check out Hitler's American Model: The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law by James Q. Whitman. As Aime Cesaire, the poet and anti-colonial theorist reminds us, fascism was "colonialist procedures  applied to Europe".

If there is any doubt about the authoritarian designs of these persons, I'll leave with Musk: "We will coup whoever [sic] we want! Deal with it!" This Tweet was in response to the far-right coup in Bolivia in 2019. Bolivia is lithium-rich. Lithium is vital for Musk's capacity to make a profit.
ST. LOUIS  In the wake of Mondays deadly school shooting, the Board of Aldermen on Friday voted unanimously to urge state lawmakers to allow the city to enact tougher gun restrictions than those authorized under state law.

The resolution passed by the board also called on the Legislature to repeal its Second Amendment Preservation Act, which seeks to invalidate some federal gun laws in Missouri.

We are all impacted by this unspeakable tragedy as well as the regular acts of violence that continue to terrorize and victimize our residents on a daily basis, said the resolution, sponsored by Alderman Cara Spencer, 20th Ward.

Spencer called the resolution a small gesture that also recognizes the lost lives of the teacher and student killed at the campus that houses two city high schools and heroism of police and others.

Several aldermen had sharp criticism for state officials for Missouris permissive gun possession laws.

Acting board president Joe Vollmer said Gov. Mike Parson and much of the Legislature have shown a blatant disregard for the city of St. Louis.

Vollmer contended that positions taken by the governor, including opposition to so-called red flag laws, kept police from having the ability to confiscate the rifle that the shooter used.

To walk around and see all these shootings going on, its unreal, unreal, he said.

Vollmer represents the 10th Ward, where Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience  the scene of the shooting  share a campus.

Red flag proposals are aimed at keeping guns away from people who may pose a threat to themselves or others. Parson has said that the state should instead invest more in mental health.

Alderman Sharon Tyus, 1st Ward, said state officials from rural areas dont understand the problems facing Missouris big cities. Maybe assault rifles are OK where you live but they are not OK here, Tyus said.

Resolution co-sponsor Shameem Clark Hubbard of the 26th Ward, whose 16-year-old daughter attends one of the schools, said the incident was just a surreal moment that we are still living and our children are still living.

She also said my daughters whispers sounded like screams on the phone.

Earlier in the videoconference meeting, the board observed a moment of silence regarding Mondays attack.

The boards weekly opening prayer was delivered by Manfret McGhee, a Baptist pastor who also is a faculty member at Central. Vollmer noted that McGhees son, a student at the school, was wounded in the attack.
JEFFERSON CITY  One of Missouris largest abortion rights advocacy groups this week came out against a Nov. 8 ballot question that would legalize recreational marijuana.

Pro-Choice Missouri, in a statement posted on social media, said it supported the legalization of marijuana, but criticized the constitutional amendment for not going far enough to address historic harms of marijuana criminalization.

The group said the amendment is deceptive and intentionally unclear where it matters, like abortion restrictions often are. It does not equitably address the historic harms or the predatory administrative systems it would rely on, such as the Missouri Department of Health, which was caught attempting to monitor the menstrual cycles of patients accessing care at planned parenthood.

If the ballot measure is approved, the states marijuana industry would be overseen by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Pro-Choice Missouris statement was referring to the departments former director, Randall Williams, who testified in 2019 that he kept a spreadsheet to track the menstrual periods of women who visited Planned Parenthood. Williams stepped down in 2021.

The abortion rights groups stance illustrates a unique divide among legalization advocates and progressive-leaning organizations over how Missouri should legalize marijuana. The amendment, which will be listed on the ballot as Amendment 3, has been endorsed by civil liberties groups such as the Missouri ACLU and Empower Missouri. It is also backed by organized labor groups Missouri AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Pro-Choice Missouri, in their statement, said marijuana legalization and the expungement of marijuana-related arrests is an issue of reproductive justice.

Like bans on access to abortion, the racist criminalization of cannabis causes harm to people, families and entire communities, the statement said.

State Rep. Tracy McCreery, a St. Louis Democrat, said in a text to a reporter that Pro-Choice Missouris anti-endorsement was a classic example of a group getting outside of their lane.

Supporters say the amendment is the states best chance to legalize marijuana. They tout the amendment for putting an end to marijuana arrests  which have disproportionately affected minority communities.

Amendment 3 represents justice for the thousands of workers who will have a clearer path to quality employment once their nonviolent marijuana convictions are expunged, Rhiannon Duryea, SEIUs executive director, said in a statement.

Across the country, legalization has generated millions of dollars for some while leaving behind many minority communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs. Amendment 3 is the step forward Missouri needs to ensure more workers have access to livable wages and respect on the job.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat, said in an interview that he supports the marijuana amendment but understands why some groups have concerns with it.

I do understand that there are some groups that feel this simply isnt good enough, especially in its social equity side, he said. I know that Pro-Choice Missouri does their very best to look at an intersectionality of issues and must have come to the conclusion that that this would unbalance, not be enough for the communities that need help.

Merideth said that Pro-Choice Missouris stance shows that the divide over legalization is about the details of the amendment, not the big picture. He said the amendment is significantly better than the status quo.

Youre getting different conclusions from well-intentioned people with similar goals in mind, but were just drawing different conclusions on the overall balance of good versus problems.

John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022, the primary group campaigning for the amendments passage, in a statement touted support from a wide range of groups. He also championed the fact that the amendment would allow Missourians who were previously charged with nonviolent marijuana offenses to have their criminal records automatically expunged.

He did not specifically respond to Pro-Choice Missouris opposition.

The single biggest step Missouri can make in criminal justice reform this election is passing Amendment 3, which is why organizations like ACLU, Freedom Inc., Empower Missouri and Communities Creating Opportunity all support marijuana legalization and automatic expungement, the statement said. In less than two weeks, Missouri will make history as the 20th state to legalize cannabis and the very first to automatically expunge past, nonviolent cannabis records by a vote of the people.

The Nov. 8 ballot question will ask voters whether to amend the state constitution to legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over. Some legalization advocates have raised concerns that the amendment would create a monopoly in the marijuana industry that favors established medical marijuana companies and leave out prospective business owners from marginalized communities.

2022 The Kansas City Star. Visit kansascity.com.
Maya Angelous wise if over-quoted advice  When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time  may be nowhere more applicable than in Missouris U.S. Senate race.

Republican nominee Eric Schmitt, currently Missouris attorney general, has been showing who he is throughout the campaign. He has used his state office to file race-baiting litigation over Missouri school curriculum, to spread dangerous misinformation about the coronavirus, to pry into the emails of journalists, and to attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In service to his Senate ambitions, hes twisting every culture-war knife he can find, and hes doing it on the taxpayers dime.

And now comes evidence that Schmitts office may have targeted a private citizen as well, for merely denouncing some of these outrages. Never mind Maya Angelou; were in George Orwell territory now.

On April 2, Jon Turner criticized Schmitts relentless attacks on teachers  just as any American would be free to do under the First Amendment. Turner is an associate professor of education at Missouri State University at Springfield, but he made his comments as a private citizen using his personal Twitter account.

Four days later, Schmitts office filed an open-records request with the university to obtain all of Turners office e-mails for the previous three months, without saying why.

Theyre still not saying, but Turner has some ideas. It was obviously a shot across my bow, he told me last week. Hey, weve got our eye on you.

Turners tweet was in response to Schmitts announcement that hed launched an online platform for parents to report divisive curriculum and woke indoctrination in schools. If youre not fluent in GOP dog-whistle, this is a pandering appeal to white voters who dont think their kids should have to learn anything about race in America.

To Turner, 56, who has been in education his whole career, this was a last straw. He tweet-lambasted Schmitt for being anti-teacher and declared: Im working to make sure this dangerous, hateful political jellyfish never gets elected to anything again.

Maybe a little overboard, Turner acknowledged to me last week. No matter. The First Amendment protects overboard.

Some important context: Turner isnt some prominent activist who would have been on Schmitts radar before this. And whatever you think of Schmitts tax-funded harassment of school districts over their mask policies and nonexistent critical race theory curriculum, Turner has no dog in those fights. His own academic focus is on rural schools. Not much woke-ness going on there for Schmitt to froth about.

As Turner told the Missouri Independent news site when it first reported the situation this month: I have no idea if Eric Schmitt even knows who I am.

He certainly knows now. On April 6, Schmitts general counsel sent a letter to Turners employers at MSU requesting all email communications  sent or received from Turners university email account, from Jan. 15 on. Turners was the only email account the letter requested.

The Missouri Independent reported that Schmitts office has separately requested emails of four other Missouri State instructors this year, all of which appear to involve either pandemic issues or race-related curriculum. Not that that justifies it, but its at least an explanation of what Schmitt was fishing for in those cases.

When I asked Schmitts office why they wanted Turners emails, Press Secretary Chris Nuelle sent a statement saying it was part of a fact-finding process regarding the practices and policies of education in our state  a non-answer. I asked why Turner was singled out. I didnt get a response.

Of course, none of this conclusively proves that Schmitt used his office to intimidate a private citizen for criticizing him. Who knows, maybe theres a legitimate reason why the states top legal official would demand the emails of an unknown college instructor whose work has no apparent bearing on any issue that Schmitts office is involved in. And that he would make that demand just days after Turners criticism popped up on Schmitts Twitter feed. Coincidences happen, right?

Since Missouri State is a public university, Turners office emails are unquestionably public under state law. Turner expressed amusement at how boring it must have been for Schmitts people to comb through three months of emails from a state employee who (unlike a certain attorney general) scrupulously separates his state-funded duties from other parts of his life.

But amusement isnt Turners main reaction.

That someone from the attorney generals office would take the time and use state of Missouri resources to keep an eye on me  it is intimidating, he told me. You feel like maybe you should shut up and be careful. Does this impact your family? Is it going to impact your career?

Schmitt is on track to easily defeat Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine Nov. 8 to become Missouris next senator. Will that change with evidence that hes willing to bring the power of the state down upon a private citizen for exercising the right to free speech?

Schmitt has once again, to a chilling degree, shown who he is. The question is whether todays voters are too polarized to care.

Kevin McDermott is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. On Twitter: @kevinmcdermott Email: kmcdermott@post-dispatch.com
The more detail that emerges about the assailant in last weeks St. Louis school shooting, the more clear it becomes that his deadly violence was, in real ways, abetted by Missouris Legislature. Conservative lawmakers have spent more than a decade preventing or assertively tearing down every legal safeguard that might have stopped Orlando Harris from obtaining his weapon. Each step along the path that led to the deaths of two innocent people was cleared by pro-gun lawmakers in Jefferson City, who have worked hard to ensure their state has among the loosest gun laws in the country. And years worth of data indicates there are many other victims of their extremism.

Harris broke into the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience on Monday armed with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. He managed to kill student Alexzandria Bell, 15, and teacher Jean Kuczka, 61, and wound several others before police killed him.

Unlike the grade school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in May, no one this time can point to failures at the scene as a contributing factor. Police responded quickly and professionally to stop the rampage almost immediately. Before the attack, the shooters family went to extraordinary lengths to deny him access to a gun and to address his mental health issues. The school was well-secured, and well-prepared teachers were able to protect most of the students. Everyone did everything right.

Everyone, that is, except the Missouri elected officials ultimately responsible for protecting all of them. Consider:

 When a licensed gun dealer refused to sell Harris a gun on Oct. 8 because he couldnt pass the federally required background check, the Legislature had already made sure that he could instead buy one from a private seller who had no legal obligation to run such a check.

 When Harris family called the police on Oct. 15, fearing that his mental state made it dangerous for him to be armed, the Legislature had already ensured there was no red-flag law in place that would have allowed them to get a court order removing the gun.

 Harris was 19, an age at which even mentally healthy people can be unpredictable. In recognition of that fact, numerous states, including Illinois, have raised their minimum age to buy all firearms to 21. But in Missouri, 18-year-olds can still buy semi-automatic weapons like the one Harris bought.

 Because Missouri doesnt require permits to carry guns in most public spaces for anyone 19 or older, Harris theoretically didnt even face the threat of being stopped and questioned as he transported his weapon on the street outside the school.

If a state intentionally designed its laws to make it as easy as possible for dangerous people to lay their hands on deadly firearms, that would look pretty much like Missouris laws today. This isnt an accident or an oversight. Its the result of a long campaign by Republican state politicians to methodically eliminate anything that their most extreme constituents might define as gun control.

The most glaring example is on the issue of background checks, which in this case worked the way it was supposed to  until Missouri law came into play.

Federal law says anyone who buys a weapon from a federally licensed gun dealer must submit to a background check to ensure that person isnt legally prohibited from having one. Police havent specified why Harris failed the background check by the St. Charles gun dealer he tried to buy from two weeks before the shooting. But according to police, Harris had been committed at one point for his mental health issues, which is one element that can prohibit a gun sale.

That could have and should have been the end of it  except that Missouri, like some other red states, provides an extraordinary loophole for unfit people seeking weapons: They can go to a private seller, who doesnt fall under federal background-check requirements, and buy the weapon, no questions asked.

Missouri used to have a universal-background check requirement for purchases of handguns, but the Legislature repealed it in 2007. Even if that particular law wouldnt have prevented Harris purchase (because it was a rifle rather than a handgun), theres been nothing to stop lawmakers from instituting a universal background check of all gun purchases, as other states have.

In Illinois, for example, even someone who buys from a private seller has to present a state Firearms Owners Identification Card, which means that person has undergone a background check by the state police. The private seller is required to contact the state police to confirm that the card-holder is still eligible to buy, and only then can sell.

Its a reasonable system to prevent someone like Harris from arming up. And Missouris deliberate lack of such a system helps explain why it has almost twice the firearms death rate that Illinois does. In fact, Missouris rate today is consistently among the worst of any state  and far worse than it was just a dozen years ago.

Gov. Mike Parsons astonishing comment on Thursday indicates just how much Missouris Republican leadership still doesnt get it: You got a criminal that committed a criminal act, and all the laws in the world are not going to stop those things.

So whats the point of having any laws at all? That a governor from the law and order party (and a former sheriff, no less) would spout such nonsense shows, once again, that Missouris Republican politicians are so deep down the gun-culture rabbit hole that they cant even think straight on this topic. Voters should keep the stunning images from the school grounds foremost in their minds on Nov. 8 and remember: Elections have consequences.
It is a game, isnt it?

Some people take their Pokemon Go games way too seriously. Robert and Angelo Matteuzzi, a father-and-son Pokemon team, ventured into Kirkwood Park to play, hunt and do battle against virtual monsters back in 2018. Its a game, you see. There arent real monsters. And although they were in a public park, the territory they were claiming for their game wasnt real territory. At least, thats the way it certainly seems for the rest of the Earth-based world. In their world, the park was theirs.

There, they encountered another player, Sammy the Bull, who they deemed to be encroaching on their imaginary territory. As the Post-Dispatchs Erin Heffernan reported, Pokemon Go is an augmented reality smartphone game that takes players on adventures outside the confines of, say, their living rooms into real-life settings like parks. Busy places like Kirkwood Park can become coveted spaces, known as gyms, to be claimed by players. So when two sets of players claim the same spot, trouble can develop.

Kirkwood Park is where father Robert Matteuzzi, 75, and his son Angelo, 35, met up with Sammy the Bull, whose nickname implies a formidable personality. But maybe thats just the image he conveys in Pokemon World. Anyway, a fight erupted. Sammy the Victim testified that an argument over the right to claim the gym escalated when Angelo Mateuzzi started punching him. The ensuing brawl culminated in a struggle deep into the parks Walker Lake, where the two Mateuzzis continued to punch the victim and hold him under the water.

Angelo Matteuzzi testified that he never wanted a fight. I was just trying to put my Pokemon in the gym, he testified.

A St. Louis County jury on Wednesday found the Matteuzzis guilty of felony third-degree assault.

Did we mention that this is a game?

City Museum turns 25

It was 25 years ago this week that St. Louis quirkiest landmark opened its doors, sporting a giant praying mantis and other eye-popping sculptures perched atop a 10-story former downtown shoe factory converted into a kind of urban architectural amusement park. City Museum was born.

The brainchild of sculptor and entrepreneur Robert Cassilly, the not-really-a-museum at 16th Street near Washington Avenue was, and is, difficult to describe to the uninitiated. Nonetheless, it remains one of the citys most popular attractions today, with its ladders, slides, teetering rooftop school bus and, of course, that gigantic insect.

A Post-Dispatch story from its 1997 opening weekend (which was posted on the newspapers website this week) called the project wonderfully eclectic and quixotic, though added, Theres no simple or neat explanation for whats there.

Indeed, the explanation would continue shifting over the years as elements were added. The iconic rooftop Ferris wheel, for example, wouldnt arrive for more than a decade.

Cassilly, who died in 2011, may have described it best back in that original article: A mecca for people on the fringes.

Victory for journalists and their sources

In an important policy shift and major victory for journalists First Amendment rights, the Justice Department announced a ban on the use of government subpoenas, warrants or court orders to force reporters to hand over notes, records and other communications. The policy change ends a practice used aggressively under the Trump administration to go after leakers. The policy particularly targeted The New York Times, Washington Post and CNN in an attempt to identify sources used by reporters for stories that embarrassed the administration or were deemed to endanger national security.

Attorney General Merrick Garland cemented the order this week as part of department policy. It would still take an act of Congress to make the policy unchangeable from one administration to the next.

Garland stated: These regulations recognize the crucial role that a free and independent press plays in our democracy. 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 news gathering.

The attempted seizures reached such a bizarre level that Times Publisher A.G. Sulzberger was put under a court gag order in 2021 that prevented him from sharing with the newsroom why the seizures were occurring and what was being sought. But compliance was not up for negotiation.

Taking UFO sitings seriously

NASA this week formally began its own investigation into the sightings of unexplained flying objects that have been reported by military pilots. The Pentagon and other government agencies have already been looking into it, but the space agency presumably will bring the much-needed legitimacy of sober science to the often-controversial topic.

What are popularly known as UFOs  but which officials today call unidentified aerial phenomena  have been getting taken seriously by scientists and the government in recent years. Thats because sightings are coming not from cranks and conspiracists but from pilots and other reliable sources.

The NASA project, expected to last nine months, will bring experts from an array of scientific fields. The agency says it will be nearly impossible to definitively explain the sightings because the data is so limited and that the more realistic goal is for the study to inform NASA what possible data could be collected in the future to scientifically discern the nature of UAP.

Thats right: NASA can make even this topic sound nerdy and dull. Which might be deliberate.
Production of the U.S. Armys new light tank, the 38-ton, the MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower) system vehicle begins this month. MPF has not yet received a customary name as the 70-t0n M1 Abrams or 15-ton M551 Sheridan. Both of these looked like tanks but the M1 was a major success while the M551 was not. The army wants the MPF vehicle to provide infantry units with mobile fire power in an armored vehicle whose sensors can detect enemy armored vehicles at great distances. While MPF armor protects the vehicle from autocannon shells up to 30mm, it is vulnerable to most anti-tank weapons.

The army held a competition in 2021 in which a dozen of the GD (General Dynamics) 36-ton Griffin 2 and a dozen of the 37-ton BAE M8 AGS were turned over to troops for seven months of field testing. The Griffin 2 won and many of the changes suggested by the soldiers testing the vehicle were implemented. GD received a $1.14 billion contract to deliver up to 70 low-initial rate production MPF vehicles. This means the cost per MPF is $16 million. Initial rate production vehicles always cost more than the mass production vehicles, The army plans to order 500 of these, with deliveries continuing until 2035. One reason the MPF is so expensive is that the turret, which is similar to that of the larger M1, contains most of the same tech (fire-control, sensors, communications) found in the latest M1s. In 2021 Poland ordered 250 M1A2SEP3 tanks for $6 million each. This is the current model of the M1.

The Griffin was first shown in 2016. It was a light-tank, initially 28 tons and armed with a new 120mm gun and a four-man crew. There were configurations available and one with more armor and a 105mm gun were offered as Griffin II and a candidate for the MPF. The final MPF design did not include the autoloader for the 105mm gun and that meant a four rather than three-man crew. The turret layout is similar to that found in the M1 tank and includes many of the same systems used by the current M1.

GD originally created Griffin by combining components already in use by various IFV and light tank systems. The Griffin II configuration was most popular with the troops. The fist low-initial rate production MPF will be delivered in 2023. Instead of assigning a company of 14 MPF vehicles to each army combat brigade, there were only enough MPFs to provide each division, including the 82nd Airborne division, with one or more companies.

The process of obtaining a new light tank began over 30 years ago just before the trouble-prone M551 light tank was retired from combat service. Some M551s continued to serve as a simulated enemy tank in large scale training exercises at the NTC (National Training Center) until 2003. There were a lot of M551s still available because 1,662 were built between 1966 and 1970. The M551 failed in combat. It had a crew of four and a unique 152mm gun that used twenty onboard 152mm short range shells or nine Shillelagh guided missiles with a max range of 3,000 meters. The 152mm gun was never very reliable and during its only combat experience (Vietnam 1969-72) performance of the M551 and its 152mm main gun were dismal. The M551 152mm gun only used shells in Vietnam to supply infantry with much needed fire support. Only 200 M551s were sent to Vietnam and most were destroyed by enemy fire (RPG rockets or heavy machine-guns) or broke down during use. The 152mm gun had a slow rate of fire and had only 24 shells on board if missiles were not carried. There were often problems with the fire control system. The army came up with several modifications but gave up on the M551 by 1978. The 82nd airborne division kept using them because they could be dropped by parachute and still function.

The U.S. Army didnt look for an M551 replacement until 1992 and the first candidate was the M8 Buford Armored Gun System, which was to replace the M551 in the 82nd Airborne Division and in several other units. The M8 was developed in 1983 using corporate funds and used several innovations to produce a well-protected 24-ton tracked vehicle with a 105mm high velocity gun using an autoloader. That meant a crew size of three. The autoloader was based on the one the Navy had been using for its Mk 54 five-inch (127mm) gun. The M8 autoloader allowed up to twelve shells a minute to be fired. The M8 design was accepted in 1992 and mass production was to begin within four years with the first M8s entering service in 1997. Severe and unexpected cuts in the army budget led to the abrupt cancellation of the M8 in 1996 in order to prevent manpower cuts involving 20,000 troops. The M551 was also retired in 1997. An updated version of the M8 was one of the two finalists in the MPF competition.

Despite the cancellation of the M8, the army still wanted a light tank and in 2002 adopted a limited (142) number of the 19-ton M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System, which also used an autoloader for the 105mm gun and could fire ten rounds a minute. This autoloader was of a slightly different design than the one in the M8. When the M1128 was airdropped, there were problems with the autoloader. Without the airdrops the 8x8 wheeled M1128 was successful in combat (Iraq) and the army planned to produce a lot more but that idea was dropped in 2012 when it was decided to seek a heavier tracked vehicle as the replacement for the M551. That led to the MPF, which adopted many of the techs that worked in the M8 and M1128. One item not initially adopted for MPF was the autoloader. The main reason for that was the MPF uses a version of the M1 fire control system in a turret based on the one used in the M1. The final MPF design left out the auto loader.

Western nations have avoided autoloaders for their heavy tanks. The only exception was the French LeClerc heavy tank, which was designed to fire the same 120mm ammunition as the M1 and Leopard 2 tanks. Unlike the Russian T-72, the LeClerc autoloader does not require leaving the ammunition in the crew compartment. France designed the tank around the autoloader, rather than having to design the autoloader to fit into the tank, as was the case with the T-72. The LeClerc autoloader was a success but no other Western nation adopted the French approach until the MPF came along.

Russia pioneered use of autoloaders in the 1960s with their T-64 tank and that was successful enough to include it in the T-72 and all subsequent Russian tanks. Russian autoloaders look like a carousel. When it is time to load the 125mm gun, the carousel swivels to the ready position, and the cassette with the round and propellant bag is aligned with the main guns chamber. The cassette gets lifted up, and the main round is rammed in first, followed by the propellant charge. The gun then fires, and the process is repeated for the next round. This is a system that has the benefit of working well with the compact Russian tank designs. It has allowed Russia to field a lot of tanks.

The Russian autoloader was not as well-designed as the later French autoloader or the earlier one used in the M8. The Russians skimped on providing at least one item of safety gear that was inexpensive and great for crew morale. Its initial lack of a cheap slide-up metal shield meant the autoloader would occasionally load the gunners arm. The autoloader in the T-64/T-72/T-80/T90 also stores the ammunition in the crew compartment, which means that if one of those shells goes off in the turret (because of enemy fire or an accident), the crew dies too. Eventually the Russians added that safety feature for the gunner, but nothing was done to get the ammo carousel out of the crew compartment so thousands of Russian tank crewmen have been spectacularly killed in Ukraine this year.

Most Western tanks continue to use a human loader. The rate of fire is slower; a round every ten seconds from an M1 compared to one round every three seconds from a LeClerc, or one round every 6.5 seconds from a T-72. The use of a human loader allows Western tanks, especially the M1 and Leopard 2, to keep the ammunition away from the crew compartment. This is often the difference between a crew getting killed and a crew surviving, even if the tank is a total loss.
In Maury County, Tennessee, Maury County Library Director Zachary Fox has been forced to resign, after a group of homophobes got upset about a LGBTQ-friendly Pride Month book display. Brendan Tierney of WYMT News explains:

On Wednesday night, the board approved Zachary Fox's resignation with regret. Library leaders said Fox decided to step aside because of the mounting pressure from Maury County community members. A group of people spoke out on social media starting in June against the books they deemed inappropriate for included LGBTQ topics. Debate over the issue got heated during Wednesday's meeting as people on both sides argued if the books should be in a place children can see them. The Pride Month book display was put on a table near the main entrance that is used to feature different book themes each month. Library board chairman Joel Friddell said people started getting upset because the controversial materials were located next to the table for the child summer feeding program. Although, he said the books were all closed, and no one was directly encouraging the children to read them.

One participant in Wednesday's Maury County Board of Trustees meeting, Columbia, Tennessee resident Jessee Graham, made a passionate speech defending the banned books, the LGBTQ+ community, and the newly-resigned Library Director Zachary Fox. Dave Campbell of the Columbia Daily Herald explains:

Over the past few weeks, the topic of "age-inappropriate" gender books at the Maury County Library has called to the surface more than book content, but also a perceived attack on the LGBTQ+ community and their lifestyles, according to some residents. On Wednesday, a crowd, including 20 speakers, crammed into the Tom Primm Commission Room for public comments at the Maury County Library Board meeting to discuss the issues in question. A climactic heated moment occurred when Columbia resident Jessee Graham burst into emotional opposition before the local library leaders, defending the LGBTQ+ community and the books in question. "Our town has never seen so much homophobic crap, as since Miller came along," Graham said. "They just want to exist, Aaron; leave them alone!"

Do yourself a favor and watch Jessee Graham's speech, described by the Tennessee Holler as, "local mom rips homophobe County Commissioner Aaron Miller, whose ignorant hate chased out the library director." Thank you, Jessee, for expressing all of the rage so many of us feel.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Andersen Global continues to extend its reach into Slovakia through a Collaboration Agreement with law firm CLS Cavojsky & Partners, complementing the organizations existing tax capabilities in the country.

CLS Cavojsky & Partners, founded in 2006, is led by Managing Partner Peter Cavojsky and operates out of Bratislava. The team of professionals provides full-service capabilities in corporate, labor, banking and insurance, competition, insolvency, real estate, compliance, public procurement and intellectual property rights. The firm is also consistently recognized by The Legal 500 and IFLR 1000.

Over the years, our firm has been acknowledged as a leading law firm due to our client-focused approach and deep understanding of our clients needs, Peter said. Collaborating with the like-minded individuals of Andersen Global strengthens our firms growth trajectory as we continue to extend our global reach and capabilities to provide seamless service throughout the region and globally.

Peter and his team have consistently demonstrated their dedication to stewardship and best-in-class service, which will allow them to build strong working relationships with the member and collaborating firms in the region, added Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz. Our collaboration with CLS Cavojsky & Partners enhances our global organizations coverage as we continue to deliver integrated service globally.

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 12,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 380 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221025005063/en/

Megan Tsuei

Andersen Global

415-764-2700

Source: Andersen Global
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Canagold Resources Ltd. (TSX: CCM, OTC-QB: CRCUF, Frankfurt: CANA) (the Company or Canagold), is pleased to announce additional financing plans in order to complete the feasibility study on the New Polaris project, advance the permitting process, meaningfully engage with the Companys stakeholders and fulfill Canagolds strategic plan for 2023.

After careful consideration of various financing alternatives, the Company believes that a right offering extended to all existing shareholders, provides the best and most democratic opportunity for all existing shareholders participating in the Companys financing. The rights offering will provide an equal opportunity to all existing shareholders to continue playing a significant part in the future growth of Canagold as it advances the New Polaris project towards feasibility and permitting, with the ultimate aim of re-building the New Polaris mine in northern BC.

By participating in the rights offering, shareholders have an opportunity to protect their equity position in Canagold against dilution. The Company would like to encourage all shareholders to contact the Company with any questions related to the rights offering using the contact information provided at the bottom of this news release. Additional information will be mailed to shareholders in due time.

Canagold will be proceeding with a guaranteed rights offering to raise gross proceeds of $7,985,215. The Company will be offering 91,259,596 rights (the Rights) to holders of its common shares (the Shareholders) at the close of business on the record date of November 10, 2022 (the Record Date) on the basis of one (1) right for each one (1) common share held (the Rights Offering). Each two (2) Rights will entitle the holder to subscribe for one common share of the Company (a Share) upon payment of a subscription price of $0.175 per Share. Pricing of the rights offering is mandated by TSX rules which require the Company to offer all existing shareholders a significant discount to purchase new Company shares at a discount of not less than 25% of Companys 5 days Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) in order to provide a meaningful incentive to all shareholders to participate in the financing. The pricing reflects the minimum discount required by the TSX, based on Companys 5 days VWAP of $0.232804 per share. Upon completion of the Rights Offering and assuming all Rights are exercised, the Company will have 136,889,334 Shares outstanding, of which the Shares issued under the Rights Offering represent 33.33%.

Sun Valley Investments AG (Sun Valley), an insider and related party (as such terms are defined under applicable securities laws) of the Company and the Companys largest shareholder, has advised the Company that it intends to exercise, subject to relevant restrictions, all of its basic subscription privileges. The Company has also entered into a standby guaranty agreement with Sun Valley, pursuant to which Sun Valley has agreed to purchase all of the Shares issuable under the Rights Offering which remain unsubscribed under the basic subscription privilege and the additional subscription privilege (the Standby Guaranty). Currently, Sun Valley hold 21,490,371 common shares representing 23.55% of the Companys total issued and outstanding common shares. If Sun Valley acquires all of the Shares under the Standby Guaranty, Sun Valley will hold 67,120,169 Shares of the Company representing 49.03% of the Companys total issued and outstanding common shares. after the rights offering completion.

In August 2022, the Company obtained a bridge loan of $2,500,000 (the Bridge Loan) from Sun Valley as an advance payment for the Standby Guaranty. The Bridge Loan is unsecured, bearing interest at the rate of 5.5% per annum, is payable upon the earlier of (i) the completion of the Rights Offering, (ii) 12 months after the date of the Bridge Loan agreement and (iii) the termination of the Standby Guaranty.

It is expected that the Rights will trade on the TSX under the symbol CCM.RT commencing on or about November 10, 2022 and will trade until 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on or about December 9, 2022 (the Expiry Time), after which time unexercised rights will be void and of no value. Shareholders who fully exercise their rights under the basic subscription privilege will be entitled to subscribe for additional Shares, if available as a result of unexercised rights prior to the Expiry Time, subject to certain limitations as set out in the Companys Rights Offering circular dated October 27, 2022 (the Circular), which will be filed on SEDAR under Canagolds profile at www.sedar.com. The Company expects to close the Rights Offering on or before December 30, 2022.

The Rights will be offered to Shareholders resident in (ii) each state of the United States (excluding Arizona, Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin), and (iii) in Canada excluding any jurisdiction that does not provide a prospectus exemption substantially similar to the exemption provided in Canada or that otherwise requires obtaining any approvals of a regulatory authority in the such jurisdiction or the filing of any document by the Company in the such jurisdiction in connection with this offering (collectively, the Eligible Jurisdictions).

Accordingly, and subject to the detailed provisions of the Circular, Rights DRS statements (the Rights Statements) and subscription forms will not be mailed to Shareholders resident outside of the Eligible Jurisdictions, unless such Shareholders are able to establish to the satisfaction of the Company that they are eligible to participate in the Rights Offering. Registered shareholders who wish to exercise their rights must forward the completed subscription form, together with the applicable funds, to the rights agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the Rights Agent), on or before the Expiry Time. Shareholders who own their common shares through an intermediary, such as a bank, trust company, securities dealer or broker, will receive materials and instructions from their intermediary. Shareholders who fully exercise their rights will be entitled to subscribe pro rata for additional Shares not otherwise purchased, if any, as a result of unexercised rights prior to the Expiry Time, subject to certain limitations set out in the Circular.

After December 2, 2022 the Rights Agent will attempt, on a commercially reasonable basis, to sell the Rights of ineligible Shareholders (other than those shareholders from whom the Company accepts subscriptions) over the facilities of the TSX. The Rights Agent will mail cheques representing the net proceeds, without interest, from such sales.

The proceeds of the Rights Offering are expected to be used to repay the Bridge Loan, to advance the Companys properties and for working capital purposes.

About Canagold

Canagold Resources Ltd. is a growth-oriented gold exploration company focused on advancing the New Polaris Project to production. Canagold is also seeking to grow its assets base through future acquisitions of additional advanced projects. Canagold has access to a team of technical experts who can help unlock significant value for all Canagold shareholders.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Catalin Kilofliski

Catalin Kilofliski

Chief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Rights Offering, future performance of Canagold, and the Company's plans and exploration programs for its mineral properties, including the timing of such plans and programs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "has proven", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "potential", "appears", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "at least", "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", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

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. Such risks and other factors include, among others risks related to the uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources; commodity prices; changes in general economic conditions; market sentiment; currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to raise funds through equity financings; risks inherent in mineral exploration; risks related to operations in foreign countries; future prices of metals; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of litigation. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could affect the Company and may 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. 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, do not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221028005515/en/

Knox Henderson, VP Corporate Development

(604) 604-416-0337; Cell: (604) 551-2360

Toll Free: 1-877-684-9700

[email protected]

www.canagoldresources.com

Source: Canagold Resources Ltd.
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.
Washington, D.C.  Drew Hammill, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, issued this statement:

Early this morning, an assailant broke into the Pelosi residence in San Francisco and violently assaulted Mr. Pelosi. The assailant is in custody and the motivation for the attack is under investigation. Mr. Pelosi was taken to the hospital, where he is receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery. The Speaker was not in San Francisco at the time.

The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time.
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LOAR PLLC is a fast-growing, woman-owned, personal injury law firm with offices in Austin, Waco, and Dallas/Fort Worth and cases across the state. The firm, which recently announced a $250,000 scholarship program, has been looking for top legal talent that shares its passion for investing in the community. The firm provides top attorneys all the advantages of owning their own practice combined with the flexibility of being part of a firm with support structures, offices and meeting space, and technology allowing their team to work anywhere.

LOAR founder, Amber Russell, has a long history of accomplishment, graduating from the University of Texas at the age of 20, graduating in the top 10% from the University of Texas Law School, starting her career in prestigious big law and spending decades honing her craft. Even with all these successes, Amber consistently felt a pull toward a different law firm experience, one where she could select cases and clients that fit her passion for justice, one where the docket allowed for a more relational approach, one where she had opportunity to build a business for the long term, and one where she could work with the best team that strengthens each other and works collaboratively. Amber founded LOAR PLLC to create a different type of law firm.

LOAR PLLC hires practice leaders for specific markets across Texas. Practice leaders are provided the resources to fuel their business development and entrepreneurial aspiration, making this the perfect opportunity for someone who wants to convert this marketing investment and grow a large business. The firm balances a pursuit of justice, with business goals, all with a positive growth-oriented culture. The attorneys at LOAR run their dockets and first chair cases, and also benefit from expert legal guidance, paralegal support and training through the firm. Attorneys serve their clients with skill and compassion, with a mission to change lives. Beyond their legal contributions, the firm is active in the communities served including hosting annual events such as Summer Celebration and providing SOAR Scholarships. To learn more about LOAR's open practice positions visit LOAR Texas.

LOAR's principal office is located in Austin with additional locations in Waco and DFW. LOAR's attorneys have received recognition for excellence by Thompson Reuters, Martindale-Hubbell, Austin Monthly, and TCWLA. For more information visit our website or contact us, [email protected], 888-288-6503; and follow Law Office of Amber Russell PLLC (LOAR) on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more announcements.

Contact Information: Amber Russell Founder / Owner [email protected] +18882886503

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Source: LOAR PLLC
Zurich, Switzerland, Oct. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The award-winning metaverse pax.world announces the launch of its token $PAXW - a native token used to expand its rapidly developing ecosystem.

pax.world is a 3D world offering immersive, life-like experiences, including highly detailed business centres where real-life organisations can hold events, meetings, and AMAs. It will also feature educational centres for an interactive learning experience, and NFT galleries, displaying and auctioning the works of real-life artists.

The metaverse will also feature inspired designs from world-class architecture firms such as Grimshaw, which pax.world commissioned to create one of four metaserais - central gathering places for its citizens of pax.world.

The $PAXW token, which runs on the carbon-neutral Polygon (MATIC) blockchain, will power the experience of pax.world citizens - rewarding them for in-world achievements, creating engaging content, and helping to build and support the larger pax.world community.

Holders of the token will also be able to vote to determine the future direction of pax.world. In addition, the token will also allow citizens to vote on the allocation of content rewards and resources owned by the pax.world DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization).

$PAXW can be used to buy land and pay for in-world services. Furthermore, the token will be the primary medium of exchange in the pax.world marketplace for both virtual and real-world products and services.

In-world commercial activities that will utilise $PAXW include:

Virtual business headquarters and customer support offices

Venues and arenas for concerts and live performances

Advertising in virtual spaces

Educational establishments

Purchasing NFTs from art galleries

$PAXW tokens will also be used in staking, which is a way for pax.world community members to support the project and enhance their experience by gaining access to exclusive rewards, including limited edition NFTs and a VIP program of talks and events. Staking also boosts the rewards pax.world citizens receive for their achievements, including visiting locations, completing assignments, creating content, and community engagement.

In addition to $PAXW rewards, achievements can unlock new UI functionalities and transport privileges.

Metaverse users can also obtain in-world privileges and functionalities much faster by paying or staking $PAXW. Additionally, $PAXW can be earned by participating in in-world events, interacting with the metaverse, consuming content from others, and producing experiences for others.

pax.world will list $PAXW in Q4 of 2022.

About pax.world

pax.world is a metaverse that is open and accessible to everyone. The platform offers a rich hybrid environment that blends 3D models with life-like interaction capabilities, by integrating some of the standard communication methods already in use, such as video and voice calls, as well as streaming and broadcasting systems.

The design of pax.world includes engage-to-earn features and gamification, which are crucial to attracting new users and maintaining their engagement. The platform allows users to enter web3 directly from their laptops or mobile devices with a quick wallet onboard, low hardware requirements, and without needing a graphics card or VR gear.

pax.world is designed to satisfy the requirements of both customers and artists, enabling companies and the general public to interact, have fun, and profit in the metaverse.

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Medium | YouTube | Website | Telegram | Discord

Brian McClafferty Head of Marketing pax.world marketing (At) pax.world

Source: pax.world
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rubicon Organics Inc. (TSXV: ROMJ) (OTCQX: ROMJF) (Rubicon Organics or the Company), a licensed producer focused on cultivating and selling organic certified, premium cannabis products, is pleased to announce that it will be reporting its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 (Q3 2022) on Monday, November 14, 2022.

The Company will be hosting a conference call to discuss Q3 2022 results on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Conference call details are as follows:

Time: 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET Conference ID: 31601852 Local dial-in: +1 (416) 764 8658 Toll Free N. America: +1 (888) 886 7786 Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/DVMOEMxgK9w

ABOUT RUBICON ORGANICS INC.

Rubicon Organics Inc. is the global brand leader in premium organic cannabis products. The Company is vertically integrated through its wholly owned subsidiary Rubicon Holdings Corp, a licensed producer. Rubicon Organics is focused on achieving industry leading profitability through its premium cannabis flower, product innovation and brand portfolio management, including its flagship super-premium brand Simply Bare Organic, its premium flower and hash brand 1964 Supply Co., its premium concentrate brand Lab Theory, and its mainstream brand Homestead Cannabis Supply.

The Company ensures the quality of its supply chain by cultivating, processing, branding and selling organic certified, sustainably produced, super-premium cannabis products from its state-of-the-art glass roofed facility located in Delta, BC, Canada.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Margaret BrodieChief Financial OfficerPhone: +1 (437) 929-1964Email: [email protected]

The TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding Rubicon Organics' goal of achieving industry leading profitability are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as will or variations of such word or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. The forward-looking information in this press release is based upon certain assumptions that management considers reasonable in the circumstances, including the effective date of the resignation and the ability attract and retain a new CEO. Risks and uncertainties associated with the forward looking information in this press release include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, local or other licenses and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals licenses and permits for construction at its facilities in a timely manner; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including bureaucratic delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; Rubicon Organics' limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with customers and suppliers; and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although Rubicon Organics has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those 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 forward-looking statements. Rubicon Organics assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.

Source: Rubicon Organics
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 28, 2022) - Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) ("Tudor Gold") is pleased to announce that Goldstorm Metals Corp. ("Goldstorm" or the "Company") has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), raising gross proceeds of $3,900,000.12 through the issuance of:

(a) 10,800,812 non-flow-through units of the Company (the "Non-FT Units") at an issue price of $0.26 per Non-FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,808,211.12. The Non-FT Units are comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Non-FT Share"), and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant");

(b) 327,500 flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units", together with the Non-FT Units, the "Units") at an issue price of $0.31 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $101,525.00. The FT Units are comprised of one common share of the Company (a "FT Share"), and one Warrant. The FT Shares and Warrants comprising the FT Units each qualify as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act"); and

(c) 3,194,400 flow-through subscription receipts of the Company (the "Subscription Receipts") at an issue price of $0.31 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of $990,264.00. Each Subscription Receipt which will entitle the holder thereof, without payment of any additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder, to receive one flow-through unit of the Company (a "SR Unit"), with each SR Unit comprised of one common share of the Company (a "SR Share") and one Warrant (a "SR Warrant"). The SR Shares and the SR Warrants will also each qualify as a "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Tax Act.

Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.60 for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance of the Warrants.

Tudor Gold, of which Goldstorm is currently a subsidiary, is seeking to spin out its interest in Goldstorm (which holds six contiguous Golden Triangle Area mineral properties, being the Mackie East, Mackie West, Fairweather, High North, Delta and Orion and Electrum properties (the "Properties")) to the current shareholders of Tudor through a plan of arrangement (the "Spin-Out Arrangement"). Upon completion of the Spin-Out Arrangement, it is intended that the net proceeds from the sale of Non-FT Units (net of the applicable finder's fees) will be used for exploration work at the Properties, as well as for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes.

The entire gross proceeds from the issue and sale of the FT Units and Subscription Receipts will be used for Canadian Exploration Expenses as defined in paragraph (f) of the definition of "Canadian exploration expense" in subsection 66.1(6) of the Tax Act and "flow through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2023 and renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2022 to the initial purchasers of FT Units and Subscription Receipts.

In connection with the Spin-Out Arrangement, the Company intends to list its common shares (the "Listing") on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Upon the Company receiving confirmation from the Exchange that the Listing is complete, whether via the issuance of the Exchange's final listing bulletin, or otherwise (the "Escrow Release Condition"), the date of satisfaction of the Escrow Release Condition being the "Escrow Release Date", each Subscription Receipt will be deemed to be converted into one SR Unit for no additional consideration. Each SR Warrant which partially comprises the SR Units, will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.60 for a period of two (2) years from the Escrow Release Date.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company issued 260,052 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") and paid commissions of $97,031.12 to certain arm's length finders. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder, on exercise thereof, to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.26 per Common Share until the date that is two (2) years from the date of issuance of the Finder's Warrants.

Ronald-Peter Stoeferle subscribed for $60,000.20, and Sean Pownall, through More Core Drilling Services Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, subscribed for $99,996 in the Private Placement. Mr. Stoeferle and Mr. Pownall are insiders of the company and as such, their participation in connection with the Private Placement is a related-party transaction under the policies of the Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company is relying on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to the related-party transactions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the shares to be purchased by Mr. Stoeferle, or on behalf of Mr. Pownall, nor the consideration to be paid by either of Mr. Stoeferle or Mr. Pownall exceeds 25 per cent of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities comprising each of the Non-FT Units and FT Units, and the securities underlying the Subscription Receipts and Finder's Warrants will have a hold period of until the date that is four months and one day after the date the Company becomes a reporting issuer in any province or territory in Canada. In connection with the Listing, the closing of the Private Placement is subject to the final approval of the Exchange.

Distribution Record Date for Spin-Out Arrangement

Tudor Gold also announces that in connection with the Spin-Out Arrangement, Tudor Gold has determined that the distribution record date, which date establishes the shareholders of Tudor Gold who will be entitled to receive new common shares of Tudor Gold and common shares of Goldstorm under the Spin-Out Arrangement, will be the same date as the effective date (the "Effective Date") of the Spin-Out Arrangement. For further details regarding the Spin-Out Arrangement, see Tudor Gold's news releases dated July 13, 2021, February 1, 2022, July 8, 2022, August 4, 2022, August 10, 2022, August 30, 2022 and September 23, 2022. Tudor Gold will provide additional information on the timing of the closing, including the Effective Date, of the Spin-Out Transaction in a subsequent news release.

About Tudor Gold Corp.

Tudor Gold Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration and development company with properties in British Columbia's Golden Triangle (Canada), an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which TUDOR GOLD has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.'s KSM property to the southwest and borders Pretium Resources Inc.'s Brucejack property to the southeast. In April 2021 Tudor published their 43-101 technical report, "Technical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canada" dated March 1, 2021 on the Company's SEDAR profile. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Crown project and a 100% interest in the Eskay North project, all located in the Golden Triangle area.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TUDOR GOLD CORP.

"Ken Konkin"

Ken Konkin

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.tudor-gold.com or contact:

Chris Curran

Head of Corporate Development and Communications

Phone: (604) 559 8092

E-Mail: [email protected]

or

Carsten Ringler

Head of Investor Relations and Communications

Phone: +49 151 55362000

E-Mail: [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including expectations regarding the Company's use of the net proceeds from the sale of the Non-FT Units, expectations relating to the Company's ability to incur and/or renounce Canadian Exploration Expenses within the timeframes anticipated by management or at all, expectations that the Spin-Out Arrangement will close in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, expectations that the Listing will be completed in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, and expectations regarding the receipt of the requisite regulatory approvals for the Private Placement.

Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof 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" or the negative connation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will be able to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Non-FT Units as anticipated by management, that the Company will be able to incur and renounce Canadian Exploration Expenses within the timeframes anticipated by management, that the Spin-Out Arrangement will close in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, that the Listing will be completed in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, and that the Company will receive the requisite regulatory approvals for the Private Placement.

Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks that the Company is not able to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Non-FT Units as anticipated by management, risks that the Company is not able to incur and renounce Canadian Exploration Expenses within the timeframes anticipated by management or at all, risks that the Spin-Out Arrangement does not close in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management or at all, risks that the Listing is not completed in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management or at all, and risks that the Company does not receive the requisite regulatory approvals for the Private Placement.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142359
MADRID, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Forum "20 years of FIL: Democracy and Liberty", the president of Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo, Dionisio Gutierrez, talked about the scourge of corruption in Latin America with Sergio Moro, the judge who uncovered "Operation Lava Jato", considered one of the biggest political scandals in the history of Latin America. Moro also served as Minister of Justice and is now an elected Senator in Brazil.

Dionisio Gutierrez interviews brazilian judge Sergio Moro

Gutierrez referred to the social consequences of corruption, the impact it has on democracy and how this causes the advance of authoritarian populism: "Throughout the history of mankind, one of the phenomena that has most destroyed illusions, hopes, nations and democracies is corruption. This vice causes nations to live in conflict, poverty, underdevelopment. Corruption is the poison of democracy, a virus that is all too common, especially in the political class of Latin America".

On this point, Moro pointed out: "When corruption spreads, a complex system of corruption is built, which is what was identified in Operation Lava Jato. This ends up undermining citizens' trust in democracies and favoring the emergence of populist and authoritarian regimes. The right medicine is to strengthen the Rule of Law".

Gutierrez added that: "Corruption starts in the political parties because many people come to them looking for power to steal; and they don't care that corruption discredits politics, destroys the institutions of democracy and disappoints voters. For this reason, if Latin America wants to return to the path of development and prosperity, it needs to rescue the values of liberal democracy, the division of powers and the rule of law".

Gutierrez concluded by praising Moro's trajectory: "Senator, you understood something that very few in Latin America understand, which is the importance of the rule of law, respect for the law, and that impunity should not be the practice that causes so much frustration and disenchantment with democracy".

Dionisio Gutierrez is an entrepreneur, activist and communicator with a PhD in Sociology and Political Science. He is president of the Latin American think-tank Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo and host of the weekly television program Razon de Estado, which is broadcast in several countries in the region.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dionisio-gutierrez-meets-with-brazilian-judge-sergio-moro-301662826.html

SOURCE Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo
TICKERS: OCG; OCGSF; MRG1

Source: Streetwise Reports (10/28/22)

Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp. is reporting its deepest high-grade mineralization to date at its Santa Ana project in Colombia.



New drilling results have revealed the deepest high-grade mineralization yet at Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp.s (OCG:TSX.V; OCGSF:OTCQX; MRG1:DB) Las Maras target on its 100%-owned Santa Ana project in Colombia.

The results extend the shoot to a depth of 370 meters, possibly expanding all resource areas by 50% with relatively low-risk, deeper drilling offsetting shallower high-grade mineralization.

Outcrop plans to establish a maiden resource estimate for the project by the end of the year. Gwen Preston of The Maven Letter wrote, they are far from done, providing impressive results.

We remain impressed by the pace and extent of the vein discoveries at Santa Ana, Research Capital Corp.s Stuart McDougall wrote.

Potential is one thing, she wrote of the company. Potential in the hands of a team that has demonstrated the ability to turn that into quality (ounces) is another. Outcrop certainly represents the latter . . . I think Outcrop has demonstrated a solid grasp of how mineralization is developed at Santa Ana. I think that understanding bodes well for further discovery to add to what will be a strong initial resource.

Outcrop this week announced the results of nine core holes designed to test Las Maras continuity at depth. The deposits Las Penas vein has an average estimated true width of 1.6 meters with a weighted average of 1,161 grams per tonne silver equivalent (g/t Ag eq).

Santa Ana projet. Source: Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp.

Hole DH294 intersected 2.14 meters true width of 2,032 g/t Ag eq. DH292 intersected 4.4 meters true width of 563 g/t Ag eq, including 0.4 meters of 5,109 g/t Ag eq and 0.37 meters of 846 g/t Ag eq. A third hole, DH300, intersected 3.82 meters true width of 537 g/t Ag eq.

Twenty-three holes have been drilled at Las Maras so far, and 13 produced high-grade assays. Two holes have assays pending, the results could come in the next several weeks.

All I can say is Santa Ana just keeps on delivering, Outcrop Chief Executive Officer Joseph Hebert told Streetwise Reports.

The company had initially made the decision to drill shallow on the trend because it might be cheaper and quicker to get to the projects estimated 50-million-ounce (Moz) Ag eq resource. Now, Outcrop can look at exploring deeper.

We could get a substantial increase in the resource, Hebert said. Thatd be relatively low-risk drilling, you know, right under known mineralization.

The Catalyst

The resource estimate remains the focus now, but Outcrop said the results of 2022s drilling will also lead it to dig deeper at the site in early 2023.

The company has sunk more than 280 core holes and assayed more than 47,000 meters of drilling at Santa Ana, which is in the northern Tolima Department, about 190 kilometers from the capital of Bogota. Its comprised of five or more regional scale parallel vein systems across a trend 12 kilometers wide and 30 kilometers long.

Santa Ana mined back to at least 1585, was once the largest colonial silver mine in Colombia. It now covers 36,000 hectares. Spanish Royal Archives reports said the area had 14 mines producing an average of 4,000 g/t Ag over an average of 1.4 meters, with some mines finding as much as 17,000 g/t Ag.

This summer, Outcrop released its thickest and highest-grade intercept from Las Maras to date: 1,651 g/t Ag eq over 8.97 meters at hole DH274, including 15,941 g/t Ag eq over 0.66 meters.

The companys intercept record for Santa Ana has been broken by successive results in June, July, and August. The results keep pointing Outcrop toward better holes, which is no accident, Hebert said. Drilling provides high-quality knowledge and makes exploration more efficient.

Outcrop is filling in the spaces between the holes. Its finding not just single veins but packages of veins that create better thicknesses and better grades, he said.

The project has gotten the attention of analysts. In August, Research Capital Corp.s Stuart McDougall reiterated his Speculative Buy rating with a target of CA$0.75 per share on the strength of drilling results and the 50 Moz Ag eq estimated resource.

We remain impressed by the pace and extent of the vein discoveries at Santa Ana, McDougall wrote.

A Changing Colombia

Another issue Outcrop has faced is the recent election of Colombias first leftist president, Gustavo Petro. Petro campaigned on enacting a 10% profit tax on gold miners and generally discouraging mining.

However, the tax no longer applies to gold, and Petro has made it clear he is not against all mining, just fossil fuel extraction.

So, while I couldnt invest in a company exploring for coal in Colombia, I will invest in ones exploring for copper or silver, Preston wrote in The Maven Letter. There is no reason to think explorers working silver or copper projects will face political impediments, especially companies like Outcrop that have been operating (in Colombia) for several years already.

Ownership, Coverage, and Share Structure

Mining financier Eric Sprott owns about 17% of Outcrop, management and directors own about 15%, and the rest is held by high-net-worth investors and retail, the company said.

The company is followed by Research Capital Corp.s Stuart McDougall wrote and Gwen Preston of The Maven Letter. Click "See More Live Data" in the data box above to read more.

Outcrop has a market cap of CA$54.16 million with 132.1 million shares outstanding and 81 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.36 and CA$0.10.



Want to be the first to know about interesting Silver investment ideas? Sign up to receive the FREE Streetwise Reports' newsletter. Subscribe

Disclosures:

1) Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Outcrop Silver & Gold Corp., a company mentioned in this article.
When University at Buffalo researchers take Yubie the robot dog for a walk on campus, people stop in their tracks and react.

Those who havent seen the four-legged dog-inspired robot before tend to gasp and say Oh my God or What the 

Those who have usually approach with smiles and pull out their phones to take photos. If invited to touch the bright-yellow headless quadruped, people often pet it like a real dog.

Yubie, whose brand name is Spot the Agile Mobile Robot, was recently acquired by UBs School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a research platform to explore new frontiers in robotics, computer science, artificial intelligence and other high-tech fields.

But its also an education tool whose presence on campus can serve to excite, inspire or just familiarize students with the robotic helpers of the future.

Part of Yubies purpose is not just research, but also education and how we think about and react to robots, said Karthik Dantu, associate professor in UBs Department of Computer Science and Engineering. I have been doing robotics for 20 years, and when I first saw it, I had the same reaction as most students: Wow, thats cool.

Every time we walk on campus, the amount of excitement it generates toward robotics is far beyond anything I can do by showing some slides or pictures, Dantu added. We would like to channel that to really excite anybody about AI and robotics and other technologies that are coming. How can we motivate them to want to learn and become the next generation of people who will build these technologies?

Part of that mission is teaching that robots are tremendous tools for good  despite the obvious potential to use them for harm. Spots predecessor, Big Dog, was developed in 2005 by Boston Dynamics for military use as a pack mule to carry heavy loads for troops in the field. Although not meant to serve as a weapon, the black, 240-pound workhorse looks like something Darth Vader would have as a pet.

In 2016, Boston Dynamics introduced the smaller, 70-pound school bus yellow model dubbed Spot as an agile robot that can navigate terrain other robots cant and inspect places that might be risky for humans to enter. Its commercial price tag is about $100,000, and it can be equipped with computers to expand its range of abilities.

Dantu said one of his students is studying how the robot dog may be used to inspect infrastructure, like offshore oil rigs, which are generally remote and pose devastating consequences to humans and wildlife if something goes wrong.

Their standards may say you have to inspect a rig every 90 days, but if you have a robot, theres no reason you cant inspect daily, Dantu said. You want to be able to spot a crack or a leak right away, so the first thing we can do is work on perception, giving the robot the ability to sense and identify a problem.

Robot dogs could also be used to sense hot spots in a disaster area to help humans avoid them and enter buildings damaged by earthquakes or hurricanes to aid search-and-rescue operations and minimize risk to human responders.

While research institutions like UB embrace the goal of devising helpful applications for these promising devices, the potential for weaponizing them has generated controversy about their use. An episode of the dystopian horror series Black Mirror about a pack of armed robotic guard dogs chasing down and killing humans didnt help.

Just this month, Boston Dynamics and several other robotics companies pledged never to weaponize their robots and urged customers who purchase them to do the same. Still, when UB posted a recent video introducing Spot on Instagram, some commenters were a little freaked out.

THIS IS TOO BLACK MIRROR, one wrote. Oh man, this is so grim, wrote another. Other comments included, Disturbing, Can we not and Nope.

But when Dantu and masters student Yashom Dighe walk the dog around campus, it is met with more amazement than alarm. UBs online naming vote garnered 140 suggestions and six of the most UB-oriented were chosen as finalists. Yubie won and the robot will soon wear UB blue and its new name to spread more goodwill on campus, Dantu said.

On a recent walk, Yubie showed how its five cameras can sense walls, furniture and people from inches away and maneuver around them, climb stairs and even navigate grassy, uneven terrain that would trip up other robots. Dighe can also make Yubie gesture with a doglike head turn  impressive since it has no head  as well as lie down, bow forward in downward dog pose and even roll over to have its belly rubbed, or its battery changed.

Everywhere it went, students took notice.

What is that? exclaimed one student.

Its cool, said another. A large group of high school students touring UBs North Campus stopped to take video. When asked Cool or creepy? they all said, Cool!

UB sophomore Paige Holt said the robot scared the life out of me the first time I saw it coming toward her. Now I think its funny that everyone thinks of it as an actual dog, when its more like a drone, she said.

Sophomore Jhon Ramirez, an electrical engineering major, said he finds Yubie completely fascinating. Rebecca Keller, a sophomore occupational therapy major, pronounced Yubie cute.

Dighe asked her what shed like to see Yubie do. Jump! she said.

He isnt trained to do that yet, Dighe admitted.

Dave Doermann, director of UBs Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, called Yubie a magnet that brings people together. It makes people realize we are doing really cool stuff and teaching them that there are a lot of good things that can be done with these technologies.

It also opens conversations that allow researchers to reassure scared skeptics that robotics and AI are a long way from being able to produce autonomous robots that take over the world in dystopian movies.

These devices have narrow intelligence, so we can only design them to do specific things, Doermann said. A Roomba can vacuum your house, but it cant bring you a beer. And thats what people need to trust.

Eventually, robots that serve as guide dogs, surveyors and personal assistants will be as routine as keeping a smartphone in your pocket, Dantu said. As for assigning them anthropomorphic characteristics, thats a function of human design, not the device itself, he said.

Yubie doesnt know that its supposed to be a dog or that its rolling over, Dantu said. Yet it evokes these emotions in people.

While Yubies robotic appearance and insect-like gait may prevent people from getting attached, that may not be the case with some new humanoid robots to appear on campus soon.

Dantus department has just welcomed Nao, a 2-foot-tall robot human-inspired robot made by SoftBank that will be part of a pilot project to remind nursing home patients to take their medication or call family members.

Nao arrived Monday, and by Wednesday robotics masters student Sougato Bagchi had already programmed him to dance to Michael Jacksons Thriller.
(Tribune News Service)  The family of Dylan Merola, one of 13 U.S. service members killed in an August 2021 attack in Afghanistan, joined friends, veterans, community members and civic leaders Friday morning, Oct. 28, to dedicate the Haven Avenue 210 Freeway overpass to the fallen Marine.

Lance Cpl. Merola died Aug. 26, 2021, in a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, as the city was evacuated after the country fell to the Taliban.

He was on his first deployment in Jordan and was set to come home to the states before he was rerouted to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation efforts. Merola was holding security through the Abbey Gate, when a suicide bomber detonated his vest, according to Merolas mother, Cheryl Rex.

Throughout the ceremony Friday morning, several speakers shared their own experiences and memories of Merola. Rex shared her pride in her son and her hope that people would continue to remember his sacrifice and his story.

Dylan, I made a promise to you that I would continue to tell your story and show people how amazing you are for all you have to offer, mostly giving your life for others to live, Rex said at the ceremony.

Merola was a 2019 graduate of Los Osos High School and an avid member of the theater program there. He was born in Upland and spent most of his life in Rancho Cucamonga. He was stationed in Camp Pendleton with the 2nd Battalion.

He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, along with the 12 other U.S. service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Legislation to rename the overpass in Merolas memory was introduced by Assemblymember James Ramos on Feb. 15 and passed Aug. 19, according to the California Legislative Information website.

I worked side by side with the family from the beginning, Ramos said. Early on the in the year I reached out to them, we had a Zoom conversation and I asked their permission to carry forward the piece of legislation that would dedicate the Haven overpass. And they gave me their blessing to move forward.

The overpass was chosen for the proximity to the family, and it will join Merolas Gold Star banner located on Lemon and Haven as a permanent tribute to the Marines memory.

I never liked the word bittersweet because it comes up a lot in conversations with people who approach me, said Rex. But it is pretty much a bittersweet moment. You want to honor and remember the sacrifices that our kids, our families, our military, everybody who serves for us for our freedom. I hope that Dylans story is remembered and known for saving as many lives as he could.

The signage for the renamed overpass will be funded through donations from veterans groups including the Marine Corps League.

Assemblymember Ramos reached out to us months ago asking for our support in getting the Assembly bill passed, the resolution passed, and helping to raise funding for the signage, which we are proud to do, said Jeff Breiten, a Redlands veteran and past commandant of the Redlands Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Lance Corporal Dylan Merola made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The only thing we can do is help to keep his memory alive and by putting that signage up we are working towards that.

The league is working to gain the funding needed for the signage, through fundraisers and donations.

He was a Marine and we are Marines and we do everything we can to help the family, said Breiten. That is part of the mission of the Marine Corps family, to provide support for not only Marines and corpsman but the widows, orphans, and parents of fallen Marines.

Rex said her family members struggle to cope day to day, but she hopes the permanent dedication will remind people of her sons story and the story shared by so many other Marines.

Dylan took pride in his efforts to get as many people to safety as possible, she said. He would stand up and do this all over again just to save one more person.

2022 MediaNews Group, Inc.

Visit ocregister.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On a day brisk enough for slacks and bright enough for a bucket hat, Philip Rhodes wore both while casting his line into the Atlantic.

Like any fisherman, he watched patiently from the comfort of a plastic chair while waiting for a bite. Like any fisherman, as he waited, he shot the breeze with longtime friends, sharing stories as vast and unbridled as the sea in front of them.

But really Rhodes wasnt any fisherman  not when he was here on his beloved Pritchards Island.

Unassuming, with kind eyes and a competing wit, the businessman was a quiet legend on the Beaufort County barrier island he owned.

The rugged 1,600-acre expanse, near-barren of development, and teeming with Lowcountry flora and fauna was Philip Rhodes happy place, said his son Steve. And Philip was happy to share it  at first with friends and family, and then with the University of South Carolina.

From the moment he deeded the island to the university, Rhodes worked to protect it.

He ensured it was kept from vast development. Instead, he wanted it to be used as a place to learn and enjoy in the same way he did. He fully funded the construction of a stilted lab building that became symbolic to all who knew the island. And for years, Rhodes made substantial financial contributions to help USC-Beaufort keep Pritchards operations afloat.

Now, nearly 13 years since his death, his happy place is one he may no longer recognize.

Erosion has whittled away hundreds of yards of dunes. Dried up funding left the island unused by USC for over a decade. The lab building, once set back among palmetto trees and live oaks that now sit in water at high tide, is now gone.

What made Rhodes legacy on Pritchards is all but wiped away today. However, after recent pressure from his family and a promise from Gov. Henry McMaster , USC is fighting for the islands revival in the way Rhodes intended.

A chapter is closing on Pritchards but its not the end of it, said Joe Staton, a department chair at USCB.

This is Philip Rhodes chapter.

Purchasing Pritchards

A call came through in 1979 by way of Rhodes lawyer: An island had been put up on Beaufort Countys auction block.

Pritchards had been seized from its owner, former Georgia Sen. Eugene Holley, in a lawsuit over unpaid mortgages.

Holley had big plans for the island before then, proposing to dot it with beige toadstool houses. Just two mock-ups stood after Rhodes outbid media mogul Ted Turner and nabbed Pritchards for $1.275 million that year.

But Rhodes wasnt interested in development. Far from it.

An Atlanta native, he became acquainted with the Lowcountrys lush landscape in the mid-1930s while training at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot. In late 1944, as a quartermaster stationed in Leyte, an island in the Philippines, he awed at the Southeast Asian countrys untamed thick vegetation and rampant wildlife.

Over 30 years after his stint as a quartermaster and then-president of S.P. Richards, Rhodes fell in love with another island. He and his son Steve headed to Georgias southernmost barrier island for a getaway.

The two walked miles of Cumberland Islands sprawling beach with characteristically tall dunes that shared Pritchards unfettered nature. It was a place his father fell in love with, Steve remembered.

But shortly after the trip, Philip Rhodes fell in love all over again with another barrier island nearly three hours north of Cumberland.

And this time, it would become his.

From quartermaster to island owner

Though Rhodes loved the island, there wasnt much that was easy about spending a day on Pritchards.

No running water. No electricity. No helping hands. And getting there required a boat, swimming endurance, or patience for a tide low enough to walk a sometimes-visible sandbar between Fripp Island and Pritchards.

The challenges werent unnerving to Rhodes. For the life he lived, they may have been ordinary.

Hed grown up during the Great Depression as a teenager in Atlanta. When he married Edith in 1941 at 25 years old, they could only afford a garage apartment on his wages as a newly-minted manager at S.P. Richards Paper Co. in Montgomery, Alabama. A year later, the Marine Corps whisked him away to Norfolk, Virginia, where he bought 1,000 feet of wire and hooked up electricity to his home after he spent two weeks without lights and hot water.

After three years as a quartermaster, upending life to report to where he was needed, Rhodes, Edith and their two boys settled into a new home in Atlanta that was heated by a single pot-bellied stove during the chilly months.

The same logistical skills he showed as a quartermaster, scoutmaster and young husband served him well when he became Pritchards Islands owner decades later.

An orange juice can brimming with bleach would sterilize a giant tank of collected rainwater, his eldest grandchild, Martha Rhodes, recalled of their time on the Beaufort County island. The two would lug over drinking water from Fripp during their trips. Sorghum jars were doorstops. He drank his evening cocktail from a recycled jelly jar that read prune juice as he walked the beach.

On one trip to Pritchards, she learned from her grandfather to embrace a challenge.

With a stubborn fish tugging at her line, Martha followed it half a mile across Pritchards 2.5-mile shoreline. She watched as her grandfather worked his way toward her, grasping a small Igloo cooler. It wasnt the relief shed hoped for.

He pulled out a Coke, popped the top and handed it to her.

Its your fish, and youre going to get it, he said and walked away with more belief in his granddaughter than she had in herself.

For about two decades, the Rhodes family fished and swam Pritchards waters, cooked from the islands designated recipe book and, to honor the patriarchs favorite pastime, navigated a tractor along a clearing cleaved through the center of the maritime forest.

Theyre memories that dont feel so far away as Martha, long grown from the little girl who reeled in her own stubborn fish, recently reminisced while poring over black and white photographs of her grandfather in her Charleston home.

In them, hes sitting on the tractor, likely having rumbled along the islands rippled sand, with his gaze pitched to the Atlantic. Theyre time capsules she treasures differently from a stack of photographs and documents.

As her father, Steve, recounted another memory, she quietly rose from her seat to return the frames to their rightful place  outside her bedroom door, just a few feet across from a painting of Pritchards Island.

Her grandfather and caring for the island never out of her sight.

Pritchards kindred spirits

Before rapid erosion chewed at Pritchards shoreline , Rhodes could drive his red Chevrolet  tugging along a rig he built to haul fishing equipment  from the north end to the south end.

Forty years ago, the toadstool houses and two rickety fish camps still stood. Decades ago, it was safe to land a plane on the island.

These were truths that Rhodes and his handful of fishing buddies knew.

Their days were mostly spent fishing, of course, while the evenings featured Rhodes as the chief cook. But other times, even into their 70s, the crew would scale ladders to clean and empty one of the toadstool homes or spend time following a fawn they named Honey.

One of those men, who in his 2018 obituary was called Mr. Boys & Girls Club, was a staple in the group: Joe Mix.

Its a bit of a mystery how Mix and Rhodes became fishing buddies.

Mixs daughter, Amy Mix Poggi, suspected it happened during a routine breakfast that was held in downtown Beaufort. Regardless of circumstance, the men, without familial ties to Beaufort, shared an undying love for the community.

They were very much kindred spirits, Mix Poggi said. Dad was always talking about Philip Rhodes.

Without Rhodes lifelong devotion to southeastern Boys & Girls Clubs, Mix probably wouldnt have entered into the sphere, his daughter added. It was a cause that the two put their hearts and souls into, said former Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling.

Handing the island to USC

As the story goes, Rhodes donated half the island to USC in 1983, then, except for a small slip with a home tucked away in the woods, he gave the remaining half to the university nearly six years later.

Deeds signed by him and the then- Carolina Research and Development Foundation required USC to keep Pritchards Island in a wilderness state and to use it for scientific, educational, charitable and general public purposes.

Rhodes donation was a blending of genuine benevolence and an already deep love for the island with pragmatism, his son said.

But David McCollum, a beloved USC-Beaufort professor, was the driving force in what happened next  an integral turning point in Pritchards history.

David talked about Philip Rhodes a lot, said Betty Lorick, the late McCollums ex-wife. And apparently Mr. Rhodes really liked the work David was doing.

In fact, Rhodes was so taken by McCollums loggerhead sea turtle research on the island that he donated $300,000 to have a lab fully constructed  the remaining funds spilling into operating costs  to promote further research and education.

By 1992, at the time of the labs dedication, then-island director McCollum said it would make research life a whole lot easier and Rhodes sang the praises of McCollum and USC under the pristine 3,500 square-foot building on stilts.

But there was a slight problem that day for the man who compulsively labeled everything  from mason jars to a stapler with his Philip A. Rhodes printed four times over. He wanted his philanthropy kept quiet.

His name was plastered on a sign in large bold letters that hung from the lab, but shortly after it went up, he brought it down and tucked it away. It was a small gesture that said so much about who Rhodes was.

He just wanted everyone to love Pritchards the way he did. And for about 15 years, they did.

Researchers, professors, students and community members took to the island to study and learn about loggerhead sea turtles, tides, shorebirds, barrier island dynamics and salt marsh ecology. Some stayed in the lab and others took day trips. Artists came and went. Yogis practiced on the beach.

For about six years, beginning in 1999, Amber Von Harten and her husband managed Pritchards Island, ran programs on it and conducted research. When the Von Hartens ran into Rhodes, they had good conversations about fishing, conservation and research.

Like so many had said before her, she remembered Rhodes was always a kind and generous man.

For years, Rhodes wrote a hefty check to fuel operational costs. The Turner Foundation also funneled thousands in funding into Pritchards. Over time, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ponied up money for Pritchards, and so did several other private donors and numerous community members. Overnighters, who paid to stay in the lab, also contributed.

That money went to program costs, manager salaries, boats, a docking fee at Fripp, and maintenance and utilities.

But by the early 2000s, the island was rapidly eroding and so was private and state funding. The final stretch was in 2007 when USC was part of a multi-million federal program to measure ocean currents and waves using a radar system. Two years later, the same year Philip Rhodes died, the once lively Pritchards went quiet.

The money had dwindled and the lab had deteriorated.

For the latter 13 years, the unused peeling lab building stood as a relic, rousing curiosity and an emblem of the islands once-zenith to those who knew it.

A new chapter

Have you heard the story about Phil Rhodes when he saw Pritchards after he bought it? longtime Fripp residents ask.

They joke that he purchased the island when he saw it at low tide, enamored with its expanse. But when he came back and stared at Pritchards at high tide, while standing on Fripps shore, he quipped, What happened to my island?

That was 43 years ago. That was hundreds of yards or dunes ago. That was millions of dollars ago.

Development and shore stabilization efforts on Fripp have squeezed Pritchards even narrower and faster than expected of barrier islands. And Rhodes likely would be dismayed about the University of South Carolinas neglect of Pritchards.

He thought hed set the groundwork for Pritchards Islands future in the 1980s when the deeds contained a clause that said USC could lose control of the island to the University of Georgia or The Nature Conservancy if it didnt uphold its end of the bargain.

Earlier this year, his family spoke out about their disappointment over the islands disuse. That triggered a promise from Gov. McMaster to keep Pritchards in USCs hands, and the Beaufort campus has quickly developed preliminary plans and a budget for a renaissance. About $1.25 million in Year One start-up costs stand in the way.

Rhodes family says the plans give them hope . Unfortunately, saving the lab wasnt possible.

On Monday, a handful of Fripp residents walked to the edge of Skull Inlet to watch the slow-moving commotion on Pritchards.

Two cranes, sitting atop a barge, loomed over the dilapidated lab. One resident called its demolition bittersweet. Another said she was depressed to see the building come down.

Perhaps the removal symbolically ends the most recent chapter of Pritchards Islands life  one of neglect. Theres hope that the new chapter will fulfill Rhodes dream for the island he loved, the island that is still his home.

In 2010, shortly after Rhodes chapter ended, those who loved him dearly gathered on the island on a blustery gray day to fulfill his last wish. Hed written in a 2003 account of his life that he wanted his ashes to be scattered on the beach at Pritchards Island.

Philip Rhodes never left his happy place.

2022 The Charlotte Observer.

Visit charlotteobserver.com .
They trudged through knee-high mud, slept under torrential rain and stepped over skeletons of those who didn't 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 can't return and we can't advance," Suarez said. "We're 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 U.S. 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. He'd planned to work at a friend's 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.

"I don't want to know anything about Mexico," he said. "I just wanted to work in the U.S. I know that I won't be able to enter the U.S. anymore in my life."

Not everyone wants to go home.

"I don't want to go back to Venezuela," Gonzalez said. "We left because there's nothing there. They say the Lord prays for Venezuela, but that's a lie. None of our prayers have been answered."

Costa Rica's 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 isn't considering repatriation flights right now.

"Closing our border is impossible because we don't 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."

Venezuela's 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 Rica's immigration headquarters but was told the earliest opening for an appointment is February.

"I'm not going back through that jungle," Gonzalez said of the Darien Gap and perhaps his homeland.

"The American dream is over for us."

Bloomberg's Alex Vasquez contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  National security fears in both Washington and Beijing threaten to eclipse prospects for greater commercial cooperation between the United States and China, leaving corporate executives worried about becoming casualties in a great power clash.

After four decades of knitting a profitable partnership, both countries are now emphasizing greater self-sufficiency. Supply chain snarls during the pandemic prompted some companies to back up their Chinese factories with plants in countries such as Vietnam while rising geopolitical tensions highlighted for both sides the risks involved in trading with a strategic adversary.

In Beijing this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping opened a landmark Communist Party Congress with a speech that stressed security and Marxist ideology. The Chinese leader broke with precedent by securing a third term as party general secretary and elevated hard line loyalists to top jobs in place of economic reformers.

The moves came two weeks after Biden effectively barred sales to China of the most advanced U.S. computer chips and chip-making technology. In the works for more than one year, the new export controls reflect the president's determination to constrain Beijing's development of sophisticated technologies that could be used to upgrade its military or surveil its own citizens.

The pivot from business-as-usual began more than four years ago under former president Donald Trump, who levied heavy import tariffs on goods from China and restricted Chinese technology companies from buying some critical U.S. components. But this month's Communist Party conclave and Biden's tough export limits marked a notable widening in the U.S.-China divide.

"It is a complete shift. We just have to realize that the old notion of putting a premium on the economy - these days are gone," said Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, who has lived in China for the last 32 years. "The agenda is self reliance. We've entered a new era."

The new U.S.-China dynamic could be on display next month during a possible meeting between Biden and Xi at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. The two men, who have not met in person since Biden entered the White House, have much to discuss, including their $655 billion trade relationship and Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own.

Investors have taken note of the tense new atmosphere. Following the party congress, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index this week dropped more than 8 percent.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the chair and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China on Thursday called for top executives from Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase to withdraw from planned appearances at an investment summit in Hong Kong next week.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Rep. Jim McGovern (Mass.), both Democrats, said the U.S. executives should "reconsider" their decision to speak alongside Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, who was sanctioned by the United States two years ago for his role in the anti-democracy crackdown there, adding that they would otherwise be "complicit" in human rights abuses.

Citi chief executive Jane Fraser pulled out on Friday, citing a positive coronavirus test. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley declined to comment.

What may have seemed a temporary chill during the U.S.-China trade war has become a definitive break with the past. For decades, the United States and China prioritized economic links in their relationship, even as some warned that the two countries were destined to clash. But now, even though two-way trade volumes are running above last year's record pace, the balance has tilted definitively toward competition and contention.

"To a degree, everyone's been willing to set aside security concerns and other concerns in the pursuit of economic benefit that was good for both sides and the idea that it would lead to better relations," said Michael Schuman, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Beijing. "What's happening in both Beijing and Washington is there's now a willingness to sacrifice some of that economic gain for security reasons."

Xi's strongman approach is a drag on China's economy, which grew at an annual rate of 3 percent for the first nine months of this year, down from more than 8 percent last year. His signature "zero covid" policy has depressed consumer spending and industrial production with repeated lockdowns, including one this week that affected an Apple supplier in Zhengzhou.

Just 55 percent of American companies said they were optimistic about the five-year outlook in China, the lowest number ever, and down 23 percentage points from last year, according to a survey released Thursday by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. One-third of the companies responding said they had redirected planned China investments to other markets, almost twice the share that did in 2021.

Budweiser told investors this week that it is adjusting its spending in specific Chinese markets, depending upon covid caseloads. Caterpillar said its sales of 10-ton excavators are suffering from a slowdown in construction. And Boeing recently cut its forecast of China's expected aircraft needs over the next two decades.

"Trade volumes might say otherwise, but growing tensions in the political relationship have spilled over to a worsening commercial environment for many U.S. companies," said Myron Brilliant, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "It's more sand in the gears. It's going to get tougher."

Making relations worse, the export controls that the White House rolled out this month amount to the most forceful display yet of the administration's evolving strategy of high-tech containment. The Commerce Department regulations are intended to freeze China's chip-making abilities and thwart Beijing's efforts to build cutting-edge semiconductors to modernize its military.

The advanced chips and supercomputing capabilities that will be off limits can be used to build nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, autonomous systems and mass surveillance systems. Some of the same technologies will have lucrative commercial applications as well, analysts said.

On Thursday, Alan Estevez, undersecretary of Commerce for industry and security, said the administration had consulted with U.S. allies before announcing the move. The United States expects key trading partners to adopt similar measures soon, he said at the Center for a New American Security. He also suggested officials are considering additional tech-centered controls on quantum computing, biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

"We do not balance trade with national security," Estevez said. "When I see an action that needs to be taken for national security, I have top-down coverage to take care of that regardless of the impact."

But Estevez said the license requirements were not intended to hold back China's economic development. Chinese customers would retain "a robust capability to make semiconductors that are going to go into the air bags of cars, which I have no problem with," he said.

That probably understates the economic impact. In 2015, the Chinese government set a goal of producing 70 percent of the nation's semiconductors by 2025, up from 10 percent.

Halfway through the 10-year period, its domestic production had risen to just 16 percent, according to Andrew Collier, an economist with GlobalSource Partners in Hong Kong.

"Biden's semiconductor sanctions will drive a stake into the heart of China's global ambitions. Xi Jinping has bet his reputation on creating a high-tech economy, but without western semiconductor equipment, he will have a tough time achieving this," said Collier, author of "China's Technology War."

The administration's insistence on a single-minded security rationale for the export controls has done little to ease business leaders' concerns. While companies that make toys and clothing in China probably have little reason for concern, other manufacturers worry the narrowly tailored technology curbs might expand.

Already, Google and Apple have shifted some production of their smartphones to Vietnam and India, respectively. Many companies, in other industries, are establishing alternative production sites outside China or drafting contingency plans to relocate operations.

"Look at consulting companies. Ten years ago, they were all about, 'How do I get into China?' " said Patrick Chovanec, an economic adviser for Silvercrest Asset Management in New York. "Now, it's all, 'How do I limit my China exposure?' "

While the Chinese government may not immediately retaliate for the U.S. export controls, analysts warn that the technology fight could develop a logic of its own. If the two countries continue to trade blows, other businesses worry they will be caught in the crossfire.

"The political and regulatory risk is definitely up," said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council. "If you're a company head or CEO, it's very difficult to calculate where this is going and what are your risks."

Still, China remains a lucrative market for flagship U.S. companies such as General Motors, Apple and Yum Brands, owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken. And some investors remain bullish.

"We see significant opportunities in China despite some investors' geopolitical concerns," Richard Bernstein, a New York investment manager, wrote in a client note this week.

Xi is expected, however, to whittle down commercial ties with the United States. The Biden administration's success this year in securing allied support for punishing financial sanctions on Russia, following its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, left Beijing worried about being hit with similar measures in any future conflict over the status of Taiwan.

The once-every-five-years CCP Congress, which concluded Oct. 22, cemented Xi's vision of a threatening international climate. The congress projected a "very dark international environment with the United States at the core of that," one senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

Xi stacked the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee with loyalists and elevated representatives of the hard line state security and public security ministries.

The party report uses the word "security" at least 80 times, including in references to "self-sufficiency around food and energy and all these things that could become an issue if there were to be a war around Taiwan," said David Shullman, a former U.S. intelligence officer now with the Atlantic Council.

Where Xi at the last party congress in 2017 said that "peace and development remain the call of our day," this year he warned the party faithful to prepare to withstand "high winds, choppy waters and even dangerous storms."

Diplomats from the two nations engage in far fewer meetings than in past years, leaving room for misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Isolation bred by strict covid quarantine protocols has eroded routines that brought together top American and Chinese officials numerous times each year.

"That also means that diplomacy is probably more important than ever," the official said. "And given Xi's uncontested powers, the only diplomacy that really matters now is the diplomacy with him."

The Washington Post's Jeanne Whalen contributed to this report.
Ehson Aminzoda seemed to be following the path of many Central Asian immigrants in Russia - initially working as a bricklayer after arriving in Moscow earlier this year, then at a local restaurant, saving his modest earnings in hope of returning to his native Tajikistan to marry. On Oct. 10, he headed out to meet friends, and was seen leaving the Lyublino subway station in southeast Moscow. Then, he disappeared.

Five days later, according to Russian authorities, Aminzoda, 24, was in Belgorod, just 24 miles from the Ukrainian border, where he and another man, Mehrob Rakhmonov, 23, allegedly opened fire at a military training base, killing nine and injuring 15 others. The alleged shooters were also killed.

The Russian defense ministry said the shooting took place during a training session for a group of volunteers "who wished to participate in the military operation in Ukraine." Russian authorities quickly branded the incident a terrorist attack, deliberately highlighting the nationality of the alleged gunmen, who were Tajik.

Officially, little else has been disclosed about the shooting, which has been overshadowed by the ongoing death and destruction of Russia's war in Ukraine.

But rights activists and relatives of the alleged gunmen believe they were forcibly conscripted. They said the mere presence of the two Tajik men at the base in Belgorod points to pervasive abuses against migrant workers in Russia and to long-simmering ethnic tensions, which have worsened as a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin's chaotic and much-criticized military mobilization.

While many men of fighting age have fled Russia to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine - creating a new, reverse migration of Russians to Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan - some migrants in Russia have been swept into the ranks of the Russian military despite having no obligation to serve.

Some appear to have volunteered to fight, potentially induced to enlist by a new law offering a "fast track" to Russian citizenship for foreigners who sign a one-year military contract.

In other cases, advocates say, men seeking help from Russia's Federal Migration Service were tricked into signing military papers, while still other migrants have been caught up in the botched mobilization drive and illegally issued draft orders despite not being Russian citizens.

It is unclear how Aminzoda ended up in Belgorod, which is a major staging ground for the war in Ukraine. Relatives said they have no idea.

"How he ended up in Belgorod, we do not know," Firuz Aminzoda, a brother of the alleged gunman told Radio Ozodi, RFE/RL's Tajik service. "My brother was not a terrorist, and he did not have such thoughts. He [was] an ordinary immigrant who wanted to work and build his life." He emphasized that Ehson Aminzoda was not a Russian citizen and therefore not eligible to be mobilized.

The alleged Belgorod shooters disappeared around the same time that authorities in Moscow began raiding offices and hostels, and grabbing men off the streets in what appeared to be a mad push to reach the mobilization's targets. (On Friday, defense minister Sergei Shoigu declared it completed).

Shortly before Putin issued his mobilization decree on Sept. 21, the Russian military opened a recruitment office at Moscow's main migrant service center. Since the opening of that center, lawyers and activists say they have been inundated with pleas for help from migrants who say they have been detained, coerced or tricked into signing up for the army.

Videos on social media from Ukraine also appear to show Russian prisoners of war who claim they are workers from Central Asia and were sent to fight because they did not have their documents in order.

Valentina Chupik, the director of Tong Jahoni, a nonprofit organization that helps Central Asian migrants in Russia, said she has received at least 70 requests for assistance from migrants, some saying they were beaten and tortured.

According to Chupik, who is based Yerevan, Armenia, after being deported from Russia, one man from Kazakhstan was bundled into a van, where police beat him, electroshocked his genitals, and forced him to sign a draft order.

The Washington Post could not independently verify Chupik's account. The alleged victim has fled back to Kazakhstan and could not be reached.

But other migrants from Central Asia living in Russia said in interviews that they were detained by the police and pressured to enlist. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security risks.

A 35-year-old food deliveryman from Uzbekistan who has lived in Russia for 15 years, said that when he went to the migrant center officials marked his passport, fingerprinted him, and without explanation announced that he had just signed a contract to serve.

The man said he refused and left the center. He was then apprehended by the police who tried to intimidate him into signing the documents. He was released and is now trying to leave Russia.

"When I first heard the words of 'mobilization,' I didn't feel anything, because my situation is far worse than any mobilization drive in Russia," the man said. "Here, the attitude toward migrants is very harsh."

He added: "I would never fight on a foreign land and for the sake of foreign people."

A second man, a 36-year-old dual Russian-Tajik citizen who works as an electrician and gives legal advice to other migrants in Moscow, said that he was detained during a raid by the police at the construction site where he works, on account of his ethnic Caucasian appearance. The man said he was brought to a police wagon where officers threatened to beat him and forced him to sign the summons.

"I'm not going to serve, I am against it," he said, adding that he was trying to leave Russia as soon as possible. "Why take someone else's land for yourself in the first place?"

"But if they catch me again, I will have to serve," he said. "It's either that or years in prison."

Lawyers said that the Russian authorities are using several methods to pressure migrant workers to enlist including falsifying criminal cases against them, promising money, and threatening deportation.

Karimjon Yorov, a Moscow-based lawyer and human rights activist helping Tajik migrants, said that some migrants had signed up voluntarily, drawn by the promise of money or citizenship but that others have had their residency permits canceled if they refused to enlist.

Chupik called the heavy-handed methods "a bunch of crimes rolled into one."

"Firstly, it is mercenarism, which is prohibited by Russian law," Chupik said. "Secondly, when a person is forced into military service, this is already, of course, a crime, and this is coercion to commit the crime of mercenarism. Thirdly, violent crimes have reportedly been committed including the abuse of authority and torture."

Chupik said that forcing migrants to fight in a war was just the latest example of cruelty and injustice that they face living in Russia, where they are always in an "extreme position of oppression."

"Naturally, in a war, they are the first victims, because they are defenseless," Chupik said. "Who will come out for them at a rally? Who will defend them? To whom can they complain so that their voice is heard?"

Military analysts say that a disproportionate number of Russian fighters in the war in Ukraine are ethnic minorities from regions outside the main cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, including Buryatia in Siberia, and Chechnya and Dagestan in the North Caucasus. These regions have suffered heavy casualties.

Putin had long resisted declaring a mobilization in part to avoid the war being felt by middle class Russians from Moscow and St. Petersburg who are more likely to criticize and resist. Following September's decree, however, protests broke out in Dagestan and Yakutia, and governors in several regions acknowledged that many men were mobilized by mistake.

A recent report from the Institute of the Study of War, a U.S.-based research group, found that the shooting in Belgorod was likely a consequence of the Kremlin's "continual reliance" on ethnic minority communities to bear the burden of mobilization.

"Ethnic minorities that have been targeted and forced into fighting a war defined by Russian imperial goals and shaped by Russian Orthodox nationalism will likely continue to feel alienation, which will create feedback loops of discontent leading to resistance followed by crackdowns on minority enclaves," the report stated. "The Belgorod shooting is likely a manifestation of exactly such domestic ramifications."

Details about the shooting remain scarce. Russian media and war-focused Telegram channels have reported that it may have been set off by a dispute between volunteer fighters who were being trained at a shooting range and a senior officer who made disparaging remarks about Allah.

"I think that we will not know the truth about the shooting or shooters for a while, if ever, as this is not in the interests of the military or the state" said Yorov, the lawyer and rights activist. "But the Russian authorities will surely make life even harder for migrants in Russia, especially Muslims."
Following months of inner turmoil at Shea's Performing Arts Center, the center's board of trustees named eight new trustees Saturday.

They are: Marco Cercone, partner at the Rupp Basse Pfalzgraf Cunningham law firm; Jessica Croce, Buffalo developer whose company owns the Curtiss Hotel, the Buffalo Chophouse and downtown parking operations; Andrew Davis, chief operating officer of Erie County Medical Center; David Fabian, a certified public accountant at the Bonadio Group; Thomas Lang, attorney at Magavern Magavern & Grimm; Yuki Numata Resnick, founder and executive director of Buffalo String Works; Maryam Saleemi, internist affiliated with ECMC; and Donald Ware, former chief financial officer of EduKids.

The trustees were named during the board's annual meeting on Saturday.

The board also announced it would form a search committee to identify candidates to be Sheas next president.

Earlier this month, the board fired Shea's president Michael Murphy, who had led the landmark cultural institution for the last six years. On Thursday, he sued Shea's, alleging that the nonprofit theater breached his contract, defamed him, and retaliated and discriminated against him because of his age and sexual orientation.

Murphy had a contract that was supposed to extend to June 2026.

Beginning last April, some Sheas employees complained about Murphys management of the organization. Over the summer, five of the board's then-15 members resigned. 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.

The turmoil rocked Shea's, a major Western New York cultural attraction and leading theater nationally for touring Broadway productions.
WRC says Employment Equality Acts requirements were paramount, even in the circumstances of a breach of trust

A supermarket has been ordered to pay nearly 40,000 for sacking an alcoholic manager who drank himself comatose on vodka on the premises when his employers went away to a wedding.

The supermarkets owners called it an incalculable breach of trust which meant the manager had broken promises made after similar behaviour the previous year.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found the manager had been discriminatorily sacked because he was an alcoholic, and that in the absence of precedent in the area, it could not accept the breach of trust as a defence for discrimination.

The tribunal upheld Eamon Murphys complaint against Michael Connolly & Sons Ltd, which trades as Connollys Supervalu in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.

The tribunal was told there had been a series of alcoholic-related issues with Mr Murphy in 2019 leading up to a serious incident at work four days before Christmas 2019.

He was declared fit to work in January 2020 after seeing the company doctor, where he agreed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and for there to be no repeat of the alcoholic incidents, the WRC heard.

In October of the same year, the Connolly family went away for a weekend to attend their daughters wedding, leaving Mr Murphy in sole charge of the supermarket, said Helen Barry of Simplify HR, who appeared for the employer.

On Saturday October 24, Ms Barry said, the complainant brought a considerable volume of alcohol to work.

He drank the vodka on the premises to such an extent that he had become completely unconscious and seriously alarmed his immediate colleagues to his wellbeing.

Mr Murphy had to be brought home by his fellow workers, she said.

The tribunal was told Mr Murphy informed his employer he would go directly into a residential addiction course three days after the incident.

In his evidence, Mr Murphy expressed remorse for what happened and said he thought the previous year he could resolve his alcohol issues largely on his own.
Andrew Scannell, 63, grabbed inspector Maria Wall by the hair, threw her on the ground and slapped her face a number of times while shouting at her to get off his property

Andrew Scannell was charged with assaulting an agricultural inspector who called at his farm to inspect a broken cattle-crush. Pic taken 20-5-2022

A CORK farmer who viciously attacked a female veterinary inspector who was carrying out an inspection on his land has avoided prison after being given a fully suspended sentence.

Andrew Scannell, 63, grabbed inspector Maria Wall by the hair, threw her on the ground and slapped her face a number of times while shouting at her to get off his property when she arrived to carry out an inspection on October 2 last year.

The bachelor famer from Lackaneen, Lissacreasig, near Macroom, pleaded guilty to carrying out the shocking attack but bizarrely told the Sunday World he didnt carry out the assault while he was awaiting sentence earlier this year.

Despite his false claims in our interview, he accepted guilt over the attack when he appeared before Cork Circuit Court for sentencing.

He received a sentence one year and six months which was suspended in full. He also paid 1,000 in compensation to his victim.

The case had been adjourned over the summer as he didnt have the compensation ready when he arrived in court but said he would have it available.

While awaiting sentence Scannell told the Sunday World he was not a violent man despite leaving his victim covered in bruises and needing counselling.

I didnt assault her. I didnt tell her to get out at all. I just told her look, please leave. I didnt force her either. I just escorted her down the road and opened the gate and told her to go.

He spent a number of days in prison on remand in February after Judge Helen Boyle said: I am not entirely convinced this man does not need to learn a lesson about attacking people going about their job.

Andrew Scannell, of Lackaneen, Lissacressig, Co. Cork, speaking to Sunday World reporter, Alan Sherry in March 2022

Cork Circuit Court heard that Inspector Wall visited his farm in July last year and found Scannells cattle crush needed to be repaired. She returned on October 2 to check the work had been done.

Garda Raymond Griffin said: Insp Wall knocked on the door of the house. She then proceeded to the cattle-crush and found that it was still broken. Mr Scannell arrived at the scene and Ms Wall engaged in some small talk with him. She then informed him she was there to inspect the cattle-crush" Garda Griffin told the court.

He lunged at her. He caught her by the hair and threw her on the ground and slapped her across the face a number of times shouting, Get out, and shouting that she was out to get him.

The whole assault lasted approximately half a minute. Mr Scannell then said, Get off the farm and dont come back. You have no right to be here.

She was left with a number of injuries including bruising go the right side of her face, her back and hip and is still receiving counselling over the attack.

Scannell tried to dismiss the attack completely when we visited his farm in March.

Its a nonsensical case. Its overrated. I didnt assault her. She had been outside my house previously.

It was a nonsensical thing. Youd think I had robbed an old lady which I wouldnt do or beat up a woman which is what they say but that is not true. Its a little bit overrated all this.

When we put it to him that it was bizarre that he was claiming he didnt carry out the assault after already pleading guilty, he claimed he did so because he felt sick when he was arrested and wanted to leave the garda station.

I didnt plead guilty but under duress I did when I was in a cell. I think that I was right to plead guilty because I was sick.

He said he was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia and received treatment.

Andrew Scannell was charged with assaulting an agricultural inspector who called at his farm to inspect a broken cattle-crush. Pic taken 20-5-2022

Despite his claims that he admitted to the attack because he was ill, he did not change his plea when he appeared in court and even offered up compensation to his victim.

He told the Sunday World he believes the case was being given too much attention.

With this case theyre trying to hype it up ridiculously high.

You see because youre against the department theyre going to make it bigger than [it is].

Scannell spent six days in Cork Prison on remand before being released on bail earlier this year.

He told the Sunday World he didnt enjoy the experience but was treated well and spent his time in isolation.

I dont think anyone likes [being in prison].

I was treated well. I thought it was going to be four days but when the four days were up, I was in for two more days.

I found it alright. I found nothing wrong. I was in isolation and they asked me if I had Covid and if I had tendency to suicide and all this.

Cork farmer behind vicious attack on female vet claims he's not a violent man

I had my own kit with my own cup of tea. I was treated well and I treated them well.

Scannell who lives alone said he has had issue with is cattle being stolen and reported it to the department and gardai.

He also said people have broken into his house which has left him fearful. His brother died suddenly a number of years ago and he lives alone. he said he has shouted at people on his land previously.

I roar at fellas and all that.

He said he has never fired any shots at trespassers.

I wouldnt go that far. I wouldnt fire a shot over someone. I dont want blood on my hands.

I wouldnt want blood on my hands at all. I might threaten to wallop them and do this and do that but I wouldnt do it.

Theres no point in that but it might solve a few things.

Im not strict on land. Ive seen people walking around the yard and I never said anything to them, they didnt take anything. I missed money and things and I said nothing. We all like to brush things under the table and not be bothering.

He said he is a very rural man and has only been to Dublin once.

I was only up there once on business about two years ago. I went to deal with a land issue. I found it okay. I had fun. I expected it to be bigger you know. I never go to Dublin. I never go anywhere you see with being a rural farmer.

He said that he planned to carry out the repairs needed on his farm.
Shane Rowan was caught with three AK47s and ammunition in Co. Meath a month after the 2016 attack which claimed the life of Kinahan cartel member David Byrne

THE IRA member caught with the assault rifles used in the Regency Hotel shooting has already been released from prison after serving some of his sentence on the same landing as former Hutch associate turned supergrass Jonathan Dowdall

Shane Rowan of Forest Park, Killygordon, Co Donegal was caught with three AK47s and ammunition in Co. Meath a month after the 2016 attack which claimed the life of Kinahan cartel member David Byrne.

The trial of Gerry the Monk Hutch for Mr Byrnes murder heard evidence from an undercover garda who saw Hutch meeting with Rowan a month before his arrest.

Jonathan Dowdall

The officer said he was carrying out a covert surveillance operation after the gangland attack when he saw Mr Hutch, former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall and IRA man Shane Rowan go into a house in Co Donegal.

Two weeks later, Rowan was intercepted in Co Meath as he travelled north with the three assault rifles in the boot of his car. The court also heard surveillance unit gardai saw Mr Hutchs brother Patsy Hutch in a car with Rowan in Dublin 34 minutes before the gun seizure.

Gunmen dressed ad gardai ERU enter the Regency Hotel

Rowan was arrested when gardai made intervention where a grey 09 Donegal-registered Vauxhall Insignia was stopped travelling on the N2 at Tuiterath near Slane in Co Meath at 7.05pm on March 9, 2016.

The weapons were found in his vehicle along with magazines of ammunition. Ballistic tests later confirmed the weapons had been used in the Regency attack.

Killed: David Byrne

In July 2016, Rowan was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four years in prison for IRA membership.

He served some of his sentence on the E1 landing of Portlaoise Prison which generally housed non-aligned republican prisoners. Other people on the wing at the time included Jonathan Dowdall who was jailed in 2017 for torturing a man in his garage and threatening to chop him up and feed him to dogs.

Longford pensioner Donal Billings who was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years after he put an explosive device bus headed for Dublin and made bomb threats during the State visit of Queen was also housed on E1.

Sharif Kelly from Balbriggan in Dublin who is serving a life sentence for the murder of dissident Peter Butterly in Meath in 2013 was also on Rowans landing as were Louth man Michael Connolly who was convicted of IRA membership before having the conviction overturned and Dublin man Vincent Banks who also had an IRA membership conviction overturned earlier this year.

With standard remission Rowan was released from prison last year after serving just over five years behind bars.

Hutchs trial heard evidence this week about a surveillance operation on the day Rowan was arrested.

A Garda, identified only as AG, who was carrying out surveillance on the day said that at 4.51pm he saw a grey Toyota Yaris being driven by Paddy Hutch at Blunden Drive, Coolock.

The Yaris was in convoy with a Vauxhall driven by Rowan. The garda said he knew both men. The cars travelled left onto the Malahide Road and across to Malahide Road Industrial Estate. At 5.03pm, he said, he saw Paddy Hutch driving the Yaris accompanied by Rowan who was in the front passenger seat.

The Yaris turned drove left on Greencastle Road and left onto the Malahide Road, outbound with both still on board, he said.

He saw it go left at Newtown Road and a short time later saw it again in the industrial estate, where he was aware a Vauxhall was parked in a cul de sac. At 6.16pm, Gda AG saw the Yaris driven by Paddy Hutch and still accompanied by Rowan, he said. It drove into Malahide Road retail park and did a lap of Woodies carpark, before parking. It left at 6.23pm, still with Paddy Hutch and Rowan on board and turned left at McDonalds, he continued.

At 6.30pm, Gda AG saw Rowan in the Vauxhall, coming from the Greencastle Parade area, turning left at Greencastle Road and stopping at the traffic lights. He noticed the Yaris with Paddy Hutch pulled up alongside Rowans car. The Yaris window was open and I got the impression that there was a conversation between the cars before the light went green.

The Yaris went right and the Vauxhall went left at 6.31pm

The court heard 34 minutes later, Rowan was stopped in the Vauxhall in Co Meath with the three AK47s.
Gardai from Pearse Street rushed to the scene shortly after 4.30pm

A man was rushed to hospital in Dublin yesterday after he was shot with a pellet gun when a vicious fight broke to on Grand Canal Street Lower.

Gardai from Pearse Street rushed to the scene shortly after 4.30pm following reports of an altercation involving a number of males at Hogan Court, Wilsons Place.

A man in his 30s was injured in the course of the incident was taken to hospital to be treated for apparent pellet wounds, gardai said.

He has since been discharged.

Gardai said local scenes of crime officers had examined the location.

They added that no arrests have been made and that enquires into the matter are ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station 01 666 9000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Footage of the incident has been circulating online in which gangs of men can be seen hurling planks of wood at one another in the street.
"I can see it in Dublin for the likes of Temple Bar or on Camden Street, up on the Quays there but Im not sure the culture is there in Cork.

Only Dublin club goers will get the most out of the new 6am closing time for nightclubs, a Cork venue manager has said.

John Styles of Reardens believes the new hours are positive but a lot more needs to happen before clubs across the country can take them on.

Under new licensing laws announced his week, the final call for pubs has been extended to 12.30am while nightclubs can serve their last drinks at 5am.

However the manager says he cant see it happening outside of Dublin.

"I can see it in Dublin for the likes of Temple Bar or on Camden Street, up on the Quays there but Im not sure the culture is there in Cork, he told sundayworld.com.

"A lot of our staff are students, and Im conscious that people have lives to live outside of working, especially if theyre finishing up at 6am.

The Reardens manager said transportation poses more problems, as already taxi drivers start jumping ship at 1am or 2am to avoid troublemakers.

He said at least the new licenses will allow venues to choose when they want to close, and theyll follow the customers lead on what comes next.

Emma Murphy, a Dublin-based electronic DJ, says the change is exactly what people in the industry have been campaigning for.

As both a club-goer and DJ, Emma, whose name for sets is Rhyzine, is excited to see Irelands closing times come into the 21st century and in line with the rest of Europe.

The later hours will give clubs a chance to recover after a tough few years for the industry.

Young people head to Berlin and Amsterdam for the nightlife, Emma says. theres no reason why Dublin cant be the same.

Like John Styles of Reardens, she says giving people choice is the most important thing.

"People who want to party will still party. Even now, they go to houses until 6am anyway. Theyre not going home to bed, she said.

It comes as it emerged that clubs and pubs can be refused a licence if they arent seen clamping down on sexual harassment.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:

If a premises has shown not to support and protect either staff, patrons, performers or anybody on the premises from harassment, including sexual harassment, thats now grounds for objection.

Safe Gigs Ireland  an organisation working to stamp out harassment and behaviour like spiking in gigs and clubs across the country  really welcomes the new rule.

I think theres too much being made about opening hours and not enough made about safety, says Mary Crilly of Safe Gigs Ireland and the Director of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork.

"People have been asking me whether the 6am closing time will make getting home more dangerous sure whats the difference when theyre coming home now? At least then it might be bright!

"Now, people will know that venues need to keep an eye on them and look out for them or risk being refused their license.

"Its a win-win for everyone, Mary added.

"We really welcome the change. Its finally being acknowledged that sexual harassment happens in clubs and pubs.

Mary said the new move is not the final step yet: We need to change the culture on sexual harassment.

"We need to stop waiting until its serious. Some venues have been turning a blind eye to behaviour we shouldnt be tolerating.

Gardai have already expressed their concern about the new laws, revealing they were never consulted about a move to 6am closing times.

Antoinette Cunningham, the general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, told RTEs Morning Ireland that at that hour, Gardai are already dealing with a lot of social issues, Ms Cunningham said.

She asked: "If our members are dealing with these issues, where are they going to find the time to deal with policing nightclubs?
Minister for Health Stephen Donnellys Twitter bio says hes trying to improve the system from the inside. A friend who works as a paediatric nurse told me: The HSE is falling apart at the seams.

Stephen Donnelly has done some good but hasn't dealt with the overcrowding issues   RollingNews.ie

Portiuncula Hospital is currently serving an enormous catchment area and can't cope with demand

YESTERDAY I received a call to let me know my 76-year-old mother was unwell and needed to go to hospital. Shed been battling an infection for over a week and was at risk of dehydration.

It should be simple; she lives right across the road from Roscommon Hospital. But Roscommons A&E unit closed in 2011 and the hospital also close beds every weekend due to a lack of staff. With only a minor injuries unit operating, they could not admit her.

Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, now serves as the A&E for an enormous catchment area and is frequently overcrowded.

Its just 42 minutes drive from Roscommon so it shouldnt take too long for an ambulance to arrive. The call was made around 4pm and I left Dublin to drive the one hour 40mins to Ballinasloe.

Portiuncula Hospital is currently serving an enormous catchment area and can't cope with demand

Driving down the M6, I passed the exit for Roscommon, thinking even with delays, my mother would surely reach Ballinasloe before me. I stopped in Athlone for 25 minutes at 5.55pm where I learned the ambulance still hadnt arrived. At 6.15pm, I got another text saying her temperature had spiked. Concerned, I drove on to Ballinasloe.

There was one ambulance with lights off when I arrived. There were four at one point, yet the hospital said they didnt have resources to send one for my mother.

I waited for almost three hours and eventually as I drove home to Roscommon, I got a call to say the ambulance had arrived around 10pm. While her case was not classed as an emergency, it shouldnt take six hours to send an ambulance.

Stephen Donnelly has done some good but hasn't dealt with the overcrowding issues   RollingNews.ie

Minister for Health Stephen Donnellys Twitter bio says hes trying to improve the system from the inside. A friend who works as a paediatric nurse told me: The HSE is falling apart at the seams.

She added: We are in the middle of a staffing crisis that the HSE wont seem to admit to, and we are only at the start of the winter season, things will only get worse. They expect staff to work extra to fill the gaps but with no foresight for the burnout that will happen.

Shes right, our doctors, nurses and paramedics are incredible  but they are only human, they are not angels or saints with magical powers. They have real bodies and minds and suffer real fatigue, stress and mental health issues.

In the hospital my friend works in, the ICU ward is the best staffed ward, yet they only had seven nurses for 10 patients this week where there is meant to be a 1:1 ratio.

According to the INMOs national Trolley Watch, 504 people were waiting on trolleys on Friday.

While I can commend Minister Donnelly for initiatives such as the free contraception scheme, its clear he has yet to tackle the biggest crises, the chaos in A&E and understaffing.

During the Covid crisis, private hospitals were nationalised to alleviate the pressure. This is an ongoing yearly crisis; it is immoral and unjust to operate for-profit healthcare where some can jump the queue while others languish on trolleys and wait hours for ambulances. Its time to act Minister, were all waiting.

A HSE spokesperson told sundayworld.com: When we experience very high demand for 999 services for patients with immediately life-threatening injuries and illnesses, this can, unfortunately, mean that some patients had longer waits.

"Every day, the National Ambulance Service deploys approximately 160-180 emergency ambulances, an average of 22 rapid response vehicles and in excess of 50 officer response vehicles operating from over 100 locations around the country.

Not all 999 calls for ambulances are emergencies and response times targets which are set out in the HSEs National Service Plan apply to ECHO (Life threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest) or DELTA (life threatening illness or injury, other than cardiac arrest) calls only.

As demand can exceed available resources, 999 calls are clinically triaged and prioritised to ensure that those patients with life threatening injuries or conditions receive the fastest response possible.

The HSE cannot comment on individual cases.
Russia's defence ministry blamed the British navy for the explosions at the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month.

Although the ministry did not provide any evidence for the claim, it said: According to available information, representatives of this unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 this year - blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines.

Commenting on the accusation, however, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) accused Russia of inventing the story to detract from the faltering campaign in Ukraine.

The ministry added: To detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale

This invented story, says more about arguments going on inside the Russian Government than it does about the West.

German, Danish, and Swedish authorities have since launched investigations into the incident which reportedly saw at least 50 metres of the underwater pipeline located in the Baltic Sea destroyed.

Danish police added that four powerful explosions had caused the ruptures in the pipeline.

It is still too early to say anything about the framework under which the international cooperation with Sweden and Germany will run, as it depends on several factors, Copenhagen Police added.

Due to the incident, Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace announced that ships will be dispatched to the North Sea in order to protect the UKs infrastructure following the incident.

The MoD previously said: A Royal Navy frigate is in the North Sea, working with the Norwegian Navy to reassure those working near the gas pipelines.

This followed a meeting of the of the joint expeditionary force  comprising the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Mr Wallace also announced that the Government will acquire two specialist ships with the capability to patrol and protect the network from Russia as Britains internet and energy are highly reliant on pipelines and cables.

He said: The first multi-role survey ship for seabed warfare will be purchased by the end of this year, fitted out here in the UK and then operational before the end of next year.

The second ship will be built in the UK and we will plan to make sure it covers all our vulnerabilities.
The allegations, which date back to the mid-1990s, were made by ex-garda Jack Doyle (67), who is suing for damages

The Garda Commissioner wants the High Court to dismiss a lawsuit involving allegations by a former garda that officers allowed criminals receive drug shipments despite being tipped off about the consignments.

Lawyers for the commissioner claim six former gardai cannot remember drugs operations and other alleged events at the centre of the explosive claims due to the passage of time or ill-health.

The allegations, which date back to the mid-1990s, were made by ex-garda Jack Doyle (67), who is suing for damages, claiming there was a conspiracy to force him into retirement after he raised concerns.

He is suing the commissioner, the Justice Minister and the State, claiming his forced medical discharge in 1998 had a devastating impact on his health, made it difficult to obtain work and led to him having to sell his home.

In an affidavit, the former garda said that in 1993, while stationed in Blarney, Co Cork, he recruited an informer who provided him with information about people in the drugs trade and planned shipments.

He made several serious claims, including that one major seizure in 1995 was staged and that only half of the consignment was seized.

The remainder, he alleged, was allowed through to the drugs gang.

The former garda alleged another consignment around that time was allowed through in its entirety.

Mr Doyle alleged the informant said several other drops, including consignments of ecstasy and cocaine, were made with the knowledge of officers more senior than him. It is claimed these shipments were not acted upon and drugs ended up on the street.

In his affidavit, Mr Doyle said the informant told him a certain criminal had a senior police officer in his pocket.

The commissioner has not entered a defence in the case, claiming it has not been possible to do so. Seeking the dismissal of Mr Doyles action, Oisin Quinn SC, for the commissioner, argued there was a substantial risk that there would not be a fair trial.

He told Mr Justice Conor Dignam the proceedings were initiated in 2003 but a statement of claim was not delivered until 15 years later, a delay he described as inordinate and inexcusable.

It is not surprising that when the defendants came to explore who was available [to give evidence], there are witnesses who are dead, others who are ill, some with memory loss, said Mr Quinn.

The barrister said the commissioner also had difficulty in obtaining records as a Garda station was the subject of an arson attack, while computer records were kept on a system that has long been obsolete.

Mr Quinn said two witnesses were deceased while six others had impaired memories.

The court heard part of the excuse for the delay in the proceedings was that Mr Doyle sought to have his complaints examined via other avenues, including a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, ruled inadmissible in 2007. The commissioner also decided not to initiate an investigation.

His complaint was also examined in 2014 as part of an independent review of multiple cases where allegations of garda misconduct or inadequacies had been made.

The review recommended no further action.

Mr Doyles counsel, Miriam Reilly SC, said while it was accepted the delay was inordinate, there were factors excusing it and a properly run trial could obviate any prejudice.

She said her client had been wrongfully kicked out of the guards and had his name blackened.

It was inconceivable, she said, that the State hadnt conducted an investigation to get to the bottom of things.

Mr Justice Dignam reserved judgment to a later date.
Gardai confirmed that they were investigating what they described as an incident of criminal damage

Firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a house on fire in Lucan on Friday night.

Firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a house on fire in Lucan on Friday night. The house was completely destroyed in the suspected attack, but there were no injuries. Gardai have confirmed they investigating the incident as an act of criminal damage by fire.

Firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a house on fire in Lucan on Friday night

Firemen at the scene of the blaze last night

This was the scene of a suspected arson attack on a house in Lucan last night.

Emergency services rushed to Esker Woods Drive just before midnight following alerts of a blaze.

There, they discovered a house on fire.

One eyewitness said the fire was well ablaze by the time the fire brigade arrived but that it was then quickly extinguished.

It is also understood that one line of investigation is focussing on the use of an accelerant that had been used to start the fire.

Firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a house on fire in Lucan on Friday night.

Gardai confirmed that they were investigating what they described as an incident of criminal damage.

Firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade tackle a house on fire in Lucan on Friday night. The house was completely destroyed in the suspected attack, but there were no injuries. Gardai have confirmed they investigating the incident as an act of criminal damage by fire.

"Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a residence in Esker Woods Drive, Lucan, Dublin at approximately 23.50pm on October 28, a spokesperson said.

"No injuries were reported.

The Garda spokesperson revealed that no arrests have been made.

"Investigations are ongoing, they added.
The memorial commemorates Sub Station Officer Brian Murray and Fire Fighter Mark OShaughnessy who lost their lives as they tackled a blaze in the area in 2007.

There has been further condemnation of the disgusting vandal attack  for the third time  on a memorial in Bray dedicated to the lives of two brave firemen who died in the line of duty.

The memorial commemorates Sub Station Officer Brian Murray and Fire Fighter Mark OShaughnessy who lost their lives as they tackled a blaze in the area in 2007.

The monument located at Fr Colohan Terrace, between the Main Street and Vevay Road was dabbed with red paint overnight.

Fire-Ireland.com took to Twitter to say the Bray Firefighters Memorial had been vandalised again.

Once again the Bray Firefighters Memorial dedicated to the lives of Sub Station Officer Brian Murray and Firefighter Mark O'Shaughnessy who died in the line of duty has been vandalised overnight, they wrote.

This disgusting hurtful act must be stopped from happening again.

They also asked Wicklow County Council to consider more CCTV in the Memorial area to prevent this happening a 3rd time.

They added: Our thoughts are with the families of both men and the Bray Fire Station Firefighters today.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

John Brady TD, who spoke out after the memorial was previously defaced, tweeted: The monument for brave firefighters Brian Murray & Mark OShaughnessy who died tackling a blaze in Bray has been vandalised again.

He added: 3 weeks ago family members arranged to get the memorial cleaned after it was defaced. This mindless act is rightly condemned by the entire community.

Earlier this month, Deputy Brady and Wicklows Chief Fire Officer Aidan Dempsey condemned the acts of vandalism.

Mr Dempsey said he was saddened and shocked to see the monument defaced, particularly so soon after a ceremony on September 26 to mark the 15th anniversary of the deaths of the firemen.

Deputy Brady described the act as an attack on the entire community, and called for CCTV while asking why new lights that were recently installed had not yet been turned on.

Following previous acts of vandalism my colleagues Cllr Dermot OBrien and Cllr Grace McManus succeeded in getting the council to erect public lighting at the memorial to act as a deterrent, explained Deputy Brady.

However, the lighting hasnt been switched on yet, despite it being installed a number of months ago. The council must immediately get the lighting connected, the installation of CCTV must also be examined, this is something that I dont think anybody thought would ever be needed.

He added: This is highly disrespectful and insensitive to the two heroes that paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and to their families. Its also an attack on the entire community who think so highly of Brian and Mark.

The first image of the damage appeared on a Facebook forum on October 1, causing outrage throughout the community, who then rallied to remove the graffiti. By Monday evening the monument had been restored.

Explaining the significance of this time of year and both the acts of defacing and restoring, Chief Fire Officer Dempsey, expressed pride in the quick actions to honour his fallen colleagues.

He said: It is an emotional time of the year for all members of the fire service in Wicklow, and particularly in Bray. We hold an annual wreath laying event both at the fire station, which is attended by fire fighters from all over the country, and there is also a wreath laying at the memorial itself by the fire crew in Bray.

Its a time that we remember, and our thoughts and prayers are with both families, the Murray and OShaughnessy families and all of their wider friends and colleagues.

He added: I know at least three or four groups and other individuals when they heard about the vandalism went down to restore the memorial, and it is pristine again. There were fire fighters from Bray, Municipal Council staff and others who Im still trying to identify. Its pristine again, thanks to their efforts.

Mr Dempsey said: Im saddened and shocked that anyone would deface the monument, but I would like to thank everyone who responded so quickly to clean the memorial.

The tag seen on the memorial's graffiti has been seen by locals in other parts of Bray.

In October 2016, family members told how they were disappointed and shocked to see graffiti scrawled on the monument to their loved ones.

The words 'I will survive' were scrawled on the monument before council workers cleaned it up.

The people of Bray donated to the fund for the monument as part of a campaign to pay tribute to Brian and Mark

It's a fireman's memorial and like any public servant, you expect respect,' said Brian's son Barry, said at the time.

It doesn't just belong to the family, it's everyone's.

The monument, designed by artist Ciaran Patterson, was unveiled in September 2013.

Brian and Mark died in a fire at Adelaide Villas on September 26, 2007.
Over 275,000 letters have so far been sent out to startled workers and 100,000 more are expected to arrive over the next few weeks.

Taxpayers have been shocked by letters in the post telling them they owe Revenue money from underpayments.

Over 275,000 letters have so far been sent out to startled workers and 100,000 more are expected to arrive over the next few weeks.

People are being told the money they owe could be from underpaying their tax as far back as 2018  though the main culprit could be the Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Bookkeeper Mairead took to TikTok to tell confused workers that their letters could also be the fault of their employer not telling them about the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.

@remotebookkeeper Did you get a letter from Revenue saying you owe tax?  original sound - Mairead

"A lot of employers were on [the scheme] but didnt tell their employees, she told her followers.

"When your employer was claiming this wage subsidy, Revenue wasn't collecting tax for those employees, and if your employer didn't tell you about it, you're getting a letter now, and you're surprised."

Mairead reassured people however that there was good news":

"Revenue will not come knocking on your door for this tax  dont panic.

She explained that no money will come out in bulk  a relief for some workers who have been told they may owe 1000 or more.

Instead, Revenue takes it out a bit at a time across 2022 to 2025, but it might be good to get it out of the way soon, she said.

"Your goal here is to try and reduce that liability if you can. she said.

"Some people login who have never done it before, and before they even start doing the steps, they realise they are owed a refund of up to 1000. So you won't know until you check it out, so that would be my tip."

Workers can take a look at their tax and even claim back bills like medical expenses, turning the dial down on what they might owe in underpayments.

Taxback.com thinks Irish people overpaid as much as 300 million last year, the Irish Examiner reports.

"If we go back even further, to the last year in which people can still claim, Revenue records reveal that since 2019, 620m has been overpaid. So the question remains  how do we get people to claim what they are owed? said Joanna Murphy, CEO of Taxback.com.

By logging onto Revenue, people can start the process of checking if the owe or are owed money through filing their tax return form and receiving a Statement of Liability.
Yeah, I saw all of his Tweets of me. But, he is not my opponent, he can just talk. Hes not liked a fighter for me, I dont respect him as a fighter

Conor McGregors arch-rival, Hasbulla, has warned he will cause problems for the Dubliner if they ever meet each other.

The internet sensation said he had lost all respect for McGregor after the Notorious called him a smelly little inbred and a gimp in a series of nasty Twitter posts that he then deleted.

The Russian, who shot to fame in 2020 after his videos went viral on TikTok, has since struck up a friendship with another of McGregors enemies, the former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

McGregor and Khabib, who engaged in a bitter grudge match in 2018, never buried the hatchet which means McGregor has taken a particular dislike to Hasbulla as well.

Earlier this year, McGregor declared: I'd love to boot that little gimp Hasbulla over a goal post, to which Hasbulla has now responded.

Yeah, I saw all of his Tweets of me. But, he is not my opponent, he can just talk. Hes not liked a fighter for me, I dont respect him as a fighter, Hasbulla told the Full Send podcast.

And if I meet him I will cause some problems for him. I dont know yet [what he will do]. But I will definitely do something.

Ahead of any potential face-to-face confrontation with McGregor, Hasbulla has said he has no interest in trading verbal insults with the former two-weight world champion.

Im not going to talk to him and if I see that he wants something Ill dismiss him.

Footage recently emerged of Hasbulla practicing his walk to the Octagon, after UFC president Dana White confirmed the Russian star had been signed to the fighting promotion.

The 20-year-old Hasbulla was in the crowd at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi last weekend to watch his compatriot Islam Makhachev become the UFC lightweight champion with a victory over Charles Oliveira.

In the clip, Hasbulla can be seen emerging from the tunnel at the arena, decked out in a tracksuit featuring his name.

With his hood up, he marches towards the centre of the arena before climbing the steps to the Octagon, to cheers from a few of his supporters.

He then shadow-boxes to the camera before punching the lens.

White jokingly issued a warning to McGregor, after he had hit out at the Russian social media star.

"Yes, we did sign Hasbulla. What he's going to end up doing remains to be seen, White told Robbie Fox.

When asked if McGregor had reached out to the diminutive Russian following his signing to the UFC, White added: "No!

He shouldn't f*** around because he will get his ass whooped if he runs into him on the streets."

The pair could finally meet each other at a UFC event as McGregor has said he intends to return to the Octagon in the first quarter of 2023.

He has indicated that he wants to have multiple bouts next year, having not fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Some questions have arisen over this, however, as Dana White recently confirmed McGregor has not entered into the USADA drug testing pool yet.

UFC fighters must be available for testing for a period of six months before they can compete.

McGregor is currently filming a remake of the 1989 movie Road House with Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal, and it remains to be seen whether he will make his UFC comeback next year.
She has now been sharing new pictures on her Instagram and declaring the dress deserved a moment

Bonnie Ryan has returned from her epic six-week honeymoon to mark another big occasion by celebrating her 30th in Dublins The Westbury Hotel.

Bonnie and her husband John Greenhalgh tied the knot back in March at a civil ceremony in Dublin before heading off to South Africa and then Mexico.

She has now been sharing new pictures on her Instagram of her big birthday night out in Dublin, declaring the dress deserved a moment.

She added: Custom made by @caribis_atelier_ua who made the dress the night before my wedding & whos talent is unbeatable.

Dozens of fans and friends took to the comments section to wish her a happy birthday with one writing: Welcome to the 30 club! You look SENSATIONAL.

Another added: Happy 30th gorgeous girl.

Happy birthday Bonnie, one said, while another stated: You look absolutely stunning.

Last week, influencer Bonnie returned to her favourite place for the final leg of her honeymoon.

The couple who had been documenting their globetrotting exploits on social media, returned to Ireland on Monday, but not before Bonnie shared one final post from Floridas Walt Disney World.

"Last day on my honeymoon so had to finish it off in my favourite place, she wrote on an Instagram story. Following a night time firework display she added: And that concluded the most epic honeymoon ever.

After tying the knot back in March in Dublin they held a second wedding ceremony in May in the Italian village of La Machi.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

They then kicked off their honeymoon plans in early September with a trip to South Africa before jetting off to Mexico.

While in South Africa, they caught up with a host of animals as they hopped on a tour of the capes peninsula before heading out to Spier Vineyard in Stellenbosch for a wine tasting and overnight stay, with Bonnie gushing that it was one of the most amazing places Ive been.

A safari experience was on the cards next, and the couple ventured out to the Aquila Private Game Reserve to see lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and zebras in the wild and ride quad bikes on the reserve.

They enjoyed some downtime after their busy day, spending a romantic evening together toasting marshmallows under the stars.

The couple also faced their fears and went sky diving on their trip and later recovered by trying out the amenities in their hotels spa.
New Zealand is set for a strong summer season as the tourism sector continues its recovery, with overseas visitor arrivals and card spend tracking towards pre-pandemic levels, says NZ Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash.

Its wonderful to welcome international visitors to our beautiful country to enjoy our hospitality and the world class attractions on offer over summer."

Nash says the numbers are showing that the demand for New Zealand is still there from international tourists.

Its been a tough time for our tourism sector throughout the pandemic, but Ive said repeatedly that the commitment and dedication of the incredible people in the sector means we will come out of these past two years stronger and ready to embrace a forward thinking, sustainable tourism sector," says Nash.

Our Government has supported the tourism sector throughout the pandemic, working with the industry to respond to the challenges of the past two years. This included the $400m Tourism Recovery Package, the $200m Tourism Communities Plan, and the $54m Innovation Programme for Tourism Recovery.

I know this increase in visitors will put extra pressure on tourism and hospitality workers to deliver a world-class experience. In September we announced $2 million to Go with Tourism which is a unique approach to addressing labour supply issues in the tourism and hospitality sector that holds career expos and secondary-school education programmes across the country, promoting careers in the industry, says Nash.

August 2022 is the first month in nearly two and half years where a holiday has been the most popular reason for travel by overseas visitors, replacing visiting friends and relatives which had dominated the reason for travel from April 2020.

It is also fantastic to see cruises also return to ports all around New Zealand. Over 40 cruise vessels are expected for the 2022-2023 cruise ship season, bringing an estimated 150  200,000 visitors to our shores across our regions," says Nash.

Our Great Walks have seen around 19 per cent of bookings made by international visitors, bringing yet more visitors to our regions to see our stunning natural beauty and experience regional kiwi hospitality. Places on Milford Track were fully reserved in a record 3 minutes when bookings opened earlier this year.

New Zealand has the opportunity and the capability to become the most innovative and future focussed tourism destination in the world. Im really excited about what this summer will bring, says Nash.

Key numbers:

 Around 145,250 overseas visitors arrived in the four weeks to October 26

 Over 10,000 Working Holiday Visa holders have now arrived in New Zealand

 International card spend at 88 per cent of pre-COVID levels (from 26 August to 22 September 2019) in the four weeks to 25 September (i.e. 29 August to 25 September 2022)

 Economic boost from cruise season expected to be between $350 to $510 million

 Around 19 per cent of total bed nights booked for 2022/23 are from international visitors
MetService has issued a severe weather warning for New Zealand.

The Bay of Plenty area around Opotiki is expected to receive heavy rain from Sunday afternoon through to Monday afternoon.

Heavy rain is expected for the central and upper North Island and north to northwest gales for Wellington and the Canterbury High Country.

"A front, preceded by humid northerlies, moves eastwards across the North Island during Sunday," says a MetService spokesperson.

"This front is expected to bring heavy rain to the central and upper North Island, with possible morning downpours over Auckland and Northland."

Heavy Rain Warnings and Watches are in force for many areas.

"In addition, north to northwest winds may approach severe gale in Wellington,including the Remutaka Hill Road, and in the Canterbury High Country."

People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts, in case any changes are made or further areas are added.

Heavy rain warning:

Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

Area: Northland

Valid: 12 hours from 2:00 am to 2:00 pm Sunday

Forecast: Expect 60 to 90 mm of rain. Peak rates of 25 to 40 mm/h in localised downpours during the morning, and possibly more.

Area: Auckland, including Great Barrier Island

Valid: 11 hours from 4:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday

Forecast: Expect 60 to 90 mm of rain. Peak rates of 25 to 40 mm/h in localised downpours during the morning, and possibly more. Change note: Upgraded to an Orange Warning

Area: Bay of Plenty west of Opotiki

Valid: 27 hours from 11:00 am Sunday to 2:00 pm Monday

Forecast: Expect 110 to 130 mm of rain. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h Sunday afternoon.

Note, rain may ease for a time Sunday evening.

Area: Bay of Plenty from Opotiki eastwards

Valid: 31 hours from 2:00 pm Sunday to 9:00 pm Monday

Forecast: Expect 150 to 200 mm of rain in the ranges, and 120 to 150 mm of rain elsewhere. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h.

Area: Mount Taranaki

Valid: 12 hours from 8:00 pm Saturday to 8:00 am Sunday

Forecast: Expect 90 to 140 mm of rain to accumulate. Peak intensities of 20 to 25 mm/h.

Area: The Tararua Range

Valid: 11 hours from 10:00 pm Saturday to 9:00 am Sunday

Forecast: Expect 70 to 90 mm of rain to accumulate. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h.

Heavy Rain Watch

Area: Coromandel Peninsula

Valid: 9 hours from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with localised downpours possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Area: Waikato and Taupo

Valid: 12 hours from 4:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with localised downpours possible. Rainfall amounts may exceed warning criteria in some areas.

Area: The central North Island hill country from Waitomo and North Taranaki to Tongariro National Park

Valid: 17 hours from 9:00 pm Saturday to 2:00 pm Sunday

Forecast: A period of heavy rain. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts.
Two lucky Lotto players will be ending the month on a high after each winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division in Saturday night's live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were both sold on MyLotto, to players from Hamilton and Marlborough.

Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $8 million.

Meanwhile, a lucky Strike player will also be celebrating after winning $200,000 with Strike Four. The winning Strike ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Taranaki.

Eight lucky Lotto players will be celebrating in style after each winning $31,298 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday night's live Lotto draw.

One lucky player also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $46,898. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold at Mahia Beach Store in Hawkes Bay.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location MyLotto Waikato MyLotto Rotorua Mahia Beach Store (+PB) Hawkes Bay MyLotto New Plymouth Inner City Post & Lotto Palmerston North New World Broadway Palmerston North MyLotto Palmerston North Hornby Mall Lotto Christchurch

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the Lotto NZ App.

With 100 per cent of Lotto NZs profits supporting thousands of great causes each year, every time you play one of Lotto NZs games, youre a Kiwi helping other Kiwis.
Ethiopian foods at Umoja Community Mosaics food bank. The organization delivers food to people in need all over the city. (Dan McGarvey/CBC - image credit)

A grassroots Calgary outreach organization that helps immigrants access food and a long list of other supports says it's seeing, for the first time, an influx of seniors who are struggling to afford groceries.

Umoja Community Mosaic, which runs a food bank in the southwest, says it's seeing more groups they've not been in contact with before who are now calling, desperate for help as inflation and the rising cost of food becomes too much to bear.

The organization helps immigrant and low-income families settle and integrate into communities all over the city.

A big part of their work is helping families access culturally appropriate and traditional foods they use to cook daily meals with, including different types of flour and teff, which is a fine grain used to make common Ethiopian dishes like enegra.

It's the food they grew up with and it's what they feed their families here.

Along with regular supermarket shopping, these items are now becoming out of reach for many people with already strained budgets unable to stretch any further.

Dan McGarvey/CBC

"I got a call one morning saying we had around 17 seniors gathered at our building who had come looking for food," said Abby Taye, a support counsellor with Umoja who speaks several languages used by Ethiopian and Eritreans, including Amharic and Tigrinya.

"Then my phone calls went all week, from different seniors. I called a friend with another organization and she said to expect more in the coming weeks," said Taye.

Taye says the seniors are especially in need of Ethiopian food items like different types of flour, which they can no longer afford, along with other groceries. She says they were apologetic  and coming forward for help was a last resort for them.

"They said, 'we're sorry, we don't usually do this but we cannot afford to buy food,'" said Taye.

"For me, it's very close to home seeing seniors who are from where I'm from crying. It's hard to ask for food, so I'm sad, to be honest," she said.

Story continues

Taye says it's not easy for a small, grassroots organization reliant on donations from the public to buy the food it uses in its hampers.

Umoja Community Mosaic started in 2010 as a soccer club called Soccer Without Boundaries, set up for immigrant kids from places like Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda and Afghanistan, to name just a few, run by Jean Claude Munyezamu.

Now it's a full-blown outreach program helping new Canadians adjust to their new lives and communities, offering food for families in need, laptop loans, mental health supports, tutoring and other resources.

Dan McGarvey/CBC

"We have a waiting list which has been trending in the last couple of months," said Nurishah Dharamsi, an anti-racism co-ordinator at Umoja who also supports its programming and community outreach work.

"This situation with the Ethiopian seniors is something we're used to. We get referrals every day now for emergency food hampers," said Dharamsi.

"It's worrying but we know the pandemic exposed a deep structural gap in the food system for a lot of newcomers and families who can't access regular food banks," she said.

Dharamsi says their focus is on providing culturally appropriate foods in a dignified way, through a delivery service, providing participating families with two hampers per month, worth around $60.

She says seniors are especially vulnerable and have additional needs like medications, accessibility and dietary requirements.

She says as well as fielding emergency situations, like the recent influx of Ethiopian and Eritrean seniors with empty fridges, there's a growing waiting list for others in need of help.

"Every month, we have to prioritize where we allocate resources and much-needed help," said Dharamsi.

She says their entire food operation relies on the generosity of private donors.

"We're a very small organization with a very large impact."
Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union urged Kosovo on Saturday to allow for a longer transition period phasing out old Serbian license plates still in use by the ethnic Serb minority in the country.

Kosovo said on Friday it would delay a rule to confiscate cars owned by ethnic Serbs who refuse to use local car plates following criticism by Western countries that such a move may aggravate ethnic tensions.

Kosovo has attempted a few times this year to require its Serb minority to change their old car plates that date before 1999 when Kosovo was still part of Serbia. However, this move has been met with strong and sometimes violent resistance by local Serbs who live in the northern part of the country.

The last deadline was Nov. 1 when around 10,000 motorists had to switch their old car registrations.

The European Union said Kosovo had the right to phase out the old car plates and had taken a step in the right direction, but that an agreement from 2016 foresaw a 12-month timeframe for the process which had not been followed.

"Kosovo should allow for a longer transition period," said Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for foreign affairs and security at the European Commission.

"This has been the consistent advice of Kosovo's closest partners, including the EU and the U.S., it is disappointing to see it has not been followed," she added.

Massrali urged all parties to maintain calm, exercise restraint and "avoid any actions or rhetoric that could jeopardise the stability on the ground, particularly in the north of Kosovo."

On Friday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the phasing-out would be implemented gradually.

He said drivers would first be given warnings for three weeks, then be fined for a period of two months, followed by a period of temporary car plates. If they do not change their plates by April 21, their vehicles will be confiscated.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but around 50,000 ethnic Serbs who live in the northern part of Kosovo refuse to recognize Pristina's authority and still consider themselves a part of Serbia.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Chris Reese)
Something to look forward to: Today's evolving technologies and processing requirements have driven chipmakers to pursue alternative designs that deviate from standard monolithic die-based architectures. Earlier this week, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced the formation of the 3D Fabric Alliance to meet those requirements better. The Alliance creates a collaborative effort between industry partners to accelerate 2.5D and 3D chiplet-based product designs, development, and industry adoption.

The 3DFabric Alliance applies the combined expertise of multiple industry partners to create and refine chiplet-based design and packaging technologies. The 19-member alliance, which is expected to expand, spans the entire product ecosystem and includes partners specializing in design, automation, memory, substrate, test, and other areas of the manufacturing process. These members will work together to develop 3DFabric technology specifications according to TSMC-established rules and standards.

The Alliance is part of TSMC's larger Open Innovation Platform (OIP). The OIP model provides a means for customers and industry partners to collaborate and establish new approaches to shorten integrated circuit (IC) design time. It also aims to improve time-to-volume, time-to-market, and time-to-revenue.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's 3DFabric is a family of front-end and back-end interconnect technologies designed to increase future computing power and core counts, raise memory and bandwidth ceilings, and enhance overall power delivery. The approach supports TSMC's system on integrated chip services, including chip-on-wafer and wafer-on-wafer die stacking methodologies. This technique uses high-density vertical stacking to increase performance and reduce power consumption. It also allows for better integration of known good dies with chips of various sizes and functionalities, enhances overall scalability, and reduces the footprint and profile of the chip.

The overarching goal of the 3DFabric Alliance is to create standard, interoperable solutions that speed up multi-chiplet design and development efforts for use across all industries. According to TSMC, the role of semiconductors will continue to increase across all sectors due to their use in everything from automotive design and manufacturing to data centers and smart devices. The 3DFabric Alliance's ability to optimize and streamline the design, development, and implementation will help ensure continued innovations for semiconductor technology and everyday products and services that rely on them.
As you know, a good IT distributor always helps its partners promote their products. The synergistic effect of joint, directed actions helps make a business successful. And it is no secret that the sales process, especially training on new products, is associated with organizational difficulties, costs, and lack of time. It would be surprising if, in this day and age, there was no suitable software solution to automate routine functions to increase sales efficiency. Of course, there is. Take, for example, SOFTPROM, a large, value-added IT distributor with a network of 1,500 partners throughout Europe.

Understanding all the peculiarities of its business, SOFTPROM offers its partners a unique software solution that increases the efficiency of sellers, reduces the cost of obtaining new customers and deals, and significantly improves the results of employee training on the features of new products. This mobile and cloud app solution is called ROI4PRESENTER, and ROI4CIO created it.

ROI4PRESENTER is an application for online presentations, IT product demonstrations, lead generation, and outreach. It allows salespeople to make presentations (including offline) and communicate with customers anytime. Potential customers save their working hours because they receive information about new products at a convenient time, in an optimized form, and, most importantly, they can always contact a product specialist online for advice.

How It Works:

Step 1: Create a presentation using convenient tools you are familiar with. The ROI4PRESENTER service is compatible with both YouTube videos and the most popular presentation software, including PowerPoint, Canva, Keynote, and others.

Step 2: Upload the presentation to the ROI4PRESENTER website. In addition to the main presentation, you can create a 'pitch,' a short version that introduces the viewer to the main information, ideas, theses, and conclusions. The service allows you to supplement the presentation with a lead form for collecting contact information.

Step 3: Create a link to the presentation and place it on your site and your partner sites as a media player. Send links to your audience with an offer to watch it in its entirety or just the pitch at their convenience.

Step 4: At the moment when someone starts watching the presentation, you will receive a notification, and you can choose from two options. One, wait for the viewer to call you using the 'Call presenter' button. Two, let the client know you are online and ready to start communication immediately.

Step 5: Study each viewer's activity using the built-in analysis system. Also, with its help, a manager can study the effectiveness of the presenter-seller's work.

In the process of developing the ROI4PRESENTER web service, ROI4CIO took into account the main problems facing IT resellers. SOFTPROM, for its part, adapted the selling content for this service, including presentations of more than fifty vendors from its portfolio. Then, the distributor provided free access to the service for its partners, which ultimately allowed them to increase their efficiency of both sales and training for new products and services.

One of the tangible challenges in IT sales is the proliferation of new products and product updates. To constantly maintain knowledge relevance, it is necessary to conduct regular employee training. It takes time and money, and, most importantly, it distracts people from their work.

Here is the PRESENTATION FRAME from ROI4CIO.

Using ROI4PRESENTER, SOFTPROM partner resellers have been able to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of their webinars. Instead of the costly procedure of organizing and inviting attendees to an online event, presentations can now be recorded directly on web pages. In this case, it is also possible to invite an expert to clarify details or get answers to questions. That is, as it were, a permanent webinar (example).

The product is also useful for lead generation. During the presentation, you can invite the new client to enter their contact information, which will be automatically saved in the CRM system.

Using ROI4PRESENTER, SOFTPROM partners increase sales efficiency and customer service quality. They can expand the range of solutions offered without fear that the abundance of new products will become a bottleneck in business development. The distributor presented a catalog of presentations to its partners, who can now immediately offer complex technical solutions relying on the help of professionals as virtual sellers. For example, an employee can examine a portfolio of 50 products in just 15 minutes and choose those that best meet customer needs at that moment.

End users don't waste their time, either. ROI4PRESENTER allows them to decide how interesting a product is by looking at a short pitch. So now, it is not as necessary as before, to spend half an hour or more to get to the point. Answers to frequently asked questions are also available.

Thanks to the utilization of both online and offline approaches, you no longer have to worry about scheduling a meeting. The client will open the link and listen to the presentation when it is convenient for them. If necessary, they will call the seller, who always has the ability to connect to the meeting. The seller receives a notification on their smartphone when the client has followed the link.

If you are wondering about the specific results that SOFTPROM and its partners receive from using ROI4PRESENTER, here they are:

The number of presentations with clients increased by 100%.

Staff time spent on presentations was reduced by an average of 10 hours per month without compromising efficiency.

Work time spent on joint reports decreased by one hour per month.

Time to launch sales of new products reduced by one month.

Reduction of time spent on making client arrangements decreased on average by 10 hours per month per employee.

The number of deals generated increased by 25%.

And these are only the main results obtained in the first months of using the product. The cumulative benefits received over a year will be even more substantial.

About Softprom

SOFTPROM is an international VAD of IT products that has been supplying software solutions from the world's leading developers in areas such as cybersecurity, cloud technologies, and CAD systems for more than 20 years. The distributor's partner network unites over 1,500 companies.

SOFTPROM employs more than 80 experts who promote solutions from over 100 vendors in 15 countries of Eastern and Western Europe.

About ROI4CIO

ROI4CIO is a developer of cloud software products for B2B sales. The company's solutions help sellers of complex IT solutions and services save time and increase productivity by automating routine tasks. Among the company's most well-known developments is a content platform for corporate users of ROI4CIO's IT solutions, as well as ROI4PRESENTER.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Trump supporters have reportedly formed patrol groups to guard ballot drop boxes during the midterm elections against a type of voter fraud inspired primarily by widely debunked conspiracy theories circulating online.

This action is said to be part of a volunteer group that believes there is a need to stop the alleged voting fraud, despite the fact that no evidence of said election violation has been found. People who are participating in the watch hope to catch people dropping off hundreds of ballots at once.

Truth Social Post Inspires Ballot Drop Box Watchers

According to NBC News, the movement is part of a growing conservative effort to keep an eye on ballot boxes in an effort to uncover election fraud. The news organization has observed small groups of individuals viewing dropboxes at particular times.

Read Also: LAVA MUSIC Releases BLUE LAVA Original with Advanced Acoustic Technologies, A Perfect Option for Both Beginners and Professionals

There have been complaints made to the Arizona secretary of state about some individuals who were keeping watch at the drop box while donning masks and army fatigues. There have been no reports of armed people joining the watch.

As previously stated, no evidence has been presented to support this popular conspiracy theory among Trump supporters. These followers claim that 'ballot mules' sneakily drop hundreds of fake ballots at polling places. To add to the drama, they say these people do these things in the middle of the night.

Conspiracy Theories Fuelling Paranoia

When Donald Trump lost his re-election bid to Biden in 2020, his backers used every trick in the book to claim that the election was rigged and that Trump had won. Trump's claims included vote-switching software from Venezuela, voting machines hacked by China, and ballots arriving from Asia.

The 90-minute film "2000 Mules," which Trump himself endorses, may be one of these misinformation campaigns with the greatest impact. Prominent MAGA supporters attended the movie's premiere at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

According to the New York Times, the film asserts that individual "mules" filled dropbox after dropbox, but this is never demonstrated in the footage. The main argument of the film is that a vast network of left-wing operatives was behind these absentee ballot boxes.

The above-said documentary made an effort to look into claims of voter fraud made in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. According to Reuters, all five of the listed states were swing states in the 2020 election that ultimately supported Joe Biden for president and were later at the center of irrational claims of fraud.

According to Reuters' fact-checking, "2000 Mules" does not offer any specific, corroborated proof of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

The false allegations that the results of the 2020 election were affected by widespread voter fraud were promoted by former US President Donald Trump and his supporters, but they were refuted by courts, state governments, and officials in his own former administration.

Later in a series of posts on Truth Social, the idea of organized drop box watching gained traction.

Since August, an organization called Clean Elections USA has been urging Trump supporters on Truth Social to organize "ballot tailgate parties" to monitor drop boxes nationwide for suspected "mules."

Related Article: Trump's Truth Social Post Confirms His Crime? Here's What the Former US President Said

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
General Motors (GM), which competes with Tesla, has reportedly temporarily paused its ads on Twitter after the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk took over.

The Chief Executive Officer of Tesla is now the owner of the giant social media platform Twitter after a chaotic timeline of the acquisition.

(Photo : Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

A Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle sits at an event where Fritz Henderson, CEO and President of General Motors, announced that GM will invest $43 million in Brownstown Township, Michigan to manufacture lithium-ion battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt and other extended-range electric vehicles at the GM Brownstown Battery Assembly facility August 13, 2009 in Brownstown Township, Michigan.

And as such, one of the rivals of Tesla, GM, has confirmed that it has suspended paying for ads on the social network.

Tesla Rival, GM, Halts Advertisements on Twitter

As per the latest report by CNBC, the renowned Detroit-based carmaker has confirmed that it will temporarily pause all of its ads on the Musk-led social media.

The decision of the giant automaker comes after the big boss of Tesla completed his acquisition of the microblogging service.

The carmaker, which now offers electric vehicles like Musk's tech giant, notes that it still has to evaluate where the social network is headed.

The renowned carmaker disclosed to CNBC that they "are engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership."

GM states that the suspension of its paid ads on Musk-led service is a "normal course of business with a significant change in a media platform."

How About GM's Twitter Account?

But does this mean that the Detroit firm is also looking to leave the platform? CNBC reports that GM assures its customers that it would continue interacting with them using the Blue Bird social media.

The auto company clarifies that "customer care interactions on Twitter will continue."

So it means that the official account of the carmaker would remain to be available. However, Twitter users would no longer see any paid ads from the Tesla competitor for the meantime following the new ownership.

According to a recent report by Business Insider, GM is the first-ever giant firm that has publicly confirmed that it has suspended its paid ads on the now Musk-owned social media since his takeover.

Read Also: Elon Musk Supports Absolute 'Free Speech' on Twitter as its New Owner

Elon Musk is Now In-Charge of Twitter

The Tesla and SpaceX boss is officially the new owner of the giant social media platform Twitter.

(Photo : CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

This illustration photo taken on July 8, 2022 shows Elon Musk's Twitter page displayed on the screen of a smartphone with Twitter logo in the background in Los Angeles.

And under his helm, Musk says he is keen on curbing censorship on the platform. However, Business Insider notes that this move worries some giant advertisers on the social network.

The news outlet reports that one of the top brass of the advertising agency, GroupM, claims that giant firms are planning to suspend advertising once the former United States President, Donald Trump, makes his comeback on Twitter.

Related Article: Tesla Model Y is Now Best-Selling Car in Europe! Here's What Made This Achievement Possible

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk's Twitter free speech approach might not work.

(Photo : Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Elon Musk, founder and chief engineer of SpaceX speaks at the 2020 Satellite Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020 in Washington, DC. Musk answered a range of questions relating to SpaceX projects during his appearance at the conference.

Before the billionaire acquired the social media platform, he already showed how committed he is to making it a free speech website.

Previously, the Tesla CEO made huge headlines after he completed his most-awaited Twitter takeover.

The social media purchase cost $44 billion, allowing him to have full control.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, he posted a very simple, but meaning full tweet to celebrate his billion-dollar acquisition.

"The bird is freed," said Elon via his official Twitter post, which generated more than two million likes, 50,000 quote tweets, and 340,000 retweets.

the bird is freed  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

Elon Musk's Twitter Free Speech Approach May Not Work

According to Bloomberg's latest report, EU Commission's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton already warned Musk regarding free speech approach for Twitter.

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

In this photo illustration, The Twitter profile of Elon Musk with more than 80 million followers in shown on a cell phone on April 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. It was announced today that Twitter has accepted a $44 billion bid from Musk to acquire the company.

Also Read: Elon Musk Supports Absolute 'Free Speech' on Twitter as its New Owner

"I don't care what he's doing outside of Europe. You want to enter into Europe? These are our rules," said Breton.

Previously, the European Union passed DSA (Digital Services Act) as a law.

This new policy is expected to allow EU to easily police tech platforms, such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.

AccessNow.Org explained that the Digital Services Act is created to establish new rules for private actors. These obligations are expected to create a secure and safe online environment for users of all ages.

Since this new law aims to make Twitter and other socmeds safer, this means that the EU's DSA can require these social media websites to remove harmful posts.

These include illegal content, terrorist propaganda, and unsafe toy advertisements.

What Will Happen if Twitter Breaks Rules?

The European Union explained that posts that are illegal differ between the EU's 27 countries.

But, if the platform is a big one, then it should be diligent when it comes to removing illegal posts.

In the case of Twitter, the platform should really be careful when it comes to harmful content.

If ever Twitter violates DSA, the social media company could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.

On the other hand, if the online platform repeatedly breaks DSA's policies, there's a chance it could be banned from operating in EU countries.

You can click this link to see more details on how the EU's DSA can affect Elon Musk's Twitter free speech approach.

Recently, we reported that GM suspended Twitter ads after Elon Musk completed his billion-dollar acquisition.

Meanwhile, Twitter CEO and CFO were reportedly terminated by the Tesla CEO after he acquired the platform.

For more news updates about Elon Musk and his plans for Twitter, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Elon Musk Says Twitter Will Not be a 'Free-for-all Hellscape' for Advertisers

This article is owned by TechTimes

Written by: Griffin Davis

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A New York City law will require companies with at least four employees to post salary ranges in job listings in an effort to increase pay transparency starting Tuesday.

Employers advertising jobs in the city who have at least one employee currently located there must include a "good faith salary range," according to the New York City Commission on Human Rights, which is enforcing the law. Employers must include a minimum and maximum salary.

PHOTO: Stock photo of a resume being handed to an interviewer. (Narisara Nami/Getty Images)

There is no fine for a first-time offense, though companies and employment agencies found to violate the law could face civil penalties of up to $250,000 if not corrected within 30 days of receiving notice of the violation.

Temporary staffing agencies are exempt from the law because they already disclose this information under the New York State Wage Theft Prevention Act.

Starting November 1, 2022, the NYC Human Rights Law requires employers to include a good faith pay range in all job postings - another step toward pay equity for New Yorkers. Read our fact sheet to learn more about pay transparency. #DisplayThePayNYChttps://t.co/QOu3ETw0NE  NYC Human Rights (@NYCCHR) October 28, 2022

The new law, which passed the New York City Council late last year, was set to go into effect in May, though the start date was delayed following criticism from business groups and companies who said they were not consulted about the legislation beforehand and that the language of the law was vague.

The law was also amended to waive a penalty for a first-time violation and clarify that it would not apply to jobs that cannot or will not be performed in New York City, among other changes.

The city follows other jurisdictions that have passed laws to increase pay transparency. Among them, Colorado, Connecticut and Nevada started mandating salary ranges on job postings last year, and similar salary requirement laws will go into effect in California, Rhode Island and Washington state in 2023.

Story continues

A pay transparency bill has passed the New York State Assembly and Senate, though has not yet been signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

MORE: California signs law that could transform worker bargaining. Here's how.

Several companies have already started complying with the New York City law, including Amazon, American Express, Citigroup and Zillow.

Pay transparency advocates who were involved in the new law called it a "game changer for the city's workers," in particular those who face wage disparities, including Black and Latina women.

"With salary ranges out in the open, employers must think critically about how they set pay at the front end of their process before they insert unconscious biases. At the same time, women and people of color have more leverage to advocate for themselves and more information to make better decisions about jobs and industries to pursue, helping to combat occupational segregation," Beverly Cooper Neufeld, president of PowHer New York, and Seher Khawaja, senior attorney for economic empowerment at Legal Momentum, wrote in an opinion piece published in the New York Daily News on Thursday.

MORE: This is how much money Black women lose due to gender pay gap

The chambers of commerce in each borough and the Partnership for New York City, an organization that represents the city's business leadership, had unsuccessfully pushed for the law to exempt industries with severe labor shortages, as well as only require minimum salary postings for highly compensated jobs.

"New York City is a highly competitive labor market, where most employers are committed to gender and racial pay parity," they wrote in a joint letter in April, arguing that the inclusion of a salary range is "not necessarily the most appropriate tool for the New York labor market."

New York City salary transparency law set to go into effect originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The patient is a man from the capital city of Asuncion, between 40 and 50 years of age, who has not traveled recently.

On Friday, Paraguay's Ministry of Health confirmed through the General Directorate of Health Surveillance the new positive case in the country of community-transmitted infection, as there was no history of travel or contact with a traveler.

This is the first case reported in the capital. According to the Ministry of Health, the other two cases were reported in the Central department at the end of August and September, respectively.

The new case sought medical attention on the fourth day of infection after experiencing initial symptoms on October 20.

The infected person had a fever, fatigue, muscle pain and headache as the first symptoms. Rashes on the neck, scalp, trunk, and upper and lower extremities appeared on the second day, according to the Ministry of Health report.

#MonkeyPox | Actualizacion epidemiologica



En la region de las Americas se confirmaron 50.033 casos de #ViruelaSimica.



 Paraguay registra hasta el momento:

3 casos confirmados

0 sospechoso

73 descartados



 https://t.co/Q2QkLOns5o pic.twitter.com/APJlTZ4bYP  Vigilancia de la Salud (@vigisaludpy) October 28, 2022

Epidemiological update

In the region of the Americas, 50,033 cases of monkeypox were confirmed.

Paraguay has registered so far:

Three confirmed cases

0 suspicious

73 discarded

The patient's condition is currently stable, and he is under outpatient treatment, mainly for pain management of the lesions.

The General Directorate of Health Surveillance monitors the patient, as well as his environment and contacts, to control possible new suspect cases.

The director of Health Surveillance, Dr. Guillermo Sequera showed his concern since "the virus is circulating as a silent epidemic; we are seeing very few cases and contagion is occurring in our community."

Sequera also appealed to the population not to postpone medical consultation when rashes appear in order to curb contagion. The director added that, despite being the riskiest way of transmission, sexual contact is not the only way. Physical, skin-to-skin contact with infected people is the main factor in the spread of the disease. The contact must be direct, intense and prolonged, Sequera said, noting that the disease can rarely be transmitted through virus-contaminated items.

Tags Paraguay Monkeypox
[Pick] I took care of you all my life... Son in his 40s who murdered his mother for nagging him
Danish Crown Prince Frederik

EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark supports the shift within the royal family.

The heir to the throne, 54, spoke about mother Queen Margrethe II's decision to strip four of her grandchildren  the sons and daughter of his younger brother, Prince Joachim  of their prince and princess titles for the first time Thursday. Addressing the press, Frederik said he agreed with his mother's move and larger vision of a slimmer modern monarchy.

"My mother has made this decision alone, because it is what she can do and it is what she wants, and she thought now was the time to make a decision that I also support and see as the right thing to do," Frederik said outside of a Copenhagen school where he attended an event, B.T. reported.

"I myself am interested in the Danish monarchy staying lean over time, so I, therefore, support my mother's decision, which she has chosen to make," he added.

RELATED: Queen Margrethe Views Stripping Grandchildren of Titles as 'Necessary Future-Proofing' of Monarchy

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - APRIL 16: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and her sons Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (L) and Prince Joachim of Denmark (R) appear on the Balcony of Amalienborg Palace on her 75th Birthday, on April 16, 2015 in Copenhagen, Denmark.(Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty

The Crown Prince also claimed that contrary to his brother's comments, there had never been a silence between the siblings after the title news broke.

"I am in continuous contact with my brother, I always have been, funnily enough, so there is nothing new in whether I have been in contact with him, I am in continuous contact with him," Frederik told B.T.

The royal admitted, however, that the update gave way to "a discrepancy in my family" which he said was "a family matter."

Later, the Danish Royal House declined to comment to the national newspaper for clarification on whether Joachim and Frederik had indeed spoken.

Point de Vue Out Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (13382499g) Prince Joachim and Princess Marie with Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik and Princess Athena of Denmark attending Service in Our Lady's Church for the Queen her 50th Jubilee of Government in Copenhagen. Service in Our Lady's Church, Copenhagen, Denmark - 11 Sep 2022

Shutterstock

RELATED: Denmark's Prince Joachim Finally Speaks with Mother Queen Margrethe After She Stripped Titles from Grandkids

The update comes four weeks after Queen Margrethe, 82, announced that Joachim's four children  Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10  will lose their royal titles at the start of the new year. As of Jan. 1, 2023, the siblings will instead be known by His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat. The palace announced the major shakeup in a statement on Sept. 28.

Story continues

Prince Joachim, who is sixth in line to the Danish throne, said that he felt blindsided by the bombshell and was given "five days' notice" before the news dropped. His mother, however, has maintained that the plans had been in motion for a while and that the decision was made in the best interests of her grandchildren.

Joachim's wife Princess Marie previously told B.T. that he and her husband "would have liked to have had time to talk about it" with their family. Joachim shares sons Nikolai and Felix with his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. He got remarried to Marie in 2008, and they went on to welcome Henrik and Athena.

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Princess Isabella of Denmark, Princess Josephine of Denmark and Prince Vincent of Denmark during the confirmation of Princess Isabella of Denmark at Fredensborg Palace on April 30, 2022 in Fredensborg, Denmark.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Prince Vincent, Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Queen Margrethe, Prince Christian, Princess Josephine and Crown Princess Mary

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Earlier this month, the Danish paper reported that Joachim traveled to meet the Queen to discuss the sensitive subject, though Frederik was not present for the meeting at Fredensborg Palace.

While their first cousins prepare to navigate a new future, things remain the same for the four children of the future King and his wife, Crown Princess Mary.

As the children of the Crown Prince couple, Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and 11-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine will retain their prince and princess titles for the foreseeable future. However, Princess Mary did hint that may change in the future  while Frederik and Mary's son Prince Christian is second in line to the throne behind his father, their other children may not keep their royal titles forever.

"We will also look at our children's titles when the time comes," Crown Princess Mary, 50, said last month. "Today we do not know what the royal house will look like in Christian's time, or when Christian's time begins to approach."
This is part of our Victorian election series Talkback, featuring legendary broadcasters Jon Faine and Neil Mitchells takes on the campaign every Sunday. Read Mitchells piece here.

There is a real prospect that we are witnessing an election campaign without proper debate. Is this race to the ballot box providing scant opportunity to test the political smarts of those who want to run the state?

At the time of writing, with only a few weeks to go, there is still no agreement between the parties for even one leaders debate on radio, TV or at a community forum. Senior ministers and their shadows ought similarly to be committing to open public contests where voters have an opportunity to speak directly to those who seek to govern our lives.

Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy at ABC Radio Melbourne after their 2018 campaign debate. Credit:Joe Armao

This campaign is proving to be as stage-managed as any. Minders and spin-doctors vet everything, scout every location, plan each move.
But I think the house will sell because those that are priced right tend to sell pretty quickly, he said. The auction was one of 490 scheduled on Saturday, with fewer held thanks to Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup long weekend. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 61 per cent from 335 reported results, while 46 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. Another home being sold as part of a deceased estate sold under the hammer in Carlton North for $3.63 million, above the $2.7 million to $2.9 million indicative selling price. The four-bedroom home, known as Lexton, at 556 Rathdowne Street had four bidders competing for the keys, with a family becoming the buyers.

Bidding opened on a vendor bid of $2.7 million with the next bid hitting $3 million. The home was called on the market at $3.03 million with a flurry of offers taking it to its sale price. Loading Abercrombys Real Estate agent and auctioneer Simon Curtain said houses like Lexton rarely came up for sale in the tightly held neighbourhood. It was a really lovely auction, and it was nice to see it sell because it is a pretty unique home, Curtain said. A crowd of around 150 watched on, with the rain stopping as the sun came out during the auction.

After two weeks straight of rain it really was like a sign from above, Curtain said. Nearby in Carlton, a cute-as-a-button one bedroom Victorian home at 23 Palmerston Place, with a price guide of $780,000 to $820,000 passed in on a vendor bid of $770,000. Three buyers were interested in the property, but failed to make a bid at the auction. They were negotiating with agents after the property passed in. Nelson Alexander Carlton North partner Tom Roberts said he expected the tiny cottage, which had been owned by the same family for more than 40 years, to sell quickly.

The market is very price sensitive and a lot of people are still thinking theyll have to spend in excess of quoted prices to buy, Roberts said. But the learnings are that buyers should know agents are getting it pretty right now with prices and if they dont make a bid, then they could miss out. In South Melbourne, a historic home built before the first Melbourne Cup was run, passed in on a bid of $3.01 million, before selling in post auction negotiations for $3.15 million. The four-bedroom bluestone home at 9-11 Clarendon Place had an indicative selling price between $2.8 million and $3 million and was snapped up by a downsizer. Jellis Craig Port Phillip director Simon Gowling said the home was one of the first built in Melbourne in 1856  five years before the first Melbourne Cup  and is one of only a few that still exists across the city.

It is a beautiful property, Gowling said. A lot of people were out and about, some of them in their racing attire and heading to the track, he said. Meanwhile, in Balwyn, bordering with Deepdene, a three-bedroom townhouse sold under the hammer for $1,545,000 above the $1.28 million to $1.4 million price range. The property at 2/5 Leonard Street had two bidders  both young families  competing and one becoming the new owners after making the winning offer. Bidding opened at the bottom end of the price range and was called on the market at $1.48 million, with extra bids seeing it sell for $65,000 more.
Send your letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
A Lower Allen Township man was sentenced Tuesday to three to six years in prison for a November assault, the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office said.

David Peffley Jr., 38, plead guilty to one count of aggravated assault Aug. 24.

The District Attorneys Office said Peffley punched the victim in the face and slammed her head into a wall multiple times, causing her to lose consciousness. The victim suffered an orbital fracture and permanent eye damage.

I was terrified, the victim said after the sentencing. I still am. I have no means to support myself and my children, but I was terrified Id end up dead if he came back. ... I cant give up. I just cant. I want to. Trust me I cry every single day. I am scared and heartbroken for my kids. My sons cant grow up watching me be hit. My daughter cant watch me walk around with a black eye and me act like its OK.

The Sentinel does not disclose the identify of victims of domestic violence or sex crimes unless they choose to make that known.

This victims experience, fears and pain is not unique, District Attorney Sean M. McCormack said. Every day someone else, even here in Cumberland County, is being physically abused by an abusive spouse, partner or significant other. It takes incredible strength for a victim, like the woman in this case, to stand up to stop this cycle of abuse. I want victims of domestic abuse to know that they are not alone. The District Attorneys Office, along with other local agencies, are here, ready and eager to help victims escape their abuse.

Peffley was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Jessica Brewbaker.
The Kankakee School Board voted Monday unanimously to terminate first-year math teacher John Donovan after several students recorded him calling a Black student the n-word, sparking outrage from students and families in the Illinois school district.

Videos of the incident, secretly recorded October 20 by multiple students in the classroom, show Donovan engaged in an argument with a 15-year-old student, in front of the class and a second video of the recent incident between the two posted online shows the teen questioning the teacher for allegedly throwing a book at him in September.

Kankakee School District Superintendent Dr. Genevra Walters tells CNN that neither the schools principal, its human resources department nor herself knew about the book-throwing incident prior to the most recent confrontation between the student and teacher. She also said the district does not have any information that the book made contact with the student.

The teens mother, Geraldine Nelson, says the schools assistant principal left her a voicemail after the September incident saying the teacher would be apologizing to her son for throwing the book at him. When asked by CNN, Walters says the assistant principal shared information from the report the teen made with administrators with his mother, but Walters says she is unaware if a voicemail was left.

In the video, the student can be seen starting to exit the classroom, but Donovan calls him a f**king n***er before the student leaves. Laughter is heard from the class, and Donovan shrugs and says, Im losing my job anyway.

Donovan reportedly kicked the student out last month for being on his cell phone during class. When the teen began to leave without picking up his books, Donovan threw a book at him and hit him on the leg, his familys attorney said at a school board meeting

Geraldine Nelson tells CNN shes disappointed she first found out about the teacher using the racial slur when her son called her instead of from school administrators.

Story continues

The teen tells CNN there were no prior incidents between him and the teacher and says he reported the book throwing incident multiple times to school administrators.

If a teacher is willing to  throw something at a student, who knows what theyre willing to do, Kevin OConnor, an attorney for the family, told CNN.

Geraldine Nelson says she's disappointed she first found out about the teacher using the racial slur when her son called her instead of from school administrators. - WBBM

Theres no excuse for saying that word, especially to a 15-year-old, the teens mother told CNN affiliate WBBM. OConnor tells CNN he is referring both incidents between the teen and teacher to local prosecutors for criminal investigation but is still gathering information about the encounters.

Walters formally recommended that the school board terminate Donovan on Monday due to the use of a racial slur towards an African American male student, board records show.

Regarding the earlier incident in September, the teens attorney says the book hit the teen in his leg. Walters says the district is now also investigating the book-throwing incident and why administrators were not made aware of the incident sooner.

Once school officials were made aware of the video of Donovan using a racial slur towards the teen, Donovan was escorted off school grounds and immediately placed on paid leave pending a full investigation, according to the initial statement from Walters.

The video sparked outrage amongst parents in the school district. They immediately called for the teacher to be fired before social media brought the post to a national audience. Walters tells CNN the district had to suspend Donovan first while they conducted their investigation and could not just fire him as some community members wanted.

We have to give the student and the teacher due process, and we have to follow the Illinois school code when were terminating a licensed teacher, Walters told CNN.

CNN has reached out to Donovan for comment.

I felt afraid, nervous, the 15-year-old teen told WBBM, adding that nobody of any race had ever called him that word.

Nelson says her son is still processing the incident but has returned to school. Despite her sons return to the school, Nelson says shes considering allowing her son to take online classes.

Kankakee High School has a Black enrollment of about 44%, according to U.S. News 2022 Best High School Rankings.

Superintendent Walters also said that mental health issues and faculty shortages have plagued public education, and though this is disheartening for everyone involved, the root of the problem must be addressed in a systemic way.

She says its important for students to see teachers that look like them and share similar life experiences in order to avoid incidents like this in the future.

Following the publics initial outrage, the school district posted a statement on Facebook responding to the inaccurate information and critiques of the administrations handling of the incident. Walters says she understands the outrage, but the public should know that Donovan was only paid for two days before the school board acted on the termination recommendation.

Walters said that before this incident, there were other things going on with a lot of other different people due to the mental health struggles that both students and faculty experienced coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. But this, according to Walters, was just the most egregious example of what weve been going through for some time.

In a written statement to CNN, Kankakee School Board President Barbara Wells said, The entire board was horrified, especially our members of African American descent  He disgraced himself and he disgraced everything that teaching represents.

Wells added the board would soon begin holding community forums to promote healing and reconciliation in the community.

Superintendent Walters visited students at the school following the uproar about the incident. Walters says she wanted to personally make sure the students were okay emotionally after the incident. She said the diverse group of students she spoke with were all surprised that the racial slur was used and would not have expected to hear a teacher refer to a student in that way.

Walters says that the laughter heard by students in the video was a result of students saying they were nervous and shocked. They just couldnt believe it, Walters said.

After the board officially terminated Donovan, the familys attorney told WBBM that this was only the first step and that the school district should have done more to protect Nelson after the initial incident in September.

I want everybody who knew about that incident  whether its the assistant principal, the principal, or some of these board members  I want them called to the table to find out what they knew; why they didnt call the police when he was battered by this teacher by throwing a book at him; why they didnt call DCFS [Department of Children and Family Services], said attorney OConnor.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
An area man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of his girlfriend in St. Francois County.

Christopher Lewis Gates, 44, of rural Farmington, was found guilty of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and resisting arrest for a felony following a one-day bench trial earlier this year.

On June 15, 2019, 48-year-old Heather Huffman of Donovan was found deceased and covered in blood on a bedroom floor inside Gates' St. Francois County home. Police found Gates lying next to Huffman with blood-covered blunt objects nearby. Gates was apprehended by police after a taser deployment and an extended struggle on the bedroom floor. The man was charged with the murder two days later.

Rather than being tried by a jury, Gates requested a bench trial which was held on Aug. 28. In a bench trial, the judge hears the evidence and renders a verdict, unlike a jury trial in which a group of 12 selected jurors hears the case.

During the one-day trial presided over by Circuit Judge Wendy Wexler Horn, the court heard four witness testimonies and reviewed multiple evidentiary exhibits, including an audio recording of the murder found on Huffman's phone.

St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Gilliam tried the case on behalf of the state. Missouri State Public Defender Geralyn Ruess represented Gates during the trial and at Friday's sentencing hearing. Gates, who had been in custody since the trial, appeared in court wearing his jail-issued orange jumpsuit, handcuffs, and leg irons.

On Friday, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Gates to the maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The defense requested that the sentences on each count run concurrently.

Before the sentences were handed down, the court heard victim impact statements from two members of Huffman's family.

Huffman's son, Steven, explained that he had lost his father to cancer in 2015 and then had to suffer the loss of his mother just a few years later, with both parents passing before he turned 30 years old.

Steven, now a parent himself, noted that his children would grow up without a grandmother. The man mentioned some of the family moments his mother had missed and the future milestones he would have shared with her.

"Her smile was contagious," he said. "Her smile would light up a whole room."

Steven asked the judge to sentence his mother's killer to the maximum sentence possible.

"Judge, what I've suffered, I wouldn't wish on anyone," he said.

Steven's wife, Jessica, said she and Huffman worked together as nurses and shared a close friendship. She spoke of Huffman's kind heart and the pain that exists in her absence.

"Heather was born caring for people," said Jessica. "When she was caring for a patient, she always went the extra mile.

"Heather opened her arms and her home to me like I was her own," she explained. "She loved the people she was surrounded with."

Jessica said that by taking Huffman's life, Gates had forever impacted the rest of the woman's family. She said that since the trial, she has suffered from night terrors and has to take medication.

"I think about if she would not have met him, how different our lives would be," she said. "The inhumane death that she experienced will forever haunt us."

Following the family's comments, Gates indicated that he wished to make a statement.

Judge Horn asked if Gates' statement would be directed to the family. She said that while Gates had a right to say something during the hearing, the victim's family had a right not to listen. The judge said she wanted to know if Huffman's family wished to hear the man's remarks or if they would rather leave the courtroom while he spoke.

Given a choice, five of Huffman's family members left the room. However, they were brought back just moments later after Gates decided not to make a statement.

Judge Horn then addressed Gates, recalling the audio recording of the murder played during the trial.

"This case represents the most brutal act of violence that I have ever seen," she said before sentencing Gates to the maximum of life without parole on the count of first-degree murder. The judge handed down a 30-year sentence on the count of armed criminal action and four years in prison for resisting an arrest for a felony. All sentences were ordered to run consecutive to each other.

After the hearing, St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Gilliam said she hoped the outcome would give Huffman's family some closure.

"While the family of Heather Huffman will continue to experience the immense loss of her presence in their lives, I sincerely hope that the sentence of life in prison without parole provides her family with the resolution and justice they needed," said Gilliam. "Heather was her own best witness when she decided to record the circumstances the evening of her tragic death."

The Bench Trial/Audio Recording of the Death

(Editor's Note: This section of the story contains graphic content.)

The bench trial began the morning of Aug. 28. Family members of Huffman and Gates attended the proceedings. Gates appeared before the court in custody as he had been held at the St. Francois County Detention Center with a $500,000 cash-only bond since his initial arrest in 2019.

The court reviewed the evidence, including blood-covered objects found at the scene, broken pieces of a boat oar, a surge protector, shards of clay, and a metal lamp and lamp stands. Perhaps the most impactful exhibit was a recording found on Huffman's iPhone containing audio of the murder.

Huffman had reportedly begun recording audio at some point using her iPhone the day of her death. The entire recording was about 10 hours long, and a portion of the audio file was played in court.

The prosecution queued up the recording to around the eight-hour mark when the confrontation leading to Huffman's murder began.

The audio was graphic, and the judge cautioned those in the court gallery before it was played.

The sound clip began with Gates talking about their dogs, one of which was named "Lucy." Much of Gates' side of the conversation was difficult to decipher; however, Huffman's voice was clear.

"Give me that food back," Huffman could be heard saying. "The food you just took out of my hand."

Gates said something about the dogs before stating, "I'll hit you with this book like I said I would." Huffman told Gates that if he hit her with the book, she would call the police.

Gates replied, but it wasn't clear exactly what he said. Huffman said, "if you ever lock me out of that house  or in the basement again..."

Gates then mentioned his Suboxone under the kitchen table. The situation became more heated when Huffman stated, "if you ever hit me again" Gates yelled, "on your hand? This hand?"

The couple argued more about the dogs before Huffman said, "stop it, Christopher. You just fell on top of Lucy. You're choking Lucy. Give it back; it's mine"

A short moment later, Gates told Huffman he was getting help, and she asked what kind of help. About a minute later, Gates said, "don't talk to me about help."

After a few more comments back and forth, Huffman, while crying, yelled, "stop! You hurt me! You scared me. Christopher, you'll break my neck! Don't hold my neck like this! I'm begging you!"

A loud noise was then audible, followed by yelling and crying from Huffman. The woman screamed for Gates to let her go. She cried out for help repeatedly as her screams intensified.

Loud striking noises continued for several minutes as Huffman pleaded for her life. She cried, asking what she could do to help Gates. Eventually, Huffman could no longer be heard making any noise as the violent thrashing noises carried on. Gates was still audible, stating, "that's your blood  Yep, you're dead."

Many people in the courtroom appeared disturbed by the sounds, including the judge, who placed her hands over her mouth.

The voice of Gates' mother, Phyllis, was captured on the recording after the attack. She was frantic, asking Gates what had happened. It was clear to Phyllis that Huffman was dead as she questioned her son about why he had attacked her.

"She's dead," yelled Phyllis. "What have you done? You're covered in blood! You're going for murder!"

Gates' mother continued questioning him, asking, "Baby, what's wrong with you? What are you on?"

He said, "I'm on 'I don't want to go to jail!'" He later asked his mother who called the cops; she said no police had been there.

"She didn't call the cops," Phyllis said, referring to Huffman. "She didn't do nothing to you. She loved you!"

The police did arrive sometime later, and the recording ended with the sounds of officers trying to detain Gates as he resisted the arrest.

Cause of Death

Huffman's death was ruled a homicide resulting from a cumulation of closed head injuries or complications of closed head injuries. Dr. Russell Deidiker, the pathologist who performed Huffman's autopsy, was the last witness for the state to take the stand at the trial.

Deidiker explained that Huffman sustained multiple lacerations and abrasions to her face from blunt and sharp force. He said she had a subdural brain hemorrhage, a fractured nose, a fractured ninth rib on her right side, broken teeth in her upper left jaw, and abrasions and contusions on her arms and legs.

The prosecution rested after hearing from Deidiker. The defense also rested without presenting any evidence. Gates' attorney filed motions to suppress statements, arguing that the statements made during the interview with a detective at the hospital should not be admitted as evidence because Gates had injuries to his head and had been transported to Barnes-Jewish Hospital because of his altered mental status.

The prosecution noted that Gates was interviewed the day following the injuries and said there was no evidence that he did not understand his rights. The judge denied the motion, explaining that she had reviewed Gates' medical records from the hospital stay, which showed that he could answer questions correctly.

The defense also made a motion to suppress the audio recording of the murder. The defense disputed the applicability of the "Silent Witness Theory," which allows video, photo, or audio files to speak for themselves as evidence without a witness testifying to its authenticity, provided there is sufficient foundation for the evidence to be admitted. Gates' attorney stated that while the Silent Witness Theory applied in this case, the foundation for its admission as evidence was insufficient. The judge denied the motion.

During closing arguments, the prosecution detailed how the state had met the burden of proving the elements of each of the three counts. The elements for first-degree murder included Gates' intent to kill Huffman, which the prosecution said was established by his statements recorded during the murder.

In Ruess' closing arguments, the defense attorney said she believed that second-degree murder was appropriate in this case. She said Gates indicated that he didn't know Huffman was dead, at first, during his interview with the detective. She also mentioned that Gates' mother had to keep telling him Huffman was dead.

The prosecution rebutted, noting that Huffman's last words were, "what can I do to help you?" However, Gates continued his attack until she was lifeless.

The man showed no emotion as the three guilty verdicts were read.
Left behind by his family who moved away, a loyal dog stood guard outside their home for a month, expecting their return, but they never came back. However, his presence didnt go unnoticed, as a kind local woman made it her mission to help him.

Denise Guevara, vice president of Everglades Angels Dog Rescue (EADR) in Florida, told The Epoch Times that on July 15, a friend and fellow rescuer Gloria Cabal spotted Salvatore alone in the yard of a homestead property, with no food or water.

Salvatore waits outside his former familys house, hoping they will return. (Courtesy of Everglades Angels Dog Rescue)

She discovered the family moved out and left Salvatore in the yard. Why, you ask? We will never know! We ask every day how people can abandon their animals, Guevara said. Gloria posted and tagged for a rescue to take him in once she was able to get him. EADR committed to taking him.

Little did they know that it would take them a month to welcome him.

Gloria visited Salvatore every chance she had, leaving him food and water, but was unable to touch him for a while, as Salvatore would not touch the food while Gloria was near it. She could not leash him nor trap him. He would do a low growl, but nothing aggressive, Guevara said.

In a Facebook post, the charity shared that neighbors knew Salvatore as a good family pet, especially with his former owners two children. He is a 5- to 6-year-old black mouth cur cross weighing 66 pounds (approx. 30 kg), and a handsome dog, aside from the sadness in his eyes.

Each day Gloria did her best to win over Salvatore. She eventually got a tail wag and was able to feed the wary dog with her hand. When realtors visited the property on July 31, they shooed Salvatore away from the yard into the park across the street, which then became his home. Gloria never once gave up on catching him and in August her efforts paid off.

Guevara told The Epoch Times: A storm was due to arrive and Gloria got permission to access the front door of the home. Salvatore walked into his former home, and at that point, almost an entire month later, she was able to put him in a crate and bring him to our vet. On Aug. 19, Salvatore was under our care.

The nervous pup warmed up to his rescuers quickly. Staffers at Seiler Animal Hospital in Fort Lauderdale gave him a few days to decompress before a full health check. The neglected dog needed vaccinations, some broken teeth removed, neutering, and a microchip, which he had never had.

After transferring to the EADR shelter, he quickly became a volunteer favorite. Then, a friendly family reached out.

We were contacted by a family member whose family, many years ago, had adopted one of our rescued American Bulldogs, Guevara said. Sadly, he passed away last year from cancer, and the son was looking for a new member to join the family. It was a match made in Heaven.

Salvatore joined his forever family on Oct. 16. EADR shared the happy news on Facebook, posting a photo of a smiling Salvatore and his new owner, Chris.

EADR was founded on Valentines Day of 2014 and has been a 100 percent volunteer-based 501C3 charity ever since. They focus on abandoned dogs; do not discriminate on breed or size; and every dog rescued from the Florida Everglades area receives medical care, microchipping, vaccinations, neutering, and blood work.

EADR even has a thrift store, Treasures4Tails, manned by volunteers to help raise funds for medical bills.

The charity provides socializing and behavioral training before each rehabilitated animal is placed in a fitting forever home. We do an interview with the family once an application is received, home and background checks, as well as meetings with other family pets to make sure they are compatible, Guevara said. We feel that the adoption of a healthy, well-adjusted dog is vital to our mission to help prevent the cycle of future abandonment.

EADR has saved almost 800 dogs to date, and gave Salvatore his wholly happy ending.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
Republican gubernatorial candidate for Arizona Kari Lake (L) speaks as former President Donald Trump looks on at a rally at the Canyon Moon Ranch festival grounds in Florence, Ariz., on Jan. 15, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Arizona GOP Governor Frontrunner Kari Lake Accuses Legacy Media of Spreading Fake News of Burglary

Arizona Republican governor frontrunner Kari Lake lashed out at the legacy media for spreading fake news about her alleged involvement in a burglary of Democratic rival Katie Hobbs campaign headquarters on Oct. 25, without providing evidence.

In a 30-minute press conference the day after the break-in, Lake claimed that the only reason Hobbs accused her was that she was losing in the polls.

Guys, were going to do a tutorial on how fake bogus, defamatory news is made, Lake told a gauntlet of legacy media outlets in Phoenix.

We know the world is watching us.

Lake said while meeting with police officers and firefighters, my desperate opponent, who is sinking like a lead weight in water, pulled a stunt, and you guys fell for it. She put out a defamatory statement, and you all ran with it.

You didnt do your journalistic duty. It was malpractice in journalism like Ive never seen before. And it was an effort, I believe, to influence this election.

Burglary Claims

On Oct. 26, the Arizona Democratic Party, without any supporting evidence, said the burglary was a direct result of Lake and Republicans spreading lies and hate.

Make no mistakethis is a direct result of Kari Lake, and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violenceand it is despicable, the Democratic Party affiliate said in a statement on Twitter.

In a statement, Hobbs campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, echoed those remarks without evidence of Lakes alleged involvement in the burglary.

Lets be clear: for nearly two decades, Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit, DeMont said.

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.

Arizona Secretary of State and candidate for governor Katie Hobbs speaks to reporters in Tolleson, Ariz., on Aug. 2, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Arrest Made

Police have arrested a man in connection with the break-in but would not release his identity. Nor would they say whether the crime was politically motivated.

Lake, who leads Hobbs in a Fox10 news poll 54-43 percent, accused many in the legacy media of being an arm of the Democrat Party.

Many of you are propagandists. And you all should be ashamed.

She [Hobbs] knew darned well I had nothing to do with it. So she puts out a statement, and right away, your gatekeepers here at the Democrat Party jump on it. And they put out a statement, which was the cue to you to start running with it.

Lake said the media did not exercise due diligence in trying to corroborate Hobbs statement using credible sources before publishing the story.

You gotta do better, guys. Were 13 days out from this election, and youre trying to influence the election.

Lake said the same media outlets refused to cover Hunter Bidens criminal laptop before the 2020 presidential election, and this time, its the other way around.

You dont care about the facts. You know the facts will come out later, and youll cover those once or twiceno big deal. But youll spread the lie around the globeover and overand that is how fake news spreads, Lake said.

Youre in a frenzied panic because your chosen candidate is not winning. Shame on every one of you.

Lake said her campaign is considering possible legal action.

In the meantime, Arizona state Rep. Jake Hoffman (R) announced he would introduce a bill to hold news outlets accountable for disseminating information to interfere with an election.
Fredericktown resident Gary Tune recalled his experience of serving in the military more than a half century ago.

Tune was drafted into the U.S. Army and began his service in September 1965. He completed basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

He served two years in the military as a chaplains clerk. This included being stationed for six months at Fort Campbell and 13 months in Korea.

Tune recalled a time during his service in Korea when an important discovery was made. He explained how there were two valleys leading down from North Korea to Seoul, the only potential for an invasion.

One Saturday, Tune and other soldiers roamed throughout the hills and valley.

Along each side, we found concrete bunkers and trenches hidden in the brush, he said. In case of an invasion, this was the first line of defense to protect Seoul. Although Vietnam was at war, Korea was not but we understood the impact.

He recalled another story of when a tank had attempted to cross a creek, which was typically an easy task. But it was springtime and monsoon season. Things had begun to thaw and the creek was somewhat flooded, which caused the tank to get stuck and flood.

They sent for a tank retriever and it got stuck and flooded, said Tune. It was quite a project and lots of chain and two more retrievers to rescue the two machines, which took all day.

"It wasnt my assignment, so I had to go to my duty station and did not watch all of the rescue.

Tune served in the military for two years. He said the food was fantastic, especially the steak at Fort Campbell. However, the worst food was the chipped beef on toast, nicknamed SOS.

He earned the Good Conduct Medal and completed his service with the rank of SPC 5, E-5.

Tune returned home in July 1967. He soon met his wife Sue Smith who was waiting tables at a truck stop cafe in Odessa, Texas, where Sue was born and raised. Tune was born about 40 miles from there in Monahans, Texas.

At the time when he met Sue, Tune worked as a truck driver for an oilfield service.

The couple had their first date on Oct. 1, 1967, and married soon after.

During our early conversations, we learned that both of our sets of parents, as well as our maternal and paternal grandparents were from Coleman, Texas, said Sue.

A further coincidence was that 30 years later when their daughter Heather met her future husband Tom in Fredericktown, she learned he also had relatives in Coleman, Texas.

Tunes brother Bill also served in the U.S. Army, from 1957 to 1959. His service in the military included deployment to Germany.
China's President Xi Jinping (L) waves with Li Qiang, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's new Politburo Standing Committee, the nation's top decision-making body, as they meet the media in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 23, 2022. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) (Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)

As Xi Secures Third Term, CCP Will Continue to Subvert International Rules at Wests Expense: Experts

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping said during the recently-concluded 20th Party Congress that China would open up economically to the world. But experts warned that this would mean obliterating international rules in the regimes favor at the expense of the free world.

Well be steadfast in deepening reform and opening up across the board, said Xi during his meeting with the press at Beijings Great Hall of the People on Oct. 23, according to Xinhua, the regimes official news agency. The day, Xi secured an unprecedented third term as leader of the CCP.

But Grant Newsham, a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy, warned that such remarks are a smokescreen.

I dont think it means what Westerners think it means, Newsham told The Epoch Times in an email.

There was nothing compromising in the speeches, said Newsham, adding that he has been following the Chinese regime for almost 40 years and economic opening up has been a consistent CCP talking point the entire time.

The CCP regime wants to welcome Western businesses and financial companies to China so that they can provide funding, investment, and technology to strengthen the countrys economy and its military, the Peoples Liberation Army, according to him.

When that objective is achieved to the CCPs satisfaction, the foreigners will be ordered to leave China, said Newsham.

Disastrous Economic Policies

Frank Lehberger, a Europe-based sinologist and an expert on CCP policies, drew attention to Xis emphasis on promoting institutional opening up.

We will steadily expand institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management, and standards, Xi said during the opening of the Party Congress on Oct. 16.

Yet such language again is code for the Chinese regime wanting to reshape the global economic landscape in its image.

China wants to subvert accepted international trade and commerce rules, and replace them with new arbitrary and dictatorial socialist one that ALWAYS favor China and no other trading partner, Lehberger told The Epoch Times in an email.

He cited the regimes trillion-dollar global infrastructure investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative, as an example. The initiative has drawn mounting criticism from Western officials who describe it as a form of debt-trap diplomacy that opens the door to Beijing getting its hands on critical infrastructure in developing countries.

Lehberger described the Chinese regimes trade practices as predatory that violate World Trade Organization rules, and noted that Xis handling of the pandemic through the draconian zero-COVID has crippled the countrys economy.

Meanwhile, the regime has also faced considerable international backlash over a range of issues from human rights abuses to technology theft, and have countered Beijings aggressions with biting sanctions and trade embargoes.

As a result, China is also losing its status as the workshop of the world, he said, and this year the Chinese economy has declined further with dismal gross domestic product figures.

Despite such woes, Xi will not put an end to his destructive policies, according to Lehberger.

As the communist regimes supreme leader, Xi can never be wrong, whatever he says or does, so his policieshowever erroneousmust be kept in place forever no matter the economic cost, said Lehberger.

He even a few years ago doubled down and started his own decoupling from the West, he added, referring to Xis promotion of internal circulation, a self-reliance program that seeks to shift the country away from its export-driven economy towards internal demand and consumption.

Foreign Reliance

The West, however, remains the vital provider for Chinas economy despite the regimes attempts to subvert the international rules-based order. This means that Beijing will continue to lean on other nations for financial support.

Attorney Jonathan Bench, a regular contributor to China Law Blog and the chair of Harris Brickens corporate practice group, told the Epoch Times that by talking about China opening wider to the world, Xi is signaling that PRC cant exist without engaging with the rest of the world despite it trying to boost its domestic consumption.

Looking at the U.S. and its allies, that means dealing with head-to-head competition and making limited concessions, as China did in finally acquiescing to the PCAOB (the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) inspectors auditing the books of public Chinese companies listed on U.S. exchanges, said Bench, referring to the United States insistence on getting U.S.-listed Chinese companies to comply with American auditing requirements, which the firms were previously excused from.

The Chinese regime will continue to negotiate and intimidate while it deals with its allied countries or those saddled between the United States and Chinadoing this will ensure its domestic security, which largely means energy security at this point in time, according to Bench.

Lehberger said Xi needs the West for more foreign capital that can ensure support for the countrys faltering economy.

However Xis socialist planned economy model is a huge step backwards, he said, and therefore will be a failure because it will not be accepted or recognized by the international community, especially developed nations. Except maybe autocracies such as Putins Russia, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, or quasi-failed Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar and some countries in Africa, he said.

Lehberger also doubted Xis economic expertise, adding that his choice for the next premier next is equally clueless.

Chinese leaders, like outgoing Premier Li Keqiang and outgoing Vice Premier Liu He, who had expertise in the economy and in international trade are now all retired and removed from power, according to him.

So economic catastrophe in China replete with all social ills is practically preprogrammed for the immediate future, Lehberger said.
Women walk through al-Hol displacement camp in Hasaka governorate, Syria on April 1, 2019. (Ali Hashisho/Reuters)

Australian Women and Children Heading Home From Syria

Australian women and children held in Syria since the fall of the Islamic State have begun the journey home.

Held in detention since 2019, four women and 13 children were taken from the al-Roj camp to Erbil in Iraq to begin their trip to Sydney.

Earlier this month, the Albanese government confirmed a rescue plan to bring home 16 women and 42 children who are families of IS members.

The first people removed were assessed as the most vulnerable of those held.

The federal government worked with Kurdish authorities on the extraction, which reportedly included DNA testing the individuals to prove they were Australian citizens.

Most of the children were born in Syria, meaning theyll be heading to Australia for the first time.

Germany, France and Denmark have also brought their citizens home from Syria.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil refused to comment, citing sensitivity issues.

Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler said it was an important milestone in a long and heart-wrenching journey for the children and their families.

We look forward to welcoming them home, he said.

We highly commend the Australian government for following through on its promise to repatriate these innocent children and their mothers.

They have given these children hope for their futures and rightly backed the robustness of Australias national security, judicial and resettlement systems to support their safe integration into Australian society.

He said there were still more than 30 Australian children stuck in the camps in northeast Syria and urged the government to repatriate them as quickly as possible.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton warned the extractions were not in the national interest, claiming the rescues could inflame the risk of terrorism in Australia.

Because we havent seen on our television screens an attack in Paris or London or Melbourne or Sydney for some time, we think the threat has passed  it hasnt passed, he told Sky News.

I received a briefing from the director-general of security only a couple of weeks ago  on my collective experience, and what I know, I dont think its in our countrys best interests.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the safety of Australians was always paramount.

Well continue to act on national security advice, which is what we have done up to this point and what the former government did as well, he told reporters on Friday.

We will always act in a way that keeps Australians safe.

Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo declined to comment on the repatriation or confirm it was occurring.

But a Senate estimates committee was told the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was looking at whether media reporting breached national security.

Given the seriousness of the potential harm to national security  we were involved in discussions about the referral, he said.

Operational secrecy is to be preserved at all times.

Pezzullo also confirmed there were still Australian women and children in Syrian camps.

Sydney man Kamalle Dabboussy, the father and grandfather of one of the Australian women and three children in the camp, has expressed hope the detainees will soon be returned safely.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks in Washington on May 11, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biden Administration Looking to Block Some Depositions, but Not Faucis

President Joe Bidens administration is seeking to block the depositions of several key officials in a case alleging collusion between Big Tech companies and the government to censor users, but Dr. Anthony Fauci is not one of them.

In a motion for a partial stay on Oct. 27, U.S. lawyers said that plaintiffs shouldnt be able to depose Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, a Biden appointee; Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly, a Biden appointee; and Rob Flaherty, a deputy assistant to the president.

The Courts Depositions Order would require the relevant high-ranking government officials to divert time from their professional duties to prepare for, and participate in, time-consuming depositions, the motion states.

The government plans to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to direct U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, the Trump appointee who ordered the depositions, to vacate the portion of the order that relates to Murthy, Easterly, and Flaherty.

While the appeals court resolves the request, Doughty should halt the depositions of the trio, according to the motion.

Absent a stay, high-ranking governmental officials would be diverted from their significant duties and burdened in both preparing and sitting for a deposition, all of which may ultimately prove to be unnecessary if the Court of Appeals grants their request, the government motion states.

The motion stems from a disagreement with Doughtys decision and concern that having the officials sit for depositions would distract them from their duties, including overseeing efforts related to the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

The government lawyers also asserted that relief is warranted because they are likely to succeed in their request.

They suggested the appeals court would receive the request on Oct. 28, but no such request had been filed as of Oct. 29.

Plaintiffs, including the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, oppose the request, the defendants said.

Defendants also plan to file a motion in federal court in Virginia to quash the deposition of Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary.

Doughty authorized eight depositions in his Oct. 21 order, including depositions of Fauciwho is Bidens top medical adviserPsaki, FBI special agent Elvis Chan, Murthy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official Carol Crawford, and State Department official Daniel Kimmage.

He also ordered the depositions of Flaherty or former White House COVID-19 adviser Andrew Slavitt and of Easterly or Lauren Protentis, another official in the cybersecurity agency.

Doughty rejected the governments arguments, including the assertion that plaintiffs did not meet the high bar necessary to depose high-ranking officials.

The evidence shows that Fauci and other top officials, the judge said, have personal knowledge about censorship across social media platforms, citing the emails and text messages that have been produced during discovery in the case.

The judge acknowledged that appearing for depositions is a burden.

But that burden is outweighed by a need to have more information when making rulings in the case, he said. In Faucis case, he said that he does not see any burden imposed on Dr. Fauci that outweighs the Courts need for the information in order to make the most informative decision on the pending Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by Plaintiffs.

If the motion is granted, defendants, including Biden himself, would be barred from pressuring social media platforms to censor or suppress the speech of users.
Bidens National Security Documents Risk US National Security

Commentary

The ability of the United States to extend deterrence to key allies like Australia and Japan, and to partners like Taiwan, depends upon two considerations. First, there are political considerations, which include the credibility of the United States to honor its commitments and willpower to incur the risks inherent in providing another state the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Second, it requires sufficient military capabilitiesthe conventional and nuclear forces the United States possessesto defeat the enemys military objectives or inflict unacceptable punishment upon the enemy.

The Biden administration publicly released three major policy documents: the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), and the Missile Defense Review (MDR).

The NDS purports to advance a strategy focused on China. According to the NDS, this requires dissuading China from considering aggression as a viable means to advancing goals that jeopardize U.S. interests. The document states that the United States will deter China by leveraging existing and emergent force capabilities, posture, and activities to enhance denial and by strengthening resilience, the ability to withstand, fight through, and recover quickly from disruption. The NDS and NPR tout the advantages that will come from the modernization of the nuclear triad and nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) systems.

At the same time, the administration has stated in the NPR that it will cancel the nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) and will retire the multi-megaton B-83-1 gravity bomb.

A Ground Launch Cruise Missile after it emerges from the Transporter-Erector Launcher during a test firing. The United States destroyed all of its ground-launched missiles and launchers to comply with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The United States exited the treaty on Aug. 2, 2019, and plans to develop and deploy the missiles to deter China. (Air Force/Public Domain)

Moreover, the U.S. Air Forces plan is to replace the F-15 fleet at Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa with a rotational force, which likely will include the deployment of F-22 from Alaska, after the F-15s depart. However, this raises concerns about gaps in force structure and precisely what forces and when those forces will be present on the island. This move should have only been executed if there had been no gap in capability and the F-15s were permanently replaced with the right number of aircraft with superior capability to the F-15. As it stands, this step diminishes the ability of the United States to offer a conventional deterrent to China in the Indo-Pacific.

The Biden administration is weakening the ability of the United States to extend conventional or nuclear deterrence credibly in the Indo-Pacific.

There are three major problems with the Biden administrations strategy documents. First, it assumes that modernization of the triad, which is occurring this decade, will be sufficient for meeting U.S. extended deterrent obligations. Only a small number of tactical nuclear weapons and no theater systems will be in the U.S. arsenal. In essence, and rejecting the force posture of the Cold War where considerable capabilities were devoted to tactical and theater nuclear weapons, there are no rungs on the escalation ladder for the United States. Thus, Washington will be compelled to move from conventional war to a strategic nuclear exchange. This gives every reason for China to expand its tactical and theater systems, as well as its conventional systems, to convey to the United States a willingness to escalate to tactical nuclear weapons if its conventional military is losing, as Vladimir Putin is signaling now with Russian threats to escalate by employing tactical nuclear weapons to terminate the warescalating to de-escalate as Russian doctrine identifies. China would also have options the U.S. does not to escalate to the theater level, thus keeping a nuclear conflict localized and leaving the decision to the United States to escalate to a limited or major exchange between the strategic arsenals of the two countries. Moreover, the United States faces Russia as well, so the U.S. strategic nuclear arsenal is already taxed.

President Joe Biden meets with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and Department of Defense leaders (not pictured) to discuss national security priorities in the State Dining Room of the White House on Oct. 26, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Second, collectively these documents assume that the U.S. has time, that the U.S. can wait while its strategic systems are modernized and the right conventional force posture provided for deterrencethe enemy will not act before then. In fact, the Chinese regime has stated, most recently at Octobers 20th Party Congress, that the United States is their foe, and they are determined to conquer Taiwan. They have reason to act before the triad is modernized and the U.S. and Taiwan can deploy the right force structure for their respective forces. So, if the U.S. enemy were to act on its timeframe, believing that it is better to act now, immediately or in the near term, rather than later to bring about the changes it seeks in global politics, then the United States faces a new window of vulnerability. The Chinese regime has the incentive to employ coercive measures against Japan, India, the Philippines, or Taiwan now when the U.S. is still on the back foot, rather than many years into the future.

Third, the troika of documents was a rare and wasted opportunity to convey to the world that the United States will meet its extended deterrence requirements by explaining what steps the administration was taking to meet the grave threat. Each could have explained the threat from the Chinese regime and what the U.S. defense strategy was to match the threat and defeat it, with additional details provided on nuclear issues in the NPR and on ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile defenses in MDR. Each could have employed the lessons of the Cold War when the U.S. extended deterrent worked in difficult circumstances. Instead, the administration has produced reports that signal U.S. weakness, uncertainty, and an absence of strategic focus on the threat. While the threat from China is growing, the Biden administration is weakening U.S. military capabilities. Xi has been emboldened due to his triumph at the 20th Party Congress, he has stated his intent to replace the United States and conquer Taiwan, and his perception of U.S. weakness may invite his aggression and cause the failure of the U.S. extended deterrent.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Tropical Cyclone Yasi, pictured on the far upper right portion of the map, is heading toward northern Queensland. It was upgraded to a category 5 on Tuesday. (Australia Bureau of Meteorology)

Bureau of Meteorology Boss Apologises

Bureau of Meteorology boss Andrew Johnson has apologised for the confusion caused by the agencys request to be referred to as the bureau.

In mid-October, the national weather forecaster asked media outlets to ditch its longstanding nickname the BOM in favour of its full name the Bureau of Meteorology or the bureau.

The statement, which came with a visual rebrand and new Twitter handles, was met with derision and a slew of sardonic tweets.

In response, Johnson publicly apologised at Fridays Senate estimates hearing.

Like any large organisation, there are times where we dont get it right, he said.

Recent public commentary about the name of our organisation is no reflection whatsoever on our capability and devotion to keeping Australians informed.

I sincerely apologise if this commentary has caused confusion or uncertainty in the community. That was certainly not our intention.

Mr Johnson said the forecasters myriad names were confusing to older and linguistically diverse Australians and stressed the bureaus announcement was not a rebrand nor a name change but an attempt to provide a clear and consistent presence.

We have simply asked media outlets to refer to us by that name because we think that will increase the effectiveness of our readings and forecasts, particularly for at-risk communities.

The CEO also used the opportunity to address claims about workplace chaos at the bureau that emerged after the branding debacle.

A Saturday Paper report alleged the bureau had banned mentions of climate change in connection with severe weather events and blocked individual meteorologists from making public statements about global warming, but Johnson said the forecasters stance was clear.

For many years, we have provided evidence, including to this committee, that climate change is real, and it is very likely that human activities have caused most of the global warming we have seen since 1950, he said.

Ive always felt that our views are always open.

He made a clear distinction between the bureaus job as a weather forecaster and CSIROs role as a climate research body.

We largely focus on phenomena that go from days through to months, and our colleagues at the CSIRO focus on things that go from months through to years.

However, Johnson did not engage with claims about his agencys high turnover and toxic workplace culture.

We take all workplace issues seriously, and we are committed to providing a healthy, safe and productive workplace.
California Sues SoCal Edison, T-Mobile for Allegedly Sparking Silverado Fire

The state forestry department has filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison and T-Mobile for allegedly causing the Silverado fire that swept through Silverado and Santiago canyons in Orange County two years ago, scorching about 12,470 acres and damaging 16 structures.

In the lawsuit filed Oct. 20, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, claims the blaze started during a Santa Ana Winds event Oct. 26, 2020, alleging a 12,000-volt electric conductor came too close to a T-Mobile communications line.

A wildfire burns in Silverado Canyon, Calif., on Dec. 3, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The close contact caused electricity to arc between the lines, igniting the wildfire, according to the lawsuit. An eyewitness watched the fire start and rapidly spread.

Cal Fire claims the companies failed to properly design, construct, install, operate, control, inspect, and maintain the electrical and communications equipment, resulting in multiple arching and sparks that melted portions of power lines and telecommunications equipment.

Two Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighters, Dylan Van Iwaarden and Phi Le, suffered critical burn injuries during the fire. The two firefighters were hospitalized in critical condition after they became trapped while setting backfires to slow the wildfire, according to investigators.

Orange County Fire Authority Firefighter Dylan Van Iwaarden was released from Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Feb. 17, 2021 after receiving treatments from injuries sustained during last Octobers Silverado Fire. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

The injured firefighters sustained second- and third-degree burns on Oct. 26, 2020, one over 65 percent of his body and the other over half his body, according to OCFA. Van Iwaarden was released after four months in the hospital and Le was released after about a month, according to local news reports.

With the lawsuit, Cal Fire is attempting to recover firefighting and investigation costs for its agency and OCFA, which is authorized under state law. The agency is also asking for reimbursement of legal fees.

Cal Fire was unable to disclose how much money they are seeking to recoup because they do not comment on pending litigation, agency spokesman Capt. Robert Foxworthy told The Epoch Times.

Southern California Edison spokesman David Eisenhauer told The Epoch Times the company is fully cooperating with fire officials.

A firefighter extinguishes the flames of a wildfire near Yorba Linda, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Our thoughts remain with those who were affected by the fire, including the two firefighters who were seriously injured, Eisenhauer told The Epoch times. We have cooperated fully with fire officials throughout their review. SCE has not yet been served with the complaint but will respond as part of the ongoing proceedings.

T-Mobile did not respond to a request for comment.
Canadas Top Court Has Struck Down Parts of Sex Offender Registry

Canadas top court has struck down parts of the national sex offender registry.

In a ruling Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada said mandatory registration of all sex offenders with more than one conviction goes too far and that keeping offenders on the registry for the rest of their lives violates the Constitution.

While mandatory registration has the attraction of simplicity and ease, the convenience of requiring every sex offender to register does not make it constitutional, wrote the court in a majority decision.

The ruling concerns the conviction of Eugene Ndhlovu, who pleaded guilty in 2015 to the sex assaults of two women in 2011.

Under 2011 amendments made to the sex offender registry, Ndhlovus name would have been permanently added to the list with no discretion for either the judge or the Crown.

But the trial judge found the Crown had introduced almost no evidence to show that the mandatory listing helped police sexual assault investigations. Justice Andrea Moen found the benefits to society of mandatory lifetime listing didnt justify the impacts on Ndhlovu, whom Crown experts considered a minimal risk to reoffend.

Moens ruling was overturned by the Alberta Court of Appeal, but upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Friday ruling said the registry is not intended to punish offenders but to aid law enforcement. It said there are currently 27 offences ranging widely in severity that require offenders to be listed.

(The registry) is nearly 20 years old, the court wrote. Despite its long existence, there is little or no concrete evidence of the extent to which it assists police in the prevention and investigation of sex offences.

Meanwhile, it found the impact of being placed on the registry to be severe.

Offenders must report to police if they change their address, travel or obtain a drivers licence or a passport. They may be contacted by police at any time. Theres the stigma it brings, as well as some evidence that simply being listed increases the chance of reoffending.

The impact of a (registry) order on an offenders liberty can only fairly be described as serious, the court wrote.

Three justices dissented from the majority on the constitutionality of mandatory listing, although they agreed that lifetime listing could not be justified.

The dissenters wrote that before listing was made mandatory, too many judges were refusing to require offenders to be placed on it, reducing its effectiveness.
Cell Phone Bans in Public Schools Are Trending Nationwide

Seven years ago, the former New York City Schools Chancellor said the citys decision to lift a ban on cell phones in schools was common sense.

Last week, the Philadelphia Board of Education approved a contract of up to $5 million with a company that makes locking phone pouches that allow educators to make classrooms phone-free.

The two decisions and the years between highlight the ongoing debate about the proper place for phones in school in the digital era.

Schools across the country continue to struggle with the devices more than 15 years after the release of the first iPhone. Concerns about distractions in class, fights in hallways and other behavior issues have prompted bans in some schools along with statewide legislation to address the issues.

Hopewell City Public Schools, which serve about 4,000 students in Virginia, started using locking phone pouches this fall after years of trying to curtail phone use.

While we have attempted to accommodate student phones over the years and limit their use, we are finding that they are causing much more harm than help during the school day, district officials wrote in a letter to parents.

The Philadelphia Board of Education, which serves more than 200,000 students, voted on Oct. 20 to approve a contract of up to $5 million with the company Yondr to implement its ban on cell phones. Yondr makes a phone pouch that locks when closed. The pouches can be unlocked at the end of the school day.

With a cell phone free environment, schools can increase engagement in the classroom, Philadelphia district officials wrote in school board documents. Furthermore, the absence of cell phones during the day can help lead to less incidents of cyber bullying, reducing the number of students leaving the building, and returning illegally by texting their friends, and a reduction in class cuts.

Along with phone pouches, Yondr provides schools with support including planning and policy help and training for district employees. The San Francisco-based company has been working with school districts since 2014.

The pouch helps eliminate the power struggle if a student is caught on their phone, instead of it being a barrage of back and forth excuses, Julia Gustafson, the companys director of education partnerships, said in an email to The Center Square.

Officials with Hopewell City Public Schools said they see the pouch as a compromise.

Students continue to have their phones on them and be able to use them before and after school for emergencies or any other personal reasons as they have access, Byron Davis, a district spokesperson, said in an email to The Center Square. They maintain their property and are not restricted from possession during the day, but are limited in that they cannot access phones while instruction and testing are the focus.

Davis said enforcing a ban on phones can create additional distractions.

When you tell students to simply not have cellphones in class, that is something that still needs to be enforced, and without fair and consistent enforcement, a whole bunch of other problems can be created (e.g. distractions from learning, cheating on tests, coordination of violence, cyberbullying), he said. The practice Hopewell presently has effectively addresses the concerns while allowing for possession and before and after school use.

Davis also said the district has plans in place in case of an emergency.

Emergency protocols and communication methods already exist in the event there is a crisis on campus, however, on a case-by-case basis, school administration has the ability to unlock pouches and provide students access to their phones as appropriate, he said.

The Enlarged City School District of Middletown in New York sent a letter to families noting the districts new policy that cell phones must be turned off and put away during the school day. The districts policy means students will not have access to their cell phones at any point during the school day, including study hall and lunch periods, Superintendent of Schools Amy Creeden wrote in a letter to parents. Students can use their phones before and after school and parents who need to contact a student at school were asked to call the school office instead of their childs cell phone.

Most U.S. school districts have policies or practices to limit phone use during the school day, especially in class, but the policies can vary significantly by state, district and school. Nearly 77 percent of schools prohibited non-academic use of cell phones or smartphones during school hours as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

In California, lawmakers passed a law in 2019 that allows, but doesnt require, school boards to enact policies to limit student smartphone use while at school, according to the California School Boards Association.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants to get cell phones out of our classrooms. The Republican governor said he wants cell-phone free environmentsnot just turning phones off, but not carrying them.

In Michigan, a Republican lawmaker has filed a bill that would require school districts to adopt a policy that bans the use of cell phones by students during the school day starting in the 20222023 school year.

Before New York City lifted its ban in 2015, the citys 1.1 million students were required to leave their cell phones at home. Many students opted to leave their phones outside the school building by paying a daily fee for private storage.

Lifting the cell phone ban is about common sense, while ensuring student safety as well as high-level learning in our classrooms, New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said at the time.

After lifting the ban, the citys new policy allowed for each schools principal to develop a cell phone policy tailored for their students.

By Brett Rowland and Tom Gantert
A gasoline truck drives along a road in Richmond, Calif., on May 2, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Diesel Market to Stay Tight Into Winter: Chevron Chairman

The diesel market will stay tight into the winter, Chevron Chairman and CEO Michael Wirth warned.

Markets are tight right now. Diesel, in particular, as weve seen here recently and likely to stay that way through the winter, I think, he said during the third quarter earnings call.

With the ban on some Russian imports going into effect in the first quarter of 2023, the situation could become worse.

The ban will drive Russian energy products to reach farther markets with increased costs and logistics, he said.

Data collected by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that diesel stockpiles are at their lowest level for October in records that date back to 2008.

The weekly data shows that the United States, as of Oct. 21, has 25.9 days of supplydown from 34.2 days of supply five weeks prior.

National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, a top adviser to President Joe Biden, told Bloomberg News last week that current diesel levels are unacceptably low and that all options are on the table to increase supplies.

Diesel prices are usually half a dollar higher than gas prices. However, the diesel market seems to have become tighter than the gasoline market since the beginning of this year.

The price difference between diesel and gas increased from about half a dollar to over $1.70 since January.

Diesel Playing Role of Gas

Two reasons caused the tight diesel market, Senior Vice President of the American Energy Alliance Dan Kish told The Epoch Times.

Consumers chose to travel less for shopping because of high gas prices, which drove up the demand for diesel-fueled transportation and diesel prices.

A lot of people got priced out of gasoline or theyre just not driving as much because its more expensive. But they still need to get goods and instead of going into the grocery stores to buy things, they have them delivered. That increases demand for diesel, he said.

Denver Walker, of Somerset Fuels, makes a heating oil delivery to a home in Jenner Crossroads, Pa., on Jan. 7, 2014. (John Rucosky/AP Photo via Tribune-Democrat)

Meanwhile, the refining capacity for distillateincluding diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, heating oil, and fuel for shipsis dropping because more refineries are closing.

Oil companies are also investing more in biodiesel refining and reassigning their diesel refining capacities.

Kish is also expecting the coming winter to be harsh for Northeasterners who rely on heating oil.

Winter is going to be very tough, especially for the Northeast, he warned.

During the White House press briefing on Wednesday, John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, didnt answer a question about how to increase the supply of diesel in the United States.

The Biden administration is doing whatever it can to help European people who will face a long, cold winter, he said.
In an aerial view, San Francisco police officers and FBI agents gather in front of the home of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Dispatch Audio, Police Official Reveal More Details About Attack on Paul Pelosi

Paul Pelosi called 911 after the man who attacked him entered Pelosis San Francisco home, according to dispatch audio and a top police official.

Paul Pelosi, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband, was attacked with a hammer in the early morning hours of Oct. 28. Authorities have identified the suspect as David DePape, 42.

According to dispatchers, Paul Pelosi called 911 and stated that theres a male in the home and that hes going to wait for his wife.

Paul Pelosi stated that he doesnt know who the male is but he advised that his name is David and that he is a friend, a dispatcher said. Paul Pelosi sounded somewhat confused.

Paul Pelosi, 82, was able to call 911, according to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott.

The dispatcher who fielded the call was named as Heather Grives. Scott said Grives had to interpret what she was being told, and based on her experience and her intuition, she basically figured out that there was something more to this incident than what she was being told.

That led to officers rushing to the home to perform what authorities described as a well-being check. They arrived at approximately 2:27 a.m.

Officers knocked on the front door of the Pelosi home and the door was opened by someone inside, Scott said. The officers then stood and watched as Paul Pelosi and the suspect grappled with a hammer. The officers commanded both men to drop the hammer. The suspect gained control of the hammer and violently attacked Paul Pelosi with it.

The officers then entered the home and tackled the suspect, disarming him.

Paul Pelosi was struck at least one time, police said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (L) and her husband Paul Pelosi, outside of 10 Downing Street in central London, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Broke In

DePape broke into the home through a rear door, according to Scott. Aerial footage after the attack showed broken glass at a door at the rear of the home.

Paul Pelosi and DePape were both transported to a nearby hospital. Both were still in the hospital as of Friday evening. Paul Pelosi underwent surgeries to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands and is expected to fully recover, Nancy Pelosis office said.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time of the attack with her protective detail, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.

Based on the investigation so far, authorities believe the attack was not random.

We do know that this was intentional, Scott said.

The motive for the attack has not been pinpointed.

Reports suggest the suspect was looking for Nancy Pelosi, but authorities have not confirmed that report.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott speaks to reporters about the attack on Paul Pelosi, in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Daughter Speaks Out

A website that Inti Gonzalez, DePapes daughter, said that DePape was responsible for contained posts describing colleges as cults, criticizing the government and the war in Ukraine, and citing Bible verses.

Gonzalez wrote on Facebook that the attack on Paul Pelosi came as a shock to me, though not much considering the kind of extreme abuse [DePape] had inflicted on me and my brothers.

DePape could not be reached and its not clear whether he has retained a lawyer. Gypsy Taub, Gonzalezs mother, did not respond to a request for comment.

FBI agents visited a home linked to DePape that is known as a hippie collective by neighbors. Signs on the home indicate support for Black Lives Matter and a local group, Berkeley Stands United Against Hate.

Authorities have drawn up multiple warrants and will seek more warrants as the investigation advances, Scott said.

Interim San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said her office is working with federal and local law enforcement and will charge DePape with multiple felony charges on Monday, with an arraignment slated for the following day. Authorities have said attempted homicide will be one of the charges.

President Joe Biden told a Democrat party reception in Pennsylvania Friday that Nancy Pelosi told him that her husband seems to be coming along well and was in good spirits.

Biden and a slew of officials, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), condemned the attack and said they hope Paul Pelosi recovers quickly.
Maurice Hastings, 69, sits in court during the hearing. His conviction of the 1983 abduction and killing of a woman in Inglewood was overturned after newly tested DNA evidence showed that another man was responsible for the crime. (Screenshot via Vimeo/Los Angeles District Attorneys Office)

DNA Clears Man Convicted in Inglewood Killing After 38 Years in Prison

LOS ANGELESA man who served 38 years in prison for the 1983 abduction and killing of a woman in Inglewood is a free man Oct. 28, with authorities saying newly tested DNA evidence exonerated him of the crime and identified a different person as the culprit in the slaying.

Im not pointing fingers. Im not standing up here a bitter man, Maurice Hastings, 69, said during a downtown Los Angeles news conference. But I just want to enjoy my life while I have it. And I just want to move forward.

Working in conjunction with the Los Angeles Innocence Project at California State UniversityLos Angeles, the District Attorneys Office filed a motion to vacate Hastings 1988 conviction for the abduction, sexual assault, and slaying of 30-year-old Roberta Wydermyer, and the attempted murder of Wydermyers husband, Billy Ray, and his friend George Pinson.

District Attorney George Gascon said Hastings consistently proclaimed his innocence, and recent DNA tests proved him right.

We no longer have any confidence in the veracity of the case against Mr. Hastings, Gascon said.

He said the DNA testing pointed to a different culprit in the kidnapping, sexual assault, and killing of Wydermyer. The true killer, he said, died in 2020 while serving prison time for a separate kidnapping and rape.

Gascon credited Hastings for his perseverance in trying to get this office to investigate your case.

You are a free man today because of your perseverance, Gascon said.

He apologized to Hastings that the DNA evidence was not available at the time to prevent his conviction and prison sentence.

The system failed you, he said. The system failed the victims.

Wydermyer had made a late-night trip to a market in Inglewood, but she never returned home. Authorities at the time said her assailant stole her cash and jewelry, assaulted her, and then shot her in the head. Her body was then placed in the trunk of her car, which the assailant took.

After his wife failed to come home, Wydermyers husband and Pinson went out looking for her, and they spotted her stolen vehicle being driven by the suspect. The assailant sped away, but the duo pursued him, authorities said. The suspect eventually fired shots toward the pursuing pair, with Billy Ray Wydermyer suffering a shrapnel wound.

Hastings was arrested months later. His initial trial ended with a hung jury. But he was convicted in his second trial. Although he faced a possible death sentence, jurors recommended instead that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

On Friday, Hastings thanked everyone who believed in him and prayed for him while he was imprisoned, including his mother, who died in June before she could see him exonerated.
Doctors Ask Quebec Officials for Truthful, Complete COVID Vaccine Info to Let Parents Make Informed Choice for Kids

A group of 19 doctors and health experts is calling on Quebecs college of physicians and public health director to provide COVID-19 vaccine information that is neither promotional nor propagandist so as to ensure parents who provide consent for their children can give free and informed consent.

The group, consisting of doctors, scientists, and pharmacists, co-signed an open letter to the College des medecins du Quebec (CMQ) and Institut national de sante publique du Quebec (INSPQ) on Oct. 19, emphasizing that those organizations must provide truthful, factual, complete, and clearly expressed information on the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines so that parents can make an informed decision on whether or not to let their kids to take the shots.

For the choice to be informed, all available information (potential benefits and harms, risks, uncertainties) must be provided and conveyed in language that is understandable, said the letter in French, which was also addressed to Quebecs Health Minister Christian Dube and to Dr. Marie-Claude Roy, president of the Association of Pediatricians of Quebec (APQ).

The letter, which stated the need to go back to science concerning the vaccination of children, was sent on behalf of the signatories by Reinfo Covid Quebec, a collective group of doctors and care providers from the biomedical professions who seek to address concerns about the current health crisis.

The signatories include Bernard Massie, former acting director general of the Therapeutics in Human Health Research Centre of the National Research Council of Canada; Patrick Provost, a full professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology within the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University; and Christian Linard, a professor in the Department of Chiropractic at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivieres.

Risks

The letter argues that risk-benefit analysis must consider the age and particularities of the child concerned. It said that mainly adolescents and young men run the risk of developing myocarditis should they take the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. It referred to an Informed Consent Form (Sub Study C) to take part in a study funded by BioNTech and Pfizer Inc. to evaluate if a lower dose of the BNT162b2 booster vaccine would provide the same immune response as the standard BioNTech/Pfizer booster dose.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have occurred in some people who have received BNT162b2, said the form, developed for a study at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Ohio.

Cases have mainly been reported in males under 30 years of age and following the second vaccination, however, there have been some cases reported in older males and females as well as following the first vaccination.

The form, approved in January by an Institutional Review Board, a group regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review and monitor biomedical research involving human subjects, stated that the risk of myocarditis occurring in the course of the study was rare (between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000 people).

The BNT162b2 safety data was derived from clinical trials conducted up until September 2021 that included over 49,000 people aged over 12 years who had received at least one dose of the vaccine, as well as some 3,100 children aged 5 to under 12 years who had received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Some said that myocarditis was rare and benign. It is neither as rare nor as benign as we are told, the letter argued. Heart disease with a risk of serious recurrence in the medium and long term certainly cannot be described as benign.

Other risks mentioned in the letter include potential damage to a childs immune system, risk of damage to ovaries and risk of future infertility in the children, and the possibility of blood clots and damage to organs including the brain years after the vaccine was taken.

The group said vaccine benefits for children have not been satisfactorily explained and even less so demonstrated by the Quebec government and public health authority. But the risks are indisputable and sometimes irremediable, thus subjecting children to an unnecessary and unjustified danger.

The authorities do not explain some official statistics, including the many COVID-19 deaths among the double or triple vaccinated, sudden deaths among athletes, as well as mortality statistics, the group added.

This raises legitimate questions. Has the effectiveness of vaccines in healthy people really been demonstrated?

Right to Truth

In response to the groups letter, Dubes office told the Epoch Times in an email statement in French that the Quebec Immunization Committee (QIC) has written that the usefulness of vaccination against COVID-19 in healthy children from 6 months to 4 years old appears limited, but has decided to offer the vaccine anyway.

In the case of vaccines against COVID-19, this is an unprecedented situation. Since there is no vaccine available on the private market, government guidance therefore decided to provide it free of charge, since the vaccine was authorized by the QIC, said spokesperson Marie-Helene Emond.

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 4 years of age should not be routinely given at the same time as other vaccines and should ideally be given 14 days or more apart, she added, while saying that the same vaccine is to be used for the entire vaccination series for the same age group.

It is true that social pressure, caused by different factors, has been exerted on non-vaccinated people, which is distressing, she said. Remember that the letter was signed by few physicians compared to the total number of physicians in Quebec.

Provost said it would be a shame if the CMQ, INSPQ, and Quebec Government ignore our initiative and do not carefully answer to this long-thought-out letter, which contains extremely serious issues to the medical field that need to be addressed.

This letter lists several major issues associated with mass vaccination of children, which can only be authorized by the parents, most of whom do not have the scientific background and critical thinking necessary to take this decision, he said in an email to The Epoch Times on Oct. 27.

The parents have to be much better (and equally) informed about the risks and benefits of this irreversible (possibly repeated) intervention so that they can make a free and informed consent for their children.

According to the Oct. 19 open letter, This is an essential duty of doctors and it is also a legal obligation enshrined in article 10 to 25 of the Civil Code of Quebec.

This obligation is inspired by the principle of inviolability of the person and his right to truth.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a State of the Union Address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Yves Herman/Pool via AP)

Europe Strikes Deal to Ban New Diesel and Gasoline Cars, 100 Percent Reduction of CO2 Emissions

The European Parliament and European Council have reached a provisional agreement confirming zero-emissions targets for new vans and cars by 2035.

According to the deal arrived at by European Union negotiators with member states, the region will achieve zero-emission road mobility by 2035, according to an Oct. 28 statement. The deal seeks to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 100 percent by 2035, when compared to 2021 levels.

With these targets, we create clarity for the car industry and stimulate innovation and investments for car manufacturers. In addition, purchasing and driving zero-emission cars will become cheaper for consumers, rapporteur Jan Huitema, a member of the political group Renew Europe, said in the statement.

The agreement is the first of the Fit for 55 package, a set of proposals aimed at enabling the EU to achieve a 55 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The European Commission will publish a report to evaluate progress toward zero-emission road mobility by 2025 and every two years subsequently.

The EU will channel funding toward the transition to zero-emission vehicles and related technologies. By the end of 2024, existing rules for labeling fuel economy and CO2 emissions will be reviewed.

The deal requires formal approval from the European Council and European Parliament before it takes effect.

There are concerns about the EUs insistence on the speedy adoption of nonfossil fuel vehicles. In an interview with CNBC, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called the EU plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and vans by 2035 a purely dogmatic decision.

I think there is the possibilityand the needfor a more pragmatic approach to manage the transition, Tavares said. The firms brands include Fiat, Chrysler, and Jeep.

EU Follows Similar US Moves

The EU decision follows similar moves in the United States. In August, California announced that it would ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

In September, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that all new sales of pickups, SUVs, and cars in the state must be plug-in hybrids or fully electric beginning in 2035.

The push to replace fossil fuel vehicles with electric ones by claiming that its more environmentally friendly has come under criticism.

A 2019 study by the Ifo Institute in Germany found that an electric Tesla Model 3 emitted 11 percent to 28 percent more CO2 over its lifespan when compared to a diesel Mercedes C220d. The electric batteries used in EVs require energy intensive-mining and processing, causing them to generate two times the CO2 emissions when compared to manufacturing internal combustion engines.

As demand for EVs grows, so will the need for batteries. This means more mining for raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel, thus posing more harm to land, water, and wildlife.
Steam rises from cooling towers of the Neurath coal-fired power plant as wind turbines spin over a field of rapeseed near Bedburg, Germany, on May 05, 2022. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Europes Green Future Is Cold and Dark

Relying on clean energy sources such as wind and solar while ignoring energy security has proven disastrous for Europe

Commentary

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European Union nations are scrambling to source fossil fuels to run their factories and heat their homes this winter. They vigorously boycotted Russian natural gas and levied sanctions, youll recall, as a way of punishing Russia for its evil warring ways.

The Thrill of Virtue Signaling

The virtuous thrill of that moral spasm lasted for a few weeks at most. Then the EU, and especially Germany, suddenly remembered that their economiesreally, their very livesdepend on replacing the natural gas that they stopped buying from Moscow. At the time of the invasion in late February, Germany relied on Russia for 50 percent of its energy supplies.

The sanctions and boycott-driven shortages, as well as the war, of course, drove energy prices higher. That resulted in Europeans paying much more for much less energy, while Russia about doubled its revenues from the previous year, selling half as much.

Steam leaves a cooling tower of the Lichterfelde gas-fired power plant in Berlin on March 30, 2022. (Michael Sohn/AP Photo)

Russia Comes Out on Top

Whats more, the EU is still buying natural gas from Russia via China, which has been selling the gas they get from Russia on the cheap back to the Europeans at premium prices. Its a win-win for Russia and China and a lose-lose for the EU. Fortunately, Norway, Algeria, and the United States are also providing Europe with natural gas, helping to shore up reserves. And in the not-too-distant future, Europe will also be buying liquified natural gas from Israel.

That doesnt mean that Europes energy problems are solved. Energy experts and suppliers are predicting an even worse winter for Europe the year after this upcoming winter. That could well be the case; a lot can happen between now and then. Some even think Europes energy crisis could last several years. Well have to wait and see.

A Mindset of Arrogance

But the bigger picture is the utter lack of realistic thinking in Brussels and Berlin. The Europeans, and especially Germany, made the catastrophic mistake of assuming that Russia needed access to European markets and finance more than Europe needed Russian gas, and therefore Russia would not dare disrupt the flow of critical energy to Europe.

European energy strategists (or more likely, their political leaders) could not have been more wrong.

The first take away from this colossal miscalculation is that its not a one-off. Rather, its indicative of an endemic lack of foresight coupled with the aspirational delusions that plague the woke, green leftists who have been running Europe for the past several years, and anywhere else they may be lurking about.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during an extraordinary session to present a Green Deal plan, at the European Parliament in Brussels on Dec. 11, 2019. (Reuters/Francois Lenoir)

The policy, called the Energiewende, is rooted in Germanys naturalistic and romantic tradition, reflected in the rise of the Green Party and, more recently, in public opposition to nuclear electricity generation, Vaclav Smil wrote in 2020 for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Spectrum.

Even France, which relies on 56 nuclear power stations, has taken more than two dozen plants offline for deferred maintenance, meaning the French people will also endure a cold winter. There is not a reasonable answer as to why Paris would allow so many of its nuclear power plants to fall into such disrepair, unless the goal is to destabilize the French economy, society, and neighboring nations that rely on the French selling them excess electricity as theyve done for years.

The sheer stupidity and/or arrogance (one often accompanies the other) of Europes top policy planners for refusing to diversify or maintain critical energy supplies years ago is breathtaking. Failing to understand that energy is a top national security factor, and that you dont give your historical adversary the opportunity to threaten your existence by withholding it, is inexcusable.

A Policy of Madness

However, the same can and should be said about just how vulnerable the Europeans have made themselves by relying on fickle green energy sources such as wind and solar power, neither of which can come even close to replacing natural gas and other fossil fuels such as coal for energy generation. Germany is the poster child for such madness, having renounced both coal and nuclear energy with nothing but Russian gas to fill the gap.

With the advent of the war, the Europeans are acquiring an education in power politicsall puns intendedand the costs of ignoring reality in favor of a contrived morality that elevates the false science of climate change over the well-being of almost half a billion people.

In light of the very tenuous nature of their energy security, is Germany considering returning to nuclear power?

No. Even as its discovering that decommissioning nuclear power plants in favor of Russian natural gas has a steep cost, German leadership remains anti-nuclear.

Wests Adversaries Go All-In on Nuclear and Fossil Fuels

Meanwhile, Russia and China, the Wests top global adversaries, are going all in on fossil fuels, more than offsetting any climate benefits that might be derived from the EUs green dream.

China, for instance, certainly talks up green energy; meanwhile, theyre building over 50 percent of the worlds new coal-based power plants. Construction of nuclear power plants in Asia is booming.

There is a lesson to be learned here that doesnt fit the green narrative, because its based in reality. Nations that have unfettered access to cheap, plentiful, and reliable power have an enormous geopolitical advantage over those that have abandoned such energy sources for unreliable green energy technologies.

Do European leaders understand this?

Perhaps so, even if its slowly dawning on them. Theyre finding out, for example, that the virtue that supposedly comes with shunning fossil fuels or nuclear energy is, at best, ephemeral. Furthermore, theyre about to understand that their virtue signaling means little to those who will soon be freezing in their apartments across the EU.

Incidentally, Germany has decided to dismantle a wind farm to restart a coal mine. Does that mean that theyre seeing the real world?

Wind turbines in the Baltic Sea offshore wind farm near Zingst, Germany, on April 29, 2011. (Joern Pollex/Getty Images)

Or is it just political tokenism to appease conservatives rather than a shift in a policy that guarantees energy dependence and weakness?

It is more likely the latter than the former.

Freezing Is a Hollow Virtue

As winter descends upon a Europe that somehow cant figure out how to keep its citizens warm as it seeks ever higher virtuous forms of energy, from wind farms to electric vehicles, it may well profit the EU leadership to ask itself a few questions.

For example, where is the virtue in forcing your people to choose between heating and eating this winter?

Where is the virtue in leaving all of Europe at the mercy of its geopolitical adversaries goodwill?

Where is the virtue in promoting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles when there isnt enough lithium in the world to do so and mining it severely damages the environment?

Where is the virtue in using fossil fuels to power electric vehicles or causing blackouts in doing so?

For that matter, where is the virtue in the use of lithium, which is mined by millions of slaves, many of them children?

The central problem behind Europes devout faith in a green future is the triumph of ideology over reality.

If the trend away from nuclear energy, clean natural gas, and oil continues, the future of Europe looks rather cold.

And dark.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta on April 23, 2020. (Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images)

EXCLUSIVE: CDC Officials Told They Spread Misinformation but Still Didnt Issue Correction: Emails

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials were alerted that they spread misinformation about child COVID-19 deaths but still did not issue corrections, according to emails obtained by The Epoch Times.

Drs. Katherine Fleming-Dutra and Sara Oliver were told within days of presenting to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the CDCs vaccine advisory panel, in June that statistics from a preprint study they shared were wrong, the emails show. But after internal discussion about how to respond, neither the CDC nor the officials corrected the false information.

Fleming-Dutra and Oliver both referenced the study, which has not been peer reviewed, while the CDCs advisers weighed whether to recommend the agency grant emergency authorization for COVID-19 vaccines for babies and toddlers.

The committee ultimately recommended the CDC authorize Pfizer and Moderna shots for children as young as 6 months of age and the CDC quickly accepted the recommendation.

A week later, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky appeared to cite the false statistics while urging parents to get their children vaccinated, despite no evidence the vaccines protect against severe illness and despite the clinical trials returning substandard or unreliable results for shielding against infection.

Kelley Krohnert, a citizen researcher and mother who flagged the preprint, triggered the internal discussions among CDC officials, according to the emails. When Krohnert pointed Fleming-Dutra to a blog post that detailed the issues with the study, Fleming-Dutra sent the email to others, including Oliver.

I am not sure who this should go through. Let me know what I need to do, Fleming-Dutra said.

Megan Freedman, a CDC health communications specialist, looped in a CDC spokeswoman, and they informed Fleming-Dutra that she and other subject matter experts would need to determine if theres any validity to the complaint. If the complaint was deemed valid, possible next steps might include pulling the slide or adding a footnote, Freedman said.

Oliver jumped in, saying that Krohnert appears [redacted], but there are my thoughts. Her thoughts were redacted.

Im sure you guys can make it sound prettier, but something like this would be how I would respond, Oliver said. And the general sentiment that even 1 death from COVID thats preventable is too many, regardless of how you count them.'

Theres no evidence any of the COVID-19 vaccines prevent death for small children.

Love it  thank you for sending!!! Freedman said.

Separate Exchanges

A separate thread started after the Washington Post forwarded Krohnerts email over a Post article that said COVID-19 is a leading cause of death among children. The article still links to Fleming-Dutras slide, which in turn referenced the preprint.

Kristen Nordlund, a CDC spokesperson, sent the email to Fleming-Dutra, who forwarded it to Oliver.

Kristen: [redacted]. Hope that helps? Oliver replied.

Thanks Sara! [redacted]. And really, I think the bottom line (which lots of ACIP members said today) is any death in a child (regardless of where it ranks on a list) is one too many, Nordlund replied.

Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer in Washington states Seattle and King counties, sent a link to Krohnerts blog post to Oliver, Fleming-Dutra, and two CDC advisers, Drs. Matthew Daleywho also shared the misinformationand Grace Lee.

Great work today, as always. No doubt youve seen this and similar critiques of the mortality data presented. Will there be a response from CDC? Duchin asked.

Correction

Seth Flaxman, a professor in Oxford Universitys Department of Computer Science, and other researchers corrected the preprint after Krohnert flagged the issues to them. Their paper relied on death certificate statistics from the CDC. They initially said at least 1,433 deaths among people 19 and younger in the United States were attributed to COVID-19, but acknowledged in the updated version that the number was just 1,088.

The initial version incorrectly used the death certificate data, the authors said.

That sent the rank of COVID-19 among causes of death for children down. For infants under 1, for instance, it went from fifth to eighth.

Months later, Fleming-Dutras slide remains uncorrected, and nobody at the CDC has ever publicly acknowledged sharing the misinformation.

Fleming-Dutra, Oliver, Freedman, Nordlund, Daley, and the CDC did not respond to requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Duchins agency told The Epoch Times via email that the CDC replied to him in June.

The CDC noted that the ACIP considers a multitude of data points in making their recommendations, so even if this specific pre-print paper was removed from consideration, the data overwhelmingly support COVID-19 as a cause of serious disease and death in young children, and COVID vaccines as an important way to prevent this, the spokesperson said. These ACIP decisions are made after reviewing the totality of the data and it is never one singular data point or analysis used.

A spokesperson for the Stanford University School of Medicine, which employs Lee, declined to comment.

Lee promoted the false statistics during a meeting in September, and the official webpage for the committee she heads still lists the uncorrected figures. A spokesperson for the panel did not return an inquiry.

The Epoch Times obtained the emails through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Very Strange

The confirmation that the CDC officials were made aware of spreading misinformation but did nothing is super frustrating, Krohnert said.

They had all this internal discussion about the criticism and still the CDC director gets on TV and spouts the same criticized data, she told The Epoch Times. And at that point, Flaxman even said he was going to be updating their report.

None of the CDC officials have ever replied to Krohnert.

The analysis from the British researchers utilized CDC data. It took Krohnert under an hour to run the same numbers. The Epoch Times also examined the data on the CDCs site, corroborating Krohnerts analysis. Its unclear why the CDC scientists didnt do the same.

I dont understand why they dont seem to know how to use their own resources, Krohnert said. Its very strange.
Griffin Post looks over parts of an 85-year-old cache belonging to famed explorer Bradford Washburn in a handout photo. Post led the team that discovered the cache on Yukon's Walsh glacier. (The Canadian Press/Leslie Hittmeier)

Explorers Cameras Recovered After 85 Years on Yukon Glacier

A cache of equipment belonging to explorer Bradford Washburn, including three of his cameras, has been retrieved from a Yukon glacier after 85 years.

Now conservation specialists are going to see if they can recover any images from film thats still inside two of them.

Even if the film has nothing to reveal, the team that uncovered the cache says the find helps create a new, clearer picture for researchers on how glaciers have moved over the decades.

In 1937, Washburn, an American mountaineer who pioneered the use of aerial photography, and Robert Bates left an estimated 450 kilograms of gear at their remote base camp on Walsh glacier before setting off to climb nearby Mount Lucania.

Bad conditions meant two other climbers who were supposed to come along were unable to start and Washburn and Bates had to travel as light as possible.

The pair successfully climbed the mountainthe second-highest located entirely within Canadabut never returned to camp to get their things.

It wouldnt be until 2020 that professional big-mountain skier Griffin Post read about Washburns lost cache and began plotting a way to track it down.

In the back of my mind it just stuck with mewell, what if its not at the bottom of a crevasse? What if its just there, and nobodys really taken the time to try to find it? he said.

Post spent 18 months scouring old photos of the base camp that had survived Washburns trip to try and match mountains in the background with modern topography.

Those GPS co-ordinates became the starting point of the search, but on a 50-kilometre-wide moving glacier, that was not going to be enough.

To help pinpoint where the cache was now after 85 years, the team brought in Dora Medrzycka, a PhD student in glaciology.

Before leaving to the field, all we had access to was satellite data  and really for that we have data that goes back to 2010 or 2000, at the most, Medrzycka said.

So were trying to estimate how far the glacier moved over 85 years, yet we only have data for part of that. So that complicated everything.

And the glacier itself didnt make it easy.

Medrzycka said Walsh is a rare surging glacier that can periodically pick up speeds of as much as 10 to 100 metres a day, compared to an ordinary glacier that moves at a relatively steady pace of less than one metre a day.

It wasnt until Day 6 of the teams second trip to the glacier this August that Medrzycka had a breakthrough. She noticed a long band of debris that travelled the glaciers entire length with the exception of two gaps.

I told myself, each of those gaps is a surge, whatever is in between is that period where the glacier is just flowing normally, she said.

With that additional data, Medrzycka was able to calculate a new spot to search, about two kilometres from where they had been focused.

Thats where they spotted a fuel can and a pair of goggles.

That moment was just like, such disbelief. Its funny, of course youre fascinated and you want to look at the objects, but my first reaction was to give one of the crew members a hug, Post said.

Looking at old photos of Washburns trip, Post realized that what theyd found was not the central base camp but a smaller advance camp the men had used.

Seven kilometres from the first items, they uncovered whats left of the larger cache complete with tents, ice axes, skis and the cameras from 85 years ago.

There were absolutely no thoughts. I think we were just yelling and laughing and everybody was completely ecstatic, Medrzycka said.

The team was not permitted to remove anything found on the glacier but alerted Parks Canada, which sent staff up three weeks later.

When they arrived, 30 centimetres of snow had fallen, completely covering the find.

Parks Canada archeologist Sharon Thomson said staff dug and used warm water to get the artifacts loose.

An ice axe, ski binding and fragments of clothing were among the two dozen items brought out from the cache along with two motion picture cameras and a significant portion of an aerial still camera.

Thomson said both of the movie cameras still have film inside and experts are going to see if they can figure out how to develop the images.

Right now, all of the artifacts are with our conservation specialists in Ottawa and in Winnipeg and we are following up on the potential for recovering any images from that film, she said.

The conservators are reaching out to other experts in that area internationally to just find out whats possible and look for methods of analysis that might yield some images on that film.

Regardless of whether images are recovered or not, Medrzycka said the discovery of the cache gives scientists a more detailed understanding of how glaciers move.

We could trace that path that was travelled by the cache since the 30s and we could determine how much the glacier moved in 85 years, she said.

And then, if we combine that information with the satellite data, with the aerial photography that we have, including Washburns photos, we can then try to figure out how the flow has been changing.

Post, who is making a movie about the experience, said the realist in him recognizes that recovering images is unlikely, but that doesnt mean hes not holding out hope.

It surviving 85 years on a glacier and being recoverable was also unlikely. I think itd be pretty special to have that footage from 85 years ago, regardless of whats on it.

By Ashley Joannou
Former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on Oct. 28, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Former Ottawa Police Chief Says Main Challenge in Dealing With Convoy Protest Was Resources

Former Ottawa Police Service chief Peter Sloly told the Emergencies Act inquiry that as the convoy protest started to take shape in Ottawa earlier this year, he didnt feel another police force was needed to control the demonstration.

Sloly resigned on Feb. 15, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to clear convoy protests, amid criticism of how he handled the response to the protest.

The Public Order Emergency Commission has been formed to evaluate if the invocation of the act was justified, as required by law once the act has been used. Sloly is one of the many witnesses who are testifying until late November, after which the inquiry will enter a policy discussion phase, before submitting a final report to Parliament in February.

My challenge literally up until my last day in office wasnt additional legislation or injunctions, Sloly said at the commission on Oct. 28.

It was resources.

Early in his testimony, Sloly got emotional as he described how his officers dealt with the situation.

They were doing their very best under inhuman circumstances, he said. It was too cold and it was too much.

Intelligence

Sloly also said he didnt expect the convoy protest, which converged in Ottawa on the last weekend of January, to last more than the weekend.

A person crosses the street beside a big rig parked on Metcalfe Street in downtown Ottawa during the second week of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, on Feb. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

He was not aware of any intelligence report nor does he recall receiving any intelligence briefing that said that, on balance, the convoys would occupy and blockade Ottawa, that the occupation would last for months, would involve thousands of trucks and protestors, and would be able to defeat OPSs capabilities, says his witness statement for the commission.

Supt. Pat Morris, head of Ontario Provincial Polices Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau, said in his own testimony at the commission on Oct. 19 that by Jan. 20, the provincial police force believed that the convoy protests would be a long-term event, and they shared that information with other police forces. But he says Sloly was not happy with the OPPs intelligence briefings.

In his testimony, Sloly questioned why he was not receiving intelligence from federal agencies on what was coming as truck convoys and other protesters were converging in Ottawa from different parts of the country.

Sloly also said looking back even now, he doesnt think the intelligence he was getting would lead to the conclusion that the protest convoy would stay in Ottawa for a prolonged period of time.

To this day, even with the benefit of hindsight, I do not have any clear impression or saw any clear conclusions that we were going to have anything more than what I was being briefed on by my team, he said.

Resignation

During his testimony, Sloly was asked about a public comment he had made in February while he was still chief of police that he was increasingly concerned there is no policing solution to this.

The comment was made a day after a Feb. 1 meeting of Sloly and other senior officers, where deputy chief Patricia Ferguson asked about the possibility of military being called in or a state of emergency being declared, meeting notes tabled at the commission show.

Sloly said at the commission that the protest was a national scope event, and that he was referring to the size and scale of the protest being beyond what one police force could handle.

On Oct. 27, the commission was shown text messages from a Feb. 5 conversation between RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique where Lucki said the feds were losing confidence in the Ottawa police.

Sloly said on Oct. 28 that in his dealings with officials from the three levels of government, he felt they had low level of support for his leadership, but said ultimately the decision to resign was his own.

Sloly also told the commission he didnt think he could have prevented the protesters from parking their vehicles downtown, citing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Im a police officer, not a lawyer, he said.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
UK Genocide Determination Bill Passes 2nd Reading in House of Lords

Legislation that would give the English high court power to make preliminary determinations on genocide passed its second reading in the House of Lords on Oct. 28.

The private members bill, introduced by crossbench peer Lord David Alton of Liverpool, sailed through the stage unopposed, despite the lack of government support.

Successive UK governments have maintained the position that the determination of genocide should be made by a competent court such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the two routes are effectively blocked in many cases, such as in the case of the alleged Uyghur genocide in China, which cant be determined owing to the Beijing regimes veto power in the United Nations Security Council and that it isnt a signatory to the Rome statute, which establishes the ICCs functions, jurisdiction, and structure.

Citing human rights atrocities against the Yazidis in Iraq, the Uyghurs in China, the Rohingya in Burma, the Tigrayans in Ethiopia, Christians in Nigeria and North Korea, the Hazara in Afghanistan, and the Ukrainians under Russias invasion, Alton told the House of Lords that his measure would empower victims of genocidal atrocities to have the genocide determined by a competent court and ensure checks and balances, transparency and oversight over the governments response to genocide globally.

If the bill becomes law, the High Court of England and Wales will have the power to make preliminary findings on cases of alleged genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes.

Any individual or group of alleged victims or an organisation representing such a group can apply to the High Court to make a preliminary finding.

If the court determines that crimes have been committed, the foreign secretary will be required to refer the finding to the prosecutor of the ICC, U.N., or any other U.N. mechanism. If the court deems there is insufficient evidence to make a determination, it may request the foreign secretary to collect evidence through various channels.

The bill will now enter the committee stage, in which a Committee of the Whole House will scrutinise it in detail.

Catch 22

Among peers who spoke to support the bill was Baroness Liz Sugg, who articulated the policy of leaving genocide determination to international judicial systems on behalf of the government while she was a Foreign Office minister.

Sugg said she was uncomfortable with that policy at the time, and no longer believe[s] it to be correct.

Lord David Hannay of Chiswick, who served as the UKs ambassador and permanent representative to the U.N. during the 1990s, said the bill helps to fill a gap in the implementation of our British international obligations under the 1948 genocide convention.

He also criticized the governments policy to leave genocide determination to the ICC and ICJ, calling it a Catch-22, a convoluted way of ensuring that nothing is done to determine whether a genocide is taking place, even when we know that it is.

As someone whose conscience was scarred by sitting as Britains representative on the U.N. Security Council during the Rwanda and Srebrenica genocides, I say that this excusethat is what it isis shameful, he said.

Lord John Mann supported the principle of the bill while arguing the details pose difficult dilemmas.

He also argued that nationalising the issue will give the green light to other states, which may not be able to make judgements on a rational, unbiased and impartial basis.

Stating the governments position on the bill, Foreign Office minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said that the government today are not persuaded that the current bill is the right way forward.

Ahmad said the governments overarching policy remains to maximise our ability to take effective action, call out atrocities, and prevent them from happening again.

He also said the ministers are looking carefully at whether our current policy achieves the overarching aim and intent.

Previous Attempt

While the House of Lords last year overwhelmingly supported Altons previous legislative attempt on genocide determination during the passage of the Trade Bill, the amendment was ultimately replaced in the House of Commons with the governments version, which allows a select committee to be set in motion if it finds evidence that a prospective free trade agreement (FTA) counter-party has committed genocide, and isnt satisfied with the ministerial response to such findings.

During the debate in March 2021, MPs supporting the Alton amendment argued that the governments version wasnt strong enough, and that it excludes Uyghur Muslims and other victims of genocide in China because it only deals with prospective FTA partners, which the UK government said China was not.

In August, then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she had been actively looking at ways for the UK to deal with genocidal regimes.
Grant Devine Transformed Saskatchewan Politics

Book Excerpt

With the agriculture prices being driven up during the 1970s due to the global scare that the world was going to suffer an impending food shortage, governments rushed to flood the market with more food. This sudden increase in production caused excess supply as a result of bad public policy programs encouraging continued oversupply.

When an industry is owned and operated by a government where that industry employs hundreds of people, there always is an incentive for government to continue to operate and produce excess supply, which in turn ensures steady employment (for political reasons more so than economic). This misguided public policy skews the market and drives prices down, resulting in greater losses. Under private ownership, the producer would identify excess supply (or lack of demand) as soon as the prices began to decline (and inventories began to accumulate), and cut back its production and labour force. Unemployed workers would seek employment in other industries that require an increase in production.

Saskatchewans rationale regarding economic diversification worked on the simple notion of do not place all your eggs in one basket. However, if thinking on a more informed economic basis about how markets work, interact, and the effect in the long-run and not just for the immediate future, a more fulsome economic strategy is required.

Grant Devine was the 11th premier of Saskatchewan, his term lasting from May 8, 1982 to Nov. 1, 1991. Upon reviewing, with 20/20 hindsight, the economic conditions during the pre-Devine period (19731982), the Devine era (19821991), and the post-Devine period (19912000), it is quite evident that the Devine era was marked with multiple economic challenges largely due to external market forces, and following a diversification plan that, while capitalizing on the rich primary resources Saskatchewan is endowed with, continued to leave Saskatchewan susceptible to economic commodity cycles.

However, we do see quite clearly that the geometric mean return of three large Crown corporations was significantly higher after the Devine government privatized them. Despite the rather poor performing industries during the Devine era, the rates of return were clearly better than the market and the bond rates.

In addition, these firms have become world leaders within their own sectors: Cameco is the largest publicly traded uranium company in the world and the second-largest uranium producer in the world, while Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, which merged with Agrium to form Nutrien, is the worlds largest producer of potash and second-largest producer of nitrogen fertilizer. The Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Corporation, after being privatized in 1986, would continue to operate as Wascana Energy until 1997 when it was purchased by Canadian Occidental Petroleum. Canadian Occidental Petroleum would be eventually purchased by Nexen, a Canadian oil and gas company based in Calgary. Nexen would become a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, a Hong Kong based state-owned oil and gas company which is the third largest of the Chinese oil companies.

All of these Crown corporations after being privatized would contribute substantial tax revenues to the province in the future. As the commodity cycles for uranium, potash, and oil turned around, these companies and shareholders would find themselves in great positions to capitalize on the upswing in the commodity cycle.

When considering economic data of the three different time periodsthe pre-Devine period, the Devine era, and the post-Devine periodand the performance of the global economy and the effect world markets had on Saskatchewans primary resource sector, it is evident that broader, global economic forces during the Devine era worked to undermine a newly elected government, whose efforts focused on making a systemic change from public-owned production to privately owned production. The glut of supply on the international markets leading up to the Devine era further indicates the effects of publicly owned and controlled supply, as governments and countries around the world rushed into production having perceived the opportunity to prop up their exports and employment. In the end, the numbers demonstrate quite clearly that the Devine governments initiation to turn a province that was largely unknown in the world into world-class leaders in mining and agriculture was a success.

Over the years, many people remember the Devine period either as a success, a failure, or the best that could be expected under very challenging circumstances. However, to measure Devines legacy one needs to assess how the province has progressed and grown since then. Did the accomplishments outweigh the mistakes? Did the accomplishments have a positive effect on the provinces future?

Saskatchewan today continues to depend on commodity production and is considered a have province. It no longer receives equalization payments from the federal government but rather contributes to other have not provinces.

Overall, the economy is now more diversified, with a large manufacturing sector and a multiplicity of commercial, industrial, and consumer service businesses. Agriculture-related biotech, developed in the 1980s, is a full-fledged innovation driver. The population has steadily increased, along with growing investment in the province. Saskatchewan continues to be subjected to drought as well as volatile oil, gas, and uranium prices; however, due to the provinces diversification, these things are not enough to negatively impact economic growth and employment, as they did in the past.

Most importantly, there has been a change in attitude. Saskatchewan is no longer recognized as Canadas great socialist experiment. The Co-operative Commonwealth FederationNDP vision of a society regulated from the top, with bureaucrats holding the commanding heights of the economy, was a feature of the provinces culture right up to the years of Devines predecessor Allan Blakeneyand it was not moderating. If the box factory, the woolen mill, the boot business, and the brick factory of the early Tommy Douglas days were gone, vast swaths of economic activity remained under government control: the potash industry, the oil industry, uranium mines, a transportation company, telephones, natural gas, electricity generation and distribution, and over a million acres of farmland.

The premiers pose for a group picture with the prime minister prior to dinner in Vancouver on Nov. 19, 1986. Back row from left, Saskatchewan Premier Grant Devine, Manitoba Premier Howard Pawley, New Brunswick Premier Richard Hatfield, Alberta Premier Don Getty, Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan, and Prince Edward Island Premier Joseph Ghiz. Front from left: Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, B. C. Premier Bill Vander Zalm, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford, and Ontario Premier David Peterson. (CP Photo)

The NDPBlakeney regime, far from reconsidering its plans in the light of changing world conditions, campaigned in 1982 on slogans of continuing those policies. Lets keep a good thing going, their ads said, and Tested and trusted, which prompted the Devine rejoinder that the socialist motto should be Tired and rusted.

Unquestionably the Devine years are a watersheda before-and-after moment in the history of Saskatchewan. The province is no longer the plucky little loser of Confederation, Next Year Country, or the laboratory for collectivist ideas that never quite work out.

When the NDP under Roy Romanow, who succeeded Devine, were in power they showed no enthusiasm for reviving the Regina Manifesto or the dreams of enacting pure socialism; instead their governments were marked by a rightward drift with fiscal restraints, cutbacks, and privatization. There was a last-ditch burst of enthusiasm for old leftist ideas under Lorne Calvert, but these were soundly crushed by Brad Walls right-leaning Saskatchewan Party. The NDP, having lost the trust of suburban voters and the provincial middle class, has been in the political wilderness ever since. Grant Devine had decisively shifted the political culture.

Saskatchewan now is recognized on the global map as a leader in not only agriculture but in biotechnology, uranium, potash, pulp, natural gas, and heavy oil. The final chapter of the Grant Devine era and the legacy left behind marked the beginning, the spark, the planted seed, which reinvigorated the people of Saskatchewan and helped them to truly believe that there is so much more they could be.

Excerpt from the book So Much More We Can Be: Saskatchewans paradigm shift and the final chapter on the Devine government 1982-1991, published by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and available at Amazon.ca. The Hon. Grant Devine will speak at a Frontier Centre lunch in Winnipeg Nov. 9. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Getting into prescription or over-the-counter medicines at home is a major source of accidental poisoning for young children.

Yet, nearly half of parents say they have leftover prescriptions at home, a new poll shows.

We found that its common for parents to keep medicines long after they are expired or no longer needed, which creates an unnecessary health risk for children, said Sarah Clark. She co-directs the C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health at University of Michigan Health.

Younger children getting into medicine in the home is a major source of unintentional poisonings. For older children, access to these medicines brings the risk of experimentation, diversion to peers, or other intentional misuses, Clark said in a university news release.

The nationally representative poll surveyed 2,023 parents of children 18 and under between August and September 2022. It asked a variety of questions about over-the-counter and prescription medications in the home.

While fewer than half of parents surveyed said they believe that over-the-counter medicine is less effective past its expiration date, only about 20 percent of parents think its unsafe.

Parents may not realize that medicine is expired until they need it to address their childs symptoms, Clark said. At that point, parents must decide if they will give the expired medicine to their child or go out to purchase new medicine.

More than one-third of parents said it was never okay to give their child expired medicine. Another one-third said its fine to give expired medicine up to three months past the expiration date. About the same number said it would be acceptable to give the medicine six months or longer past the expiration date.

The expiration date is the manufacturers guarantee that a medication is fully safe and effective; over time, the medicine will lose its effectiveness, Clark said. Parents considering whether to give their child medicine long past its expiration date should question how well it will work.

While more than 60 percent of parents said they are more careful about disposing of leftover prescriptions than over-the-counter medication, most also believe its important to properly dispose of expired or leftover medicine to prevent children from getting into the medicine and to protect the environment.

But many still didnt know where to put it. About three-fourths said they do not know which medicines should be mixed in with coffee grounds or kitty litter. About 1 in 7 has flushed medicine down the toilet.

Clark said the safest choice is to drop off medicine at a permanent collection site at a doctors office, pharmacy or hospital, or at a community site in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations twice-annual National Drug Take Back Day. The next one will be held on Oct. 29.

Unused and expired medications are a public safety issue and pose health risks to children, Clark said. Its important that parents dispose of them properly when theyre no longer needed, to reduce risks of kids getting sick as well as the negative impact on the environment.

Parents can help protect their children from unused medication by limiting what they bring into the home, poll researchers said. Consider filling only part of a prescription that is meant to be taken as needed for pain. Avoid buying large amounts of over-the-counter medicines.

Keep all medication in its original packaging, including its dosing and expiration information. Twice a year, check the expiration dates for your childs over-the-counter medicines.

Monitor certain medications that can be misused, including pain medication and sleep medication, especially if you have older children, the researchers advised.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on disposing of unused medications.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Oct. 24, 2022

This story was originally published on the HealthDay site.

Parents can help protect their children from unused medication by limiting what they bring into the home, poll researchers said. Consider filling only part of a prescription that is meant to be taken as needed for pain. Avoid buying large amounts of over-the-counter medicines. Keep all medication in its original packaging, including with its dosing and expiration information. Twice a year, check expiration dates for your childs over-the-counter medicines. Monitor certain medications that can be misused, including pain medication and sleep medication, especially if you have older children, the researchers advised. More information The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on disposing unused medications. Parents can help protect their children from unused medication by limiting what they bring into the home, poll researchers said. Consider filling only part of a prescription that is meant to be taken as needed for pain. Avoid buying large amounts of over-the-counter medicines. Keep all medication in its original packaging, including with its dosing and expiration information. Twice a year, check expiration dates for your childs over-the-counter medicines. Monitor certain medications that can be misused, including pain medication and sleep medication, especially if you have older children, the researchers advised. More information The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on disposing unused medications.
As Madison County is now moving into the 7th Congressional District, I have been studying Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the incumbent. In her two terms, Abigail has clearly made her mark in Congress, having been voted one of the most bipartisan members and successfully introducing important legislation.

I found it especially interesting to learn that in 2022, she brought back $6.4 million in federal funding for community projects, helping every county in her current district with projects such as a new roof for Culpepers Carver Center, affordable housing in Louisa, a new substance abuse center in Henrico, an aerial ladder fire truck in Nottoway, and improvements to park and recreational facilities in Orange. She has a trained staff that works closely with communities to obtain this grant funding. By contrast, our current representative, Bob Good, was unwilling to assist communities with obtaining this funding and brought zero dollars back to the 5th District.

One of the most interesting stories Ive heard about Rep. Spanberger involved her assistance to a retired law enforcement officer. For years, he had been unable to receive a tax deduction of $3,000 annually for healthcare insurance because the IRS required that his insurance provider be paid directly from his pension. He asked for help from former congressmen Eric Cantor and Dave Brat, who did nothing. Once Rep. Spanberger was in office, he wrote to her. She co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to correct the regulatory problem that affected public safety retirees nationwide. This is just one example of her tireless work. Rep. Spanberger has worked to pass legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs and cap the cost of insulin. She supports legislation to prohibit members of Congress from benefiting from insider stock trading. She supports funding for police departments to assist them with training, retention, and equipment.

Rep. Spanberger is the only member of the Virginia congressional delegation to serve on the House Agriculture Committee. She chairs the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee. She works closely with crop and livestock producers to advocate for greater market access, cutting onerous regulations, and creating more opportunities for smaller producers by targeting anti-competitive practices by major meat and poultry producers. With the current Farm Bill set to expire next year, Rep. Spanbergers seniority and expertise will be vital to representing Virginia farmers regarding policies pertaining to commodities, conservation, crop insurance, nutrition, and rural development.

Rep. Spanberger is a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer. She is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee with broad expertise in national security. She is strong on economic issues as well and helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. She also introduced the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act and led the introduction and passage of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act.

Finally, of importance to us all, she will help protect Social Security and Medicare. I cant imagine a harder-working legislator. Abigail Spanberger has my vote.

Dink Kreis, Madison
The creation of a new recombinant COVID-19 virus at Boston University, viewed as a Frankenstein virus by many, has raised a public uproar. This is not merely a risky gain-of-function experiment on enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs), it is a creation of an enhanced pandemic pathogen. NO potential here.

What is the rationale for this statement? What is the chimeric virus that we talk about here?

A team of researchers at Boston Universitys National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories posted a paper on October 14, 2022, on BioRxiv, a preprint server for biology, revealing that they had created a lab-made COVID-19 chimeric virus with reverse genetics technology.

Specifically, theyve swapped the S gene of the spike protein in the original SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain with the corresponding S gene from the Omicron variant. So, the lab-made Chimeric virus (Wuhan-Omi-S chimeric virus) has all the genes from the Wuhan strain, which is much more pathogenic than the Omicron strain, except the S gene, which is from the highly transmissible yet relatively mildly pathogenic Omicron strain.

According to the preprint paper, the Omicron spike-bearing virus is able to effectively and robustly escape vaccine-induced humoral immunity just like the Omicron variant. In addition, unlike the naturally occurring Omicron variant, the Wuhan-Omi-S chimeric virus efficiently replicates in cell lines and primary-like distal lung cells.

Furthermore, it has killed at least 80 percent of infected K18-hACE2 mice (a type of transgenic mice expressing human ACE2 receptors), whereas the mortality rate of the Omicron variant was zero while the Wuhan strain caused 100 percent death in two weeks in control experiments in the same transgenic mice. This 80 percent mortality in the mice model by the Wuhan-Omi-S chimeric virus was observed in a two-week period. The paper did not provide any further observations on whether the surviving 20 percent of mice eventually died faster than the control mice group infected with Omicron variants.

The defenders for this risky study stated that the chimeric virus product showed reduced pathogenicity (100 versus 80 percent mortality) when compared to Wuhan strains, so it is not a gain-of-function study. However, this is an unjustifiably optimistic statement. The study did not provide any detailed or comprehensive pathology exam of different organs in the transgenic mice infected with the Wuhan-Omi-S virus. For example, do we know that this chimeric virus has the same neuropathogenesis as the Omicron or Wuhan viruses? This study did not provide any data on that.

In addition, although this experiment was presented as a swap of the S gene on the backbone of the Wuhan strain, it could also be viewed as swapping other viral genes on the backbone of the Omicron strain, considering the overall high genome homology among different variants of SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Rather than study individual gene motifs that might have influenced the Omicron variants pathogenicity, researchers at Boston University instead swapped all the pathogenicity-related viral gene motifs/sites from the Wuhan strain into the Omicron strain.

Then, this study is a bonafide proven gain-of-function study: it makes the Omicron virus obtain more virulent factors, enhancing its infectivity and pathogenicity in in vitro and in vivo experiments. And this publication did not reveal any study to test the transmissibility of the chimeric lab-made virus in animal models. Is the Wuhan-Omi-S virus more or less transmissible in animal models? Can any of the researchers in this study 100 percent guarantee that this new chimeric virus is not more transmissible in different animal models, e.g. golden hamsters, ferrets, and primates?

This study presented the main conclusion: while the vaccine escape of Omicron is defined by 53 mutations in S, major determinants of viral pathogenicity reside outside of S. However, it is a known fact that other genes outside S are involved in viral-host interactions at different steps of the viral life cycle and many genes outside S are relevant to viral pathogenicity in different tissues, organs, and animal hosts. So, by combining the pathogenicity-related components of the ancestral Wuhan strain and Omicrons spike protein, the researchers would surely expect to create a virus thats both highly deadly and highly transmissible. Even though it might be lucky that the final chimeric virus strains are less deadly and/or less transmissible than the Wuhan and/or Omicron strains, there is no guarantee that the degree of the risks or threats cannot be precisely controlled or assessed. The researchers at Boston University are intentionally playing with fire with clear knowledge of the risks involved.

So, in essence, Boston University researchers created a lab-made Omicron variant with enhanced pathogenicity. As Omicron is a clear pandemic pathogen, taking over Delta and other COVID-19 virus variants, this study has created an enhanced pandemic pathogen. Not an enhanced pandemic potential pathogen.

It is true that we dont know whether this lab-made chimeric virus can out-compete natural omicron variants when co-circulating in human society. And defenders of this gain-of-function study also argued that similar recombinant variants existed early this year, the Deltacron, which contains a Delta variant backbone with an Omicron S gene. They argued that the Deltacron did not generate a pandemic wave and was quickly replaced with Omicron variants, and therefore, this experiment at Boston University did not generate additional risk. So, are these defenders arguing that humankind was simply too lucky and we need to create additional risks ourselves?

This study is absolutely playing with fire and should be totally forbidden. It is unbelievable that Boston University allowed this research to be carried out. It is an ultimate failure of the bioethics committee that evaluates biomedical research projects at Boston University.

Furthermore, this gain-of-function research project is partially funded by the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which has denied its knowledge of these experiments. As the related grant documents and the communication between Boston University and NIAID are not currently released to the public, it is surely unverifiable whether NIAID was aware of these experiments during the whole process. Nevertheless, it suggests that the oversight mechanism to review grants related to enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs), set up by NIAID after the 2014 pause of all gain-of-function studies, did not work at all in this incidence.

In December 2017, NIH lifted the funding pause and invited new gain-of-function (GOF) proposals. And by 2019, risky experiments with influenza viruses proposed by Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and Dr. Ron Fouchier in the Netherlands were awarded NIAID funding to be continued. And Dr. Fouchiers proposed experiments included identifying molecular changes that make flu viruses more virulent and mutations that emerge when H5N1 is passaged through ferrets. So, it appears that NIAID is okay with creating a more virulent H5N1 virus strain now.

It appears that even if NIAID had set up a related oversight mechanism to review grant proposals related to ePPPs, the system would be completely futile when the grant reviewers or health agencies have a tendency to support gain-of-function studies in the name of pursuing a better understanding of viral-host interactions or pandemic controls. If the green light was granted for creating a more dangerous highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus, it is just a step forward to grant permission to create more virulent pandemic-ready SARS-CoV-2 omicron strains.

So, can the public trust the government agencies such as NIAID to play a more effective regulatory role regarding such dangerous gain-of-function research projects? NIAID and Boston University should treat this incident seriously and immediately halt the operation in related laboratories. As the related researchers have mastered the reverse genetics technology, theoretically speaking, they can easily conduct more gain-of-function studies, including the creation of new viral strains. NIAID and Boston University cannot hide behind risk-mitigating protocols. Public oversight and transparency are essential to avoid repeatedly putting ourselves at great risk.

If there are no competing virus strains, e.g. after the natural COVID-19 pandemic is over, this lab-made Wuhan-Omi-S chimeric virus will generate a new wave of the pandemic if it were to leak outside. In the last two to three years, the world was concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a disastrous gain-of-function lab-leaked incident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Are we trying to prove the lab-leak theory by doing it for real in the United States? Werent the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic serious enough?

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
Commentary: There Are Those Who Get out of the Water When Theres a Shark, and Those Who Get In
Ministers of the new Iraqi government are being sworn in during the parliamentary session to vote on the new government in Baghdad on Oct. 27, 2022. (Iraqi Parliament Information Office via AP)

Iraqi Parliament Approves New Cabinet in Long-Awaited Vote

BAGHDADIraqs parliament gave its vote of confidence to a new Cabinet on Thursday, breaking a yearlong political stalemate. Its the first government since 2005 that doesnt include members from the bloc of a powerful Shiite cleric.

A majority of the 253 lawmakers present voted to appoint 21 ministers, with two poststhe Construction and Housing Ministry and the Environment Ministryremaining 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.

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 publics 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, 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.
A photograph showing Mark Ibrahim, a former DEA agent, outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Department of Justice via The Epoch Times)

Judge Dismisses Charge Against Former DEA Agent Who Trespassed at Capitol on Jan. 6

A federal judge has dismissed a charge against a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who was still working for the administration when he went onto U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, on Oct. 27 tossed a charge of lying to the government for Mark Ibrahim, a former DEA agent.

The charge stated that Ibrahim did willfully and knowingly make materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations in a criminal matter in the District of Columbia by telling a government agent that he didnt knowingly expose his firearm and DEA badge while on Capitol grounds.

He said he had his badge and firearm on his person on Jan. 6, 2021, but they were never exposed, saying not that I know of, according to a partial transcript of the interview released by Ibrahims lawyer.

Ibrahim was in California speaking on March 15, 2021, to a federal investigator who was in Virginia.

In the motion to dismiss, his counsel, Marina Medvin, noted that neither party was in Washington but the charge was filed there. Medvin said that the District of Columbia is not the proper venue for a statement that was made in California.

She also said her client hadnt made a false claim in connection with a criminal matter or a material false claim.

Government prosecutors in an opposition motion included images that show Ibrahim pulling aside his jacket to expose his badge and gun and said it was appropriate to file the charge in Washington because Ibrahim made false statements about events that transpired in the District of Columbia, and he made those statements to an agent as part of a federal investigation in the District of Columbia.

Kelly sided with the defense and dismissed the count, according to the docket for the case.

Defendants have rarely won such motions in Jan. 6 cases.

I hope that defense-favorable outcomes become the norm as opposed to the exception in J6 cases. I wont be discussing the details of any case until the case is entirely resolved, so I wont be commenting on the result, Medvin wrote on Twitter.

Kelly also rejected attempts to dismiss two other counts.

One such charge states that Ibrahim entered and remained on restricted grounds, or Capitol grounds, while then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were present. But authorities have, for months, acknowledged that Harris wasnt in or near the Capitol.

Kelly kept the charge but allowed the government to strike the portion referencing Harris. He also denied a request to dismiss a charge of possessing a firearm on Capitol grounds.

The next status conference for Ibrahim, who remains free on personal recognizance, is slated to take place on Nov. 30.
A voter places a ballot in a drop box outside of the Maricopa County Elections Department in Phoenix, Ariz., on Aug. 2, 2022. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Judge Rejects Bid to Block Citizens Monitoring Ballot Drop Boxes in Arizona

A federal judge on Friday rejected a civil lawsuit seeking to block grassroots volunteers who mobilized to monitor absentee ballot drop boxes in Arizona.

The civil lawsuit accused defendants Melody Jennings, the founder of the Clean Elections USA (CEUSA) website, and a group of grassroots volunteers of purported voter intimidation at Arizonas two outdoor ballot drop boxes in Maricopa County.

Two non-profit organizations, Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, filed the civil suit.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael T. Liburdi for the District of Arizona on Friday dismissed Voto Latino from the case for not having standing because it didnt show concrete or particularized injury.

The Court has struggled to craft a meaningful form of injunctive relief that does not violate Defendants First Amendment rights and those of the drop box observers, Liburdi said in his ruling (pdf).

Liburdi noted that many voters are legitimately alarmed by the drop box observers filming, but their conduct doesnt constitute either voter intimidation or a true threat.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Voto Latino for comment.

Allegations

The drop boxes in question are in parking lots for voters to drive up and deposit their ballots from their vehicles.

According to the lawsuit, one voter filed a complaint alleging that a group of individuals gathered near the Mesa County ballot drop box and photographed and accused the voter and his wife of being mules.

Another complaint alleges that individuals took photographs of a voter and his vehicles license plate, according to the court filing. A third formal complaint alleges five or six men stood in the Mesa ballot drop box parking lot, taking photographs of the voters vehicle and license plate.

The lawsuit also alleges that Maricopa County Sheriffs Office was dispatched to the Mesa drop box location to investigate armed and masked observers wearing body armor.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office for comment.

But while the judge said the case certainly presents serious questions, it wasnt enough for him to order an injunction to block their conduct without violating the First Amendment.

Further, while the irreparable harm factor tips in favor of Plaintiffs, the balance of the equities and public interest do not, Liburdi said. A preliminary injunction cannot issue on these facts, but Arizona Alliance is invited to return to this Court with any new evidence that Defendants have engaged in unlawful voter intimidation.

People outside a ballot drop box in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 21, 2022. (Maricopa County Elections Department via The Epoch Times)

Constitution Won Today

Saundra Cole, the president of Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, said it was truly disappointing.

Jennings celebrated the ruling.

The constitution won today. This battle is not over, but today was a step for freedom and for your 1st amendment rights being preserved, Jennings said on Truth Social. The request for a restraining order against myself and those involved in Clean Elections USA was denied.

She urged Americans to go vote and to thank drop box watchers for protecting your freedom.

(L-R) Lynnette, 50, and Nicole, 52, watch a ballot drop box while sitting in a parking lot in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 24, 2022. (Bastien Inzaurralde/AFP via Getty Images)

Cole said her non-profit intends to appeal the ruling and maintains that the drop box watching constitutes unlawful intimidation and harassment.

American citizens should be able to cast a ballot without fear of personal injury or other harm to their safety and security, she said in a statement.

That said, the right to vote is precious and the stakes are especially high in this election. We urge all older Arizonans not to be deterred and return their ballots before the deadline, or vote in person on Election Day, she said.

The lawsuit alleged that the volunteers violated Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act and the Support or Advocacy Clause of the Ku Klux Klan Act. But the judge didnt agree.

Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act states that no person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote.

Nicole, 52, watches a ballot drop box while sitting in a parking lot in Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 24, 2022. (Bastien Inzaurralde/AFP via Getty Images)

Grassroots Citizens Group

Jennings founded CEUSA after watching filmmaker Dinesh DSouzas documentary 2000 Mules, which presents evidence that brought into question the validity and legitimacy of the 2020 electoral process.

2000 Mules uses anonymized cellphone location data to tell the story of a shadowy network of ballot mules working to influence the 2020 election outcome by collecting fraudulent absentee ballots and strategically depositing them in early voting drop boxes throughout key electoral states.

In a previous interview with The Epoch Times, Jennings described CEUSA as a decentralized grassroots movement made up of concerned and patriotic citizens watching for any potential absentee ballot box stuffing in the midterm elections.

The lawsuit noted that as far as the court can tell, CEUSA is not organized as a valid legal entity under the laws of any state and appears to simply be a web domain name.

In Arizona, we are careful to maintain the 75-foot distance from the drop box. We work at outdoor boxes only, Jennings said.

We encourage our people not to go alone for safety reasons. We are 100 percent law-abiding, she said.

Supporters of President Donald Trump in front of the Maricopa County Election Department while votes are being counted in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 6, 2020. (Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images)

First Amendment Rights

The judge found that the conduct of the citizens group is protected by the First Amendment because Jennings social media posts demonstrate that she believes the presence of her volunteers alone conveys a message to would-be ballot mules.

In weighing up the First Amendment rights of the volunteers, the judge noted that while watching ballot drop boxes itself is not a fundamental right, the Supreme Court instructs that the protections of the First Amendment do not end at the spoken or written word.'

The evidence in the record shows that Defendants objective is deterring supposed illegal voting and illegal ballot harvesting, Liburdi said.

The message is that persons who attempt to break Arizonas anti-ballot harvesting law will be exposed, he added. On this record, therefore, the Court finds that a reasonable observer could interpret the conduct as conveying some sort of message, regardless of whether the message has any objective merit.

The judge also noted in his ruling that filming matters of public interest is a well-established First Amendment right, that the Supreme Court recognizes a right to gather news, and that the public has a First Amendment right to receive information and ideas.

Melody Jennings admonishes any volunteers via Truth Social to act lawfully while observing ballot drop boxes in Arizona, on Oct. 20, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

No Evidence of Voter Intimidation or Threat

The judge said in his ruling that plaintiffs provide no evidence that the conduct of the citizens group constitutes a true threat.

On this record, Defendants have not made any statements threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals, Liburdi said.

There is no evidence that Defendants have publicly posted any voters names, home addresses, occupations, or other personal information. In fact, Jennings continuously states that her volunteers are to follow laws and that [t]hose who choose to break the law will be seen as an infiltrator intent on causing [CEUSA] harm.

The ruling noted that Jennings social media posts admonish volunteers to remain outside the statutorily prescribed seventy-five-foot voting location radius.

Furthermore, the record contains evidence of Jennings social media posts instructing her affiliates not to engage with or talk to individuals at the drop boxes, Liburdi said. Even if these statements are mere window dressing, a reasonable listener could not interpret Ms. Jennings social media pronouncements that alleged mules will shrink back into the darkness following her drop box initiative as true threats.

The judge also found that the conduct of the citizens group doesnt fall into any traditionally recognized category of voter intimidation.

Correction: The location of the drop boxes was incorrectly stated and has been updated to Maricopa County. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
LA Councilwoman Rodriguez Wants State Legislation for Redistricting Reform

LOS ANGELESCity Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez called Oct. 28 for the state to take up legislation that would establish an independent redistricting process for Los Angeles before next April.

Rodriguez introduced a resolution Friday calling on the City Council to support legislation similar to Senate Bill 958which in 2016 created a citizens redistricting commission for Los Angeles County independent from the influence of the countys Board of Supervisors.

Elected officials across Los Angeles have called for changes in the redistricting process after three council members and a top county labor official took part in a 2021 recorded conversation that included racist comments and efforts to manipulate last years redistricting effort.

Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmen Gil Cedillo, and Kevin de Leon, and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera participated in the recorded conversation.

Martinez was heard on the recording making several disparaging remarks about a fellow councilor and other ethnic groups. She resigned Oct. 12 from the council following a massive public uproar that reached the White House.

Last week, the council voted to begin the process of placing a measure on the 2024 ballot or sooner that would create an independent redistricting commission.

Under the current redistricting process created in 1999, council members appoint representatives to a 21-member redistricting commission, which meets every 10 years to redraw council district boundaries. The panels recommended lines, however, are then submitted to the City Council, which makes the final determinations on the district boundaries.

The council is set to vote next week on an ordinance that would schedule a special election on April 4, 2023, to fill the seat of Martinez.

Rodriguezs resolution calls for the state to use an emergency clause to move forward expeditiously on a bill similar to SB 958 for Los Angeles before the April 2023 special election.

Among the revelations derived from the released audio clips was that our citys redistricting process last year was manipulated and flawed, Rodriguez said. Without a truly independent redistricting process in place, self-preservation and power grabs will supersede long-fought equitable representation provided by the Voting Rights Act.

Trust is the most fundamental commodity in any relationship, and if we are to regain the trust of voters, state legislation that would enact a truly independent redistricting process, similar to that utilized by the County, is imperative, she said.
Police search for a suspect in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2013. (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Man Shot in Shoulder While Leaving Halloween Party With Girlfriend

SAN DIEGOA 21-year-old man suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound when he was shot in the right shoulder Oct. 29 morning while leaving a Halloween party with his girlfriend in the College West community of San Diego, authorities said.

The shooting victims girlfriend was not injured, the San Diego Police Department reported.

The pair were walking down an alley in the 5700 block of Montezuma Place about 2:35 a.m. when they were confronted by a group of individuals.

One of the peopledescribed as a Black male wearing a red-hooded sweatshirtpulled out a handgun and began shooting.

Paramedics rushed the shooting victim to a hospital and the suspect fled the area, prior to the arrival of police.

San Diego police urged anyone with any information regarding the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
Bottles of prescription painkiller OxyContin made by Purdue Pharma LP sit on a shelf at a local pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on April 25, 2017. (George Frey/Reuters)

McKinsey Reaches Deal With US Local Governments Over Opioids

Leading consulting firm McKinsey & Co. has agreed to settle claims by hundreds of U.S. local governments and school districts around the country that it fueled an epidemic of opioid addiction through its work for bankrupt OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP and other drug companies.

The deal was disclosed in a court filing Wednesday evening in San Francisco federal court. Its terms were not made public, and McKinsey and a lawyer for the settling plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

McKinsey previously agreed to pay more than $600 million to settle opioid claims brought by all U.S. states and territories, and had argued that those settlements should shield it from local governments and school districts lawsuits. It has not admitted wrongdoing.

The firm still faces claims by health insurance plans, Native American tribes and families of children exposed to opioids in the womb, which can cause withdrawal symptoms at birth and long-term health and developmental problems. Cases have been filed in multiple states, but are consolidated before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco for pretrial proceedings.

Breyer on Thursday denied McKinseys bid to dismiss the pending cases on the grounds that courts in states where the New York-based company did not directly do business had no jurisdiction over it. Breyer found that they did have jurisdiction because McKinsey purposefully directed its activities at those states in its opioid consulting work.

Plaintiffs accuse the company of pushing aggressive tactics to boost opioid sales, including by targeting doctors known to be prolific prescribers.

The U.S. opioid crisis has caused more than 500,000 overdose deaths over two decades, according to federal government data. Litigation against drugmakers, distributors, and pharmacies has so far yielded more than $30 billion in settlements, though defendants have not admitted wrongdoing.

By Brendan Pierson
Midterm Elections Updates: Arizona AG Gives County OK for Full Ballot Hand Counts

The latest on the midterm elections.

____

Arizona AG Gives County OK for Full Ballot Hand Counts

Arizonas Republican attorney general has issued an opinion saying that county officials can hand-count all ballots in at least five races from the Nov. 8 election, a move that gives a green light to GOP officials in at least two counties who have been pushing for hand counts to ensure election intergrity.

The new attorney general opinion led the two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County board of supervisors to boost their plan to hand-count some races in both early and Election Day ballots.

Under state law, the local leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties would have to provide hundreds of volunteers to do the counts.

____

Biden Votes Early in Delaware for November Midterms

President Joe Bidenaccompanied by one of his granddaughters, a first-time votercast his midterm ballot on Saturday.

In-person early voting in his home state of Delaware, where Biden regularly returns for weekends, began Friday. Democrats nationwide have encouraged voters to take advantage of early voting, either by mail-in ballots or at precincts where available to maximize turnout.

Biden said he was feeling good about the midterms, which will decide control of Congress for the next two years.

In the final days before the Nov. 8 elections, Biden plans to step up his campaign travels with scheduled trips to Pennsylvania, Florida, New Mexico, and Maryland to stump for Democratic congressional and gubernatorial candidates.

Im going to be spending the rest of the time making the case that this is not a referendum; it is a choice, a fundamental choice, he said. A choice between two very different visions for the country.

Biden voted alongside his granddaughter Natalie, who is 18 years old. He also voted in Delaware last month, when he made a quick, one-day trip for the states Sept. 13 primaries.

Delaware has no competitive congressional races this cycle.

____

Utah Rep. Owens, McDonald Agree on Little in Only Debate

U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens and Democratic challenger Darlene McDonald agreed on none of the issues addressed Friday in their only debate before the midterm elections, with each largely echoing their partys talking points on inflation, abortion, and infrastructure spending.

In an untelevised debate in the basement of a suburban real estate office with an audience of only campaign staff and half a dozen reporters, the Utah Republican blamed Democrats and President Joe Biden for fentanyl being imported across the U.S.Mexico border, racial division, and inflation. Owens accused Democrats of pushing critical race theory and said that its destroying the countrys social fabric.

_____

No Absentee Ballots Destroyed After Georgia Mail Truck Catches Fire, Official Says

A Georgia official confirmed on Oct. 28 that no ballots were lost after a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) truck, potentially carrying 43 outstanding ballots, caught fire.

As a follow up from the reports earlier this week on the USPS Jeep fire in Baker County. The review has let us know that there were NO ballots on the truck, Gabriel Sterling said in a statement on Twitter.

Read the full article here

_____

Trump PAC Donates $20 Million to Support Embattled Midterm Candidates

Former President Donald Trumps super PAC donated $20 million this month to another PAC responsible for supporting Trumps endorsed candidates.

Trumps PAC, Save America, donated $20 million to Make America Great Again Inc. (MAGA-Inc), according to FEC filings released Oct. 27 (pdf).

Trump founded Save America shortly after he lost the 2020 election in order to help the GOP retake the House and Senate during the 2022 midterm elections cycle. It has been wildly successful at raising money, currently boasting more than $105 million in its coffers, but has come under investigation for allegedly misleading donors.

Read the full article here

______

Arizona GOP Governor Frontrunner Kari Lake Accuses Legacy Media of Spreading Fake News of Burglary

Arizona Republican governor frontrunner Kari Lake lashed out at the legacy media for spreading fake news about her alleged involvement in a burglary of Democratic rival Katie Hobbs campaign headquarters on Oct. 25, without providing evidence.

In a 30-minute press conference the day after the break-in, Lake claimed that the only reason Hobbs accused her was that she was losing in the polls.

Guys, were going to do a tutorial on how fake bogus, defamatory news is made, Lake told a gauntlet of legacy media outlets in Phoenix.

Read the full article here

______

Arizona GOP Gubernatorial Nominee Thanks Liz Cheney for Biggest Fundraiser Yet

Arizona Republican governor frontrunner Kari Lake responded on Friday to Rep. Liz Cheneys (R-Wyo.) anti-endorsement efforts, saying a television ad she sponsored and recently broadcasted caused a surge in campaign donations.

Thank you for your generous in-kind contribution to my campaign, Lake wrote mockingly in a letter to Cheney that was shared on Twitter.

Your recent television ad urging Arizonans not to vote for me is doing just the opposite, she continued. Our campaign donations are skyrocketing and our website nearly crashed from traffic as people rushed to learn more about my plan to put Arizona First and join our historic political movement.

____

Lorenz Duchamps, Allan Stein, Andrew Thornebrooke, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on July 8, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson)

Montreal Police Open Murder Investigation After Woman, 81, Found Dead in Seniors Home

Montreal police say theyve opened a homicide investigation into the death last week of an 81-year-old-woman at a seniors residence.

Police spokesman Const. Julien Levesque says paramedics notified police on Oct. 22 after responding to a call for medical assistance at the home in the citys east end and finding the woman dead.

The file was initially transferred to the coroners office to determine the cause of death.

Levesque says the coroners office returned the file to police on Thursday after finding evidence of violence on the body.

It is the second alleged killing of a woman at a Montreal-area seniors residence in less than a week.

On Oct. 20, an 82-year-old man was charged with killing his 90-year-old partner at a residence in the suburb of Vaudreuil-Dorion
Kerrville, TX (78028)

Today

Cloudy with a few showers. Thunder possible. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy with a few showers. Thunder possible. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
An employee of the German Climate Computing Center DKRZ (Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum) checks the Mistral supercomputer, installed in 2016, at the German Climate Computing Center on June 7, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany. (Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images)

New US Chip Ban Could Cripple Chinese Development of AI and Supercomputers

News Analysis

As every aspect of modern life becomes digitized, not just the economies of nations but their sovereign influence will increasingly rely on the command of technology, with supercomputers being a centerpiece of the competition.

On Oct. 7, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced sweeping new export controls that will cut China off from cutting-edge chipmaking equipment and certain advanced semiconductor chips made with U.S. technologies, regardless of whether the chips were manufactured in the United States or not.

The move is Washingtons latest effort to hamstring Chinas military modernization and the development of its supercomputers.

Under the new rules, leading U.S. chipmakers such as Nvidia and AMD will be banned from selling their high-end artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputing chips to Chinese companies.

Supercomputers, with high-performance computing and data processing capabilities, are often regarded as a symbol of a countrys scientific and technological strength.

The latest U.S. sanctions are aimed at restricting Chinas ability to obtain supercomputing chips, according to an Oct. 11 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank.

High-end AI chips can no longer be sold to any entity operating in China, whether that is the Chinese military, a Chinese tech company, or even a U.S. company operating a data center in China, Gregory C. Allen, director of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Project and a senior fellow in the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS, said in the report.

In the report, Allen said that Nvidia and AMD are among a few chip designers in the world capable of making chips for AI or supercomputingwith very powerful parallel processors and very fast interconnect speeds. And that Nividia, in particular, provides a robust software ecosystem called CUDA, which is widely used by programmers to write massively parallelized software, [basically all modern AI software].

Nvidia Drive Pegasus, the worlds first AI supercomputer for level 5 robotaxis, is on display during the CES consumer technology trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Any customer who seeks to stop using Nvidia chips has to leave the CUDA ecosystem  [Thus], the combined offering of CUDA software and Nvidia hardware [explained] why Nvidia accounts for 95 percent of AI chip sales in China, Allen said.

Meanwhile, the recent U.S. sanctions have also learned lessons from the past when attempting to completely block the Chinese military from obtaining advanced chips.

In the past, despite measures to limit U.S. technology exports to the Chinese military, chips designed by U.S. companies still ended up in the hands of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

CCP MilitaryCivil Fusion Strategy

The CCPs military-civil fusion strategy makes it almost impossible for U.S. regulators to distinguish between military and nonmilitary end users in China, which is the basis of most U.S. export controls.

The fusion model allows the Chinese military to bypass U.S. export controls and have covert access to U.S. technology and equipment through its civil counterpartsa loophole the CCP has exploited.

Allens report said the Obama administration in 2015 blocked U.S. chipmaker Intel from selling its high-end Xeon chips to Chinese military supercomputer research centers, such as, the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT). While the policy ended direct sales from U.S. companies to the Chinese military, it was completely ineffective at stopping indirect sales to the shell companies that helped the Chinese military evade export controls.

Chinas NUDT has not only built new globally leading supercomputers after the restrictions went into effect, but those new supercomputers still use the latest and greatest (and banned) Intel Xeon chips. More broadly, examinations of Chinese military equipment of all types have found them to be extremely reliant on U.S. chips, the report said.

However, the latest export restrictions implemented by the Biden administration essentially intend to end all sales [of high-end AI chips] to China, regardless of their military or civil applications.

Chip Ban Extended to Talents

In addition, the new foreign-direct product rule applies not only to Nvidia or AMD. It will cut China off from certain chipmaking equipment and chips made with U.S. technologies, whether or not the chips were manufactured in the United States.

The sweeping ban also extends to talents, effectively prohibiting U.S. persons from supporting the development or production of chips covered by the restrictions.

Under the new rule, U.S. nationals in Chinese chip-related companies will face a choice between losing U.S. citizenship or quitting their jobs in China.

For years, U.S. export controls to China have only been on technologies, products, companies, or organizations. The new ban however, extends export controls to individual U.S. citizens and green card holders for the first time. It is considered to be the most restrictive ban on Chinas semiconductor industry to date.

The report also mentioned that American companies have an absolute advantage in chip design software called electronic design automation (EDA). The software enables designers to create the astonishingly complicated [chip] blueprints.

And the three leading companies in the EDA market are Mentor Graphics, Cadence Design Systems, and Synopsys, all of which are headquartered and have the bulk of their staff in the United States.

According to a joint report (pdf) released in April 2021 by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), U.S.-headquartered firms collectively account for more than a 90 percent share in advanced logic products such as CPUs, GPUs, or FPGAs that power PCs, data center servers, AI analytics, and automotive ADAS systems.

The report said that U.S. companies collectively held more than a 40 percent global share in semiconductor manufacturing equipment in 2019, while China held less than 5 percent.

Chinese chipmakers are currently unable to produce some of the most advanced chips. Under the new sanctions from Washington, Chinese companies will likely struggle to obtain cutting-edge chips from non-domestic chip manufacturers.

Massive Gap in Supercomputer Technology

Studies have shown that Chinas supercomputer industry relies heavily on foreign products, especially for the chips used in its core components and application software.

The 2021 first issue of the Chinese journal Science and Culture Review published a paper titled Introspection on the Development of Supercomputers in China (pdf) by Si Hongwei, a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of the History of Science at Beijings Tsinghua University.

In the paper Si said, that in November 2010, Tianhe-1, a supercomputer put together by Chinas National University of Defense Technology, was the fastest supercomputer in the world at the time. However, more than 90 percent of its core components were from U.S. companies Intel and AMD, such as, its CPU and GPU.

Likewise, the following iteration, Tianhe-2, ranked the fastest supercomputer from June 2013 to November 2015, was found to be using almost entirely U.S.-made components, including commercial microprocessors and arrays of main components, in its hardware system.

More recently, the Chinese-assembled supercomputer named Sunway TaihuLight, first unveiled in June 2016, was said to be using the Chinese-designed SW26010 processors, which according to the paper, are far behind the international supercomputing standard.

In 2019, the papers author Si Hongwei interviewed Zhou Xingming, a Chinese supercomputer expert and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Zhou said that Chinese-made CPUs have low overall performance and high power consumption, and are more than one generation behind in design than foreign products and more than two generations behind leading competitors.

In addition, Si said that Chinese supercomputers are also far behind in their software systems, such that, for example, the Chinese-made Kylin operating system installed on the Tianhe-1 and Tianhe-2 supercomputers has yet to establish large-scale software development and user eco-chain.

He described Chinas independent research and development capabilities for application software as extremely limited in the field of computing that mainly relied on foreign off-the-shelf products.

According to Chinese media reports, since the Tianhe-2 supercomputer was unveiled in 2014 at the Guangzhou data center, it has been used for very few major scientific research projects from the CCP. In 2015, the utilization rate of the data center was only 60 percent, while 83 percent of its clients were government agencies, universities, and research institutes, and only 17 percent were enterprise users.

Si said that the current development model of supercomputers in China could only imitate and rely on the technologies of others, and once the external supply is cut off, difficulties will ensue.

Anne Zhang Follow Anne Zhang is a writer for The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics. She began writing for the Chinese-language edition in 2014.
Medical staff transport a victim, believed to have suffered cardiac arrest, in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

At Least 151 Dead in South Koreas Capital After Crowd Surge at Halloween Event: Officials

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declares a period of national mourning

At least 151 people are dead after an outdoors Halloween event in South Korean capital Seoul turned into a crowd surge on Saturday night, emergency officials said.

Huge crowds at the event surged into a narrow downhill alley in a nightlife area near the Hamilton Hotel, a major party venue in Seoul. The incident trapped and crushed hundreds of people in Seouls leisure district of Itaewon.

Emergency workers and pedestrians were seen performing first aid and CPR on people lying in the streets amid ensuing chaos.

Officials say at least 151 have died and about 150 others are injured. The fire service said most victims were teenagers and young adults.

Onlookers, police, and paramedics gather where dozens of people suffered cardiac arrest, in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul on Oct. 30, 2022. (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images)

Choi Seong-beom, head of Seouls Yongsan fire department, said all the deaths were likely from the crush in the single narrow alley, and that the death toll may increase.

He said bodies were being sent to nearby hospitals or a gym, where family members could identify them. Many of the victims were women in their 20s, Choi said.

Many of the victims were taken to the nearby Soonchunhyang University, where ambulances were seen arriving almost continuously, The Associated Press reported.

Officials said at least 19 of those injured were in critical condition and receiving emergency treatment.

More than 1,700 people from around the countryincluding about 520 firefighters, 1,100 police officers and 70 government workerswere deployed to the streets to respond to the disaster.

People receive medical help from rescue team members at the scene where dozens of people were injured in a crowd surge during a Halloween festival in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 29, 2022. (Kim Hong-ji/Reuters)

National Mourning Period

About 100,000 people had gathered in Itaewon for the Halloween event this year. Itaewon is known for its nightlife, as well as its upscale bars, clubs, and restaurants.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol presided over an emergency meeting with senior aides. He ordered to set up a task force to ensure the injured receive prompt treatment, and to launch an investigation into the cause of the disaster and review the safety of the festivity sites.

Yoon on Sunday declared a national mourning period on Sunday and ordered flags at government buildings and public offices to fly at half-staff.

This is really devastating. The tragedy and disaster that need not have happened took place in the heart of Seoul amid Halloween [events], Yoon said in his speech. I feel heavy hearted and cannot contain my sadness as a president responsible for the peoples lives and safety.

He said his governments top priority is to support the families of the victims, including with funeral preparations, as well as to treat those injured from the crush.

Fire officials and witnesses of the incident said that people continued to pour into the already-packed downhill alley, before those at the top of the alley fell, sending people below them toppling over others.

Moon Ju-young, 21, told Reuters there were clear signs of trouble in the alleys before the incident, describing the scene as at least more than 10 times crowded than usual.

Emergency service personnel are seen in the alley where a Halloween crowd surge took place late Oct. 29, in the neighborhood of Itaewon in Seoul on Oct. 30, 2022. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Hankyoreh, a Seoul-based newspaper, one survivor, surnamed Kim, described the scene of people falling on top of each other during the melee like dominos. The survivor said they were trapped for about 1.5 hours before being rescued, with many short of breath.

Another survivor, named Lee Chang-kyu, said he saw about five to six men push others before one or two began falling, according to the newspaper.

Hwang Min-hyeok, a visitor to Itaewon, told news channel YTN it was shocking to see rows of bodies near the hotel. People wailed beside the bodies of their friends, he told the news station. Emergency workers were initially overwhelmed, leaving others to administer CPR to the injured, he noted.

The bodies of victims, who were killed in a Halloween crush, are covered with sheets in the neighborhood of Itaewon in Seoul on Oct. 30, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife sent their condolences, writing on Twitter: We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured.

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, said on Twitter that reports of the disaster were heartbreaking, adding that Washington stands ready to provide the Republic of Korea with any support it needs.

Rishi Sunak, the new British Prime Minister, called the incident horrific. He said on Twitter: All our thoughts are with those currently responding and all South Koreans at this very distressing time.

Saturday nights crowd surge marked the deadliest crushing disaster in the countrys history. Previously in 2005, 11 people were killed and 60 others were injured at a pop concert in Sangju.

The incident also marked the second large-scale crowd surge in a month in Asia. On Oct. 1, police in Indonesia fired tear gas at a soccer match, triggering a stampede that killed 132 people.

The last South Korean disaster that killed hundreds involved a ferry sinking in April 2014. The death toll was 304. The victims were mostly high school students.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (L) and her husband Paul Pelosi, outside of 10 Downing Street in central London, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Pelosi Undergoes Surgery on Skull Fracture After Being Attacked With Hammer

Paul Pelosi, a businessman and venture capitalist, and the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), successfully underwent surgery to his skull on Friday morning, after surviving a physical attack by someone who police say tried to kill him.

Earlier this morning, Paul Pelosi was attacked at home by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker, spokesman for Nancy Pelosis office, Drew Hammill, said in a statement late Friday.

Mr. Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. His doctors expect a full recovery.

The Speaker and her family are thankful for the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, constituents, and people around the country. The Pelosi family is immensely grateful to Mr. Pelosis entire medical team and the law enforcement officers who responded to the assault. The family appreciates respect for their privacy during this time.

A San Francisco Police Department spokesperson earlier confirmed to The Epoch Times that an 82-year-old male was attacked during an early morning break-in at a home in the 2600 block of Broadway, and that officers responded at approximately 2:27 a.m.

Hammer Attack

The suspect, 42-year-old David DePape, was arrested at the Pelosi home early Friday. He is being booked into jail on charges including attempted homicide, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told a press conference. DePape will also face assault with deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and several other additional felonies, Scott said.

Pelosi and DePape were both transported to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries, Scott noted.

At a news conference late Friday, Scott provided more details of when police arrived at the Pelosi home. He said that when they knocked on the front door, the door was opened by someone inside, but didnt specify who that person was.

Scott said that officers then stood at the door and watched as Paul Pelosi struggled over control of a hammer with the attacker, before the attacker snatched the hammer and hit Pelosi in the head at least once, after which officers ran in and tackled the suspect.
Porsche Sees Strong 2023 as 9-Month Profits Soar

BERLINPorsche reported a 40.6 percent leap in operating profit to more than 5 billion euros ($5 billion) in the first nine months of 2022 and predicted a strong 2023 as its ability to raise prices protected it from the costs of supply chain snags.

Still, the carmaker did not raise its annual margin outlook from 1718 percent even as it yielded a 17.8 percent profit margin in the third quarter, up from 15.5 percent last year.

Chief Financial Officer Lutz Meschke predicted a strong 2023 and said he was unfazed by macroeconomic uncertainty, pointing to the luxury brands ability to pass on price hikes to its growing customer base of high net worth individuals.

Meschke warned in an media call of the need to protect supply chains worldwide from attacks and cybercrime, suggesting fears of politically motivated supply chain bottlenecks ahead.

The chief financial officer did not specify who needed protection from whom but cited the recent attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines and Deutsche Bahn as examples of breaches to security with severe consequences for supplies.

Shares moved only marginally to 100.1 euros at 1340 GMT from yesterdays close at 99.26 euros.

Deliveries were up just 2 percent to a little more than 221,500 vehicles this year so far, with exchange rate effects helping to boost profitability per car.

The third quarter of 2022 was quite volatile and challenging from a political, economic and social perspective. Nevertheless, we were able to successfully list Porsche and get off to a flying start, said Meschke.

Asked about plans for software development now that Porsche AG has ended cooperation with Volkswagens Cariad unit for future research and development, Meschke said the company was in close contact with Google and Apple as well as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba in China for automated driving and infotainment technology.

Porsche, a huge money spinner for the Volkswagen group, overtook its former parent as Europes most valuable carmaker after the listing. Its shares stood at 99 euros by Thursdays close, up from a listing price of 82.50 euros.

Overall, 75 percent minus one ordinary share of Porsche AGs total share capital is still owned by Volkswagen AG.

Oliver Blume, chief executive of both companies, said the listing would increase Porsches freedom as a business while providing Volkswagen with much-needed funds for its electrification drive.

In the short term the cost of the listing and the impact of suspending business in Russia has pushed down Volkswagens third-quarter earnings by 1.6 billion euros, results released on Friday showed.

($1 = 1.0030 euros)

By Victoria Waldersee
Prosecutors Take Charge of Probe Into Baldwin Shooting

SANTA FE, N.M.A sheriffs department submitted on Thursday its investigative findings to prosecutors in the death of a cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on a film set in New Mexico in October 2021.

Santa Fe Sheriffs Office spokesman Juan Rios said that two binders of information were turned over to the Santa Fe-based district attorneys office, without setting forth any recommendations about possible criminal charges.

He said the case file outlines all the evidence collected, including investigative interviews and forensic analysis of physical evidence by the FBI. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said through a spokeswoman that investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review to make a timely decision about whether to bring charges, without mention of specific deadlines.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded by a gunshot during setup for a scene in the western movie Rust at a filmset ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

(Left) Halyna Hutchins in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 28, 2019. (Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie); (Right) Alec Baldwin in East Hampton, N.Y., on Oct. 7, 2021. (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geographic)

The Santa Fe Sheriffs Office already has made public a vast trove of law enforcement files concerning the deadly shooting, including lapel camera video of the mortally wounded Hutchins, witness interrogations, email threads, text conversations, inventories of ammunition, and hundreds of photographs.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza has described a degree of neglect on the film set for Rust but is leaving decisions about potential criminal charges to prosecutors.

The family of Hutchinswidower Matthew Hutchins and 9-year-old son Androsrecently settled a lawsuit against producers of Rust under an agreement that aims to restart filming with Matthews involvement as executive producer.

Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. But a recent FBI forensic report found the weapon could not not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.

A law enforcement vehicle leaves the Bonanza Creek Film Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M. on Oct. 22, 2021. (Andres Leighton/AP Photo)

New Mexicos Office of the Medical Investigator determined the shooting was an accident following the completion of an autopsy and a review of law enforcement reports.

Rust Movie Productions continues to challenge the basis of a $137,000 fine against the company by New Mexico occupational safety regulators who say production managers on the set failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety. The state Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission has scheduled an eight-day hearing on the disputed sanctions in April 2023.

In April, New Mexicos Occupational Health and Safety Bureau imposed the maximum fine against Rust Movie Productions and distributed a scathing narrative of safety failures, including testimony that production managers took limited or no action to address two misfires of blank ammunition on set prior to the fatal shooting.

Rust Movie Productions told safety regulators that misfires prior to the fatal shooting of Hutchins did not violate safety protocols and that appropriate corrective actions were taken, including briefings of cast and crew.

Other legal troubles persist in relation to the film and the deadly shooting.

By Morgan Lee
A pharmacist prepares a dose behind a counter lined with vials of COVID-19 vaccines in Toronto on June 18, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Regional Government in BC Drops COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Volunteer Firefighters

A local government in the Southern Interior of B.C. has dropped its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for volunteer firefighters, says a legal advocacy organization.

In a press release on Oct. 27, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced that the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) ended its COVID-19 vaccination policy for volunteer firefighters in September.

The ending of the mandate means Craig Nygard, who volunteers at the districts fire department, is able to work without the requirement of pre-shift testing for COVID-19, the Justice Centre noted.

It was a win to have Mr. Nygard reinstated in his position, both personally for Mr. Nygard, and also for the community served by CSRD, Justice Centre lawyer Charlene Le Beau, who represented the volunteer firefighter, said in a statement.

It was an even bigger win to see that CSRD has dropped the mandate altogether.

Le Beau had sent a legal warning letter to CSRDs Protective Services in April, demanding Nygard be accommodated in his request for a religious exemption from the districts mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy, after he was suspended for not taking the shots.

The CSRD granted the exemption. In July, Nygard was reinstated to his position but on conditions he had to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test prior to each shift, according to the Justice Centre.

Realize the Harms

Le Beaus letter stated that Nygard had sought out the exemption on the basis of sincerely held religious beliefs, as well as on the basis of having natural immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus after he tested positive last August.

The letter also said the volunteer firefighter has informed himself of the risks and benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

He has learned that the COVID-19 vaccines available at this time carry substantial risks including severe allergic reactions and death, and they have warning labels from Health Canada for the conditions of myocarditis, pericarditis, blood clots, and Bells Palsy, Le Beau wrote.

The release on Oct. 27 said at least 30 volunteer firefighters in CSRD lost their positions due to their refusal to receive the vaccine, causing a shortage of firefighters in the district as a result.

To the best of my knowledge, not a single firefighter, except for Mr. Nygard, was reinstated after being fired from their positions for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination, said Le Beau, while noting that the shortage of firefighters puts communities at risk.

The release said Le Beau also learned that the district is not ready to end the vaccine mandate for other CSRD personnel anytime soon.

In addition, CSRD has proclaimed its right to reinstate the policy if supported or recommended by the B.C. Provincial Health Officer, it said.

Le Beau said its imperative that governments and organizations realize the harms they are causing society by the imposition of mandates that restrict peoples bodily autonomy.

People are not going to stand for the erosion of their rights and freedoms in circumstances where the science is unsettled, where there is evidence of potential personal harm by complying with the mandate, and/or where the mandate goes against the persons religious, moral, or conscience beliefs, she said.
Gas bubbles from the Nord Stream 2 leak are seen reaching surface of the Baltic Sea, near Bornholm, Denmark, on Sept. 27, 2022. (Danish Defence Command/Handout via Reuters)

Russia Says UK Navy Blew Up Nord Stream, London Denies Involvement

LONDONRussias defense ministry said on Saturday that British navy personnel blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, a claim that London said was false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine.

Russia did not give evidence for its claim that a leading NATO member had sabotaged critical Russian infrastructure amid the worst crisis in relations between the West and Russia since the depths of the Cold War.

The Russian ministry said that British specialists from the same unit directed Ukrainian drone attacks on ships of Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea earlier on Saturday that it said were largely repelled by Russian forces, with minor damage to a Russian minesweeper.

According to available information, representatives of this unit of the British Navy took part in the planning, provision, and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 this year blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, the ministry said.

Britain denied the claim.

To detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale, the British defense ministry said.

This invented story, says more about arguments going on inside the Russian government than it does about the West.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russian foreign ministry, said Moscow will seek reaction from the U.N. Security Council saying on social media Moscow wanted to draw attention to a series of terrorist attacks committed against the Russian Federation in the Black and Baltic Seas, including the involvement of Britain in them.

A sharp drop in pressure on both pipelines was registered on Sept. 26 and seismologists detected explosions, triggering a wave of speculation about sabotage to one of Russias most important energy corridors.

Reuters has not been able to immediately verify any of the conflicting claims about who was to blame for the damage.

A gas leak from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor in Bornholm, Denmark, on Sept. 27, 2022. (Danish Defence Command/Forsvaret Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters)

Pipeline Mystery

Sweden and Denmark have both concluded that four leaks on Nord Stream 1 and 2 were caused by explosions, but have not said who might be responsible. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called the damage an act of sabotage.

Sweden has ordered additional investigations to be carried out into the damage done to the pipelines, the prosecutor in charge of the case said in a statement on Friday.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said allegations of Russian responsibility for the damage were stupid and Russian officials have said Washington had a motive as it wants to sell more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe.

The United States has denied involvement.

The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines have a joint annual capacity of 110 billion cubic metersmore than half of Russias normal gas exports volumes.

Sections of the 1,224-km (760-mile) long pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany, lie at a depth of around 80110 meters.

Black Sea Fleet

Russia said meanwhile that Ukrainian forces attacked ships from the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, the biggest city in Russian-annexed Crimea, in the early hours of Saturday.

Nine unmanned aerial vehicles and seven autonomous marine drones were involved in the attack, the defense ministry said.

The preparation of this terrorist act and the training of servicemen of the Ukrainian 73rd Special Center for Naval Operations were carried out under the guidance of British specialists located in the town of Ochakiv.

All the air drones were destroyed though minor damage was done to the minesweeper Ivan Golubets, the ministry said. Sevastopol is the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet.
A crew member prepares a grain analysis for a control made by members of the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) onboard the Barbados-flagged ship "Nord Vind" coming from Ukraine, loaded with grain and anchored in Istanbul, on Oct. 11, 2022. (Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia Suspends Ukraine Grain Deal Over Ship Attack Claim

KYIV, UkraineRussia announced Saturday that it will immediately suspend its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain deal.

The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack Saturday against Russias Black Sea Fleet ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that the Russians mishandled their own weapons.

The Russian declaration came one day after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the grain export deal, which was scheduled to expire on Nov. 19. Guterres also urged other countries, mainly in the West, to expedite the removal of obstacles blocking Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

The U.N. chief said the grain dealbrokered by the United Nations and Turkey in Julyhelps to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people, his spokesman said.

U.N. officials were in touch with Russian authorities over the announced suspension.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people, said Guterres spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian move predictable. He accused Moscow of blockading ships carrying grain since September. Currently, he said, 176 vessels are backed up at sea, carrying more than 2 million tons of food.

Russias Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused British specialists of being involved in the alleged attack by drones on Russian ships in Crimea. Britains Defense Ministry had no immediate comment on the claim.

In connection with the actions of Ukrainian armed forces, led by British specialists, directed, among other things, against Russian ships that ensure the functioning of the humanitarian corridor in question (which cannot be qualified otherwise than as a terrorist attack), the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period, the Russian statement said.

Ukraines Ministry of Infrastructure said that Ukraine has never threatened the Black Sea grain corridor, which is exclusively humanitarian in nature, and would continue to try to keep shipments going. It said since the first ship left Odesa on Aug. 1, more than 9 million tons of food have been exported, including more than 5 million tons to African and Asian countries. As part of the U.N. World Food Program, it said, 190,000 tons of wheat have been sent to countries where there is hunger.

Russia also requested a meeting Monday of the U.N. Security Council because of the alleged attack on the Black Sea Fleet and the security of the grain corridor, said Dmitry Polyansky, Russias first deputy representative to the U.N.

Russias agriculture minister said Moscow stands ready to fully replace Ukrainian grain and deliver supplies at affordable prices to all interested countries. In remarks carried by the state Rossiya 24 TV channel, Dmitry Patrushev said Moscow was prepared to supply up to 500,000 tons of grain to the poorest countries free of charge in the next four months, with the help of Turkey.

Earlier Saturday, Ukraine and Russia offered differing versions of the Crimea drone attack in which at least one Russian ship suffered damage in Sevastopol, a key port on the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a minesweeper had minor damage during an alleged pre-dawn Ukrainian attack on navy and civilian vessels docked in Sevastopol, which hosts the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet. The ministry claimed Russian forces had repelled 16 attacking drones.

The governor of the Sevastopol region, Mikhail Razvozhaev, claimed the port saw a massive attack by air and sea drones. He provided no evidence, saying all video would be seized for security reasons.

But an adviser to Ukraines Interior Ministry claimed that careless handling of explosives had caused blasts on four warships in Russias Black Sea Fleet. Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Telegram that the vessels included a frigate, a landing ship, and a ship that carried cruise missiles used in a deadly July attack on a western Ukrainian city.

In other developments on Saturday, Russian troops moved large numbers of their sick and wounded from hospitals in Ukraines southern Kherson region and stripped the facilities of medical equipment, Ukrainian officials said as their forces fought to retake the province.

Kremlin-installed authorities in the mostly Russian-occupied region have urged civilians to leave the city of Kherson, the regions capitaland reportedly joined the tens of thousands who have fled to other Russia-held areas.

Zelenskyy said the Russians were dismantling the entire health care system in Kherson and other occupied areas.

The occupiers have decided to close medical institutions in the cities, take away equipment, ambulances, just everything, Zelenskyy said.

Kherson is one of four regions in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally annexed last month and where he subsequently declared martial law. The others are Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

As Kyivs forces sought gains in the south, Russia kept up its shelling and missile attacks in the countrys east.

Russian shelling also hit an industrial building in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region.

In the latest prisoner exchange, 50 Ukrainian soldiers, including two former defenders of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, and two civilians were released Saturday as part of a swap with Russia, who received 50 Russian soldiers, both sides reported.
Guards wearing protective gear stand by the entrance of a compound in lockdown in Yangpu district in Shanghai on March 28, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Shanghai District Orders Mass COVID-19 Testing, Lockdown

BEIJINGChinas largest city of Shanghai is ordering mass testing Friday of all 1.3 million residents of its downtown Yangpu district and confining them to their homes at least until results are known.

The demand is an echo of measures ordered over the summer that led to a two-month lockdown of the entire city of 25 million that devastated its economy, prompting food shortages and rare confrontations between residents and the authorities.

At the start of the lockdown, authorities said it would last just days but then kept extending the deadline.

The Chinese regime has shown no sign of backing away from its hardline zero-COVID policy since a major congress of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concluded this week by awarding leader Xi Jinping a third five-year term in power and packed top bodies with his loyalists.

Strict measures have been imposed across the country, from Shanghai in the east to Tibet far to the west, where anti-lockdown protests have also been reported.

People wait in a line to test for COVID-19 in the Jingan district in Shanghai on Oct. 25, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Cellphone video said to have been smuggled out of the region showed crowds of both native Tibetans and Han Chinese migrants milling in the streets of Lhasa to protest a lockdown that has lasted as long as 74 days. The video was reportedly shot on Wednesday. There was no sign of violence.

Lhasa has been under tight surveillance since bloody anti-CCP protests broke out in the city in 2008 before spreading across Tibetan areas.

Despite public anger, the former chairman of Shanghais Communist Party Committee, the citys top official who was ultimately responsible for the lockdown measures, was given the No. 2 spot in the partys all-powerful Politburo Standing Committeean indication of Xis elevation of political loyalists above those capable of gaining public support through competent administration.

Li Qiang, who had been Xis virtual chief of staff when he headed the eastern province of Zhejiang, has been replaced by Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, a former president of Beijings prestigious Tsinghua University and minister of environmental protection.

Chen, 58, was educated at Brunel University London and worked at Imperial College London, where he earned a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering in 1993.

Many Chinese had hoped for a relaxation of the strict anti-COVID-19 protocols, which remain in place even while much of the rest of the world has opened up. Chinas borders remain largely closed and arrivals must undergo a 10-day quarantine at a designated place.

In a sign the CCPs tough measures will be maintained in the long term, Shanghai plans to build a permanent quarantine center on an island in the Huangpu River that divides the financial hub, according to the business magazine Caixin.

The 1.6 billion yuan ($221 million) project on Fuxing Island will expand existing facilities to create 3,009 isolation rooms and 3,250 beds, with construction expected to be completed in six months, Caixin said.

Chinas domestically developed vaccines are considered relatively ineffective and it has refused to approve foreign brands such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and J&J.

Still, the CCP wants more people to get booster shots before it relaxes its restrictions. As of mid-October, 90 percent of Chinese were fully vaccinated and 57 percent had received a booster shot.

In Tibets second-largest city of Shigatse, authorities announced that normal living and production order would resume on Friday.

Meanwhile, authorities on Wednesday ordered the lockdown of 900,000 people in Wuhan for at least five days. In remote Qinghai province, the urban districts of Xining city have been locked down since last Friday.

In Beijing, Universal Studios has closed its hotels and attractions to comply with pandemic prevention and control.

Commuters wearing masks ride scooters along a street in the central business district in Beijing on Oct. 28, 2022. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
A computer keyboard lit by a displayed cyber code is seen in this illustration picture taken on March 1, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

State-Sponsored Programs the Greatest Strategic Cyber Threat to Canada, Says Cybersecurity Centre

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea cyber threat activity pose a constant, ongoing threat targeting Canadian individuals

The federal cybersecurity centre warns that state-sponsored cyber threat activity from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea pose the greatest strategic cyber threats to Canada.

This activity is among five threat narratives considered the most dynamic and impactful by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre), part of Canadas Communications Security Establishment, in its newly released National Cyber Threat Assessment 202324.

State actors can target diaspora populations and activists in Canada, Canadian organizations and their intellectual property for espionage, and even Canadian individuals and organizations for financial gain, the report said.

It noted that this type of activity against Canada is a constant and ongoing threat and is often part of larger, global campaigns undertaken by these states.

We are calling attention to the state-sponsored activities against individuals and against businesses, said Rajiv Gupta, associate head of the Cyber Centre, on Oct. 28 at a press conference to release the report.

The other four threat narratives are ransomware; risk to critical infrastructure; use of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation to influence Canadians; and disruptive technologies such as cryptocurrencies, machine learning, and quantum computing.

We must be ready and able to defend Canada cyberspace, no matter where the next threat comes from, said Sami Khoury, head of the Cyber Centre at the press conference.

Monitoring, Controlling Canadians

The report said foreign state-sponsored cyber threat actors almost certainly target foreign nationals, diaspora groups, activists, and journalists to monitor and control these individuals and disrupt their activities.

It said state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have almost certainly monitored diaspora populations and activists abroad using means such as monitoring their content on foreign-based applications, targeting them on social media, and using spyware to spy on them.

The report referred to research by The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, which found that cyber threat activity targets activists in Canada through disinformation or intimidation on social media, denial of service attacks against their organizations, and compromise of their personal devices.

The Citizen Lab noted in a report it published in 2018 that Uyghurs, Falun Gong supporters, and Tibetan groups are well documented targets of digital espionage operations that are often suspected to be carried out by operators directly sponsored or tacitly supported by Chinese government agents.

The Cyber Centre report warned that as more devices are connected to the internet, the cyber threat surface expands. Cyber threat actors adapt their activities and utilize new technologies to achieve the financial, geopolitical or ideological goals.

Spyware tools used by cyber threat actors to compromise a personal device can be highly sophisticated, with some providing access to an individuals personal device without requiring them to click on a malicious link or open a malicious attachment, the report added.

At the press conference, Khoury noted that the assessment draws on many sources, both classified and unclassified. Some of our knowledge comes from defending the government of Canada against cyber attacks; some of it comes from foreign signals, intelligence. Some of it is publicly available information.

Exploiting Software Platforms

The centres report also said state-sponsored threat actors exploit commonly used software platforms to target thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands, of victims across the globe.

In March 2021, Chinese state-sponsored cyber threat actors compromised Microsoft Exchange servers worldwide in what was very likely an effort to steal intellectual property and acquire personal information, the report said, noting that upwards of 9,000 Canadian servers were very likely vulnerable.

Globally, an estimated 400,000 servers were affected, said a Global Affairs Canada (GAC) statement in July 2021 announcing that Canada was joining its allies in identifying state-backed actors from China as being responsible for this activity.

Canada is confident that the PRCs [Peoples Republic of Chinas] Ministry of State Security (MSS) is responsible for the widespread compromising of the exchange servers, the GAC statement said.

GAC also identified Advanced Persistent Threat Group 40 (APT 40) as one of several cyber groups from the PRC believed to have taken part in the operation.

APT 40 almost certainly consists of elements of the Hainan State Security Departments regional MSS office. Its cyber activities targeted critical research in Canadas defence, ocean technologies and biopharmaceutical sectors in separate malicious cyber campaigns in 2017 and 2018, the statement said.
The Role of the Crown in Australias Political Landscape

Commentary

The Australian Federation was created under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as stated in the preamble to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK).

The word Crown originally meant the monarch in their official governing capacity. In the nations retaining a monarchical figurehead, the term is now commonly used in an extended sense as being synonymous with the State. The Crown is, therefore, the State in all its aspects within the jurisprudence of the governmental realms and their subdivisions.

History books remind us of that momentous episode in the early 17th century when Sir Edward Coke angered a monarch for reminding him that even the king ought to be under God and the law.

Reflecting on this momentous event in English legal history, Lord Denning commented:

Those words of Coke, The King is under no man, save under God and the law, epitomise in one sentence the great contribution made by the common lawyers to the Constitution of England  If we forget these principles, where shall we finish? You have only to look at the totalitarian systems of government to see what happens. Society is primary, not the person. The citizen exists for the State, not the State for the citizen.

The idea of a monarchs absolute power received its fatal blow when Parliament went to war with Charles I, King Jamess second son. From 1629 to 1640, he managed to rule without having a Parliament.

During that time, he attempted to impose Anglicanism in Scotland, and a war broke out, which forced him to summon first the short Parliament (1640), and then the long Parliament (1640-60).

Then, when Charles tried to impeach five members of the Commons at the House of Lords, the former vigorously defended its members, and the King ordered their arrest. From this date (1642), the civil war became inevitable.

The forces of Parliament prevailed during the war, and Charles was arrested. The execution of a king was controversial at the extreme. The forces of Parliament were aware of the uncertain territory this action would lead them to take.

Despite knowing this, in 1649, a revolutionary tribunal tried and executed the king, the monarchy was abolished, and the nation, for its first and only time, became a republic.

The regalia (Crown, Sceptre, Globus Cruciger and Sword of State) lie on the credence-table prior to the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander at Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. (Peter Dejong/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Development of Modern Constitutionalism

According to the late German philosopher Karl Loewenstein, the demand for a codified body of fundamental law or written constitution arose primarily with the Puritan Revolution in the 1640s, as a way to prevent Parliament from exercising absolute power.

The work of the 17th-century philosopher John Locke played an enormously important role in the development of modern constitutionalism. His main concern was the elaboration of a political philosophy to underpin the 1688 Glorious Revolution.

In the constitutional struggle of parliamentary forces against the Stuart monarchs, Locke elaborated a contractual theory in which the primary justification for any government rests on the legal protection of our inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property.

This was also reflected in the United States Declaration of Independence, especially in its appeal to inalienable rights and the lawful right to resist all forms of political tyranny.

Although this contractual theory seems strange for those who think of the State (or the Crown) as a less voluntarist entity, if this contractual conception of the State is discarded, then democracy itself becomes extinct because citizens no longer hold sovereignty in a government.

Of course, governmental decisions are always made by individuals, so, if the majority principle is a fundamental rule of the democratic system, the verification of the largest number is the result of an arithmetic sum of personal volitions.

But many conservatives in Australia hold a more metaphysical view of the Crown. Accordingly, the Crown is perceived as the highest ideal of the relation between a monarch and their subjects.

The Duke of Hamilton carries The Crown of Scotland accompanied with Officers of Arms, the Royal Company of Archers and young people from Scottish youth organisations for the opening of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct. 2, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell-Pool/Getty Images)

Accordingly, the term Crown acquires an almost mystical status with a potent will that is not understood as merely the sum total of personal volitions.

The main problem with this metaphysical perspective is that the faithful become fully confident that they have espoused the only true and immutable constitutional doctrine.

Indeed, those who rely on such mystical explanations of our Constitution to defend the Crowns ontological superiority maybe unintentionally legitimise a dangerous perception that we are all members of one political body endowed with its own soul or spirit (Volksgeist).

In a democracy, however, governments are instituted by the people, and all power emanates from the people, who must exercise their power directly or by means of their elected representatives. When we refer to our constitutional model of parliamentary democracy, it would be far more appropriate to speak of the sovereignty of the people and not the sovereignty of the King.

Accountability of Australian Governments

Be that as it may, for the last three years, Australian governments have claimed to act on behalf of the Crown exercising coercive powers on a massive scale.

In some jurisdictions across this nation, entire populations were placed for many months under a form of house arrest, qualified only by a limited number of things they could do. All of this has been authorised with minimal parliamentary scrutiny.

It has long been held that accountable government requires an effective separation of legislative, executive, and judicial arms of government.

Accountability is central to democratic, representative government, but this is not possible if all power is ultimately concentrated in the hands of a few.

However, the Crown, which is epitomised in Australia by the heads of state, has no real power to intervene in the political process. Instead, these so-called representatives of the king, governors and governor generals, are ultimately chosen by the ruling political elite and act strictly according to their advice.

Above all, the design and operation of our parliamentary system is not about checking governmental powers, thus making accountability extremely difficult to achieve.

As stated by law Prof. George Williams, our Constitution does not embody our rights or aspirations and it fails to explain how the current system works.

Of course, Australians used to think prior to the alleged pandemic that their fundamental legal rights were well protected, but they have now finally realised that all their freedoms under the Crown are solely dependent on the goodwill of their political oligarchy.

Australians need constitutional reform as their governing elites have demonstrated a willingness not only to ignore its duty to protect fundamental rights but also to flout that responsibility by creating legislation that infringes on these rights.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Former President Donald Trump arrives at the "Save America" rally in Robstown, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Trump PAC Donates $20 Million to Support Embattled Midterm Candidates

Former President Donald Trumps super PAC donated $20 million this month to another PAC responsible for supporting Trumps endorsed candidates.

Trumps PAC, Save America, donated $20 million to Make America Great Again Inc. (MAGA-Inc), according to FEC filings released Oct. 27 (pdf).

Trump founded Save America shortly after he lost the 2020 election in order to help the GOP retake the House and Senate during the 2022 midterm elections cycle. It has been wildly successful at raising money, currently boasting more than $105 million in its coffers, but has come under investigation for allegedly misleading donors.

MAGA-Inc is another PAC fueling Trump-endorsed GOP candidates in tight midterm races across the country, and has invested heavily in contentious races wherein the GOP appears to be losing steam.

Though MAGA-Inc filed its articles of organization just one month ago, the organization has raised more than $32 million, receiving an additional $8.9 million from another Trump-allied PAC and $1.5 million from donor Timothy Mellon.

The PAC was established by Trump allies to provide independent expenditures on behalf of candidates. Unlike direct contributions to political campaigns, such expenditures can be made in unlimited amounts, which the PAC appears to be taking advantage of. In the last month it has spent more than $8 million on Trump-endorsed candidates.

MAGA-Inc made several million-dollar ad buys this month in Senate races across Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In each of those battleground states, Trump-endorsed candidates have begun to lag behind Democratic opponents in fundraising power.

The end-game financial plays by Trump and his allied PACs come amid a contentious and record-breaking midterm election cycle, which appears set to surpass even the 2020 presidential election in terms of campaign monies spent.

Whereas some $9.02 billion was spent during the 2020 election cycle, it is projected that the 2022 cycle will surpass $9.67 billion, according to competitive intelligence firm AdImpact.

For comparison, the 2016 presidential election between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saw $2.57 billion in campaign spending.

Although 2022 is not a Presidential year, there are still many high-profile and competitive races fueling the historic levels of political ad spending that will carry through to November, said an AdImpact report.

In 2020 we saw historic amounts of political ad spending in House races and expect that precedent to be the new norm.
J.T. Realmuto (10) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the 10th inning against the Houston Astros in Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Tuckers 2 HRs, 4 RBIs Fall Short, Astros Lose Series Opener

HOUSTONKyle Tucker got the fans jumping with a leadoff homer in the second inning. Then he hit a three-run drive in the third.

Ahead 50, the Houston Astros finally were going to win a World Series opener.

Instead, Tuckers first two Series home runs werent quite enough.

Kyle Tucker (30) of the Houston Astros hits a single in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

J.T. Realmuto tied the score with a two-run double off ace Justin Verlander in the fifth, then hit a go-ahead home run in the 10th that lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 6-5 victory Friday night.

Tucker had gone without an RBI in last years six-game Series loss to Atlanta.

He went deep in Game 2 of this years AL Division Series against Seattle and put the Astros ahead against Philadelphia when he drove a changeup from Phillies starter Aaron Nola into the right-field seats.

Then in the third, Tucker capped a seven-pitch at-bat by sending a sinker from Nola soaring into Houstons bullpen. He flipped his bat toward the Astros dugout and shouted in glee while rounding the bases.

Kyle, hes been fantastic for us all year. Should probably win a Silver Slugger. One of the best hitters in baseball. So I dont think anybodys surprised in our locker room, Verlander said.

Tucker also singled in the eighth, but in the 10th he came up short. Realmuto hit an opposite-field drive against Luis Garcia leading off, and the ball went just over the glove of a leaping Tucker at the right-field wall.

In the bottom half, he came to the plate with one out following Alex Bregmans double off David Robertson and struck out.

Aledmys Diaz hit a game-ending grounder with runners at second and third, and the Astros lost Game 1 of the Series just as they did in 2005, 2017, 2019 and last year.

I think this team, we have an ability when our backs against the wall to play our best baseball, Verlander said. I expect nothing different moving forward from everybody in this locker room, including myself. And hopefully I get another opportunity to pitch and can do better.

By Ronald Blum
UK Targeting Terrorist Tech and Finances, Foreign Secretary Says at UN Meeting in India

The UK is funding new counter-drone technologies and working to understand and disrupt terrorist finances, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday.

During a speech at a U.N. Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in New Delhi, Cleverly said technological advances had given terrorists new opportunities that we must counteract.

Within the space of just two decades, terrorists have gone from circulating crackly voice recordings from the depths of Tora Bora, to global online recruitment and incitement campaigns, to live-stream attacks.

Cleverly warned of online incitement and racialisation of vulnerable people in far off countries, calling on U.N. counterparts to work together to fight terrorist ideologies online.

He also said the UK was part of the collaboration to challenge the narrative of the ISIS terrorist group.

The foreign secretary also cited the Houthi missile attack on Abu Dhabi in January and the use of drones in Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying unmanned aerial systems of various kinds are used to inflict terror, death, and destruction.

Cleverly said the UK government is funding new counter-drone technologies and working with partners at the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum to stop terrorists from misusing drones.

He said the UK is working with tech companies and international partners to understand and disrupt terrorist finances, including in Somalia and North Africa. 

He also said hes looking forward to Indias No Money for Terrorism Conference in November.

UKIndia Trade Deal

During the visit to India, Cleverly said he had a positive and productive meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

We discussed collaboration on trade, investment, defence, and security to improve the lives and livelihoods of our citizens, the foreign secretary said on Twitter.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, that he hopes to make good progress on finalising a new trade deal, after the government missed the Diwali deadline for striking an agreement set by Boris Johnson.

Cleverly told Reuters that the UK is really prioritising the deal and will continue to ensure that our officials and our ministers speak about regularly and work hard to deliver, but declined to give a timeline.

Weve got a lot of work done. And its incredibly important that we remember that an extensive free trade agreement like the one were negotiating, its never going to be simple, but its an incredibly important vehicle to build on our already strong relationship and to make it really future-focused, he said.

Previous sticking points included a steep import duty on British whiskey for sale in India. New Delhi is also keen on easier British visas for Indians.

Cleverly also said, We want to make sure that our visa arrangements are quick and are easy, convenient.

The countries want to double bilateral trade by 2030, from more than $31 billion (27 billion) now.

Asked about a Group of Seven plan to cap Russian oil prices and its bid to get countries such as India to agree to it, Cleverly said Britain would not set New Delhis foreign policy. India and Russia have close defence ties, and India has become a big buyer of Russian oil since the Ukraine war started.

I dont think it would be right for me as a British politician to dictate policy to another country, he said.

Reuters and PA Media contributed to this report.
Chinese workers assemble electronic components at the Foxconn factory in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China, on May 26, 2010. (AFP/Getty Images)

Unbearable Conditions for Foxconn Employees Isolated by COVID-19 Outbreak

Workers plead for help

Workers in the Foxconn electronics manufacturing factory in central China were hit hard by a recent outbreak of COVID-19.

Under the Chinese regimes zero-COVID measures, many workers at the plant in Zhengzhou City, the capital of Henan Province, are isolated in dormitories or makeshift quarantine facilities, and have been asking the outside world for help with food, medicine, and improvement of the facilities.

Their online videos and posts went viral, despite Beijings strict censorship.

Workers are worried about becoming infected, as more colleagues test positive for the virus, they told The Epoch Times in recent interviews.

Foxconn, officially known as Hon Hai Technology Group, is headquartered in Taiwan. It claims to be the worlds largest electronics manufacturer and has over 40 production plants in China, according to its official websites.

The factory in Zhengzhou produces half of Apples global supply, according to the New York Times, citing Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, a financial services group.

Workers Isolated With Positive Cases in Dorms and Bare-Shell Properties

The Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou has dormitories in different locations. Workers who test positive and their close contacts are isolated in dormitories and bare-shell properties the plant has rented, according to workers interviewed by the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times.

Zhang Xiaoyas (using an alias for safety reasons) sister is a Foxconn employee. She told The Epoch Times on Oct. 24 that her sister and her sisters colleagues sharing the same room were locked down in Foxconns dormitories in Yukang North on Oct. 19, after one person tested positive for COVID-19.

The positive case lives together with close contacts who are negative, and people who were originally negative were infected and became positive [for COVID-19], Zhang said.

On Oct. 22, three other people tested positive for COVID-19, and her sister developed a fever that day.

The Yukang North dormitory complex is an old facility that is fully packed with isolated employees, according to Zhang.

It is very dirty in the building. There is garbage in the corridors and in the rooms, Zhang said, and patients have to clean up the garbage themselves.

Ms. Zhao (pseudonym), a Foxconn employee, is also isolated in the Yukang North dormitory complex. She told The Epoch Times on Oct. 25 that she would rather stay at Yukang North, even though its conditions are getting worse, than be isolated in a bare-shell property that was developed by Evergrande.

According to Zhao, there is no water or electricity in Yukang North and residents have not been tested in the past three days. But the conditions in the bare-shell property are even worse. Twenty people are locked in one room, bars have been installed outside the windows to prevent people from jumping off the building to commit suicide, and there is poor wifi there.

It is hard for people isolated there to send out information, Zhao said.

It is too far from Foxconn, and if we go there, no one will see or hear us. We have to wait to die if we stay there, Zhao said.

Ms. Yan (pseudonym), her mother, and her sister are employees of Foxconn. She said that her mother is quarantined in the bare-shell Evergrande property. She told The Epoch Times on Oct. 26 that there is barely anything there.

There is no bed in some rooms, and people have to sleep on the bare ground. Its getting cold now, said Yan.

It is late autumn in Zhengzhou. The temperatures in the city on Oct. 26 ranged from 48 F to 64 F, according to a weather forecast on Netease, a major news outlet in China.

Quarantine Facilities Lack Medicine and Food

Zhang told The Epoch Times that her sister had a fever of 100.94 F on Oct. 22, but wasnt given any medicine. Food was delivered once a day, and was already cold when it arrived, she said.

According to Zhang, there was no medicine, and only one thermometer in the room. Her sister and other positive cases had to rely on wet towels and drinking water to lower their body temperatures.

Dai Xiaoyong (pseudonym), another employee, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 26 that there was a shortage of food in the bare-shell property and that the supermarket in the residential compound was not allowed to be open.

There was no food and shops were closed; so people became worried. Hundreds of people broke into a locked supermarket and basically took what they could from the supermarket, Dai said, adding that there was a physical confrontation between the locked-down workers and security guards wearing white protective clothing and gear.

Mr. Liu (pseudonym) also said that employees locked down in the bare-shell property were starving and they shouted through the barred windows, hoping to get attention from the outside and asking people to deliver food to them.

Ms. Liang (pseudonym), a headhunter for Foxconn, is also in a quarantine facility. She called for help for those she had recruited: Some of the workers I have recruited have developed a fever. They have no access to medicines, no one to take care of them, and no PCR tests for them. Please help them to get some medicines!

Many People in Foxconn Tested Positive: Employees

Chinas national health committee announced on Oct. 28 that a total of 20 COVID-19 cases were reported in Henan Province on Oct. 27, all of which were recorded in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital.

However, multiple employees of Foxconn told The Epoch Times that the number of people in Foxconn infected by COVID-19 is higher than the official figure.

One employee said that 10,000 to 20,000 employees have been under lockdown at Evergrandes bare-shell property and that Foxconn has rented residential complexes and commercial hotels in other areas for quarantine as well.

A notice viewed by The Epoch Times revealed that 3,967 pools of samples were collected on Oct. 25 and that by 3 p.m. 91 pools out of the 1,500 pools tested had abnormal test results, meaning that some people may have tested positive for COVID-19.

The notice didnt mention when the other pools were tested or how many of them had abnormal test results.

The Chinese regime uses a pooling method for PCR tests. That is, a certain number of patient samples are combined into a pool instead of testing each sample separately. If a pooled sample tests positive, each person in that pool will be tested individually.

The Epoch Times is not able to verify how many samples are combined in a pool in Foxconns case, as theoretically different numbers of samples may be included in a pool.

According to another notice viewed by The Epoch Times, among the 40,000 employees in the Zhangzhuang dormitory complex, only 8,000 had returned to work. A deputy general manager surnamed Zhang ordered 16,000 employees to be released (from quarantine facilities) quickly if they meet relevant requirements. Zhang also ordered that people from the same positive pool be released directly after they had a negative individual PCR test.

Foxconn employee Mr. Li (pseudonym) sent a video clip to The Epoch Times revealing long queues of workers waiting for PCR testing. He said: Please help us!

The Epoch Times reached out to Foxconn in Zhengzhou on Oct. 27, and the responding staffer in the media department declined to comment. The Epoch Times contacted Foxconns media team in Taiwan on Oct. 28 and hasnt received any comment as of press time.

The Epoch Times is not able to verify the authenticity of the video footage it has obtained.

Reuters reported on Oct. 21 that Foxconns Zhengzhou plant has about 300,000 employees.

According to the New York Times on Oct. 27, Foxconn said in a statement that a small number of employees had been asked to quarantine.

Information Censored

As employees video clips and posts went viral on social media platforms both in China and abroad, employees are now banned from sending information online. Some have been warned by their managers about posting the pandemic outbreak online.

Sun Yan (pseudonym), an employee of Foxconn, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 27 that employees were required to submit their social media accounts to the company.

We are banned from sending information to the outside, Sun said, Internet connection was cut off in the Evergrande property because someone had been found posting information online. She added that a colleague received a warning from his manager for posting details about the situation online.

Ms. Zhang Xiaoya also told The Epoch Times that someone called her from a public telephone booth and asked her to delete her online posts and videos. These are facts, why should I delete them? Zhang replied and refused to do as requested.

But the person called her sister and told her to delete Zhangs posts, threatening her sister that they would deduct her salary deposit in the factory if she didnt obey.

Zhang later found that most of her posts had been removed from Chinese social media platforms.

The publication contacted Zhengzhou municipal health commission on Oct. 27 but hadnt received a reply by press time.

Hong Ning and Zhao Fenghua contributed to this report.
In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. and South Korea Air Force fighter jets, including South Korea's F-35A stealth fighters and U.S. F-16 fighter jets, fly in formation during a joint drill on June, 7, 2022. (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP)

US, South Korea to Hold Large-Scale Air Drills Amid North Koreas Missile Provocations

The United States and South Korea will hold a large-scale joint air exercise involving 240 military aircraft next week to bolster their combat readiness amid North Koreas ongoing missile provocations.

The drill, known as the Vigilant Storm, will run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 and involve major air missions such as close air support, defensive counter air, and emergency air operations, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.

Support forces on the ground will also train their base defense procedures and survivability in case of attack, it added.

The drill will involve 240 aircraft, 140 of which will be from South Korea, including its F-35A stealth jets and F-15K and KF-16 fighters. The U.S. will deploy its F-35B jets, EA-18 electronic warfare aircraft, and KC-135 tankers.

The Australian Air Force will also deploy a KC-30A air refueling tanker during the joint drill, according to the U.S. Air Force.

This years event will strengthen the operational and tactical capabilities of combined air operations and enhance our strong combined defense posture, it stated.

The drill was first conducted in 2015 under the name Vigilant Ace, but it was later suspended in 2018 as the former Moon Jae-in administration sought to restart denuclearization talks with North Korea.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, sought a tougher stance on North Korea and a stronger U.S. security commitment to the countrys defense as North Korea escalated its missile launches this year.

North Korea denounced the U.S.-South Korea joint drills as an invasion rehearsal and fired hundreds of shells in inter-Korean maritime buffer zones that had been established by the two sides in 2018 to reduce military tensions.

South Korea Plans to Change Strategy

Speaking at a committee meeting on Wednesday, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that South Koreas approach to the North Korean nuclear threat should shift from prevention to deterrence.

We have put our focus on trying to prevent North Korea from conducting additional nuclear tests and advancing its nuclear capabilities, but its time to change our strategy, Lee was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

The priority should be on deterring the use of nuclear weapons by giving them a clear sense that if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will bring about an end to the North Korean regime, and it will disappear completely, he added.

Lee said that South Korea has been in talks with Washington to expand the scope of their intelligence sharing, exercises, and South Koreas use of U.S. military assets under the extended deterrence strategy.

We should have capabilities to watch all of [North Korean militarys] moves starting from pre-launch stages so as to neutralize them in advance physically or non-physically, he added.

The two rivals exchanged warning shots along a disputed western maritime boundary on Oct. 24 as a North Korean vessel reportedly crossed a sea border with the South. The North Korean regime has said it stands ready to use nuclear weapons against hostile forces amid its renewed flurry of missile tests.
A man walks his dog past a for sale sign outside a single-family home in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2022. (Photo by Allison Dinner/Getty Images)

Veterinary Technician Has Never Seen So Many Dogs Accidentally Ingesting Meth

SAN JOSE, Calif.In October 2022, six dogs were brought to a MedVet pet clinic in San Jose for emergency drug treatment after accidentally ingesting methamphetamine while out on walks.

Ive never seen this amount of cases in such a short time period, said Terra Schropp, hospital director with MedVet Silicon Valley.

She said normally doctors at the clinic only see a handful of cases a year, but cases are now definitely increasing in frequency with one or two cases a month.

The cases were reported when dogs had gone on walks, commonly near homeless encampments, Schropp said.

Although thats not always the fact, she said.

Terra Schropp, hospital director at MedVet Silicon Valley, in San Jose, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2022. (David Lam/NTD)

One of the most recent cases occurred in south San Jose. Dog owner David Espinal told KTVU he took his husky out for a walk one evening, and the dog began behaving strangely after returning home.

Espinal took his dog to the vet, and the husky tested positive for methamphetamine.

VCA Animal Hospitals has stated that if an animal ingests a large enough dose of drugs, it can lead to tremors, seizures, or even death.

Schropp advised pet owners to keep an eye out when walking pets around homeless encampments or any unfamiliar areas to keep them safe while outside.

If the pet suddenly becomes hyper-excitable or agitated, starts twitching, or suffers seizures while walking, owners should bring the animal to the clinic immediately, she said.

Doctors at pet clinics can perform a urine drug screening to determine which toxins the pets ingested and can give them treatment accordingly. In most cases, veterinarians give the animals anticonvulsants via IV catheter as quickly as possible.

California resident Steve Watters poses with Luna, his Siberian Husky, in Santa Clara, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2022. (David Lam/NTD)

In San Jose, the six dogs that went in for meth treatment have been discharged with a clean bill of health.

You shouldnt have to worry about anything when youre walking your dog, said Steve Watters, a Siberian Husky owner in Silicon Valley.

San Jose resident Michael Carrillo shared his concerns for the east side of the city as well as downtown, where he says the homeless population has been increasing. Carrillo hopes the city can take care of it and make it cleaner and safer for the community.

Reporting by David Lam
A former Commissioner for Information and Tourism during the administration of Rochas Okorocha in Imo State, Prof Vitalis Ajumbe, has premised his withdrawal of All Progressive Congress membership on the party poor rewarding system at the national level.

This was disclosed in a letter he addressed to the incumbent Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma and made available to newsmen on Friday.

Professor Ajumbe, a founding member of the ruling APC in Nigeria, accused the national leadership of the APC of poor reward to him.

He said the party has reduced him to the background as the national leadership has failed to reward him despite his tremendous sacrifices, as well as financial and moral support to the development of the APC.

The chieftain of the party in the southeast explained that he had only benefited from several ministerial and board appointments during the past administration of former Governor, Rochas Okorocha in 2015 based on merit and roles he played to ensure the ex-governor emerge victorious during his 2nd term election.

He listed the appointive positions as: chairman of the Management Committee of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, commissioner for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Commissioner of Information, Tourism and Public Utilities.

Ajumbe added that governing party in the country failed to reward him despite his huge sacrifices for the APC in terms of juicy and befitting appointment since the assumption of office by the present APC-led government in Nigeria.

The ex-commissioner who also recalled his several private meetings with the current Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma at Owerri without meeting with him, lamented that he spent over N5 million of his personal money trying to keep to the appointments with the governor which he did not accord.

The letter partly read, Your Excellency, for the assignments you gave to me, you made it difficult for us to meet so as to submit my reports. You had invited me on several occasions to come to Owerri for a meeting with you. I would spend my money on flight tickets, hotel accommodations and other logistics and spend weeks in hotels without meeting you. I have spent over N5 million of my personal money trying to keep to our appointments that never held.

Your Excellency, I am deciding that, instead of spending my money so, to remain aloof or leave APC and party politics. I have known that those who suffer for the APC do not get rewarded at last. On 25th of May, 2021, I was appointed and inaugurated as a member of the APC and Presidential Think Tank Committee by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni who was then National Chairman of the APC on behalf of President Buhari. This position is more of advisory and image laundering and without salary.

IAs an elder at 62 years of age now, my wants are limited. I only work for the good governance of Imo state for my children and those unborn and Imo people. With the level of my national contacts which I have accumulated over the years, I can get my wants without being a member of any political party.

I want to remain a political consultant for those who know my value. As an elder statesman of this state, Imo, who desires its progress, I am always ready, if called upon, to assist in any way, free of charge, to add value to your administration that will give my state(Imo) good governance. 
Sanlam Life Insurance, Nigeria's leading life insurer formerly known as FBN Insurance, recently held a series of customer stakeholder forums in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Kano.

The purpose of the event was to express gratitude to her clients, stakeholders and partners for their support over the years. The forum also gave the business a chance to promote customer-management strategies like paying attention to client concerns, issues, compliments, and feedback. A customer who wished to remain anonymous praised the company's willingness to quickly address clients' needs. What I love about Sanlam is, they do not just promise, they also deliver. The company gives me peace of mind because they are always available. I will continue to introduce more people to insure their trust with this great insurance company: Sanlam.

Responding to these glowing testimonials, the Managing Director/CEO, Sanlam Life Insurance Nigeria Limited, Tunde Mimiko, expressed his delight that the company is satisfying its customers needs. We are humbled by these heart-warming comments from our esteemed customers. They say, the customer is king, if these kings and queens find us worthy of these kind words, it shows that we are indeed, doing many things right, Mimiko stated.

He continues by reaffirming the companys commitment to providing excellent service to its customers. We are grateful, and we promise not to rest on our oars to ensure optimum satisfaction for all our customers.

Recall that Sanlam Life Insurance Nigeria Limited and its subsidiary, Sanlam General Insurance Nigeria Limited recently rebranded from FBN Insurance following the divestment of FBN Holdings from the business in June 2020. The two companies, now wholly owned by the largest non-banking financial services group in Africa, Sanlam Emerging Markets Ltd, S.A, seeks to consolidate on the outstanding service delivery and customer relationship reminiscent of the firm.

Sanlam is a pan-African brand with a rich history and heritage. Founded in 1918 as a life insurance company. It offers bespoke financial solutions to institutional clients and retail customers through its five business clusters  Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Corporate and Santam.

With a strong presence in 33 countries on the African continent, and a niche presence in India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Australia, Sanlam is present in 8 out of the 10 largest economies in Africa. With a market capitalisation of over $8 USD billion, Sanlam controls 77% of Africas GDP and operates a profit of $1 USD billion, with new business volumes worth about $2 USD billion with over 154,000 employees globally.

Sanlams areas of expertise include life and general insurance, financial planning, retirement, investment, and wealth management. Sanlam is a purpose-driven organisation with efforts centred on assisting customers Live with Confidence.
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports making the rounds that bombs have been buried across Abuja.

Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, made the disclosure in a statement on Saturday.

He noted that it was disheartening that some persons were spreading false information after the terror alert by the United States, the United Kingdom, and others.

Adejobi said among the individuals making the claim are presumed peace ambassadors and patriotic agents of national unity in Nigeria.

He said the said the broadcast of fearful rumours to further create more panic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would do the country no good.

Adejobi said Abuja is safe and there is no imminent threat, nor is the FCT saturated with bombs as speculated.

The police urged residents to disregard this fake news which was purportedly sponsored to create fear in our people and heat up the polity.

We will continue to adopt all effective operational strategies to decimate the activities of non-state actors and other criminal elements in the country. 
Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has shown his resentment against the redesigning of the naira notes as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The cleric who said 80 percent of Nigerians especially rural people depend on cash transactions, described the policy as economic suicide for Nigerians, especially the rural dwellers.

His rebuttal was contained in a statement titled: Changing the Naira: This is no time for economic kamikaze! issued on Saturday, today.

Gumi said any policy that will cause more cash crunch will be a disaster for the nation, adding that the naira re-designing will not starve kidnappers of cash because they may decide to demand for dollars and other currencies to make life more harder to the people.

The statement read, People that sell goods will tell you that most Nigerians dont have the money to buy things; therefore most traders are running at a loss and are already folding up. At this junction, anything that can cause more cash crunch will be a disaster for the nation.

Many good ideas are marred by wrong timing. This is likely to be another one. No matter how ingenious the hatchers may romanticize; the benefit will remain phantom since the reality on the ground is incongruous and it spells doom for the escapade.

Eighty percent of Nigerians especially rural people depend on cash transactions. A sudden change to a cashless or cash-starved society will mean pauperizing them in a spate of a short time that could trigger  God Knows- an unprecedented socio-economic turmoil in this semi-skilled or unskilled population.

This kind of program is not for a government that is in the throes of its demise. If there is any advantage of such adventures, it usually comes after many years of excruciating poverty and hardship which no well-meaning government should hand over such cruelty to another incoming government to manage.

Had it been started in 2015, it could be logical since the same government will bear the consequence of its action. We are a witness when the banning of motorcycles, sell of petrol and the blockage of communication in banditry-infested states did not help to curb the menace but rather made the populace suffer the more. This clearly shows that the government doesnt consider the pros and cons of its activities which are largely haphazard, not well thought through, and worst still clumsily executed.

Mopping the cash from the populace as it claims to swell commercial banks will give an unfair advantage to a few people that control the banks against the greater population. As for the North which is poorly represented in the banking system, its a sure economic suicide.

How many Nigerians have access to banks? How many do have the privilege to enjoy the most simple of banking loans? You need to know someone to get a loan is no news. In such a Nigeria, with this tight control of cash flow, the nation is treading towards communism and dictatorship.

What we need is a free market-driven economy with minimal cash flow control. As for the question of starving kidnappers of Naira, it goes without saying that they will resort to Dollars and other hard currencies which will further put more pressure on it making the rotten situation bad-der.

kidnapping can only be stopped by robust policing, social justice for all, and equitable wealth distribution. Any cosmetic measures will not stop it.May Allah open our eyes and prevent us from jumping from frying pan to fire. Amin. 
The African descendants of British North American slaves and colonists are overjoyed at the extraordinary rise of a grandson of African soil.

The current installation of Rishi Sunak as British prime minister and the past election of Barack Obama as President of the United States by mostly white people of European descent is remarkable.

The British North American slavers and colonizers of Africans more than 150 years ago, and the rise of Sunak could be seen as a type of psychological reparation for slavery and colonization.

It has been said that the slavery and colonization of black Africans were Britains and Americas original sins, when Africans were treated as non-humans, used as 'chattels' to be worked to death.

Through the institutions of slavery and colonization, the world saw how Britain and America had absolute authority to control black bodiesand regulate black behavior.

For hundreds of years, and up to this day, it is hard to comprehend the inhumanity that characterized these acts. It is tough to discuss the violence that was used to sustain these acts. Many Africans on their way to Britain and America in the Atlantic Ocean died painfully, mostly of hunger, heat, and disease, while millions apparently wound up in the stomachs of aquatic animals. The ideology of white supremacy that justified slavery and colonization is still felt today.

Through slavery and the colonization of African bodies, minds, and resources came the growth of American industries and agriculture, and British industrial and economic maturation.

Up to this day, Britain and the United States have yet to compensate descendants of enslaved and colonized Africans for their forced uprooting, labor, cruelty, trauma, pain, and various manifestations of conflict.

I, for one, do not believe that there is any amount of money that can be used to fully compensate the offspring of enslaved and colonized blacks for their forced labor and traumatic sufferings, as well as the never-ending racial prejudice of all forms, which combine to form what I call grand stupidity, which results from one group protecting their freedom and liberty at the expense of discriminating against others, such as black people.

We must recognize that disparities in access to full institutional inclusion along with inequities in economic policies combine to make black people more susceptible to negative consequences than white individuals.

With the above odd and painful or lingering backgrounds in mind, we all need to find a way to celebrate, like in the case of Obama, Sunak's appointment was a sign of racial progress.

For the descendants of millions of blacks who were shipped in chains from Africa, "America (and Britain) has a genetic birth defect when it comes to the question of race," as once stated by U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries.

Whether whites like it or not, they must always ask in their mind how to atone for this defect, and compensation or reparation of all types for blacks is always part of the healing and reconciliation process. I dare say this move in regard to Sunak somewhat represents one of millions of actual chains of slavery and colonization as Sunak was installed to become its first African Prime Minister.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s often quoted "I Have a Dream Speech" that he gave in 1963 in Washington, is partly a manifestation of Sunak becoming the UK's first non-white prime minister.

As it is now known, Sunaks father, Yashvir Sunak, was born and raised in Kenya, while his mother, Usha Sunak, was born in Tanzania, then called Tanganyika. His grandparents were born in Punjab, India and emigrated to East Africa.

His parents got an opportunity to move from East Africa with their families to the UK in the 1960s.

Sunak, 42, was born and educated in the United Kingdom, where he worked hard, rose through the ranks of business and politics, served as UK Treasury chief, became Conservative Party leader, and is now Prime Minister.

Today, Asians, especially Indians, and Africans, especially Kenyans/Tanzanians, are expressing pride in the new British Prime Minister, who openly embraced his Indian and Hindu heritage some days ago.

Let us hope, as proud Hindu," he equally embraces his immediate African cultural heritage, especially the place of birth of his parents.

As the UK's first British African prime minister, many in Africa are delighted in Sunak's rise in Britain, a former home of enslaved and colonized Africans, but we must see this rise as only symbolic.

It was not long ago that Donald Trump, the former American President, who like Sunak is a far right or conservative politician, once tagged some African states as "s******* countries." We hope Sunak does not see Africa as "Shit H***".

Sunak, as part of his drastic African policy, should launch major criminal justice moves regarding tens of millions of pounds stolen from Africa, primarily by politicians, and ensure that they are prosecuted and convicted of looting in Britain.

Lets hope Sunak shows interest in Africa in terms of meaningful foreign policies, does not see Africa as a burden, and should remember that without Africa, where his parents were born, he would not be in London today!

Asante. Thank you! Africa!



Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi

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]
BEING AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT HAMPSHIRE, UK BY THE PRESIDENT GENERAL, OHANAEZE NDIGBO WORLDWIDE, AMBASSADOR GEORGE OBIOZOR, CON, ON THE OHANAEZE NDIGBO DAY, ORGANIZED BY THE UK AND NORTHERN IRELAND CHAPTER ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 29, 2022

Represented by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

PROTOCOLS

It is with inestimable joy that I bring greetings to you from the National Headquarters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. I am very glad that the Igbo are not only found in every part of the world but strive to uphold those unique sterling qualities for which they are known. The Igbo believe that dignity is the soul force that drives the human activities. Every Igbo, therefore, strives to the best of his/her ability to uphold the essential values that promote human dignity. Those values such as self-esteem, achievement motivation, resourcefulness, hard work, forthrightness and tenacity are the hallmarks of the Igbo persona. At the core of our essence is the Igbo pragmatic communalism -a concept that underscores the need to be our brothers keeper and that the stronger should protect the weaker brethren.

The very impressive turn out at todays event, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Day underscores the uncommon Igbo communal values, mutual responsibility and social solidarity which have been at the centre of our enviable collective achievements across the world.

The Igbo have experienced various travails in Nigeria. Some of these travails can be evaluated within the context of cultural clash; the Igbo cosmopolitanism, frontier spirit and the capacity to turn adversity to prosperity. The foregoing contextual evaluation of the Igbo spirit of never-say-die is unique among Africans. But, the only option before us is to remain focused, imaginative, audacious, unflappable and united. I therefore commend the President, Chief Mrs Aqueen Ibeto and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, UK and Ireland for exemplary organizational skills, unity and understanding.

As 2023 approaches, we must remain our brothers keeper. Ndigbo at home have shown tremendous zeal, commitment and support to the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and therefore I urge every Igbo to reflect deeply on the Igbo dilemma. As I stated in my inaugural speech in 2021 ours is a righteous cause. Those who oppose us will be defeated, for unlike them, we do not seek to dominate, control or humiliate our fellow citizens or fellow humanity. Instead, we seek a world where justice and fairness for all prevail, charity to all and malice towards none. The Igbo struggle for justice and equity in Nigeria has been long and tortuously agonizing, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. With our new narratives of courage without rancour, wisdom without arrogance and intelligence with humility, we will meet our detractors and adversaries or rivals with offers they cannot resist, and situations that compellingly encourage taking right actions for right reasons. And, this is where we are today.

We are convinced that Ndigbo have a rendezvous with history come 2023 because there is an unassailable maxim, founded on truth, experience and reason that history will always vindicate the Just.

Thank you

Ambassador Prof. George A. Obiozor, CON.

President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Isreal, Former Nigerian Ambassador to The Republic of Cyprus, former Director General Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.
A nation's fortunes, are intrinsically tied to the hope of its citizens in their future. When citizens are denied hope in their country's future, they scramble to leave, by voting with their feet.

You cannot instill hope by merely shouting Hope! Hope!! Neither can you bring about change by screaming Change! Change!! Any more than you can fill your pockets by chanting Money! Money!!

A state of hopelessness. That is precisely the tool expansionists who want to displace Indigenous Nigerians from their ancestral lands, still have left in their malicious arsenal.

Under the Muhammadu Buhari Maladministration, Nigeria is in such a wretched and hopeless state that even the US is evacuating families of its embassy staff from Nigeria.This sorry state has never happened before in Nigeria to the best of I and Is recollection.

That is not a good sign. Unlike their Nigerian counterparts of doubtful loyalty to the country that pays for their sustenance, US Intelligence Services have a multitude of sources, human, communications intercepts, satellite reconnaissance etc, through which they gather information.

True, they are fallible, but who would you rather believe,between the discredited, unpatriotic, bigoted, tribalist, and thoroughly unprofessional Nigerian security services on one hand, and their US counterparts with nothing to gain or lose in discrediting Nigeria, on the other?

Does current president Muhammadu Buhari give Nigerians any hope when his Maladministration is so hopeless?

Does having Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a ruthless tax collector, and over-ambitious, expansionist collaborator, as President, give you hope as a Nigerian, that all will soon be well for all Nigerians?

Does having Atiku Abubakar, a cunning divider, and over-ambitious, closet expansionist, as President, give you hope in Nigerias future?

What will give you hope in Nigeria as a Nigerian, in this utterly wretched moment?

Surely anything or anyone that can make Nigeria and Nigerians work differently from the recent past.

Anything that will make Nigeria work fairly, and equitably,for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, religious, or social background.

There lies your hope in a brighter future and more united and progressive Nigeria.

So, Nigerians vote wisely. Vote massively. Vote to make a concrete change in Nigeria's future.

Nigeria cannot continue like this, sinking daily under the voracious appetites of locusts, hyenas, and vultures,which overwhelmingly populate the APC, the PDP, andespecially the Buhari Maladministration.

Come February 2023, assuming nothing untowardhappens between now and then, which sad occurrence is a distinct possibility, given the gigantic incompetence of the Buhari Maladministration, Nigerians have a date with destiny.

It is either you vote for a hopeful future, or for a repeat, continuation, and intensification of the recent ugly past. So cast your vote for a hopeful future, not with your greed, or tribal ego, in mind.

Before now you did not have any, but Jah Jesus Christushas given Nigeria options.

In response to multiple pleas for Divine Mercy, Jah has thrown down a ladder to help Nigerians escape from hell, misery, and wretchedness. Do not turn away from Jahs help.

On election day, come out and vote massively for the Peter Obi/Yusuf Baba-Ahmed presidential ticket of the Labor Party.

Do so, not because they are perfect. Far from it. Truly they are far from perfect. But they appear more sincere. They will certainly make mistakes, but they are neither conceited nor arrogant, and are therefore especially amenable to correction.

Your perpetual duty as citizens is to express your views, opinions, and concerns, especially when things are goingwrong. Your added duty if you have the knowledge, exposure, and capacity to do so, is to proffer informed solutions, and enlightened advice to assist them in servingNigerians better.

The most stupid and hopeless situation possible is to grantauthority to idiotic people who go into office only to serve themselves, their egos, their health, their pride, their relatives, their prejudices, their religious, and their ethnic agendas, as is currently the case.

Such administrative nincompoops will always fail in their primary duty of listening, sifting, evaluating, and implementing patriotic solutions to emerging threats and problems confronting Nigeria as they arise.

You all know the case of the big man who according to Bola Tinubu was crying in public television after he lost a presidential election, but who while still in office, flew to South Korea at public expense, when Nigerians were drowning in the recent flood disaster.

Hopefully, the era of empty, useless, and hopeless, big man, demi-god Presidency will end with the current Muhammadu Buhari Maladministration.

Hopefully, the era of marginalization of Nigerians of whatever ethnicity or religion in their own country will end with the Buhari Maladministration. With that in mind, there is no excuse to stand-aloof by not voting wisely come February 2023. Lest you be personally complicit in Nigeria's misfortunes, if they persist.

As things stand right now, the only difference between Nigeria and hell, is that Nigerians have better options, whereas there are no good options in hell.

So, Nigerians, engage your best options by voting wisely.

We are watching 

Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE.
Cruise liner returns to Phuket

PHUKET: A delegation of high-ranking officials welcomed ashore passengers from the Spectrum of the Seas cruise liner as they made landfall in Patong Bay this morning (Oct 29) for the second time in less than a week.

tourismpatongCOVID-19transport

By The Phuket News

Saturday 29 October 2022, 04:32PM

Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengphaet, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, was directly appointed by prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to lead the delegation which also included Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew, Angie Stephen, Vice President of Royal Caribbean International and representatives of the Navy, the Marine Department, the Department of Fisheries, the Customs Department, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the water police force and the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare.

Of the total 4,000 passengers on the liner, the largest American cruise ship in the Asia-Pacific region, 3,732 tourists disembarked to come ashore at Patong. It is estimated the tourists could spend in the region of B13 million while ashore.

I am delighted to welcome you ashore to this world-class destination, Mrs Stephen told the tourists as they made land.

Phuket is considered one of the main destinations for tourists around the world, in particular in relation to cruise ship tourism.

Phuket being included as a destination on the cruise ship itinerary shows that Thailand has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and is ready to welcome tourists from near and far to its shores once again, she added.

The development of cruise ship ports as a part of the national infrastructure plan will only lead to further opportunity for tourists to experience the unique beauty of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea region, Mrs Stephen explained.

Royal Caribbean International looks forward to contributing in enhancing the quality and capacity of cruise tourism in Thailand and Southeast Asia, she added.

Official estimates predict that around 10 million tourists will enter Thailand in 2022, helped by the governments decision to scrap the obligatory COVID-19 health screening checks for incoming travellets.

Estimates state that Phuket will receive three cruise ships per week next year, a figure that is predicted to further grow in time. This will subsequently help increase the occupancy rate of hotels and businesses on the island as Thailands marine tourism potential is explored to the fullest extent.

The Spectrum of the Seas first arrived in Patong Bay last Monday (Oct 24), becoming the first cruise ship to visit Phuket since the COVID-19 tourism shutdown in 2020.

This is another good sign for tourism, Governor Narong said at the time. The ship can accommodate up to 4,900 passengers, but this time around it is carrying around 4,500 people, which creates another way to stimulate the economy of Phuket.

And after this, there will be more cruise ships continuously arriving, he added.
Forgotten Uyghur detainees face hell on earth

BANGKOK: Almost a decade after fleeing China, more than 50 Uyghurs are still languishing in Thai detention facilities, living in constant fear of being sent back.

Saturday 29 October 2022, 10:30AM

The immigration detention centre on Soi San Phlu in Bangkok is where where human rights activists believe that a group of Uyghurs are being detained. Photo: AFP

China has been accused of grave human rights abuses in its western Xinjiang region against the Uyghurs dating back to at least the 1990s, with the United States branding Beijings treatment of the mostly Muslim minority a genocide.

A damning UN report released in August detailed violations including torture and forced labour and large-scale arbitrary detention in what Beijing calls vocational training centres.

Many Uyghurs have fled China over the years, with some travelling through Myanmar to Thailand, but dozens have ended up stuck in detention - the apparent victims of what observers say is the kingdoms desire to avoid angering either Beijing or Washington.

The group of Uyghurs, arrested in 2013 and 2014, are currently being held in immigration centres around Thailand while authorities ponder their fate.

Neither their precise location nor their exact number is clear - a group of Thai rights organisations says there are 52, but a senator working on the case says 59.

Immigration Bureau officials have not responded to AFP requests for information.

Abdullah Sami, a 35-year-old Uyghur from Xinjiang who fled China through Thailand and now lives in Austria, has been in contact with some of the detainees.

The situation is terrible, he told AFP. They live with the fear that if they are ever sent back to China, they would suffer persecution there.

It is not an idle fear - in 2015 the Thai government forcibly deported 109 Uyghurs to China, in defiance of US pleas to protect them.

That move drew stern condemnation from Washington and the UN, which said it was a violation of international law.

It also sparked violent protests in Turkey - where nationalist hardliners see Uyghurs as part of a global Turkic-speaking family - forcing the temporary closure of Thailands embassy and consulate.

A month later, a bomb attack at a the Erawan shrine in Bangkok killed 20 people, most of them ethnic Chinese tourists. The trial of two Chinese Uyghur men accused of the attack resumes next week after long delays, many of them attributed to the unavailability of interpreters.

Security risk

Around the same time, in mid-2015, Thailand sent a further 170 Uyghur women and children to Turkey.

But some Uyghurs remained, and in July this year three men made headlines in Thai media after they escaped from a southern immigration centre, with one believed to still be at large.

But details about those still in detention remain murky, with no concrete information available on who they are.

It is clear that the Uyghurs are considered a special security issue, said Chalida Tajaroensuk, head of the human rights association Peoples Empowerment Foundation, which has led recent calls to free the detainees.

The group are believed to have been shuffled from immigration centre to immigration centre for the past eight years.

Nobody has an answer on how long they will stay there, Chalida said.

Diplomatic balance

Whats a life, in this kind of prison cell for almost 10 years? asked Thai senator Zakee Phithakkumpol, one of the leaders of the Islamic Central Council, which represents the kingdoms 8 million Muslims.

Support for the detainees has stepped up in recent months, with eight Thai human rights organisations urging authorities in July not to send them to China.

The renewed attention comes as Thailand prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apc) summit next month, with China and the United States both increasingly vying for influence in Southeast Asia.

The military junta cosied up to Beijing after seizing power in 2014, but in recent years it has sought to tread a path between China and the United States, the kingdoms oldest ally.

Lately, Bangkok has been rebalancing its relations between Washington and Beijing, rather moving closer to the United States, Prof Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University told AFP.

The massive diplomatic and security fallout from the 2015 deportation may also contribute to the governments hesitancy, but it is keeping mum about its next moves.

Contacted by AFP, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said the position of the kingdom remained the same, without giving further details.

Sami, who was in communication with a number of the men held, says their fears will not have changed.

Every time they spoke, he said, I tell them with sorrow that there is no news, there is nothing about them.

Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch, said the Uyghurs treatment was absolutely shocking and Thailand should release them immediately.

Thai Immigration is acting like it will hold these men indefinitely, for the rest of their lives if need be, to avoid offending China, Robertson told AFP.

If there is a hell on earth, Thailand has created it for these Uyghur detainees.
Man fatally stabbed outside Phuket Grocery store

PHUKET: A man has died after being repeatedly stabbed outside the popular Phuket Grocery store in Talat Yai in the early hours of this morning (Oct 29).

crimedeathviolencepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Saturday 29 October 2022, 02:59PM

Pol. Lt. Col. Sakol Krainara from Muang Phuket Police Station was called to the scene on Ongsimphai Road around 6:30am this morning where he found a man in serious condition who had been stabbed four times in the stomach.

The man, referred to as Mr Charoen (family name unknown), was unconscious. Staff from Phuket Provincial Hospital at the scene administered CPR before the man was rushed to hospital. He was confirmed dead shortly after.

Pol. Col. Sarawut Chuprasit, the Superintendent of Muang Phuket Police Station, and Pol. Lt. Col. Chatchai Chunu, Deputy Superintendent of the Muang Phuket Police Station, joined their colleague at the scene where further investigations were conducted.

According the eye witness reports, the attacker fled after stabbing Mr Charoen, leaving the injured mans black jacket and bag on the floor. After inspecting the bag, police discovered a large amount of bank notes in B20, 50, 100 and 500 denominations, although they did not confirm how much overall was found.

Mr Charoens bronze Sedan car was parked nearby where a large, 30cm knife was discovered on the floor near a large pile of blood.

After inspecting the interior of the Grocery Store mall, police discovered pants and a shirt hidden nearby a childrens play arcade area on the ground floor, which they believed to be those of the attacker.

Police confirmed they were taking the items discovered at the scene, including the bag of money, as evidence to assist in their ongoing investigations. They also confirmed that local CCTV footage would be analysed in the hopes of being able to shed light on the incident and identify the attacker.

They did not indicate whether the attack was a botched robbery but confirmed investigations are ongoing.

It was later confirmed that the attacker handed himself into police and is under investigation. Further details will be released in due course, police confirmed.
Police gun welfare scheme frozen

BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Police (RTP) will postpone indefinitely its gun welfare scheme in order to prevent unscrupulous officers from selling guns online.

policecrime

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 29 October 2022, 02:22PM

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol inspects firearms at the arms storage room of a police station. Photo: Supplied / Wassayos Ngamkham

Thefts of guns at government agencies were often inside jobs, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol acknowledged yesterday (Oct 28) as he announced the decision.

Police commanders, particularly chiefs of police stations, have been ordered to make more frequent checks of weapons being kept at their arms storage facilities, reports the Bangkok Post. They must also check whether the distribution of weapons for use has followed proper procedures. Random checks of weapons at stations will be part of the new regime, he added.

Abuse of the gun welfare system by police as well as other government employees is said to be the main reason for the unusually high number of guns, legal and illegal, in circulation in Thailand. Online gun sales are a booming business.

Police say officials at some state agencies have used the rights to acquire guns at low prices, known as Por 3 certificates, to purchase guns and then sold them in the black market, without applying for a licence for possession and use, known as a Por 4 certificate. Some have been known to use their Por 3 certificates to buy as many as five guns at a time before selling them online.

Some firearms are sold to buyers in neighbouring countries where prices are as high as B50,000 each, said Pol Gen Torsak, adding that investigations were under way to take action against offenders.

The RTP expects that putting its gun welfare scheme on hold will make it easier to check when guns were stolen to carry out crimes or sold online.

As well, police guns will be fitted with stickers showing basic details such as registration number, manufacturing date, record of storage or disbursement for use and when a device has been fired, said Pol Gen Torsak. The US-developed sticker system is used in many countries and has proved highly effective in preventing gun thefts, he added.

As a long-term measure, the RTP plan to use a QR code or barcode for police guns instead of account books to track disbursement. This should help prevent thefts such as the one that was recently uncovered at the Pak Kret police station in Nonthaburi, he said.

In that case, a total of 159 guns disappeared from the Pak Kret stations gun storage over a period of five years, with the perpetrator using fake documents claiming they had been signed out by officers. Authorities are still tracking down many of the missing weapons.

Pol Snr Sgt Maj Chaowalit Phumkhachorn, who was attached to the Pak Kret station, was arrested on Oct 20 at a hotel in Nong Khai in connection with the thefts.
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.

Vote

View Results
Good news: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

As Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt set a new course for the economy, little remains from the mini-Budget of their predecessors just a month ago.

But one announcement that escaped the axe is the expansion of investment schemes that can prove rewarding for investors.

Three types of investment that afford investors big tax breaks for supporting start-up businesses have been extended  and made more generous.

They are Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS). All exist to encourage investors to support new companies and entrepreneurs.

In exchange for backing fledgling businesses, investors enjoy generous tax breaks, including lower income, capital gains and inheritance tax.

But as economist Milton Friedman once observed: 'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.' Attractive though the tax breaks are, the investments are high risk.

Used in the right way, they can generate huge rewards. And it is not just the ultra-wealthy who are able to benefit from them.

HOW THE SCHEMES WORK... AND SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES

Venture Capital Trusts, EIS and SEIS allow investors to put their money into companies that are privately owned.

The hope is that with sufficient investment behind them, these small companies will grow rapidly and in time either be bought by a rival or list on the London Stock Exchange, generating profits for investors.

Some of the schemes' greatest success stories include recipe box firm Gousto, which achieved returns of up to 27 times for EIS investors.

Flower delivery company Bloom & Wild delivered returns of up to 18 times the original investment that investors made, while DNA technology firm Oxgene produced returns of up to 20 times.

But not all the companies that VCTs, EIS and SEIS invest in are so successful. As a result, investors stand a chance of losing all of their money. The level of risk and volatility is far higher than for more traditional investment portfolios.

VCT and EIS schemes look set to continue thanks to last month's mini-Budget. Until then, there had been a so-called sunset clause which could have seen these two vehicles close in 2025.

The SEIS scheme was also extended. From April next year, individual investors will be able to put up to 200,000 into a SEIS scheme each tax year  the current annual limit is 100,000.

Mike Hodges, tax partner at accountant Saffery Champness, says: 'It's important that an investor isn't blinded by the prospective tax benefits of EIS, SEIS and VCTs at the expense of the risk that investments in companies qualifying for one of these reliefs bring.'

He adds: 'The fact that there are generous tax benefits available should serve as a warning that there are big investment risks. That said, for the 'glass half-full' investor, the prospect of an upfront income tax break and a capital gains tax free exit can be appealing.'

SOME VENTURES ARE MUCH RISKIER THAN OTHERS

Venture Capital Trusts, EIS and SEIS schemes all invest in UK start-ups, but they operate differently.

A VCT  the most popular  is a company listed on the stock market and behaves like an investment trust.

A fund manager puts together a portfolio, typically of around 30 to 70 companies, and investors buy shares in the VCT, rather than in the individual companies of which it is comprised.

The fund manager can raise money to buy new investments or top up existing holdings. They can only purchase companies that are either not listed, or listed on the smaller Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Last tax year, a record 1.1billion was invested in VCTs  up from 685million the year before.

Annabel Brodie-Smith, a director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), says: 'Our research shows VCTs have invested 1.7billion in 530 companie

s since 2018 and these companies employ more than 14,000 people, with an average of 55 people per firm.'

EIS and SEIS schemes are much riskier. This is because you invest in a particular start-up company or a small portfolio of companies picked by a fund manager.

SEIS schemes can only invest in early-stage companies  those with less than two years trading history and fewer than 25 employees.

EIS schemes are still only available for start-ups, but can hold companies with up to seven years of trading history and less than 250 employees. The risky nature of EIS and SEIS means investors must seek professional advice when buying  or prove they are either a 'high net worth individual' or sophisticated investor.

SO WHAT ARE THE TAX BENEFITS FOR INVESTORS?

There are numerous tax breaks available. Depending on which scheme you opt for, you may be able to claim income tax relief on your investment, wipe out a capital gains tax bill and pay no inheritance tax on your investments.

VCTs: You can claim up to 30 per cent upfront income tax relief on the amount you invest in a new VCT (or new shares issued by an existing VCT). You must then keep the shares for at least five years. The maximum investment per tax year is 200,000.

So if you invest 10,000 in a VCT, 3,000 can be taken off your income tax bill. If you sell your VCT shares and make a profit, the proceeds will not be liable for capital gains tax.

Also, if your VCT pays dividends, they are tax-free. Big managers of VCTs include Albion Capital, Foresight Group, Gresham House (Baronsmead) and Mercia Asset Management (Northern).

EIS: You can invest up to 2million a tax year in new shares in EIS-qualifying companies to benefit from income tax relief at 30 per cent of the amount invested.

To retain this tax break, you must hold the shares for at least three years, starting from the date of the investment or, if later, the date the EIS begins trading.

After three years, you can benefit from capital gains tax relief on shares disposed of at a profit. You may also be able to offset any losses on disposal of the shares, either against capital gains or in some cases against income, net of any income tax relief.

You can also defer an existing capital gains tax charge if you reinvest the gain in EIS-qualifying shares.

SEIS: You can invest up to 100,000 per tax year  200,000 from next April  and receive 50 per cent income tax relief. You will also benefit from a capital gains tax exemption on any profits that arise from the sale of shares after three years.

With both SEIS and EIS, there is no inheritance tax to pay on shares held for at least two years.

WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM THE SCHEMES?

There are other, simpler and lower-risk, tax-efficient investments that investors should utilise before considering VCTs, EIS or SEIS schemes.

Tasty: Joe Wicks backs Gousto

For example, everyone is entitled to put up to 20,000 into a stocks and shares Isa each tax year and benefit from investing free of tax.

Tax relief on pension contributions also allows investors to boost the money they put into a retirement fund.

But for those who maximise their use of Isas and pensions, the three schemes  VCTs in particular  are worth looking at.

After all, pension tax relief is only available on the first 40,000 saved each tax year  or 4,000 for the highest earners.

Alex Davies, founder and chief executive of Wealth Club  a company that specialises in tax-efficient investments  says: 'Pensions tax relief has become less generous over the years. It is also increasingly difficult to make a good return from investing in buy-to-let property as a result of recent tax changes. So investors are looking for alternatives.'

WHAT WILL IT COST TO INVEST IN ONE?

Using these schemes does not come cheap. When buying a conventional investment fund, annual fees tend to be around 1.5 per cent. But annual charges on VCTs are typically around two to three per cent. There are also initial charges, which can be up to 3.5 per cent.

Charges for EIS and SEIS schemes are even higher. Managers argue that investing in start-up companies requires considerable research and subsequent management hand-holding.

HOW DO YOU FIND THE BEST INVESTMENTS?

There is no substitute for good, solid research. Read up on the schemes before you commit any money  and if in doubt seek independent financial advice. These investments are not easy to sell in a hurry  and sometimes you are locked in  so don't commit money you may need to access in the next few years.

Bestinvest, part of wealth manager Evelyn Partners, monitors new VCTs and new share issues from existing VCTs.

The best trusts currently available include:

Mobeus Income & Growth: These four VCTs invest predominantly in unquoted growth companies, but have holdings in more mature businesses. Examples include MyTutor, a digital one-to-one tutoring platform; Andersen, a provider of premium electrical vehicle chargers, and the restaurant chain Tapas Revolution.

The Albion VCTs: A joint offer from six VCTs which collectively invest in 70 companies. They invest in high growth sectors such as fintech, software, technology and healthcare.

Investments include Quantexa, which helps banking, insurance and government clients detect financial crime  and pharmaceutical company Proveca which specialises in children's medicines.

Pembroke VCT 'B' shares: It focuses on five sectors: wellness, food and hospitality, education, design, media and digital services. Holdings include photobook creation app Popsa; fashion label Bella Freud; and Chucs Restaurants.

Evelyn's Jason Hollands says investors must remember that income tax relief is only available on new share issues and that despite investing in growth companies, VCTs should be primarily viewed as income-generating vehicles.

He adds: 'As VCTs can pay taxfree dividends, most optimise this feature. So when they sell a holding at a profit, they will usually distribute the gains to investors by way of a dividend.'

More information on VCTs from the AIC at theaic.co.uk/vcts; The Wealth Club (wealthclub.co.uk); and www.bestinvest.co.uk/vcts/current-launches.
[October 28, 2022] AZURE POWER 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Azure Power Global Limited - AZRE

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 31, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Azure Power Global Limited ("Azure" or the "Company") (NYSE: AZRE), if they purchased the Company's securities between June 15, 2021 and August 26, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased or acquired securities of Azure and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-azre/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by October 31, 2022.



About the Lawsuit Azure and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On August 29, 2022, the Company disclosed that its Chief Executive Officer had resigned, less than two months after his appointment and that it had "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." During the Company's review of these allegations, Azure "discovered deviations from safety and quality norms" and "also identified evidence of manipulation of project data and information by certain employees." On this news, shares of Azure declined by $4.61 per share, or approximately 44.07%, from $10.46 per share to close at $5.85 on August 29, 2022. The case is Gilbert v. Azure Power Global Limited, No. 22-cv-7432. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221028005478/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[October 28, 2022] ABBOTT LABORATORIES 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Abbott Laboratories - ABT

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 31, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), if they purchased the Company's shares between February 19, 2021 to June 8, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Abbott and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-abt/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by October 31, 2022. About the Lawsuit Abott and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.



On February 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") announced that its inspection of the Company's Sturgis, Michigan facility, prompted by consumer complaints of infant illness, had yielded several positive contamination results for the Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria, linked to infant illnesses and death. On the same day, the Company, without mention of the FDA investigation, recalled certain infant formula products, including the popular brands Similac, Alimentum and EleCare, all manufactured in Sturgis. On this news, shares of Abbott declined by $3.79 per share, or 3.14%. Then, on March 22, 2022, the FDA reported that, although not "final FDA determinations," its most recent inspection conducted between January 31, 2022 and March 18, 2022 revealed that the Company failed to establish process controls "designed to ensure that infant formula does not become adulterated due to the presence of microorganisms in the formula or in the processing environment" and failed to "ensure that all surfaces that contacted infant formula were maintained to protect infant formula from being contaminated by any source." On this news, shares of Abbott declined by an additional $4.97 per share, or 4%.

Finally, on June 8, 2022, it was reported that a whistleblower complaint identifying numerous serious examples of misconduct at Sturgis related to the above had been filed with the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration ("OSHA") in February 2021, and that OSHA had delivered that complaint to Abbott Laboratories and the FDA during the same month. On this news, shares of Abbott declined by an additional 3.5%, further damaging investors. The case is Pembroke Pines Firefighters & Police Officers Pension Fund v. Abbott Laboratories, No. 22-cv-04661. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221028005477/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[October 29, 2022] Bank of Baroda launches bob World Benefits customer engagement programme

- To deepen digital engagement, customers will now earn points on transactions made through the bob World app; can redeem accumulated reward points on a wide range of products, gift vouchers etc MUMBAI, India, Oct. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India's leading public sector banks, today announced the launch of 'bob World Benefits'  a customer engagement programme that seeks to reward customers for carrying out digital banking transactions through the bob World mobile banking app. The programme encourages customers to accomplish milestones through financial and non-financial transactions on bob World. Customers will earn reward points as incentives and can redeem the points from a wide range of products, e-vouchers and charitable causes available in the rewards catalogue on bob World. . The 'bob World Benefits' programme is live for all customers of the Bank and customers are auto enrolled in the programme. Transactions that can earn customers points include fresh activation & login to bob World; fresh UPI activation & UPI transaction; UPI Collect; third party transfers within bank and outside; bill payments; recharges; Scan & Pay; flight, bus & hotel bookings; buying FASTag; applying for a locker and credit report generation. Each point amounts to INR 0.25 and the points are valid for a period of 36 months. Shri Akhil Handa, Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Baroda said, "bob World provides a wide range of quick, convenient and hassle-free services for customers an with the launch of 'bob World Benefits' we are now making it rewarding too. The aim of the programme is to increase customer engagement and encourage more customers to experience and take advantage of the many features of bob World. Customers are accustomed to receiving reward points on credit card purchases and we are now pleased to extend that experience to mobile banking too."



Customers can conveniently redeem their accumulated reward points on a wide range of products across different categories such as apparel, electronics, jewellery, home decor, kitchen appliances as well as e-gift vouchers and charitable causes through the bob World app itself. These redemption options have been enabled under the 'bob World Benefits' section in bob World. For a more convenient experience, customers can combine their points with cash for ease of redemption. In addition, new-to-Bank customers who open a B3 Digital-only Savings Account through bob World will also receive coins that can be redeemed for an OTT subscription. The B3 Digital-only Savings Account can be opened by customers sitting at their home through Video KYC.

About Bank of Baroda Founded on 20th July, 1908 by Sir Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Bank of Baroda is one of the leading commercial banks in India. At 63.97% stake, it is majorly owned by the Government of India. The Bank serves its global customer base of over 150 million through over 46,000 touchpoints spread across 17 countries in five continents. Through Its state-of-the-art digital banking platforms, it provides all banking products and services in a seamless and hassle-free manner. The recently launched bob World mobile app provides customers with a saving, investing, borrowing, and shopping experience, all under one single app. The app also serves non-customers by enabling account opening through video KYC. The Bank's vision matches its diverse clientele base and instills a sense of trust and security. It is moving well in that direction and bob World is a testimony of its roadmap towards Digital Transformation. Visit us at www.bankofbaroda.in

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bankofbaroda/

Twitter https://twitter.com/bankofbaroda

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialbankofbaroda/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf14FHPLt7omkE9CmyrVHA

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankofbaroda/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
And just like that . . . So much hope for Southeast Kansas City economic benefit might be kaput.

Don't fear . . . We're sure we'll get a much nicer press release on the topic from MSM very soon.

For now . . . We're stuck with social media gossip and a few know-it-alls talking about corporate moves that are above their pay grade.



Perspective . . .



City officials approved Cerner's TIF plan in 2013 to help the health care IT company build a $4.45 billion mixed-use office campus northeast of Interstate 435 and Bannister Road on 290 acres that formerly housed Bannister Mall. At one point, it rated as the nation's largest tax increment financing award.



The current agreement, after three amendments through March 2018, provides for as much as $1.745 billion in city and state incentives, sequenced throughout 16 project areas through 2025.



However, Missouri's TIF statute gives the city no more than 10 years from the Oct. 10, 2013, approval to designate a redevelopment project.



Translation . . . There's about a year to keep locals guessing and trick day-traders into overreacting.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The good people of Kansas City have A LOT to worry about as winter approaches.

The nation is running out of diesel fuel.

This cowtown is in the midst of another historic homicide uptick.

Jack The Ripper might be stalking local streets despite po-po denials.

Our progressive friends tell us that sex dungeons pose a clear & present danger to local ladies.

And now . . .

KANSAS CITY CONFRONTS COUNCIL DEMANDS FOR SLAVERY REPARATIONS!!!



This is part of an ongoing effort that moved forward this week . . . Check legislation sponsored by Council Lady Melissa Robinson & Katheryn Shields . . .



Ordinance #220966: "Expressing apologies on behalf of the City of Kansas City and declaring the City's intent to make amends for its participation in the sanctioning of the enslavement of Black people and any historical enforcement of segregation and accompanying discriminatory practices against Black citizens of Kansas City, encouraging others to join the City in this effort, and establishing a commission within ninety days to be known as the Mayor's Commission on Reparations to advise the City regarding reparation issues."

It goes on from there and apparently they're attempting to sign on Mayor Q up for this adventure.

What's interesting is that this effort has a great chance to pass through council and there won't be many politicos who will reject it on the campaign trail . . . After all, KCMO is mostly a progressive town with urban voting blocs controlling a growing swath of the electorate.

And so . . .

When we talk about GO Bonds and more money for city hall . . . Voters & taxpayers should understand that, like it or not, higher taxes might soon serve as payback for slavery.

Developing . . .
Gunfire continues as we head toward the weekend. Right now we take a quick glimpse at today's reporting on police action, ALLEGED misdeeds and crime reporting.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Police are investigating a road rage shooting on I-35 Police are investigating a road rage shooting incident on I-35 around midday Wednesday. Shortly before noon on Oct. 28, police got a call regarding an incident near the Choteau exit of I-35.It involved a black sedan and a semi-tractor trailer.

FBI background check blocked St. Louis shooter from buying a gun. Then he found a private seller Family members of the gunman who killed two and wounded several others during a shooting rampage at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School recently asked police to take a gun from the home, interim St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Sack said Wednesday.

55 new license plate readers to be installed in Johnson County OLATHE, Kan. - Law enforcement in Johnson County will soon have an additional set of tools to help investigate crime. Thursday, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously approved the use of a federal grant to purchase new equipment for the sheriff's department.

Oak Park High School out of lockdown after unsubstantiated rumor of armed student The Clay County Sheriff's office says that Oak Park High School was temporarily placed on lockdown Friday afternoon in North Kansas City, Missouri.Students and staff at the school are safe. The school and police were reportedly investigating the unsubstantiated threat of a student on campus with a gun.

Dozens fall victim to repackaging scam, prompting federal agencies to look deeper KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In July, Isaac Smith, an Overland Park resident, said he was hired by a third-party shipping company called Stantle, where he was promised $3,300 to repack and ship items for a month. "I was getting a lot of different items, like laptops and vacuums," he said.

Kansas City police investigating homicide on 113th Street KMBC file image SOURCE: KMBC file image A call about the sound of gunshots led police officers to discover a dying man early Saturday morning.Kansas City, MO police officers say they got the call at around 7:30 a.m.

Car crash damages Kansas City's Southeast Community Center, forcing it to close KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Southeast Community Center is closed until further notice after a driver lost control of a vehicle and hit the building. The building is near East 63rd Street and Jackson Avenue in Swope Park. Kansas City Police officers responded to the accident around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.

Man, woman charged in June Platte County murder KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man and a woman have been indicted for their alleged roles in a June murder in Platte County. McKayla Cheyenne Archambeau, 22, faces charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Platte County woman indicted for murder in June killing PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A Platte County grand jury has indicted 22-year-old McKayla Cheyenne Archambeau for a Jun 28 killing of a man near Farley, Missouri. Archambeau was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Douglas County deputy vows to find owner of wedding dress LAWRENCE, Kan. - It could be called the "Mystery of the Missing Wedding Dress," and it's a mystery that is now solved, thanks to a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy and social media. Deputy Libby Sweeny found the white wedding gown while patrolling a rural area near North 1500 Road and East 1750 Road, just south of the Kansas River on Thursday.

Developing . . .
A local tragedy earned follow-up reporting this week and here's there's one detail that stands out.



Here's the word that most locals are politely ignoring but might actually reveal a great deal about the nature of the alleged crimes . . .



"The detective in the search warrant said that when Kansas City police officers arrived on the scene at Northeast 48th Street and Randolph Road about 100 yards into the woods, officers found the 42-year-old in the passenger seat of his white Chevy car, completely naked, and with an apparent gunshot wound to the forehead."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

New details emerge in Clay County murder-suicide WARNING: This story contains graphic details that some may find disturbing.We're learning new details about the man suspected of killing two South American researchers earlier this month.Prosecutors say that suspect Kevin Ray Moore caused the deaths of 24-year-old Camila Behrensen, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and 25-year-old Pablo Guzman-Palma, of Santiago, Chile, then set their apartment on fire.Moore was later found dead in a murder-suicide in Clay County.New search warrant documents out of Clay County detail what detectives saw and collected when they responded to Moore's death on Oct.

Connection between Stowers Institute researchers, murder suspect remains unclear KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The KSHB 41 I-Team has been trying to find out how two Stowers Institute researchers, a mother of five and a dead suspect are connected. On Thursday, Kansas City, Missouri, police identified Kevin Moore as the person who murdered Camila Behrensen and Pablo Guzman-Palma.

Developing . . .
Ken Rafter (2nd, L) with his family on a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay in April 2022. Photo courtesy of Ken Rafter

Many foreign tourists are happy with the improvements in e-visa issuance by Vietnam, a far cry from long waiting times and slow processing on the first days after reopening.

Now, they expect the improvement momentum to be carried further and for new breakthroughs to happen.

Australian Ken Rafter said his family experienced a lot of difficulties obtaining visas through the Vietnamese Consulate in Sydney prior to their trip in late March, when Vietnam just reopened after two years of Covid closure.

Rafter and his family were probably the first to apply for Vietnamese e-visas after applications were opened on March 16.

Their flights had been booked with Singapore Airlines to Ho Chi Minh City on March 31.

The process normally took three days, but he heard nothing about his applications a week later, so he decided to visit the Vietnamese Consulate in Sydney and find out what happened.

"I was told our applications were in the queue, and would be processed in the next day or two. Once again I heard nothing, so I returned to the consulate again. I spoke with a very nice young Vietnamese woman, and told her of my plight, explaining that there were just four days before we were due to fly out of Sydney."

The woman assured him that she would pay special attention to his applications.

On March 29, he was informed by the consulate staff that the visas were ready.

When he arrived at the consulate the next day, all the six visas for his family were ready, one day prior to his departure.

"When we were in Vietnam, we had a great time as usual, and I sent photos of beautiful landscapes in Da Nang and Ninh Binh (in northern Vietnam) to the consulate in Sydney," Ken said.

Since the early days of post-pandemic tourism reopening, the e-visa service has gotten better.

German Eric Warnken who visited Vietnam in April found the process was simple.

"I work each day with computers so it is easy for me. But many older people without computers have struggled with it," Eric said.

"In Thailand the procedure is nearly the same," he said.

Despite the evident progress, foreigners are hoping for further improvements in Vietnam's e-visa service.

Multiple entries, fake sites

American Mike Burger who returned to the country in May and visited Hoi An, Da Nang and HCMC, said he wished the Vietnamese government would further facilitate travel to the country.

"I have used the system at least 10 or more times since 2018. It has been completely reliable in terms of the turnaround time to get the visa emailed back, as well as the payment platform using my credit card," Mike said.

"The improvement Id like to see is the ability to get a multiple entry visa," Burger said.

American Steven Thompson, who returned to Vietnam and visited Da Nang in July, said: "I have personally had no difficulty in getting an e-visa to enter Vietnam. I do like the idea of e-visas in general since the price is clear and payment is also easy and it also makes the arrival process at the airport more efficient.

"But the e-visa system is badly publicized; as a result, many people are unaware of it or confused about how and where to get an e-visa.

"Another problem is that there are many fake websites, and they often look more credible than the official website."

Since Vietnam reopened its borders and resumed pre-pandemic visa policies in March, Vietnamese immigration authorities have issued 459,000 e-visas.

An e-visa costs US$25 and takes three working days to be issued, the Immigration Department said this week.

It called on foreigners to visit the official website for e-visa application at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn because there has been a spate of misleading and false information about visa fees, especially on social media.

Vietnam currently offers 30-day single-entry e-visas to citizens of 80 countries and territories.

Following the Covid outbreak in early 2020, the government suspended e-visas for nearly two years until March this year.

So far this year Vietnam has received only 1.87 million foreign visitors, or 30 percent of its annual target of five million.
North Korea fires two missiles into sea as South Korea wraps up drills

A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva, October 2, 2014. Reuters/Denis Balibouse

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) off its east coast on Friday, South Korea's military said, while South Korean forces were wrapping up nearly two weeks of exercises aimed at deterring their northern neighbor.

The missile launches, at a time of growing fears that North Korea is preparing its first nuclear test since 2017, were the latest in a year in which North Korea has tested a record number of missiles, whether short-range missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or others.

The SRBMs were fired from the Tongcheon area in the North's Gangwon province, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, four days after the neighbors exchanged warning shots off the west coast of the divided peninsula.

"Our military is maintaining full readiness posture," the JCS said in a statement, adding it had stepped up monitoring and security while co-ordinating closely with the United States.The launches did not pose an immediate threat to the United States or its allies, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
ELKO -- After opening local catering company We Cater To You, co-owners Leila Welch and Desirae Leininger decided to look into other food options available in town -- and the recent boom in popularity with food trucks.

They decided Elko needed a new, fresher option, and expanded their business to include The Tasty Truck.

Having just hit their one year anniversary on Oct.1, they are now celebrating how their new business venture has gained such popularity that they earned a Readers Choice Award for Best Burger.

From fresh lemonades to hand-pressed burgers, The Tasty Truck brings the town a fresh, customizable burger option for lunch.

We tested our burgers a bunch, explained Welch. I have been a chef for a long time. We really like the build-your-own option; we don't have to list a specific burger.

Customers provide their own menu and The Tasty Truck makes it how they want it.

If we can start from scratch to create something, that's what we want, Welch said.

With a range of topping and sauce choices you can build any burger you want without being stuck with a handful of menu options to add or subtract options from.

Every burger starts with a fresh-pressed ground chuck patty mixed with a signature blend of 12 seasonings. Welch and Leininger explained that they wanted everything to be as fresh as possible for the best quality burger -- from fresh ground beef sourced from Idaho farms to locally sourced buns and produce.

We really want to support local businesses in the creation of our local business, they said.

Whether you are looking for a new option for a quick lunch break, or catering for a gathering, The Tasty Truck is sure to offer fresh-pressed happiness.

For more information, call 775-934-8916 and follow them on Facebook @wecatertoyounv and @thetastytrucknv.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has demanded that Iran immediately stop supplying Russia with drones that are used to kill civilians and destroy critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

He said this on his Twitter account on October 28, after receiving a call from his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Ukrinform reports.

"Today [on October 28], I received a call from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, during which I demanded Iran to immediately cease the flow of weapons to Russia used to kill civilians and destroy critical infrastructure in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote.

Earlier reports said that most members of the UN Security Council support an investigation by UN experts into Russia's use of Iranian drones against the civilian population and infrastructure in Ukraine.

Iran's transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia is in violation of Resolution 2231, which approved the nuclear deal between Iran and the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear activities.

On October 14, Ukraine's Ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya, sent a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the UN Security Council, in which he expressed a request from the Ukrainian side to send experts to the country to inspect the use of drones.

In the letter, Kyslytsya noted that according to publicized information, "Mohajer- and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) were transferred from Iran to Russia" in late August 2022, and "Ukraine assesses that this is likely part of Iran's plans to export hundreds of UAVs to Russia."

According to the diplomat, both models of drones fall under the category of prohibited weapons, as they are capable of flying 300 kilometers. In addition, both the Mohajer and Shahed drones are manufactured by Qods Aviation, which is subject to an international asset freeze under Security Council Resolution 2231.
If the Russian army attempts to enter Ukraine through the Zhytomyr region, it will be met with a strong rebuff.

Vitalii Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr regional military administration, told this to Zhytomyr.info, Ukrinform reports.

"Since the first day of the war, we have never stopped increasing our defenses in the north of the region. I will say what can be said: if the enemy wants to enter the territory of Ukraine through the Zhytomyr region, we will create hell for them," Bunechko said.

According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, border guards and law enforcement officers clearly understand what is happening in Belarus. Bunechko added that "it will not be an easy walk for them, as some people think."

The Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Zhytomyr region is more than 250 kilometers long.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine earlier did not rule out that the Russians might again attack Kyiv from Belarus through the Chornobyl exclusion zone or the Chernihiv region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated about 300 occupiers outside the settlement of Maiorsk, Donetsk region, on October 28.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in its morning update posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

Over the past day, the enemy launched four missile strikes and up to 25 air strikes and used multiple rocket launchers more than 70 times.

The enemy attacked more than 35 settlements, including Siversk and Prechystivka in the Donetsk region, Mali Shcherbaky in the Zaporizhzhia region, Davydiv Brid and Mala Seidemynukha in the Kherson region and Kobzartsi in the Mykolaiv region.

Due to unstable air medical services, the unpreparedness of the medical infrastructure of the Belgorod region, and the full occupancy of hospitals, the enemy is forced to evacuate the wounded by buses to the nearby city of Voronezh.

In the Beryslav settlement of the Kherson region, the occupiers are changing into civilian clothes and moving into private homes en masse.

The so-called "evacuation" of occupiers from the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region, including medical facilities, continues. All equipment and medicines are taken out of hospitals in Kherson. Doctors who refuse to leave are not allowed to enter hospital grounds, even for personal belongings.

About 300 occupiers who were preparing for an attack were destroyed outside the settlement of Maiorsk on October 28. About 60 lightly wounded soldiers were taken to medical facilities in the city of Horlivka. Up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and about 30 wounded in Chervonopivka, Luhansk region.

In the past 24 hours, Ukrainian aircraft launched 24 strikes on the areas of concentration of enemy weapons and military equipment and the positions of hostile air defense systems. On different fronts, Ukrainian air defense units shot down two Su-25 aircraft, a Mi-8 helicopter and a hostile UAV.

Soldiers of the Ukrainian missile troops and artillery hit the positions of batteries of self-propelled howitzers and other important military targets of the enemy.
From February 24 to October 29, the Ukrainian troops eliminated about 70,250 Russian soldiers, including 550 invaders over the past day.

This is stated in the report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released on Facebook.

Moreover, as of October 29, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 2,659 (+19 over the past day) tanks, 5,401 (+23) armored personnel vehicles, 1,708 (+9) artillery systems, 380 (+1) MLRS, 195 (+3) air defense systems, 273 (+1) aircraft, 252 (+1) helicopters, 1,406 (+5) operational-tactical UAVs, 351 cruise missiles, 16 warships/boats, 4,107 (+19) vehicles and fuel tanks, and 152 (+1) special equipment units.

As of the morning of October 29, Russian troops continue their attempts to go on the offensive in Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. In Maiorsk area of Donetsk region, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 300 invaders who were preparing to attack.

ol
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, has said he believes that the seizure operation of Kherson, temporarily occupied by Russia, will most likely last until the end of November.

He said this in an interview with The Drive.

According to him, the most trained and most capable Russian units are currently in Kherson. "A large share of them are from airborne troops of the Russian Federation, Russian special operation forces and the naval infantry, so the most capable units that Russia has. Those units form the backbone of the grouping and it's being strengthened by the mobilized personnel also," Budanov said.

He added that the combat component of the Russian troops in the Kherson direction is about 40,000 soldiers.

Budanov also commented on the possible decision by the Russians to blow up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

"In our assessment, if such a decision is taken, they will only blow up the road that goes over the dam to make it impossible to use for our vehicles and also the water locks of the dam which will cause only a partial ruination of the facility," he said.

Budanov added that this might happen when Ukrainian troops take Kherson and if the Russians decide to withdraw. "After withdrawal from the west bank [of the Dnipro River], they might turn to doing it to obstruct our advancement to the east bank," he said.

He also stated that in the current stage there is not a threat of invasion from Belarus, as there are currently only 4,300 Russian troops staying in the country.

"That grouping is very limited in heavy weapon systems and the majority - about 80% of the grouping - are mobilized personnel," Budanov said.

However, in his opinion, the situation could change very fast when Russia loses Kherson. That capable grouping in Kherson after the withdrawal from Kherson will partially be relocated to the Zaporizhzhia direction but part of them might move northwards to Belarus and create a threat there, Budanov said. "So we have to be cautious about it," he said.
The main goal for Ukraine in a full-scale war unleashed by Russia is the liberation of all Ukrainian territories from the Russian invaders and the return to its 1991 borders.

Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, said this in a statement on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

Yermak also emphasized the importance of freeing all Ukrainian prisoners.

According to him, it is necessary to continue to make efforts to isolate Russia with sanctions and destroy the economy of the aggressor country.

He said the main tasks included security guarantees for Ukraine and subsequent accession to NATO, Ukraine's membership in the EU, and an international tribunal for Russian war criminals. According to Yermak, it is necessary to ensure the responsibility of Russians and compensation to Ukrainians for all crimes and genocide, which will spread over several generations of Russians.

An important aspect is the restoration of historical justice. In this context, Yermak mentioned the "debunking and forgetting of Russian historical myths about Ukraine and our people; spreading great Ukrainian history and the truth about small Russian history."

"We still have a lot of work to do. Much more... But we will do everything together," he said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier formed a working group headed by the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, to deal with the issue of creating a special international tribunal to bring to justice those guilty of aggression against Ukraine.

The creation of such a tribunal was supported by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Kyiv is working on several options for creating a special tribunal, one of which is based on an agreement between Ukraine and the UN, which can adopt a respective resolution.
Ukraine is waiting for a reaction from Turkey and the UN regarding a statement by Russia about its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Ukrainian presidential press secretary Serhiy Nykyforov said this in a comment to Suspilne, Ukrinform reports.

"Ukraine did not sign any 'grain agreements' with Russia. The signatories are Russia, Turkey and the UN. And Ukraine has not signed any agreements with Russia, as it understands that it [Russia] almost never fulfills its obligations. Therefore, we are waiting for a reaction from the signatories," Nykyforov said.

On October 29, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Elko Daily Free Press readers have chosen the late Cindy Ellison as this years Champion of Elko.

The wife of Assemblyman John Ellison, Cindy died Sept. 28, 2021, at the age of 63, leaving behind three children and eight grandchildren.

John said he was overwhelmed with hundreds of text messages, emails, phone calls, cards and letters from everywhere. Ive never seen so many in my life.

Every Congressman or Senator has called, he said, adding that he received a visit from former Nevada Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Adam Laxalt.

State Sen. Pete Goicoechea reached out to the family, John said, and Gov. Steve Sisolak personally called him last week to offer his condolences.

John recalled their life together and their involvement in many local events, including the Fourth of July fireworks, the Veterans Day Parade, VFW Cross, and the John Wayne (now Saint Johns) Cancer Institute.

They were married for nearly 42 years.

Everything weve ever done, its never been I its been us, John said. He remembered how Cindy would stay up until 1 a.m. to prepare food for the Fourth of July celebration and then go to work the next day, or drive up with John in the middle of the night to the E on the hill above Lamoille Highway to replace light bulbs.

She was always working late at night on various projects and fundraisers, especially for the Cancer Institute after the death of their son John Jr.

We raised hundreds of thousands for John Wayne Cancer Institute or Love Lights a Tree with Charlie and Tammy Meyers, John said.

Cindys deep patriotism, love for her country and support of military veterans set her apart, John observed. She lived and breathed the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

John also paid tribute to Cindys ability to win over animals of every kind. And she never met a person who was a stranger, citing numerous longtime friends and the people she met at work.

She was always happy to meet people and happy to smile and show respect to them, he said.

Daughter Michele Mosely said her mother was proud of her dad and always bragged about all of her children and grandchildren.

She really, really loved her family, said Mosely. Her grandchildren, children and her husband were her entire life.

Cindys second family was at the Elko Justice Court, where she worked for 33 years.

Justices of the Peace Randall Soderquist and Elias Choch Goicoechea called Cindy the heart of the Elko Justice Court.

Cindys loyalty and dedication were unequaled, the judges said in a joint statement on Monday. The Elko Justice Court will never be the same without her, and there has been an indescribable emptiness in the office since she passed. Her friendship, compassion and smile will be forever missed.

Elko District Judge and former Justice of the Peace Mason Simons said his heart (and my photo albums) are so full of wonderful memories that Mandy and I have shared with John and Cindy over the years.

Cindy was a wonderful person, kind and generous, full of infectious laughter, mischievous and fun, Simons added.

John said those characteristics crossed political party lines, recalling how Cindy was well-loved by so many. Both sides of the aisle. It didnt matter what side of the aisle you came from, and they always got along with her.

Even the governor admitted he and his wife loved her because she was so pleasant and direct, John said.

Simons agreed, recalling how people would often come to the window [in Justice Court] and ask for Cindy personally. They knew they would be greeted warmly, by name, and perhaps be the recipients of some good-natured ribbing or teasing.

She rarely took time off from work, John said. She never took comp time, barely took any vacation time, and never took a sick day. Amazing.

John talked about Cindys support as a wife, particularly during legislative sessions on weekends to prepare his clothes and food before he returned to Carson City.

He also recalled their tradition of telling each other I love you before going to sleep.

She was well-loved, and she took half of me with her, John said. You couldnt ask for a better person in the world.

She was a once-in-a-lifetime woman, Mosely added.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2022 ) :China's Ambassador Nong Rong called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, here, on Friday.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the Chinese ambassador and highlighted the friendly and multi-dimensional historic bilateral ties between Pakistan and China, said a press release.

The finance minister shared huge gratitude toward the Government of China for providing support to Pakistan in this time of devastating floods. The latest flood losses were also discussed in the meeting.

Both sides further discussed fast-tracking progress on CPEC and exchanged views on further enhancing brotherly relations between both countries.

It was also shared that CPEC was a key project and its completion promptly was imperative for reaping lucrative returns.

The Chinese ambassador shared historical brotherly ties between both countries and assured the finance minister of continuous facilitation and support to Pakistan.

At the same time, the Chinese ambassador also shared thankful sentiments toward the Government of Pakistan for facilitating the Chinese companies working on various projects in Pakistan.

In concluding remarks, the finance minister extended gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong for the continuous support and cooperation being offered by the Government of China.
Indonesian Deputy Minister for Tourism and Economic Creativity, Ni Made Ayu Marthini Saturday said that direct air flights are very important to promote bilateral tourism in Indonesia and Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2022 ) :Indonesian Deputy Minister for Tourism and Economic Creativity, Ni Made Ayu Marthini Saturday said that direct air flights are very important to promote bilateral tourism in Indonesia and Pakistan.

Talking to APP, she said in terms of the population of Indonesia and Pakistan, the market consisting of 500 million people can open new ways of cooperation in all economic sectors including tourism and trade in both countries.

The minister said that there is a need to understand the mutual markets and different economic sectors in both countries, which could open new avenues for mutual economic cooperation.

Marthini said that the government is following a regular plan to promote tourism in Indonesia, in which major changes are brought in the tourism sector by implementing short, medium and long term projects.

She said that Bali is an important place in Indonesia for tourism, but there are many beautiful places like this in Indonesia where our government is committed to providing modern facilities in the tourism sector.

She said that the Indonesian government is working on a two-prong strategy to promote tourism, in which domestic tourists who belong to Indonesia.

She further said that apart from this, our government is working to provide modern facilities to foreign tourists.

The minister said that foreign tourists have a very important role in Indonesian tourism and that is why Pakistan is trying its best to attract foreign tourists to Indonesia.

She said that there are many impressive places in Indonesia for Pakistani tourists and Pakistani tourists are always welcome by the government of Indonesia.

Marthini said that our basic culture has a very important place in Indonesia's modern economic development and economic reforms, and modern tools will be used to improve this culture.

She said that the economic creative method has a very important role in the tourism and trade sector and the country's economy will gain stability only through innovation in the tourism sector.

Bali is a big name in world tourism, but the Indonesian government is continuing to work to equip 10 new tourist places with modern facilities, she added.

The minister said that out of these 10 tourist destinations, 5 tourist destinations were declared as a priority of his government.

Ayu Marthini said that apart from this, "we are also working on 50 such villages where international tourists can be attracted and from here the culture and civilization of Indonesia can be made known to the world.

She said that the concept of innovation and creative economy is very important in modern economies, which makes the country's economy sustainable and inclusive.

She said that economic sustainability is not possible without modern technology and creativity.

They said that information technology and digitalization have a very important role in modern economic creativity.

While briefing the ministry official said that Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, ranging from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua, which is made up of thousands of large and small islands, which are connected by the strait and sea.

According to data from, the Republic Indonesia in 2010 was as much as 17,504 islands.

The total area of the Indonesian ocean is broader than its land, Indonesia's land area of 1.91 million km2, while the area of oceans is 6.279 million km2.

With such widespread use, Indonesia keeps many natural resources on land and under the sea is beautiful.

No wonder Indonesia has many wonderful spots especially in the sector of the beach.

Among the many beaches, there are several beaches in Indonesia that are categorized as the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Among other Senggigi Beach in Lombok, Kuta Beach in Bali, Bunaken Beach in Manado, and many other beautiful beaches.

Indonesia has very beautiful natural wealth. Because of its natural beauty, Indonesia has become a tourist destination that is much coveted by both local and international travelers from around the world.

Not only that, Indonesia is also rich in culture, various tribes living in Indonesia with harmony and peace, each tribe has its own characteristics that make cultural diversity in Indonesia, besides Indonesia also has a distinctive culinary style in each territory.
The Black Rock Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management has completed the final Environmental Assessment analyzing the impacts of the Gerlach Geothermal Exploration Project in Washoe County proposed by Ormat Nevada Inc.

The geothermal project is less than a mile northwest of Gerlach. The town of about 100 people is the last stop before the Black Rock Desert, the site of the annual Burning Man festival.

The Burning Man Project which organizes the festival has been pushing to have the BLM slow down the process of studying the geothermal project, asking the agency to give more consideration to alternatives and allow more time for public comment.

Burning Man Project strongly supports renewable energy development and has published a 10-year environmental sustainability roadmap that includes our goal of becoming carbon negative, but the proposed siting of Ormats geothermal facility is causing tremendous concern, the organization said in a Jan. 7 2022 press release.

The Burning Man Project asked the BLM to complete a more extensive environmental impact statement rather than only doing an environmental assessment.

The BLM did not analyze the project under an EIS process, which amounts to unlawful segmentation of the NEPA process, the Burning Man Project said in Sept. 19, 2022 comments to the BLM.

With better forethought and deeper community engagement, it may be possible to minimize the detrimental effects of a geothermal project and provide long-lasting support to residents, the natural environment, and local enterprises. Burning Man Project can be a key partner and advisor to this future work that can proceed only in collaboration, the comments concluded.

The BLM published a Finding of No Significant Impact on the Gerlach geothermal project on Oct. 21.

Based on the analysis of potential environmental impacts  I have determined that the action does not constitute a major federal action having a significant effect on the human environment, Black Rock Field Office Manager Mark Hall wrote. An environmental impact statement is, therefore, not required.

Efficient deployment of renewable energy from our nations public lands is crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administrations goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress direction in the Energy Act of 2020 to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal production on public lands no later than 2025, Hall said in an Oct. 28 press release.

Ormat has proposed further exploration of the Gerlach geothermal resource based on results of previous geothermal exploration, including the drilling and testing of geothermal wells and access road construction.

During the one-to-two-year exploration phase of the project, up to 10 people will be employed with the potential for more in upcoming phases.

The Decision Record and other Gerlach Geothermal Exploration Project documents can be found at eplanning.blm.gov.
(@FahadShabbir)

Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2022 ) :US President Joe Biden will attend next month's COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, the White House said on Friday, vowing he would "highlight the need for the world to act." The COP27 conference will once more seek to boost global efforts to slow the climate crisis that is intensifying natural disasters, from wildfires to severe storms.

Biden will "advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts, and he will highlight the need for the world to act in this decisive decade," the White House said in a statement.

Egypt is to host the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Biden will be at the summit on November 11, before heading to Cambodia for the annual US-ASEAN summit and then on to Indonesia for a G20 summit.

US officials have said Biden has no intention to meet Putin at the G20 summit, even if Putin attends.

COP26 last year ended with a pledge to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels -- a goal the world is set to miss on current emission trends.
GABORONE, Oct. 28 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2022 ) :Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Wednesday that the country will slaughter at least 10,000 cattle in the northeast area to stop the foot and mouth disease from spreading.

"There is no cure for this disease. This disease can be cured by slaughtering affected cattle. That is the only way to keep the disease at bay," Masisi said during a meeting at the Senyawe village in the North-East District of Botswana.

In addition to this, he said that the country is sitting on a ticking time bomb in the form of foot and mouth disease and that if they do nothing and allow the disease to spread to other zones, then Botswana's cattle industry will come to an end.

He praised the farmers for working with the government to find a solution to the problem, even though foot and mouth disease was making things hard. Farmers will get compensation of 3,000 pula (about 225 U.S. Dollars) per animal.

The disease caused the southern African nation to halt all beef exports to the European Union (EU) in August. The country exports about 9,000 tons of beef to the EU annually.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2022 ) :Gasifiers are synthetic gas producers that convert biomass such as wood chips, wood pallets, wood shavings, grass, tree leaves, branches, cow dung and vegetable waste into cheap and environment-friendly synthetic gas.

Talking to APP here Friday, a local producer of Biomass Gasifier Muhammad Siddique Malik said that gasification plant was based on established technology around the world that could benefit Pakistan as an agricultural country. He said Pakistan had been producing immense biomass that could be converted into gas with a minimal cost of around Rs 50 per kilogram. "The produced gas can be used in stoves and to run the generators for producing electricity", he added.

Discussing the features of Biomass Gasifier, the manufacturer said that produced gas could be stored in especially designed gas balloons for several days. He said indigenously manufactured Gasifiers provide solution for heating, electricity generation and hot water production for residential and commercial scale.

He highlighted that the synthetic gas was composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen due to which it was safe and eco-friendly.

Answering a question, Siddique said that gasifier plant could be designed according to the need, availability of biomass and requirement of the consumer at local level.

He said different designs of gasifier work multiple types of biomasses including rice husk, cotton stick, banana tree waste, date palm tree, wheat straw, bagasse, maize sticks and wheat husk. He said gasifier could become a free energy supply in rural areas where biomass sources would be available.

He urged to the legislators that a favorable policy in the field of renewable energy would attract the investors, manufacturers and the consumers towards environment friendly energy solutions.

\395
The relations between Pakistan and the United States were once again on the path of holistic growth and expansion, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Masood Khan said while addressing foreign students studying in US universities at the International Students House in Washington D.C

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2022 ) :The relations between Pakistan and the United States were once again on the path of holistic growth and expansion, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Masood Khan said while addressing foreign students studying in US universities at the International Students House in Washington D.C.

The International Student House has 190 residents from 28 countries, says a press release received here.

The ambassador also thanked the United States for giving additional assistance of $30 million to help millions of people in Pakistan, whose lives were devastated by the recent floods. He appreciated that so far the United States has contributed $97 million to support Pakistan's initial rescue, relief and early recovery operations following the floods.

Pakistan's envoy said that after a brief period of uncertainty following US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan in August last year, the two sides have recalibrated, reenergized, and rejuvenated their longstanding partnership. While the emphasis on strategic coordination continued to jointly face challenges of terrorism and regional stabilization, efforts were being made to advance the two countries' economic agenda by accelerating the pace for engagement on trade, investment, energy, agriculture, science and technology.

Masood Khan said that Pakistan was poised to become a regional tech hub because of the successful launch of thousands of tech startups in the past two years. He informed his audience that International Venture Capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins, Tiger Global Management, Dragoneer Investment Group and Acrew Capital from the United States, Kingsway Capital from the United Kingdom, Speedinvest from Europe, Gobi Partners from China and Shorooq Partners from the UAE have started financing Pakistan's tech sector at pre-seed, seed and early stages of incubation.

Ambassador Khan invited international students and their respective countries to invest in Pakistan's tech industry where they would be able to interact and transact with tech-savvy young Pakistani professionals who were driving the digital revolution in Pakistan.

The ambassador appealed to the students to transcend national boundaries and work as global citizens for international peace and security, interfaith harmony and elimination of poverty. "You ought to be architects of a better future for humanity", he said.

After giving a detailed account of the devastation caused by unprecedented and deadly floods in Pakistan, the ambassador said that countries like Pakistan which were a victim of extreme weather patterns had a legitimate expectation for climate justice. "Pakistan contributes 0.4% to global emissions but it is the 8th most vulnerable country to climate change. The recent floods are a demonstration of that phenomenon", he said. There was a growing consensus for the recognition of the principle of 'loss and damage', he added.

The ambassador said that apart from global politics on climate change, it was imperative that Pakistan was supported by the international community to rehabilitate displaced population, rebuild a resilient infrastructure and reconstruct the destroyed neighborhoods, schools and healthcare facilities.

The ambassador's presentation was followed by an interactive session during which students from Mexico, India, Indonesia, Singapore, the US and several other countries asked questions about the future of Pak-US relations and the prospects of peace between India and Pakistan.

The ambassador was welcomed by Michelle bond, President of the board of International Student House and hosted by its Executive Director, Daniel Bremer.

The International Student House, located in the heart of Washington D.C., has been hosting students for the past 85 years. It promotes intercultural dialogue, encourages lifelong connections and fosters global citizenship in its residents. Several Pakistanis have been members of the House while studying in the Greater Washington area.
VLADIVOSTOK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) The opening ceremony of air communication between the Russian eastern city of Vladivostok and the Laotian capital of Vientiane took place at the Vladivostok airport, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Saturday.

This is the first regular international flight launched from Vladivostok in a long time. Ural Airlines will operate flights between the Russian Federal subject of Primorye and Laos every week on Saturdays. Earlier, the company RusAzia, which organizes flights, told Sputnik that the cost of round-trip tickets in economy class in the autumn season was 105,000 rubles ($1700).

At the opening ceremony, the acting head of the airport, Denis Chmutov, noted that thanks to the new flight, Russian tourists will be able not only to visit Laos but also travel throughout Southeast Asia.

On the same day, Alexander Virich, Honorary Consul of Laos in Vladivostok, told Sputnik that a direct flight to Myanmar can also be launched from Vladivostok.

"We have another country in the future - Myanmar," Virich said.

Virich noted that "it is too early to talk" about the details of air communication on the new route.

Earlier in October, Myanmar ambassador in Moscow Lwin Oo told Sputnik that Myanmar is engaged in negotiations with Moscow on the establishment of direct flights and is expecting to launch charter and cargo flights from Yangon to Moscow via Novosibirsk by the end of 2022.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) At least one person died and over a dozen others were injured during unrest near the Grand Makki Mosque in Zahedan, the capital of Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, the Tasnim news agency reports.

Unknown individuals opened fire near the mosque on Friday, stones were also thrown at passing cars, according to Iranian media reports.

Tasnim said that at least one person was killed near the mosque and 14 others were injured.

Mass riots began in Iran in mid-September in connection with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who passed away while in police custody after being detained for wearing an "improper" hijab.

Tehran believes the unrest was planned by foreign powers.

On Friday, Iranian media reported that the death of a 16-year-old Iranian girl, Sarina Saedi, who passed away at a hospital from a potential drug overdose on Thursday, has been purposefully linked by some media to the ongoing unrest in Iran in an attempt to further fuel the protests.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) An explosion has occurred at a mosque in the Afghan capital of Kabul, resulting in the injury of at least seven people, media report.

The blast took place on Friday, during prayers at the Sheikh Mohammad Rouhani mosque, Spokesman for Kabul Police Command Khalid Zadran told Tolo news.

According to Zadran, at least seven people were injured by the blast.

Earlier this month, four people died and 25 others were injured in an explosion that occurred inside a mosque of the Afghan interior ministry in Kabul during prayers.

At the end of September, an explosion at an education center in the Afghan capital left 40 dead, while more than 80 people were injured, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th October, 2022) 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.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday that Democrats are concerned about the possible outcome of midterm elections in the United States in November.

"Democrats are kinda worried about where this is going right now, and it's felt worse in the last week or so," Psaki told the MSNBC broadcaster, adding that "people are fearful of where the momentum is going in some of these races.

"

She added that "numbers in some of the House races are not where they should be."

Psaki said that there would be "investigations" and "multiple impeachments" if Republicans are in control of the House.

US voters go to the polls on November 8 to cast their ballots in the midterm elections, as the Democratic Party's narrow control of Congress hangs in the balance. All 435 House seats and 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate are up for election this year, in addition to statewide and local positions.
(@FahadShabbir)

BAKU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) Russia is following the evolution of doctrinal documents of Western countries, especially the United States, and is concerned about their blurriness and the growing number of scenarios involving the use of nuclear weapons, while the Russian Military Doctrine does not allow any double interpretations on the possible use of nuclear arms, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has told Sputnik.

On Thursday, the US Department of Defense released the National Defense Strategy, which characterizes Russia as an "acute threat." The document characterizes Russia as posing a more immediate threat to US interests and values than China, which is characterized as a "pacing challenge." According to the strategy, Washington wants to extend its 75-year record of not using nuclear weapons and aims to reduce the risk of a nuclear war.

"I can say that we are following very closely, both militarily and politically, the overall evolution of strategies of Western nuclear-weapon states, including the United Kingdom, France, and, above all, the US.

We are also following developments in the means of delivery and the weapons itself," Grushko said.

The deputy minister added that Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns about this issue.

"The language of nuclear strategies is quite blurry, and we see an increase in the number of scenarios that allow the use of nuclear weapons, including (scenarios) outside the nuclear context. By the way, this also applies to the French Nuclear Strategy," Grushko said.

"Our nuclear doctrine and the relevant documents concerning the possible use of nuclear weapons, they are very precise and do not allow any double interpretations. They clearly say that, outside the nuclear context, nuclear weapons can be used only if there is a threat to the very existence of the state. That is it. This is an absolutely clear criterion," the deputy minister said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th October, 2022) The Japanese authorities are considering the possibility of developing a prototype submarine capable of launching US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Saturday, citing sources.

According to the report, the government was initially planning to deploy missiles on ships and aircraft, but the Japanese military voiced concerns about the danger of detection of bases by enemy forces. Experts believe that it is necessary to consider the deployment of missiles on a submarine that is much harder to track to minimize such a threat.

The development of the prototype submarine could begin in the 2024 fiscal year, which will begin on April 1, 2024, and will end on March 31, 2025. Both vertical and horizontal launch systems are considered an option for the prototype. The Japanese military will asses the test results of the prototype within ten years and will make a decision on the necessity to deploy Japan's Self-Defense Forces with such submarines, the report said.

On Friday, the NHK broadcaster reported that the Japanese government is considering the procurement of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. Tokyo is exploring the possibility of using Tomahawk missiles as a deterrent and an alternative until Japan's "standoff" missiles that can attack targets from beyond the enemy range are fully deployed.

The Japanese government is expected to work closely with the ruling parties and the United States so that the deal could be struck.

Tokyo is currently modernizing the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 Surface-to-Ship Missile System and is planning to begin large-scale production of these "standoff" missiles, with the first deployment being scheduled for the fiscal year of 2026, or later, the report said. Modernized missiles will be able to strike targets at a range of some 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).

On September 1, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced that it requested a record-high military budget for 2023 of almost 5.6 trillion Yen ($41.4 billion). This sum only contains the costs that the ministry was prepared to disclose. Experts and media believe that the actual requested budget stands at 6.5 trillion yen. Japan's defense budget for 2022 is 5.4 trillion yen, which was also a record high.

Media reported earlier that the undisclosed part of the budget includes "standoff" missiles with the allocation of over 30 billion yen for their development - the most costly item in this year's budget.
As Pope Francis prepares to embark on his 39th Apostolic Journey abroad to visit Bahrain, we offer an overview of the Church in the Gulf nation, home to some 80,000 Catholics.

By Lisa Zengarini

Similar to the other Muslim nations of the Arabian Peninsula, the presence of Christian communities in Bahrain is relatively recent and is mostly related to that of diplomatic staff and of foreign companies and workers, who began flowing to the Gulf island nation starting from the early 1930s.

At first, Catholics hailed mostly from neighbouring Middle Eastern countries but, after the oil boom in the region, thousands of Christian immigrants from Asia also started to arrive.

The Catholic community in Bahrain

Even today, the vast majority of Christians in Bahrain (who account for some 15% of the population, 70% of which is Muslim) is made up of foreign citizens who reside there for work purposes.

They come mostly from Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine and Jordan, but also from Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, and also Western countries.

It should also be noted that Bahrain is one of the few Gulf states to have a local Christian population: they are about 1,000, mostly Catholics originating from neighbouring Arab countries, who arrived in Bahrain between 1930 and 1950, and who have been granted Bahraini citizenship. The Gulf nation also hosts other religious communities including Jews and Hindus.

A long tradition of religious tolerance

Although Islam is the official religion and Bahrains legal system is based on Sharia Law (the Islamic law), Christian communities and other religions are allowed freedom of worship.

In fact, despite ongoing tensions within the Muslim-majority community between Shias and Sunnites, the al-Khalifa Kingdom has a long tradition of religious tolerance and is open to interreligious dialogue as shown, amongst other things, by the fact that Bahrain is home to several non-Muslim places of worship, including two churches.

Two Catholic churches in Bahrain

The first Catholic church to be erected in modern times in the Gulf region is indeed located in Bahrain: the Church of the Sacred Heart was built in 1939 in the capital Manama, on a plot of land graciously donated by the Emir to the Catholic Church.

In recent years, a second church has been erected in the municipality of Awali on a 9,000 square-meter plot of land given to the Church by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa in 2013.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia is presently the largest Catholic church in the region, seating 2,300 people. The project, which was strongly advocated by the late Bishop Camillo Ballin, at the time Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, was launched in 2014. The modern-style church was consecrated on 10 December 2021 by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, in the presence of King Hamad, who on that same day was given a letter from Pope Francis.

Significant progress in Holy See-Bahrain diplomatic relations

This openness to interreligious dialogue is further testified by the positive diplomatic interaction with the Holy See, which established diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Bahrain in 1999.

Relations have significantly progressed in more recent years and specifically since 2014, when Pope Francis received King Hamad, who presented the Pope with a model of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia and officially invited him to visit the Kingdom. As reported by the Holy See Press Office during their meeting, the Holy Father and the King discussed peace and stability in the Middle East and the Christian communitys positive contribution to the country.

This official visit was followed by that of Prince Salman in 2020 and, on 25 November 2021, by the visit of the Kings Counselor for Diplomatic Affairs, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Khalifa, who renewed the official invitation for the Pope to visit the country.

Through his envoy, King Hamad also expressed his endorsement of the historic Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed on 4 February 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

Closer cooperation to promote interreligious dialogue and peace

Both Pope Francis and al-Tayyeb, who met again in September this year in Kazakhstan at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan, have now been invited to join the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence, from 3-4 November.

The two-day event sponsored by King Hamad, will gather some 200 prominent global faith leaders and scholars to further the spirit of fraternity and cooperation among followers of different faiths, while working together to address the worlds present challenges and issues which threaten our common home and peace.

Pope Francis 39th Apostolic Journey will also offer the opportunity to meet leaders of other Christian Churches in the country and the local Catholic community.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia

Catholics residing in Bahrain are presently under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (formerly part of the Vicariate of Arabia from 1889 to 1953, later Apostolic Prefecture and then Vicariate of Kuwait), which was established in 2011. Its headquarters are in Awali.

Since the death of Bishop Camillo Ballin, M.C.C.I. in 2020, the See is vacant and has been entrusted to an Apostolic Administrator in the person of Bishop Paul Hinder, O.F.M. Cap., former Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. The two Vicariates are members of the Conference of Latin Bishops for the Arab Region (CELRA).

Currently, about 65 priests work in the Vicariate of Northern Arabia, many of them Capuchins, assisted by men and women religious from other Congregations.

The work of the local Church includes pastoral activities and some charitable initiatives carried out by parish groups and associations. Apart from one school, the Catholic Church does not run educational or health institutions.
A building destroyed in the ongoing war in Ukraine (AFP or licensors)

Russia says Ukraine has carried out a "massive" drone attack on its Black Sea Fleet in the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol. The alleged attack comes as fighting escalates in Europe's most significant armed conflict since World War Two.

By Stefan Bos

Local people appeared disturbed watching Ukrainian drones being destroyed by at least one Russian military helicopter, video footage purportedly showed.

But not all drones miss their targets. Russia's military said at least one warship was damaged in Ukrainian air strikes hitting the port city of Sevastopol in the occupied Crimea peninsula.

Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move condemned by Kyiv and its Western allies.

Russian officials claimed the early Saturday attack involved nine Ukrainian aerial and seven marine drones. However, Ukraine has not confirmed it was responsible.

However, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has made clear he wants to recapture Crimea and four other territories that Russia recently annexed from Ukraine.

The attack came amid an ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive in which troops successfully retook territory occupied by Russian forces.

Missile strikes

Moscow has responded with a relentless barrage of missiles and increasingly Iranian-made drones that killed and injured at least scores of people in recent weeks.

Kyiv says they hit civilian targets and critical infrastructures, including the energy grid, leaving four million people across Ukraine without reliable power supplies.

And as the battle continued, Russia's defense minister said 82,000 conscripts had already been sent to Ukraine.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian President Vladimir Putin in televised remarks that a further 218,000 mobilized men were being trained in barracks. But he stressed that the "partial mobilization" of 300,000 forces had concluded.

It was not possible to verify the figures. However, the West views the move as a desperate effort to halt Kyiv's counter-offensive with poorly trained troops.

Western military observers believe tens of thousands of Russian soldiers were severely injured or killed, though Moscow has given lower figures.

Overall, tens of thousands of people, including troops and civilians, were killed on both sides in what is rapidly becoming Europe's bloodiest armed conflict since the Second World War.
Heavy rains brought by an approaching storm triggered flooding and multiple landslides in the southern Philippines, killing at least 31 people, a senior government official said on Friday, as rescuers searched for missing residents.



Authorities have evacuated thousands of people out of the path of tropical storm Nalgae, which could possibly make landfall Friday night in Samar province in central Philippines, disaster officials said.



Naguib Sinarimbo, interior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao (BARMM), said the rainfall in Maguindanao province had exceeded expectations.



"There were preparations made but unfortunately, the rainfall was more than what people had expected," Sinarimbo said.



In the southern province of Sultan Kudarat, rescue workers used rubber boats to get to residents trapped in chest-deep waters, images shared by the coast guard showed.



Landslides and floods are frequent in the Philippines, due in part to the growing intensity of tropical cyclones that regularly batter the country. The Philippines sees an average 20 typhoons a year.



Tropical storm Nalgae, with winds of 75 km per hour, forced flight cancellations just as thousands of people were planning to travel to their hometowns to observe All Souls Day. Schools were also shut down and some ports saw operations paralyzed.



The storm could intensify further while moving over the Philippine Sea, the weather bureau said.
China has emerged as an even more prominent player in world affairs as a result of the crisis in Ukraine and the weakening of Russia, but not necessarily to its advantage, says a Warsaw-based analyst.

The two major events that have "shaped or reshaped Europes attitude towards China" are the war in Ukraine and how China reacted to it, and the 20th Chinese communist party congress and its outcome, Ireneusz Bil, chairman of the Warsaw-based Amicus Europae Foundation, said in a phone interview with VOA. The foundation was established by former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

If attitudes toward Beijing were hardened due to its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the latest policy pronouncements and the lineup of the new leadership at the Chinese party congress lends the EU an additional reason to recalibrate its former largely welcoming approach, Bil said.

Under these circumstances, Chinas expanded role in international affairs and in a potentially enlarged footprint in Europe, including in Central and Eastern Europe, will be accompanied with increased scrutiny and greater "vigilance," according to the analyst.

Europe will be more aware of the consequences of the technological exchanges and investments from China than it was before, more vigilant in the screening process, Bil said, compared with the previous experience when "there was no second thought on Chinese investment into the EU."

Now, people will look at "who's behind [Chinese investments], what kind of technology they will have access to, what kind of infrastructure they will have access to, what security risks are behind it," Bil said.

Given these developments, the German governments recent decision to send a chancellor-led delegation to Beijing and to allow a Chinese state-owned company stakes in the port of Hamburg is viewed with strong reservation in Poland and most other Central and Eastern European countries, Bil told VOA.

Bil described Berlin's choice as "a unilateral decision to go so quickly after the 20th party congress" that "could be seen as lending support to rising authoritarianism in China."

"This is not welcomed in Poland, and I think in a majority of EU  as I said, here Germany is seen as under-performing versus Russia, so now their effort to build some kind of new relationship with China is being seen as not in the interest of the whole of the European Union," he said.

Bil added that whether this action is in the interest of Germany itself is also questionable, judging from the opposition put forth by Germanys security agencies, among other groups.

Germany and France  bigger countries in the EU  "have overlooked our [most Central and Eastern European countries] interest and our opinions vis-a-vis Russia, you can imagine that we are now seeing a 'mirror effect' in their relations with China," he said. "This has led to a crisis of trust, towards Germany  and their understanding of the change of [the] geostrategic map."

At the center of Germany and the EUs relations with China is to what extent each country, and the EU as a whole, rely on China for its economic well-being. At this week's policy roundtable organized by the European Parliament's Research Service in Brussels, two analysts say that dependency is "overblown."

Jacob Kirkegaard is senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund (GMF) in Brussels and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) in Washington, D.C. He noted at the event held Thursday that the Ukraine crisis has led European nations to look carefully at potential consequences of a fallout with China, in the event Beijing takes similar actions against Taiwan, as Russia did against Ukraine.

"China is a bigger economy, so sanctioning China following a military invasion of Taiwan is going to be a bigger deal than sanctioning Russia, no doubt about that," Kirkegaard said.

Although undoubtedly theres going to be a very large contingent of "European industrial interests who will cry that its going to be a disaster," the reality is, he said, "as we have seen during the pandemic, as we have seen now with the gas dependency on Russia," the global supply chain possesses much more flexibility, "and the actual true long-term dependencies on China will turn out to be a lot lower than we think," Kirkegaard said.

Ulrich Jochheim, a policy analyst in the external policies unit of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) who earlier worked as an economic desk officer for Germany and China in the European Commission, agrees.

"Our [German] export to China makes up less than 10%," relatively insignificant compared to "a figure of 30%  more or less  for Australia, and 42% in the case of Taiwan, he pointed out at Thursday policy roundtable.

Earlier this month, the EU identified China as a "tough competitor" at its foreign ministers meeting, known as the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC).

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky described the gathering as providing a platform for "very good and very consensual internal deliberation among EU foreign ministers" about the EU-China relations.

"There is no formal or agreed public outcome of this debate and we do not comment on details of internal debates," he wrote, in response to VOAs request for comment. "As customary, the High Representative Josep Borrell as the chairman commented publicly after the meeting and he indeed spoke about 'a tough competitor, tougher and tougher, and a systemic rival.'"

Lipavsky continued: "I only have one thing to add  there is a cleared-eyed assessment of China and the recognition that the EU is having the biggest leverage, when acting in unity both internally and externally with like-minded partners. As for Czechia, we appreciated the debate, and we will support continuation of it."

The Czech Republic currently holds the EU presidency.
Four women and 13 children were repatriated to Australia on Saturday, having languished for years in squalid Syrian detention camps after the downfall of the Islamic State.

It was the first in a series of planned missions to bring back about 20 Australian women and 40 children  the wives, sons and daughters of vanquished IS fighters  from the notorious Al-Hol and Roj camps.

Kamalle Dabboussy, whose daughter was among the group, said some of the children would need medical treatment.

"Everyone is in a great space but there are some health conditions," he told reporters.

"A couple of the children have some serious health issues that we want to get checked out as soon as possible."

Dabboussy said his daughter Mariam, 31, had been "coerced" into travelling to Syria by her now-dead husband, and posed no threat to Australia.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the government weighed a "range of security, community and welfare factors" before approving the repatriations.

"The decision to repatriate these women and their children was informed by individual assessments following detailed work by national security agencies," she said in a statement after the 17 landed in Sydney.

The repatriations are a politically contentious issue in a country long known for its hardline approach to immigration.

Australia's conservative opposition party has repeatedly cited national security concerns when arguing against the repatriations.

O'Neil said the women could be prosecuted in Australia if counter-terror officers found they were involved in illegal activities while in Syria.

Human Rights Watch researcher Sophie McNeill said it was a "long overdue step".

"For years, the Australian government has abandoned its nationals to horrific conditions in locked camps in northeast Syria," McNeill said.

"Australia can play a leadership role on counterterrorism through these orderly repatriations of its nationals, most of them children who never chose to live under ISIS."

The Australian women and children have lived in the Al-Hol and Roj detention camps in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria since the 2019 collapse of the IS "caliphate."
More than 4,000 people have been displaced this year in northern Togo after the security climate worsened following jihadist attacks in neighboring Burkina Faso, the government said.

Togo and its West African coastal neighbors Benin, Ghana and Ivory Coast are facing increased spillover and risk of attacks from jihadists operating across their frontiers with Niger and Burkina Faso.

"In total, 789 households representing 4,175 displaced people have been identified  including populations from neighboring countries who took refuge in Togolese territory," communications minister and government spokesman Akodah Ayewouadan said on television late Thursday.

Ayewouadan said the government was providing support, including psychological care and education of displaced students in schools in host communities.

"The objective is first to secure these people, to ensure they continue to live in decent conditions and to eventually help their return," he said.

Among the displaced are Togolese who have fled their villages and also Burkinabe residents who had crossed the border to escape jihadist attacks.

The National Agency for Civil Protection (ANPC) in June identified in the prefecture of Tone, in the far north of Togo, more than 600 Burkinabe from Madjoari, in the southeast of Burkina Faso.

Togo has suffered at least five terrorist attacks, including two deadly assaults since November 2021 in the far north of the country.

The country was hit in mid-July by a bloody attack carried out by "unidentified armed individuals," according to the army, which did not communicate a precise toll, speaking of "several dead and a few wounded."

Neighboring Benin earlier this month said its army foiled a "terrorist" attack in the country's northwest, killing eight gunmen suspected of operating from across the northern frontier.

Benin's security forces have faced more than a dozen militant incursions since last year, as concerns mount over the spread southward of the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked violence from the Sahel.
Double Car bomb blasts Saturday rocked Somalias capital city, Mogadishu, killing scores and causing additional casualties.

A police officer who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media said one of the blasts took place near Somalia Ministry of Education building.

He confirmed that a local journalist, Mohamed Issa Konan, was among the people who were killed in the attack.

He said there were massive casualties from the attack, but added it as too early to say how many people have been killed or injured.

Abdulqadir Mohamed Abdulle, a VOA Somali Service stringer, also has been injured in the attack, according to his colleagues.

The al-Qaida-affiliated Islamist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombings, saying it had struck one of Somalias government ministries in Mogadishu.

Somali police spokesman Sadik Adan Ali Doodishe said at a news conference in Mogadishu after the attack that scores of people were killed in the attack and that those responsible targeted civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

He said the cowardly terrorists targeted civilians with bomb blasts, killing mothers with babies on their backs. He said that reveals the heinous action of the terrorists. He noted the bombings targeted the Zobe intersection and an area close to the Ministry of Education.

Extremism conference

Meanwhile, a five-day national conference on combating violent extremism concluded Saturday in Mogadishu. Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and regional leaders and scholars attended the closing ceremony of the conference.

Mohamud recently announced a total war against al-Shabab militants. Speaking at the ceremony, he said everyone who pays money to al-Shabab knows they are responsible for every explosion, every bullet fired and for all the destruction of every water well. He called on those supporting the group to know that they will die when their time comes, and they will not survive because of the money they paid to al-Shabab.

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said al-Shabab misrepresents the Islamic religion and praised religious scholars efforts to overcome the deadly al-Shabab ideology.

He said al-Shabab endangers lives and human dignity. He emphasized that Somalis must know the situation caused by the drought has dramatically worsened because of al-Shababs closure of roads preventing people from reaching assistance.

After the conference, Somali religious scholars issued a communique that called out al-Shabab and denounced their ideology. The scholars announced it is forbidden in Islam to pay money to al-Shabab.

Somalia has been grappling with security threats for years, with al-Shabab Islamists being one of the main threats in the Horn of Africa nation.

Since at least 2007, al-Shabab has waged a deadly campaign against the Somali government and international forces that has claimed thousands of lives.
Observers believe that as global recovery progresses in fits and starts, China, under the leadership of the CPC, will remain an indispensible stabilizing force and an inexhaustible source of development wisdom.

The world has been keeping tabs on one of China's most important meetings in its political calendar concluded last week to gauge the direction China will take in the next half-decade and beyond.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday unveiled its new top leadership, which will take the world's most populous nation on a new journey of high-quality and inclusive development, with far-reaching significance to the region and the world.

Reviewing China's development success, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reaffirmed China's commitment to further opening-up and the common values of humanity.

Observers believe that as global recovery progresses in fits and starts, China, under the leadership of the CPC, will remain an indispensible stabilizing force and an inexhaustible source of development wisdom.

OASIS OF GROWTH

China's economic rise and modernization from a primarily agricultural country decades ago is an inspiring rags-to-riches story. From 2013 to 2021, China's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 6.6 percent, beating the global level of 2.6 percent.

The country now boasts the world's most extensive social welfare system, the largest high-speed railway network, as well as the largest and fastest growing middle-income group, which is sure to translate into massive opportunities for China and the wider world.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s human development index (HDI), from 1990 to 2019, China is the only country to have moved from low human development category to high human development category since UNDP first began analyzing global HDI trends in 1990.

Earlier in May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to rescue and prioritize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"The multiple crises facing the world raise the bar even higher ... The years ahead will demand much stronger leadership and ambition at all levels," said the secretary-general.

Against such a backdrop, the most populous nation's miraculous, people-centered development represents a motivation for an anxious world.

China's development is not only illustrated by economic figures, but also by the sense of happiness shared by its people, and the results of the CPC's people-centered endeavors in various fields have been tested by practice and recognized by the people, said Ang Teck Sin, a political commentator in Singapore.

Now that sense of fulfillment has been shared by a wider crowd across the world. China's contribution to global economic growth during the 2013-2021 period averaged 38.6 percent, outstripping that of the Group of Seven (G7) countries combined.

The world's second largest economy has become a major trading partner for over 140 countries and regions, leading the world in total volume of trade in goods, and emerging as a mainstay in building an open world economy.

Meanwhile, Chinese modernization is widely inspiring in the way that it does not comply with a fixed or a Westernized storyline, but rather adapts to its national conditions and evolving circumstances at home and abroad.

As British scholar Martin Jacques once put it, China proves that the Western belief that "as countries modernize, they also westernize" is simply an illusion.

China's modernization has provided an important reference for many countries that are facing economic and social development problems and are exploring development paths suited to their national conditions, said Luis Delgado, a researcher of Venezuela's Center for Advanced Studies in Development and Emerging Economies.

Senegalese sociologist Mamadou Diouf said, "Chinese modernization takes into account the living environment, ecosystem and natural environment, and puts people at the center, which is key to achieving sustainable modernization."

SEED OF HOPE

In the mostly arid, desert-capped Sub-Saharan Africa, locals have been planting a small grass from China for livestock feed, mushroom production, or even as a green barrier to fight climate change.

The "magic" plant called Juncao, which uses grass instead of wood to cultivate edible fungi, has worked wonder in 100-plus countries as a cash cow and the source of tens of thousands of jobs.

Debunking the myth that to produce edible mushrooms trees must be chopped down, the small grass has offered a green alternative and a boon for a shared future.

First cultivated in China, the plant has taken root in the far-flung, poverty-stricken fields in Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Rwanda and Fiji, its mushrooms gracing the tables of an increasing number of households.

Petty in size, Juncao has become "grass of happiness" and "grass of prosperity" for people in developing countries and a signboard for China's foreign assistance and poverty-alleviation endeavors overseas.

In Iraq's Mesopotamia, desertification and soil salinization have long threatened to bury this cradle of one of humanity's earliest civilizations in dust.

"My dream is to transfer what I learned from China to Iraq and turn deserts into oases," said Sarmad Kamil Ali, deputy chief agricultural engineer of Iraq's State Board of Combating Desertification, who studied in China nearly 10 years ago to learn about sand control.

In tropical Ethiopia, China's climate remote sensing satellite, orbiting more than 600 km above the ground, is working like a guardian angel for this "hometown of coffee," to cushion the impact of climate change on coffee planting.

China's green energy projects and technical assistance overseas have not only worked as a magic wand turing barren, tropical areas into energy oases, but also helped fully harness the natural endowment of many countries.

China has been a true practitioner of its vision to build a human community with a shared future. Its invaluable experience in poverty alleviation has also taken root elsewhere as a seed of hope for locals.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) puts developing nations on the right track to achieving their long-term development goals, said Khairy Tourk, a professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

"The BRI has drawn world attention to the importance of infrastructure as an essential pillar of economic development," Tourk said.

"TEA AND BEER"

"The Chinese people are fond of tea and the Belgians love beer. To me, the moderate tea drinker and the passionate beer lover represent two ways of understanding life and knowing the world, and I find them equally rewarding," Xi said in a speech delivered at the College of Europe in Belgium in 2014.

Xi used this metaphor to elaborate on China's vision of civilization featuring diversity, equality and inclusiveness.

On multiple occasions, including the just-concluded CPC national congress, China has vowed to hold dear humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, doubling down on the joint building of an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.

This is also the bedrock value of the country, which has long been committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, safeguarding a UN-centered international system and promoting a human community with a shared future.

China, in its earnest pursuit of national rejuvenation, knows all too well that peace is the prerequisite for development, and inclusive development requires an inclusive vision of security, in which humanity works as an indivisible whole.

To help fix global deficits in peace, development, trust, and governance, China has walked its talk to pool resources and consensus, crack security puzzles, and boost sustainable and inclusive development.

Since 1990, China has dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions. It is the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. It has supported the United Nations' work in various fields through establishing the Peace and Development Trust fund with the UN.

The vision of a shared future largely reflects the core values of China's traditional culture such as harmony and equality, said B. R. Deepak, chairperson of the Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, both proposed by China and based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, are like an antidote to hegemony, unilateralism, exclusion and the Cold War mentality in today's world, he said.

Unlike some Western countries' unilateral pursuits of their safety, the Global Security Initiative seeks common security, which underlines peace and cooperation, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of the Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center.

The global future "is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world, not just people of this country or that country," said Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences.

Tackling such big global issues as climate change, nuclear security and deforestation needs the focus on "collective activities, which go beyond national boundaries," he said, hoping that China can take the lead.
An evening of Halloween fun turned to tragedy in South Korea's capital late Saturday, when at least 151 people were killed during a stampede in a popular party district.

Officials said 82 people were also injured in the incident in Seoul's Itaewon area, which had been packed with crowds ahead of the Monday holiday.

It is the deadliest mass crushing incident in South Korea's history. Officials say most of the victims were young people in their teens and twenties.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the stampede, which started in a narrow alleyway lined with clubs.

The Itaewon area, located in central Seoul, is filled with nightclubs and bars that are popular with expatriates and locals.

The district was packed with partygoers celebrating Halloween, which typically attracts Itaewon's largest and most lively crowds of the year. Crowds were especially large this year, since it is the first Halloween after COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were released. Local media estimated about 100,000 people had gathered in the area.

Videos posted online showed partiers squeezed into a narrow passageway, as the crowd slowly surged forward. Eventually, hundreds became trapped.

As the scene slowly cleared, bystanders, many still wearing costumes, attempted to apply CPR to the wounded. Before long, scores of bodies were lying in the street, even as loud music emanated from nearby clubs full of revelers, seemingly unaware of the chaos outside.

A witness told VOA that during the initial chaos, she thought that people lying on the ground were drunk or passed out, but she later found out they were injured or dead. The partygoer did not provide her name because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Hours after the incident, thousands continued partying in Itaewon nightclubs, even as emergency officials nearby rushed bodies into a stream of waiting ambulances.

Masses also lingered outside, most in Halloween costumes  some stunned, some laughing, seemingly in shock  as they tried to make sense of the situation.

Officials say 19 foreigners have been counted among the dead, including citizens from China, Uzbekistan, Norway, and Iran. They said it was difficult to identify the bodies, in part because many were wearing Halloween costumes, and many were not carrying identification.

As the sun rose in Seoul, much of Itaewon remained a police zone, as officials conducted investigations and cleared debris.

Near the alley where the stampede began, some personal belongings remained, including a single white shoe lying on the sidewalk.

As of early Sunday, police had received about 355 reports of missing people, according to the Seoul city government.

A young woman who spoke to VOA said she rushed to the scene looking for her sister, who had been in the area. She later found her sister's name on a list of the deceased, she said, and was searching the sidewalks for her personal belongings.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose office is near Itaewon, declared a national period of mourning over the incident. He said the priority is to determine the cause of the stampede so that future incidents can be avoided.

The White House released a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden Saturday, saying, "Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea and send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted, "We were deeply saddened to learn of the deadly stampede today in Seoul. We send our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and injured, as well as to the people of the ROK as they mourn this horrific tragedy."
Police in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, on Friday arrested organizers of an anti-government protest and about 30 others for allegedly inciting violence.

Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya told VOA that the violence started when the protesters were denied permission to present a petition directly to the president at his state residence.

"When they reached the districts commissioner office, instead of presenting their petition to the district commission, they wanted to take him to the state house to present the petition. So when the district commissioner said no, they came back into the street and started stoning buildings, Kalaya said.

Kalaya said the protesters demands were contrary to what was agreed upon in planning meetings for the march.

He said during the meetings it was agreed upon that the demonstrators would present their petition to the office of the district commissioner, not take it to the presidents home.

Kayala said police arrested 33 people, including two protest organizers.

Among those arrested are Mr. Chisa Mbele and Mr. Levi Luwembe. At the moment they are in police custody and they are charged with inciting violence, Kayala said. Those arrested will appear in court Monday he said.

On Thursday, Mbele led a similar protest in Malawis commercial capital, Blantyre, where protesters presented their petition to the office of the district commissioner.

The march was organized to protest the high cost of living and alleged corruption in the Lazarus Chakwera administration.

Protesters also accused Chakwera of failing to fulfill promises he made during his campaign two years ago, when he said would ensure food security to all Malawians and create 1 million jobs for Malawians once he took power.

The president said during his state of the nation address this week that he was doing everything possible to address peoples concerns.
U.S. firm Westinghouse Electric Co will build Poland's first nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday, confirming a long-awaited decision aiming to reduce the country's carbon emissions and phase out coal.

With Russia waging war in neighboring Ukraine, Poland's choice of a partner from the United States underlines the emphasis Warsaw places on relations with Washington at a time when its security is in the spotlight.

"We confirm our nuclear energy project will use the reliable, safe technology of @WECNuclear," Morawiecki said on Twitter.

Westinghouse was competing with South Korea's state-owned Korea Hydro Nuclear Power, which submitted an offer in April. Warsaw was also talking to French companies about the project.

"U.S. partnership on this project is advantageous for us all: we can address the climate crisis, strengthen European energy security, and deepen the U.S.-Poland strategic relationship," Vice President Kamala Harris said in a tweet.

Harris worked to help Westinghouse secure the contract together with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, engaging with Morawiecki several times over the past year, a White House official said. The project would create thousands of American jobs, the official added.

The selection of Westinghouse and of the United States sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin "about the strength and the meshing together of a U.S.-Poland alliance," a senior U.S. government official said.

Warsaw had been seeking a partner to build 6-9 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity and provide up to 49% equity financing for the project. It planned to choose the technology for the first three reactors by the end of 2022, with the first set to start its operations in 2033.

"We understand that the decision will be for the first three reactors and it is our expectation that Poland intends to eventually construct six AP1000 reactors from Westinghouse and will make a formal decision about the second set of three at a later date," the U.S. official said.

Sources have said that Poland would choose the technology first, which would indicate who the partner would be, and discuss the details of the contract afterwards.
Reporters Without Borders, widely known as RSF, the French abbreviation of its name, said Friday it has filed a complaint with the United Nations about the arbitrary arrests of journalists in Iran and the attacks on reporters' "freedom to inform."

The crackdown on journalists has come as demonstrations have sprung up across Iran following the arrest of a young woman for wearing her headscarf "improperly" and her subsequent death while in police custody.

The complaint filed Thursday with nine U.N. special procedure panels, RSF said in a statement, "details the many forms that the dramatic crackdown on journalists is taking since the popular uprising began in Iran, including arbitrary detention, inhuman conditions of detention, violation of defense rights, physical violence, threats and harassment, searches without warrant and confiscation of equipment."

RSF said female journalists "are among the leading victims of the Iranian patriarchal regimes brutal response."

Iran has become the worlds biggest jailer of female journalists since the crackdown on reporters began in September, according to RSF. Iran was already the worlds third leading jailer of journalists and was ranked number 178 out of 180 countries on RSFs 2022 World Press Freedom Index.

The press freedom organization also said Iranian authorities have targeted almost all means of communication and reduced internet access to next to nothing, cutting people off from free access to reliable information.

RSF also condemned Iran's attempts to silence foreign media by placing sanctions on international media outlets.

The organization's secretary-general, Christophe Deloire, said, "Every day we see fresh restrictions imposed on the media and journalists, and the breadth of this crackdown is growing outside its borders."

France, Germany and the United Kingdom are among the countries where media organizations are subject to Iranian sanctions, which include visa bans and the confiscation of property and assets in Iran.

It is unclear what property and assets would be involved since most of the organizations have not operated in Iran since 2009. However, there are fears that Iran could target journalists' family members and property still in the country.

Deloire said, "Violation of the rights of independent media and journalists will have consequences in many aspects of [Irans] relationships with the rest of the world."

Earlier this month the major general of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, said, "We warn those who manage these systems of spreading news and spreading lies for chaos inside our country to stop these behaviors. You've tried us before, watch out because we're coming for you."
Moscow has suspended its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain export deal that has allowed more than 9 million tons of grain to be exported from Ukraine, helping to ease the global food crisis and lower prices.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said it would no longer guarantee the safety of cargo ships participating in the U.N.-led initiative, citing as the reason for its exit an alleged Ukrainian drone attack against Russias Black Sea Fleet ships anchored off the coast of occupied Crimea. Russia said the attack took place early Saturday; Ukraine has denied the attack.

In connection with the actions of Ukrainian armed forces... the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period,'' the Russian statement said.

The Russian declaration came one day after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the grain deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian move predictable. He accused Moscow of blockading ships carrying grain since September, The Associated Press reported. Currently, he said, 176 vessels are backed up at sea, carrying more than 2 million tons of food.

This is a transparent attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale famine in Africa and Asia, Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly video address. He called for a tough response against Russia from international bodies like the U.N. and the G-20.

Speaking to reporters in Delaware Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden called Russias decision to suspend its participation from the Ukrainian grain deal purely outrageous and said it would increase starvation.

"There's no merit to what they're doing. The U.N. negotiated that deal and that should be the end of it," Biden said.

In a comment Saturday, U.N. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the United Nations is in touch with the Russian authorities on the matter.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the world," Dujarric said.

The Joint Coordination Center, which implements the grain deal, in a statement released Saturday, said it is reviewing recent developments, assessing the impact on JCCs operations and is discussing next steps.

Ukraines foreign minister accused Moscow of using a "false pretext" Saturday to suspend its participation in the Black Sea grain corridor.

Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter, "I call on all states to demand Russia to stop its hunger games and recommit to its obligations."

Dmitry Polyansky, Russias first deputy representative to the U.N., also said Saturday that Russia had requested a meeting Monday of the U.N. Security Council because of the alleged attack on the Black Sea Fleet and the security of the grain corridor, the AP reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused the British royal navy of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month. Moscow did not provide any evidence to back up its claims that a leading NATO member had sabotaged critical Russian infrastructure that delivers much needed gas to Europe.

London denied the claims and responded Saturday, saying on Twitter, To detract from their disastrous handling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale.

Russia claims that British specialists from the same unit that took part in the planning, provision, and implementation of a terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on September 26 also directed Ukrainian drones against Russia ships in Crimea early Saturday.

"Today at 4:20 a.m., the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack on ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships that were on the outer and inner roadsteads [protected bodies of water] of the Sevastopol base, Igor Konashenkov, chief spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry said. He added that the air targets were destroyed by Russia forces.

Konashenkov asserted the Black Sea Fleet ships that were attacked were there to secure the grain corridor as part of the international initiative to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports.

In a statement Friday, Swedish lead prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in reference to the damaged gas pipeline, "I've decided together with the security police to carry out a number of additional investigations at the scene of the crime." Swedish armed forces are scouting the area around the two damaged Nord Stream pipelines with minesweepers.

Sweden and Denmark have both concluded that four leaks on Nord Stream 1 and 2 were caused by explosions, but they have not said who might be responsible. World leaders have called it an act of sabotage.

Elsewhere, Russian authorities in the occupied territories of Ukraine are dismantling the regions health care systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Friday.

The occupiers have decided to close medical institutions in the cities, take away equipment, ambulances - just everything. ... They put pressure on the doctors who still remained in the occupied areas for them to move to the territory of Russia, the president said.

Russia is turning the Kherson region into a zone without civilization, without elementary things available in most countries of the world, said Zelenskyy. Before the arrival of Russia, this region, like all other regions of Ukraine, was completely normal and safe, all social services for people were guaranteed there. ... Life was guaranteed there.

And now Russia is trying to make the Kherson region literally an exclusion zone, the president said. The world must react to this.

The Kherson region was also the focus of Britains Defense Ministrys intelligence update Saturday. The report said that earlier in the week, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed governor of the Kherson region, claimed more than 70,000 people had left Kherson city.

The update said Saldo also claimed that Russia had removed the remains of a well-known 18th century Russian statesman, Prince Grigory Potemkin, from his tomb in Kherson's cathedral to east of the Dnipro.

In the Russian national identity, the report said, Potemkin is heavily associated with the Russian conquest of Ukrainian lands in the 18th century and highlights the weight Putin almost certainly places on perceived historical justification for the invasion.

VOA U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this story. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The wave of young men fleeing Russia to avoid forced service in the Ukraine war has created a conundrum for the nations neighbors, which are torn between a desire to encourage resisters to President Vladimir Putins war effort and a fear of admitting Russian agents bent on undermining their societies.

The result has been a mishmash of responses across Europe, with some countries such as Georgia, Germany and Armenia welcoming the draft evaders, and others  such as the Baltic countries, Poland and Finland  slamming shut their doors.

Estimates of the number of men who have fled Russia since Putin announced a partial mobilization September 21 range as high as 400,000, on top of the several hundred thousand Russians who had left since the beginning of the war in February because of increasingly harsh restrictions on basic freedoms.

The exodus has tested the patience and capacity of neighboring countries, several of which were already straining to accommodate more than 5 million Ukrainians who have fled to EU countries in the face of the Russian military assault.

Feelings toward the new arrivals are complicated by the fact that many are reluctant to admit they are avoiding conscription and say they are simply coming to enjoy a neighboring countrys hospitality. That has led to mixed feelings particularly in Georgia, whose breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are considered by the U.S. State Department to have been under Russian occupation since 2008.

A few are more forthright, such as one man who received his draft notice immediately after crossing the Larsi checkpoint into Georgia. He asked to be identified only as Igor for fear of Russian retaliation.

"I will try to hide, I will resist. Better to serve years in prison than go to war and die or kill others, he told VOA. If they send me to Ukraine, I will probably choose the way of sabotage.

An August poll by the National Democratic Institute, a nonprofit American NGO, found a majority of Georgians believe Russia is acting to tear their country apart and 76 percent said Russia is a major threat to its neighbors. Nevertheless, the Georgian government doesnt consider the Russian draft evaders a threat to the nations security, although President Salome Zourabichvili has suggested a possible revision of the visa rules with Russia.

Security risks

The analysis is very different in Latvia, whose foreign minister, Edgars Rinkevics, told VOA the fleeing Russians are security risks, those are counterintelligence risks. Those are risks of penetration, not only of people who are fleeing but also people who could be used for further covert operations.

Estonias foreign minister, Urmas Reinsalu, expressed similar concerns, telling VOA he would advise all countries to be very cautious about whom they are letting in from Russia, and whom not.

Officials of Ukraine tell us that the saboteurs and operatives of the Russian security services entered Ukraine months, years before the war, he said. Also, many of the operatives of [the] Russian security services responsible for poisonings, explosions, et cetera, used tourist visas and false identities.

Moral perspective

Aside from security concerns, Baltic leaders base their judgment on what they call a moral perspective. They say Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism and is committing war crimes in a genocidal war in Ukraine.

It would be immoral to accept business or even leisure activities of the aggressor state's citizens as if nothing has happened, Reinsalu said. There is a genocide going on, sponsored literally by the tax money of these people who would like to go in any direction to leave Russia.

Countries like his also say there is no proof that the majority of would-be refugees are legitimately fleeing political persecution rather than military obligations or the discomfort of economic sanctions.

Viola von Cramon, who represents Germany in the European Parliament, told VOA she believes protection and asylum from the Russian government should be granted to those who need it. But she also called for proper security checks and clearances.

There are people who had to flee, but they are not all dissidents. There are also opportunists who were benefiting from the regime, and there will be a lot of FSB agents as well, she said, referring to the Russian intelligence agency.

Fight for hearts and minds

Several European countries, including France, Hungary, Luxembourg and Austria, share the view of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has said the Ukraine conflict is not the war of the Russian people. This is the war of Vladimir Putin.

They believe far-reaching restrictions on admissions of Russians could not only endanger those who face real threats at home but also prompt a nationalistic backlash, estranging future generations of Russians and causing the West to lose their hearts and minds.

Leaders from Eastern European and Nordic countries acknowledge the risks of a hardline policy toward those fleeing Russia but have little faith that the Russian people can be persuaded to share their values.

Indeed, a recent survey by independent Moscow-based pollster Levada Center  which was labeled a foreign agent by Moscow in 2016  found that support in Russia for the military campaign in Ukraine stood at 72 percent in September, down only slightly from earlier in the war.

We can of course argue about the percentage, but the hearts and minds of the Russian people  as opinion polls are showing  are with Vladimir Putin, Rinkevics said. The choice is not how to transform Russia. The only choice now is how to defeat Russia.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is also skeptical about the hearts and minds argument.

We got a 2008 war in Georgia, a 2014 occupation of Crimea and now we have a full-scale war in Ukraine, he told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in an August 31 interview. So that's how many hearts and minds weve won in Russia. Its time to wake up.

While EU leaders struggle to agree on how to treat the Russian emigres, they moved in September to suspend a visa agreement that has facilitated entry to the EUs Schengen zone for millions of Russians since 2007.

The Kremlin dismissed decisions like that as hysteria. Russia did not officially close its borders after September 21, as had been feared by many rushing out of the country.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, says that millions of people are suffering from devastating flooding across West and Central Africa, a region long mired in conflict, instability and destitution.

UNHCR said more than two months of heavy flooding, some of the worst in a decade, has displaced more than 3.4 million people in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cameroon.

The U.N. agency said northeast Nigerian flooding has affected nearly 3 million people, killed hundreds, and displaced over 1.3 million. The floodwaters, it said, have swept through areas sheltering more than 2 million people who have fled fighting by Boko Haram militants in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.

UNHCR spokeswoman Olga Sarrado said Chad declared a state of emergency after floods affected more than 1 million people there. She said rivers have overflowed their banks, submerging fields, killing livestock, and forcing more than 90,000 people to flee their homes.

In the countries of Central Sahel  Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali  above average rains and flooding have killed hundreds, displaced thousands, and decimated over 1 million hectares of cropland, she said. Worsening climate shocks in the Sahel in particular, have fueled drought and flooding, lowered crop yields and contributed to a general deterioration in public services for one of the worlds worst displacement crises.

The UNHCR said armed groups spreading terror and fear in the region, as well as poverty and inequality, have led nearly 5 million people in the Sahel to flee their homes. Nearly 3 million of those, it said, remain inside their countries, while the others have fled to neighboring countries.

The agency said the climate crisis is destroying livelihoods, disrupting food security, aggravating conflicts over scarce resources, and driving more people from their homes.

Sarrado called for more support for those on the front lines of the climate crisis to help them deal with the consequences.
The United Nations on Friday urged parties to a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed a resumption of Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports to renew the pact beyond mid-November, saying it was needed to contribute to global food security.

It also called for the full implementation of a related agreement to ensure grain and fertilizer from Russia also reaches global markets.

"We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Under the July 22 agreement, Ukraine was able to restart its Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports, which had stalled when Russia invaded its neighbor on February 24. The Ukraine export deal was initially agreed to for 120 days.

The United Nations is working to extend the deal for up to a year and smooth the joint inspections of ships by U.N., Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials. The United Nations recently warned there was a backlog of more than 150 ships.

Russia has criticized the deal, complaining that its own exports were still hindered and that not enough Ukraine grain was reaching countries in need. Moscow could object to extending the pact on Ukraine's exports beyond November.
Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch.

Russia and Ukraine trade allegations at Security Council

Russia called three meetings of the Security Council this week to press its allegations against Ukraine and its Western allies that they are building dirty bombs to use against Russia and to deny that Moscow had received drones from Iran in violation of a Security Council resolution. Western countries said the dirty bomb meetings were a waste of time and accused Russia of using the council to promote Kremlin disinformation. They have asked the U.N. to send investigators to Ukraine to examine drone debris to determine their origin.

In a private session, International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi updated the council on his efforts to establish a de-militarized protection zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The Russian-occupied facility has been repeatedly shelled during the conflict and has raised fears of a nuclear incident or accident.

Difficult winter ahead for millions of Syrians

The United Nations appealed Tuesday for more money and access to needy Syrians, as winter sets in and a cholera outbreak strains limited resources. At least 14.6 million people need assistance  more than at any other time during the 11-year civil war. In January, the U.N. Security Council will consider renewing the authorization for the cross-border aid operation from Turkey into northwest Syria. Russia has long sought to end the operation, and the already difficult negotiations will take place against the backdrop of council divisions intensified by the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, a new study of U.N. contracts in Syria found that a large share of donor funds went to companies owned by individuals with troubling human rights records or associated with the Bashar al-Assad regime. The report, by U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Syrian Legal Development Program and the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks, said nearly half of U.N. procurement funds went to risky or highly risky suppliers.

UNEP: Greenhouse gases need to be drastically cut by 2030

Ten days before leaders meet at the COP27 climate review conference in Egypt, the U.N. Environment Program warned Thursday that the window for preventing a climate catastrophe is quickly closing. The agencys latest Emissions Gap Report says greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 45% by 2030 to stop climate change. UNEP says the world is falling far short of the Paris climate agreement goals, with no credible pathway for limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

Rights expert calls for new strategy on Myanmar

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. Tom Andrews told VOA in an interview this week that countries should form a coalition to implement a coordinated strategy to deprive the military of arms, fuel for their aircraft, financing and the legitimacy the junta seeks.

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.

A commission of independent U.N. experts examining rights violations and atrocities in the war in Ethiopias Tigray region said Friday that without an end to the fighting, the risk of further atrocity crimes is growing. The U.N. International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia said that Ethiopian, Eritrean and Tigrayan forces have all committed violations in the hostilities that began two years ago, several of which rise to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Read more on the humanitarian crisis in Tigray:

WHO: Blockade of Humanitarian Aid to Tigray Puts Millions at Risk of Deadly Diseases

In brief

 The International Organization for Migration said Monday that at least 5,684 migrants have died on European migration routes since the start of 2021. The agency said the numbers of deaths are rising on routes across the Mediterranean, on land borders to Europe and within the continent. The IOM said this highlights the need for more legal and safe pathways for migration.

 As protests across Iran enter their seventh week, the U.N. said Friday it is increasingly concerned about reports of increasing fatalities. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric condemned all incidents that have resulted in death or serious injury to protestors and reiterated that security forces must avoid all unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors. The U.N. has called for accountability and for the Iranian authorities to respect human rights, womens rights and the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of association.

 The U.N. has expressed concern about outbreaks of cholera and watery diarrhea in at least 29 countries this year, including most recently, Haiti, Syria, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The situation is even more worrying, as the World Health Organization said recently there is a shortage of cholera vaccines due to the high number of outbreaks.

Good news

On Thursday, the governments of Lebanon and Israel signed separate letters with the United States delineating the maritime border, ending a yearslong dispute. The signing took place at the U.N. peacekeeping premises in south Lebanon. The letters will be deposited with the United Nations. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the agreement can promote increased regional stability and enhanced prosperity for both nations. The deal between the two enemies that have fought multiple wars removes a hurdle to each country being able to exploit hydrocarbon fields along the border.

Quote of note

A war without witnesses, as you know, can be terrible.

Radhika Coomaraswamy, a member of the three-person U.N. International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia to reporters Friday on the need for access to conflict areas in northern Ethiopia.

What we are watching next week

On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council will hold an informal meeting on the weeks of protests in Iran sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. The United States and Albania have called the meeting to highlight the ongoing repression of women and girls and members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iran. Briefers will include Nobel Laureate and human rights defender Shirin Ebadi and Javaid Rehman, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Fishing regulators and the seafood industry are grappling with the possibility that some once-profitable species that have declined with climate change might not come back.

Several marketable species harvested by U.S. fishermen are the subject of quota cuts, seasonal closures and other restrictions as populations have fallen and waters have warmed. In some instances, such as the groundfishing industry for species like flounder in the Northeast, the changing environment has made it harder for fish to recover from years of overfishing that already taxed the population.

Officials in Alaska have canceled the fall Bristol Bay red king crab harvest and winter snow crab harvest, dealing a blow to the Bering Sea crab industry that is sometimes worth more than $200 million a year, as populations have declined in the face of warming waters. The Atlantic cod fishery, once the lifeblood industry of New England, is now essentially shuttered. But even with depleted populations imperiled by climate change, it's rare for regulators to completely shut down a fishery, as they're considering doing for New England shrimp.

The Northern shrimp, once a seafood delicacy, has been subject to a fishing moratorium since 2014. Scientists believe warming waters are wiping out their populations and they won't be coming back. So the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is now considering making that moratorium permanent, essentially ending the centuries-old harvest of the shrimp.

It's a stark siren for several species caught by U.S. fishermen that regulators say are on the brink. Others include softshell clams, winter flounder, Alaskan snow crabs and Chinook salmon.

Exactly how many fisheries are threatened principally by warming waters is difficult to say, but additional cutbacks and closures are likely in the future as climate change intensifies, said Malin Pinsky, director of the graduate program in ecology and evolution at Rutgers University.

"This pattern of climate change and how it ripples throughout communities and coastal economies is something we need to get used to," Pinsky said. "Many years are pushing us outside of what we have experienced historically, and we are going to continue to observe these further novel conditions as years go by."

While it's unclear whether climate change has ever been the dominant factor in permanently shutting down a U.S. fishery, global warming is a key reason several once-robust fisheries are in increasingly poor shape and subject to more aggressive regulation in recent years. Warming temperatures introduce new predators, cause species to shift their center of population northward, or make it harder for them to grow to maturity, scientists said.

In the case of the Northern shrimp, scientists and regulators said at a meeting in August that the population has not rebounded after nearly a decade of no commercial fishing. Regulators will revisit the possibility of a permanent moratorium this winter, said Dustin Colson Leaning, a fishery management plan coordinator with the Atlantic States commission. Another approach could be for the commission to relinquish control of the fishery, he said.

The shrimp prefer cold temperatures, yet the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than most of the world's oceans. Scientists say warming waters have also moved new predators into the gulf.

But in Maine, where the cold-water shrimp fishery is based, fishermen have tried to make the case that abundance of the shrimp is cyclical and any move to shutter the fishery for good is premature.

"I want to look into the future of this. It's not unprecedented to have a loss of shrimp. We went through it in the '50s, we went through it in the '70s, we had a tough time in the '90s," said Vincent Balzano, a shrimp fisherman from Portland. "They came back."

Another jeopardized species is winter flounder, once highly sought by southern New England fishermen. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has described the fish as "significantly below target population levels" on Georges Bank, a key fishing ground. Scientists with University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management wrote that the fish have struggled to reach maturity "due to increased predation related to warming winters" in a report last year.

On the West Coast, Chinook salmon face an extinction risk due to climate change, NOAA has reported. Drought has worsened the fish's prospects in California, at the southern end of its range, scientists have said.

Fishermen on the East Coast, from Virginia to Maine, have dug softshell clams from tidal mud for centuries, and they're a staple of seafood restaurants. They're used for chowder and fried clam dishes and are sometimes called "steamers."

But the clam harvest fell from about 3.5 million pounds (1.6 million kilograms) in 2010 to 2.1 million pounds (950,000 kilograms) in 2020 as the industry has contended with an aging workforce and increasing competition from predators such as crabs and worms. Scientists have linked the growing predator threat to warming waters.

The 2020 haul in Maine, which harvests the most clams, was the smallest in more than 90 years. And the 2021 catch still lagged behind typical hauls from the 2000s, which were consistently close to 2 million pounds (907,000 kilograms) or more.

Predicting what the clam harvest will look like in 2022 is difficult, but the industry remains threatened by the growing presence of invasive green crabs, said Brian Beal a professor of marine ecology at the University of Maine at Machias. The crabs, which eat clams, are native to Europe and arrived in the U.S. about 200 years ago and have grown in population as waters have warmed.

"There seem to have been, relative to 2020, a ton more green crabs that settled," Beal said. "That's not a good omen."

One challenge of managing fisheries that are declining due to warming waters is that regulators rely on historical data to set quotas and other regulations, said Lisa Kerr, a senior research scientist with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland, Maine. Scientists and regulators are learning that some fish stocks just aren't capable of returning to the productivity level of 40 years ago, she said.

Back then, U.S. fishermen typically caught more than 100 million pounds (45.4 million kilograms) of Atlantic cod per year. Now, they usually catch less than 2 million pounds (907,000 kilograms), as overfishing and environmental changes have prevented the population from returning to historical levels.

The future of managing species that are in such bad shape might require accepting the possibility that fully rebuilding them is impossible, Kerr said.

"It's really a resetting of the expectations," she said. "We're starting to see targets that are more in line, but under a lower overall target."
For Muhammad Hasan Makhdomzada, perhaps the best way to comprehend China is by experiencing its villages, after the Afghan student visited a photovoltaic power station in the countryside, explored fruit and vegetable plantations, and tasted wine produced on a farm in his quest to understand China better.

Makhdomzada who came to China seven years ago is a business administration student at the Hefei University of Technology. He has traveled to many rural areas of east China's Anhui Province in an attempt to understand how technology and industries are transforming the lives of farmers.

"In every village that we visited, local residents praised the achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in leading the people out of poverty and towards prosperity," he said, adding that his own country can learn from China's successful experience in poverty eradication.

Makhdomzada has been amazed by China's success in fighting poverty, which saw close to 100 million rural residents shake off destitution in the past decade. China declared victory against absolute poverty and the completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2021.

During the past decade, China's GDP more than doubled to 114 trillion yuan (about 15.9 trillion U.S. dollars), and its population of 1.4 billion has enjoyed the fruits of economic growth. The world's second-largest economy has pursued a more proactive strategy of opening up, becoming a major destination for global investment and a leading country in outbound investment.

At the 20th CPC National Congress held from Oct. 16 to 22, the Party mapped out a course for Chinese modernization over the next five years and beyond, which would attract more foreigners to the country.

PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT

Ray Woodard, who hails from the United States and works as an English language teacher in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, said he is impressed by China's long-term planning.

In its two-step strategic plan, the CPC aims to basically realize socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035, and build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century.

"I think the people-centered strategy is what is lacking in some nations at this time so I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments and plan that the CPC has laid out," Woodard said.

China's targeted epidemic control measures are indicative of the idea that protecting life is the priority, and they are the realistic practice of the principle of putting the people first, he said.

MD Tanbir Hassan, a Bangladeshi doctorate student at the Hefei University of Technology, said he was inspired by China's people-centered development philosophy.

"The CPC has always put the people first. They are not only helping improve people's living standards but also creating a harmonious living environment for them," Tanbir Hassan said.

Hansen Nico Rene, a retiree from Luxembourg who now lives in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, once had a direct experience of the people-centered philosophy when he volunteered in a poverty alleviation campaign in Zhadong Village in Hechi City between 2018 and 2021.

Rene recalled that during the poverty alleviation drive, local CPC cadres always kept in mind the residents' demands, assisting many locals in relocating and beginning a new life with new occupations.

Nik Gu, a Russian student from Tsinghua University in Beijing, said he is particularly interested in China's whole-process people's democracy. In August, Nik Gu visited a residential community in downtown Beijing and witnessed the process of this unique governance mechanism and its results.

The elders living in the neighborhood had problems with the public toilets as the facilities were far away. After a meeting with residents, the community built a new public toilet soon so that the elders and other locals won't experience any discomfort during cold seasons, he told a story of the community's democratic practice.

He added that China's whole-process people's democracy will help the country's modernization drive.

MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL OPENING-UP

"I expect China to continue to adhere to the policy of opening up, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm and promote high-quality development and high-level opening up. The Chinese dream is also my dream," said Simon Lichtenberg, founder and CEO of Trayton Group, a furniture manufacturer based in Shanghai.

The Danish businessman, who first came to Shanghai in 1987, has witnessed rapid economic development and improvement in the business environment over the past decades.

China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. It strives to create new opportunities for the world with its own development and to contribute its share to building an open global economy that delivers greater benefits to all peoples, according to the Report to the 20th CPC National Congress.

Esteban Zottele, an Argentine who teaches Spanish at Changzhou University in east China's Jiangsu Province, pays attention to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China adheres to the right direction of economic globalization, jointly cultivates new drivers of global development and upholds true multilateralism, according to Zottele.

Last year, China continued to be the second-largest trading partner of Latin America, with the bilateral trade volume reaching a new high. Earlier this year, China and Argentina signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative.

As a collaborative endeavor, the BRI has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform. China has signed BRI cooperation documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is a massive project. I believe it will be successful," said David Ferguson, the honorary chief English editor of Foreign Languages Press in Beijing.

The initiative will continue to provide massive opportunities for development stretching along the whole area of the Belt and Road. And that fits in very well with China's commitment to promoting a global community of shared future, Ferguson added.
The United States has freed and transferred to Pakistan one of the oldest of the remaining prisoners from the secretive U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.

A brief Pakistani foreign ministry announcement Saturday confirmed the repatriation of Saif Ullah Paracha, 74, to his home country. We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family, it said.

The U.S. Defense Department also confirmed what it described as a responsible transfer of Paracha, saying his detention was no longer necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of America.

The Pakistani citizen was among roughly 40 men currently detained in the secretive U.S. prison. He reportedly had been among the sickest of the prisoners there.

The controversial Guantanamo prison once housed hundreds of suspected militants captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan during Washingtons war on terror against the al-Qaida foreign terrorist network. The war was launched days after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., which officials said were plotted by al-Qaida leaders from their Afghan sanctuaries.

Paracha, a father of four, was picked up at the Bangkok airport in an FBI sting operation in mid-2003 and immediately flown to the U.S.-run Afghan military base at Bagram in Afghanistan before being moved to Guantanamo in 2004.

He was accused of being an al-Qaida financial facilitator who helped the alleged plotter of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. But Paracha maintained his innocence, and he was neither charged with a crime nor given a trial like most Guantanamo inmates.

Human rights groups are demanding U.S. President Joe Biden clear uncharged Guantanamo inmates, put those with suspected al-Qaida links on trial, and close the detention center.

The United States appreciates the willingness of Pakistan and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility, the Pentagon said.

It went on to note that of the 35 detainees remaining at Guantanamo, 20 of them are eligible for transfer, three are eligible for a periodic review board, nine are involved in the military commission process and three have been convicted in military commissions.

Parachas lawyers from British charity Reprieve described him as a "forever prisoner. He was born in Pakistan but moved to the United States when he was 24 to study at the New York Institute of Technology. He married a Pakistani woman there, started a family, started a business, and lived in New York for 15 years.

Paracha was once reported as describing life at Guantanamo as being alive in your own grave.

Last year, Biden had approved Parachas release, along with another Pakistani national, Abdul Rabbani, 54, and Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Uthman, 40, a Yemeni. The fate of the other two detainees was not immediately known, and none of them have been charged with a crime in the years that followed their arrests.

Pakistani foreign ministry officials last month told a Senate committee on human rights that three Pakistani nationals were awaiting their release from Guantanamo, including Paracha. They did not name the other two but said they would be released once officials complete the process of verifying their Pakistani citizenship.

The officials at the hearing also revealed the U.S. government had agreed to free Paracha on the condition that his travel and movement in Pakistan would be restricted.

Parachas eldest son, Uzair Paracha, a permanent resident with alien status in the United States, also was subsequently arrested and convicted. In 2005, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of facilitating al-Qaida acts of international terrorism. His conviction was later overturned, and he returned to Pakistan in 2020 under a deal with prosecutors to drop the case if he relinquished his status as a permanent U.S. resident.
U.S. President Joe Biden will travel to Egypt to participate in the COP27 U.N. climate change summit on November 11, where he will call on the world to act "in this decisive decade," the White House said Friday.

Biden will then be in Cambodia November 12-13 to participate in the annual U.S.-ASEAN summit and the East Asia Summit, the White House said in a statement. After that, Biden will visit Indonesia November 13-16 to participate in a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies, it added.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog first disclosed Biden's visit to Egypt during a meeting with the U.S. president in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would use COP27 to "build on the significant work the United States has undertaken to advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts."

In Cambodia, Biden will reaffirm the United States' enduring commitment to Southeast Asia, while underscoring the importance of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in ensuring security and prosperity in the region, Jean-Pierre said.

In Bali, Indonesia, Biden will work with G-20 partners to address key challenges such as climate change; the global impact of Russia's war on Ukraine, including on energy and food security and affordability; and a range of other priorities important to the global economic recovery, the White House said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will also travel to Asia and North Africa, following the president's visit, the White House said.

Harris will travel to Bangkok to attend the November 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting, underscoring Washington's commitment to economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

She will also travel to Manila, where she will meet with government leaders and civil society representatives, the White House said.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday said Russia had completed the mobilization of 300,000 reservists drafted to fight in Ukraine, and that 82,000 of those conscripted already had been sent to the front and another 218,000 were in combat training.



The announcement, made during a televised meeting at the Kremlin, ostensibly concluded the divisive mobilization drive in Russia, the first since World War II. The draft prompted thousands of men to flee Russia and fueled anti-war protests in the country.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced Friday that it would provide $275 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine. Sabrina Singh, the Pentagons deputy press secretary, said the package would include HIMARS ammunition, hundreds of 155mm precision-guided artillery rounds, remote anti-armor mine systems, armored vehicles and small arms.



Ukrainian gunners are facing ammunition shortages on the battlefield in areas stretching from Mykolaiv to Kherson. For every one shell that we send, they [Russians] send back five, Hennadyi, a Ukrainian gunner, told a Reuters reporter.



According to the general staff of Ukraines armed forces on Friday, Russian forces had shelled 30 settlements in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Mikolaiv oblasts. The governor of Luhansk said Friday that Ukrainian troops were largely in control, though, of a key road that links two Russian-occupied districts in the east of the country.



Ukrainian troops are slowly pushing eastward into the Luhansk region, aiming to take the Russian-occupied towns of Svatove and Kreminna, 45 kilometers to the south. The towns are the primary settlements in districts with the same names.



"The road from Svatove to Kreminna is practically under the control of the armed forces of Ukraine. Our soldiers are advancing daily," Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the Luhansk region, said on national television.

In other news, during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded that Tehran stop sending kamikaze drones to Russia. The drones have been used by Russia forces to target Ukrainian infrastructure. Iran denies the charge.

European crisis

Elsewhere Friday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned of tougher, rough years ahead, for his country and Europe.

In an address dubbed a "state of the nation" speech, the German president said the war in Ukraine had led to the deepest crisis in a reunified Germany. He pointed to an energy crunch, soaring costs of living and increasing poverty rates.



This crisis demands that we learn to be modest again," Steinmeier said during the speech at his official residence, Bellevue Palace, in Berlin. He pledged Germanys commitment to support Ukraine and its partnership with NATO and European Union allies.



In his daily address to the nation on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, standing by what appeared to be a downed drone, said the aggressor [Russia] continues his terror. We are again attacked from the sky by a flock of their crows.



More than 30 drones were launched in two days, the president said. The defenders of our sky prevented the enemy's vultures from breaking into the rear of the country and downed 23 Shaheds [Iranian drones]. In addition, the Kh-59 guided air missile, two Ka-52 attack helicopters and another Su-25 attack aircraft were turned into scrap metal.

Zelenskyy said that during this time period, Russia carried out 4,500 missile strikes and more than 8,000 air raids. But we are fighting; we will shoot down more.



It was not immediately clear if there had been any casualties.

In his speech, the Ukrainian president marked the anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi Germany in 1945, and he paid tribute to the Ukrainians who fought and defeated Nazism in 1945 as he pledged to expel Russia from Ukraine.

Britains Defense Ministry delivered a report Friday on Russias capabilities in Ukraine. In the report posted on Twitter, the ministry said some Russian units in Ukraine had been manned with mobilized reservists and that the units were understaffed.

In September 2022, Russian officers described companies in the Kherson sector as consisting of between six and eight men each. Companies should deploy with around 100 personnel, the update said.

The update said Russian ground forces in Ukraine were transitioning to a long-term, defensive posture on most areas of the front line in Ukraine ... likely due to a more realistic assessment that the severely undermanned, poorly trained force in Ukraine is currently only capable of defensive operations.

'Dirty bomb'



Director General Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday that inspectors were to arrive and start working within a couple of days at two facilities in Ukraine that Russia alleged were diverting nuclear material to make a "dirty bomb."

"I had a very comprehensive discussion with [Ukrainian] Foreign Minister Kuleba about this," Grossi told reporters at the United Nations in New York. "He came to the conclusion, and I agreed, that the best way to dispel any doubt is to allow the inspectors in."

For several days, Russian officials have alleged without evidence that Ukraine is planning to develop and use a so-called dirty bomb in its conflict with Russia. 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, possibly a "false-flag" operation by Moscow.

SEE ALSO:

Dirty bombs combine conventional explosives with radioactive material and are designed to spread radioactivity that can cause death and contamination.

"In this case, there has been a very clear indication from a very high official of the Russian Federation about work  clandestine work, in fact  to divert nuclear material," the IAEA chief told reporters after he met privately with the U.N. Security Council.

He said IAEA inspectors would be looking to see if fuel at the facilities had been reprocessed in some way to extract two isotopes  caesium and strontium  that are used in making radiological bombs.

VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin and U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
WASHINGTON - The British government says it is concerned about the continued incarceration of lawmakers of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change and political violence ahead of Zimbabwe's 2023 general elections.

Responding to a question in the House of Lords posed by Liberal Democrat Lord Oates, the British Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Lord Goldsmith, said, "... The UK is concerned by the trend of lengthy pre-trial detention of government critics in Zimbabwe. We are monitoring the ongoing detention of the MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole. As the ambassador publicly stated on 2 October, the UK is committed to the fundamental right to peaceful assembly and association, as enshrined in Zimbabwes constitution. The former Minister for Africa also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe on 30 June."

Lord Oates noted that Sikhala and Sithole have been detained without bail for 142 days in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison "and paraded before court in leg irons (and) ... only two weeks ago, the Bulawayo MO Jasmine Toffa is was violently assaulted as part of an attack on CCC activists."

He said across Zimbabwe, political violence is raging in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections.

Lord Oates appealed for King Charles' support support in condemning Zimbabwe's brutalization of the opposition.

"Will he join me in calling on the Zimbabwe Government to end this political violence now? Will he join me also in making clear to Z ANU-PF officials and Ministers, members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe prison officers that the world is watching and holds them accountable for the safety and security of all Zimbabwes citizens?

In his response, Lord Goldsmith said, "l thank the noble Lord for raising this enormously important issue. He is right: the world is watching and of course the UK is deeply concerned by the challenging human rights situation in Zimbabwe. Political parties, journalists and opponents should be able to operate without any form of harassment.

"We regularly call for the rights of freedom of assembly and association, as well as the rule of law and due process, to be respected in line with Zimbabwes own constitution. We monitor all individual cases, including those that he mentioned, such as that of Jasmine Toffa MP. All political violence is concerning and violence against women in politics is of particular concern, particularly in Zimbabwe."

His sentiments were echoed by Lord St. John of Blesto, who also expressed concern over the deteriorating political situation in Zimbabwe.

He said indications are that the country won't conduct a free, fair and credible election next year.

"My Lords, following the continued violence against opposition supporters and candidates at the Matabeleland election last weekend, and the refusal of the electoral commission to release the electoral roll, what chance is there of there being free and fair elections in Zimbabwe in July?"

Lord Goldsmith said the United Kingdom is working closely with international partners to encourage the Zimbabwean Government to live up to their own constitution and commitment to electoral reform, including by implementing the recommendations from the 2018 electoral monitoring reports.

"We recognise that there has been only very limited progress to date on the electoral reforms recommended in the 2018 paper. Key outstanding areas include a transparent voter registration process, publication of an accurate voters roll, transparent use of state-owned resources and more effort to demonstrate the independence of the electoral commission. This remains a priority in our discussions with not just Zimbabwe but neighbouring countries as well."

The Bishop of Southwark was also concerned about the current situation in Zimbabwe, noting that the systemic corruption and long-standing poor level of governance in Zimbabwe is undermining civil society and reducing the well-being of the people and all the institutions there, including the Church.

According to Goldsmith, Zimbabwe is a country with extraordinary potential and an extraordinary history, "and of course it is right that the current political approach inhibits that potential.

"The UK is a long-standing partner of Zimbabwe and we provide significant levels of ODA. However, I want to be clear to the House that we do so in a way that avoids government-to-government bilateral financial aid. In other words, none of the money that we provide is channelled through the Government. Instead, we work through multilateral organisations, and wherever we possibly can we support civil society and NGOs in the private sector.

Opposition chief whip Lord Colins of Highbury said he has in the past raised some of these issues taking place in Zimbabwe.

He said, "l have raised on numerous occasions with Ministers the continued repression of civil society in Zimbabwe, including of trade unionists. Can the Minister tell us the latest FCDO assessment of the passage of the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill, which Ministers have acknowledged could be used to restrict civil space? Could he tell us also how we are working with allies, global civil society and interfaith groups to ensure that it is their voice that is heard in Zimbabwe and not simply government voices? "

In his response, Lord Goodsmith said, "We are concerned that the Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment Bill, if it becomes law and is implemented, could very easily be used to undermine the ability of civil society to operate effectively in Zimbabwe. It also puts at risk its ability to deliver development and humanitarian assistance. We engage very widely, not only with civil society within Zimbabwe and through our overseas development assistance, which I mentioned earlier, but also, importantly, with South Africa. "As noble Lords will know, we have deep and long-standing ties with South Africa, recognising the important role that the African Union and the Southern African Development Community have in relation to Zimbabwe. UK officials speak very often on a broad range of issues, including of course on Zimbabwe."

Lord Hayward also urged the United Kingdom to deploy observers in the 2023 general elections.

He said, "My Lords, reference has already been made to the elections in 2018; at that time I was one of the observers from this country on behalf of the Commonwealth, with the noble Baroness, Lady Jay. The report was pretty damning, particularly in relation to the events after the general election in 2018.

"Can my noble friend ensure that very strong representations are made to the electoral commission, because it has been lamentable in any action? It was before the 2018 election, and there is no sign that it will enforce any form of free and fair elections next year."

Responding to Lord Hayward's remarks, Lord Goldsmith said, "We will use whatever leverage we have to maximise the chance of free and fair elections. I make a broader point: we know that President Mnangagwa wants more engagement with the UKthat is clearand in many respects we want him to have that too. "However, deeper re-engagement with the UK will require meaningful political and economic reform and respect for human rights and the rule of law in line with the Presidents own stated commitments when he took office. The former Africa Minister reinforced that message when she met the President last year at COP.

He could not provide details of ministerial meetings, saying, that is not to say that they have not happenedI just do not have the details of specific meetings. However, I know that at numerous international fora the then Africa Minister, as well as other Ministers including myself, have had discussions with neighbouring countries in the region where this and other issues have been raised.

Not-affiliated Barroness Hoey is also worried about the current political situation in Zimbabwe.

 The noble Lord, Lord Oates, has outlined the shocking violence perpetrated by ZANU-PF and Mnangagwa on anyone, really, who opposes the regime. The economic situation is dire, and hunger is being used against anyone who opposes the regime. Does not the visit of the South African Presidentthe first state visit under His Majesty the Kinggive the Government a wonderful opportunity to work with the South African Government and talk to them about how they, and other countries in Africa, can influence together to ensure that there really will be free and fair elections next year in Zimbabwe?

Lord Goldsmith noted that Baroness Hoey has been a champion of Zimbabwe for many years.

 She is right to identify this upcoming visit as an opportunity. There is no doubt that South Africa, and indeed southern African countries, not least through SADC, have a particular ability to influence Zimbabwe, far more so than we can. I am sure that the topic we are discussing today will be on the agenda when the visit happens.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba and Information Secretary Nick Mangwana were unreachable for comment.

Source: British House of Lords website
Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM

News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.



Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.

Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria.

Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens.
Orders presented to Lao collectives and individuals (Photo: kontum.gov.vn)

The assistance was made during a visit to Laos by a delegation from Kon Tum province led by Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, on October 27, to attend the meeting to mark the 2022 Laos  Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship.

The ceremony to celebrate the Laos - Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity; the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 - September 5, 2022) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 1977 - July 18, 2022) was held in Se Kong province.

During the ceremony, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Sekong, Leklai Sivilay, reviewed the good tradition of love, respect, solidarity and mutual help between the two countries.

He emphasized that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to protect and preserve the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, focusing on strengthening political relations, exchanging experiences in ideology, theory and reality; international relations and defense - security; economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation; and building and fostering cadres between Se Kong province and Vietnamese localities.

Previously, the leaders of the two provinces of Kon Tum and Quang Nam and the leaders of Se Kong together planted a souvenir tree at the campus of the grand hall of Se Kong province, a vivid expression of the sustainable Vietnam-Laos relationship.

Also at the ceremony, under the authorization of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee Phan Viet Cuong presented the second Class Independence Order to Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Sekong, Leklai Sivilay, the third class Independence Order to 5 individuals, the Friendship Order to 13 collectives and 1 individual for their outstanding contributions and achievements in consolidating and strengthening the special relationship of solidarity between Vietnam and Laos./.
Calcata, in north Lazio, is a bohemian haven whose residents hark back to a more beautiful era.

Stuff of fairytales

Less than an hour north of Rome lies Calcata, a mediaeval village clinging to a volcanic cliff surging out of the mists of the densely-wooded Treja valley. With its rugged tufa walls and steep pathways, entering this mystical, car-free hamlet is like stepping back in time or falling into a dream where Woodstock meets Hansel and Gretel.Calcatas story is indeed the stuff of fairytales. Its history dates back almost 3,000 years and the presence of humans in the area can be traced to prehistoric times. However in the 1930s Calcatas story very nearly came to a shuddering halt. The Fascist-era government condemned the craggy village due to fears that its foundations were subsiding, and by the 1960s the inhabitants had either relocated to the newly-built Calcata Nuova nearby or moved south to Rome.In the 1970s the old village received a new lease of life when Italian and international artists and hippies began squatting in Calcatas abandoned houses and caves. They later bought and restored their homes, opened art galleries and cafes, and rescued an ancient village from being consigned to the cobwebs of history. The romantic tale was complete when the new residents succeeded in convincing the Italian authorities to reverse their decision condemning the village.

Although only about 40 km from the hustle and bustle of the capital, Calcata feels light-years away. Those arriving by car will have to leave their vehicles outside the fortified gates of the 13thcentury Palazzo Baronale  the villages only access to the outside world and once inside it is impossible to withdraw cash from a bank machine or even send a postcard, and forget about relying on mobile phones.

The centre of the action is the main square which is at times a market, a playground, a concert arena, a meeting place, an open-air wine bar. The rambling alleys of the village centre are festooned with artisanal shops selling art work, jewellery, antiquities and the kind of essential retro-vintage items associated with the beautiful people.

One of the villages many artists is Caterina Satta, who has lived and worked in Calcata for three decades. She says the number of residents has gone up and down over the years but now there are about 60  one of whom is Belgian, one Spanish, one Dutch, and two English.

Many people come here from Rome on day trips or stay for the weekend, but on weekdays and during the summer the village is often empty.

Calcata's artists

Some of Calcatas best known longterm residents include Paolo Portoghesi  the distinguished architect who designed the mosque in the Parioli district of Rome and more recently oversaw the restyling of the capitals Piazza S. Silvestro  and the painter and ceramicist Simona Weller, whose work has featured on a Wanted in Rome cover.

In recent years Portoghesi and Weller held a joint exhibition dedicated to Calcata in Palazzo Baronale, which acts as a visitor centre and whose recent restoration was supervised by Portoghesi. A gallery of Wellers latest works is located in the middle of the village and is open to visitors.

Throughout the year, cultural association Il Granarone coordinates much of Calcatas artistic activity, holding concerts, jam sessions, theatre and art exhibitions at its base on the evocative sounding Via di Porta Segreta.

The organisations founder is Marijcke van der Maden from Holland, who is celebrated for her marionette puppets. For more than 30 years van der Maden has presented the village with its own personalised nativity scene, displayed at Il Granarone each Christmas. All the statues are handmade and represent the real people of Calcata. Every year I make a new person and I never tell who it will be, she says.

Most visitors get their photographs taken in the main square, sitting in the three over-sized Etruscan-style thrones, the work of local sculptor Costantino Morosin. In 1996 Morosin and Anne Demijttenaere, a Belgian actress and painter, founded Opera Bosco, the Museum of Art in Nature.

Spread out over two acres in the forests below Calcata, this open-air museum is filled with organic sculptures and art installations and has a soundtrack of streams, birdsong and croaking frogs.

A tea drinkers paradise can be found at La Sala dei 201 The  which boasts over 200 types of tea  while Caffe Kafir, whose Italian owner starred in 1970s B-movies of the erotic variety, is the most eccentric coffee shop most people are likely to visit anywhere.

Meanwhile the rock nroll-themed bar Rockcaffe, just off the central piazza, has a glorious secret. Enquire about sitting outside and youll be directed to a tiny private balcony, with a table for four and a breath-taking view of the woods 150m below.

By Andy Devane

This article was originally published in the October 2013 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine.

Where to stay in Calcata:

I Sensi della Terra, Via S. Giovanni 1, tel. 0761587733, www.isensidellaterra.it, rooms and apartments forrent throughout village.

Gisa, apartments in historic centre, tel. 0761587989, gisa.federici@libero.it.

Where to eat in Calcata:

La Piazzetta, Via S. Giovanni 47, tel. 0761588078, honest-to-goodness fare including hand-made pasta, polenta and sausages. Booking advised.

Il Tugurio, Via Sinibaldi 7, tel. 0761587388, cosy restaurant serving local specialities, open Sat, Sun only.

How to get to Calcata:

The easiest way to reach Calcata is by car. From Rome, take the Cassia bis(SS2); exit at Settevene and follow the signs for Calcata.

Alternatively take a 20-minute journey on the light-rail train service from Via Flaminia in Rome to Saxa Rubra, then hop aboard one of the blue Cotral buses (www.cotralspa.it) to Calcata Vecchia. Buses leave regularly, and the trip takes a little over an hour.

Things to do in Calcata:

Simona Weller gallery, Via Garibaldi 4, generally open 11.00-13.00, 16.30-19.00. To visit after hours or to confirm the artists presence, tel. 0761587239.

Palazzo Baronale visitor centre Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00, Sat 15.00-19.00, Sun 11.00-19.00.

Bring suitable walking gear when visiting the stunning Monte Gelato waterfalls in Parco de Treja, a few km outside Calcata, near Mazzano Romano. Open all year round and particularly beautiful in autumn and spring.

Top ph: ValerioMei / Shutterstock.com
Rome's Piramide Cestia can be visited on four mornings a month.

Romes only surviving ancient Egyptian-style pyramid is located directly oppostite the Piramide train station, beside the city's Non-Catholic Cemetery, on the edge of the city's Testaccio district.

The 36-metre high monument dates from the first century BC and was built as a tomb for the powerful Roman magistrate Caius Cestius.

The Pyramid of Cestius is built into the Aurelian Walls and an inscription on its white marble facade states that its construction took 330 days.

In 2013 the monument underwent a major two-year restoration project whose 2 million cost was sponsored by Japanese entrepreneur Yuzo Yagi.

Door leading into Rome's pyramid. Photo R. Belincanta.

In addition to cleaning the exterior, the project included restoring the frescoes painted in the inner chambers of the pyramid whose grounds are today home to a cat sanctuary.

The interior of the pyramid can be visited on the third and fourth Saturdays and Sundays of each month for individuals at 11.00. Tours are conducted in Italian and tickets cost 5.50.



Inside Rome's Pyramid of Cestius.

Private tours for groups (maximum 20 people) also take place on the third and fourth Saturdays and Sundays of each month, at 10.00 and midday. These tours can be requested in English, Italian, French, German and Spanish, and the group rate is 130.

Reservations required for both types of tours. To reserve tel. 0639967702, Mon-Fri 09.00-13.00 / 14.00-17.00. Sat 09.00-14.00. The pyramid is closed to all visits in August.

For full details see pyramid website.

Cover photo: ACEA
Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share

A secure zone known as the Attic, at the Patch Barracks military base in Stuttgart, Germany, bears witness to the UKs contribution to the war effort. Here, military personnel from 26 NATO and other allied nations work around the clock to coordinate the delivery of huge shipments of weapons to help Ukraine repel Russias invasion.

Evolving from the supply of small arms, anti-tank weapons and Soviet-era equipment, the Attic now operates as a one-stop shop for arms offered to Ukraine from around the world. Its run by the International Donors Coordination Cell (IDCC), the joint brainchild of British and American armed forces, which merged their separate aid operations in March. The IDCC also organizes the training of the Ukrainian military, in which the UK has played a leading role.

The British are doing what they do best  working with the Americans in a military crisis, giving reliable material and moral support, just as they did in both Gulf wars. The UKs intelligence services also played a major role in exposing Vladimir Putins offensive intentions from the outset. After the war that London predicted broke out, the UK supplied Ukraine with more than 2.3 billion ($2.7 billion) in military aid that helped cripple the Russian tank offensive around Kyiv.

Advertisement

Say what you like about personal shortcomings, but former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his short-lived successor Liz Truss were true friends to Ukraine when other European leaders were ducking for diplomatic cover. The Economist jeers that the UK has become  Britaly after the recent political turbulence, but you wont hear any anti-British jokes in the frontline states of eastern Europe where Londons contribution to the security of the continent is appreciated. In Kyiv, theyve even named a street after Johnson.

But how deep is Britains commitment to the war? Truss promised to raise spending on defense from 2% to 3% of GDP by 2030. Rishi Sunak, the new Conservative prime minister, has not met that pledge, calling such targets arbitrary.

However, without sustained spending increases on unglamorous arms production and logistics, the UKs armed forces will neither be able to supply Ukraine nor fight. Britain has already exhausted its stocks of NLAW anti-tank weapons that helped turn the tide of war earlier this year. Sunaks chancellor Jeremy Hunt, is an admirals son and a former foreign secretary. For years he has argued that defense should get a bigger slice of the pie. Now that he is in charge of the nations finances, however, Hunt is signaling that he wants to maintain spending at current levels until 2026.

Advertisement

This should be the moment the UK rallies its allies by example. Theres a clear opportunity for leadership in the West, as nerves are fraying from the risk of Putin using nuclear weapons.

A week ago, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would not retaliate with nuclear weapons against a Russian strike. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace protested that Macron had revealed his hand, weakening the strategic ambiguity the West has always maintained in the face of Moscows offensive nuclear posturing. Macrons grandstanding efforts earlier this year to broker peace with Putin were not appreciated in Ukraine.

Since 1989, American administrations have looked to Germany as the senior European partner in the Atlantic Alliance, but they are always disappointed. The country punches below its economic weight. German industry has been over-reliant on cheap imports of gas from Putins Russia and rising exports to Communist China. Shilly-shallying over military aid to Ukraine has been accompanied by waning popular support for sanctions against Russia. The timing of Chancellor Olaf Scholzs visit to Beijing  just days after Xi Jinping assumed absolute power at the Chinese Communist Party congress  betrays Berlins essentially parochial outlook.

Advertisement

Meanwhile in Washington, Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy has been telling the Biden administration that there will be no blank check for aid to Ukraine this winter if his party wins a majority in next months midterm elections. A group of left-wing Democrats also sent a letter to the White House urging the president to explore all possible avenues to end the war including direct engagement with Russia  though they withdrew their missive rather than be associated with their Republican opponents.

Without help from Americas arsenal of democracy, Ukraine will buckle.

Siren voices are calling again on Kyiv to negotiate with Moscow, but what sort of bargaining hand would Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have with Russian troops in possession of a fifth of his countrys territory?

Advertisement

NATO has lost discipline since the Cold War, when it was last forced to manage a nuclear confrontation with a hostile superpower. Many European members of the alliance have armies that are hardly equipped to fight a battle let alone a war.

In this hour, Poland, the Baltic republics and the Nordics look to the UK, not the Franco-German alliance, for leadership. But the cupboard is bare. To counter Russian threats earlier this year, Britain almost doubled its military footprint in Estonia, which shares a 183 mile border with Russia. However, those additional troops are set to be withdrawn soon, leaving only 900 soldiers behind. And the threat has not gone away.

The British army is being reduced to its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars two centuries ago  75,000 by 2025. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force havent the capacity to sustain operations on their own. In the campaign against Gaddafis Libya in 2011, the UK was forced to turn to the United States for resupply after only four days of fighting. Today it could barely maintain a fighting force for 48 hours. Its no consolation that the German army is in even worse shape.

Advertisement

Sunak and Hunt may have stabilized the markets back home, but what are they willing to do to maintain the stability of the European continent? At a critical stage when the Ukrainian armed forces are clawing back lost territory in the south and east of their country, the UK should be redoubling its efforts to help. Russia is already regaining territory in the Donestk.

Britain faces a classic dilemma  guns or butter? The temptation in straitened economic times is to cut spending on the armed forces. The lesson of history is that its always the wrong call.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Martin Ivens is the editor of the Times Literary Supplement. Previously, he was editor of the Sunday Times of London and its chief political commentator.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

GiftOutline Gift Article
Russia is trying to make the occupied part of Kherson region an "exclusion zone," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Friday.

"In fact, they are dismantling the entire existing healthcare system there. The invaders decided to close medical institutions in cities, take out equipment, ambulances - just everything ... They put pressure on doctors who still remain in the occupied areas to move to the Russian territory. First of all, this concerns Kherson region," he said.

According to the president, Russia is making Kherson a zone without civilization, without elementary things available in most countries of the world. Before Russia came, this region, like all other regions of Ukraine, was quite normal and safe, all social services were guaranteed to people there ... Life was guaranteed there. And now Russia is trying to make Kherson region literally an exclusion zone. The world must respond to this."

"Our Foreign Ministry, all our representatives inform international organizations and partners about this new escalation step of the occupiers," Zelensky said.

He appealed "to all our people who are in these occupied cities and regions: please do everything to help each other - in spite of any actions of the occupiers."

"The Ukrainian flag will return. We will return normal life. But we need to endure this time. The time when, even formally, the occupiers confirm that they cannot stay on the territory of Ukraine, and therefore they are already trying to steal medical equipment and enslave medical personnel," Zelensky said.
Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share

For the first time, were heading into a Covid winter mostly free of restrictions. People are tired of mandates and rules, tired of lining up for tests and even, as booster rates show, tired of getting shots. And so public health needs a new approach to do any good  one based not on restrictions and mandates and more on providing useful tools and information.

Its not just fatigue thats setting in, but something else  were no longer being advised to hold off on normal life for just a few more months, as many did until vaccines, until delta subsided, until the first and second omicron waves receded. At a recent symposium hosted by Harvard Medical School, biologists tracking the Covid pandemic forecast a long purgatory  the situation is much better than in 2020, but theres no end in sight for the stream of new variants that keep evolving ways to evade immunity.

The only good news here is that technology is advancing, and people arent tired of adopting innovations. One of the best technologies for helping us assess local risk is sewage analysis. Its emerged as the fastest and most reliable source of information about the surges and lulls in the pandemic, as well as which variants are taking over in which regions.

Advertisement

Popular sites for tracking the pandemic such the New York Times Covid tracker have become less useful because they rely on PCR testing; most infected people, if they do test, are using antigen tests at home and not reporting the results.

Perhaps a better source now is produced by the sewage data company Biobot: biobot.io/data. The company was founded by computational biologist Mariana Matus and urban studies researcher Newsha Ghaeli, who started thinking about the wealth of information in wastewater while they were colleagues at MIT. Right now, the site shows cases levelling off or falling in most of the country, but with rising surges in a few places in the Northeast.

In a Zoom interview, Ghaeli walked me through the site, and showed me how theyre making wastewater measurements all over the country. The wastewater numbers initially followed the same pattern as test results, though they rose and fell a week or so earlier, since it can take days for an infected person to get a test and for the results to come back. But earlier this year, as testing dropped off, the wastewater measurements separated  showing new hills that werent visible from official testing data.

Advertisement

While data based on testing is skewed by the availability and popularity of PCR tests, wastewater numbers can give us a less skewed picture of regional risks. The wastewater analysis includes adjustments for the population density, Ghaeli said, to estimate how prevalent the virus is per capita.

That kind of data gives Covid-cautious people the information they need to reduce their risk. Its akin to looking at weather data, and just making a quick decision as to do I bring an umbrella with me when Im going out today, says Ghaeli. For me, its like, do I wear a mask on the subway today? she said.

While Biobot has done an impressive job on its own, more data would make such tools even better. A uniform, nationwide system would better help us track Covids prevalence and the ever-more complex array of variants that keep emerging, says Sam Scarpino, vice president of pathogen surveillance for the Rockefeller Foundation.

Advertisement

It would also be a public health service to make sure that the data is presented simply and clearly, so that people can check it as effortlessly as they do the weather forecast. And just as with the weather, regular Covid forecasts should be featured on the local news  especially when a disaster is on the way.

This kind of data can be a great help to the 57% of people who are still at least somewhat concerned about Covid, according to an Axios-Ipsos poll. Most people arent in denial that theres a continued pandemic, but were also not planning to give up socializing or restaurants indefinitely. Better wastewater data is a tool that can let more people responsibly calibrate the risk in their neighborhood, but it isnt free  it requires more funding.

One of the doctors at the Harvard meeting, Jacob Lemieux, told me in a subsequent conversation that he worries its not just the public but Congress thats getting pandemic fatigue. Thats bad for us all because Covid remains a major killer, and we need better vaccines, a better understanding of long Covid, continued access to home test kits, and of course funding for wastewater monitoring. Wastewater data is our best hope for keeping informed, and might even tip us off to the next pandemic.

Advertisement

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 New Covid Variants Have Arrived. How Worried Should You Be?: Lisa Jarvis

 Heres Who Really Needs the New Covid Booster: Faye Flam

 Dont Write Off the Retooled Covid Boosters: Lisa Jarvis

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. She is host of the Follow the Science podcast.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

GiftOutline Gift Article
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.

MORE COVERAGE
Lithuania continues repairing Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH2000) self-propelled artillery mounts, which were damaged in Ukraine, the next two such mounts are already returning to Ukraine after repair, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anusauskas said.

"The repair of PzH2000 howitzers damaged in Ukraine will continue to be organized in Lithuania. Two after their repair are on their way to Ukraine and two more are currently being brought to Lithuania. At least 12 of them are expected to be repaired in Lithuania," he said on Twitter.

Earlier, the minister said that the repair of self-propelled 155 mm PzH 2000 artillery mounts, which Germany had previously transferred to Ukraine, would be carried out by the Lithuanian side. On October 14, the first PzH2000s repaired in Lithuania returned to Ukraine.
In designing the graceful arcs of Canberra, the architect of our nations capital delivered us with a perfect metaphor for government policymaking. Governments all know where it is they want to get to, but the roads of policy sweep past or around their destination, bringing the object of arrival within view before irresistibly, frustratingly carrying them away.

If the political traveller veers even slightly off course, the vehicular navigation system (here standing in for the media) sagely instructs them to proceed to route but provides no enlightenment on how.

The great Canberra roundabout, where they make budgets, thereabouts. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

But here goes: treasurer, proceed to route. This first budget missed the mark by a Canberra mile.

The out-of-cycle October extravaganza, or Oktoberfest as it should perhaps have been known in acknowledgment of the quantities of white sausage in town for the schmooze-ups, was the new Labor governments opportunity to frame the economic discussion on its own terms.
Christine Centenera,pictured with Josh Goot in 2015, is one of Australias hottest fashion exports. Credit:Caroline McCredie It was Centeneras relationship with Ye that resulted in her meeting the late Louis Vuitton designer Virgil Abloh, with whom she became extremely close, working on a number of shows for the prestigious French fashion house. However, her friends in Sydney have been left wondering what the future holds for Centeneras relationship with Ye, which has weathered previous controversies. However, none have been as damning as the latest scandal, which has seen: Adidas cancel its huge US$1.5 billion partnership deal with Ye; GAP, Balenciaga and talent agency CAA drop the rapper; and JPMorgan Chase reportedly unbank him. Financial surgery needed As former celebrity nose surgeon William Mooney faces a drug possession charge after allegedly buying cocaine in Bondi Beach on Saturday night, PS can reveal the corporate doctors have been called in to undertake emergency financial surgery on the disgraced medicos ailing Face Plus Medispa empire.

Corporate records show Mooney is a shareholder in a string of cosmetic clinics, offering everything from botox injections to skin tightening procedures from Bondi to Bankstown. They are now in the hands of administrators WLP Restructuring as Mooneys powers as a director have been frozen. Dr William Mooney was issued with a court attendance notice for possessing a prohibited drug and is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on December 6. Creditors were told COVID had affected the profitability of the clinics, though their core business may be profitable. There was no mention of the publicity Mooney has attracted over the past four years. Creditors include the Australian Tax Office, landlords and employees, collectively owed several million dollars. In April, following a 2018 investigation by the Heralds Kate McClymont, Mooney was struck off for one year after a tribunal found his negligence had resulted in the deaths of two patients. Hed also lied about a relationship with a third patient and provided a false medical certificate to cover up his failure to attend mandatory drug testing for cocaine use.

Last Saturday at about 10.15pm, police noticed Mooney, 56, and Marlee Lusio, 22, acting suspiciously on Blair Street in Bondi Beach. During a subsequent search, police allegedly found a bag of cocaine on Mooney. Lusio allegedly had 11 bags of cocaine and $3000 cash. She was charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, dealing with the proceeds of crime and breach of bail. Meanwhile, the website of Mooneys Rhinoplasty Sydney practice currently tells visitors: After 20 years William Mooney is stepping away from clinical practice for a short while. He looks forward to returning to your care in due course. No one was answering the phone when PS called. No expense spared for Barbie girl

All roads lead to Melbourne this weekend for spring racing, but judging by the enormous marquee being erected on the Pratt family mansion, Raheen, in Kew, it appears theres another grand celebration afoot. Barbie girl: Georgia Geminders wedding is this weekend at the Pratt family estate in Kew. Credit:Eamon Gallagher The million-dollar-plus party is for the late cardboard king Richard Pratts granddaughter Georgia Geminder and her wedding to fellow Melbourne rich kid Matthew Danos on Sunday. Designers JAton are reportedly creating her wedding gown, and the festivities promise to be quite a spectacle if her Barbie-themed hens party is any indication. She arrived in her own Barbie packaging box before handing out some X-rated drinking straws for her fellow hens to slurp their cocktails. Serial liar and catfisher gets more jail time

It was a heartbreaking drama that had more twists, turns and tragedy than anything TV heart throb Lincoln Lewis ever got to do on the small screen, and with deadly results. Indeed, it would certainly make an absorbing book or television series, which is no doubt sure to follow. Soap star Lincoln Lewis. Credit:Tammy Law For years, the Home And Away actors identity was used  largely unbeknown to him and without his consent  by Lydia Abdelmalek, 32, to catfish her victims and stalk multiple women and their families before she was eventually caught out and ended up behind bars. This week her sentence appeal resulted in her being given four years imprisonment at the County Court of Victoria, an increase of one year and four months on the original sentence handed down about three years ago. Despite the content of some of the material being reflective of a fictional soap opera, it was not fantasy. It was real and impacted real people, Judge Claire Quin told the court. What may begin as lighthearted can quickly escalate and have significant consequences for the psychological wellbeing of those to whom the ruse is directed. It was persistent and malicious.

Judge Quin noted Abdelmalek had shown no remorse or insight into her offending. One of the victims took her own life due to the stalking. On Tuesday Lewis posted on Twitter: Its finally over. Loading Its hard finding the proper words or to articulate the feeling of relief that the cruel and horrendous actions committed by this person starting over a decade ago has finally ended with justice prevailing. I hope the sentence helps provide the victims, their families and those affected with some closure that can now help everyone heal and move forward, he said.

Lastly, I hope all of this opens conversations when talking with friends or between parents and their kids about staying safe online. Social media is great but always make sure you know who youre talking with and especially, always look out for each other. Marinas trashion gains traction One mans trash is definitely another womans treasure judging by Coogee artist Marina DeBris and her latest Haute Mess creation. Her evening gown made of rubbish has made its way to the pages of high-end glamour bible Harpers BAZAAR Australia. Trashion: Marina DeBris latest creation has made it into the pages of Harpers Bazaar Austalia. Credit:Alice Wesley-Smith/Harpers Bazaar Australia
The Albanese government will take its first steps towards holding a republic referendum by undertaking a national consultation tour to shape a future campaign to cut ties with the monarchy.

Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite said a successful independence push would not pit Australians who have affection for the royal family against those who dont, or monarchists against republicans. Rather, it should embody shared aspirations for a prosperous and mature nation.

Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite (left) is sworn-in by Governor-General David Hurley in June. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

To do so, Thistlethwaite said it was crucial to speak to as many people as possible  particularly younger Australians and immigrants, and those who voted no at the 1999 republic referendum  about why many were unenthusiastic or opposed the change.

Were on a journey to maturing and becoming independent. The first step is a Voice to Parliament ... and the second is an Australian head of state. Im doing the legwork and work behind the scenes to make sure that second step is a success, he said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The global Mormon church has overstated the amount it gives in charity by more than $US1 billion ($1.56 billion), apparently to make itself appear more generous than it actually is, and the US-based church is now under scrutiny over an alleged international tax minimisation scheme that involves Australia-based church entities. The Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormons) has built an extraordinary pile of tax-free wealth by requiring its 16 million members to tithe, or pay 10 per cent of their income to the church. But its own accounts show it actually gives to charities less than 1 per cent of what it receives. In addition, the church runs a $US100 billion, tax-free investment fund, Ensign Peak Advisors, which has quietly built up major stakes in blue-chip firms and now has multibillion-dollar investments in Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google owner Alphabet. It also invests in major weapons manufacturers including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson (centre) waves as he arrives during the twice-annual church conference in Salt Lake City in April 2022. Credit:AP Ensign Peak is supposed to be used to fund charitable and other spending, but former insiders alleged it was almost entirely used to stockpile cash and investments. The Mormon church will have you believe that its a religion that dabbles in business, but the evidence clearly shows that they are a business dabbling in religion, said former Mormon and whistleblower Ryan McKnight.

Advertisement

The church denies this, saying through a spokesman: The Church of Jesus Christ is not a financial or profit-making institution and uses its resources to carry out its divinely appointed mission. Global giving The extent of Mormons charity overstatement is shown in 15 years of previously unreleased financial reports, which have been uncovered as part of a joint six-month investigation and collaboration by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and 60 Minutes. In public statements, the church has claimed its global giving through its charity arm, Utah-based Latter-day Saint Charities increased by $US1.35 billion between 2008 and 2020. The church says it funds programs through organisations such as the Red Cross, Water For People and the World Food Program. But an analysis of the Latter-day Saint Charities own accounts  which have never been released or reported previously  show it only provided $US177 million in total charitable support over the same period, a discrepancy of $US1.18 billion ($1.82 billion). Latter-day Saint Charities uses global accounting firm PwC as its auditor. A church spokesman did not directly answer questions about the discrepancy but maintained that its public statements offered the best summary and insight into its charitable spending.

Advertisement

Former member Lars Nielsen, who helped expose the existence of Ensign Peak in 2019, said it was unclear what was happening to the money being collected by the church. How is this possible, that they seemed to be getting billions of dollars every year, and theyre never spending it on anything charitable or educational or religious  None of it was going to any of these programs. It was a black hole, he said. Ex-Mormon Lars Nielsen who helped expose the Churchs $US100 billion investment fund, Ensign Peak Advisors. Credit:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Nielsens twin brother, David, worked at Ensign Peak and shared details on its operations with Lars which were first reported by The Washington Post in 2019. The brothers then worked together on a US Internal Revenue Service complaint. In a rare interview as part of this joint investigation, Lars Nielsen said he was driven by the need to tell the truth, which he attributes to his strict upbringing in Mormonism. Lars said in the late 2010s, while his brother still worked at Ensign Peak, the fund was earning as much as $US7 billion in interest. The churchs charity accounts now show that its charitable spending was about 0.28 per cent of the interest, or $US20 million at around that time. He said his brother was unclear about what the money was being stockpiled for. Do we need it to rebuild the country after the second coming and theres the day of reckoning and burning when people havent been paying their tithing? he asked. The best answer he ever got was, the Lord is in charge and he is preparing, and our job is to be ready for him when he calls us to that. A church spokesman said its commercial investments were for the singular purpose of inviting and helping people to come unto Christ.

Advertisement

Ensign Peak works daily with the Churchs treasury department to ensure the Churchs financial needs are met. That includes providing humanitarian assistance, missionary work and building and maintaining worship houses, the spokesman said. But Nielsen said the churchs behaviour was totally unethical and absolutely a case of fraud  a claim rejected by the church. But then how do they rationalise that unethical behaviour? Well they say, Well, we are going to use it, and were going to use it when the Lord tells us to do it. You dont need to question us about that because we have divine authority. So, they skirt that ethical issue. The tithe Mormonism is a US religious movement that began in the 19th century. Mormons are required to pay 10 per cent of their gross income in tithing, a significant financial impost on followers. Nielsen said this was hard on poorer Mormons, particularly in the developing world, describing it as an extremely regressive tax. One of the greatest shames of my life was that as a missionary, he had pushed a poverty-stricken Mexican woman to pay 10 per cent of her modest income in tithes.

Advertisement

She decided to forgo her tortilla money so that she could give something to the church. An analysis of the financial accounts of the Utah-based Latter-day Saint Charities show that as the Mormon church was raising many billions in tithing and investment income each year, its level of direct cash support back to the charity was just $US10 million a year. Its accounts show that it provided in-kind support such as office space, some management costs and administrative support that was worth an extra several million dollars a year. The accounts of the Australian arm of the church appear to show significant charitable giving, but its unclear how this fits with the global picture. University of Tampa sociology professor Ryan Cragun, a former Mormon and expert on the religion, said the lack of giving by the church was shocking. Professor Cragun said the overstatement of its charitable giving may be in response to scandals over the extent of the churchs wealth. More than anything I would say the audience is actually their own members, he said. Its smoke and mirrors for the members to convince them that no, you can trust us as a good charitable organisation, when in reality, they are anything but a good charitable organisation.

Advertisement
High-profile cases such as the Bruce Lehrmann trial highlights how problematic sexual assault trials in the 21st century are.

Our criminal justice system is world-class when it comes to dealing with traditional serious criminal charges such as murder. Murder trials usually offer the jury plenty of evidence upon which to base their decision; the weapon, physical injuries, eyewitnesses, a history of disagreement between the accused and the victim.

Bruce Lehrmann (centre) leaving court in Canberra on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In contrast, there is usually no weapon, no physical injuries, no eyewitnesses and in most cases a prior relationship between the accused and the complainant. Sexual assault trials often boil down to one persons word against the other. When the test is whether a criminal charge has been proven beyond reasonable doubt, it is understandable how jurors struggle with their task.

Added to the juries difficult task, is the wrongful influence of sexual assault myths and misconceptions in the community. Myths reflect views about how the world works, and what typical behaviour is. These views are false and are contradicted by research. For example, there is a perception that if a complainant delays in reporting a rape they have an ulterior motive for bringing the complaint.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of an in-depth series investigating controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo. See all 14 stories . The families of two children, who had terrible outcomes after Charlie Teo operated on what experts have maintained were truly inoperable tumours, have expressed their dismay over the controversial neurosurgeons responses to revelations about his surgical practices. And medical experts have expressed concern at Teos admission that some of his patients were paying a high price for what he agreed could be described as experimental surgery. I am pushing the boundaries, but someones got to push the boundaries and unfortunately some people pay the price, he told Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon. Teos appearance in multiple media outlets followed revelations in an investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 60 Minutes that hed charged families extraordinary amounts of money for ultimately futile operations that have catastrophically injured young children. Controversial neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo. Credit:Quentin Jones My operation ruined him, Teo told A Current Affair of his botched surgery in Singapore on four-year-old Mikolaj Barman in 2018. I could not sleep the whole night, said Prasanta Barman, an engineer from India, after learning via Australian television of Teos admission that the surgery had injured his son.

Advertisement

After the operation Mikolaj never walked or spoke again in the months before he died. This is totally new to me. He never told us that something wrong happened during surgery and that led to his critical condition. I came to know this only now and that also from the TV, Barman said. Mikolaj Barman (centre) was diagnosed with a very rare type of tumour  a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). He is pictured with his father, Prasanta, and his mother, Sangeeta. Gene Howard, the father of seven-year-old Bella, who was partially paralysed following surgery, rejected Teos claim that hed recently absolved him of any blame. Teo told Today that the Shoal Bay tradesman wrote me an email the other night apologising to me about 60 Minutes  he didnt want me to be condemned over Bella  he concedes it wasnt my fault. Howard told this masthead that no one from the family had contacted Teo for the past year. Barman and his wife, Sangeeta, were devastated when Mikolaj was diagnosed in 2018 with an incurable and inoperable tumour called a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). A second neurosurgeon confirmed the diagnosis.

Advertisement

In October 2018, he paid $80,000 at a Singapore hospital for Teos 10-hour operation. After surgery, the brain surgeon spent 10 minutes telling the parents hed removed 85 per cent of the tumour and that it appeared to be benign. With that, Teo was gone, and they never saw him again. Barman said that after the operation Mikolaj was in the bed in a vegetative state, he cannot play, he can just blink his eyes, and say yes or no to us. Gene and Sarah Howard with their daughter Bella. Barman was devastated to hear Teo tell Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair hed made a mistake during surgery and had injured his child. With Mikolaj for example, sure I took out the focal component, went one millimetre too far and took out some of the diffused components and damaged him, Teo said. Emails between Teos office and Barman after surgery made no mention of Teos mistake. Barman said when he emailed Teo to tell him how worried he was that Mikolaj was not breathing on his own after surgery, Dr Teos team told us that they are not concerned as Mikolaj had a big surgery and it takes time to recover after such an extensive operation. But Mikolaj never recovered. Having seen Mikolajs post-operative scans, other specialists told this masthead it wasnt a millimetre mistake. Instead, Teo had removed most of the childs pons, which links the brain to the spinal cord.

Advertisement

Pre-eminent American paediatric neurosurgeon Mark Souweidane, who was not asked to comment on Teo or his surgeries, said an attempted resection of the tumour was not and had never been an option for DIPG and that it would be incomprehensible for anyone to attempt this. Professor Souweidane, an expert in DIPGs, described it as an aggressive tumour which infiltrates the pons, the part of the brain that decides when you breathe and when your heart beats. Any attempt at resection would result in devastating consequences, he said. To go in and remove that area would remove the very part of the brain that keeps you alive. While Teo declined to speak to the joint investigation, in this weeks interviews, Teo offered contradictory explanations about his surgeries. He agreed that DIPGs were inoperable because their diffuse nature meant the tumour had spread. If you have a diffuse tumour and you operate on it, youre gonna get problems. He said it was impossible to resect as its like taking sugar crystals out of a salt bowl  with a pair of chopsticks. Teo said that in his opinion Bella had a focal tumour, which is confined to a specific area and is amenable to resection.

Advertisement

This week he suggested Mikolaj did not have a DIPG but a brand new variation of the tumour and Teo said he is trying to work out if its worthwhile trying to operate on these patients. Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo leaving his home on Tuesday. Credit:Rhett Wyman Teo told A Current Affair, I believe theres a third category of diffuse and focal, a mixed glioma with a focal component and a diffuse component  Now the danger in that operation is youve got to stop at the focal component and dont go into the diffuse component. With Mikolaj, I didnt get it right. It only takes a millimetre too far and you can damage someone irreparably. One neurosurgeon said, Its interesting that he alone has discovered a brand new subtype of brain tumour and chosen to announce it on A Current Affair  youd be announcing it to the scientific community and the WHO classification of tumours and getting yourself a Nobel Prize. The medical consensus is that DIPG tumours are inoperable except for taking a biopsy for research purposes or to confirm the presence of the genetic mutation for a DIPG. Medical specialists were sceptical of Teos justifications for his surgeries based on his new theory. They said it raised questions regarding what kind of trials Teo had done, had he obtained consent from his patients and where are the ethics proposals and where has he outlined his protocols? Barman rejected Teos claims on Today that he had chosen the surgery knowing all the risks.

Advertisement
Lambie said it was a complex bill and there was a fair bit in it. Tammy and I will do our best to look over this and consult with our communities, the way we would with any other bill, she said. But it looks like itll be pretty hard to do that in the time the governments given us. Pocock said crossbenchers needed time to consult and examine the legislation to ensure we get it right. These are huge and, in many respects, welcome reforms to industrial relations law that will impact workers and businesses across Australia, he said. The Senate is the house of review and allowing only three weeks for an inquiry into such complex legislation that will have such a big impact is not enough time. Especially when one of those weeks will be taken up with Senate estimates.

Loading The government says there is an urgency to legislate but Id argue that legislating in February after thorough consultation is better than rushing it through by December. That is not a significant delay and would help ensure we get this important legislation right. Allegra Spender, who represents the lower house Sydney teal seat of Wentworth, said the country needed industrial relations reform to lift wages and economic growth, but the government was going about it the wrong way. Im very concerned about the way that this is being rushed through the parliament and rushed through consultation, she said. The last time there was a 21-day committee hearing was with the WorkChoices bill, and we know how that ended up.

She said the business community had been given no time to engage on the wide-scale changes and the government risked losing all the credibility it had built up with the business community at last months Jobs and Skills Summit. The treasurer [Jim Chalmers] and the government have spent a long time in opposition building credibility with business and I think if it pushes this stuff through, without consultation and without really trying to get business on side, then it will lose that credibility with business. Spender said she was concerned that small business could be forced into multi-employer bargaining under the changes. The threshold is 15 people  so a busy cafe with 16 casuals and weekender people  could be forced into multi-employer bargaining, she said. She also said there appeared to be an opportunity for sector-wide or industry-wide striking or certainly much more striking than there is currently, and I think theres a real theres deep concern about that.

The business community Im speaking to doesnt understand the rationale for why they need to be forced into multi-employer bargaining, and there is a real concern out there, Spender said. If youre going to have good IR for reform, you actually need both the business community and the unions on board or otherwise we will go we will end up having another bitter, bitter fight about this. With the more contentious changes, some of the other reforms in the bill went largely unnoticed during the week. Job ads that deliberately seek to underpay employees, including migrant workers, will be banned under the changes. The ban will crack down on job ads advertising pay rates below award wages or the minimum wage. Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke said while most employers did the right thing, some used job ads to target workers for underpayment.

Loading He said migrant workers and workers from diverse backgrounds were particularly targeted. Migrant workers have the same protections as Australian workers. Yet we have seen report after report of the exploitation and neglect they have suffered, Burke said. I will never forget the story of Kate, a Taiwanese horticulture worker, who was forced to eat from public rubbish bins just to survive while earning $4 an hour on an Australian farm. These changes are aimed squarely at protecting people like Kate.
Speaker of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko criticized US Congressman Paul Gosar for comparing Ukrainians with cannon fodder in his statement.

"Comparing Ukrainians to cannon fodder by US Congressman Paul Gosar is absolutely unacceptable," Nikolenko wrote on his Facebook page.

"The United States is well aware of the values that the Ukrainian people are fighting for - freedom, democratic development, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Questioning support for Ukraine is giving Putin the green light to continue killing Ukrainians and destroying democracy," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

He also stressed that the upcoming elections should not turn politicians "into populists out of touch with reality."

"The elections are taking place, but the international authority, undermined by manipulative statements about Russia's war against Ukraine, remains," Nikolenko wrote.

At the same time, he stressed, "We are convinced that the statements of individual congressmen will not affect the continuation of bipartisan support for Ukraine by the United States."

Nikolenko's post quoted Congressman Gosar as saying, "The world has seen enough death and destruction between Russia and Ukraine. The Western countries appear cavalier to using Ukrainians as cannon fodder and [are] disinterested in de-escalation."
Warning: Graphic details

London: An extremely devious osteopath has become the first woman in England to be jailed for life on live television for beheading a church friend.

Australia-born Jemma Mitchell, 38, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years for killing 67-year-old Mee Kuen Chong in a plot to get her hands on her estate in June last year.

Australia-born Jemma Mitchell. Credit:Alamy

She attacked Chong, who was also known as Deborah, at her home in north-west London, before cutting off her head and putting her remains in a suitcase, which she then drove 400 kilometres to Salcombe in Dorset.
Washington: Mere hours after Elon Musk kicked off a new era at Twitter, the billionaire owner was deluged with pleas and demands from banned account holders and world leaders.

The flood of requests underscore the challenge the CEO of electric car maker Tesla faces, balancing a promise to restore free speech while preventing the platform from descending into a hellscape, as he had vowed in an open letter to advertisers on Thursday.

A photo from Elon Musks Twitter account on October 26 shows the billionaire entering Twitters headquarters carrying a sink. Credit:Twitter

Former US president Donald Trump, who was permanently banned from Twitter over accusations of inciting violence after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots, welcomed the takeover, but said little about a return to Twitter. I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands, and will no longer be run by Radical Left Lunatics and Maniacs who truly hate our country.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russia president and current deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, tweeted his congratulations: Good luck @elonmusk in overcoming political bias and ideological dictatorship on Twitter. And quit that Starlink in Ukraine business.
Some 52 people were released as part of another prisoner exchange, including officers, medics, sergeants and soldiers, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak said on Telegram on Saturday.

According to him, among the released there are 12 fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine, including two Azov members, 18 from the Navy, eight from the State Border Service, nine from the territorial defense, three soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two civilians.

"The defenders of Azovstal, defenders of Mariupol and people who saved lives are returning home. We managed to exchange the head of the surgical department of the military hospital of Mariupol, who was at Azovstal, and a young military surgeon of the 65th military mobile hospital. We are returning a marine whose wife recently came out of captivity, and a volunteer from Mariupol with the symbolic surname Moskva, and also a sailor from the Zmiyiny Island," Yermak wrote.

In addition, he stressed, some soldiers taken prisoner in the Chornobyl zone will be at home.

"We do not stop and continue to fulfill the president's task of returning home all Ukrainians. I thank the coordinating headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war. We still have a lot of work to do, but we have an important result - our homes. We will return everyone," Yermak concluded.
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.
EASTON, Pa. -- Sylvia Nielsen was nearby when she said a house went up in flames a block away from her on Ann Street in Easton early Saturday morning. There were reports of a possible explosion.

"I was trying to see out the window and I looked across the street and I saw light, so I knew something bad had happened," said Nielsen.

Part of the home appeared to be reduced to rubble and debris sat on vehicles parked outside.

UGI crews spent hours at the scene.

"I came down here and saw the blaze," said Woolridge.

Woolridge lives a couple houses down and said he heard it. He tells us some of his neighbors had to evacuate.

"It looked bad, it looked bad," said Woolridge.

"Sure, enough we get up, look out the window and everything was red," said Nielsen.

Nielsen said he slept through it initially and then his son called him after receiving an alert.

"Totally engulfed in flames, so it was scary," said Nielsen.

Emergency radio reports indicated that two people were taken to the hospital for burns. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Allentown School District has a new interim superintendent.

I know that the next days and the road will not be easy, but I'm willing and I'm committed to the challenge. So I agree with all the things that people said here tonight. The students deserve better, said Carol Birks.

She was the superintendent of New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut until 2019. She was let go two years before her contract was up.

According to Connecticut newspaper The New Haven Independent, Birks was bought out at around $200,000. The newspaper says Birks clashed with the school board, teachers and parents over things like staffing and budgeting.

Birks also had a short stint as superintendent of the Chester Upland School District, in Delaware County.

Regardless, Allentown School Board members like Phoebe Harris are confident about Birks joining the team.

"She understands what it's like to work in an urban school district such as ours with the problems that we have," said Harris.

However, the NAACP of Allentown isn't too thrilled, saying in a statement that they want the PA State Board of Education to take over the Allentown School District immediately. They are questioning why the board hired Birks after she was allegedly fired from Chester Upland.

Birks was questioned about that firing at Thursday night's meeting:

"It says that you were fired from Chester. Were you fired?" asked Harris.

Birks responded, "No, no board members and committee. I was not fired from Chester."

Birks will receive a $850 per day salary. She will work three days a week until Dec. 16. Thereafter it will become full-time employment.
Oct. 29, 1962

Navy wife, children quickly return to city from Cuba

Joan Rogan and her children, Dawn and Sharon, were back at her parents home on Rebecca Avenue in West Scranton.

Rogan was the wife of Petty Officer Joseph Rogan, and the family had been living at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba since June. Joseph Rogan served at the bases Naval Hospital running the dispensary unit.

With the ongoing situation between the United States, Soviet Union and Cuba, family members of base personnel were evacuated from the island Oct. 22.

Joan and her daughters were among the military dependents transported back to the United States. They arrived in Virginia Beach in the early morning of Oct. 26.

Joan called her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Holvey, to tell them she would be coming home.

They were scheduled to fly home, but plans changed and they traveled by bus from Virginia. Joan and the girls arrived back in Scranton at 11 p.m. Oct. 26.

Speaking with a reporter, Joan was asked if she would go back: Do I think Ill go back? Yes, I do. We are a four-member family, and where the head of the family is, theres where we want to be. Even as the ship was docking, more than one wife among the approximately 2,220 military dependents stationed at Guantanamo Bay expected, by some miracle, we could turn right around and go back. There will be worry and wondering ahead for us now. But, orders are orders. Its as simple as that.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved Oct. 29 when the Soviets agreed to remove their missiles from Cuba if the Americans ended the blockade of the island and removed their missiles from Turkey.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak reported positive signals from partners regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, that the provision of air defense systems would be a possible first step in this direction.

According to the presidential press service, he said this during an online participation in a round table organized by the American Brookings Institution.

According to the report, at present, the leaders of the world's leading states have recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine, which were developed by an expert group chaired by Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

"The leaders are considering this document and Ukraines prospects for obtaining these security guarantees very seriously. Of course, this is a lot of work. Of course, it takes time. But it is completely realistic. We are receiving very positive signals from our partners that the provision of air defense systems will be a possible first step in this direction. And the circle of guarantors will consist of countries producing such weapons," Andriy Yermak said.

He also spoke about the work to tighten sanctions pressure on Russia. When the International Working Group on Russia Sanctions, led by Yermak and Former National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, Ambassador Michael McFaul, began its activities, it became clear that, despite the good names, the effect of sanctions is quite limited in practice.
Baraboo Police and Fire Commissioners have narrowed the field of potential candidates to serve as police chief down to three.

The finalists are Interim Baraboo Police Chief Rob Sinden, Baraboo Police Lt. Ryan Labroscian and retired Cedar Rapids Police Department patrol division commander Al Fear.

Fear, who retired in 2020 to care for his father after a dementia diagnosis, has been continuing his education and said he wants to return to law enforcement to offer help he knows he can give.

Ive been losing sleep because I feel like I have more to offer, Fear said.

Fear, Labroscian and Sinden shared their law enforcement experience in front of a group of mostly city officials and less than 10 city residents during a public forum Wednesday at City Hall.

Fear boasted a breadth of experience with the 220 officer Cedar Rapids department, with work investigating homicides, combating narcotics, overseeing a field officer training program and serving as a K-9 officer for more than a decade. The department saw 140,000 calls annually, Fear said.

Part of the newly crafted city Strategic Plan calls on the police chief to be oriented toward community based policing. The plan was adopted after former police chief Mark Schauf retired May 6. Crafting that plan delayed the hiring of a new chief by the PFC until after it was adopted with the updated job description.

All three of the candidates emphasized that the practice of community policing is vital for a successful department.

Its what we do, Labroscian said, noting that his plan would include being really interactive with the community, like we already do, but just taking it a step further.

There would be more programs to allow children and adults to meet police officers. One part of community involvement often overlooked, Labroscian said, is the participation in a number of facets of everyday life by officers when they are not wearing a uniform.

Thats another way were interwoven within the fabric of our community, Labroscian said.

Labroscian holds an associate degree in criminal justice and is pursuing a bachelors degree in organizational leadership. Policing has been a part of his family. His grandfather served in the Chicago Police Department for 30 years. His uncle was an officer in St. Charles, Illinois, for two decades before joining the U.S. Department of Defense.

Labroscian himself has been on the Baraboo Police Department for more than 20 years, serving before that as part of the U.S. Marine Corps. He has been blessed to be in Baraboo, Labroscian said, working during his time with the department as a patrol officer, field training officer, patrol supervisor and state certified firearms instructor.

Fear received an associate degree in criminal justice, a bachelors degree in organizational leadership and is pursuing a masters degree in clinical mental health counseling.

Mental health has been a focus for him in recent years, Fear said, after he began as director of the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative in 2014. Fear traveled the state of Iowa to educate people on the opioid epidemic and addiction and informed state legislators to help them write law to help those with substance abuse addictions.

That program changed my life, it really changed my life, Fear said. Community and outreach has been my passion from then on.

Mental health issues have been a recent focus of the Baraboo police as well, Sinden said, noting that an uptick in related calls has prompted the consideration of budgeting for the addition of an expert in handling mental health issues.

Were experiencing a double-digit increase in mental health related contacts right now, Sinden said. Thats concerning. My idea is to hire a non sworn, non uniformed, specially trained mental health professional to assist in handling those contacts in our community that require mental health expertise.

Police do well, but with the addition of an expert, Sinden said, those numbers could go down and prevent repeat contacts. The department has been talking extensively about that idea, Labroscian said. The department does not have that cost included in its 2023 budget.

If we could do that, it would change the dynamic of an officer responding to all mental health calls, Labroscian said. Because we can really decipher; if theres a violent situation then yes, thats an officer, but if its someone who, they need help, theyre asking for help and they just need the resources, then we could have the professional go to them.

Mental health wellness for staff has also been a focus, Labroscian said, with the addition of a chaplain two years ago and implementation of new programs to help employees stay mentally well. Chaplains also help residents on tough calls, Labroscian said.

After his father died, Fear founded The Guardian Training Institute, which focuses on supporting mental health and mental wellness for first responders because the leading cause of death for that occupation is suicide.

My mission is to slow those down, Fear said. I want to create positive, effective change. We need to be the innovators of change, rather than waiting for someone else to tell us what to do.

While he is not from Baraboo or Wisconsin, Fear and his wife, Kathy, have been visiting the area for more than a decade. They began coming to Sauk County when his children, now adults, were young. They visited Wisconsin Dells attractions first, but over the years, because they enjoy outdoor recreational activities, they began to visit more of Baraboo and Fear said they have spoken about moving there in the past.

In Iowa, Fear already dealt with programs being considered in Baraboo, like Coffee With A Cop, which allows for a neutral meeting between residents and any police officer, Sinden said. In Cedar Falls, there are already liaisons from an organization called Foundation 2 Crisis Services riding along as a mental health team. The city would likely benefit from new ideas and fresh eyes, Fear said.

Community policing, its not just a tagline, Fear said. To me, its a way of life. Its the way you should always be treating people and its the way all law enforcement should be done right now. If you dont know the people in your community, then youre failing your community.

Fear plans to make long lasting relationships and eliminate barriers through clear, transparent communication if chosen for the job. Officers would go to every event, be a part of the community in a number of ways, he said.

Were not here to necessarily be warriors, were here to be guardians, Fear said.

After retirement, Fear received training to be able to teach a number of elements in everyday police, such as deescalation, crisis intervention, resiliency and recruitment and retention.

Ive educated myself every single day to become a better leader and I hope to bring that here, Fear said. I dont want to be the guy who says, Thats the way weve always done it. I hate that phrase because we always need to be moving forward.

Sinden has been with the Baraboo Police Department for more than 30 years, serving as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, lieutenant and captain before spending the last six months as interim chief.

Ive never been so proud of a group of men and women as I am of this group we have now, Sinden said. The philosophy has always been to work together with our community to solve problems. Job No. 1 is the safety and security of everyone in this city and weve never lost sight of that, never will lose sight of that.

Sinden founded the citizens police academy in 1994, an eight-week program which allowed members of the public to take classes to better understand the daily duties of police officers. It lasted for 18 years, Sinden said, spawning an alumni association which raises needed funds for the department.

Baraboo has 27 sworn officers and two community service officers. The department has a proud history of community policing and has been committed for years to create partnerships with the community to solve problems, Sinden said.

My pride in this agency runs very deep, Sinden said. But Im not so proud to think we cant make improvements.

The strategic plan process highlighted departmental needs. For the police, a need was a better feedback method not only for the public to share with the department, but for the department to speak to the public as well.

Community policing is not just a series of programs, Sinden said. Community policing is a philosophy held by every individual in that department. Community policing isnt optional. It hasnt been optional for years. Its a part of every good police department and if Im sitting in the chiefs chair, its going to not be optional again. Its absolutely part of our agency, it has been a part of our agency and it will grow in our agency.
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson and GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels made a stop on the campaign trail in Beaver Dam on Friday.

U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman, State Representative Mark Born and state treasurer candidate John Lieber also spoke to the crowd of about 100 who attended the rally in the Monarch Shopping Plaza parking lot on North Spring Street.

We are so blessed as Republicans that we have men and women of integrity representing us, representing Wisconsin, Johnson said. Its not the same on the other side of the aisle.

Johnson said that Democratic candidate Mandela Barnes, who is running against Sen. Johnson, does not support law enforcement.

Why is it that these Democratic leaders want to fundamentally transform our country that is a phenomenal force for good in the world? Johnson asked.

Michels is the co-owner of Michels Corporation and believes his background will help to create more jobs and help the economy. However, he said his focus also includes returning election integrity to the state of Wisconsin, education reform, including universal school choice, and reducing crime in Wisconsin.

One more thing I will do, from my first day in the office to my last day in the office, I will always be about jobs and the economy, Michels said. Im not just a candidate up here talking about creating jobs. I have done it. I have created thousands of jobs: thousands of non-union jobs and thousands of union jobs. Tony Evers has never even run a lemonade stand. I can read a balance sheet. I can read an income statement.

Born, who resides in Beaver Dam, said the momentum before the election is building, as long as we all work the next 11 days to make sure we have strong Republican majorities from the legislature in Wisconsin to help Ron Johnson back in Washington, and to send a Republican governor to Madison, so we have someone to work with, Born said.
Egypt has spent approximately EGP 12.3 billion on municipal development projects from July to mid-November, Minister of Local Development Hisham Amna said on Saturday.
While the ballot may only have one name on it, the race for Juneau County Sheriff is heating up.

Undersheriff Andrew Zobal will be running as the Republican nominee and Steven Johnson is looking to make ground as a write-in candidate. Democratic votes were scattered with no official candidates, meaning that there will not be a Democrat running for sheriff.

Zobal worked as a police officer in Mauston for 21 years before assuming the role of undersheriff at the Juneau County Sheriffs Department following the retirement of Craig Stuchlik. He was endorsed earlier this year by Sheriff Brent Oleson, who stated he was confident Zobal could lead in a professional and positive manner.

Being sheriff of Juneau County has been a lifelong goal and dream of mine. I was fortunate enough to spend my whole life and law enforcement career here, Zobal said.

Zobals platform centers on addressing and improving how the department responds to mental health crises. As a former school liaison police officer, he saw the effects that emotions and circumstances could have on a students actions, and he hopes to bring that perspective over to how officers interact with adults.

We need to be very cautious on how we treat people, because in their eyes, it could be the worst day of their life, Zobal explained. We would need to be sensitive to that. Even though we are law enforcement, a lot of times were counselors too.

For the undersheriff, that means expanding mental health training for deputies and continuing to offer mental health and substance use counseling in the Juneau County Jail.

The more that we can make that process easier for these people  it makes it easier on us. And if something does come up in the future, we hope that they feel more comfortable reaching out to the department for resources, he added.

After losing to Zobal in the August partisan primary by 1,350 votes, Johnson has continued his campaign, announcing in early October that supporters should re-erect their lawn signs.

Hes running to be a constitutional sheriff, with his goals centered on protecting the rights of Juneau County residents. Endorsed by Richard Mack, an anti-government activist and former sheriff of Graham County, Arizona, Johnson believes in strong counties  which begins with having a freedom-focused sheriff.

The Constitution needs to be protected. Peoples rights need to be protected. I believe our country is in big trouble, and people need to start standing up and doing their part, Johnson said. I feel that I have the experience to step up to the plate and help protect our country.

Johnson previously served as the police chief for Norwalk and Wilton in Monroe County. Hes a veteran with experience as a rescue diver, bailiff and school liaison officer. While this is Zobals first time running for sheriff, Johnson made a vie for Monroe Countys position in 2010.

He stated that he went into the service to follow in his fathers footsteps; Deputy Sheriff Steven Johnson of the Juneau sheriffs department was struck and killed by a tractor trailer while taking measurements at the scene of an accident in 1980.

Ive always been there for others and loved taking care of people. I wanted to walk in my fathers shoes, so thats what I did, Johnson said.

His campaign promises include establishing a weekly to bi-weekly radio program with WRJC to inform residents about developments within the sheriffs department and recognize law enforcement and EMS personnel throughout Juneau. Johnson also hopes to take down gun-free zone signs in the countys school districts while deputizing veterans to serve and protect school buildings.

Ultimately, its the peoples choice. Weve got to start bringing people into the school board meetings and into county board meetings saying, lets protect our children, he stated.

When asked, both Johnson and Zobal stated that they believe that the biggest public safety issue facing Juneau is the presence of drugs.

Zobal is a founding member and current chairman of SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Area) in Juneau County, which partners with local governments and the sheriffs office to host events for residents to safely dispose of unwanted medications and substances, no questions asked. SAFE also works to provide free Narcan, medication lock boxes and cabinet locks to residents.

Zobal expressed that drugs, specifically fentanyl, heroin, opioids and methamphetamines, are a persistent problem in rural areas. If elected, he would continue to build partnerships with community members and organizations to combat drug usage.

It seems like every community is finding needles and drug paraphernalia and things like that, and needles can transmit other diseases, he added.

The general election for Juneau County sheriff will take place on Nov. 8. Voters can register at the poles or confirm their registration at myvote.wi.gov.
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is Nov. 8. Republican candidate Mark Trofimchuck did not respond.

Mark Spreitzer

Party: Democratic

Age: 35

Address: Beloit

Family: Husband, Philip Gorman

Job: State representative

Prior elected office: State Assembly, District 45, 2015-present (first elected November 2014); Democratic Caucus Chair, 2016-2022; Beloit City Council, April 2011-April 2015, council vice president, 2012-2014 and council president, 2014-2015

Other public service: City of Beloit Appointment Review Committee, 2006-2009; Board of Community Action of Rock and Walworth Counties, 2012-2015; Board of Welty Environmental Center, 2015-present (board president, 2017-present); Deacons Outreach Board at United Church of Beloit, 2014-2020; Finance and Facilities Board at United Church of Beloit, 2020-present

Education: Bachelors degree in political science from Beloit College, 2009

Campaign website and email: www.MarkForWI.com and Mark@MarkForWI.com

Q&A

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I have a record of serving our district on volunteer committees, nonprofit and church boards, and during my eight years as a state representative and four years on the Beloit City Council. I have helped constituents with state licensure issues, unemployment benefits, small business assistance and other services while championing legislation that reflects the values and priorities of our district.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

The state budget. We have a $5 billion surplus, but families are struggling to afford child care, health care, housing and other basic needs. Businesses and family farms are facing higher costs and fewer job applicants. Communities are finding it hard to pay for road repair and fire and EMS service. Schools need to recruit and retain great teachers. Our budget represents our values and must address these issues.

What changes, if any, would you make to the states election system?

Our elections are well-run, safe and secure, but improvements can always be made. I support automatic voter registration through the DMV to easily and securely update addresses when people move, and offer an easy way for new voters to register. I would restore the ability to return absentee ballots using secure drop boxes, expand the time period for in-person early voting, and end gerrymandering.

What are your priorities for the states $5 billion surplus?

Families, small businesses, and local governments are facing increasing costs and struggling to afford the same necessities they did last year. We should leave part of our surplus in the rainy-day fund, return part to the people of Wisconsin as a middle-class tax cut, and invest the rest in basic services such as childcare, public education, roads, first responders, and healthcare access.

Should abortion be legal in all cases, illegal in all cases or something in between? Explain.

Abortion is health care, and it should be safe and legal. Wisconsins archaic 1849 criminal abortion ban must be repealed. The decision of whether or not to have an abortion, sometimes in very painful circumstances, is an incredibly personal one, best made between a pregnant person and their doctor, without government interference.

How should the state improve educational outcomes, especially in the wake of how the pandemic affected student achievement?

The state must invest in public education and put more dollars into classrooms without raising property taxes. We need to address the teacher shortage and support students who are dealing with challenges outside of school. We should help schools meet the needs of students through breakfast and lunch programs, after-school programs, support for students with special needs, and more mental health resources.

How should the state address its workforce challenges, both in the public and private sectors?

We must remove barriers to work and connect Wisconsinites with careers by investing in child care, eldercare, housing, apprenticeships, and higher education. We need to attract workers by raising wages, increasing benefits, and building great communities. The state must ensure positions in essential fields like education, healthcare, and public safety are competitive with other states and the private sector.

Was the Michael Gableman investigation of the 2020 election a good use of taxpayer resources? What follow-up should there be?

No. Wisconsins elections are safe and secure. Gableman and Speaker Vos wasted over $1 million on a sham investigation that disparaged our election officials and gave a platform to conspiracy theories. As the top Democrat on the elections committee, I held Gableman publicly accountable for his actions, and I support an audit to ensure taxpayers have a full accounting of what he did with their money.
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is Nov. 8. Republican candidate Ellen Schutt did not respond.

Brienne Brown

Party: Democrat

Age: 49

Address: Whitewater

Family: Married with two children

Job: Small business owner/UW-W instructor

Prior elected office: Whitewater Common Council, 2019-2021, 2021-2023

Other public service: Founding board member of the Whitewater Makerspace, 2012-2022; Library Board, 2013-2023; program director for the Whitewater Community Foundation, 2013-2016; founding board member of the Whitewater Grocery Cooperative, 2017-2022; Common Council appointment, 2017; Community Involvement and Cable TV Commission, 2018-2020; Plan and Architectural Review Commission, 2019-2023; Tech Park Board, 2020-2021; Equal Opportunities Commission, 2021-2023

Education: Bachelors degree in journalism and masters work in health education, University of Texas at Austin

Q&AWhy are you the best candidate for this office?

I have years of experience on city commissions, as well as governing and budgeting experience on Common Council. I have founded, worked with and written successful grant proposals for 501(c)3s that fill in the gaps that government often fails to fill. I have a background in public health and community development as well as a deep knowledge of how to research evidence-based solutions to problems.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

Reproductive health care: The government should not mandate pregnancies, which is what happens in authoritarian regimes. A woman should have the freedom to decide how to use her body. In addition, we have no safety net for women who have babies and the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. We need to make health care affordable and accessible before putting women in danger.

What changes, if any, would you make to the states election system?

I support nonpartisan redistricting reform. I favor Assembly Bill 395 and Senate Bill 389, which are modeled after Iowas successful, 42-year-old redistricting process that delegates the boundary-drawing to a non-partisan state entity. I am listed with Common Cause.

What are your priorities for the states $5 billion surplus?

Education and Public Safety: Our K-12 education system is underfunded, with more than 120 school districts going to operational referendum. Two-thirds funding was promised, and we should fulfill that promise. The UW system is underfunded and working with an outdated funding formula. Our police and first responders are woefully underfunded and need updated training, social workers, and equipment as well.

Should abortion be legal in all cases, illegal in all cases or something in between? Explain.

Abortion is health care. Abortion should be safe and legal. Doctors take an oath to do no harm and rarely perform a late-term abortion unless it is to save the mothers life or to ensure that she can have future children after discovering a nonviable fetus. The use of abortion as a medical procedure should be based on science and medical ethics, not religious views.

How should the state improve educational outcomes, especially in the wake of how the pandemic affected student achievement?

Fund our schools: Children have plastic brains, and as long as they have a fully-funded support system (English as a Second Language, social workers, psychiatrists, well-paid teachers), they can learn and catch up. As an instructor at UW-Whitewater, I know that the most important thing about education is instilling curiosity and the love of learning. Teaching to the test was always a bad idea.

How should the state address its workforce challenges, both in the public and private sectors?

Strengthen unions (including teacher unions), fund universal 4K and make child care affordable. COVID killed people and influenced early retirements. Mothers dropped out of the workforce to take care of children. We need a safety net that doesnt punish women for having babies. Unions are necessary for apprenticeships and training, as well as advocating for fair pay.

Was the Michael Gableman investigation of the 2020 election a good use of taxpayer resources? What follow-up should there be?

The investigation was a waste of time and taxpayer money. Gableman admitted he didnt even know how the election system worked. No evidence of his work was produced in court. Rep. Vos should be taken to task for continuing to pour taxpayer money into an investigation that was conducted by an unqualifiedand obviously partisanemployee.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

YAN'AN, Shaanxi/ANYANG, Henan, Oct. 28 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed advancing rural revitalization across the board and striving tirelessly to achieve agricultural and rural modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection trip.

Getting off the train on Wednesday afternoon, Xi headed directly to the village of Nangou in Yan'an by vehicle.

In an orchard there, Xi chatted with local villagers, asking in detail about how they grew apple trees and picked fruits, what species of apple they planted, at what prices their apples were sold, and their income. He also inquired about how the village developed apple planting and other industries.

In a workshop of the village, Xi was briefed on the development of the local apple industry and checked the production line for sorting and packaging apples.

Chatting with villagers outside, Xi said that he lived in northern Shaanxi for seven years. During that time, he saw villagers live in harsh conditions, and he kept thinking about ways to make their lives better.

"Now villagers have jobs and stable income, while children have a good education and the elderly are covered by medical insurance," Xi said. "Lives are getting better and better."

"The changes in northern Shaanxi reflect the changes in China," Xi added.

In governing the country, the CPC must do things for the people and do things well for the people, Xi stressed.

While visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in the city, Xi expressed the hope that the school will uphold the Yan'an Spirit when imparting knowledge and cultivating virtues. In a classroom, Xi asked the students about their ideals and what they wanted to do when they grew up.

Xi encouraged the students to set great goals early and aspire to contribute to and carry forward the socialist cause.

On Friday morning, Xi visited the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, Henan Province. The canal, an irrigation project built on the steep Taihang Mountains, is dubbed the "man-made river in the sky."

Xi said socialism is earned through enterprise, hard work and sacrifice. This has been true in the past and will remain so in the new era, he said.

Walking along a trail, Xi viewed the Hongqi Canal, stressing that the spirit of the Hongqi Canal is consistent with the Yan'an Spirit.

It only takes one generation or two to realize the Second Centenary Goal, Xi said. "We are living in an extraordinary time and should live up to it."

On Friday afternoon, Xi visited the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang.

Observing the bronze and jade wares and oracle bone inscriptions, Xi said that Chinese civilization has a long history without discontinuity and has shaped our great nation. This nation will continue to be great, he said.

Xi called for efforts to build cultural confidence and enhance the confidence and pride of being Chinese.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is briefed on the development of the local apple industry in a workshop in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with villagers outside an apple sorting workshop in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a campus canteen of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with students while visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with students while visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, views the Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, views the Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ding Lin]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

(Source: Xinhua)
The government said the plane targeted a military base and "dropped explosives on the town" of Bossangoa, in the north, but caused only material damage.
Ancient Greek cities were some of the most important centers of culture and learning in the ancient world. Some of these cities, like Athens and Sparta, are still remembered today as shining examples of what human ingenuity is capable of. Famous for their rich cultures and fascinating histories, each of these cities also has many distinctive features that set them apart.

Athens

Acropolis. Image credit: Sven Hansche via Shutterstock

Athens (Athenai- ) was one of the most famous cities in ancient Greece, and it is home to many important landmarks that are still standing today. The origin of Athens dates back to the Neolithic Period, but the construction of the Acropolis did not happen until the Bronze Age. Over time, this small settlement grew into a city that became one of the most influential places in all of Greece.

The early inhabitants were farmers, who lived off the land and produced enough food to support themselves and their families. They were also skilled craftsmen, who built tools and weapons from copper and bronze. As more people settled in Athens, they began trading with other nearby regions for essential goods like wood and stone.

Athens continued to grow and flourish for centuries, becoming an important center of learning and culture. In the sixth century BCE, Athens became the first democracy in the world, thanks to Athenian leader Cleisthenes. This democratic government allowed all of its citizens to have a say, and it laid the foundation for modern-day democracies around the globe.

Today, Athens is still one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece, with visitors coming from all over the world to see its ancient ruins and famous landmarks.

Sparta

Statue of Leonidas King of Sparta. Image credit: Anastasios71 via Shutterstock

Sparta (Sparte-) was the second most famous and powerful city in ancient Greece. Located on the Peloponnese peninsula, Sparta was well known for its military prowess and strict social structure. Feared throughout Greece as some of the best and most skilled fighters around, the Spartan soldiers wore distinctive red cloaks. This is perhaps best portrayed in the 2006 movie 300. Although a work of fiction, it tells the story of 300 brave spartan soldiers in the Battle of Thermopylae against the invading Persian army of more than 300,000 soldiers.

The Spartans, driven by their desire to protect their land from invaders and conquerors, developed a unique social system with very rigid rules and regulations. At the center of this society was the army, which had absolute control over all aspects of life in Sparta. Men trained to fight from a very young age, and women stayed at home and tended to the needs of their families.

Sparta was also known for its strong sense of community, patriotism, and matriarchal structure. Women in Sparta had more rights and autonomy than their Greek counterparts. They could own land, inherit property, and were better educated.

Even though Sparta dominated on the battlefield, it also had a long history of rivalry with other major Greek cities such as Athens and Corinth. This led to two disastrous conflictsknown as the Peloponnesian and Corinthian Warswhich severely weakened both Sparta's power and influence. Despite being in continual conflict with its neighbors, Sparta remained one of the most impressive and prosperous city-states in ancient Greece.

Corinth

Ruins of Ancient Corinth. Image credit: Oleksii Liebiediev via Shutterstock

The origin of Corinth (Korinthos- ) in ancient Greece dates back thousands of years. Founded between 5000 and 3000 BCE, this vibrant community was home to the invention of a number of innovative artistic styles and techniques, including black-figure pottery painting. This style involves depicting human and animal forms in stark black silhouettes on a cream or red background.

Today, Corinth remains an important city in modern Greece. Despite its long and rich history, it continues to be a thriving hub of art and culture. It attracts people from around the world, fascinating them with its captivating past.

Thebes

Archeological Museum of Thebes. Image credit: Konstantinos Livadas via Shutterstock

Thebes (Thebai -) is one of the oldest cities in all of Greece, known for being the site of many Greek tragedies. Located in central Greece, this town has been continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years and played a major role in many of the historical events that shaped the country.

During the middle to late Bronze Age, Thebes was an important Mycenaean center. Then during the Classical period, it became one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece. The city took part in two key warsthe Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian Warand had a pivotal role in each conflict, proving itself to be a true reckoning force on the world stage.

Miletus

Ruins of antique Greek theatre in Miletus. Image credit: BearFotos via Shutterstock

Miletus (Miletos- ) was one of the most important cities in ancient Greece with its origins tracing back to before 500 BCE. According to archaeological evidence, early settlers began populating Miletus because of the fertile plains that surrounded the city. As the population grew and trade developed, Miletus became an important center of commerce and culture, attracting people from all over the region with its bustling markets and lively political debates.

In Summary

While there are many other ancient Greek cities worth exploring, the ones highlighted here are some of the most famous and well-known. Regardless of which city you think was the most impressive, everyone owes a debt of gratitude to these incredible ancient Greeks for their contributions to culture and learning.
Man charged in connection with possible shots-fired incident near school in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
On Tuesday night, prior to a scheduled appearance by far-right Turning Point USA operative Stephen Davis at the University of California, Davis, members of the Proud Boys militia group assaulted students, community members and anti-fascist protesters.

Masked Proud Boys stand at a protest in Raleigh, North Carolina in November 2020. [Photo by Anthony Crider / CC BY 4.0

A fight between roughly 100 students and right-wing elements lasted for over 20 minutes, with no police or security intervening to stop the mayhem.

Video footage shows students suffering from the effects of pepper spray, and men dressed in black and yellow, the traditional colors of the far-right militia group, hurling metal barricades at students. It is unclear how many people were injured. However, as of this writing, no arrests have been made.

One of the Proud Boys who engaged in the assault has been identified by California anti-fascists and local media as Jeffrey Perrine. Perrine, 38, previously lost a bid for the California State Assembly and is currently running for a seat on a Sacramento-area school board.

In a video posted online during the attack, Perrine, speaking to an associate, admits that Proud Boys are on campus and that the police wont interfere unless called upon by the Proud Boys.

Referring to the police, Perrine says, Theyre not gonna come cause they know were here. They want us to fight them.

Speaking to KCRA3, the local NBC affiliate, Will Alpers, a recent UC Davis graduate who was pepper-sprayed by fascists on Tuesday, said the violence began when the Proud Boys showed up.

The Proud Boys came and they instigated fights and they hurt people with mace and fistfighting and scuffles and throwing things, Alpers said. So it does cross a line at some point from speech to violence.

Independent photo journalist @pinkknightpress, reporting on the ground Tuesday night, said that the Proud Boys waited to launch their attack on the counter-protesters until it had grown dark. The photo journalist reported that the Proud Boys used their fists, a baton, and bear mace.

The statement continued: The fascists took potshots at students who were scattered by their chemical irritants. A man in a black Proud Boys shirt punched a  student in the head, knocking them to the ground where they landed silent

Like the Proud Boy assault on Penn State students the day before, the fascists were allowed to commit felonies without any intervention by the police or private security.

In a statement released on October 26, the university admitted that UC Davis police were on site, and that they worked with Student Affairs to monitor the protest in real time and make decisions quickly.

They were on stand-by when fighting broke out, the statement continued, but the situation de-escalated on its own, eliminating the need for the police to engage.

The university claimed, No serious injuries were reported.

The same statement said the decision to cancel the event was made by the students who organized it because of safety concerns, with staff from Student Affairs agreeing that there was grave danger should the event continue.

It is unfortunate that the event could not proceed as planned, the statement read. As a public institution, UC Davis values and supports freedom of expression as rights guaranteed to every citizen. When the students agreed to cancel the event, UC Davis Student Affairs staff successfully evacuated the students and speaker from the building.

The event, titled Systemic Racism Isnt Real, was sponsored by the student chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) at UC Davis. TPUSA was founded by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery in 2012.

After the university released its statement, Kirk attacked far left Antifa agitators on Twitter, falsely claiming they had provoked the violence.

Like Mondays comedic event at Penn State headlined by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, titled Stand Back and Stand By, a reference to former President Donald Trumps command to the Proud Boy militia group during his September 2020 debate with Joe Biden, Tuesdays event at UC Davis was not a legitimate expression of free speech, but a deliberate provocation by Republican-backed groups and militia elements seeking to violently assault left-wing students and community members.

The scheduled speaker for Tuesdays event was Stephen Davis, who goes by the moniker MAGA Hulk. As a regular contributor to Turning Point USA, Davis writes columns, hosts a podcast and speaks at Turning Point USA events.

In a March 17, 2022, article headlined LGBTQ Nation Is Coming For Our Children, published on TPUSA.com, Davis wrote: The left is waging war on your rights to raise your children  we have to fight back. The LGBTQ movement is an army of dust; the moment we challenge them, they melt into victimhood and slither back under the rock they came out of Fight back, dont be silent. The left wants to corrupt your children. Will you fight tooth and nail for them? Or will you sit back and watch it happen?

Unsurprisingly, Davis attended Donald Trumps Save America rally at the Ellipse outside the White House on January 6, 2021. It is unknown if he participated in the storming of the Capitol.

Stephen Davis, MAGA Hulk, with Republican operative Greg Aselbekian (right) at the Save America rally in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021. [Photo: Greg Aselbekian]

Kirks organization (Montgomery died from COVID-19 in 2020) has become the largest right-wing student movement in the country, thanks to generous funding from wealthy sponsors. Turning Point USAs first major donor was Foster Friess of Friess Associates. The Friess family, including son Steve and his wife Polly, enjoy close connections with the billionaire Koch family.

Charlie Kirk himself has previously acknowledged the immense support his organization, with an $8 million yearly budget, receives from the fossil fuel industry, telling the New Yorker in 2017 that some donors of TPUSA are in the fossil fuel space. Kirk is regular speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference as well as Turning Point USA events such as the Student Action Summit and America Fest.

TPUSA claims to have over 1,400 chapters on college campuses across the US. Through these chapters aspiring Republican operatives and politicians invite known fascists and racists to college campuses under the guise of free speech and debate.

Far from embracing open and free democratic discussion, under Kirk, Turning Point USA has spearheaded Republican efforts to demonize public and college education and target professors deemed to be liberal or left-wing.

Turning Point USA not only hosts a Professors Watch List, which includes photos, names and locations of radical professors, but has expanded to include a School Boards Watch List. This, according to the website, is dedicated to protecting our children by exposing radical and false ideologies. These include anti-American, radical, hateful, immoral, and racist teachings Critical Race Theory, the 1619 Project, sexual/gender ideology, and more.

Kirk was an avid supporter of Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. After Trumps defeat by Joe Biden, Kirk organized in support of the Stop the Steal effort.

To this day, his organization continues to propagate the lie that the election was stolen. In a since-deleted January 4, 2021, tweet, Kirk wrote, The team at @TrumpStudents & Turning Point Action are honored to help make this happen, sending 80+ full buses full of patriots to DC to fight for this president.

Kirk not only has access to, but partakes in high-level strategy sessions with the Republican elite. The Guardian reported in September 2021 that Kirk is a member of the Council for National Policy (CNP).

Members of CNP include executives from major right-wing organizations such as the Koch-affiliated American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the American Conservative Union. The president of the Federalist Society, Eugene Mayer, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, and the president and CEO of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Richard Graber, are all members.

Host of the War Room podcast Steve Bannon and Virginia Ginni Thomas, wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, are also members of the CNP.
On October 21, the Sri Lankan parliament, with the support of the ruling and opposition parties, passed a new constitutional amendment. The 21st amendment, the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed, was to limit the powers of the executive branch and ensure democracy through empowering the legislative.

This is a blatant lie. This amendment does not limit the sweeping powers of the executive president but makes only cosmetic changes.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives at the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Aug. 3, 2022. [AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena]

The new amendment was introduced amid deep-going popular opposition to the executive presidency after four decades of savage attacks on democratic rights, including against the Tamil minority during the nearly three-decade war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

It also follows the mass demonstrations that began in early April involving millions of workers and the poor who demanded President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his government resign. While these developments exposed the mass opposition to the entire political establishment, the opposition parties, trade unions and pseudo-left groups, constricted these protests to just Rajapakse and his regime.

The Wickremesinghe government has insisted that the foremost democratic element of the 21st amendment is the establishment of a Constitutional Council. This scraps a clause in the 20th amendment, adopted by the previous Rajapakse regime, which gave the president the power to directly influence the appointment of top bureaucrats in the state administration.

Under the new amendment, the Constitutional Council (CC), which is responsible to the parliament, will appoint senior personnel to nine commissions, including the public service, national police and elections. It will have ten members, including the prime minister, the speaker, an MP appointed by the president, a professor nominated by the University Grants Commission but appointed by the president, an MP appointed through the agreement of parliamentary majority, the leader of the opposition and an MP appointed by him. It also includes someone appointed by Sri Lanka Professionals Association, and a representative appointed by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

The CC will also have the power to propose names for the chief justice, judges to supreme court and the court of appeal, and other high officials, such as the inspector general of police.

Notwithstanding these changes, the president can, directly or indirectly, influence the first six members of the CC because they are ruling party MPs or are directly appointed by him. The council is therefore dominated by the president, parliament and big business, and has no real independence.

The 20th amendment to the constitution, which extended the wide-ranging autocratic powers of the executive presidency was introduced after Gotabhaya Rajapakse became president in November 2019. This included the power to remove the prime minister at any time and to take over any ministry. More significantly, the president had the power to dissolve any government after two and a half years of its election. These anti-democratic powers remain intact.

The executive presidency was originally established by the United National Party (UNP) government of President J. R. Jayawardene in 1978. Current Sri Lankan president, Wickremesinghe was a minister in that administration. It made the parliament a virtual rubber stamp, with the president given sweeping powers. The president is commander in chief of all the armed forces, can declare war and impose repressive laws.

Jayawardene calculated that stronger presidential powers were required to impose open market economic policies and transform the country into cheap labour platform. This meant suppressing workers resistance to government assaults on hard-won social rights.

During its 17-year rule, the UNP ruthlessly repressed all opposition to its social attacks. In 1980, it sacked 100,000 public employees and crushed their general strike for higher wages. Systematic communal provocations against the Tamil minority resulted in the eruption of the 26-year war against the LTTE. In 19871990, using the communalist provocations of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) as the pretext, the UNP unleashed a violent wave of repression against unemployed rural youth in the south of the island, massacring some 60,000.

With popular opposition to the executive presidency and the whole political establishment rising to boiling point, successive parliamentary opposition parties have pledged to abolish the hated presidency. These promises have been dumped, however, as soon as they won office.

Sri Lankan Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakse admitted to parliament on October 8 that International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Union and United Nations envoys often visited his ministry asking when the constitution would be amended and what provisions it would contain to restore democracy.

These international pressures would be eased, he said, but it would be helpful in obtaining IMF financial assistance if the amendment was passed.

President Wickremesinghe and his government are currently negotiating an emergency loan from the IMF to try and alleviate Sri Lankas catastrophic economic crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

The IMF and other financial institutions are not concerned about the democratic rights of the Sri Lankan masses. They calculate, however, that the pretence of so-called good governance measures would help to dissipate the mass opposition to the government, as it implements finance capitals brutal austerity demands.

The support for the 21st amendment by all the opposition parliamentary parties speaks volumes. It highlights the bipartisan agreement of the ruling and opposition parties for IMF austerity and their readiness to use the executive presidency to crush social opposition if they come to power.

The limited criticism of the new amendment by the opposition parties, even as they endorsed it, is completely bogus.

During the parliamentary debate, Sajith Premadasa, leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party, declared: We are voting in favour of this amendment because we want to help get this country out of the economic crisis. In other words, his principal concern was to appease the IMF.

JVP leader Anura Kumar Dissanayake supported the amendment while criticising ruling party MPs for having previously backed amendments that increased the presidents executive powers.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake [Photo: Anura Kumara Dissanayake Facebook]

The SJB leadership, then part of the UNP, as well as the JVP directly supported the 26-year communalist war against the LTTE, and all the associated repressive laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

These organisations silently endorsed President Gotabhaya Rajapakses repeated issuing of essential public service orders, as well as states of emergency to ban strikes and suppress workers struggles. They also provided similar support to President Wickremesinghe who has imposed essential public service orders and strike bans on petroleum, electricity and health employees.

M. A Sumanthiran, a leading Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, criticised the new amendment, declaring that his party did not want to support any tinkering of the constitution. Six TNA MPs, however, voted in favour the amendment. None of this has anything to do with defending the democratic rights of the masses. The preoccupation of the TNA, a pro-US party which supports the IMF austerity, is to pressure Colombo to introduce constitutional changes for a power-sharing arrangement for the Tamil elite.

For their part, the trade unions, which are aligned with the ruling and opposition parliamentary parties, have maintained a guilty silence about these constitutional changes.

There is no section in the capitalist ruling class in Sri Lanka which defends democratic rights. From its formal independence from British rule in 1948, successive Sri Lankan governments have systematically used emergency powers to suppress the resistance of workers and the poor whilst fuelling anti-Tamil and anti-Muslim provocations to divide the working class.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) rejects the political manoeuvres of the government and the opposition parties, who are being backed by pseudo-left groups and the trade unions. Behind this conspiracy, the Wickremesinghe regime is preparing to ruthlessly suppress any opposition by working people to its austerity measures.

The SEP demands the immediate abolition of the executive presidency and Sri Lankas anti-democratic constitution. We demand the repeal of all repressive laws, including the Public Security Act, the PTA and the Essential Public Services Act. The SEP calls for release of all political prisoners.

As the SEP has repeatedly explained, the defence of democratic rights is inseparable from the fight for the social rights of all working people.

In order to take forward the struggle for these demands, the working class must break from the capitalist parties and mobilise its own independent political strength. This requires the building of action committees in all workplaces and neighbourhoods, independent of the trade unions and capitalist parties, for the rural poor to build their action committees.

The SEP calls for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, based on delegates elected by action committees, as the necessary political lever for workers and the poor to fight for their social and democratic rights.

The building of the congress of the working class and the rural poor, will open the way for the fight for a workers and peasants government and the implementation socialist policies as part of struggle for international socialism.

We urge workers, youth and the oppressed to take up this political struggle and join and build the SEP as a mass revolutionary party.
The worlds wealthiest individual Elon Musk closed his $44 billion takeover of Twitter on Thursday evening, transforming the San Francisco-based social media platform with an estimated 330 million monthly active users into his private property.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the opening of the Tesla factory Berlin Brandenburg in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022. The billionaire has completed his $44 billion takeover of the social media company Twitter after a protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty. [AP Photo/Patrick Pleul/Pool Photo via AP, File]

The deal was confirmed on Friday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing by the New York Stock Exchange which showed Twitters stock had been delisted from the market and was no longer being publicly traded on Wall Street.

Late Thursday, Musk tweeted, The bird is freed shortly after he fired at least four top company executives: Chief Executive Parag Agrawal, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal, top legal and policy executive Vijaya Gadde and the company general counsel Sean Edgett.

On Friday morning he tweeted, let the good times roll. Later in the day, he tweeted that a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints was bring formed and that no major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.

However, Musk previously stated he was a free speech absolutist and would reverse the permanent ban on Donald Trump, which was implemented by Twitter in the aftermath of the former Presidents January 6, 2021 coup attempt.

In typical arrogant fashion, Musk did not issue a formal press statement about his plans or intentions in taking over the micro blogging site which has become a critical element of public relations and instantaneous news announcements the world over. Instead, he is using the platform to tweet out short snippets of information to the public.

On Wednesday, Musk posted a nine second video of himself walking into Twitter headquarters carrying a heavy ceramic sink with the words, Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in!

In an exception to his generally sophomoric behavior, Musk tweeted a short statement on Wednesday to Twitter advertisers aimed at stemming a potential rapid drop in sales revenue. He repeated some of the things he had said previously that Twitter is important to the future of civilization as a common digital town square where a wide range of beliefs can be debated, without resorting to violence.

Musk wrote that he bought the platform to try to help humanity, that Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences. He concluded by saying that advertising, when done right, will continue on Twitter.

The billionaire Musk had originally agreed to buy Twitter in April at a price of $54.20 per share and then, with the stock market declining by 25 percent, he attempted to renege on the deal. After Twitter sued Musk in Delaware Chancery Court, he backed down and agreed to go forward with the acquisition to avoid a court battle he was likely to lose.

Earlier in the week, employees at Twitter began circulating an open letter protesting Musks plans to fire 75 percent of the company staff. Time magazine published the text of the letter which read, in part, Elon Musks plan to lay off 75% of Twitter workers will hurt Twitters ability to serve the public conversation. The letter continued, A threat of this magnitude is reckless, undermines our users and customers trust in our platform, and is a transparent act of worker intimidation.

With not much good economic news to report, the corporate press has responded enthusiastically to the finalization of the private conversion of Twitter. The Wall Street Journal wrote on Friday, By taking Twitter private, the billionaire likely can take more risks to jumpstart the companys business.

In its Live Updates coverage, the New York Times wrote, Unlike publicly traded companies, privately held firms do not have to make quarterly public disclosures about their performance. They are also subject to less regulatory scrutiny and can be more tightly controlled by an owner. That means Mr. Musk can make over Twitterincluding tweaking the platforms content rules, its finances and its prioritieswithout having to consider the worries of the investing public.

Focused exclusively on financial performance, the fact that the individual private ownership of Twitter is incapable of contributing positively to society in any way is completely lost on the representatives of corporate media.

The takeover of Twitter by Elon Muskwho has a personal wealth of $221.2 billion and also owns the electric car manufacturer Tesla and spacecraft manufacturer SpaceXis a manifestation of the increasingly oligarchic character of American capitalism. Like Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos who owns the Washington Post, Musk is among the wealthiest billionaires in the world who are increasingly exerting their control of the financial, media and political levers of capitalist power.
For more information on the campaign of Will Lehman for UAW president, visit WillForUAWPresident.org.

Early Friday morning, Will Lehmans campaign for UAW president visited third shift workers as they were getting out of work at both the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) and the Sterling Heights Stamping Plant. Afterward, a campaign team went to the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant to speak to workers about the UAW election and Lehmans program calling for rank-and-file power.

As has been the case throughout Lehmans campaign, rank-and-file autoworkers at these plants expressed a deep hatred of the pro-corporate UAW bureaucracy, significant interest and support for Lehmans program and a genuine desire to fight to improve their conditions after decades of concessions and plant closures.

Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant

A young worker who started at SHAP earlier this year said he had seen Will Lehmans campaign team multiple times at his plant and would be voting for him. I didnt see no one else out here trying to get people to vote for them. I appreciate that youre dedicated.

After a campaigner spoke about Lehmans platform to abolish the corrupt, corporatized UAW bureaucracy and transfer power to rank-and-file workers on the shop floor, he said: I like that. See, thats the problemthe management paying the UAW [bureaucrats], I dont like that. Thats the problem with Chrysler right now, when we got a week laid off and we come back and get a whole other week [laid] off. They keep talking about suppliers. Yall [the UAW] supposed to be fighting for us.

Theres a bunch of supervisors whore walking around paying these stewards. Theres supervisors getting hired in and firing people. They dont know what theyre doing. We gotta make a change, man.

The worker ended with an appeal to his coworkers and other UAW members: Vote Will Lehman.

Another worker, Matt, said he voted for Will after closely following the campaign and speaking to Will on the phone. Im spreading the word inside the factory, he said.

Stellantis Sterling Heights Stamping Plant

Mike, a worker at Sterling Heights Stamping Plant told campaigners, Im voting for Will Lehman. I want to bring the power and decision-making of the UAW and place it in the hands of the members on the floor.

One worker rushing into the gate said he already voted for Will. When asked why, he said, Why do I like him? Read his stuffjust read. All you gotta do is read.

An autoworker who has been at the plant for 26 years expressed his extreme anger at the UAW for the deterioration of working conditions. He was especially upset about the terrible conditions faced by his son, who has worked at Warren Truckwhich recently eliminated their third shiftas a temporary part-time worker (TPT) for two years. He didnt choose to be a TPT. He makes low wages and has to deal with harassment and bullying. This isnt right. I want you to tell Will about this.

Stellantis Jefferson North Assembly

At Stellantis Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, one worker told Lehmans campaign supporters, Im sick of the Curry crap, referring to incumbent UAW President Ray Curry. I know Im voting for Will.

Another worker said of Lehman, His name is floating around the plant. Im definitely voting for him and I think a lot of other people are too.

A third worker said, Back in the day before COVID I guess JNAP used to put out something like 600 vehicles a day. Right now, the highest we put out is 340 and the company says they want 400. But its not happening.

People here voting for Will are pissed about the corruption scandal. I know he cant fix everything, but when that one worker said theres a lot of bullying in this plant, she wasnt lying. When it [the corruption scandal] comes up in talks, the UAW dont want to talk about thatbut its like, you have to talk about it, because you took peoples money! They have no answer. I know I want all my dues money back because they have served no purpose for me.

I dont have dental, I cant even get my teeth cleaned since I started working at JNAP. I got COVID in the plant, and got a huge medical bill from having to see a specialist. My lungs are still messed up. And whos paying for that? I cant afford it, but I got the bill. Its ridiculous.

Ford Dearborn Truck Plant

Campaigners distributed around 500 leaflets to second shift workers at the Dearborn Truck Plant (Rouge). Many workers knew about Wills campaign and said they either already did or were planning on voting for him.

No more crooks. Get rid of all of the brothers in the good-boy country club, one worker said. Nothing but crooks and all of them need to be in federal prison. When asked who he was going to vote for, he responded, Willthe only one!

Another Ford Dearborn worker said, I think Will is going to do a great job as our president, and we need someone who will go and fight for us.

I want to see some changes, a worker heading into his shift told campaigners. As what they do more for the actual membership, you know? Its all about the executive board. It should be all about the membership. Im going to consider him [Will] seriously.

A worker who had started three months ago at Ford Dearborn spoke about low wages. I want to be able to afford one of these cars, and I work here. We build them and we cant even afford them.

For more information on the campaign of Will Lehman for UAW president, visit WillForUAWPresident.org.
Amid calls for his resignation by victims families and other public officials, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw told grieving relatives that his agency did not fail the community of Uvalde during the school shooting in May which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers.

Family, parents and friends file out of a meeting where Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo was dismissed by the Board of Trustees of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. [AP Photo/Eric Gay]

If DPS as an institution failed the families, failed the school, or failed the community of Uvalde, then absolutely, I need to go, McCraw said at a Thursday meeting of the Texas Public Safety Commission. But I can tell you this right now: DPS as an institution right now did not fail the community, plain and simple.

McCraws appearance at Thursdays public meeting provided the first update on the DPS investigation in weeks, although little new information was revealed. For months, the families of the children killed in the shooting have demanded transparency and accountability from McCraw and other police agencies, accusing the DPS of withholding information and trying to minimize its culpability.

Almost 400 officers from DPS and 22 other law enforcement agencies responded to the incident at Robb Elementary; multiple officers were on the scene within minutes of the first gunshots, but police waited 77 minutesin direct violation of law enforcements active shooter protocol and trainingbefore engaging the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, in the pair of classrooms where he carried out his massacre.

McCraws comments came moments after several of the victims families demanded he resign. McCraw had previously vowed to tender (his) resignation to the governor if his department was found to have any responsibility related to the shooting and the failed police response.

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.

Its been five months and three days since my son, his classmates and his teachers were murdered, said Cross, who was helping raise his nephew before he died in the shooting.

But while days and weeks pass, Cross said, Several numbers remain the same: It was 77 minutes that 91 of you alls officers waited outside while our children were slaughtered.

Jesse Rizzo, whose 9-year-old niece Jacklyn Cazares was among the victims, told PBS the misleading comments from police and overall refusal to take responsibility has compounded Uvaldes grief and has generated mistrust 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.

At Thursdays meeting, McCraw attempted to further distance his department from the shooting, claiming the gunman was only able to gain access to the school because a teacher had propped open an exterior door with a rock. The teacher returned to shut the door, but it did not lock, McCraw said.

Thursday marked the DPS Directors first public testimony about the mass shooting since June when he told a state Senate committee the shooting response was an abject failurebut placed blame largely on local and school district police, particularly school officer Pedro Pete Arredondo, who state authorities say was the incident commander at the scene of the shooting.

Arredondo, who has denied he was in that role, was one of five school district officers at Robb Elementary, while DPS had 91 personnel respond to the shootingthe largest number except for the US Border Patrol, according to a July report by a state House of Representatives investigative committee.

The rest of the school police were suspended amid protests after it was revealed that a new campus security officer hired by the district was a former state police officer who was under investigation for her actions during the shooting.

The DPS has faced mounting scrutiny for its role in the response to the tragedy, beginning as its initial narrative of events was disproved within days of the bloodshed and further expanding when body camera footage revealed a DPS trooper arrived at Robb Elementary earlier than officials acknowledged publicly.

In fact, footage shows that DPS Sergeant Juan Maldonado arrived with the first contingent of officers from the city and school police departments. Maldonado was seen hanging back at a doorway, not entering the building, as gunfire rang out.

McCraw said a criminal investigation into the police response to the shooting, led by the Texas Rangers, would conclude by the end of the year but offered no indication as to whether the findings would result in charges against any of the nearly 400 officers who went to the school. So far, only two DPS officers have been fired in response to their actions at the scene and others have been placed on leave.

According to agency officials, at least seven DPS officers have been under investigation, with Maldonado being served with termination papers last week and Ranger Chris Kindell being suspended.
The Biden administration said Monday that Russia has abruptly and without explanation postponed the scheduled resumption of arms control talks this week.
Gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a major Shia holy site in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, according to state-run media.

The official website of the judiciary says two gunmen were arrested and a third is on the run after the attack on the Shah Cheragh mosque. The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded.

The attack, which bore the hallmarks of Sunni extremists who have targeted the country's Shia majority in the past, comes as Iran has been convulsed by over a month of anti-government demonstrations, the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.

Thousands of protesters poured into the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked the protests.

Deaths are commemorated in Shia Islam, as in many other traditions, again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. In Amini's Kurdish hometown of Saqez, the birthplace of the nationwide unrest now roiling Iran, crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

``Death to the dictator!`` protesters cried, according to video footage that corresponds with known features of the city and Aichi Cemetery. Women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads. Other videos showed a massive procession making its way along a highway and through a dusty field toward Amini's grave. There were reports of road closures in the area.

State-linked media reported 10,000 protesters in the procession to her grave.

Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group, said security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The semiofficial ISNA news agency said security forces fired pellets at crowds of demonstrators on the outskirts of Saqez and pushed back demonstrators who tried to attack the governor's office. It said local internet access was cut off due to "security considerations.''

Earlier in the day, Kurdistan Gov. Esmail Zarei Koosha insisted that traffic was flowing as normal, calling the situation "completely stable.''

State-run media announced that schools and universities in Iran's northwestern region would close, purportedly to curb ``the spread of influenza.``

In downtown Tehran, the capital, major sections of the traditional grand bazaar closed in solidarity with the protests. Crowds clapped and shouted ``Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!'' through the labyrinthine marketplace.

``This year is a year of blood!'' they also chanted. ``(Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) will be toppled!``

Riot police on motorbikes were out in force. A large group of men and women marched through the streets, setting trash cans ablaze and shouting Death to the dictator!'' as cars honked their support. Police unleashed anti-riot bullets at protesters in the streets and sprayed pellets upward at journalists filming from windows and rooftops. Anti-government chants also echoed from the University of Tehran campus.

Amini, detained for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code for women, remains the potent symbol of protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic.

With the slogan (hash)WomanLifeFreedom, the demonstrations first focused on women's rights and the state-mandated hijab, or headscarf for women. But they quickly evolved into calls to oust the Shiite clerics that have ruled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The protests have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Since the protests erupted, security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas to disperse demonstrations, killing over 200 people, according to rights groups.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands. Iranian judicial officials announced this week they would bring over 600 people to trial over their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighboring Alborz province and 105 in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run IRNA news agency that four protesters were charged with ``war against God,`` which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

Last week, Iran imposed sanctions on over a dozen European officials, companies and institutions, including foreign-based Farsi channels that have extensively covered the protests, accusing them of ``supporting terrorism.`` The sanctions involve an entry and visa ban for the staffers in addition to the confiscation of their assets in Iran.

Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcaster whose Farsi team was blacklisted, condemned the move on Wednesday as ``unacceptable.''

``I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime,'' said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In a separate development, most of the remaining portion of a 10-story tower that collapsed earlier this year in the southwestern city of Abadan, killing at least 41 people, fell on Wednesday, state-run media reported. The state-run IRNA news agency reported that a woman in a car parked near the site was killed. Other parts of the building had collapsed last month.

The deadly collapse of the Metropol Building on May 23 became a lightning rod for protests in Abadan, some 660 kilometers (410 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. The disaster shined a spotlight on shoddy construction practices, government corruption and negligence in Iran.

Videos spread online of the remaining tower crashing into the street as massive clouds of dust billowed into the sky.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack Wednesday on a Shia Muslim shrine in southern Iran that state media said killed more than a dozen people.

An IS fighter opened fire on worshippers at the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz, "killing at least 20 Shias and wounded dozens of others", the radical Sunni Muslim jihadist group said in a statement via Telegram channels.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


US President Joe Biden will travel to Egypt to participate in the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) on 11 November, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.

The statement said that at COP27, Biden will build on the significant work the US has undertaken to advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts, and he will highlight the need for the world to act in this decisive decade.

As of 3 October, 90 heads of state had confirmed that they will attend COP27, Wael Abul-Magd, the special representative for the Egyptian presidency of COP27, told Reuters.

The US has been working closely with Egypt to ensure the success of the conference, which is set to be held 6-18 November in the Red Sea resort city.

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, has visited Egypt on two separate occasions this year to attend climate events and meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and other Egyptian officials to discuss COP27 and various climate issues.

Kerry has also been coordinating with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the president-designate of COP27, to develop agendas for the conference.

In February, Egypt and the US launched a climate working group to advance bilateral and multilateral climate goals in preparation for November's summit.

Both countries are also set to announce an agreement during the conference that support Egypt's National Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) plan to promote green projects

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Its never a bad time for a scary movie. And Amazon Prime Video has some of the very best scary movies to watch. Whether its a serial killer thriller like The Silence of the Lambs, a zombie epic like World War Z or an oddball cult favorite like C.H.U.D. or Jennifers Body, Prime Video has a surprisingly robust selection of all your favorites on streaming.

Below, we run down some of the best horror movies on Amazon Prime Video right now.

The Silence of the Lambs

Orion Pictures

Jonathan Demmes Oscar-sweeping masterpiece is just as potent and terrifying today as it was in 1991. In this adaptation of Thomas Harris best-selling novel, Jodie Foster plays Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee who is recruited to interface with Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a serial killer who holds vital clues to a new case involving the abduction of a senators daughter. Everything about The Silence of the Lambs is flawless, from Ted Tallys note-perfect screenplay (which won him an Oscar) to every performance (Foster and Hopkins won Oscars) to the final reveal, which is still endlessly copied and imitated to this day. If you havent seen it in a while or maybe havent it at all, its hard to articulate just what a seismic event the movie was  and how you can still feel its reverberations today, in every procedural cop show and every movie about an eccentric serial killer on the loose. Ridley Scotts controversial (and, quite frankly, underrated) follow-up, Hannibal, is also available on Prime Video.

Let the Right One In

Sandrew Metronome

John Ajvide Lindqvists novel Let the Right One In is currently being adapted as a Showtime original series and has been the subject of an American remake from The Batman director Matt Reeves. But its hard to top the original adaptation from Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson. A love story of sorts between a young boy and an immortal little vampire girl is equal parts mesmerizing and moving, a coming-of-age story that also features several brutal murders. (The Cold War Stockholm setting is also hugely evocative, with its brutalist architecture and bitter cold.) If youve seen one of the adaptations but never the original, do yourself a favor  this movie is unforgettable.

Story continues

C.H.U.D.

New World Pictures

What is a CHUD you ask? Why its a cannibalistic humanoid underground dweller, of course! This utterly wonderful cult classic follows a cop (Christopher Curry), a photographer (John Heard) and a homeless shelter manager (Daniel Stern) who start to suspect the titular race of crazy mutants is responsible for a rash of disappearances around the city. Could its portrayal of unhoused people stand to be more nuanced? Absolutely. Although it is commendable that they were treated with this amount of sensitivity. And while that might be unfortunate, the rest of the movie is an absolute blast  from the grungy early 1980s New York photography to the killer electronic score (by two of the guys in Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) to the charmingly off-kilter performances (particularly from Stern), C.H.U.D. is an underground favorite (pun intended) that probably deserves even more attention. Bonus trivia: it was one of the inspirations for Jordan Peeles Us and a VHS copy of the movie can be seen in that movies opening shot.

Also Read:

The Best Halloween Movies on Netflix Right Now

Dont Look Now

Paramount

Maybe the single greatest horror movie ever made, Dont Look Now is essential viewing. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie play a young married couple who recently lost their daughter (which is dramatized in the movies opening). In an attempt to save their marriage  and their sanity  Sutherland accepts a job in Venice (hes an art restorer). But while there, Christie falls in with a pair of kooky psychics and the city becomes engulfed in fear thanks to a series of ritualistic killings. How is any of this connected? And will the handsome young couple make it out alive? Based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier and directed spectacularly by Nicolas Roeg, Dont Look Now is a one of a kind thriller  it features one of the most shocking ends in horror cinema and also contains one of the most beautiful, passionate sex scenes of all time (one that Steven Soderbergh borrowed heavily from in Out of Sight). With the exemplary Criterion Collection disc long out of print, this is probably the best way to watch the movie too  in gorgeous HD. Watch Dont Look Now and fall under its spell.

An American Werewolf in London

Universal

First, an acknowledgement: writer/director John Landis is, by all accounts, a pretty despicable guy whose ego and recklessness would, a year after An American Werewolf in London opened, result in the deaths of three people (two of them children). And yet, An American Werewolf in London is one of the classics of the 1980s, a movie that mixed humor and horror more liberally (and, you could argue, more successfully) than Ghostbusters. The tale of an American backpacker (David Naughton) who is attacked by a werewolf and subsequently turns into a creature, going on a murderous spree in the heart of London, the movie is sleek and engrossing. If youre able to distance yourself from Landis behavior, An American Werewolf in London becomes even more effective. Beware the moors.

Saint Maud

A24

Rose Glass stunning directorial debut should have made more of a splash (especially since it was released by meme-generating-machine A24) but Saint Maud, which saw its release date constantly shifting in the wake of the pandemic, opened quietly. One day it will gain the cult status it deserves. Maybe starting now? Morfydd Clark, in a stunning performance, plays Maud, a private care nurse who has become a devout Catholic after losing one of her patients. But after her relationship with a new patient (played by the great Jennifer Ehle) turns sour, could something else be fighting for the soul of young Maud? A sense of creeping dread permeates every frame of this movie until the unforgettable ending. Just watch Saint Maud and become enraptured.

Jennifers Body

20th Century

One of the great joys of the past few years has been watching more and more people wake up to the brilliance of Jennifers Body, the 2009 horror movie written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama that was summarily ignored by critics and audiences when it was first released. In Jennifers Body Megan Fox plays the title character, a hot girl in a small town who finds herself possessed by a demon after a human sacrifice goes wrong. Amanda Seyfried is her mousy best friend Needy, who has to come to terms with her BFFs new phase. Insightful, hilarious, terrifying and very queer, Jennifers Body mystified those who saw it in 2009 but it has steadily grown in stature, becoming a really-for-real cult artifact in the years since. If for some reason the bloody charms of Jennifers Body have passed you by, its never too late to join the movement.

Also Read:

Here Are All the 2022 Horror Movies You Can Stream Right Now

Candyman (2021)

Universal Pictures

Candyman  Candyman  Candyman  The infamous, hook-handed spirit, created by Clive Barker in the story The Forbidden and adapted by Bernard Rose for the 1992 original film, is back. This new version, directed by Nia DaCosta and produced and co-written by Jordan Peele, sees the story take place in a gentrified version of the original films Chicago ghetto. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a bougie painter whose work becomes consumed with the idea and imagery of the Candyman  is he being visited by the vengeful spirit? Or is he being possessed by it? This new film is a totally unique work, taking barbed jabs at the modern art scene, urban sprawl and the legacy of folktales, that still has some surprisingly strong connections to the original film. (Its a legacy sequel as much as it is a remake/reboot.) Its also very, very scary. One of the very best horror movies of the past few years.

Fright Night (2011)

Amblin

Speaking of exemplary remakes, Fright Night is also available and excellent. A remake of the 1985 low key classic, this new Fright Night takes place in a desolate Las Vegas planned community instead of the originals leafy suburbia and instead of a late night horror host, the undercover vampire hunter is now a theatrical magician (David Tennant). The late, great Anton Yelchin plays a high school kid whose mom comes under the spell (both literal and figurative) of the handsome vampire next door (Colin Farrell, chewing scenery and everything else). Smartly told and full of wonderful set pieces (which took on more oomph when you watched it theatrically, as it was shot in native 3D), Fright Night is one of the most underrated horror movies of the past decade or so. Very much deserving of a re-watch or even a first timer. Fright Night definitely has fangs.

Dead & Buried

AVCO Embassy

This movie absolutely rules. Set in a mysterious seaside community that has a disproportioned amount of horrible murders, Dead & Buried follows the local sheriff (played by journeyman actor James Farentino) as he tries to get to the bottom of it. Quite frankly, thats all you need to know about the movies plot. Part of this is because its such a kick watching the story unexpected unfold and part it is because the movie has an all-timer twist ending that probably makes M. Night Shyamalan turn green with envy. Co-written by Alien writers Ron Shusett and Dan OBannon and directed by cult favortie Gary Sherman (Poltergeist III, Vice Squad), Dead & Buried is your new favorite horror film. You just dont know it yet.

Angel Heart

Carolco Pictures

The movie that was so risque it nearly got Lisa Bonet fired from The Cosby Show (seriously). Based on the novel Fallen Angel by William Hjortsberg and adapted by British filmmaker Alan Parker, Angel Heart follows a lost but not unethical private eye (Mickey Rourke) who takes a job from a mysterious, egg-eating stranger (Robert De Niro) to try and track down a man in New Orleans. As Rourkes character soon finds out, theres more to this case than meets the eye, including some very freaky occult stuff and a series of ghastly murders. Part of the fun of Angel Heart is Rourke subverting his tough guy image; as soon as the bodies start to pile up he wants out. And theres also the haunting, dreamlike (or is it nightmarish?) atmosphere that Parker and his collaborators conjure up. But yes, the sex scenes between Bonet and Rourke were so intense they almost got her fired from her sitcom. (She was 18 at the time and playing a 17-year-old, which does leave some icky feelings.) Anyway, this movie is great! Who doesnt love a supernatural detective story?

Also Read:

The 15 Best Horror Movies of 2022 and How to Watch Them

My Best Friends Exorcism

Elsie Fisher in My Best Friends Exorcism (Prime Video)

If you want to see how Jennifers Body has influenced a newer generation of filmmakers, look no further than My Best Friends Exorcism. Based on the novel of the same name by Grady Hendrix, Damon Thomas film follows two high school ride-or-dies (played by Elsie Fisher and Amiah Miller) whose friendship is tested when one of them becomes possessed (it involves LSD and a creepy cabin in the woods, of course). Bonus points for My Best Friends Exorcism being set in the 1980s, which adds some much-needed visual texture, some fun era-specific nostalgia and a glittery, Stranger Things-adjacent soundtrack (by Ryland Blackinton). And its probably the closest thing well get to a new Fear Street movie for a little while. Devilish fun!

World War Z

Paramount

This adaptation of Max Brooks fictional oral history of the zombie apocalypse, produced by and starring Brad Pitt, had a notoriously bumpy road to release, but it remains an undead-filled roller coaster. World War Z stars Pitt as a former United Nations investigator working to reunite with his family after the zombie outbreak. What makes World War Z so fun to watch is the immense scale; there are few genuine horror epics and this is definitely one of them. Watch as the zombie hordes form giant masses, like carpenter ants, as they build ladders to try and attack helicopters and scale impenetrable walls. Marc Forsters direction is occasionally pretty clunky, but watching the movie is an undeniable thrill. Pour one out for the David Fincher sequel that never made it out of development.

The Blair Witch Project

Haxan Films

The Blair Witch Project is a movie so highly influential that its hard to remember a time before it. Starring a cast of unknowns, The Blair Witch Project pretended to be a documentary and it was so successful in its realism that some people thought that the performers were real people who had actually gone missing. (Surprise! Everybodys okay!) In the years since there have been countless attempts to recapture the truly horrific surprise of The Blair Witch Project, but at a certain point the faux documentary aesthetic became just as artificial as any more outwardly Hollywood affectation. Still, Blair Witch Project is ruthlessly effective. Watching it again you can see why it took the world by storm.

Hostel

Lionsgate

Unfairly lumped into the popular torture porn horror sub-genre of the time, Hostel is actually a remarkably smart, very satirical look at American male aggression and boorish xenophobia. And, yes, its also pretty disgusting. The tale of a group of Americans (led by a very likable Jay Hernandez), who check into a hostel in Slovakia that is actually part of an illegal network that kidnaps tourists and sells them into a situation where they are murdered for money. The murderers are rich business people (an idea expanded on in the underrated sequel) and the young Americans, like in any good slasher movie, are paying for their bad behavior. It owes a lot to Takashi Miikes brilliant Audition and the input of producer Quentin Tarantino, who helped shepherd the project to fruition after falling for Roths earlier film Cabin Fever. Its astounding that, as a franchise, Hostel fizzled out after one more theatrical feature (also written and directed by Roth) and a third film that went direct-to-video, when something like Saw is, improbably, still going strong despite being much, much worse. Its never a bad time to check into Hostel.

Also Read:

The 55 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Blood samples sit in a refrigerated storage unit at the Vitalant blood donation center in San Angelo on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.

With the holidays approaching, nonprofit blood-services provider Vitalant is urging all Concho Valley residents who enjoy good health to give thanks by donating blood.

According to Linda Grace with Vitalants San Angelo office, fewer people donate during the Thanksgiving-to-New Year weeks than any other time of year, but every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. And in fact, it may require many donors to help just one patient.

Blood donors of all blood types, especially Type O and platelet donors are critically needed.

Type O is the most in-demand blood type and Type O-Negative is what physicians often reach for in emergencies, because it can be transfused when there is no time to determine a patients blood type.

Platelets, which are critical to halt bleeding, have a short shelf life, and must be used within a week of collection.

Our center, located at 2020 W. Beauregard Ave. in San Angelo, provides a convenient place for donors to help those patients who will be in dire need during the upcoming holiday season, Grace said. Vitalant is the blood services provider for San Angelo, and the service area includes 16 surrounding counties.

There are several upcoming opportunities to give blood, and donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment.

San Angelo area blood drives:

Howard College, 3501 N. US Highway 67, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Shannon South, 3501 Knickerbocker Road, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9 and Thursday, Nov. 10.

Coldwell Banker Legacy Realtors, 3017 Knickerbocker Road, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 15.

Angelo State University / Tri Beta, University Center, 1820 Rosemont Dr., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 and Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Donors will receive an Amazon.com gift card redeemable by email as a small token of thanks.

Learn more at vitalant.org/ThanksgivingGift.

To check eligibility and make an appointment visit vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app, or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Story continues

As a special thank you, when donors use the Vitalant app to make and keep a donation appointment during the month of November, they automatically will be entered to win one of five $500 prepaid gift cards.

Vitalant is a network of about 120 donation centers across the U.S. and host approximately 60,000 blood drives annually. Vitalant provides blood and special services to patients in about 900 hospitals across the U.S.  millions of people depend on blood donations from our generous volunteer donors.

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Blood donors urged to give generously during holiday season
Since 1993, Polands Camerimage film festival has followed a circular path, launching in the medieval city of Torun, then moving the festivities first to odz and then to Bydgoszcz, before completing a full revolution with a return to its original, historic site (which is, fittingly enough, the birthplace of Copernicus).

Per the festival brass, the cinematography showcases peripatetic nature for the past three decades has above all stemmed from a simple desire to set down where roots could grow. From the very beginning, our dream was to hold this festival in its own, proper location, says Camerimage founder Marek Zydowicz. To have a dedicated space that runs all year long, offering education, and showing films that represent our values. Because thus far, weve always been moving, looking for that best place.

More from Variety

Now aiming for a late 2025 opening, the festivals flagship European Film Center project will keep its doors open all-year long to the industry professionals and providers who migrate to the weeklong festival that doubles as a trade show.



Companies like Arri, Sony and Panasonic have been with us for more than 25 years, says Zydowicz. Some have come up with new ideas while visiting the festival; theyd hear of a problem and a couple years later return with a solution.

The list of exhibitors has since expanded, with anamorphic lens provider Vantage now attending with new products to hawk, while LED gear house Cream Source has become an all the more recent addition  reflecting the growing importance of digital production. But not everyone has found a spot on the makeshift expo floor.

Many companies would like to show their products but cannot due to lack of space, says org office director Kazik Suwala. Thats one of the reasons for our center, which will allow us to host more companies and to do so all year long. Well even have a small soundstage equipped with an LED wall for virtual production, because we want to have a place where people can come and explore new ideas and technologies. And we want to offer that for more than just one week in November.

Story continues

With that goal still a few years off, in terms of this years edition (which runs Nov. 12-19), Camerimage will tackle the art and industry of camerawork from every possible angle. Alongside a number of seminars and technical demonstrations, the festival will also host a talk from producer and Hollywood executive Bill Mechanic focusing on development and financing, a panel on workplace safety and shooting conditions, and a presentation from protean film editor Walter Murch reframing the captured image from the editors perspective.

On Nov. 14, Camerimage will partner with Ukraines Kinoko Film Festival for a presentation called Cinematographers at War, which will host at least nine Ukrainian filmmakers still based in their home country. For now it looks like they will travel for 56 hours by bus to make it, says Suwala. This single, two-hour seminar will require the efforts of 40 people to make it happen; it will mean lots of car changes and getting permission on many different levels. We have to present a totally different angle, in this case of people affected by war.

Carving a no doubt less arduous path to Poland, many Hollywood friendly DPs will also be on hand, sharing in an event thats become an informal and quite literal precursor to the Oscar race. With awards hopefuls like Tar, Elvis and Top Gun: Maverick all screening in competition (and likely with both the directors and DPs on-site to present) this years edition will offer a snapshot of industry excitement, while simultaneously feeding new titles into the awards pipeline.

Since 2013, for instance, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has automatically shortlisted the winners of Camerimages documentary short and student short competitions, turning the Polish-based festival  wherever it called home at the time  into a direct launchpad into the U.S. industry.

We are just very happy to be seen, says Suwala. Its nice to the have this feeling that [our top prizes] are prophetic. That they can open a whole new path.

Tar

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Rande Gerber, Kaia Jordan Gerber, Presley Walker Gerber and Cindy Crawford attend the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills on October 28, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Casamigos)

Michael Kovac/Getty for Casamigos

Spooky season is in full swing in Hollywood!

It was a fun-filled evening for the whole Gerber-Crawford family at a star-studded Casamigos Tequila Halloween party in Beverly Hills, California, on Friday night.

Cindy Crawford stepped out with her children and husband to celebrate the holiday, sporting a western-inspired costume. In brown leather boots, a leather corset top and a lacy white dress, she finished the look with an undone hairstyle and dramatic choker necklace.

Her children, Kaia Gerber and Presley Gerber, also supported their Casamigos co-founder father, Rande Gerber, who hosted the party on behalf of his liquor company.

Rande, 60, joined his wife in a couple's costume, donning a cowboy look that matched her own frontierswoman getup. His attire came complete with a hat and a gun holster as well. Crawford, 56, posted some behind-the-scenes getting ready photos of their glam squad prepping their looks on social media.

RELATED: Cindy Crawford Went to Burning Man with Daughter Kaia Gerber

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford attend the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills on October 28, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Casamigos)

Kevin Mazur/Getty for Casamigos

Kaia, meanwhile, was dressed in a Matrix-inspired black latex suit, with a slicked-back hairstyle. The American Horror Stories actress, 21, completed the look with a pair of shades.

Presley, 23, for his part, went as Fred Flinstone, while his girlfriend, Lexi Wood, dressed up as Wilma. The pair posted several snaps of their costume on Instagram, showing off his simple patterned orange matching set in contrast to her daring, midriff-baring white one.

RELATED: Kaia Gerber Channels Supermodel Mom Cindy Crawford at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Presley Gerber and Lexi Wood attend the Casamigos Halloween Party Returns in Beverly Hills on October 28, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Casamigos)

Kevin Mazur/Getty for Casamigos

The family always goes all out for Halloween, having rocked many themed group and couple costumes over the years.

Rande  who co-founded the tequila company with his longtime friends George Clooney and Mike Meldman  spoke to PEOPLE in 2020, when the elaborate costume party was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

"We [usually] go all out with hair, makeup, costumes and accessories," Gerber said at the time. "It's always fun and appropriate for that one night a year. We have done everything from Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love, Kid Rock and Pam Anderson to Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty and others."

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.

Crawford and Rande have been married for 24 years. Following in her mom's very stylish footsteps, Kaia signed as the face of Marc Jacobs Beauty in 2017. The deal marked the then-16-year-old's first major beauty campaign. Presley also works as a model.
MILTON  The opium that flooded 19th-century China destroyed lives and unraveled society under the Qing dynasty. At the same time, it built the fortunes and secured the legacies of prominent New England families while providing seed money for America's industrial revolution, railroad boom and westward expansion.

An exhibit at the Forbes House Museum in Milton brings this history to life through an array of objects, artifacts and personal letters once belonging to the wealthy and politically connected Forbes family, who dominated America's illegal drug smuggling to China over half a century.

Heidi Vaughan, the museum's executive director, said the exhibit grew out of a partnership with the Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, which works to address substance abuse and mental illness.

"It was the idea that opiate addiction is a serious issue that had been exacerbated by the pandemic. That was the major driving factor for the exhibit," Vaughan said.

A 'remarkable partnership': Quincy looks to sign Granite Links Golf Club to 100-year lease

Ghost stories: A trio of eerie tales for a chilly October evening

Vaughan said because the devastating effects of opiates is better understood today than it was in early 19th-Century America, it was challenging to tell the story in its historical context. Opium was legal in the U.S. at the time, and laudanum, a solution of opium powder and alcohol, was frequently prescribed for insomnia, "hysteria" (a blanket term for various disorders experienced largely by women) and colicky babies.

In the first gallery, a series of portraits introduce the major players. The Forbes brothers, Robert Bennet and John Murray, were introduced to the China trade by their maternal uncle, Thomas Handasyd Perkins, who traded in furs and slaves before setting his sights on China, Vaughan said.

The brothers who were recent grads of Milton Academy, were still in their early teens when they first sailed for China. There is a model of the Canton Packet, a clipper ship on which Robert Bennet first sailed to Canton (or Guangzhou in Chinese) as a 13-year-old cabin boy.

Story continues

In return for tea, porcelain and silks, Americans exported ginseng, which grew naturally in the United States, as well as sea otter pelts from the pacific Northwest and sandalwood from Hawaii. But merchants soon exhausted these goods and turned instead to opium. Because the East India C. held a monopoly on Indian opium, American merchants bought a cheaper and lower-grade strain from Turkey, Vaughan said.

Different pipes are on display, as well as a "porcelain pillow." In opium dens, smokers would recline on these richly colored headrests, which secured their valuables inside during intoxication.

A variety of opium pipes and a "porcelain pillow" are on display at the Forbes House Museum in Milton.

By the 1830s, the Forbes family controlled a commanding interest in Russel & Co., the largest American trading company in China at the time. As you walk through the museum, the wealth derived from the opium trade appears everywhere. The mansion itself was built with the proceeds.

In the dining room, elaborately decorated blue and white porcelain is displayed on the table and sideboards. Chinese artists adapted traditional motifs to the tastes and needs of their new American customers. One plate is emblazoned with the American eagle, and cider jugs and coffee cups appear alongside native Chinese pottery forms.

These luxury goods were a symbol of prestige in 19th-century New England.

"It was very sought after," Vaughan said. "It was very admired and respected. If you had money, you had Chinese items."

A western-style portrait of Houqua, the Chinese official appointed to deal with American traders, hangs in the "Chinese parlor." Houqua and John Murray Forbes became friends and exchanged valuable gifts, exemplified by a finely wrought walking stick with a bat carved into the handle. In Chinese, the words for bat and luck are near homonyms.

Houqua participated in drug trafficking.

There was a group of Chinese who were getting rich as well, who were actively involved in the smuggling of opium, Vaughan explained. When Houqua died in 1843, he was worth over a billion dollars in today's money and was perhaps the richest merchant alive.

In 1838, after the emperor's own son died from an overdose, Imperial Commissioner Lin Tse-Hsu arrived in Guangzhou to clamp down on the illegal trade. He forced foreign merchants to hand over their opium, which he promptly destroyed, Vaughan said. While the British incurred the heaviest losses (and subsequently sent warships, triggering the First Opium War), Russel and Co. had 14,000 chests of opium confiscated.

The Forbes House Museum presents "Opium: The Business of Addiction," which explores America's role in the illegal opium trade to China during the 19th Century.

Across the hall sits Robert Bennet Forbes' writing table. While away in China, the captain kept a correspondence with his wife, Rose, in which he expressed growing ambivalence about the trade that made him rich. Reflecting on how he lost his fortune during the 1837 financial panic (he soon made it back on subsequent trips to China), Forbes wrote: "Perhaps providence took away my fortune because I made it from opium. What I've made this time will be free from sin.

"As to the effect on the people," Robert Bennet Forbes wrote, "there can be no doubt it was demoralizing to a certain extent: not more so, probably, than the use of ardent spirits."

Forbes House Museum Executive Director Heidi Vaughan brings a little-known era of American history to life with the aid of a rich collection of artifacts.

Vaughan said another challenge was telling the narrative in a culturally sensitive manner, given that the museum's collections filter history through western elite perspectives.

"We did work with Chinese people to make sure that this was a balanced presentation. We worked with Quincy Asian Resources and Rockey Chan from that organization, and we have Gail Wong on our on our board, and she is of Chinese descent."

The museum also translated wall panels into Mandarin and plans to install QR codes to allow visitors to experience the exhibit in their native language.

Weymouth: Group pushes to stop new development for 18 months, cites water capacity concerns

Hingham: Here's how a new school, public safety building would impact taxpayers

Vaughan said visitors, particularly students, have found the exhibit eye-opening. "We had AP students looking at the the opium wars as something between Britain and China. So it's so interesting that that part of history taught in our own schools doesn't really address our role in it."

The museum provides resources for teachers who plan to visit the museum on their website.

The exhibit runs through February 2023.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Did you know the Forbes built their wealth through China's opium trade?
Congress Holds Joint Session To Ratify 2020 Presidential Election - Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Former U.S. Capitol police officer, Michael A. Riley, was found guilty on Friday of obstruction of justice for deleting his own Facebook messages offering advice to a Jan 6. rioter on how to hide evidence about entering the Capitol on the day of the insurrection, The New York Times reports.

Riley, who served on the Capitol Police force for over 25 years, faces up to 20 years in prison.

More from Rolling Stone

Although Riley was not working at the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, he did send dozens of messages to the rioter, who was identified as Virginia Beach fishing boat captain Jacob Hiles, according to The Washington Post. Riley recommended that Hiles remove any incriminating selfies or videos that would place him in the Capitol that day. The two did not know each other personally, but they were both members of the same Facebook fishing groups.

Im a capitol police officer who agrees with your political stance, Riley wrote, according to the indictment. Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to [be] charged. Just looking out!

Prosecutors also said that Riley divulged information about how the FBI was going to track down the identities of rioters; later he deleted those messages.

I get it it was a total shit show!!!, Riley wrote in another message. Just wanted to give you a heads up Im glad you got out of there unscathed. We had over 50 officers hurt, some pretty bad.

On Jan. 20, 2021, Hiles turned himself in to the police and was arrested. Afterwards, he contacted Riley. The fbi was very curious that I had been speaking to you Hiles wrote. When speaking to the FBI, Hiles mentioned that following the riot he had become friends with a Capitol police officer, The Washington Post reports.

Story continues

Prosecutors claimed that at this point, Riley deleted all of the Facebook messages between himself and the Facebook user.

The next day, Riley sent another message. Prosecutors said the last message was his attempt at a cover story pretending to scold Hiles, according to The New York Times.

Another mutual friend was talking about you last night, Riley messaged. I tried to defend you but then he showed me a video of you in the Capitol smoking weed and acting like a moron. I have to say, I was shocked and dumbfounded, since your story of getting pushed in the building with no other choice now seems not only false but is a complete lie. I feel like a moron for believing you.

After deliberating for parts of four days, a federal jury convicted Riley on Friday on one of the obstruction counts, for deleting his Facebook messages with Hiles. However, the jury in Washington, D.C. could not reach a verdict on a second obstruction count related to Rileys initial communication with Hiles.

Riley is the only Capitol police officer facing a criminal charge related to the insurrection on Jan. 6, when many of his fellow officers were brutally attacked by pro-Trump rioters.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
The body was discovered in the landing gear of a plane at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday. Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images

Airport workers found a body in the landing gear of a Lufthansa plane on Thursday, police told CNN.

The Airbus jet had arrived from the Iranian capital of Tehran, police said.

Iran has been gripped by weeks of protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Airport workers found a dead body in the undercarriage of a Lufthansa jet that had arrived from Iran on Thursday morning, reports say.

Employees at Frankfurt airport found the body of a male in the landing gear of a Lufthansa jet that had arrived from Tehran during a routine maintenance check at 5:30 a.m. local time, police told CNN.

Bild, which first reported the news, said the workers found a mask and an oxygen tank beside the body, per police information.

"We can confirm that during the routine check of a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 after landing in Frankfurt yesterday, a dead body was discovered in the aircraft's landing gear bay," a Lufthansa spokesperson told CNN.

"The responsible authorities are currently on site to investigate the background together with experts from the company. We ask for your understanding that we cannot provide any further information against the background of the ongoing investigation."

The German press agency DPA said that a flight due to operate on Friday from Tehran to Frankfurt was canceled, per Deutsche Welle. Lufthansa scheduling information indicates that it and another flight on Saturday were canceled, but the service was expected to resume on Sunday.

The discovery follows weeks of protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, after she was arrested for not wearing her hijab correctly, according to BBC News.

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said on Thursday that Berlin would begin imposing entry restrictions on Iranian nationals in response to the worsening battle between the state and citizens over human rights.

Lufthansa didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya knows a thing or two about the craftiness of Anderson Silva.

Having shared the octagon with Silva in what was considered a passing of the torch bout at UFC 234, Adesanya learned a few things about the MMA legends approach to his opponents.

Silvas next foe, Jake Paul, was curious about Adesanyas honest feelings on their upcoming eight-round pro boxing match at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz., and the UFC champ kept it real with the YouTuber.

Bro, you gotta be careful, Adesanya said on BS w/ Jake Paul. I gotta be honest with you, you gotta be careful, man. Like, Silva  I think Logan (Paul) DMed me a while ago when he was gonna fight Silva, and kind of asked me my opinion and I was like, If you take this fight, take it seriously cause hes no joke. Silva is the master. Hes the mastermind, man.

 Hes a friendly guy, I love Silva. Hes cool and hes a humble dude, genuine dude as well. But when it comes to war, hes a savage. Hes from the streets, bro. You gotta remember this guy is from the streets, from the favelas. He dont give a f*ck.

Related

Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva weigh-in results: Headliners hit marks in Arizona Jake Paul claims Dana White has attempted to 'sabotage' boxing event vs. Anderson Silva Anderson Silva not done in MMA, wants retirement fight in Japan: 'I need to give back to Japan everything Japan gave to me'

Throughout his career, Silva has always been a magnetic personality who embraces the entertainment aspect of fighting while being effective inside the cage or ring. In the lead up to competition, The Spider typically has a big smile on his face and will joke around during fight week, or employ other tactics that Adesanya believes have a larger purpose.

The way he talks to you  I remember when we were weighing in, we were in Melbourne, he starts getting teared up, Adesanya started. And Im looking, and Im like, F*ck all that. And Im getting welled up. I was like, F*ck all that. And then I could just see, I was like, this is a tactic. Hes trying to lower my defenses. As soon as I got backstage at the weigh-ins, Eugene (Bareman), my coach said, You know what that was? I was like, Yeah. F*ck off, dont worry. I got this.'

Story continues

Paul admits he has picked up on some of those things, and says he wont let it deter his focus on doing what he needs to do in order to win his sixth pro boxing bout.

Silva has been known to play around during fights to take his opponent off their game. Although that backfired tremendously against Chris Weidman at UFC 162, his comfort during the heat of battle comes from the confidence in his abilities as one of the most elite strikers MMA has ever seen.

Hes a crafty dude, hes a spider, Adesanya said. Hell f*cking lure you into the web. False sense of security  thats one thing hes good at. Ive seen him do it for years.

Ultimately, The Last Stylebender believes Paul can win the fight if he brings the right strategy. He also warned that Paul should not be taking the age gap into consideration.

You can get it done, Adesanya said. Silva can be beat. And this is boxing as well, its not MMA. He is getting older, and I dont really think that plays a factor as everyone is saying. Dont f*cking believe the hype, just because hes 42 or whatever. Hes a different kind of 42-year-old. Hes just different.

For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkies event page for Paul vs. Silva.

Paul vs. Silva: Method of victory? - Powered By PickUp

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has stressed to representatives from the Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) that Egypt is offering various promising investment opportunities via its ongoing mega projects nationwide.

Foremost among these projects is the development of the Suez Canal Zone, which includes a host of industrial and logistical areas, El-Sisi said during a meeting in Cairo on Saturday on the sidelines of Egypt's first International Forum and Exhibition for Industry, which opened earlier today.

The president explained that this offers "promising opportunities for Qatari companies seeking to benefit from Egypt's strategic location and the free trade agreements that link it with different continents and geographical regions."

The meeting was the second between the Egyptian president and Qatari businessmen since the two countries resumed ties following the Al-Ula Declaration that ended a three-and-half-year diplomatic and economic boycott that Egypt and three of the GCC members  Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE  had placed on Qatar.

During the meeting, the president "praised the positive developments in the economic and trade relations between the two brotherly countries," Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement following the meeting.

Egypt, El-Sisi also noted, is keen on promoting economic and trade ties with the Qatari businessmen as well as reinforcing joint investments to support the development process in both countries.

Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani, head of the QBA, stressed during the meeting the association's aspiration to explore the possibilities for maximising cooperation with Egypt.

"Many fields and promising investment opportunities are available in Egypt, especially in the sectors of renewable energy, agriculture, industry and mining," he added.

Furthermore, heads and representatives of Qatari companies affirmed their keenness to intensify cooperation with Egypt to achieve the common interests of both sides, the presidential spokesman added.

They also reviewed their plans to invest in Egypt, urging for activating the role of the Egyptian-Qatari business council, according to Rady.

The meeting was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker, Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla, Planning and Economic Development Minister Hala El-Said, and Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir.

President El-Sisi held his first meeting with Qatari businessmen in September during his first trip to Doha following the Al-Ula declaration.

In the wake of the declaration, the two countries signed a number of bilateral deals to bolster the economic ties and form the Egyptian-Qatari High Joint Committee  headed by the two foreign ministers  in March.

Also, following talks between Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo in March, a Qatari package of $5 billion in investments and partnerships in Egypt was also announced.

Egypt is seeking to attract local, Arab and international investors to increase the private sector's participation in public investments to 65 percent, up from 30 percent currently, to take advantage of the new State Ownership Policy that delineates the states presence in certain sectors of the economy.

According to the policy, which is set to be launched soon, the government will exit 15 economic activities across seven sectors over the coming three years, including agriculture, water, sanitation, desalination, telecom and IT, retail, food and beverage, and construction.

The government will also exit a number of activities across the leather, timber, engineering, jewellery, chemical, textile, printing, and pharmaceutical industries.

Earlier today, El-Sisi instructed the government to grant a "golden license" to all applying investors for three months to facilitate procedures for establishing priority projects for the state.

The license will grant investors approval to buy/rent lands and operate and manage projects without the need to gain approval from multiple government bodies.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The post Kanye West Now Sympathizes With George Floyds Family After Losing adidas Deal appeared first on Consequence.

Kanye West is facing a $250 million dollar lawsuit from the family of George Floyd after spreading the false conspiracy theory that Floyd died from fentanyl, and not from the actions of arresting Minneapolis police officers.

In an impromptu press conference with paparazzi on Friday night, West attempted to apologize for his recent comments about Floyd and his death. When I see that video as a Black person, it hurts my feelings, West said. And I know that police do attack [sic] and that America is generally racist. And I understand that when we got to say Black Lives Matter, the idea of it made us feel good together as a people. Now, afterwards there was some things where the money went in order to push us to the Democratic vote.

So when I questioned the death of George Floyd, it hurt my people, West continued. I want to apologize. Because God has showed me by what adidas is doing, by what the media is doing, I know what it feels to have a knee on my neck right now. So thank you God for humbling me and letting me know how it really felt. Because how could the richest Black men ever be humbled other than to be made to not be a billionaire in front of everyone off a comment.

As clumsy and self-aggrandizing as that apology was, it was actually the high point of Wests remarks.

West also addressed his recent antisemitic comments, at first saying, he didnt realize I could be antisemitic until I read a definition of antisemitism. I didnt realize it was antisemitic to say I have a Jewish attorney, I have a Jewish record label, I have a Jewish contractor.

However, when asked if he was walking back those antisemitic comments, West immediately held up an image of the red media  which identified media executives of Jewish heritage.

Story continues

Im being humbled by me being burned to the flesh every single day, its actually proving what I have to say, West added. He then once again equated the Holocaust to Planned Parenthood, saying that the number of Jews killed in Nazi Germany paled in comparison to the number of Black people killed by abortion.

He also said his mental health issues were misdiagnosed by a Jewish doctor that would have had me on medication right now. If I was on medication right now, then one pill could have been swapped out and it would have been Prince or Michael Jackson all over again. But because I didnt take the medication, I am able to speak to you guys clear of thought and transparently.

Because of Wests recent comments, he has lost over $1 billion in brand deals. Additionally, his Christian prep school Donda Academy abruptly closed its doors.

Kanye West Now Sympathizes With George Floyds Family After Losing adidas Deal

Alex Young

Popular Posts

Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
via Facebook

A prominent Los Angeles nightclub owner and restaurateur was found dead in the Dominican Republic this week after apparently being gagged, choked, and beaten.

The body of Mario Oliver, 71, was discovered inside a villa in Las Terrenas, on the Samana Peninsula on Wednesday night, Dominican Today reported. The National Police and the Central Directorate of Criminal Investigations are said to have found that Oliver, once a pillar of the L.A. nightlife scene when he ran the popular Vertigo nightclub, suffered head trauma and manual compression of the neck.

Investigators say the home was broken into, with a safe-deposit box stolen, along with several Rolex watches and other valuables, according to local reports. The intruders also reportedly gagged Oliver before choking him to death.

Jim Colachis, a business associate of Oliver, confirmed his death to The Daily Beast.

Vertigo and Mario will always be a part of history and my heart, he said.

Colachis' brother, Nicholas, who was also close to Oliver, said he could not understand why the intruders killed Oliver when they could have taken one Rolex and lived a lifetime of leisure.

Mario did love the limelight. He was a wonderful person, wonderful showman, wonderful partner, wonderful father, he said, adding that Oliver was so much fun that you could make a movie about him.

Oliver grew up in France before moving to L.A. in 1981, where he went on to run the clubs Vertigo and The Gate, as well as restaurants Tryst, Le Petit Four and Linq. The restaurateur was reportedly twice-divorced and had previously dated Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

He was also arrested in 1982 on rape charges for allegedly assaulting a 19-year-old girl, before agreeing to sexual battery charges in a plea bargain, The Los Angeles Times reported in 1987.

An investigation into his death by Dominican police is ongoing.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
BABY LIONS RESCUED FROM UKRAINE

Holly-Marie Cato

Four lion cubs displaced from their home because of the war in Ukraine have found a permanent place to land at The Wildcat Sanctuary.

Tammy Thies, founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota, shared in a release on Wednesday that the four lions  all younger than four months old  traveled out of Ukraine and were on the move for 36 hours before arriving safely at the Poznan Zoo in Poland, where they'll stay until international transport permits are obtained.

Thies added that the sanctuary has been working for months to secure the future of the lion cubs.

"We knew it would be difficult, but with so many amazing animal warriors on the ground trying to save as many animals as possible, we wanted to do our part," she wrote in her statement. "International Fund for Animal Welfare reached out to us about the cubs because our team is experienced in international big cat translocations, though none during such conflict."

RELATED: Injured Dogs Rescued from the War in Ukraine Are Ready for Adoption After Receiving Wheelchairs

BABY LIONS RESCUED FROM UKRAINE

Holly-Marie Cato

Thies described the cubs' first few months of life as "harrowing," saying they survived drone attacks and sporadic bombings in Kyiv before they were taken out of the city.

The release added that the permits of several of the lions indicated they were surrendered to animal rescue programs.

"Three (of the four) cubs were actually bred for the cub petting trade or the pet trade over there, so not a reputable facility," Thies told CBS Minnesota. "They were surrendered in a duffle bag at just weeks old."

RELATED: Adult Lion and Wolf Transported from Ukrainian Zoo to Facility in Romania amid War in Ukraine

BABY LIONS RESCUED FROM UKRAINE

Andrew Kushnir

The lion cubs still need to secure the proper permits and applications for their journey and clear customs before they can move into their U.S. home, according to The Wildcat Sanctuary's release, which added that the international animal rescue community is hard at work to make this trip happen.

Story continues

"I can't believe that when [Ukrainians'] communities are crumbling when they don't have power, they don't have phones or anything, that they're still dedicated to getting these animals to safety when they're going through so much," Thies shared in the release.

"Four lion cubs might seem really small in the scale of the war, but the amount of network that we've put together to help more animals and people that can support each other is amazing. For those four cubs, this is a whole new world and new life they're going to have. And that means the world," she concluded.

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.

BABY LIONS RESCUED FROM UKRAINE

Andrew Kushnir

The cub quartet's new home is a 40-acre plot of land about 90 minutes from the Twin Cities. The little lions will join more than 100 rescued lions, tigers, and other big cats at the sanctuary.

The sanctuary is not open to the public, as the primary mission of the nonprofit is to give displaced animals a calm, comfortable home.

The Wildcat Sanctuary is raising funds to help prepare the area the cubs will live in once they arrive from overseas.
The term queer has exploded in the last few decades: Once a mere synonym for strange, queer was reportedly used as a homophobic slur starting in the late 19th century. While the word enjoyed reclamation in activist circles throughout the 20th century, its recent mainstream adoption has been swift and unprecedented. Where queer used to add a biting edge to the works of avant-garde artists or radical protestors, now youre just as likely to see it describe the CEO of Land OLakes butter.

These days, the word queer does a lot of heavy lifting, and it certainly encompasses more than homosexuality. Depending what academic theory you read, queer can be used as a noun, adjective or verb, or as an identity label or a descriptor for any non-normative person or behavior. Optimists may call it an umbrella term. Pessimists may call it meaningless.

Perhaps because queerness has become so expansive, it now fails to signify much of anything at all. That is at least the feeling prompted by Please Baby Please, an experimental satire from director Amanda Kramer, which she co-wrote with Noel David Taylor. Billed as a genderqueer extravaganza awash with silk, sweat, and bisexual lighting, Please Baby Please may pay homage to queer aesthetics, but it fails to make any coherent points about gender or sexuality.

Also Read:

To Leslie Review: Andrea Riseborough Shines in Good-Hearted, If Conventional, Redemption Story

Please Baby Please values eye-popping set pieces far more than narrative cohesion, but its plot is more or less this: In the 1950s, hip New York heteros Arthur (Harry Melling, from The Queens Gambit and the Harry Potter films) and Suze (Andrea Riseborough, Mandy) reexamine their relationships to gender, eroticism and each other. A crew of flamboyant-yet-menacing leather daddies called the Young Gents beguile both of them. Arthur is powerfully attracted to the doe-eyed gangster Teddy (Karl Glusman, Watcher) while Suze seems taken with leather life writ large. She also admires the laissez-faire life of their upstairs neighbor, rich housewife Maureen (Demi Moore).

Story continues

While this film is stacked with talent  namely the chameleonic Riseborough, who also gets an executive producer credit  that only highlights its limitations. Riseborough is determined to go big as Suze, adopting a gruff affect and bellowing her lines as she tries to mimic the Young Gents masculinity. Glusman and Melling have electric chemistry, and Melling pulls off Arthurs wide-eyed neuroticism with impressive charm.

Also Read:

Harry Melling to Play Edgar Allan Poe in Christian Bale Thriller The Pale Blue Eye

But these pros only have so much scenery to chew. Suze intrigues at first, as she struggles to reconcile her place in the sexual food chain, but her tough-guy act quickly jumps the shark. Arthur quickly feels overwrought, too; his sensitive-boy shtick becomes exhausting in its repetition. In a film with little cohesive dialogue, Arthur gets several speeches about his alienation from masculinity. One would have been sufficient.

At least Arthurs motivations make sense  it must be destabilizing to be in a heterosexual marriage in the 1950s and suddenly feel homosexual attraction. Suze is more of a puzzler. After seeing the Young Gents murder two civilians, she asks Arthur to be less precious with her and tells him she wants to be beneath him. Her upstairs neighbor Maureen fascinates her with questions of female empowerment and submission.

Suze grapples with her role as a wife, unsure how to please her husband in this brave new world. How do I give it to him the way he wants to get it? she asks a random butch in a movie theater, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub (24).

Also Read:

My Policeman Review: Harry Styles LGBTQ Love-Triangle Tale Cant Balance Time Periods

In some ways, its a subversive question, as 1950s housewives were hardly encouraged to give it to their husbands. But Suze is still focused on how best to be a pleasing wife. While Arthur has a rendezvous with his leather-clad love, Suze remains steadfast in her marriage. If her new love of leather is meant to signify some latent lesbianism  the theatergoer calls her a butchie; a gay man calls her a dyke  she certainly never walks the walk.

In fact, for a film so outwardly obsessed with gay eroticism, Please Baby Please is shockingly sexless. Arthur and Teddy consummate their connection with a make-out session only in the very final scene. Suze apparently entertains fantasies of submission and domination, but her actual desires are frustratingly unclear. Though she fantasizes about BDSM play with the Young Gents in a few sequences, those desires stay within the confines of her head. It is undoubtedly cheeky to show a Tom of Finlandesque leather daddy branding a 1950s beatnik housewife with a clothing iron, but if these shocking ideas actually impact Suzes sex life, we dont see it happen. Instead, she adopts a domineering affect to complement her sissy husband.

There have been plenty of films about gay desire and female ambivalence. Please Baby Please may crib aesthetics and concepts from both, but with little more than irony to bolster its hifalutin themes, this film falls flat. This is a Kenneth Anger short stretched to a mind-numbing 95 minutes, a Gregg Araki shocker without any sex or teeth, But Im a Cheerleader with all of the oversaturated production design and none of the urgency. Babysitter by Monia Chokri, which premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival, is just as sumptuous and strange, while actually giving its female lead something to do.

But maybe this is ultimately an accurate portrait of queerness today. Queer, that formerly strident word, is now a ubiquitous marketing term. So if a film looks subversive, who cares what it actually has to say?

Please Baby Please opens in US theaters Oct. 28 via Music Box Films.
Oct 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Duke Denham, 3, stirs a steaming cauldron, actually dry ice in water, as he enjoys a little Halloween fun at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on the University of Alabama campus Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

Dozens of trick-or-treaters gathered Wednesday for separate Halloween events at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on the University of Alabama campus and the Gateway Innovation and Discovery Center in Alberta.

The Haunting at the Museum and the city of Tuscaloosa's Tech or Treat offered kids the opportunity to wear their costumes and collect plenty of candy, but Halloween isn't over yet in Tuscaloosa.

Halloween isn't until Monday, but this weekend will give young ghosts, ghouls and goblins lots of opportunities for spooky fun.

Here's what's happening during the three-day Halloween weekend:

Saturday

Boo! in the Park and Touch-a-Truck will be from 9 a.m.-noon, with free admission at Sokol Park, hosted by Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority. The Touch-a-Truck event will include sensory friendly quiet time (no sirens, etc.) from 9-10 a.m., followed by the exploration of all types of vehicles from 10 a.m.-noon. Vehicles will include heavy equipment/machinery, tractors, fire trucks, cars and trucks. The annual Boo! in the Park will be held concurrently and consist of carnival-like games, candy, and more. The Tuscaloosa Police Department plans to join with their helicopter and a K-9; also contributing will be Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter and the Tuscaloosa Public Library. www.tcpara.org.

The Comic Strip's Halloween Spectacular 2022 will begin at 11 a.m. with costume contest, guest artists, giveaways and more. The Comic Strip is at 505 Hargrove Road E., Suite 10.

Visitors are invited to wear their costumes for Halloween at the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, 1901 Jack Warner Parkway, from 1 to 4 p.m. A new exhibit, "Threaded Through History," highlights fashion from the early 20th century, with exact replicas of outfits from 1905 created by UA students. Halloween-themed outdoor inflatables will be available for children. Candy and light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.

Story continues

Oct 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Wesley Shumate growls at Ruby Fleming as his friend Ezra Wade wears an identical Spiderman costume as they enjoy the Halloween fun at the Tech or Treat event at the Gateway Innovation and Discovery Center Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

Trick or Treat with TROT will be from 2-4 p.m. with trick-or-treats, a petting zoo and hayrides at Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa, 3200 Clements Road, Cottondale. Admission is free.

DCH Health System will offer a community trunk-or-treat from 5-7 p.m. at DCH Regional Medical Center, 809 University Blvd. E. and Northport Medical Center, 2700 Hospital Drive. Families are invited to bring a bag to collect treats.

Trick or Treat at Lurleen State Park will be from 6-9 p.m., This is the park's annual Camp Fear event, with Halloween decorations and trick-or-treating for kids. The park is at 13226 Lake Lurleen Road in Coker. www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park.

The 15th annual showing of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" will be presented by the Pink Box Burlesque. The 1975 musical- comedy/horror film will begin at 8 p.m. at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. Prop bags will be available while supplies last. Doors open at 7 p.m., the costume contest at 8, and the movie begins at 8:30 Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The event is for those 21 years old and older. For more, see www.pinkboxburlesque.com.

Sunday

Super Skate, 5900 McFarland Blvd. E., Tuscaloosa, will host Skate-O-Ween beginning at 2 p.m., with games and prizes. For more information, call 205-758-7465.

Monday

A free Halloween carnival sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Police Department is set for 6-8 p.m. at Snow Hinton Park, 1000 Hargrove Road E. Kids are invited to wear costumes and trick-or-treat with TPD. The carnival will include candy, games, equipment displays, and food trucks.

Families are encouraged to come for the Halloween Extravaganza at the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility off Coliseum Drive on the UA campus from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event, which is free, includes trick-or-treating, games, and the chance for children ages 13 and younger to meet UA student-athletes. Everyone is encouraged to bring canned or non-perishable food items to donate to the Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: A scary good time: What's happening on Halloween weekend in Tuscaloosa
Edward Berger All Quiet On The Western Front AV Club interview



(Center:) Edward Berger (Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Netflix), (left and right:) All Quiet On The Western Front (Reiner Bajo)

That old maxim about those who fail to learn from history being doomed to repeat it is partly what inspired Edward Berger to revisit All Quiet On The Western Front. The directors German-language adaptation of Erich Maria Remarques 1929 World War I novel is both brutal and brilliant. In Germany the book is considered a landmark reflection of the countrys role in the Great War, and for Berger taking audiences into Germanys side of the trenches with German storytellers meant grappling with history, legacy, and loss.

Its also a sad truth that an anti-war storyand arent all honest depictions of war inherently anti-war stories?will feel timely anytime. Berger and co-writers Ian Stokell and Lesley Paterson didnt tailor their version to comment on a real-world conflict like the one in Ukraine but, unfortunately, its appropriately timed. Here Berger, the writer-director behind Jack, All My Loving, and the miniseries Eden, dives deep into his creative process, and what he hopes audiences take away from his version of All Quiet.

Read more







All Quiet on the Western Front | Official Trailer | Netflix

The A.V. Club: How did this astonishing adaptation of All Quiet On The Western Front come about?

Edward Berger: About two and a half years ago my producer Malte Grunert called me and asked me, if he could get the rights to this story, if Id be interested. And its the biggest German bestseller of all time. And I read it probably two times: once in my teens and then in my twenties, then obviously many times again now in the process of adaptation. And there had been an American script around. And Malte had read it and it hadnt been able to get financed or done, I think for obvious reasons. Its a German book, its been made into an American movie once, or even twice with a television movie. And so why do it again? And so when he asked me, what immediately popped into my head was, Lets make a German movie out of this. This is a very German story. The time is right to tell this in the German language. That just felt undeniable in a way.

Story continues

I grew up [seeing] many American or British films and some of them war films. And those stories always are very different because its a heros journey. As an American, you can tell a heros journey. You can tell a story that has some pride in the end, that has a sense of something was accomplished and something honorable was done. Because America liberated Europe from fascism, Britain was attacked, had to defend themselves. So that generates a generation of filmmakers that is going to make a very different film. In Germany, its nothing to be proud of, that part of history. Theres a sense of shame, guilt, horror, terror, responsibility towards history. And so you feel, in that sense, its a weight that you grow up with. I inherited it. Its in my DNA. And that DNA is going to influence every creative decision and hopefully then make a film that is interesting to share with other countries because its a different perspective from the American and British war films. It just felt like I wanted to get that out of my system and share it with other countries and tell that story. And to make a specifically German film.

Felix Kammerer in All Quiet on the Western Front



All Quiet On The Western Front

AVC: Id love to peel back the curtain on your process, first as a screenwriter then as a director. What was adapting this book like as opposed to writing an original piece?



EB: So the book doesnt have a traditional storyline. Its really a bunch of anecdotes. The writer, Erich Maria Remarque, had been in war, but he also interviewed a lot of his friends and colleagues and comrades he met in a field hospital. So its almost like a reporting event. And that also gives a great sense of distance and doesnt manipulate the reader so much. The reader has to imbue the story with their own emotion, which makes it all the more powerful. So adapting it, you look at almost very traditionally: I started taking the scenes that really struck me and put them on cards and put them on the table, and then it grew. I had, lets say, green cards for whats in the book, and then I had yellow cards for what I had researched, Oh, this is an interesting event, we could add this. Slowly, it becomes a big puzzle and a massive table, probably 10 feet long, full of cards. And it grows into a drama and a storyline. And sometimes single lines from the book made a 10-minute sequence. For example, the looking for the battalion that was gassed, the young boys, that was one line in the book. The stealing of the geese or eggs happens once in the book, and I responded to that because I felt food would be so important to these soldiers. And I sort of expanded that and brought it back a second time to close the circle on that. Thats pretty much the process, to slowly build it from scratch.

AVC: The novel being analytical and therefore creating a distance between story and reader begs the question: How do you do that as a filmmaker? Are you calibrating the two extremes of bringing us face to face with the emotion, versus leaving stuff to the imagination?

EB: It is a great question. Its a total fine line. Because one of my imperatives, one of my biggest motivations to make a film like that is to give the audience a physical, visceral experience. They come out of the theater and go [slumps in chair] theyre exhausted. Like theyve been there, almost. And you can only get that by putting it very subjectively into the main characters shoes, so we tried to achieve that. Also, subjectivity very often also means closeness, being close with someone. But whenever we did that, I tried to just takeeven five inches further back, just to scoot out a little bit, to leave the audience alone. To make up your own mind, to really think, Okay, I feel what this guy is feeling. The north star was always, What is [main character] Paul Baumer feeling? Is he feeling sad and lonely, therefore we need to put him in a really wide shot, getting lost in the melee? Or oppressed with the camera right on top of him, in a real close up, looking down on him? Things like that, really, if you put the camera five centimeters left or right, it really influences how you as an audience respond to the emotion that were trying to convey. And so whenever we did that, I always tried to go a little bit further back. To give you just enough space to not overwhelm you. And not to give you the sense that youre being manipulated into something. At least that was the goal, to find that fine line, to observe while imbuing a sense of physicality into the whole situation.

AVC: Is that always the case for a director? Youre balancing that subjectivity with objectivity, if those are accurate terms?



EB: Yes. At least, there are films that I love where I feel Im being overly manipulated. Its only subjective: now the strings are coming up, the camera is dollying in on the face, and the tears are coming. Youre like, Oh, come on, leave me alone. I want to do this on my own. A great film of subjectivity is, for example, Son Of Saul, where the filmmaker [Laszlo Nemes] took a radical decision and said, Im only going to film this character from behind and only in close-ups. He could have also shot the film on his face, from the front. And that probably would have been too much, too subjective and would have driven us away. And in that sense, we almost want more. Show me his face, I want to see his face, what does he feel? It leaves a hunger for more. That decision to put the camera behind the character is a decision of objectivity, almost. Leaving the audience alone a little bit and not overly manipulating. Also not putting in a whole lot of music is another way to achieve that balance  When a filmmaker has confidence in their audience, I love that.

Daniel Bruhl in All Quiet On the Western Front

AVC: When youre talking about this idea of exactly how many inches away to put the camera, are there multiple takes, trying different things? I imagine thats too difficult with an action-packed movie.

EB: Yeah, the battle scenes are really meticulously planned. We storyboarded them meticulously months in advance. I probably spent three months in a room with the DP [James Friend] drawing every single frame. And when you look at the film now and you put the storyboard next to it, youd be surprised, its literally the same thing. Maybe one shot is dropped or shorter than we expected or swapped around, but otherwise its exactly the same thing. And thats really fascinating to me how good planning sort of pays off. If I do different things on a movie and Im doing a different take, then its probably because in the first take something was wrong and we decided it didnt work. Put on a wider lens, go a bit further away, then thats probably it. And we keep doing that until its right. So its not trial and error, its trying to get the one perfect version right.

AVC: What do you hope this film accomplishes? Im thinking, of course, about the fact that this story is as timeless as ever in 2022. How much of art in general, and All Quiet in particular, is about getting us to process reality? And how much of it is educational?

EB: Good question. I think, unfortunately, that this type of movie is always relevant. Even now we have a very unfortunate, timely relevance with Ukraine that we couldnt foresee. But we had war 10 years ago and well have it again in 10 years, unfortunately, so that subject matter somehow never gets old. But educational, Im not sure. I dont want to educate, Im just a filmmaker. I tell stories and then you ideally draw your own conclusion and take it home and everyones going to be different. But a big sense of it is what I said earlier: to get it out of my system and or talk about this, the heritage that you inherit, the DNA that you have from your great-great-grandfathers. And we all have that. America has a different burden to carry than Germany, we have that special burden. I feel especially equipped to talk about this story! [Laughs] So it was good to be able to make this film.

But also, just in terms of relevance, another reasontwo and a half years ago when we started, there was a rising sense of nationalism, of patriotism. The United States politics with [Donald] Trump, Brexit, [Viktor] Orban in Hungary, neo-fascist regimes being elected all over Europe. Suddenly the populace is questioning institutions like the EU that brought us peace for 70 years. Europe is a continent of war, its neighboring countries too close together, theres competition and humiliation and theyve fought. The EU is an institution that brings us together, and I really believe in it. And suddenly you have populists who say, We dont need it, we are our own country, were stronger than the rest. Theres pride here and we dont want to talk to others. And to me, that type of languageyou feel it on the streets, if you see it on television, people suddenly repeat it and become more aggressive, more nationalist and xenophobic. And we felt like, this is the time to make this movie in German. It felt very resonant of how it was 100 years ago. It felt like, Listen guys, this is what led us 100 years ago. Lets just be careful. This was already two and a half years ago, and now see what happens in Ukraine. It wasnt really and isnt really farfetched.

More from The A.V. Club

Sign up for The A.V. Club's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
A new renaissance in hairstyling and makeup for Black actors appears to be on the horizon, thanks to the work of female artisans on a trio of recent period films: The Woman King, Till and A Jazzmans Blues.

Braiding, twists and locs were a staple for characters in Gina Prince-Bythewoods The Woman King, set in 1823 in the African kingdom of Dahomey, now known as Benin. Hair department head Louisa Anthony researched and collaborated with locals in South Africa to secure a stellar team on the movie, which stars Viola Davis.

More from Variety

Although a historian and a research specialist were on set, there was very little available photography from the period, so the makeup team relied mostly on sketches. Google search was quite helpful in going back to discover hundreds of years of African hairstyling and braiding for us to attempt to blend today and yesterday into one creative look that maintained the authenticity of the Agoji tribe, Anthony says.

Knowing that Black hair in its natural state can sometimes lack moisture, the African women on Anthonys team provided juice and berry products and palm oil. Having a Black woman at the helm of a film is a rarity, and Anthony especially enjoyed collaborating with Prince-Blythewood and executing her vision.

There was a sense of connection with African women warriors, the sisterhood struggle, power and legacy they stood for, Anthony says. Both women aimed to keep the film as authentic as possible, while being mindful in how we wanted these images presented on-screen, Anthony adds.

Google search helped The Woman Kings Louisa Anthony create authentic looks of the Agoji tribe.

By comparison, there were many more images of Mamie Till for artisans to draw upon while researching her appearance. Emmett Tills mother was active in the civil rights movement after her sons lynching, giving speeches for the NAACP that were documented in photos available online. Mamie Till was a stylish, sophisticated, educated woman with an influential job in Chicago  and star Danielle Deadwylers look in Chinonye Chukwus film needed to reflect that.

Story continues

In the 50s, hairstyles were achieved by doing pin curls, paper bags and rollers, says Deaundra Metzger, hair department head. In essence, Chinonye just wanted to reflect who Mamie was at her core.

Makeup department head Denise Tunnell, meanwhile, says she had a family member that lived in Chicago and Mississippi in 1955 and grabbed research straight from those photos.

She used vibrant red Revlon lipstick and avoided powder to ensure Black skin has a beautiful, natural glow on-screen. I used a tinted moisturizer that isnt as heavy as liquid of cream foundation, Tunnell says. You are going to be able to see the skin, but with a little bit of that glow.

One of the first Black makeup artists to be admitted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Marietta Carter-Narcisse most recently tackled A Jazzmans Blues for Tyler Perry. The story spans decades, so Carter-Narcisse had to create makeup that wasnt tied to a specific era, while also showing aging and incorporating prosthetics.

Her solution for Solea Pfeiffers romantic lead, Leanne: a simple tube of vivid red on her lips that easily brought her face to life; nails free of gels or polish; and a demi wispy lash with no liner, creating definition while letting the eyes pop naturally.

Due to the amount of melanin in Black skin, age is often relatively difficult to detect. Carter-Narcisse showed Amirah Vanns aging as Hattie Mae, mother of Leannes young love interest, Bayou, by applying makeup to her hands. We simply grabbed photos of Amirah and her mothers hands as a guideline, she says.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Congresswoman Val Demings, who spent 27 years working in law enforcement in Orlando, Florida, said her background has been crucial to her views as a politician. Now running to be a U.S. senator against incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, her principles will once again be put to the test.

I've seen people at their worst and I've seen people at their best, she told ABC News Correspondent Linsey Davis during an interview. And I have a really clear understanding of how people find themselves in the circumstances they're in in the first place.

MORE: Midterm campaign live updates: Fetterman gives first interview after post-stroke debate

Demings, a former social worker, spent nearly three decades in law enforcement -- beginning as an officer and working her way up to police chief.

Despite her tenure in law enforcement, several unions representing officers in the state, including her own former department, have endorsed Rubio, her opponent in the race.

I think its politics again, she told ABC News. What I found is my opponent and too many other people try to use fear, [saying] you know, she's not with you because she's a Democrat.

PHOTO: Rep. Val Demings attends a meet and greet event outside of the North Miami Library polling place on October 24, 2022 in North Miami. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

I am the police chief who brought the community and the department together to reduce violent crime by over 40%, she added.

If she is elected, Demings would be the only Black woman actively serving in the U.S. Senate, and only the third in American history.

She told ABC News she believes the biggest issue for Floridians right now is the rising cost of living, a matter near and dear to her heart.

I sit here as the daughter of a maid and a janitor, she said. I've struggled in my own life. I remember graduating from Florida State, saddled with college debt.

MORE: Sen. Rubio and FEMA chief on recovery from Ian's devastation: 'I don't think it has a comparison'

We have an affordable housing crisis in Florida, she said. People are worried about keeping a roof over their head, keeping the lights on.

Story continues

In a dependably red state, Demings is running against difficult odds. ABC News partner FiveThirtyEights figures show Rubio ahead by 7 percentage points.

PHOTO: Rep. Val Demings participates in a televised debate with Sen. Marco Rubio at Duncan Theater on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach County, Fla., Oct. 18, 2022. (Thomas Cordy/The Palm Beach Post via AP)

Demings, who has served as a well-respected Congresswoman for the past five years, decided to run for the so-called upper chamber because she believes our nation is in trouble.

I just want to create better opportunities for others, she said. It's worth the run for me. It is worth the risk for me.

Her campaign has raised more than $64 million, making her one of the top fundraisers among Senate hopefuls.

No stranger to adversity, she remembered being told that, I was the wrong color, the wrong gender, she said, and that I probably wouldn't amount to much.

MORE: Marco Rubio canvasser was 'attacked' while passing out fliers, senator says; 1 man arrested

When asked what her greatest weakness is, she said her grandchildren. Demings is a mother of three and grandmother of five.

Her greatest strength? Her fearlessness, she said.

Val Demings reveals ups and downs of running for Senate in Florida originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
WASHINGTON  When Donald Trump and his office-seeking "election deniers" talk about making changes to the U.S. election system, they have at least one specific target in mind.

Mail-in voting.

Trump, Republican lawyers and GOP politicians seeking statewide offices across the country are offering a variety of proposals to restrict or even eliminate mail-in voting, from lawsuits to legislation, despite its rising popularity with voters and many safeguards against ballot fraud.

"Mail-in voting appears to be the primary target of the election deniers," said long-time election attorney Norm Eisen, and their efforts will only increase if they are elected to public office next month.

Mail-in voting explained: Fact check: What's true and what's false about voting by mail in 2020

Republican fears: 'Harder for them to cheat that way': GOP voters hold onto mail ballots fearing rigged election

Their chances of success remain to be seen and will depend in part on the current midterm elections.

Trump and supporters claim that mail-in ballots invite cheating, while public interest activists say many Republicans have a more prosaic reason for wanting to curb them: They have tended to favor Democrats in recent elections, in part because Trump has attacked the practice so much that Republicans are discouraged from participating.

Eisen said Trump's ongoing complaints about mail-in voting have "no basis in fact," and constitute "yet another bizarre conspiracy theory."

Battles at the state level

Trump-backed election deniers are targeting mail-in voting in a variety of ways in battleground states, efforts that figure to continue after the midterm elections.

The most publicized project is in Pennsylvania, where a group of Trump supporters are pushing to repeal a law that allows "no excuses" mail voting. Repeal would force voters to provide a reason for voting by mail, such as overseas military deployment or being out of town because of work and therefore drive down the number of mail ballots.

Story continues

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in September

In 2020, President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Pennsylvania by some 82,000 votes, a margin covered by mailed-in ballots favoring the Democratic candidate.

Republicans in Pennsylvania and other states say current mail-in voting systems provide multiple opportunities for fraud and unfairness. They saidsay people should be required to vote in the traditional way: show up at a polling place and submit a ballot.

Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor of Pennsylvania, said in August that he backs "legislation introduced in the Senate to repeal no-excuse mail-in voting (and) mandate signature verification."

Doug McLinko, a Republican county commissioner in Bradford County, Pa., and a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state over no excuses mail-in voting, said a problem with the current system is "chain of custody."

"Who handles that ballot until it gets back to the election office?" he said. "You don't know who's voting on it."

More state plans

Gubernatorial and secretary of state candidates in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona want to eliminate or at least complicate mail-in voting but have been less than specific about their plans.

Denialism: Hundreds of elections deniers running for office nationwide in 2022 pose 'major threat' to U.S. democracy

Secretaries of state: In 2022 midterms, a new 'Big Lie' battleground: secretary of state elections

Trump Republicans have called for eliminating "drop boxes" that are used for deposit of mailed ballots. Other proposed rule changes would negate mail ballots if they are any mistakes on filing forms, including spelling errors and blank boxes. Other proposals restrict the times in which state officials can accept mailed-in ballots.

In Pennsylvania, a coalition of Republican groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block the counting of undated mail ballots. A coalition of voters rights groups said failure to date the forms is "immaterial to voters eligibility" and should not be used "to disenfranchise voters."

North Carolina is mired in litigation over whether voters can correct minor errors on their forms in order to have their mail votes counted. Litigation in Texas involves lawsuits over the number of drop boxes that can be used per county.

A voter gets a sticker after delivering her vote-by-mail ballot to a drop off box on the first day of early voting at the Supervisor of Elections Main Office in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022.

"Many election deniers now want to restrict the time period during which absentee votes can be counted  requiring any absentee votes to be received by, or even before, Election Day," said a Brookings Institution report called "Democracy on the ballot  What do election deniers want?"

Many of these proposals are vague. A political committee calling itself the America First Secretary of State Coalition says it wants to "eliminate mail-in ballots," but "keep traditional absentee ballots." It does not explain how that would work.

Another tactic: Lawsuits

In the meantime, Trump followers have filed dozens of lawsuits against some of the same aspects of mail-in voting.

"Some challenge the use of drop boxes, while others attack signature matching rules, cure procedures and more," Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias wrote on the Democracy Docket website.

Anti-mail balloting lawsuits have been filed in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Trump's impossible dream

Trump himself, who has wrapped his false claims of voter fraud in 2020 largely around mail-in voting, has made the most extreme proposal to curb mail voting: He has repeatedly called for same-day voting with paper ballots  a proposal that is highly unlikely to get past any legislature or court, regardless of who is governor or secretary of state.

"We dont like mail-in ballots," Trump said last weekend during a rally in Robstown, Texas. "You know what you really want? You want paper ballots and same day voting with voter ID."

This even though Trump has often voted by mail himself.

Trump tales: 'Mailmen selling ballots. Dumped in rivers. Found in creeks': Trump makes unfounded claims about mail-in voting

No fraud?: We analyzed a conservative foundation's catalog of absentee ballot fraud: It's not a 2020 election threat

Kyle Miller, a policy advocate with the organization Protect Democracy, said it's highly unlikely that Trump and his allies can eliminate mail-in balloting; it's too popular with too many voters.

They can, however, chip away at the ease of mail-in voting and reduce its numbers, he said  and their tactics can continue to undermine faith in the election system in any event.

Election subversion

Public interest organizations have criticized election deniers all year.

Their biggest concern is what some call "election subversion"  the idea that governors, secretaries of state and legislators might seek to reverse the results of the 2024 election if their candidate, presumably Trump, does not win the popular vote in their states.

None of that could happen until after the 2024 election, analysts said; in the meantime Trump and Republican attacks figure to escalate.

Miller said Trump's real motive is the fact that Democrats have benefited more from mail-in voting, in part because of Trump's complaints.

"Republican voters didn't use it because they were told by their leaders not to trust it," Miller said. "They depressed their own turnout."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump, election deniers target mail-in voting
PROVIDENCE  Attorney General Peter F. Neronha trumpets transforming the office he has led for the past three years from an organization set back on its heels into one ready and willing to take on behemoths on behalf of Rhode Islanders.

We were a defense shop when we took over, Neronha said this week. We really weren't out on offense really at all and we shifted that.

During his tenure, Neronha objected to the $5.3-billion sale of Narragansett Electric to PPL Corporation, arguing ratepayer costs could skyrocket and service suffer if it went through. The deal was ultimately finalized after Neronha agreed to drop the objections in exchange for concessions he valued at $200 million for Rhode Islanders. In part, PPL signed off on $50 million in bill credits to Narragansett Electrics gas and electric customers, and forgave $43.5 million in money owed by low-income and other protected classes of customers.

Even so, the irony is not lost on him that the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission has since signed off on a 47% increase in residential electricity bills.

Election 2022:A Warwick candidate didn't turn in any signatures. Why is he still on the ballot?

Attorney General Peter Neronha

Its just remarkable. It really is, Neronha said.

The former U.S. Attorney also intervened in the dispute over the proposed expansion of Champlins Marina on Block Island due to what he characterized as an attempt by Champlins and the Coastal Resources Management Council to circumvent the public regulatory process.

He denied the proposed merger between Lifespan and Care New England, insisting that the plan was not in the best interests of health-care consumers or health-care workers.

I thought we needed to be more proactive and objectively skeptical, if you will, of the transactions that were before us, he said.

As one of his greatest and hardest-fought accomplishments, he said he looks to the battle his office waged in challenging Prospect Medical Holdings plan to sell off Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital  a bruising clash that included threats of hospital closures. The state eventually consented to the deal with strict financial conditions aimed at protecting the facilities from a looming crisis.

Story continues

RI election 2022:Fung, Magaziner lock horns in Congressional District 2 radio debate

And Democrat Neronha promises more of the same if reelected.

Im going to be out on offense for [Rhode Islanders] every day. Im going to be coming to work everyday to try to make their lives better, Neronha, 58, pledged during a Zoom interview this week as he continued to recover from COVID.

If the fight is worth fighting, then Im going to take it on. Thats the role of the attorney general, to be out on the offense everyday and, when we do that, we have the best prospect of impacting their lives in a positive way.

Neronha defends grand juries

Neronha, of Jamestown, served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from 2009 through 2017 after being nominated to the post by President Barack Obama. He joined the office in 2002 after working six years as state prosecutor.

Neronha this week defended the use of the grand jury in two high-profile cases, both involving law enforcement officers. He beat back criticism from his opponent, Republican Charles Calenda, that he opted to put them to a grand jury to avoid talking about charging decisions as grand jury proceedings are cloaked in secrecy.

In both cases  one involving a Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility guard accused of driving his truck into protesters, the other a Newport detective captured on video apparently punching a man  prosecutors needed the grand jurys power to investigate the incidents, he said. Both men were cleared of wrongdoing.

The grand jury is not just a charging tool, it's an investigative tool, Neronha said. A grand jury, he said, is a method of getting witness testimony under oath and to obtain evidence.

RI election 2022:Kalus, McKee vie for title as 'good government' champion in RI governor's race

We needed the grand jury to get evidence.  Where its necessary, we use it, he said, while emphasizing that he has unsuccessfully sought the passage of legislation that would allow the release of grand jury reports in cases that do not end in indictments, such as those involving excessive force by police and institutional misconduct.

He contrasted those cases with that of Pawtucket police Officer Daniel Dolan, who the office charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one of discharging a gun while committing a crime of violence after determining he was not justified when he fired a gun at a West Greenwich teenager. In that case, and another clearing Providence police officers of wrongdoing in an incident that left 24-year-old Jhamal Gonsalves in a coma, prosecutors had video footage and cooperating witnesses to rely on, he said.

Neronha also stands by his advocacy at the State House for gun control laws. Gov. Daniel McKee in June signed into law legislation barring the possession of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, raising the age to buy a firearm or ammunition from 18 to 21 and prohibiting people from openly carrying loaded rifles and shotguns in public.

I dont think keeping Rhode Islanders safe is a partisan issue," Neronha said. "Keeping Rhode Islanders safe is what the attorney general should be doing."

He also touted his push to change consumer protection laws to restore the offices authority to prosecute people accused of violating the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

More election coverage:Home health care lobbyist accuses McKee of using his mother as a 'prop,' endorses Kalus

Its not about partisanship," he said. "Its about making Rhode Islanders lives better."

He backed a law also that allows the state to charge parents and caretakers who wantonly put children at risk with felony child endangerment, closing a loophole that previously allowed parents to dodge accountability, he said.

In a second term, he said he would continue to fight to make wage theft a felony.

I do think theres a role for the attorney general to go to the General Assembly to seek changes in the law where changes in the law would makes the lives of Rhode Islanders better and it doesnt matter whether it is firearms or child safety or consumer protection, as long as Im attorney general, were going to continue to do that."

He praised his civil team for taking proactive and innovative approaches to issues, such as initiating enforcement action against landlords accused of exposing tenants to lead poisoning.

The office has tremendous power but a lot of it was just lying dormant," Neronha said. "We just decided to use it. I think weve had a positive impact on Rhode Island."

He praised his criminal chief, Stephen Dambruch, as probably the most accomplished prosecutor in the history of the state and dismissed suggestions by his opponent, Calenda, that prosecutors were being overmanaged and left unable to use their discretion in handling cases.

More politics reporting:Can bonds built in military service help elected officials overcome the partisan divide?

Theres a fine line between overmanagment and appropriate management. I think weve struck the right balance, Neronha said.

He said he has never heard complaints internally or externally about cases getting bogged down in court because of prosecutors being hamstrung by their superiors  an unlikely prospect, he said, as the office currently has about 14,000 pending cases.

I dont believe it, he said.

As attorney general, Neronha oversees a $38.7-million budget for 2022, and a staff of 247 full-time employees. The office typically charges about 5,000 new cases annually, according to spokesman Brian Hodge.

Neronha also advocated for changes in state law to reclassify simple possession of 10 grams or less of certain controlled substances as a misdemeanor charge rather than a felony.

Possession of narcotics for personal use is not a criminal justice issue. Its a public health issue, he said. He believes he has backed common-sense changes while keeping true to the offices public safety mission.

Neronha, a native Rhode Islander who lives in Jamestown with his wife, Dr. Shelly Johnson, pledges to harness the powers of the office for the betterment of the state if reelected.

Rather than letting the work come to us, its been really important to me, civil and criminal, to get out on offense and to think of new ways to have a positive impact."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: AG Neronha on gun control, other issues in bid for reelection
A gun attack in the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron wounded five people on Saturday, including four Israelis and a Palestinian, with the assailant shot dead, Israel's emergency services and the Israeli occupation army said.

The Magen David Adom emergency said one of the Israelis was "in severe condition", while a Palestinian was mildly injured. The occupation army said an Israeli security guard killed the attacker.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Royal Family is known for being incredibly private when it comes to all things related to their personal lives, as they live in the public eye and are often considered the faces of the United Kingdom. While traditionally expected to abide by certain guidelines and traditions in terms of love and marriage, not every member of the Royal Family has played by the rules when it comes to games of the heart.

Over the years, quite a few royal romance scandals have rocked the most famous family in the world. Some have involved cheating. Others, falling in love with forbidden people. Some royals have reportedly committed sex crimes. One member of the family even chose love over the throne.

While the family would likely have preferred to keep these scandals on the down-low, they are now part of royal history. Best Life Extra rounded up the top 5 royal romance scandals of the past century involving high-profile figures of the past and present.

1

Edward VIII Abdicating the Throne for Wallis Simpson

Prince Harry wasn't the first member of the Royal Family to fall in love with an American divorcee. After the death of his father in 1936, Edward VIII stepped up to take the throne. However, there was an issue. He had fallen in love with an American socialite divorcee. Not only had Wallis Simpson been divorced, but was going through her second when she met Edward.

The Church of England wasn't happy when he proposed to Simpson, forcing him to abdicate the throne if he went through with the marriage. "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King [] without the help and support of the woman I love," he said, addressing the nation in December 1936. George VI took over the throne in December 1936. The couple married in 1937 and remained that way until Edward passed away in 1972.

2

Princess Margaret's Affair with a Married Man

Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth's sister, was embroiled in a royal romance scandal when she fell in love with a married man. She met Captain Peter Townsend, a Royal Air Force officer, while he was working as an attendant to the royal family. The two fell in love, which wouldn't have been an issue other than the fact that he was married to someone else.

Story continues

In 1953 he divorced his wife so he could marry Margaret. The two quickly got engaged. However, once again, the Church of England disapproved of the union, as Townsend was divorced. The couple called off the engagement in 1955.

3

The Diana-Charles-Camilla Love Triangle

One of the biggest scandals to rock the Royal Family involved the current King! When King Charles was simply a Prince, he married Princess Diana, who was beloved by the entire kingdom. The two seemed perfect for each other, quickly becoming parents to two beautiful boys, Prince William and Prince Harry.

However, behind the scenes, there was trouble in paradise. Charles reportedly began an affair with now Queen Consort Camilla in 1986, while the two were both married to other people. Charles and Camilla had dated in their younger years. In 1989 Diana confronted Charles and Camilla about the affair. However, it would be years before Diana and Charles divorced.

"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," she said during a 1995 interview discussing the affair. She also admitted that she stepped out of the marriage as well, falling "in love" with James Hewitt, her riding instructor. The couple divorced in 1996, the year before Diana's tragic death in 1997. Charles and Camilla went public in 1998 and officially wed in 2005.

RELATED: King Charles Will Have to "Rein in" Duchess Who is "Going Rogue," Royal Expert Claims

4

Prince Harry Falling in Love with an American Divorcee

While times have definitely changed since Edward was forced to abdicate the throne to marry a divorcee, the romance between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle definitely stirred some Royal feathers. Not only was Meghan an American, an actress, and a divorcee with a dysfunctional family happy to speak to the press, but apparently the fact that she was also African American didn't sit well with some members of the family.

In 2021 during her bombshell sit-down with Oprah, Meghan made the allegation that a member of the royal clan approached Harry while Meghan was pregnant with her first child offering "concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born." "They didn't want him to be a prince or a princess. He wasn't going to receive security," she added. "We're not saying don't make him a prince, but if you're saying the title is what's going to affect the protection, our son needs to be safe." This is one of the many reasons the couple decided to follow through with their "Megxit" from the United Kingdom.

5

Prince Andrew's Sex Abuse Scandal

Prince Andrew's marriage and divorce to Sarah Ferguson was a mild royal scandal compared to what has gone down in the past few years. The Queen's son served as the UK's trade envoy from 2001 through 2011. However, concern mounted surrounding his relationship with American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Things intensified when Virginia Roberts accused Epstein of forcing her to have sex with Prince Andrew in 2001, when she was just 17 years old.

While Andrew denied the claims, a 2015 defamation case resurfaced in the media. Andrew continued his campaign of innocence, culminating in a disastrous interview with BBC Newsnight, forcing him to step down from royal duties. Things worsened for him in August 2021, when Roberts filed a lawsuit accusing the Prince of sexual assault with multiple incdients occuring in Epstein's New York mansion, in London, and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Island. Andrew ended up settling out of court, but not before he was forced to hand over all of his royal patronages and military titles.
As state laws target transgender children, families flee and become 'political refugees' Violet Augustine, 37, uprooted her life in Dallas in June 2022 to move to the Los Angeles area to protect her 6-year-old transgender child, Isa. Augustine said the move, which strained family bonds, disrupted childcare arrangements and brought a higher cost of living, became necessary after a wave of anti-transgender legislation and moves by Gov. Greg Abbott to treat gender-affirming youth care as child abuse.

For former Dallas writer and teacher Violet Augustine, the alarm bells first went off in October 2021, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill banning trans kids from playing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity.

Suddenly, the notion dawned on Augustine, whose 6-year-old trans daughter, Isa, is a skilled swimmer, that she might have to leave her native state. Probably within a decade, she figured. But when Dallas Childrens Medical Center announced a month later that it was shutting down its acclaimed youth gender-affirming care program, her time estimate shrank by half.

Then, in February, Abbott issued an order directing the states child-welfare agency to investigate providers of gender-affirming care for youth.

Suddenly, Augustines timeline became immediate. Isa's school community had been, if not supportive, at least tolerant of her identity. She wondered: Are they going to report us now?

Related video: Transgender students in Florida say they feel targeted by teachers

In June, Augustine, 37, decided to flee Texas for California, using the money shed been saving to buy a home to fund their relocation.

As the 2022 midterms approach, an onslaught of legislation and rhetoric targeting transgender youth in recent years has prompted parents of transgender kids to ponder similar choices. Advocates say some have uprooted lives in states like Texas, Arizona, Alabama and Arkansas to find refuge in states they feel offer safer climates.

More than 300 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in 2022, according to Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Most aim to restrict the rights of trans people, largely trans youths' abilities to participate in sports or receive gender-affirming care.

This is a crisis, said Kim Shappley, another former Texas resident parent who left the state with her transgender child this summer. We have political refugees in the U.S., leaving with whatever they can fit in their car.

Story continues

A protester holds a transgender pride flag as part of a

Such decisions can be critical: A nationwide survey of nearly 35,000 LGBTQ people in 2021 found that more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth had considered suicide in the previous year, and advocates say affirmation of gender identity is an important factor in youth mental health.

Meanwhile, 85% of trans and binary youth reported that ongoing debates about state laws restricting transgender rights had negatively affected their mental health.

Now were seeing state departments weaponized, said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of LGBTQ advocacy agency Equality Texas. That has really cemented this culture of fear for parents who are just incredibly worried about their kids. Theyre worried about dropping them off at school, fearing that phone call that their kid has been pulled out of class and that theyre being reported.

While the number of transgender families able or willing to leave their home states is thought to be comparatively low compared to those who stay, advocates say its tragic that parents are pushed to consider the possibility.

Why is it OK that they have to leave? said Andrea Segovia, senior field and policy advisor for Transgender Education Network of Texas. Theyre terrified that their kid is going to commit suicide, or that if their kid has COVID and they go to a hospital for care that they might get reported.

Opponents of gender-affirming care for youth  which includes hormone treatments, puberty blockers and behavioral approaches designed to support a child's identity  say kids are too young to make potentially life-altering decisions about their gender identity.

Advocates say opponents are placing ideology over science, noting that surgery is rarely conducted for trans individuals under 18 and that withholding affirming care prevents doctors from providing best-practice treatment and puts transgender youth at risk by placing their emotional and physical well-being in jeopardy.

Bills denying such care have been opposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association.

Allison Scott, director of impact and innovation for Campaign for Southern Equality, an advocacy agency supporting LGBTQ Southerners, said many families in states where such laws are passing or gaining steam choose to law low, unable to afford or manage a move or unwilling to break community ties.

Theyre just trying to survive and stay where they are, Scott said. Thats why we need protections at the federal level. Peoples rights should not change with their zip code or the state they live in.

Violet Augustine, 37, uprooted her life in Dallas in June 2022 to move to the Los Angeles area to protect her 6-year-old transgender child, Isa. Augustine said the move, which strained family bonds, disrupted childcare arrangements and brought a higher cost of living, became necessary after a wave of anti-transgender legislation and moves by Gov. Greg Abbott to treat gender-affirming youth care as child abuse.

Others, like Augustine, are desperate enough to leave that they tap funding sources like GoFundMe to help finance relocation, ditching previous life plans or sacrificing financial gain to escape as fast as possible.

For a lot of families who move, it wasnt like they had that window of time to test the market and sell their house, Segovia said. A lot of families do depend on the generosity of others. But I also know of families who had to split up, where one parent took their kid to a familys house in whatever place while the other parent had to stay and maintain their job. People are having to make hard choices in a quick amount of time.

'I thought the devil was trying to steal my kid'

At first, Augustine didnt take seriously her toddlers declarations of being a girl; but two years later, in late 2020, when Isa hadnt changed and became distraught over her anatomy, Augustine researched the issue and figured maybe Isa was right.

When I affirmed her and said, Youre a girl, yeah, the tension just melted from her body, said Augustine, who separated from Isas father in 2019. She just lit up. It was almost like Id never actually seen her smile until that day.

An estimated 29,800 youth aged 13 to 17 identify as transgender in Texas, the countrys third highest such population behind California and New York, according to data compiled by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles' School of Law. Nationally, about 300,000 youth of that age group identify as transgender.

Augustine let Isa, who had just turned five, dress the way she wanted, knowing there would be backlash from her mostly conservative family. Exposed to inflammatory rhetoric, they feared for her safety.

Then, when Isas daycare facility dismissed her, saying she would be a distraction, that was our first introduction to what it would be like to be trans in Texas, Augustine said.

The experience was similar for Shappley, a single mom raised in a conservative family in rural Mississippi who ministered at a Houston megachurch when her child, Kai, told Shappley she was a girl.

Kais femininity had been evident as a toddler, Shappley said; she preferred girls toys and pulled T-shirts around her waist like skirts, asking to grow her hair long.

I thought the devil was trying to steal my kid, Shappley said.

Kim Shappley and her two children, Kaleb, 10, and Kai, 11, at a fundraising event in Connecticut in September 2022. Shappley and her family left Texas this summer to protect Kai, who is transgender, from a climate she felt was hostile to trans kids, including a spate of anti-trans bills introduced by GOP legislators in recent years and Gov. Greg Abbott's directive ordering parents providing youths with gender affirming care to be investigated for child abuse.

She tried to fix Kai, reading and talking to church leaders. Pursuing a nursing degree, she looked to her program for answers, learning that LGBTQ kids were more prone to depression, homelessness and human trafficking. What she learned about gender identity in psychology class mirrored her experience with Kai.

One day, despairing, she called her psychiatrist to vent. Shed stepped outside so the kids wouldnt hear and was pacing her driveway when the doctor posed a question that changed everything.

She said, If you were on a desert island, just you and Kai, and she wanted to wear girls clothes, are you going to let her? I said, Yeah. And she said, You know, your problem isnt your God. Your problem is how you think other people are going to see you.

That was when Shappley decided it wasnt Kais transition she needed to worry about. It was her own.

Before Kai, I thought it was a choice, Shappley said. As Christians, you know, I thought you just showed them love so that you could change them and prevent them from going to hell. What I know now is thats just manipulation and incredibly harmful.

Acceptance came with its own problems. Kai, in girls clothes, was booted from daycares after other parents complained. Family members and once-close friends have fallen away  people whose weddings Shappley had performed or supported in hospital delivery rooms.

In suburban Houston, school administrators ignored Kais identity. Shappley, advocating on her behalf, faced harassment at school board meetings  and then, as she became more visible, in store parking lots.

Eventually, she felt forced to move her family to Austin, feeling secure enough there that she and Kai both testified before the Texas Legislature against proposed anti-trans legislation. Still, it was becoming clear to her, she said, that targeting trans kids was shaping up to be a GOP strategy.

Then came Abbotts directive. Having just reestablished her financial footing after leaving Houston, Shappley felt forced to consider moving again.

Moving to a new state

Some arent as fortunate. Anya Phenix, a North Texas mom whose 17-year-old child, Levi, came out as transgender after his father died in 2017, has had little luck scraping together the necessary resources to leave the state.

Phenix, 48, has been going by that name since 2012 when she left her church "because of the hate I was seeing" over LGBTQ identity issues and wanted a way to write about the subject without further straining her family relationships.

For her, everything hinges on next months gubernatorial contest. While a district judge has since granted temporary protection from Abbotts order to member families of PFLAG under a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal and Texas American Civil Liberties Union, she and Levi are using their new chosen names to avoid potential prosecution.

Im hoping Beto (ORourke, Texas Democratic candidate) wins, but if he doesnt, well have to get out as fast as we can because it looks like things will spiral fast, Phenix said. Weve been looking at Colorado, but the laws are changing everywhere, so were up in the air as far as where well end up.

Phenix had hoped to leave the state as soon as her lease ends in December, but for a single parent supporting a child and his disabled best friend, the situation isnt promising. She works as a barista in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, struggling to find more substantial employment after not working for 10 years while she homeschooled Levi.

Her husband, whod driven a rented car for a ride-sharing service, died three days after suffering a stroke. The vehicle was reclaimed by the company, leaving Phenix without transportation; her survivor benefits, about $1,500 a month, expire in June.

She launched a GoFundMe page in hopes of getting a car, which she says shell need not only for work but to relocate wherever she decides to go.

All our friends are here, Phenix said. We really dont want to have to leave I have moments of fear every day. Were wondering whats going to happen to us, whether were going to have enough money to support our needs  and how were going to stay safe.

Moving can disrupt employment status, childcare arrangements and community bonds.

Youre losing your work and your family, and a lot of people depend on family and friends for childcare, said Scott, of the Campaign for Southern Equality. Then you have the economy  a lot of people are struggling with housing and dont have the resources to pick up and move. You cant just give people $5,000 or even $10,000 and expect that to fix their problems.

Last year, less than 40% of Americans said they could handle an unexpected $1,000 expense, even after federal stimulus funding pumped trillions of dollars into the economy, according to Bankrate.com.

The places parents and advocates cite as friendlier environments for trans kids tend to be more expensive than those that families seek to leave.

We dont have that many states to move to, said Shappley, who in July left Texas for Connecticut with Kai, Kai's 9-year-old brother, Kaleb, and their dog and three cats. The trip took two and a half days, camping at roadside parks for a few hours along the way because hotels wouldnt take all their animals.

Her electric bill has since tripled, and her rent is double what it was in Austin. Weve been doing this since Kai was 5 years old, so Im just ready to exhale.

At age 11, Kai is an activist in her own right, nominated as Time magazine's 2021 "Kid of the Year" and featured along with her mother in several magazine articles and a documentary.

.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}

Shappley sees similarities in the tactics employed against trans kids and those used a half-century ago in the wake of Roe v. Wade  the harassment and bomb threats against clinics providing abortion services then and those offering gender-affirming care now. And while many of those threats prove to be just that, the chilling effect is the same: Clinics shutting down and clients staying away out of fear.

This is not going to go away, she said.

Scott said even proposed legislation can prompt clinics and programs to shut down for fear of legal repercussions. Some, she said, never reopen if such bills fail because program staff have left for friendlier climates in the meantime, and these legislators are smart enough to know that.

After Abbotts order sent many parents of trans kids into hiding, representatives of Equality Texas attended a child welfare services department hearing and read the stories and statements of those afraid to make their own case. Afterward, CEO Martinez said, a department trustee approached them, saying only 13 families had been investigated and that the advocates were wasting their time.

This doesnt impact only 13 families, he said. This has a chilling effect on how people can live their lives.

Dylan Brandt speaks at a news conference outside the federal courthouse in Little Rock, Ark., in July 2021. Brandt, a teenager, was among several transgender plaintiffs challenging a state law banning gender confirming care for trans minors. A federal trial was set to begin in October 2022 over the law's legality.

For families able to leave, there are mixed feelings  the relief of leaving a hostile situation, sadness over leaving loved ones and losing ones way of life, guilt over not staying to fight for families in similar situations.

Augustine decided on the Los Angeles area, aware of an LGBTQ childrens organization there she thought would be affirming for Isa, wholl turn seven next month.

I knew that wed have chosen family to hang out with, she said.

At first, Augustine was relieved to have left Texas, but as she processed her plight, her feelings became more complicated. In Dallas, shed had a two-bedroom house with a yard; in California, they live in a one-bedroom apartment, with no backyard for Isa to play in.

The states that are safe for her are more expensive than Texas, so that was a reality I couldnt escape, she said. But as long as the laws here continue to be supportive, well stay and Ill hustle and make it work financially.

The situation has also affected Augustines job prospects. Getting by as a writer and podcaster, she recently declined a college teaching opportunity in Milwaukee, she said, unconvinced that Wisconsins climate for transgender kids was much better than in Texas.

While Isa, being so young, has responded with resilience, Augustine said she longs for the sleepovers she used to enjoy with Augustines mother.

The hardest part is that Isa misses her family, Augustine said. She tells me that every day, and it breaks my heart. Its hard on me too. I used to have a lot of help, and now I dont. Im just keeping my head above water and doing what I have to do.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Families with transgender kids flee states that aim to restrict rights
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!
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  If a president's most precious commodity is time, there is no place more valuable politically for the White House this midterm year than Pennsylvania.

An energized President Joe Biden returned Friday to the Keystone State, his 15th visit since he took office, this time to attend a fundraiser with Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders to boost Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman, gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats.

The president laid out the stakes immediately, cautioning the Nov. 8 midterm elections were not a referendum, its a choice, a choice between two vastly different visions of America.

Democracy is on the ballot this year," he went on. "Along with your right to choose, and your right to privacy. And the amazing thing is theyre saying it out loud.

The Pennsylvania seat has for months been the most likely pick-up opportunity for Democrats in the evenly-divided Senate, but as prospects darken for Democratic incumbents elsewhere, a win here is becoming an even more urgent insurance policy for the party to cling to Senate control.

Its not hyperbole to suggest all eyes are on Pennsylvania," Biden said.

The White House has showered attention on the Keystone State  Biden's birthplace  in the final weeks before the election, and officials are preparing for another visit next week. Harris told the crowd the party needs to pick up just two more seats to pass major Democratic agendas on abortion rights and voting rights.

Two more seats, Harris said, putting up two fingers. Just two more seats. One of them, right here.

The Friday event came three days after Fetterman  recovering from a stroke earlier this year that he says nearly killed him  had a shaky showing in his sole debate against Republican Mehmet Oz. He spoke smoothly before the crowd in his trademark hoodie and jeans, saying he wanted to bring all Americans the same kind of quality health care that saved his life.

Story continues

So I may not say everything perfectly sometimes, but Ill always do the right thing if you send me to Washington, D.C., he said to a standing ovation.

The dinner at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is the state partys biggest fundraiser of the year, and party officials said the $1 million raised is the most ever for the dinner. Attendees included U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, for whom Biden headlined a virtual fundraiser earlier this week.

In his remarks, Biden focused his attacks against congressional Republicans, honing in on GOP plans to raise prescription drug costs, cut Medicare and Social Security, and pass a nationwide abortion ban. Republicans, if they win, will get rid of the Affordable Care Act and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions, energy tax credits and the corporate minimum tax of 15%, he warned.

Thats their plan, among other things. Its reckless, its irresponsible, itll make inflation much worse. It will badly hurt middle class Americans, the president said.

In the Senate race, polls show a close race between Fetterman and Oz. The Democrat's debate performance shocked some viewers and sowed concerns among party leaders. A day later, he delivered a smooth 13-minute stump speech in Pittsburgh as his campaign tried to downplay Tuesday's performance, saying Fetterman has always been lousy at debates and that the closed-captioning system he used as an aid was faulty.

Ravi Balu, a dentist who is the partys vice chair in Westmoreland County, in western Pennsylvania, heard from a number of friends who were worried or surprised by Fettermans performance. He said he told them that, whatever Fettermans lingering issues from the stroke, that he will recover and will always be more relatable to regular people than Oz.

Its a thing he took a big risk on, Balu said. But I also think he got a lot of the sympathy from people.

The White House stressed again this week that Biden - through his personal conversations with the lieutenant governor - believes Fetterman is physically capable to serve in public office, and cited analyses from independent medical experts who have said his halting speech did not indicate an issue with his cognitive functions.

John IS Pennsylvania, Biden said Friday, adding: John leaves nobody behind.

Biden viewed parts of the Tuesday night debate and thought Lt. Governor John Fetterman did great, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in an e-mail Friday.

In the meantime, Fettermans campaign and national Democratic groups are directing attention elsewhere and pouring money into TV ads with a debate clip of Oz in which he says I want women, doctors, local political leaders to decide the fate of a womans right to an abortion.

The statement  which spread rapidly across social media immediately after the debate  was meant to frame Oz's opposition to a federal ban that would pare back abortion access in Pennsylvania, even though he opposes abortion. But Democrats say it's proof that Oz wants politicians in doctors offices and exam rooms with women.

Biden brought up the moment on Friday, and his puzzled look over the comments were greeted with a huge laugh from the crowd.

You heard it right: local political leaders, he said. Look the bottom line is this, if Republicans gain control of Congress and pass a national ban on abortion, I will veto it. But if we elect to the Senate two more Democrats and keep control of the house, we're going to codify Roe v. Wade in January so it's the law of the land."

Bidens approval ratings are sagging in Pennsylvania similarly to the rest of the nation, begging the question of whether his presence is good for Democrats in a year when Republicans have political winds at their back.

But Biden won heavily in 2020 in Philadelphia and its four suburban collar counties  including winning over Republican moderates  and that boosted him to victory over former President Donald Trump.

The Democratic president likely remains popular there.

Democratic political strategist Mark Nevins said that energizing voters in Philadelphia and its heavily populated suburbs  home to one in three registered Pennsylvania voters  is a cornerstone to a Democratic win in Pennsylvania in the Senate race and in the governors race, and frankly in some of these suburban races as well.

Even if there is some debate about whether Biden can help on the campaign trail, the one area thats a constant is his ability to help raise funds. Presidents can help there. Theres no debate that theyll take the help of a president in fundraising in these very costly races, said Christopher Borick, a political science professor and pollster at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.

Biden also has treated Pennsylvania as something of a home base.

Its where he spent part of his childhood, its where hes campaigned countless times for himself and other Democrats and its where Democrats called him Pennsylvanias third senator during his 36 years in the Senate from next door in Delaware.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi will not approve an emergency injunction to stop ballot drop box monitors from gathering outside Arizona voter locations.

The federal judge's decision comes days after two voting rights groups filed a legal challenge targeting conservative group Clean Elections USA, which has organized drop box surveillance in the Phoenix area, and its founder, Melody Jennings.

The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, a progressive grassroots organization that supports seniors' issues, and Voto Latino, a nonprofit focused on getting out the young Latino vote, claimed in court documents that Jennings coordinated a "campaign of vigilante voter intimidation."

The groups argued that a quick decision on the emergency order was necessary, with voting underway and Election Day fast approaching.

Jennings, who lives in Oklahoma, was not present during a Wednesday court hearing. Veronica Lucero, an attorney representing Jennings, said the proposed emergency order is too broad and would violate Jennings' rights.

Liburdi wrote in his decision that he struggled to "craft a meaningful form of injunctive relief that does not violate Defendants First Amendment rights and those of the drop box observers."

"While there are serious questions implicated, the Court cannot provide preliminary injunctive relief without infringing core constitutional rights," he wrote. "A preliminary injunction cannot issue on these facts, but Arizona Alliance is invited to return to this Court with any new evidence that Defendants have engaged in unlawful voter intimidation."

Liburdi also ordered that Voto Latino be removed from the suit, saying they have "not shown any other concrete or particularized injury."

The lawsuit continues despite his decision. Liburdi ordered the court clerk to keep the case open and attorneys with the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans said on Friday they will appeal.

Story continues

A separate, but similar, lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Protect Democracy on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Arizona. In addition to Clean Elections USA, it named Lions of Liberty, a right-wing group in Yavapai County. That group said Thursday that it would halt monitoring outdoor ballot drop boxes in response to the legal challenge.

Election guide: November 2022

Liburdi also will judge that case.

Protect Democracy spokesperson Emily Rodriguez said Friday that the case has a "different set of facts" from the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans lawsuit, including declarations from several impacted voters.

"We're hoping we'll be able to convince the judge that it is worth considering," she said.

First Amendment rights play big role in decision

In court, lawyers for Voto Latino and the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans said Jennings' First Amendment rights wouldn't be infringed upon by the injunction because she was simply trying to intimidate voters, not send a clear public message.

"There's no evidence that they intend to express any understandable message," attorney David Fox said in court.

Liburdi disagrees in his decision, saying that Jennings' social media posts demonstrate that she and the observers hope to convey a message to "these supposed 'ballot mules.'"

"The message is that persons who attempt to break Arizonas anti-ballot harvesting law will be exposed," Liburdi wrote. "On this record, therefore, the Court finds that a reasonable observer could interpret the conduct as conveying some sort of message, regardless of whether the message has any objective merit."

Truth or fiction? 5 steps to avoid getting duped by election season misinformation

True threats are not protected free speech in the United States, and Fox argued that Jennings' rights couldn't be trampled in this case because her speech was threatening. But Liburdi said Jennings hasn't made any statement "threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals."

"There is no evidence that Defendants have publicly posted any voters names, home addresses, occupations, or other personal information," he wrote. "In fact, Jennings continuously states that her volunteers are to 'follow laws.'"

Liburdi wrote that there's also no evidence that the voters using the county's outdoor drop boxes are primarily members of groups that have historically been victims of targeted violence.

"The Court acknowledges that Plaintiffs and many voters are legitimately alarmed by the observers filming at the Countys early voting drop boxes," Liburdi wrote. "But on this record, Defendants conduct does not establish a likelihood of success on the merits that justifies preliminary injunctive relief. Alternatively, while this case certainly presents serious questions, the Court cannot craft an injunction without violating the First Amendment."

Parties react

The Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans said in a statement that Liburdi's decision was "truly disappointing."

"We continue to believe that Clean Elections USAs intimidation and harassment is unlawful," the statement read. "We urge all older Arizonans not to be deterred and return their ballots before the deadline, or vote in person on Election Day."

Lucero could not be immediately reached for comment. Jennings posted on social media that "the Constitution won today."

"This battle is not over, but today was a step for freedom and for your 1st amendment rights being preserved," she wrote on Truth Social, a right-wing social media site.

She also encouraged Arizonans to go vote.

"If you so choose to vote at a drop box, box watchers may be at the boxes where you go," she wrote. "Wave and thank them for protecting your freedom."

Sasha Hupka covers Maricopa County and regional issues for The Arizona Republic with a focus on voting and democracy. Do you have a tip about elections or questions about voting? Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SashaHupka.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona judge rejects emergency injunction in ballot drop box case
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and former President Obama knocked GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walkers fitness for office at a rally Friday.

Obama traveled to Georgia as one of several stops he is making ahead of the midterms with less than two weeks until Election Day. Warnock and Walker are locked in a tight race for the Senate seat in the state, but the incumbent senator and former president said at the rally that Walker has not put in the work necessary to serve in the role.

You actually have to know stuff to do this job, Warnock said.

He said Walker is not ready and not fit to represent Georgia because the office requires that the holder be someone that people can trust. He said Walker lies about the most basic facts of his life.

Walker has faced intense scrutiny throughout the campaign over a lack of transparency following multiple revelations about his personal life.

He has run his campaign emphasizing family values, but reports revealed that he has fathered a total of four children with different women, three of whom he was not married to. His son Christian Walker has slammed him recently for being largely absent from the lives of all his children.

Walker has also run on a platform staunchly opposed to abortion, without any exceptions. But he reportedly reimbursed a woman who eventually became the mother of one of his children for an abortion she had after they conceived a child in 2009.

The woman also claims Walker encouraged her to get an abortion the second time she became pregnant, but she went through with the pregnancy. A second woman accused Walker on Wednesday of pressuring her to have an abortion in 1993 during a multiyear affair.

He wears his lies quite literally as a badge of honor, Warnock said, referring to a badge Walker pulled out during a debate between the two candidates.

Walker has claimed that he trained as an FBI agent and has worked with the Cobb County Sheriffs Office in Georgia, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in June that he has never been a certified FBI agent or officer and no record exists in Cobb County to support his claims.

Story continues

Walker admitted in an interview with NBC News that the badge he flashed during the debate was an honorary badge, but Warnock has slammed him for pretending to be a police officer.

If we cant trust him to tell the truth about his life, how can we trust him to protect our lives and our families and our children and our jobs and our future? Warnock said.

Obama said the race between Warnock and Walker is a study in contrast. He said Walker was an amazing football player, but that does not make him the best person to represent Georgia in the Senate.

Obama compared the idea of electing Walker to the Senate to having Walker fly an airplane if someone sees him at an airport.

Youd probably want to know, Does he know how to fly an airplane? he said.

He said being a football player is not disqualifying for running for Senate, but players need to put in the work. He said there is little evidence that Walker has taken any interest in learning anything about public service or helping people.

At least we dont really know about it, and that does make you suspect, Obama said. Seems to me, hes a celebrity who wants to be a politician, and weve seen how that goes.

He said issues of character and having a habit of not telling the truth say something about the kind of leader youre going to be.

If a candidates main qualification is that hes going to be loyal to Donald Trump, it means that hes not really going to be thinking about you and your needs, and you deserve better, Obama said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Adds no immediate Boeing comment, DOJ filing, background)

By David Shepardson

Oct 28 (Reuters) - Polish national airline PLL LOT on Friday asked a U.S. judge to declare it was a crime victim in the Boeing 737 MAX criminal case, a move that could make the airline eligible for significant compensation.

U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas ruled last week that people killed in two Boeing 737 MAX crashes are legally crime victims. He will determine what remedies should be imposed.

LOT argued it should have the same rights in the case as victims' families. LOT said it had at least $250 million in damages related to the 14 737 MAX aircraft it owned and leased at the time of the grounding.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday asked O'Connor to give the government until Nov. 11 to file a memo about remedies.

Boeing's best-selling 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in March 2019 for 20 months after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people.

The Justice Department in 2021 reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing over a fraud conspiracy charge related to the planes flawed design, The settlement included a fine of $243.6 million, compensation to airlines of $1.77 billion and a $500 million fund for crash victims.

In December, some victims' relatives argued the Justice Department violated their rights when it struck that agreement with Boeing and asked OConnor to rescind Boeings immunity from criminal prosecution.

LOT also asked the court to require that the Justice deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing be reopened to "increase the amount that Boeing is required to pay its customers."

Boeing did not immediately comment.

LOT previously sought compensation from Boeing, but Boeing declined. LOT sued Boeing in late 2021 and the case is pending. LOT said the settlement's funds for airline compensation were not available to foreign airlines.

The crashes cost Boeing more than $20 billion and prompted reforms to airplane certification. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman)
Alexander Volkanovski vows he will give Islam Makhachev a hard time on the canvas.

UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) was called into the octagon by Makhachev, who submitted Charles Oliveira this past Saturday at UFC 280 to claim the vacant lightweight title.

Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) is game to defend his title against Volkanovski at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia, and is oozing confidence after using his dominant grappling to finish another opponent. But Volkanovski says Makhachev wont be able to control him.

I feel like hes sort of underestimating me in a sense, Volkanovski told Submission Radio. Where Im just a featherweight, a small featherweight, how am I going to be able to handle his strength? You know what I mean? Thats how hes looking at it, which is going to be a shock when we are in that octagon. All week, he might be looking at me thinking Im small and all that type of stuff, but as soon as Im in front of him, getting him uncomfortable on the feet, making him want to shoot desperately for a takedown because hes uncomfortable, then when he tries to grab a hold of me, realizes, Oh sh*t, this short guy isnt as weak as I thought (and) struggles to get me down. Or even if he does get me down, I get straight back up.

Mentally, hes breaking. This stuffs going to get to him, because this is not what he expected. Hes like, How is this little fella doing this? And I guarantee you I will. So lets see how he deals with that. Look, everyone wants to talk about me dealing with him being able to take me down and all that. Trust me: I put myself in this position every camp. Thats the whole point of my training is make me uncomfortable. Put me in the sh*ttiest positions you can. I aint going to be fazed by it. I guarantee you Im getting back up. Lets see how he deals with a short man getting back to his feet and punching him in the face. Thats what I look forward to seeing. Thats the question that I want to know. I want to see how easily he breaks when things dont go to plan.

Story continues

Makhachev called Volkanovski a short guy, but Volkanovski says hell make that work in his favor. The featherweight champion has been at a height disadvantage in the majority of fights throughout his career.

I aint going to just be standing in front of you, Volkanovski said. You are going to be trying to figure out a puzzle in front of you. The movements going to be difficult. Youre going to try and grab a leg and all that type of stuff. But again, you need to be in the right position to feel comfortable to shoot, and he wont feel that straight away. Then he is going to get a little more desperate to try and grab the legs and all that. And again, this is stuff he hasnt had to deal with. Theres no way theres people that have a calculated footwork like I have that hes faced. Theres no way. So, I cant wait to put that puzzle in front of him  make him pay, get him uncomfortable.

And then again, this small-stature, this guy, you know, this is another thing  him calling me short. I dont think he realizes that that helps me in a situation with someone like him. Lets be real: The size advantage and that, having that weight is obviously going to be a big factor. But me having this small stature, this stocky build, especially knowing how hard I am to hold down, is going to help me in this situation. Me being like a short, stocky fellow that I am, Im very hard to hold down. Like, if you get me down  now that obviously Im going to be training a lot more takedowns, Im going to be very hard to take down. Usually, I dont have to worry about that. I know Im going to get back up. I dont need to worry about that. Now Im going to be focusing on that for the next three to four months, you know what I mean? And trust me: Im going to be very, very, very hard to hold. And thats something again that he hasnt really dealt with.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
There's nothing better than a statement-making shoe.

When it comes to getting dressed, more really is more for Dua Lipa  even on her off-duty days.



On Saturday morning, the pop star confirmed this sartorial motto to be true while stepping out (or, rather "purrrrrrrr - ing around") in Tokyo dressed in a collared leopard-print coat layered over a beige shift dress decorated with black splatter spots. As if wearing pattern-on-pattern wasn't enough, Dua kicked the chaos up a notch with bold metallic boots. While stepping off an escalator, a pair of shiny gold knee-highs with skinny stiletto heels peaked out from beneath her coat's hemline, adding an extra layer of oomph to her outfit.

Accessory-wise, Dua mixed metals with her reflective gold rectangular clutch and silver earrings, and she finished off her look with dramatic winged liner, loose waves, and a matte pink lip.

Dua Lipa Instagram

:

This past week, Dua has documented her travels (and outfits) in Japan. Her first look, an all-leather Givenchy racing suit, doubled as a functional Halloween costume, as did her Wednesday Addams-inspired black collared dress with the deepest plunge. Meanwhile, in another content carousel, captioned "spicy ramen n sweet plum wine," Lipa layered a yellow lace slip over a see-through netted gown in the same shade while pulling her dark hair back into a half-bun.

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

Read the original article on InStyle.
WEWOKA  The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into multiple accusations against the former principal of Wewoka Middle School, sources confirmed Friday.

"We are investigating allegations made by multiple victims," an OSBI spokeswoman said Friday.

Typical "Police Line Do Not Cross" barricade tape, often seen cordoning off crime scenes.

Cody Barlow, 33, was arrested Thursday at his home in Wewoka after a male student accused him of sexual assault, the OSBI announced in a news release Thursday. He has been on leave since Oct. 12.

He has not been charged yet. Seminole County District Attorney Paul Smith said he is likely to recuse his office from any decision on prosecution. "We have people in the office that are connected to witnesses and/or potential victims," the DA explained.

The DA also said he knows of one overt allegation. "The others are questionable circumstances," Smith added. "We'll see. He's presumed innocent."

The OSBI said in the release it began investigating Barlow at the request of the district attorney after being notified that a student was assaulted in the principal's office in September.

"The male child reported to authorities that Barlow had inappropriate contact with him on multiple occasions this school year," the OSBI said. "The behavior escalated in September."

Barlow, a married father, became a teacher in Wewoka in 2013 and a principal in 2020, records show. Barlow also worked with children at the First Baptist Church in Wewoka. The OSBI said he was a youth pastor.

He has been released from jail. His defense attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.

In the release, the OSBI asked to be contacted "if you think your child had inappropriate contact with Barlow." The number of potential victims is six to 10, sources said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former principal at Wewoka Middle School arrested
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inspected on Friday morning progress in the construction of the Integrated Cars City, which will provide a full range of logistical and notarising services for hundreds of vehicle owners on a daily basis.

Related Sisi ratifies law granting facilities to Egyptian expats to import cars

The new city, which is built over 57 feddans, is located at the intersection of the Mohamed Naguib Axis with El-Mahager Road east of Cairo.

The city, which can accommodate up to 4,000 cars, uses an integrated information system in service provision.

It includes a compound for banks and a notary office, in addition to car service centres and commercial shops.

President El-Sisi issued directives to provide the new city with all the necessary utilities to cope with the expected flow of visitors, said presidential spokesman Bassam Rady.

The president also underlined the need for installing a security system throughout the city, added the spokesman.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


When the jury is dismissed each day in Harvey Weinsteins trial, before they exit the courtroom, the judge reminds the jurors not to consume any media or read any news reports surrounding the high-profile case.

On Friday, Judge Lisa B. Lench added one extra reminder to her parting words, instructing the jury not to watch the trailer for She Said, Universals upcoming film about the journalists who broke the story that ignited Weinsteins downfall and the #MeToo movement.

More from Variety

She Said, which hits theaters on Nov. 18, is based on the book by New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, about their bombshell investigation into Weinsteins alleged pattern of sexual harassment and assault. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan play the two journalists in the movie that is getting strong reviews and even early Oscars buzz.

This is not the first time She Said has come up in Weinsteins case. Before the trial began, Weinsteins attorneys tried to delay the trial to avoid the publicity surrounding the film. His lawyer Mark Werksman argued that jurors are likely to see billboards, social media and other press for the film, which would dramatically prejudice the ability to get a fair trial. In August, Judge Lench denied the defenses request to postpone the trial, stating, Well just have to deal with it.

This week, Variety spoke with the New York Times journalists, whose book and reporting inspired She Said. When asked about Weinsteins current trial, Kantor said, As reporters, we can never tell what the verdict will be. But part of why were so appreciative of this film is that it takes us back to the beginningthats why we wrote our book, because we felt that the story belonged to everybodyAnd so regardless of the outcome of this trial, we do feel that at least journalistically, Weinstein has been held accountable and were so grateful to Carey [Mulligan] and to everybody who worked on the film, because we feel like youre helping others  and us  remember what really happened.

Story continues

After the 2017 bombshell investigations about Weinstein, more than 100 women accused him of sexual harassment or assault. In 2020, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault in his New York criminal trial for which he is currently serving a 23-year sentence. Earlier this year, the New York Court of Appeals agreed to hear his appeal on that conviction. In Los Angeles, he is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault, and up to 140 years behind bars  should he be convicted, this trial will effectively guarantee that he never goes free.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Oct. 28CONCORD  Legislators on Friday sought to strengthen what the public knows about their doctors by proposing that the Board of Medicine publicly disclose those doctors receiving non-voluntary license revocations or suspensions by their employers as well as to list malpractice cases in certain situations.

During a meeting of the Oversight Committee on the Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. Mark Pearson called the draft report containing the proposal "a working document" subject to changes.

The New Hampshire Union Leader and The Boston Globe last month reported on the lack of information available on the New Hampshire Board of Medicine website about doctor discipline and malpractice payments that they or their insurers made.

Various groups, including the Board of Medicine and the New Hampshire Hospital Association, have been invited to comment on the draft report during a meeting of a legislative subcommittee at 1 p.m. Monday.

"Monday will probably be the last real big work on this," Pearson said.

Rep. Jess Edwards praised the draft report written by Rep. Jeffrey Salloway.

Edwards said its recommendations would strengthen reporting requirements and make the Board of Medicine more informed.

"They don't know what they don't know, and so we're trying to fix that," Edwards said. "One of the biggest issues that, I think, we discovered is that the Board of Medicine in all cases does not receive all the notices that it might."

Regarding transparency, the Union Leader reported that at least 29 New Hampshire doctors had made payments in connection with alleged malpractice cases in New Hampshire that were not reported on the state Board of Medicine's website. More than 50 other Granite State doctors had made malpractice payments for cases in states other than New Hampshire, including Massachusetts, that were reported on their websites, but not New Hampshire's.

During the 21-minute discussion Friday, Pearson said he doubted the oversight committee or its transparency subcommittee "will in its own names craft legislation."

Story continues

"My guess is that different individuals from both groups will come together" to make a request in November to the Office of Legislative Services to have a bill drafted to be considered by the Legislature next year.

The three-page draft report said the Board of Medicine would be required to seek additional funding to pay for more staff and expenses to investigate complaints.

"We've been able to identify some of the obstacles in the process of reporting and indicated ... the necessity to provide the Board of Medicine with adequate resources to deal with an increased and improved flow of information to investigate appropriately," Salloway said.

The report recommended that the Board of Medicine must "with the intent of transparency, inform the public of its actions regarding any provider misconduct which threatens the quality of care or well-being of patients," the report said.

The board would be required to report any non-voluntary hospital privilege revocations or suspensions on its website.

"It shall report any NH or out-of-state malpractice suits found in favor of a patient over the past 10 years," the report said. "It shall report any NH or out-of-state Medical Board disciplinary actions."

Today, state law prevents the Board of Medicine and the state Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, which oversees the administration of more than 50 occupational licensing boards, from doing that.

"New Hampshire law does not presently permit the OPLC to post information about malpractice settlements and hospital employment disciplinary actions on the online licensure verification page unless the board has taken disciplinary action in response to receipt of such information," Lindsey Courtney, executive director of OPLC, said in an email last month.

Courtney on Friday didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the draft report.

Testifying before the transparency subcommittee this month, medical board president Emily Baker said the board normally receives information about malpractice payments and cases.

"Everything that comes in gets investigated" at least by a board investigator, Baker said. "We don't have the resources for hearings for all of these complaints."

On Friday, hospital association president Steve Ahnen was reviewing the report and had no immediate comment. He plans to speak to the subcommittee Monday, according to spokeswoman Vanessa Stafford.
Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty and Wikimedia Commons

In December 1866, an advertisement in the Annapolis Gazette advertised the public sale of a 30-year-old woman named Dilly Harris. Dilly had been found guilty of petty larceny and had been sentenced to be sold for a period of two years. For the passersby who saw her auctioned off on the steps of the courthouse that holiday season it was a familiar sight, the only striking element was that that the 13th Amendment had been passed into law the previous year. While it might seem as if slavery had been abolished in 1865, the 13th Amendment had an exception clause.

Tucked between two commas is a loophole: Slavery and involuntary servitude could continue to exist as a punishment for crime. And it did, not only in Annapolis, but in places where convict labor took the place of slavery. But next month, five statesAlabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermontwill vote to abolish the clause permitting the coerced labor of convicted criminals.

Though the penitentiary is a relatively recent phenomenon, the prison is nothing new. The United States is hardly the first society to put condemned prisoners to work. Under ancient Roman law low status people known as humilioresthat is the poor, the socially disadvantaged, manumitted people, and enslaved peoplecould be put to work in public works or in the mines (the wealthy, meanwhile, might receive fines or be sentenced to exile).

The pioneering archeological work of Matthew Larsen and Mark Letteney, authors of Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration (University of California Press, forthcoming), gives us a sense of what life in the Roman mines was like. Larsen told me that most peoples day-to-day looked like waiting in a carceral facility for months on end waiting ones turn to go into the mines and use a tool to extract a metal. This labor looked like swing a pickaxe into a wall of the mine over and over again.

In a recent article on prisons in Roman North Africa, Larsen explores the cramped and dark spaces of Roman mines. Pliny the Elder writes that prisoners often would not see daylight for months. Strabo tells us that the work was painful and the air deadly and difficult to endure. Some mines, like the copper mine at Umm al-Amad in Amman, Jordan, could be accessed only by crawling. In others it was possible, with various amounts of difficulty, to walk upright. But the experience was damaging to the body and the working conditions were dire. Beyond the tattooing, branding, head-shaving, beating, and shackling that took place there, the work hurt. The mines could leave prisoners with permanent health problems and deformities. In what Larsen described as a haunting parallel to our prison-industrial complex some mines, like the yellow-marble mine at Simitthus (Chemtou, Tunisia), housed over 1,000 people, had a guard corridor, and a tower.

Story continues

Those Roman-era criminals who were not consigned to the mines often found themselves working closer to home in mills and bakeries. Pliny mentions that in Campania, Italy, there were wooden mortars run by convicts in chains. Callixtus, an early third-century bishop of Rome, was allegedly placed in a mill to do hard labor, before being scourged and dispatched to the mines of Sardinia. It was only after this that he returned to Rome and became what we now call Pope.

While some forced workers, like the prisoners put to work by the Ottoman Sultan Mehment II in the wake of his military expansion in 1453, received a small wage, most did not. The prisoners who were housed in the Inquisitorial palace in Palermo in the 17th century often received sentences of five years in the royal galleys. They were sometimes accompanied by chaplains to school them in the true faith.

In the case of the United States, the racialized histories of enslavement and incarceration are apparent to even the most casual student. In the aftermath of the Civil War, convict leasing became the preferred form of punishment in Southern states. Convicts worked on municipal, county, and state prison farms; constructing roads and railways; and were leased out to individual contractors. Here they lived in the same spaces, were fed the same food, and faced the same forms of corporal punishment as enslaved people had a few years earlier.

The system could prove fatal, but usually only to people of color. As David Oshinsky shows in his book Worse than Slavery, convict leasing was deeply racialized from the start: In 1882, 126 of 735 black state convicts died. By contrast, only 2 of 83 whites passed away. Not a single leased convict, writes Oshinsky, ever lived long enough to serve a sentence of 10 years or more.

Though we tend to think of the convict lease system and the chain gang as male spaces, women were also sentenced to convict labor. Sarah Haleys work on women in Georgia reveals that white women were only rarely imprisoned and were almost always exempted from convict lease camps. As Talitha LeFleurias work discusses, those women who did find themselves in the convict lease system were routinely subjected to sexual violence and humiliation.

Its easy to imagine that the problem only existed in the South in those states that were unwilling to give up slavery. Dennis Childs, an associate professor of African American Literature at the University of California, San Diego and the author of Slaves of the State Black Incarceration from the Chain Gang to the Penitentiary has shown that this is a myth. Childs told me that the absence of an overt refabrication of slavery in the North helps promote the idea that the modern penitentiary of the North is progressive, humane, etc. When we turn to eyewitness reports from elsewhere, however, we find something else. The writings of prisoners such as Assata Shakur and George Jackson suggest otherwise, he said. The supposedly progressive northern system treated Black subjects and other repressed groups using a neoslavery or concentration camp technique. It was a system that swallowed, crushed, and spat people out in pieces. Those deemed economically disposable were, thus, disposed of.

Even as the convict-lease system and its northern parallels morphed and grew into the modern penitentiary system, it continued to replicate the mechanics of control perfected during antebellum slavery. Despite legislation restricting the ability of guards to administer corporal punishment, the same tortures administered to enslaved people were visited on the prison population. A 1858 article from Harpers Weekly that responded to the murder of prisoner Charles Plumb depicted inmates caged and yoked. Prisoners at Sing Sing in New York were suspended by single body parts as a form of punishment.

Though water boarding is no longer practiced in New York State prisons, solitary confinementa form of torture denounced by the United Nations, Amnesty International and Supreme Court Justicesis more widely practiced in the US than anywhere else. It causes auditory and visual hallucinations, paranoia, PTSD, uncontrollable rage, self-harm and mutilation, diminished impulse control, and distortions of time and perception. These effects are particularly pronounced in young people and those with preexisting mental illness. There is a reason that Angela Davis calls it, apart from death, the worst form of punishment imaginable. At the last reckoning in 2005, the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics census revealed that more than 81,622 people are currently held in this condition. The scant data available shows that African Americans are disproportionately represented in the solitary confinement population (even more so than in the prison population in general, which is really saying something). Those suffering from mental illness, who hold what are deemed radical political opinions, and trans people are especially likely to wind up in solitary confinement for their own protection.

Even though, as Davis has said, slavery is a form of incarceration, incarceration and enslavement are not identical. Convict leasing was not a heritable status and it did not rely upon reproduction for its workforce. But it shared many features with slavery. Theres a reason that W. E. B. DuBois called it the spawn of slavery and it is widely known as neoslavery. In his book, Childs shows how enslavement and incarceration were closely linked in judicial consciousness and language. In one superficially colorblind ruling from 1871, Justice J. Christian declared that [the felon] has, as a consequence of his crime, not only forfeited his liberty, but all his personal rights except those which the law in its humanity accords to him. He is for the time being the slave of the State. He is civiliter mortuus [civilly dead]; and his estate, if he has any, is administered like that of a dead man. In the same way the Roman Digest linked incarceration and slavery when it described some condemned prisoners as slaves of punishment.

At every juncture in history, the line between enslavement and incarceration is hard to see. The prisoners sentenced to the imperial mines in ancient Italy were often working shoulder to shoulder with enslaved workers. The contemporary habit of shackling imprisoned women during childbirth is a continuation of enslaving practice. This isnt supposed to happen, but a 2020 report by the Guardian indicates that it is still a widespread problem. This is an area, writes Sarah Haley in No Mercy Here, where it is difficult to demarcate the differences between the enslaving past, the convict yesterday, and the incarcerating present.

It is difficult to claim that these carceral practices are about rehabilitation or protection when the carceral system so clearly harms people. But nothing about this rather obvious argument is new. In 1842 novelist Charles Dickens called solitary confinement immeasurably worse than any torture of the body while Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont noted that it was fatal to the health of criminals and strikingly ineffective at reforming them. Arguably, ancient Mediterranean people knew this too; in the second century CE the satirist Lucian wrote, these [prison] conditions were harsh and unbearable for a man who was unaccustomed to those experiences, who had no experience of such a brutal way of life. So too the ancient novelist Chariton noted that the carceral experience tramples the nobleborn. What they both understood was that it was possible to train an underclassin their case enslaved peopleto endure the destructive effects of incarceration while simultaneously using that same system to keep them in the trampled state. In other words, they saw it a brutally effective form of social control.

Across history it is striking how inequitable the administration of justice is. In both ancient Rome and the United States (from the end of the Civil war to the present) the affluent face different forms of punishment from the socially disenfranchised. As Larsen put it to me, Roman incarceration was not necessarily about what was being punished but who was being punished. Even if we think that depriving people of their freedom, destroying families, causing psychic and physical harm, and forcing people to work for little to no pay is somehow acceptable and just, we surely cannot support a two-tier justice system that punishes people for their skin color, non-Christian religion, sexuality, gender, and lack of economic and social capital.

As numerous activists have noted, the prison system is a place where human rights are handed over with personal belongings. If you think about it, we already knew much of this. Even if we had scrolled past Ava Duvernays powerful documentary 13th on our Netflix accounts, jokes like dont drop the soap are evidence that our culture tacitly acknowledges the horrifying sexual violence that exists in the carceral system. And we, for some reason, are okay with that. Removing the exception clause from state legislature is just a first step. Childs told me that the solution is to ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE. He pointed to groups like Critical Resistance, All of Us or None, and the Youth Justice Coalition as organizations that lead the charge and need support. Until the prison system is reformed, the abolitionist movement is not complete.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Oct. 29Operators have been working to recover meetings, conventions, incentives and various other events following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.

Takeo Swallow, a Kalani High School student, learned about the power of magnets this week at the Hawai 'i Convention Center when he took a ride on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ) superconductivity levitator, which taps the same technology that makes Japan's bullet trains possible.

"It was kind of weird. Without friction, when you are turning, it feels like you are turning the opposite way, " Swallow said, adding that his ride, which was part of community outreach at the Applied Superconductivity Conference 2022, provided him with a fun way to see some of the science concepts he's studying come to life.

The weeklong conference, which wrapped up Friday, also helped enliven the convention center. Its operators have been working to recover meetings, conventions, incentives and various other events following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions. It was only this spring that Honolulu Hale lifted some of its COVID-19 mandates, including requiring attendees at certain large gatherings to wear masks and provide proof of vaccination status or negative COVID-19 test results.

Some 1, 300 people attended the ASC conference, about 500 fewer than previously expected due to the sluggish return of international travelers, mostly from Asia, said John Reyes, Meet Hawaii's senior vice president and chief MCI sales officer.

International travelers and business travelers are important to Hawaii's overall tourism performance because they typically generate higher visitor spending than leisure travel, Reyes said. He added that business travelers also bolster the industry by creating a base for future business that helps accelerate recovery. The tourism industry here has been pinched by the drop in both traveler types.

Reyes said ASC is the sixth of seven large citywide meetings slated for this year. That count marks an improvement over the past two years, when the center was mostly being used as overflow space for state government as Hawaii grappled with the pandemic's public health-focused challenges.

Story continues

This year's progress, combined with forward bookings, puts Hawaii on track with national projections to see its business-group lineup further recover in 2024, Reyes said.

Still, given that big groups book travel years out, the pandemic has caused more than a two-year disruption. Meet Hawaii expects a gradual five-year ramp-up to reach a 27-event annual target, which was the average of Hawaii's two best years for business, 2015 and 2018. For 2023 the target is 12 events. After that the target bumps up to 16 in 2024, 20 in 2025, 24 in 2026 and, finally, 27 in 2027.

Reyes said conferences and other large-scale meetings are key to Hawaii's tourism recovery as they create a base of business that increases the demand curve. "When a meeting fills up a hotel, it creates compression, which allows other hotels to have opportunities, " he said.

Group-business events also create growth opportunities during the fall and spring seasons, when vacation travel tapers. ASC generated more than $8.6 million in direct economic impact for Hawaii and may have filled up to 800 rooms a night, Reyes said, pointing out that the event returned even more to Hawaii when viewed through the lens of regenerative tourisma model that prizes broader community benefits.

"When we book a conference, we really look at the benefits to our community and residents, " Reyes said, adding that scientific meetings are a good fit as they align with Hawaii's resilience goals and create opportunities for local students to further their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math ) education. "Our message has gotten out about malama (take care of ) Hawaii, " Reyes said. "When we talk to citywide customers, they want to know what they can do to give back."

Kathleen Amm, ASC treasurer and past president, said both Hawaii and ASC embrace "green energy for the future " and "fighting global warming " as ongoing pursuits.

"Coming to a place like Hawaii that is so beautiful and cares about nature and cares about green energy resonates and aligns with us, " Amm said. "We love to teach everyone about these things."

Additionally, Amm said, in the interest of supporting STEM education, the conference's organizers were able to obtain extra sponsorship from the IEEE Council on Superconductivity for the Hawaii outreach effort. "They wanted to make sure that we were doing a phenomenal job while we are here in Hawaiiit's a little bit isolated, and we really want to help the community, " with a special emphasis showcasing STEM fields.

Members of the conference's outreach team arrived early to bring superconductivity demonstrations to schools, including Mililani High, Kapolei High, Aiea High, Waialua High, Pearl City High, Ke 'elikolani Middle School, Kalani High as well as Punahou, La Pietra and 'Iolani schools. They also conducted an outreach event at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. And at the convention center, hundreds of public school students attended an Applied Superconductivity Educational Foundation educational outreach event held Friday afternoon.

The conference turnout and community reach bode well for the continued return of large events to Hawaii, Reyes said. In September some 24, 481 visitors arrived in Hawaii for meetings, incentives and conventionsa 153 % increase over 2021.

"We are cautiously optimistic, " Reyes said. "We've seen the growth, but I think we've seen through the last couple of years that things can change quickly."

While some tourism industry observers are "looking at 2024 to be that year where it comes back, " he said, there's also concern about "COVID and any new variant, but more importantly ... recession and how deep is it really going to be."

For now those headwinds are in the horizon for Hawaii's tourism in general. According to the latest preliminary visitor statistics released Thursday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, total visitor arrivals to Hawaii in September were within 5 % of pre-pandemic times, mostly due to domestic visitors as arrivals from international destinations, especially Japan, were still down.

Some 703, 270 visitors came to Hawaii in September, representing a 95.5 % recovery from September 2019.

Visitor spending in September rose to more than $1.8 billion, a nominal increase of 18.5 % over September 2019.

Total arrivals from the U.S. West in September rose to 395, 115a 29.2 % gain from September 2019. Arrivals from the U.S. East increased 28.4 % from September of 2019 to 170, 995 visitors.

International visitor arrivals to Hawaii are recovering, but were still down in September compared with September 2019. A total of 24, 092 visitors from Japan came to Hawaii in September. Arrivals from Japan, which is normally Hawaii's largest source market for international visitors, were down 83.3 % from September 2019.

September's visitors stayed an average of 8.9 days, up 5.9 % from their average length of stay in September 2019. On any given September day, there were 208, 589 visitorsup 1.2 % from the average daily statewide census in September 2019.

Results varied across the major islands. The average daily visitor census in September was up 23.9 % for Hawaii island in September and was up 19 % for Kauai and 7 % for Maui. However, the average daily census on Oahu was down 10.5 %.

More than 7.8 million visitors came to Hawaii through the first nine months of 2022, marking a 12 % decrease from the same period in 2019. But total nominal visitor spending through September rose 7.9 % to $14.35 billion.
Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko unveiled first-look footage of upcoming documentary Frontline at Ji.hlava Film Festivals Inspiration Forum. It will also be among the 60 projects presented at IDFA Forum.

Filmed during her four-month stint in the Ukrainian army, it will be slow and reflective, focusing on brief moments of calm in-between chaos.

More from Variety

I was filming only when there was nothing to do, she said.

When the war broke out, Kovalenko didnt have the strength to be a director, determined to focus on being a soldier. But she still took the camera with her, even though it literally put additional weight on her shoulders.

I hated this camera at times. It was heavy, but it was my responsibility to carry it. I couldnt take out my grenades, she said.

Frontline

At first, she wasnt thinking about making a film. But when her military base was bombed and a close friend died, Kovalenko came back home and took another look at the footage.

My friend joked it reminded her of an Iranian arthouse movie  nothing was happening. But there was something there: You could feel the tension through silence.

Kovalenko  also behind Home Games  is at work on another doc, Expedition 49, but the ongoing conflict made her rethink the whole project, she tells Variety. Focusing on five teenagers in Donbas, suddenly given a chance to go to the Himalayas, it will be renamed in the future.

We will change it, because its not about this expedition anymore. It was supposed to be about dreams that come true. Now, it has become a film about broken dreams.

Kovalenko opened up about her experience in the army, as a woman and a mother. Her husband, French author and producer Stephane Siohan, stayed at home with their son.

Story continues

We are an unusual couple and we have already been through a lot  we have been together since the Maidan Revolution. He knows I am a bit crazy and he accepts it. Also, we are all equal in the face of war, she noted.

Frontline

In 2014, she was stopped at a separatist checkpoint and interrogated by Russian officers for hours.

I was thinking to myself: This is the end. They told me they would cut off my ears unless I started to talk. My biggest fear was that I would give out important information, she said about the deeply traumatic event.

I think I crossed some line that day, I am not afraid anymore. I dont know what could be scarier than captivity.

She promised herself that if the conflict escalates, she will try to protect her country.

At that time, I didnt know I would have a son. But I fight for him  I want him to live in a beautiful country. Its my responsibility as a Ukrainian, but also as a mother, she added, admitting it took some time before she was fully accepted as a soldier. And while she is still terrible at digging trenches, she is even worse at taking orders.

Artists, directors, we like to discuss. Thats how we operate. But in the army, you dont ask why. Some of these soldiers were really pissed off: Why is this woman questioning everything?, she said.

I needed time to prove I was just as valuable as anyone else. When my friend died, I found his hat and his plate, and my deputy commander saw I was about to break down. He said: You know, despite our disagreements, you are the strongest woman I have ever known.

She is planning to return to the frontline, she said.

Our kids are playing in bomb shelters. Its normal now, but I dont want it to be normal.

But she finds it hard to stay optimistic, especially in the face of Russias recent mobilization efforts.

They have more people, people they dont care about and treat like meat, and there will be even more of them fighting now. Even with good weapons, its just not the right balance, noted Kovalenko.

I am not sure about the happy ending. I want to believe we will win this war, but we already lost so much. We will need years to rebuild, my dead friends keep haunting me and I cant fall asleep. Russia has the highest rate of domestic violence in Europe and thats how they see Ukraine: as a child that doesnt obey. They want to beat us into submission.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a summit of the Commonwealth of the Independent States Summit, on October 14, 2022. Getty Images

On October 26, President Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian state television overseeing a practice run of Russia's strategic nuclear-deterrence forces.

The "grom," or thunder nuclear exercise, involved nuclear submarines, strategic bombers, and ballistic missiles. As Putin looked on via video link from a control room, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu explained that the exercise simulated "a massive nuclear strike" in retaliation against a potential nuclear attack on Russia.

The drills were held in the Barents Sea in the Arctic, off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia, and the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east, which is much closer to Alaska than to Moscow.

On September 21, Putin warned he would use "all available means to protect Russia and our people." The televised "grom" added to Europe's mounting worry that the war in Ukraine has put the possibility of a nuclear attack on the table.

Later that day, Putin repeated the Kremlin's widely discredited claims that it's Ukraine that's preparing a provocation against Russia using a "dirty bomb"  a conventional munition laced with radioactive material.

"The desire to get nuclear weapons has been stated publicly by the authorities in Kyiv," Putin told a meeting with the heads of special services of the Council of Independent States, a group of ex-Soviet countries and their neighbors. "It is also known about the plans to use the so-called 'dirty bomb' as a provocation."

Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the claim.

Ukraine has charged that Russian forces are working on a dirty bomb at Ukraine's captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear-power plant, and that dropping such a weapon on Ukrainian lands would create a pretext to retaliate against Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

That night, over on Russian state TV, propagandist Vladimir Solovyov  who YouTube banned in March for advocating violence, including hitting civilian targets in Kyiv  wondered aloud whether Russia still has a nuclear capability.

Story continues

"At least, we are holding exercises with our strategic nuclear weapons," Solovyov, the host of Rossiya-1 TV, said. "But I hope we actually have them, and I hope we're still capable of using them."

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on October 28, 2022. MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Whether Putin is sincerely considering a nuclear or other catastrophic attack in Ukraine, or simply playing out an elaborate bluff to gain leverage, is still anyone's guess.

Russia's nuclear doctrine states nuclear weapons should be used in self-defense. However, some Russian officials have asserted that Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear strikes if there is an existential threat to the country or if there is an attack against Russia, even if the attack uses conventional weapons alone.

The conflict has revived Cold War-era fears of nuclear war across the region. Earlier this month, Ukraine's neighbor to the west, Poland, ordered an inventory and inspection of its 62,000 bomb shelters.

Mounting losses and limited supplies

In Russia and abroad, there's concern that Putin is growing increasingly desperate for a speedy victory  or at least to crush Ukraine to the satisfaction of his allies and supporters.

In the more than eight months since attacking Ukraine on February 24, Russia has absorbed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine via annexations of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia and created a land bridge to Crimea. But as the conflict drags on, Russia has resorted to mobilizing 300,000 reservists and acquiring weapons and drones from Iran and North Korea.

An estimated 90,000 Russian soldiers have died, according to independent Russian media outlet iStories. In August, a Ukrainian official said that 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel had been killed, though another source said the number could be far higher. The UN reports that nearly 8 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the country since February, and multiple war crime-related investigations are underway.

Meanwhile, Russia appears to be running out of weaponry, including everything from missiles to helmets and boots.

Andrei Gurulyov, a Duma deputy and a retired general, estimated on Rossiya-1 two weeks ago that more than half of Russia's arsenal is gone, including more than 80% of the powerful Iskander systems. He has called on the Kremlin not "to waste missiles."

Western officials claim the Kremlin's reserve of cruise missiles is running low, and that it's had to rely on Iranian Shahed "kamikaze" drones. Speaking via video link at the G7 summit on October 10, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had used the Iranian drones to attack dozens of civilian targets across Ukraine.

A rallying cry from the hawks

Back when Putin came to power in 2000  becoming just the second Russian president following the demise of the Soviet Union  his main selling point was the promise of relative stability as Russia sought to regain its place on the world stage.

Now, there is real fear that Putin has become hostage to ultra-nationalists and hardliners. These figures, who are given far more freedom to speak their minds than nearly anyone else in Russia, cheered the war, and have since pushed the Kremlin to be more decisive and brutal in Ukraine.

Evidence that the pressure campaign was having an effect seemed to come earlier this month when Putin ordered the bombing of 12 Ukrainian cities on October 10 with 500kg cruise missiles in revenge for the attack on the Kerch bridge in Crimea two days before.

The response from the hawkish mix of generals, pro-Kremlin TV personalities, and ultra-nationalists was largely, if cautiously, positive.

Aleksandr Kots, the pro-Kremlin war correspondent, questioned on his Telegram channel whether the bombings were "a one-time action of retaliation" or signaled a shift in the war or a new system of warfare. Kots, who has 686,0000 followers on his Telegram channel, said he favors the use of cruise missiles until "the Ukrainian state loses its ability to function."

On October 13, Russian military expert Alexander Sharkovsky appeared on an NTV panel urging Putin to use nuclear "carpet bombings from the air" to obliterate swaths of Ukraine and regain the front foot in the invasion.

He echoed the concern of other hawkish commentators that Democratic Party leaders in the US might be pushing for a major strategic victory in Ukraine as a show of strength ahead of midterm elections on November 8. The US has committed to sending nearly $18 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since February 24, according to the Associated Press  including another $275 million announced on October 28.

Over on the Rossiya-1 channel, Gurulyov has called on the military to build on recent strikes that targeted Ukraine's power stations and the distribution grid  and destroy Ukraine's electricity grid completely.

"We will turn off all the electricity in Ukraine and everything will come to a standstill, including railways and transportation," he said. "Those crowds of refugees that will start flowing can clog up the highways.

"It could get very interesting if their sewers are blocked for a week as epidemics will start," he said. "Dysentery and other nasty stuff will crop up."

Zelenskyy previously estimated that 30% of Ukraine's power stations have been damaged or destroyed, though the figure is now likely to be greater.

One figure who has gone quiet in recent days is Igor Girkin, a leading ultra-nationalist who led the pro-Russian separatists in 2014 trying to wrest the Donbass region from Kyiv's control, and now boasts 750,000 followers on Telegram. According to a statement his wife made on Instagram, Girkin has gone to the front lines.

Igor Girkin is seen in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on July 11, 2014. Dmitry LovetskyAP Photo

Ukraine has responded by putting a $100,000 bounty on Girkin's head.

The Kremlin, too, seems to be losing patience with Girkin and other popular, ultra-nationalist bloggers. In mid-October, several Russian media outlets reported that law-enforcement agencies were checking Telegram for posts discrediting the army and other "fake news."

Meanwhile, domestic opposition to the war appears to be building. Since the mobilization was announced, an estimated 700,000 Russian men have fled the country. In Moscow, where young men were being rounded up on the metro, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced suddenly on October 17 that conscription was over. Other regions with less influence may have to make up the shortfall.

In the Republic of Bashkortostan  an oil-rich, predominantly Muslim region of central Russia  activists said the plan was to seek independence rather than fight and die for "a Russian world." According to news reports, they are organizing an armed resistance.

Kadyrov and Prigozhin

While Putin has publicly declined to acknowledge any criticism of the war, The Washington Post reported that Evgeny Prigozhin, the billionaire founder of the Wagner mercenary group who is known as "Putin's Chef," confronted him about his military's failings.

Prigozhin, who has personally toured Russian prisons to recruit 1,000 convicts, reportedly told Putin that his Defense Ministry was leaning too heavily on Wagner while giving them insufficient support.

In addition to Prigozhin, another big gun with some immunity to criticize Russia's war effort is the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. On the day of Putin's Valdai address, Kadyrov wrote in a Telegram post that Prigozhin was a "born warrior" who should be listened to carefully.

"As Yevgeny Prigozhin correctly noted, tactical and personnel changes are needed," Kadyrov's post said. "Now, not tomorrow."

In the same post, General Alexander Lapin, the commander of the Central Military District, also sharply criticized him. According to Kadyrov, Lapin had been incommunicado for the "past few days" after Ukrainian forces had broken through and seized the towns of Terny, Torskoye, and Yamplovka in the Donetsk region.

"If I had my way, I would demote Lapin to a private, deprive him of his awards and, with a machine gun in his hands, send him to the front lines to wash away the shame with blood," Kadyrov, who claims his three underage sons are now fighting on the frontlines, wrote.

Kadyrov and Prigozhin have, in recent months, been engaged in a very public bromance designed to undermine Shoigu's position and create a power structure to rival Russia's Armed Forces.

Conflicts between different power centres is a familiar pattern for Kremlinologists. Putin frequently employs an old KGB tactic of encouraging competing factions of power and permitting feuds between different camps. The logic would suggest it is better that the clans fight one another than try to oust him.

But it's one thing for such machinations to happen during peacetime. The stakes are far higher in times of war.

A rush to heaven?

On October 27  the day after supervising the military exercises  Putin insisted the "special military operation" in Ukraine was "still going according to plan."

Appearing at the annual conference at Valdai, a Kremlin-backed think tank, the Russian president downplayed talk of a nuclear escalation in Ukraine, insisting that Russia's military doctrine was defensive and that he had no desire to be in the place of Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader whose brinkmanship with US President John F. Kennedy brought the world to the precipice of a nuclear war in 1962.

"We see no need for that," Putin told the delegates. "There is no point in that, neither political nor military."

Fyodor Lukyanov, Valdai's research director and the session's moderator, reminded Putin of his comments at the same forum in 2018.

Back then, Lukyanov had asked Putin about his statement, "Why do we need a world if Russia isn't in it." In a wide-ranging answer, Putin had offered, almost as an aside, that Russian victims of nuclear war "will go to heaven as martyrs" while Western citizens would perish without having "time to repent."

Raising those comments again, Lukyanov said: "Many people became slightly nervous remembering what you said on this very platform, at our event four years ago, that we would all go to heaven."

"But we are in no hurry, right?"

The assembled foreign-policy experts in the hall laughed nervously. Putin pursed his lips and fell silent for an almost interminable four or five seconds.

Lukyankov intervened; it was "somewhat alarming" that Putin was so lost in his thoughts, he said.

"I became absorbed in thought for a purpose, to disturb you all," Putin eventually replied, to more nervous laughter. He then added quietly: "The goal has been achieved."

Read the original article on Business Insider
In a particularly unhinged rant Friday, former President Donald Trump accused a New York judge of being part of a Communist takeover of his Trump Organization.

What Judge Arthur Engoron is actually doing is making decisions concerning a lawsuit against Trump and his three eldest children for $250 million over the alleged use of inflated company financial statements to mislead lenders in obtaining loans.

The suit was filed last month by New York Attorney General Letitia James (whom Trump always insists on calling Peekaboo). James office asked Engoron for an expedited preliminary conference to quickly schedule the trial for next year, arguing that the Trumps are engaged in an ongoing fraud.

James is seeking to prevent the Trumps in the interim from conducting business in the state and to curtail their access to loans.

The statements of financial condition concerning Trump assets were greatly exaggerated, grossly inflated, objectively false, and therefore fraudulent and illegal, James told reporters when she announced the filing of the suit.

Claiming money that you do not have does not amount to the Art of the Deal, she added, referring to the title of Trumps ghost-written book. Its the art of the steal, James said.

Engoron earlier this year held Trump in contempt of court for failure to turn over documents demanded by James.

Trump and his attorneys tried  and failed  to get Engoron bounced from the case.

Engoron is vicious, biased and [a] mean rubber stamp for the Communist takeover of the great & prosperous American company that I have built over a long period of years, Trump claimed Friday on his social media platform, Truth Social.

James did not immediately respond to the latest Trump attack.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
This photograph by Cecil Stoughton shows Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy, Jr. visiting President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office on Halloween in their costumes.

White House Historical Association Kennedy Children Visit President Kennedy in the Oval Office on H

As the current and former home of dozens of first families  and the site of countless historic happenings  it stands to reason that visitors to the White House might want to... linger. According to the White House Historical Association, some have possibly lingered for years, haunting the hallways of the iconic people's house for hundreds of years.

As the WHHA details in an explorative video, spooky stories and sightings at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. have proliferated for more than a century.

Over the course of its 200-year history, the White House has seen a number of deaths, including those of Presidents William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor and former first lady Ellen Wilson.

But even those who didn't die within the building's walls are still said to walk there.

RELATED: Celebs Who Have Had Actual Ghost Encounters

According to the WHHA, the ghost of President Andrew Jackson is said to have been seen throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and supposedly "lets out a deep, guttural laugh from his former bed," which is located in what is now known as the Queens' Bedroom.

But it's another former president who the association says is "perhaps the best known of all the White House ghosts": Abraham Lincoln.

The Lincoln Bedroom has been the site of several reported apparitions  and first lady Grace Coolidge, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands all claim to have seen the ghost of Lincoln at the White House.

RELATED: Exploring the White House's Little-Known Facts

In this photograph, costumed members of the United States Marine Band entertain guests during a Halloween party in the East Room of the White House in 1969. This photograph was taken during the Richard M. Nixon administration.

White House Historical Association

The Lincoln family reportedly embraced the notion of afterlife, and was known to hold seances in the White House after their young son Willie passed away in 1862.

Lincoln's wife, former first lady Mary Todd Lincoln herself once reportedly told others that she had seen the ghost of President Thomas Jefferson playing violin in the Yellow Oval Room on the White House's second floor.

Story continues

RELATED: A Look Back at Our All-Time Favorite First Lady Portraits Adorning the White House

In another scary tidbit of history, an unidentified 15-year old boy called "the Thing" is said to have frightened staffers under the Taft presidency in 1911. The WHHA details that Major Archibald Butt, a military aide for President William Howard Taft, even wrote about the ghost in a letter sent to his sister Clara.

"The ghost, it seems, is a young boy about fourteen or fifteen years old," Butt wrote, adding: "They say that the first knowledge one has of the presence of the Thing is a slight pressure on the shoulder, as if someone were leaning over your shoulder to see what you might be doing."

RELATED: 57 Percent of Americans Believe in Ghosts  and Many Think There's Paranormal Activity in Their Home

The ghost stories have seemingly spooked more than just the humans who live in the building, with the association noting that some White House pets have "refused to enter" certain rooms or "barked frantically at unseen disturbances."

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.

Not all of the alleged ghost sightings at the White House took place long ago. In fact, Jenna Bush Hager has said that she believes the White House is haunted.

In a 2021 interview with Kelly Clarkson, Bush Hager said that she and her twin sister Barbara Bush Pierce were going to sleep during their college days when they received a mysterious phone call.

"It was in the college days when people would call late. And our phone rang, and I woke up, and all of a sudden we heard like, 1920s piano music coming out of our fireplace," Bush Hager told Clarkson.

Her mother, former first lady Laura Bush, later chalked up the story to Jenna and Barbara hearing the voices of Secret Service agents from down the hall.
At least nine people, including children, died on Saturday in twin car bomb attacks targeting Somalia's education ministry in the capital Mogadishu, security officers and witnesses said.

Two cars packed with explosives were detonated minutes apart near the busy Zobe junction and followed by gunfire,

"I was among the first security officers to reach the area, I saw dead bodies of nine people most of them civilians including women and children," said security officer Ahmed Ali, adding that dozens had been wounded.

Another security officer Yusuf Abdullahi gave a similar toll.

Police spokesman Sadik Dudishe did not give a death toll figure but said the incident was being investigated.

"The ruthless terrorists killed mothers. Some of them died with their children trapped on their backs," he told reporters at a press briefing, adding the attackers had targeted "students and other civilians".

The response by security forces had stopped the attackers from reaching their intended location, Dudishe said.

The afternoon explosions shattered windows of nearby buildings, sent shrapnel flying and clouds of smoke and dust into the air.

Abdirahman Ise, a witness, said the road had been busy when the first blast went off.

"I saw huge smoke in the ministry area and there is massive destruction," another witness, Amino Salad, said.

The attack happened at a busy junction where a truck packed with explosives blew up on October 14, 2017, killing 512 people and injuring more than 290.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Islamist group Al-Shabaab remains a potent force in the troubled Horn of Africa nation despite multinational efforts to degrade its leadership.

The jihadists have been seeking to overthrow the fragile foreign-backed government in Mogadishu for about 15 years.

Its fighters were driven out of the capital in 2011 by an African Union force but the group still controls swathes of countryside and has the capacity to wage deadly strikes on civilian and military targets.

They use threats of violence to collect taxes in territory under their jurisdiction.

The group last week claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel in the port city of Kismayo that killed nine people and wounded 47 others.

In August, the group launched a 30-hour gun and bomb attack on the popular Hayat hotel in Mogadishu, killing 21 people and wounding 117.

'All-out war'

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected in May, vowed after the August siege to wage "all-out war" on the Islamists.

In September he urged citizens to stay away from areas controlled by jihadists, saying the armed forces and tribal militia were ratcheting up offensives against them.

A joint US-Somali drone strike killed one of the militants' most senior commanders on October 1.

Just hours after his death was announced, a triple bombing in the southern city of Beledweyne killed at least 30 people.

In addition to violence, Somalia -- like its neighbours in the Horn of Africa -- is in the grip of the worst drought in more than 40 years. Four failed rainy seasons have wiped out livestock and crops.

The conflict-wracked nation is considered one of the most vulnerable to climate change but is particularly ill-equipped to cope with the crisis as it battles the deadly Islamist insurgency.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


(Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg will testify in a case by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that argues the company's proposed deal to buy virtual reality (VR) content maker Within Unlimited should be blocked.

In a court document filed with U.S. District Court Northern District Of California on Friday, the FTC listed 18 witnesses it plans to question, including Zuckerberg, Within CEO Chris Milk and Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth.

They were also on a list of witnesses submitted on Friday by defendants Meta and Within.

In addition to defending the Within acquisition, Zuckerberg is expected to be questioned about the Facebook-parent's strategy for its VR business, as well as the company's plans to support third-party developers, according to the court document.

The FTC had filed a lawsuit in July saying that Meta's acquisition of Within would "tend to create a monopoly" in the market for VR-dedicated fitness apps.

The regulator argues that the proposed deal would "substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly" in that market.

Meta, in court documents, has argued that "the FTC's conclusory, speculative, and contradictory allegations do not plausibly plead any facts to establish that any supposed market for VR Deliberate Fitness apps is 'oligopolistic' as to either behavior or structure."

Facebook agreed to buy Within in October 2021 for an undisclosed sum.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Santiago Ochoas reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund . For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com.
Four WA communities tried to end youth homelessness. Walla Walla is seeing success
If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules:

Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy.

The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
A veteran Russian state media journalist has been killed in an accident on a shooting range in Moscow-annexed Crimea, Russia's main Rossiya Segodnya state media group has said.

Svetlana Babayeva, the head of the Kremlin-backed media's Crimea bureau, "died due to an accident" while practising shooting on Friday, Russian agencies quoted the media outlet as saying.

The 50-year-old had throughout her long career with pro-Kremlin media also been posted to the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dmitry Kiselyov, the head of the Rossiya Segodnya group and one of Russia's main state television presenters, told Russian media that Babayeva would be "greatly missed".

He said she was the "warmest person, strongly routing for Russia" and that she had "wanted to support our heroes".

"Restless Sveta was a professional of the highest standards with a bright journalistic biography," he added, using her nickname.

The Kremlin also expressed sorrow at her loss, saying it was "hard to believe" she had died and that we would be "greatly missed."

Its spokesman Dmitry Peskov called her a "multi-talented journalist" and an "unusually charming woman".

He praised Babayeva, who was once part of a presidential pool of journalists and with whom he said the Kremlin had worked "for many, many years".

Born in Moscow in 1972, Babayeva's long career with pro-Kremlin media included a senior role at the main Izvestia newspaper and postings in the United Kingdom and the United States for the RIA Novosti news agency.

She began working at Rossiya Segodnya after a controversial state overhaul of the media, and had been its representative in the Crimean city of Simferopol since 2019.

Russian authorities in occupied southern Ukraine also mourned her loss, with a Moscow-installed official in the city of Kherson praising her reporting of "true information" from the occupied territories.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
European Union lawmakers and member countries reached a deal to ban the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars and vans by 2035. The deal EU negotiators sealed on Thursday night is the first agreement of the bloc's "Fit for 55" package, which the bloc's executive commission set up to achieve the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent over this decade. Under the deal, carmakers will be required to reduce the emissions of new cars sold by 55 per cent in 2030, compared to 2021, before reaching a 100 per cent cut five years later.

The European Parliament and member states must formally approve the agreement before it comes into force. The European Parliament said the deal is a signal ahead of the UN's annual climate change conference "that the EU is serious about adopting concrete laws to reach the more ambitious targets set out in the EU Climate Law."

According to EU data, transportation is the only sector in which greenhouse gas emissions have increased in the past three decades, rising 33.5 per cent between 1990 and 2019. Passenger cars are a major polluter, accounting for 61 per cent of total CO2 emissions from road transport.

The EU wants to drastically reduce emissions from transportation by 2050 and promote electric vehicles, but a report from the bloc's external auditor showed last year that the region lacks the appropriate charging stations.

The EU Parliament said on Friday that funding should be directed to help small- and medium-sized businesses that are part of the automotive supply chain, as well as vulnerable regions and communities, weather the transition to ending sales of cars that run on gas and diesel.

World leaders agreed in Paris in 2015 to work to keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 F) by the end of the century.

Scientists have said even the less ambitious goal will be missed by a wide margin unless drastic steps are taken to reduce emissions. "This is a historic decision, as it sets for the first time a clear decarbonisation pathway with targets in 2025, 2030 and 2035 and aligned with our goal of climate neutrality by 2050," Pascal Canfin, the chair of the environment committee of the European Parliament, said.

"This sector, which accounts for 16 per cent of European emissions at the moment, will be carbon-neutral by 2050." Greenpeace said the 2035 deadline is too late to limit global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

"The EU is taking the scenic route, and that route ends in disaster," Greenpeace EU campaigner Lorelei Limousin said. "A European 2035 phase-out of fossil fuel-burning cars is not quick enough: New cars with internal combustion engines should be banned by 2028 at the latest."

Limousin called the deal announcement "a perfect example of where politicians can bask in a feel-good headline that masks the reality of their repeated failures to act on climate.
The largest passenger car manufacturer in India, Maruti Suzuki, achieved its best-ever sales this quarter. It should be noted that the Indian automaker sold 5,17,395 vehicles during this quarter. The company reported that the previous quarter was characterised by a severe scarcity of electronic components as a result of which it was only able to sell a total of 3,79,541 units, of which 320,133 units were sold domestically and 59,408 units were sold abroad. The figures show a recovery for the automaker. Additionally, the company's revenues during the holiday season were boosted by the sales of its newest models, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Brezza.

MSIL said, "Sales in the domestic market stood at 4,54,200 units. Exports were at 63,195 units. Shortage of electronic components impacted production by about 35,000 vehicles in this quarter," it added.

Also read: European Union bans sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 in member countries

In a virtual press conference, MSIL Chairman RC Bhargava said challenges such as COVID-19 impact and shortage of electronic components which had seriously affected growth in the past were not there during the second quarter, thereby resulting in good growth.

"On the festival season particularly, (it) has been excellent this year. After a long time, people have come out of the COVID shock and gone out and done shopping like they have never done in the last three years and I think that has brought up the market as a whole," he added.

MSIL said its pending customer orders stood at about 4.12 lakh units at the end of the second quarter, out of which about 1.3 lakh vehicle pre-bookings are for recently launched models, including Grand Vitara and the new Brezza.

The company has been making simultaneous efforts in securing electronic components availability, cost reduction, and improving realisation from the market to better its margins, it added.

In the first half of the ongoing fiscal, MSIL said it sold a total of 9,85,326 units as against 733,155 units in the year-ago period. Domestic sales were at 8,52,694 units as compared to 6,28,228 units in the same period a year ago. Exports in the first half of the fiscal were at 1,32,632 units as compared to 1,04,927 units in the year-ago period.

When asked if MSIL was still sticking to its target to sell 20 lakh units in the ongoing fiscal, Bhargava said, "No, we have not given up on our challenge of reaching 2 million (units). The major determinant of our ability to succeed is going to be the semiconductors ... At the moment we are finding that there is a constraint of semiconductors fundamentally from one company and that is affecting four models of ours."

He said MSIL has no certainty of how much will be supplied in the next five months. "If we get reasonably good supplies we should be able to reach the target. It's something we want to get to. We are trying to get it. We have the capability of getting to, but the factor which finally determines our success or failure is really not in our hands."
A dead body was found in the undercarriage of the German carrier Lufthansa Airlines plane at Frankfurt airport on Thursday. Based on the German newspaper Bild's report, the body was discovered after the plane returned from Tehran. Following the incident, the same flight scheduled for the next day has been cancelled as per the information present on the airline's website. Based on the reports, the male body was discovered by the airport authorities during the maintenance check being conducted on the aircraft. It is to be noted that the body was found with an oxygen cylinder next to it.

Based on CNN's report the airline has confirmed that the body was found on an Airbus A340-300 aircraft owned by the airline after it landed at the aforementioned airport. The body was found after the aircraft completed its flight LH601 and was left for maintenance work. The incident comes amidst the ongoing protest in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. It is to be noted that the protest has spread widely even outside Iran in places like Berlin as well. Thousands of protesters were seen marching in support of the ongoing anti-government protests.

Also read: Indigo plane fire: Aviation Ministry directs DGCA to furnish report on incident at Delhi International Airport

The 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini was arrested for "improper attire" by the Islamic Republic's morality police and died in police custody on September 16. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Amini's grave on Wednesday, 40 days after her death, as the movement for "women, life, freedom" refuses to back down.
The Security Council voted unanimously Friday to extend the UN political mission in Libya for a year and urged key institutions and parties in the divided north African country to agree on a road map to deliver presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

The resolution adopted by the U.N.'s most powerful body urged ``dialogue, compromise and constructive engagement'' aimed at forming ``a unified Libyan government able to govern across the country and representing the whole people of Libya.''

Libya plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been split between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.

The country's current political crisis stems from the failure to hold elections in December 2021 and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who led a transitional government in the capital, Tripoli, in the country's west, to step down.

In response, the country's east-based parliament appointed a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.

The resolution reaffirmed the Security Council's ``strong commitment to an inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations and supported by the international community,'' that leads to elections as soon as possible.

It backs the resumption of efforts to resume intra-Libya talks to create conditions for elections.

Gabon's U.N. ambassador, Michel Xavier Biang, the current council president, said the three African nations on the council _ Gabon, Kenya and Ghana _ ``have the sense of having contributed to an important milestone towards the stabilization of a major African state.''

``Through this vote, we are sending a message to the Libyan people and that message is clear that the U.N. is standing by their side,'' Biang said. ``This is also a message to the Libyan authorities and all political stakeholders who have an opportunity to create a momentum that would lead to restoring hope in Libya.''

The council welcomed the appointment of a new U.N. special envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, after a nine-month search amid increasing chaos in Libya.

Russia had refused to extend the mandate of the U.N. mission in Libya, known as UNSMIL, for more than three months until a new special representative was chosen. So UNSMIL's 12-month extension until Oct. 31, 2023, was a vote of confidence for the former Senegalese minister and diplomat.

Bathily told the council Monday he plans to follow up on commitments by Libya's political rivals at the end of a meeting last week that reportedly include the need to hold elections and ensure that the country has a single executive power as soon as possible.

He said he plans to talk to leaders of the east-based parliament, the House of Representatives, and west-based High Council of State in the coming weeks ``to understand'' the agreements announced at the end of their Oct. 21 meeting in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

According to the Moroccan Press Agency and the North African Post, the speaker of the east-based parliament, Aguila Saleh, and the head of the Supreme Council, Khaled al-Meshri, agreed to implement a mechanism on criteria for leadership positions agreed to at talks in Morocco in October 2020.

Saleh was quoted as saying the rivals also agreed ``to ensure that there is a single executive power in Libya as soon as possible'' and to relaunch dialogue to achieve an agreement about the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections.

The elections need to respect ``a clear roadmap and legislation, on the basis of which the polls will be held,'' he was quoted as saying at a press briefing after the meeting.

The Security Council's resolution underlined ``the importance of an inclusive, comprehensive national dialogue and reconciliation process.''

Council members expressed concern at the security situation in Libya, particularly recurring clashes between armed groups in the Tripoli region that have caused civilian casualties and damaged civilian infrastructure.

They emphasized ``that there can be no military solution in Libya'' and called on all parties to refrain from violence.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


After an operating flight 6E-2131 (Delhi-Bangalore) encountered a technical issue during the takeoff roll, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) ordered the staff members of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to investigate the situation on Saturday. Following the directions DGCA said a complete investigation will be conducted to determine the cause and appropriate follow-up action would be taken in the incident. According to a senior DGCA official, on October 28, 2022, the IndiGo A320-Ceo aircraft VT-IFM that was operating flight 6E-2131 (Delhi-Bangalore) experienced an engine 2 fail warning and was unable to take off. The fire extinguisher bottle discharged with a loud bang. The plane has been grounded for examination, the official said after it returned to the bay.

"Concerned officials at @DGCAIndia have been directed to look into this and furnish a report at the earliest," tweeted the MoCA_GoI. On Friday, an aircraft operating flight 6E2131 from Delhi to Bangalore experienced an engine stall during the take-off roll and landed at Delhi airport. According to the official press statement, the pilot aborted the takeoff and the aircraft returned to the bay.

Also read: IndiGo plane fire: DGCA initiates probe, suitable follow-up action to be taken

DGCA Arun Kumar said, "A detailed investigation will be carried out by DGCA to ascertain the cause and suitable follow-up action shall be taken." Earlier, on Friday night, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said officials concerned with the DGCA have been directed to look into this and furnish a report at the earliest.

Meanwhile, in an updated statement, IndiGo airline said, "An aircraft operating flight 6E2131 from Delhi to Bangalore experienced a technical issue while on take-off roll, immediately after which the pilot aborted the take off and the aircraft safely returned to the bay. All passengers and crew are safe and an alternate aircraft was arranged to operate the flight, which took off at 0016 hrs on Oct 29, 2022. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers."

A Bangalore-bound IndiGo aircraft aborted take off at the Delhi airport after one of its engines caught fire. The flight was carrying 177 passengers and seven crew members.

As per officials, Friday at 22:08 hours, IGI Control Room received a call from the CISF Control room regarding a Fire problem in the Engine of Flight No 6E 2131 going from Delhi to Bengaluru. The plane, which had just started on the runway for take-off, was stopped and all the passengers were safely taken out.

With inputs from agencies
While travelling back from India to London Heathrow Airport the plane carrying Queen Consort Camilla suffered a bird strike. Daily Star's report showed that the aircraft was severely damaged in the incident. It is to be noted that the plane involved in the incident is a British Airways Boeing 777 aircraft and based on the photos shared on social media the aircraft sustained a massive dent on the nose. It is to be noted that incidents of bird strikes have been a constant fear in India recently and multiple planes owned by different Indian airlines have suffered damage from such events.

The wife of King Charles was reportedly staying at a holistic health center near Bengaluru, where she and some friends indulged in some wellness therapy. Meditation, homeopathy, yoga, therapy, and Ayurveda, an ancient traditional system of medicine, are all available at Soukya, which is led by Dr. Isaac Mathai. According to its website, the residential medical institute bills itself as the world's first integrative health destination and focuses on "healing, prevention, or rejuvenation."

Also read: Dead body found in Lufthansa airline flight travelling from Tehran to Frankfurt airport

The reports suggest that the British Airways aircraft landed safely even after the accident and the people onboard disembarked successfully. It is to be noted that the bird strike can cause significant damage to the aircraft. Multiple international organisations have been working towards developing technology to reduce such incidents.

The most recent incident of a bird strike in India occurred with an Akasa Air flight on 28 October. The incident occurred when a Boeing 737 Max plane was covering its flight from Ahmedabad-Delhi. In the incident, the radome of the flight was damaged at 1900 feet. One of the planes of the same airline suffered a bird strike on 15 October. The Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight returned to Mumbai airport due to a burning smell in the cabin, which later turned out to be due to a bird strike.
New Delhi: Kriti Sanon is one of the top actresses in the industry. She has a number of film releases lined up one of which is 'Bhediya' co-starring Varun Dhawan and fans are super excited for this one. Kriti and VD are currently promoting their next but, at a recent event Kriti's gesture did not land well amongst the netizens and the actress got brutally trolled.

Recently, both actors attended the film's song 'Thumkeshwari' launch event at Mumbai's Gaiety Galaxy theatre. At the event, Kriti and Varun climbed the roof of the cinema hall and gave an impromptu dance performance for the fans BUT it did not go down well with the netizens who started trolling Kriti.

The videos were shared on social media by the paps and netizens dropped harsh comments while trolling Kriti. One wrote, 'Kriti Sanon has turned into a spider-woman,' while another commented, 'Kya kya Krna padta hai inhe ab.' One social media user even wrote, "For a second I thought ki koi local hotel main raid padi hai!" Another wrote, "Sahi h ab to mujra karna padta h public to bulane ke liye..."

On the other hand, the die-heart fans of Sanon dropped heart-eye and love emojis for the actress.

Bhediya's first track 'Thumkeshwari' released yesterday and fans are already in love. The peppy track gave a surprise to the fans with Shraddha Kapoor's cameo hinting towards the sequel of 'Stree.'

Jio Studios & Dinesh Vijan present, Bhediya. A Maddock Films production, directed by Amar Kaushik, produced by Dinesh Vijan and starring Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee among others, is releasing in cinemas Pan-India in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil in 2D and 3D on 25th November 2022.
New Delhi: Cyber security researchers had found a new variant of the Drinik Android virus, and it can steal your crucial bank information. For the unversed, Drinik is an old malware having headlines since 2016. In the past, the Indian government issued a warning to Android users about malware that was stealing their personal data in order to generate income tax refunds.

By using more sophisticated skills, Cyble has now discovered a new variant of the malware that targets individuals in India and those who use 18 specific Indian banks. It now targets users by sending an SMS with an APK file. (Also Read: Video of a child washing father's MacBook with soap goes viral; Twitter flooded with memes--watch video here)

In order to turn off Google Play Protect, the app then asks for permission to utilise the Accessibility Service. Once a user gives permission, the programme has the ability to carry out specific tasks without informing the user beforehand. The software has the ability to record screen activity, record keystrokes, and make navigation gestures. (Also Read: Shocker! Husband buried his alive wife in grave, woman's life saved with APPLE WATCH--Know how)

When the software receives all the necessary rights and access, it uses WebView to open a legitimate Indian income tax website rather than the phishing page that was previously loaded. Despite being a real website, the software records users' screen activity and keystrokes to access their login information.

To ensure that the information (user ID, PAN, and Aadhar) it is stealing is valid, the software also has the ability to verify whether the login was successful. The software takes the user to a phishing page that impersonates the official website of the Income Tax Department. Here, users are required to provide their financial information, including account and credit card numbers, CVV, and PIN.

How to get out of the virus?

- Don't download any apps via SMS or from untrusted websites.

- Avoid granting a new app access to your call and SMS logs.
New Delhi: A majority of millennial and generation Z professionals are planning to ask for a pay hike in the next six months amid an uncertain economic climate, according to a survey. More than 2 in 5 professionals in India (41 per cent) feel well compensated for their work while 45 per cent of respondents are planning to ask for a raise in the next six months, as per the report.

ALSO READ | Do THIS step to get 12th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi by November 30

This is being helmed by India's younger professional generations, Gen Z (51 per cent) and millennials (51 per cent), who are most likely to ask their boss for a raise as compared to Gen X (40 per cent) and Boomers (26 per cent), LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index said.

ALSO READ | Register your complaint against bank or its staff to RBI with THESE steps

Generation Z are those who are born during the mid to late 1990s and the early 2010s, while millennials are anyone born between 1981 to 1996. Gen X are those born between 1965 and 1981; and Boomers are people born from 1946 to 1964.

LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index is based on responses from 4,684 professionals from June 4-September 9 this year in India. It further revealed that India's overall workforce confidence has dwindled slightly, with the composite score dropping from +55 in July to +52 in September 2022. This is due to a volatile perception towards jobs, finances, and career progress in these times of global uncertainty, the report noted.

It also found that despite a dip in overall confidence, India's workforce remained optimistic about navigating these challenges as 7 in 10 professionals said they are confident about reaching the next level in their field (74 per cent), their work experience and education (71 per cent) and chances of their income increasing (68 per cent).

The two primary reasons professionals in India are not adopting pay transparency are that discussions about pay are often discouraged at work (45 per cent) and also sharing pay information is considered stressful by over a third of India's workforce (36 per cent), as per the report.

Some organisations have taken steps to be transparent about pay as they believe it will help attract the right talent and reduce the gender pay gap, whilst others consider it a taboo subject and have even gone so far as to ban their employees from discussing pay rates altogether, it added.

Findings also show that overall 61 per cent of professionals in India are more comfortable sharing their pay details with a family member, while 25 per cent are also ready to share with their close friends. Compared to the national average, younger generations in India are more likely to share their pay information with family and friends, it stated.

Around 72 per cent of Gen Z and 64 per cent of millennials in India said they are comfortable sharing their pay information with family members, while 43 per cent of Gen Z and 30 per cent of millennials are also willing to confide in their close friends.
New Delhi: With participants trimming their positions on low demand, crude oil futures declined by 0.94 per cent to Rs 7,293 per barrel yesterday. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for November delivery fell by Rs 69 or 0.94 per cent to Rs 7,293 per barrel with a business volume of 5,261 lots. Globally, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading 1.18 per cent lower at USD 88.03 per barrel and Brent crude was down 0.83 per cent to USD 96.16 per barrel in New York.

In India, the gasoline and diesel prices are revised every midnight depending on the global situation. As on October 29, Petrol costs Rs 96.72 per litre while Diesel costs Rs 89.62 per litre in Delhi.

Here is the price of petrol, and diesel today, i.e. October 29, 2022, in your city:

Noida: Petrol- Rs 96.92 per litre, Diesel- Rs 90.08 per litre

Bengaluru: Petrol- Rs 101.94 per litre, Diesel- Rs 87.89 per litre

Chandigarh: Petrol- Rs 96.20 per litre, Diesel- Rs 84.26 per litre

Mumbai: Petrol- Rs 106.31 per litre, Diesel- Rs 94.27 per litre

Kolkata: Petrol- Rs 106.03 per litre, Diesel- Rs 92.76 per litre

Delhi: Petrol- Rs 96.72 per litre, Diesel- Rs 89.62 per litre

Lucknow: Petrol- Rs 96.57 per litre, Diesel- Rs 89.76 per litre

Chennai: Petrol- Rs 102.63 per litre, Diesel- Rs 94.24 per litre

Gurugram: Petrol- Rs 97.18 per litre, Diesel- Rs 90.05 per litre

Patna: Petrol - Rs 107.46 per litre, Diesel - Rs 94.24 per litre

How to check the Petrol and Diesel prices of your city through SMS?

If your city is not on the list, you can still check petrol, and diesel prices by sitting at home. All you have to do is to send a message from your mobile to 9224992249 with your city code. City codes are available on Indian Oil's website.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said if the party comes to power at the Centre, there would be a revisit of GST (goods and services tax). Addressing a gathering in Mahabubnagar District as part of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra,' he alleged that the existing faulty GST regime and Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's demonetisation in 2016 ruined small and medium businesses.

ALSO READ | Do THIS step to get 12th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi by November 30

When our government assumes power in Delhi, we will revisit GST and there will be only one tax (slab) not five (slabs), he said. He promised that if the Congress comes to power in Telangana, the Forest Rights Act would be implemented in toto for the benefit of adivasis.

ALSO READ | From Tesla to SpaceX: THESE 7 companies have Elon Musk ownership now - in PICS

Dubbing Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, also known as KCR, as the 'rajah' of the State, Gandhi said KCR's motto is to grab land and money of the people of Telangana. He alleged that BJP and TRS work in tandem and the latter supports all the Bills introduced by the NDA government in Parliament.

On the one hand, BJP is spreading hatred and on the other TRS supports it. Whatever BJP wants TRS fulfils it in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, he said. According to him, unemployment is at the highest level and the youth, after spending lakhs of rupees on their education, are unsure of their future.

He said he met handloom weavers today during his march and he learned that the GST has ruined their lives. Though it is not easy to walk everyday for seven or eight hours as part of the yatra, the love and affection shown by the people makes it possible, he added.
New Delhi: Iran`s famous `Zombie Angelina Jolie` has finally revealed her real face. Sahar Tabar, whose real name is Fatemeh Khishvand, rose to fame after she posted images of her looking like Hollywood star Angelina Jolie`s zombie version. She was arrested in October 2019 for `corruption` and `blasphemy` and sentenced to ten years in prison.

However, she was released from prison recently after widespread protests in the country, triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini last month, Mashable reported, citing Daily Mail. After being released from prison, Tabar appeared for a TV interview where she revealed her face. Several images from her interview have been doing the rounds on the internet.

Reportedly, she had undergone some cosmetic procedures, like a nose job, lip fillers and liposuction, but stressed that her look was a result of make-up and editing on Photoshop.
New Delhi: After two successful seasons, the latest season of the hit Amazon Original Four More Shots Please! is all set to bring triple the drama, fun, glamor, and sass. As the flawsome four  Siddhi (Maanvi Gagroo), Anjana (Kirti Kulhari), Damini (Sayani Gupta), and Umang (Bani J)  continue with their perfectly imperfect lives with new adventures, more mistakes, and a whole lot of fun, here are 5 reasons why you must watch this show!



More Love And Drama

The new season of Four More Shots Please! addresses all that was left unsaid in the finale of the second season  Damini's relationship with Jeh gets more intense and she goes through a miscarriage; Anjana gets romantically involved with a married man, unaware that he isnt an open marriage as he proclaims;. Umang decides to let the Punjaban out as she fights for her own father's approval while Siddhi is reeling from the death of her father in the worst way possible and makes life difficult for her mother.



Travel Inspo!

In the series, we see a variety of fancy locations. The foursome has been giving major travel goals to girl gangs to plan their next vacation. We see these four women overcome their difficulties and have fun across many places, including Istanbul, Turkey where they celebrate Maanvis birthday, and Punjab, where they learn how to shoot a rifle.

Life Inspo!

This season, the audience gets to see how these four friends motivate and push each other to get better. Siddhi is all about leading a carefree, self-sufficient life. Anjana puts her best foot forward by moving on from her past, focusing on her work, and taking the lead in the organisation, whereas Damini rises above her difficulties and shines despite a setback in her personal and professional life. Despite parting ways with the love of her life, Umang inspires us to live on and starts a fitness center of her own.



The Stellar Male Cast (With Newer Faces Too!)

The show has always had a fabulous male cast including Prateik Babbar, Neil Bhooplam, Rajeev Siddhartha, and Samir Kochhar who are reprising their respective roles. To add to that, acclaimed actors Jim Sarbh, Rohan Mehra, and Sushant Singh are joining this Amazon Original in this new season. This is reason enough to tune in to the new season!



Friendship Goals

These girls have found true love in each other, despite their romantic interests keeping on coming and going through the two seasons. The four friends have certainly had their share of arguments, fights, and disagreements, but when it comes to being there for one another, these women never hesitate to drop all they are doing to help their buddy in need!

Watch Four More Shots Please! Season 3, streaming on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.
New Delhi: The counter-terror sanction regime of the United Nations has been effective to put countries on notice that turned terrorism into a state-funded enterprise, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, in an apparent reference to Pakistan. In an address at the meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in Delhi, Jaishankar described terrorism as "one of the gravest threats" to humanity. He said despite efforts by the UN, the threat of terrorism is only growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa.

Terrorism growing in Asia and Africa: S Jaishankar

"The UN Security Council, in the past two decades, has evolved an important architecture, built primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime, to combat this menace," he said.

"This has been very effective in putting those countries on notice that had turned terrorism into a state-funded enterprise," Jaishankar said.

In recent yrs, terrorist groups, ideological fellow travellers particularly in open & liberal societies & lone wolf attackers have enhanced their capabilities by gaining access to tech. They use tech, money & ethos of open societies to attack freedom, tolerance & progress: EAM pic.twitter.com/OgVm4ifICh  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2022

"Despite this, the threat of terrorism is only growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, as successive reports of the 1267 Sanctions Committee Monitoring Reports have highlighted," he added.

The minister said the ethos of open societies is being used to attack freedom, tolerance, and progress.

Role of tech in terrorism

He also spoke extensively on the use of new technologies by terror groups, saying the internet and social media platforms have turned into potent instruments in the "toolkit of terrorists and militant groups

"In recent years, terrorist groups, their ideological fellow travellers, particularly in open and liberal societies, and 'lone wolf' attackers have significantly enhanced their capabilities by gaining access to these technologies," Jaishankar said.

India will be making a voluntary contribution of half a million dollars to the UN Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to augment the efforts of UNOCT in providing capacity-building support to member states in preventing& countering the threat of terrorism: EAM S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/GQhfgmgNqC  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2022

"They use technology and money, and most importantly the ethos of open societies, to attack freedom, tolerance and progress," he said.

Jaishankar said another "add-on" to the existing worries for governments around the world is the use of unmanned aerial systems by terrorist groups and organised criminal networks.

"The possibilities of using weaponised drones for terrorist purposes against strategic, infrastructure and commercial assets call for serious attention by the member states," he said.
Some 3,000 protesters in Khartoum on Saturday rejected UN mediation efforts between civilian and military leaders as "foreign interference" and called for Islamist rule in Sudan, an AFP correspondent said.

A military takeover led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan last year derailed a fragile transition after the 2019 ouster of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

For 12 months, near-weekly protests have been met with force, and efforts by the United Nations and other international actors to bring Sudan's military government and civilian leaders to the table have stalled.

The crowd that gathered Saturday in front of the headquarters of the UN mission in Sudan chanted pro-Bashir slogans and burned photos of UN envoy Volker Perthes.

One demonstrator told AFP he wanted "the armed forces to side with the people and kick Volker out today".

Some waved banners reading "No to foreign interference" and "No to the UN".

With police standing nearby, an AFP correspondent said some protesters chanted "Volker, you mole, we beheaded Gordon," referring to British general Charles Gordon who was killed in an 1885 revolt in Sudan.

The country has been grappling with deepening political unrest and a spiralling economic crisis since the military takeover, on October 25, 2021.

Civilian leaders have refused to negotiate with the military before it commits to a timetable for full withdrawal from power.

Pro-democracy activists worry that Burhan's regime has reappointed Bashir loyalists to official positions, including in the judiciary that is now trying the former Islamist dictator.

On Thursday, security forces fired tear gas at thousands of demonstrators demanding an end to military rule.

The crackdown on protests has killed at least 119 people, according to pro-democracy medics.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Friday announced the disqualification of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from the House, a day after a court sentenced him to three years in jail in a hate speech case. Principal Secretary of the UP Legislative Assembly, Pradeep Dubey told that the assembly secretariat has declared the Rampur Sadar Assembly seat as vacant. "Since Azam Khan has been sentenced to 3 years jail term he is now disqualified from both the houses. And now the Rampur Sadar Assembly seat is vacant, so lotus will bloom whenever the election will be contested," said KP Maurya (UP Deputy CM).

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 in jail. The case of hate speech was registered against Azam Khan in April 2019 for levelling serious allegations against administrative officials posted in Rampur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during an election meeting.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Khan was booked for making inflammatory speeches while addressing a public meeting in Khatanagaria village of the Milak Kotwali area. A video of Khan`s statement also surfaced on social media. Khan was released from jail earlier this year after the Supreme Court granted him an interim bail in a cheating case. He spent nearly two years in jail. The SP leader faces nearly 90 cases, including that of corruption and theft.

He had won the Rampur Sadar Assembly seat in the last UP Assembly polls for a record 10th time. After becoming an MLA, he resigned from the Lok Sabha. In June this year, BJP`s Ghanshyam Lodhi wrested the Rampur parliamentary seat from the Samajwadi Party, defeating his nearest rival by over 42,000 votes in a bypoll.
Dozens of British Hindu organisations are protesting against the BBC for what they call the international broadcaster`s `anti-Hindu and anti-India bias` running nonstop for many years. The protest will take place at 11 am UK time today in front of the BBC headquarters in London `against Hinduphobia and Indiaphobia.`

It is similar to the one organised by the British Hindus against The Guardian newspaper in September, where the community said the newspaper`s coverage of Leicester was based on `biased and fake news.` The protesters will also hand over a memorandum to the BBC Director-General Tim Davie. They allege that the BBC has an inherent anti-Hindu bias in its coverage which has become worse over the last 18 years.

In an extraordinarily strong condemnation of the BBC, a statement by the organisers said: `The BBC`s coverage of the violent attacks on Leicester Hindus by Islamists was the worst reporting seen so far and has contributed to the concealment of an attempt to ethnically cleanse Leicester of Hindus.`

The groups say they are determined to protest till `the BBC cease its unrelenting vilification and dehumanisation of Hindus globally and of `licence-fee paying` British Hindus especially.` Some of the organisers of the `BBC Protest` include well-known people like Dr Vivek Kaul, Dr Sneh S. Kathuria, Pt Satish K. Sharma, Nitin Mehta MBE and Darshan Singh Nagi.

Citing biased coverage by the BBC, the organisers point out Alasdair Pinkerton`s research for the 2008 edition of the peer-reviewed Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, saying, Alasdair Pinkerton `analysed the coverage of India by the BBC from India`s 1947 independence from British rule to 2008. Pinkerton observed a tumultuous history involving allegations of anti-India bias in the BBC`s reportage, particularly during the Cold War, and concluded that the BBC`s coverage of South Asian geopolitics and economics showed a pervasive and hostile anti-India bias because of the BBC`s alleged imperialist and neo-colonialist stance.`

Mentioning an article, `Beaten and humiliated by Hindu mobs for being a Muslim in India`, The organisers said the headline is designed to create conflict and disorder. `It is irresponsible identitarian `divide and run` cheap, gutter journalism. It is self-evident that reports of this nature cause further inter-communal tension and stigmatise Hindus.`

The organisers said the BBC is routinely producing hateful content, adding, `When a lie is repeated again and again, it gains credibility. A country which has given shelter to persecuted Parsis, Jews, Tibetans, Bahais and many more has been stigmatised as intolerant!`

Pointing out to the BBC`s limited vocabulary used to describes Hindus, they said that its reporting only contains the terms, `Fear, Hate, Violence, Hindu Muslim, Kashmir, Cow, Mob and Protest` to describe India.

The organisers also claimed that increasing numbers of licence fee-paying British citizens and even the British Government feel the BBC is habitually peddling fake narratives on India and Hindus. `Your biased reporting on the world`s largest democracy and one of the biggest economies of the world is clearly against the national interests of India & the United Kingdom...`

Anger against British media houses was ignited by the sporadic but continuing violence from August till September which targeted Hindus shops, homes, temples and cars. Fake information from social media was published by The Guardian`s and the BBC`s reporters without cross-verifying turning the Hindus into aggressors.

In a big shock for the British government, the violence in Leicester also injured dozens of police officers, making Home Secretary Suella Braverman rush to the city. Even the newly-anointed King Charles III inquired about the serious unrest in the city.

Investigations found that Muslim youth were found to be terrorising Hindu families into leaving Leicester in a replay of the ethnic cleansing of the Hindus and Sikhs in Kashmir. The Muslim youth reportedly carried out `Muslim Patrols` in front of Hindu homes and posted such photographs on social media.

The under-pressure police later debunked most of the fake messages posted by Muslims groups against Leicester`s Hindus. It also found that Muslim youth came from outside Leicester to fan the violence.

(The sole resposibility for this article's contents lies with news agency IANS and their content partners indianarrative.com. Zee Media has made no editing to the contents of this article)
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been released from jail on parole for 40 days. But many people are not happy with the parole of Ram Rahim, guilty of murder and rape. Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that Ram Rahim be jailed. Swati claims that releasing criminals like Ram Rahim from jail means taking away the security of all 'Nirbhayas' across the country. The head of the Delhi Commission for Women also demanded that criminals like Ram Rahim be jailed immediately.

Swati says, "Ram Rahim is a rapist and a murderer. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment, but the Haryana government released him on parole whenever he wanted. He is organizing satsangs out of jail and the Haryana government's deputy speaker and mayor are also attending the event.'' Swati also claimed that the political leaders present at Gurmeet's satsang were all his devotees. Swati appealed to the Haryana government to cancel Gurmeet's parole and send him to jail.

                  !                ! pic.twitter.com/Q8ygiTxzQ0 October 29, 2022

In fact, for the past few days, the politics of Haryana has been abuzz with Ram Rahim's release on parole. Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar claimed on Friday, "The government does not release anyone. Court released. I will not say anything more about it." Apart from murder, rape, there are a number of other charges against Ram Rahim. Among them, one of the sensational allegations is about Ram Rahim's adopted daughter, Honeypreet.

After Ram Rahim's arrest, at least 38 people were killed in violence by Dera supporters. Honeypreet Insan alias Priyanka Taneja was arrested for allegedly fueling the riots and helping Ram Rahim escape. Ram Rahim is serving 20 years in jail for rape and murder. This time after coming out on parole, Ram Rahim said, "Our daughter's name is Honeypreet. Many call her 'Didi'. But there is a complication in this, because everyone is Didi. So now we have named her 'Ruhani Didi'. To make it easier to pronounce, this name can also be modernized as Ruhdi."

The activities of this 'Ruhdi' are no less sensational. 41-year-old Honeypreet introduced herself on social media as 'Sinful Angel'. She claims that 'Papa' i.e. Ram Rahim, who went to jail on charges of murder and rape of two disciples, is actually innocent. Sometimes she accompanies 'papa' in 'cultural activities'. Honeypreet alias Ruhidi alias Priyanka married Biswas Gupta in 1999. After 11 years of happily married life, suddenly Ram Rahim appeared in the life of the couple. As Priyanka gets closer to Ram Rahim, the distance grows with husband Biswas.

Honeypreet left her in-laws after a decade and a year of marriage. She started living with Rahim. She started introducing herself as Ram Rahim's adopted daughter. But is it really so? Biswas alleged that in 2011, he caught Honeypreet red-handed. What happened that day? Biswas said, "I went to Ram Rahim's place. I immediately saw the two of them having sex. After knowing what I found, Priyanka (Honeypreet) and Ram Rahim both threatened me. It is said that my family will be destroyed if it is known. After that, I left Dera and ran away."

But Honeypreet has always denied this allegation. She claims that Biswas is saying all this out of frustration. Virtually the same complaint was made by Biswas' father, Mahendra. From 1970, Mahendra traveled to Dera. But after this incident, he also stopped going to Dera. In 2002, journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati was shot dead. His newspaper 'Pura Sach' published a letter. The letter described how Ram Rahim sexually assaulted one of his disciples. The court found Ram Rahim guilty in that incident.

Based on that report, the CBI started an investigation. Ram Rahim was eventually found guilty after many legal battles. His adopted daughter Honeypreet alias Ruhidi was arrested for helping Ram Rahim escape.
New Delhi: The district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has called off the October 31 strike. This strike was in response to the car blast incident. Following the BJP's announcement of the strike, a few industrialists contacted state chief K Annamalai, requesting that the strike be called off due to the losses that would have to be sustained, according to Coimbatore BJP chief Balaji Uthamaramasamy. Even Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi expressed his displeasure with the alleged delay in handing over the Coimbatore blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). On Friday, he stated that there should be "no politics" in the fight against terrorism. Governor Ravi was also concerned about the possible destruction of critical evidence in a "high-profile terror plot," according to Raj Bhavan. The governor praised the police for quickly identifying the car blast as a severe terror attack conspiracy and lamented the State government's soft-peddling.

He also urged "no politics on terrorism and no leniency to terrorists because they are enemies of the nation and friends of none." Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister RB Udaya Kumar slammed the DMK government for the state of law and order. He stated that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should inform the public about the steps he has taken to prevent terrorist activities in the state.

Also Read: Manish Sisodia plays audio clip, claims 'BJP man' discussing party's bid to poach AAP MLAs; demands Amit Shah's arrest

In an interview with the media, Kumar stated, "Whenever the DMK was in power, there have been continuous bomb blasts in Tamil Nadu. In 1998, there were serial bomb blasts in 11 places and more than 50 people died during the DMK regime. No terrorist attack took place during the AIADMK rule. And now when DMK is in power, terrorist attacks are taking place in Tamil Nadu." "Chief Minister Stalin should break his silence and resolve this issue. The people will overthrow the DMK regime if Stalin does not break his silence," he continued. The NIA has opened an investigation into the October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion in a car.

Also Read: 'BJP receiving 95% of donations through electoral bonds, donors scared of funding others': Ashok Gehlot in Gujarat

TN | Coimbatore car blast case: BJP's dist unit withdraws the strike planned for October 31st against the incident



A few industrialists contacted our state chief K Annamalai to call the strike off considering the loss that would incur: Coimbatore BJP chief Balaji Uthamaramasamy  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2022

(With ANI inputs)
COMEDK Seat Allotment Round 2: The Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka will release the COMEDK UGET 2022 round 2 seat allotment today. Once released candidates will be able o check the seat allotment result for round 2 on the official site - comedk.org. As per the official website the COMDEK Round 2 phase 2 result will be released on the official website at 4 pm today.

How to check COMEDK UGET seat allotment 2022

Visit the official website- comedk.org

Select the "candidates login" link.

Enter credentials including application number and password

Select "Decision Making" on the applicant login page

The COMEDK UGET 2022 simulated allotment result will be presented on the screen.

Check the allocated college's name, course name, preference order number, seat category, and total charge.

Once the COMEDK seat allotment 2022 result is released, candidates must download the COMEDK UGET seat allotment letter and visit the respective institutes for admission. The candidates have to accept the seat and freeze it before November 3
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday demanded an apology from Union minister Kiren Rijiju over his criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru's handling of the Kashmir issue and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in ministers from making "irresponsible statements". Hitting out at Rijiju, the Opposition party said insulting the country's first prime minister's contribution and memory is "unacceptable" and demanded that the minister withdraws his statement. Rijiju had stated that Nehru's "blunders", which, he said, included enacting Article 370 and taking the dispute with Pakistan to the United Nations, caused much tragedy, drained the country's resources and cost thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians in militancy.

Rijiju wrote an article for a portal citing "five Nehruvian blunders", including floating the idea of a plebiscite and terming Jammu and Kasmir's accession provisional. The minister had said it was important to realise past mistakes to build a new future and added that he has not tweaked history but stated facts to set the record straight. Slamming Rijiju, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "I can only pity the mental bankruptcy of minister Rijiju. He has no understanding of history, there is no proof, no evidence."

Also Read: India has highest unemployed in 35 years': Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP during Bharat Jodo Yatra

"I would say the prime minister should rein in ministers from making such untrue, false and irresponsible statements as have been made in this regard. The account of that period in 1947 has been carefully documented not by one but more than one person who was directly associated with the merger of princely states," Sharma told reporters.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi vows to provide 10 lakh jobs, says Union govt working on it

Noting that the department of states worked on the integration of the princely states, he said then secretary V P Menon worked directly on this and reported to then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. "So it was not Nehru as PM, it was the home ministry that was given the responsibility to undertake this onerous task, a national mission, and to supervise the process as per the legal provisions which flowed out of the Indian Independence Act that the British parliament passed and the princely states which wanted to merge had to sign the instrument of accession," Sharma said.
New Delhi: With every passing day, the Delhi-NCR region is seeing deteriorating air quality. It has made it difficult for people to breathe or stay out for long periods of time. On Saturday (Oct 29) morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 309 which falls under the "very poor" category as per ANI. Visuals from Mathura Road, Barakhamba Road, and Pragati Maidan remained unclear as a thick layer of smog covered them. Yesterday (Oct 28) was recorded to be worse as the air quality fell to the "severe" category. Respite will be difficult for Delhiites as air quality is not expected to improve during the winter. Instead, forecasts tell us that the average AQI will be in the "poor" and "very poor" categories. This is in consideration of the occurrence of farm fires and general climate conditions in the region.

Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha told ANI that Severe category AQI is very dangerous for health and it affects even healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. "In such circumstances, the school should be closed and outdoor movement should be prohibited because severe category AQI impacts all aspects of life," Jha said.

Air quality dips in Delhi with overall AQI being 309 (very poor) this morning; visuals from Mathura Road, Barakhamba Road & Pragati Maidan



A cart puller, Sukhdev says,"Stepping out of home is a necessity.Breathing gets difficult sometimes,you can feel change in air even in eyes" pic.twitter.com/CAixCoZbfM October 29, 2022

On Sunday, a cart puller, when speaking to ANI said, "Stepping out of home is a necessity. Breathing gets difficult sometimes, you can feel change in air even in eyes."

Stage-I and Stage-II of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were invoked by the Commission on October 5 and October 19 respectively.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: In a shocking and unfortunate event, a 17-year-old teenage boy was stabbed by two minors for protesting her sisters molestation on Friday, October 28, 2022, at Delhis Patel Nagar area. The footage of the victims killing has been caught on CCTV camera where it can be seen that the two accused attacked the boy and one attempted to stab him with a knife several times. Few seconds later, he stabbed the victim from behind and the knife got stuck near his spine.

A young life lost, again. Reason - he was protesting against two youths allegedly molesting her sister. Both the youths have been arrested. #Delhi #PatelNagar pic.twitter.com/lOVKm4agZa  Aman Dwivedi (@amandwivedi48) October 29, 2022

The victim, Manoj Kumar Negi, was seen taking out his phone for help but collapsed. According to the media reports, the Police received the information about the incident at around 9:22 PM on Friday.

The victim hailed from Kumau Gali in Baljeet Nagar and was rushed to Sardar Patel Hospital, where he was declared dead, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan. Both attackers were caught and the weapon of crime was recovered.

Police said the victim was attacked near his house when he was returning from computer class. Both the accused in this case are said to be minors. According to the police, an investigation is ongoing. According to Chauhan, a complaint has been registered under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common purpose) of the Indian Penal Code based on a statement from his father.
New Delhi: The Minister of Information of Bangladesh Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday, October 29, 2022, assured the welfare of the Hindu minorities residing in the country and said that the Sheikh Hasina-led government is committed to their safety. He highlighted the preparation and peaceful conduct of Durga Puja celebrations in the country as a testimony to it.

There are about 2Cr Hindus in Bangladesh. This yr there were over 33,000 Durga Puja pandals. Hindus are in a good position & supported by govt. PM Hasina has ordered our party workers to keep a watch on puja pandals so that no wrongdoing happens like last yr: Bangladesh I&B Min pic.twitter.com/zQWyw2n5kT  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2022

Dr Mahmud, who is in city to inaugurate the Bangladesh Film Festival, stated that the Indo-Bangla relationship is not just dependent on the two countries' Teesta water-sharing arrangement. "The government of Sheikh Hasina is dedicated to defending the rights of Hindu minority in Bangladesh. The country's recent peaceful Durga Puja celebration is proof of this. The number of Durga Pujas held in Bangladesh this year was significantly more than the previous year "Mahmud stated during a press conference at the Press Club.

Referring to the communal violence in Bangladesh during Durga Puja in 2021, he said the country's government was extra cautious to avoid any untoward incident this year. "Those who had tried to create problems during Durga Puja stand exposed. We have taken special measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Also Read: Kashmiri Pandits leaving valley in fear: Omar Abdullah accuses BJP govt of lying, misleading people

Speaking on India-Bangladesh relations, the minister said more than the government-to-government relations it is the people-to-people associations between the two countries that have helped strengthen the diplomatic relations.

"Our bilateral relation is not only dependent on Teesta (Water sharing). Whenever I come to India, I am asked this question. Our relationship is diverse," he added. The Teesta river water agreement has been hanging fire for more than a decade due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Separately speaking to ANI, Dr Mahmud accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their allies of supporting the fanatics groups, who causes ruckus and tensions in the country. He said that they possess anti-anti and anti-hindu stance. Our govt has taken tough action against the miscreants, he added.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) & their allies are supporting these fanatics groups. Their main politics is anti India & anti-Hindu. Our govt has taken tough action against the miscreants: Bangladesh I&B Min Dr H Mahmud on instances of attacks on Hindu community in Bangladesh October 29, 2022

Addressing the cattle smuggling incident from the India-Bangladesh border Dr Mahmud said, "Both governments are working on it and it has come down in the last few years."

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Saturday that the United Nations Security Council's counterterrorism committee meeting in India's iconic cities of New Delhi and Mumbai was a historic moment. "I'd like to thank all of the council members for their support for the Delhi Declaration. For the first time, the council held its meetings in two of India's most iconic cities. For the first time, the Security Council visited India and held meetings in Mumbai and Delhi "Kwatra stated. The UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee adopted the Delhi Declaration during a special meeting in India focused on new and emerging technologies.

Over the Delhi Declaration that was adopted unanimously by the UN counterterrorism committee, Kwatra said, "Today`s Delhi declaration is not only a commitment to fight terrorism but also a commitment of the Security Council."Delhi declaration marks the commitment of the security council to address this menace. India`s External Affairs Minister would be chairing the briefing of the Security Council in December this year." He highlighted that counterterrorism is India`s priority. As India hosted the anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in Mumbai on Friday numerous survivors of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks outlined their experiences and highlighted that the masterminds behind the attacks were still not behind bars.

Also Read: Russia accuses UK of involvement in Crimeas drone strike attempt

Over this, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, "Yesterday you expressed solidarity with victims. You all heard the first time, the voices of victims still stood up and called for peace and harmony."He further apprised the gathering that the discussions earlier on Saturday deliberated on the questions "that confront us. How do we address misuse of drones, and the internet? How to collectively respond to these new and emerging threats." With the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, India decided to work on recommendations on the three themes of the CTC special meeting, namely -- "Countering Terrorist Exploitation of ICT and Emerging Technologies", "Threats and opportunities related to new payment technologies and fundraising methods" and "Threats posed by the misuse of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by terrorists".

Also Read: Zero tolerance to all acts of terror... President Droupadi Murmu makes strong statement
China's largest city of Shanghai is ordering mass testing Friday on all 1.3 million residents of its downtown Yangpu district and confining them to their homes at least until results are known.

The demand is an echo of measures ordered over the summer that led to a two-month lockdown of the entire city of 25 million that devastated the local economy, prompting food shortages and rare confrontations between residents and the authorities. At the start of the lockdown, authorities said they would last just days but then kept extending the deadline.

China has shown no sign of backing away from its hardline "zero-COVID" policy since a major congress of the ruling Communist Party that concluded this week by awarding authoritarian leader Xi Jinping a third five-year term in power and packed top bodies with his loyalists. Strict measures have been imposed across the country, from Shanghai in the east to Tibet far to the west, where anti-lockdown protests have also been reported.

Cell phone footage smuggled out of the region showed crowds of both native Tibetans and Han Chinese migrants milling in the streets of Lhasa to protest a lockdown that has lasted as long as 74 days. The footage was reportedly shot on Wednesday night but there was no sign of violence. Lhasa has been under tight surveillance since bloody anti-government protests broke out in the city in 2008 before spreading across Tibetan areas.

Despite public anger, the former chairman of Shanghai's Communist Party Committee, the city's top official who was ultimately responsible for the lockdown measures, was given the No. 2 spot in the party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee - an indication of Xi's elevation of political loyalty above those capable of gaining public support through competent administration.

Li Qiang, who had been Xi's virtual chief-of-staff while he headed the eastern province of Zhejiang, has been replaced by Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, a former president of Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University and minister of environmental protection. Chen, 58, was educated at Brunel University London and worked at Imperial College London, where he earned a PhD degree in civil and environmental engineering in 1993.
Mahabubnagar: India has the rare distinction of having the highest number of unemployed people and also world's richest persons, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Addressing a gathering in Mahabubnagar District as part of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' at Jadcherla, Gandhi said if Congress comes to power in Telangana, whatever GST being paid by the weavers on handloom products will be reimbursed.

Today in India there are the highest number of unemployed people compared to the last 35 years. Also India has the world's richest people. Whatever they (Rich people) want they can do. Here the chief minister (K Chandrasekhar Rao) and there (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) Modi fully support them. These are not political parties but businesses, Gandhi said.

He said he met a mechanical engineering student during his march who now became a delivery boy as the Telangana government allegedly did not reimburse his college fee. Slamming BJP at the Centre and TRS in the State, he alleged that whatever anti-people policies being implemented by the Modi government, KCR supports them. He said farmers in the country are unable to get appropriate returns despite their efforts.

Also Read: Will introduce one GST slab instead of 5: Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra vows to revisit GST if voted to power

Alleging that BJP is spreading hatred and violence in the country, Gandhi said his march is going on like a river without any hate against anyone. This is the true India. This is our history. Whatever BJP and RSS are doing is against the country, he said. He said TRS supported black farm laws of Modi. The Congress leader said if Congress forms government in Telangana there will be more budget allocations for education and health.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India will contribute USD 500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to aid capacity-building support to member states in combating terrorism. He made this announcement during his keynote address at the plenary session of the UNSC special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC ) on `Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes` in New Delhi today. Addressing the UNSC`s special meeting in the national capital, Jaishankar said, "India will be making a voluntary contribution of half a million dollars to the UN Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to augment the efforts of Office of Counter-Terrorism in providing capacity-building support to member states in preventing and countering the threat of terrorism."

In his address, minister Jaishankar highlighted the global threat of terrorism is growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, despite the UN Security Council`s (UNSC) best efforts to combat the "gravest threat to humanity".

Also Read: At UN counter-terrorism meet, Jaishankar indirectly refers to Pakistan: 'Countries that turned terrorism into state-funded...'

"Terrorism remains the gravest threat to humanity. The UN Security Council in the past two decades has evolved an important architecture built, primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime to combat this menace. This has been very effective in putting the countries on notice that had turned terrorism into a state-funded enterprise," he said.

India will be making a voluntary contribution of half a million dollars to the UN Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to augment the efforts of UNOCT in providing capacity-building support to member states in preventing& countering the threat of terrorism: EAM S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/GQhfgmgNqC  ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2022

"Despite this, the threat of terrorism is only growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, as successive reports of 1267 sanctions committee monitoring reports have highlighted," he added. India is hosting the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The ongoing meeting in Delhi is being held under India`s chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

Jaishnkar told CTC members that their presence in Delhi at the special meeting demonstrates the importance that the UNSC member states and a wide range of stakeholders, place on this critical and emerging facet of terrorism. The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said that UNSC members, including the 15 present and 5 incoming, leading experts from the UN`s operational partners and specialized agencies come together to discuss threats posed by the use of technologies for terrorist purposes.

"The Special Meeting opened with a Plenary Session that saw remarks by FMs of Gabon, Ghana, India and UK, deputy FMs of Albania and UAE as well as senior UN officials," MEA tweeted."To be followed by thematic briefings on the misuse of three focus technologies: Information and Communication Technologies New payment technologies and fundraising methods Unmanned aircraft systems, including drones," the ministry added.
New Delhi: An official said on Saturday that the number of arrests in connection with the kidnapping of a two-month-old girl from south Mumbai earlier this week, who was later rescued by police, has risen to four with the arrest of two people in the last 24 hours. Santosh Dhumale (30) was apprehended in Dharavi on Friday, while Bhimshappa Shaniwar, who allegedly bought a one-and-a-half-month-old girl from the former for Rs 3 lakh, was apprehended by Azad Maidan police later that day, he said. He added that Dhumale, from whom an infant was rescued, worked as a paramedic in a civil hospital in central Mumbai.

The investigation into this racket began on Wednesday when a two-month-old girl was kidnapped from the pavement near St Xavier's High School in the Lokmanya Tilak Marg area near CSMT, he said. Hours later, a couple was arrested in connection with the incident, and the child was reunited with her parents at a press conference addressed by police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar. Dhumale's name came up during the couple's interrogation, and he is accused of paying the latter Rs 60,000 to abduct the child, according to the official.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi vows to provide 10 lakh jobs, says Union govt working on it

Giving details about Bhimshappa Shaniwar's role, the official said a probe was underway to find out the antecedents of the child he had bought from Dhumale for Rs 3 lakh. "This child was recovered from Dhumale. It seems the infant was abducted from some area outside Mumbai and a search was on to trace her parents, the official added. "So far, we have arrested four persons in the case. The infant recovered from Dhumale is being looked after at a children's care home," the official informed.

Also Read: Passenger, injured in Durgapur SpiceJet flight turbulence, dies after 5 months of spinal injury

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Four people including a policeman are feared dead after back-to-back landslides hit a mega power project site in the Kishtwar district on Saturday, October 29, 2022. A police Sub Inspector and a few other people were rescued in injured condition following the incident at Drabshalla- Ratle hydroelectric project this evening, official sources said.

They said that there was a landslide, trapping a JCB operator and a few others at work in the Rattle power project. As the rescue operation was launched, they said, there was another landslide, trapping a few more persons. Some of them including a police Sub Inspector were rescued in injured condition and shifted to a nearby hospital.

Meanwhile, they said, the body of one person has been recovered while three to four persons are still trapped and feared dead, they said. A Senior police officer said that among the trapped includes a policeman and efforts are underway to retrieve them.

Also Read: Jammu & Kashmir: Bumper harvest of saffron makes farmers' faces glow, double production expected

Chances of survival seem grim, but efforts are underway to rescue them, he said. three to four people are trapped inside, Rescue is on, and the exact number will be known shortly. he added.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep anguish over the mishap and said that the district administration has been directed to provide all the necessary assistance.

Deeply anguished by mishap at Drabshalla- Ratle hydroelectric project. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for early recovery of injured, he said in a tweet, adding,  Army, SDRF & police are carrying out rescue operations. District Admin directed to provide all necessary assistance.

The rescue operation at the spot is still going by local police, SDRF teams are working restlessly to rescue the trapped people.
Srinagar: There is good news for the saffron farmers in the Kashmir Valley this year. It's a bumper harvest of Saffron in the Valley, which has brought happiness among the saffron growers of Kashmir. Farmers say that the production is double what it was last year. There are thousands of families associated with Saffron farming in the Kashmir region. And these days all these families are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields. Kashmir has more than 3700 hectares of land under the cultivation of Saffron. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. Although now It's being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well. And farmers in Pampore are extremely happy about the crop this year. Nasir Hamid, Saffron Farmer said " With the grace of God, the crop is much better this year than what we had hoped for. We have been harvesting for days. This whole place is dependent on Saffron, as we grow most of the saffron from the Kashmir region. GI tagging is beneficial for us, as we have seen a lot of non-Kashmiri products being sold across India on Kashmir name and that needs to be completely stopped.

The government has also introduced GI tagging to Kashmiri Saffron so that consumers get pure saffron from Kashmir. GI makes sure the purest Kashmiri saffron is sold in the market. It has helped the farmers a lot and sales are almost double than previous times. The GI tag is good for us, and it will benefit us. It makes sure the purest Kashmiri saffron is sold in the market. ''This is much better than the previous year." Said Farhad Hussain a Saffron Farmer. The tourists visit saffron farms and see with their own eyes how saffron is grown. The world's best saffron is grown in the Kashmir valley and the demand for it has been good. And these tourists are all appreciative of the farmers growing saffron in the Valley. It is a unique experience for them to see these saffron farms. A lot of tourists are buying saffron from these farms as well.

Also Read: Hindus in good position, supported by govt: Bangladesh Minister assures minoritys safety

Vikrant Tourist said "It's a unique experience, we come from the Pune region, and we don't get to see all this. it's the most expensive spice and to see its farm of it is a great experience. it's a rich experience. Kashmiri saffron is the best and is known all over the world. It provides great fragrance and taste to the dishes. Saffron is used for a lot of occasions in India. Whether it's the Puja or making sweets for the festivals. Its use is considered very auspicious. The saffron farmers have been demanding that the rates of saffron should be revised as everything becoming expensive in the market as also the process involved in growing and processing the saffron. The government had now established a saffron park in a pampered area where most of the saffron growers get their production and with the latest technology, the saffron is processed and then packed for exports in the country as well as abroad mostly in the Middle East.

Also Read: AAP announces set up of 2 bodies of Kashmiri-displaced people in Jammu
Bengaluru: The Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry into allegations that some journalists were given "cash gifts" along with sweet boxes on Diwali. According to sources, Bommai`s close associates allegedly distributed a box containing sweets and Rs 1-2.50 lakh in cash to senior journalists in the state. Following the incident, the social media is abuzz with memes and reactions trolling the chief minister for bribing the mediapersons. Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP govt in Karnataka of offering bribes to journalists as Diwali gifts. He said, "The #40PercentSarkar seeks to bribe the journalists with ? 1 Lakh cash! Will Mr. Bommai answer- 1. Isn't it a "bribe" being offered by CM? 2. What is the source of ?1,00,000? Has it come from Public Exchequer or from CM himself? 3. Will ED/IT take note?".

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee demanded a judicial inquiry into what it called the "Chief Minister's Office (CMO) 'sweet box bribe' to journalists".

Also Read: 'Mere eventbaazi won't do': Congress quizzes PM Narendra Modi on his promise of 16 crore jobs

"The people of the state should know how much money was given as a bribe, how much was received, how much was returned," it said.

The #40PercentSarkar seeks to bribe the journalists with 1 Lakh cash!



Will Mr. Bommai answer-



1. Isnt it bribe being offered by CM?



2. What is the source of 1,00,000? Has it come from Public Exchequer or from CM himself?



3. Will ED/IT take note?https://t.co/ch8rUB6hIv  Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) October 28, 2022

Sources in the CMO said,. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said he was unaware that "cash" was given to journalists. The social media posts have also targeted journalists branding them as "shameless" and asking them to return the cash.



Disappointed over exclusion from it, some of the journalists highlighted the issue, whereas some of the senior journalists returned the gifts.



Two of the editors have also written to Chief Minister Bommai condemning the act. However, the chief minister claimed that he was unaware of the development. He also called up the editors and apologised, the sources said.



Janadhikara Sangharsha Parishat organisation has filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against CMO for trying to bribe journalists.



(With agency inputs)
Srinagar: National Conference vice president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the situation is not normal in Kashmir as is being claimed by the Government. He accused the Government of resorting to lies and misleading people through the media when the fact is that  the whole village of Kashmir Pandits has been migrated to Jammu from Shopian district of Kashmir after the recent killing of a Pandit there."

Omer Abdullah, while talking to reporters in Srinagar, said, "Pandits are running from the Valley while the government is claiming they are leaving in wake of the commencement of the winter season. Did Pandits start feeling chill in October while Chillai-Kalan has not started yet? Government is lying using some media men to twist the facts, he said.

Omar Abdullah said that the government added even yatris to the list of tourists and claimed that there was a massive footfall of tourists this season while the fact is that the tourist rush was normal between 17-18 lakh like the previous time.

Also Read: Human Trafficking Gang busted in J&Ks Budgam; 3 arrested, 14 women victims rescued

Abdullah also stressed on resolving the Kashmir issue. The government claims that after 2019 situation changed and is normal which is a lie and misleading claim from the government. The situation is not normal in Kashmir, he said adding that like in past he is ready to help the government to bring youth into the mainstream. We always tried to help bring the situation normal in Kashmir and this time as well we will help, he added.
KCET Counselling 2022: Karnataka Examinations Authority, KEA released the UGCET or KCET 2022 counselling seat allotment for round 1. Candidates who registered for KCET Counselling 2022 can now check the seat allotment result on the official website - cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Candidates can follow the simple steps given here to check the KCET seat allotment 2022 result or through the direct link given below

KCET Counselling 2022: Heres how to check

Visit the official website of KCET cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

On the homepage, click on the entry tab

Look for the UGCET 2022 result link

Key in your login details

Your result will be displayed on the screen

Check and take printouts for future reference

KEA has commenced the option exercise on the official website- cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Candidates must complete the selections by October 30 at 4 p.m. In addition, between October 29 and November 2, 2022, candidates will be required to pay the registration fee and download their admission orders depending on their selections.
New Delhi: In view of Chhath Puja, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inspected Bhalswa lake in the national capital. "Bhalswa lake was dirty earlier, it has now been cleaned within 10 days. I hope devotees will get to offer prayers in a clean space this time. The lake will be further improved in the time to come," LG Saxena said. The Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday in a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the government to leave no stone unturned in the unfettered organization of the festival at all designated Chhath Puja Ghats while at the same time he urged the common people to ensure environment-friendly behaviour."It has been brought to my notice that more than 840 sites have been identified and designated for this purpose by the departments concerned.

Anticipating large gatherings this year and keeping in mind the zeal and fervour with which the festival is celebrated, it becomes imperative on part of the administration to leave no stone unturned in the unfettered organization of the festival at all designated Chhath Puja Ghats, with the utmost professionalism," wrote the Delhi LG. He added that it is the responsibility on part of the government to ensure cleanliness at the Chhath Puja Ghats before, during and after the religious ceremony is also of paramount importance.

Also Read: BJP's Gujarat MASTERSTROKE - UCC implementation soon? BIG MOVE made

Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival that 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. 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 a Monday.

Also Read: 'BJP receiving 95% of donations through electoral bonds, donors scared of funding others': Ashok Gehlot in Gujarat

(With ANI inputs)
Today (Saturday), a 369 feet high statue of Lord Shiva 'Vishvas Swaroopam' will be inaugurated in Nathdwara of Rajsamand in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will inaugurate the world's tallest statue of Lord Shiva. The 369 feet high statue of Lord Shiva has been constructed by Tat Padam Sansthan. The weight of this statue of Lord Shiva is about 30 thousand tons. Let us know the specialty of the tallest statue of Lord Shiva.

Madan Paliwal, the trustee of the Tat Padam Sansthan and president of the Miraj Group, which has built a 369 feet high statue of Lord Shiva in Rajsamand, Rajasthan, said that after the inauguration of the statue, from October 29 to November 6, for 9 consecutive days, religious and spiritual activities were to be held there. There will be cultural programs. During this, Morari Bapu will also recite Ram Katha.

Let us tell you that the 369-foot statue of Lord Shiva built on the hill of 51 Bigha is in the posture of meditation. The world's tallest Shiva statue has a different specialty of its own. This 369 feet high statue will be the only such statue in the world, in which a lift, stairs and hall for devotees have been built. Inside the world's tallest statue of Lord Shiva, 4 lifts and three stairs have been built to go to the top. The construction of the statue took 4 and a half years and more than 300 artisans worked hard. In this, 3000 tonnes of steel and iron, 2.5 lakh cubic tonnes of concrete and sand have been used.

It is noteworthy that Nathdwara, where the world's tallest 369-foot statue of Lord Shiva has been built, is about 45 km from Udaipur city. Sculptor Naresh Kumawat said that our third generation is doing the work of making idols. His work continues in about 65 countries. Small and big sculptures have been made by his institute in many countries, including Japan, Canada, America. Madan Paliwal had given him a structure for preparing this statue that had to be made in this manner and he fully met his expectations. Today, this Shiva statue is being discussed all over the world.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 29, 2022 - 20:00 | All, Japan

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for securing Beijing's interests over the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands and the disputed South China Sea, saying achieving that goal represents a "heavy historical responsibility" for his generation, according to internal documents.

As Xi embarked on an unprecedented third five-year term as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party last Sunday, he is likely to increase attempts to alter the status quo over the Senkakus in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, not to mention Taiwan, further exacerbating frictions with Japan and other neighbors.

Xi made the remarks at a closed meeting on Feb. 24, 2016, of the party's Central Military Commission, which he heads, the documents show.

Later that year, the Chinese military stepped up operations in the East China Sea and Beijing ignored an international tribunal ruling that invalidated China's sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea.

The internal documents, published in May 2017, have been used as a textbook for senior officials of the military and the party to "unify their thinking with Xi's strong military thought," according to Chinese sources familiar with the situation.

The documents showed Xi telling the officials at the meeting of the top military organ that "if we abandon the ocean, (China) will decline."

Xi pledged to "build staunch strategic bases in the South China Sea to win a battle to secure interests" for future generations, they said.

He stressed his achievements of "historical breakthroughs" since assuming the party general secretary post in 2012, such as waging "a battle to safeguard (China's) interests over the Diaoyu Islands" -- the Chinese name of the Senkakus -- and building outposts in disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Beijing has undertaken a massive land reclamation program in the contested waters of the South China Sea, building military and civilian facilities on islands and reefs claimed by a number of other nations, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Xi also mentioned as his achievement the establishment of an air defense identification zone in the East China Sea in 2013.

The unilateral action has triggered a protest from Japan as the zone overlaps that of Japan and covers airspace over the Senkaku Islands.

About three months after Xi made those remarks, a Chinese navy ship entered a contiguous zone just outside Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands for the first time.

In the year through March 2017, the number of Japanese Air Self-Defense Force scrambles against Chinese military planes hit a record-high of 851.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled that China has no historic rights to resources in the South China Sea based on its expansive "nine-dash line" claim, in a move welcomed by the Philippines, which instigated the case. But Beijing rejected the decision.

At the 2016 meeting, Xi also shared his views that the era in which the United States and other Western nations led the international order was gone and that China had a "historic chance" for its rise, according to the documents.

Takashi Suzuki, an associate professor of Chinese politics at Aichi Prefectural University in central Japan, said Xi's remarks at the closed meeting are "an important clue" to elucidating his political motivations.

"President Xi singled out the Senkaku Islands and deemed Japan as a rival in the East China Sea" in the meeting, Suzuki said.

"For Mr. Xi, securing maritime interests and achieving the mainland's reunification with Taiwan are goals that must be fulfilled to overtake the United States and he feels a strong sense of responsibility," the scholar added.
Khandwa: A six-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a teacher of a madrasa in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district, police said on Saturday. The girl's mother approached the police on Friday after the child informed her about the alleged incident at a madrasa, Moghat police station in-charge Ishwar Singh Chouhan said.

Based on a complaint, the police have arrested the accused teacher and registered a case under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), he said.

Meanwhile, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal that the police have been directed to find out if the accused had committed a similar act with any of the other girls in the institution.
Pune: A 38-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a buffalo calf in Maharashtra's Pune city, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place in Deccan area of the city on Friday, when locals spotted the man allegedly raping a buffalo calf, and they beat him up till he fell unconscious, an official said.

The accused, who hails from Nepal, was rushed to Sassoon General Hospital in an injured state, he said.

"Based on the evidence submitted by locals, we have registered an FIR against the man under section 377 (unnatural sex) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act," a senior inspector of Deccan Police Station said.
Thane: Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant on Saturday said the previous Maha Vikas Agahdi government under Uddhav Thackeray did not take any decision on the Tata-Airbus military transport aircraft project, the moving of which to neighbouring Gujarat had started a political slugfest in the state. Airbus and a consortium of Tata firms have chosen Vadodara in Gujarat as the site for the 22,000 crore project, leading to the opposition accusing the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government of ensuring yet another big project had moved away from Maharashtra. Samant said no meeting on the project was held with Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, the state government's nodal investment promotion agency, while talks had taken place at the "local level" with MIHAN, also called Multi-Modal International Passenger and Cargo Hub Airport at Nagpur.

"No discussion was held by the (previous) government with regards to Airbus. I can say with responsibility there is no official mention at the government level with Airbus regarding the (aircraft) plant," Samant reiterated at a press conference here. Speaking on the Vedanta Foxconn semiconductor project, which too moved to Gujarat, Samant said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had called the joint venture and asked them to execute a memorandum of understanding, while the previous MVA government had done nothing on the issue. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had met officials of the firm in Mumbai, he added.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi vows to provide 10 lakh jobs, says Union govt working on it

Attacking the previous government under Uddhav Thackeray, Samant said 74 MOUs were signed but none took off, while approval for a proposal for a Rs 25,638 paper plant in the state was given on October 20 by the Shinde dispensation. He further said the Shinde government was taking efforts to revive the bulk drugs park project proposed to be set up in Raigad by taking the local population in confidence, while the previous MVA dispensation had done nothing to get the project to take off. The minister reiterated that a "big project" that will generate employment will be brought to the state in the coming months. He also said the state government was making efforts to revive a multi-billion dollar refinery project in Barsu in Konkan's Ratnagiri district in place of the Nanar plan that was called off due to protests.

Also Read: Passenger, injured in Durgapur SpiceJet flight turbulence, dies after 5 months of spinal injury
Hyderabad: The ruling TRS in Telangana on Saturday, October 29, 2022, accused the BJP of 'pushing' the country into a debt trap with borrowings of the central government allegedly touching 61.6 per cent of the GDP by 2021. Releasing his party's political charge sheet against BJP, TRS Working President and Minister KT Rama Rao, along with party leaders accused the saffron party of leaving people in the lurch with ever-increasing petrol and diesel prices, among others.

After the independence, during the 67 years of various Prime Ministers' rule, the country borrowed Rs 55.87 crore. After coming to power in 2014, the borrowings by (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) Modi alone in these eight years was Rs 80 lakh crore, Rama Rao claimed.

The interest payments by the Centre during 2014-15 were 36.1 per cent of the revenues while it has gone up to 43.7 per cent during 2021. Despite NITI Aayog's recommendation of Rs 19,000 crore in funding for Mission Bhagiratha, a safe drinking water project for every village in the State, the Modi-led government did not even give 19 paise, the charge sheet alleged.

Also Read: 'BJP receiving 95% of donations through electoral bonds, donors scared of funding others': Ashok Gehlot in Gujarat

Fluoride and Fluorosis Mitigation Centre, which was supposed to be set up in Choutuppal, was driven away to some other state, it further alleged. It also charged the NDA government at the Centre with 'pushing' the handloom sector into an existential crisis by imposing five per cent GST on handloom products and planning to increase it to 12 per cent.

The charge sheet also claimed that the Centre was 'blackmailing' states in the name of additional loans by forcing them to fix meters to the agriculture pump set. The NDA government at also meted out injustice to the Scheduled Tribes of Telangana by not clearing the ST Reservation Bill even after five years, it added.
SBI Clerk Admit Card 2022: The State Bank of India will release the SBI Clerk Prelims Admit Cards 2022 today, October 29. Candidates who have applied for the SBI Cler 2022 exam will be able to download the admit card for the exam scheduled to be conducted on 12, 19, and 20 November 2022 from the official website- sbi.co.in.

Here's how to download SBI clerk admit card

Visit the SBI official website -- sbi.co.in.

On the homepage, look for the link, which says, "SBI Clerk admit card 2022."

Enter your SBI Clerk 2022 application number, password and other credentials.

Click on login and your SBI Clerk 2022 admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Download it and take the print out of the SBI Clerk admit card 2022 for future reference.

SBI Clerk Exam 2022

As per the SBI Clerk Notification, applicants will be given an online Objective type test for 100 marks. This test would be of 1-hour duration consisting of 3 Sections as follows:

English language - 30 Questions of 30 Marks

English language - 35 Questions of 35 Marks

Reasoning Ability - 35 Questions of 35 Marks

There will be negative marks for wrong answers in the Objective tests. 1/4th of the mark assigned for a question will be deducted for each wrong answer
Indore: Two 16-year-old girls studying in a school died and their classmate is in a critical condition after they allegedly consumed poison together for different reasons in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, police said on Saturday. The incident took place on Friday after the girls bunked the class of their school in Ashta town of Sehore district, and reached Indore, more than 100 kms away, in a bus to meet the boyfriend of one of the deceased girls as he had stopped taking her calls.

"While two of the girls died, the condition of another girl, who is undergoing treatment in M Y Hospital, is critical," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Choubey told PTI.

"From the preliminary investigation and the statement of the girl who survived, it emerged that the trio was studying in the same school in Ashta town of Sehore and were very close friends. They skipped their class to catch a bus to Indore on Friday morning," he added.

Also Read: UP SHOCKER! Kanpur man records wife committing SUICIDE on camera

The girls reached Indore as the boyfriend of one of them lived there. She wanted to meet him as he had stopped taking her calls. Therefore, she had decided to go to Indore to meet him personally, Choubey said.

She had decided that if her boyfriend does not meet her, she will end her life along with her two friends. The trio had procured poison from a shop in Ashta and one of them tried to contact the boy after reaching Indore. They waited for the boy in a park near Bhawarkuan area, but as he did not turn up, the heartbroken girl consumed poison, he said.

Immediately afterwards, one of her friends also consumed poison and told the surviving girl that she was facing serious problems in her family. The last girl followed the suit as she was very close to her two friends, police said.

However, the last girl survived, he said.

When the people around them noticed the girls, they rushed them to a private hospital, from where they were shifted to M Y Hospital. However, two of them died there, Choubey said. "No suicide note was recovered from the girls. We are relying on the statement of the girl, who is undergoing treatment, which has become the basis of our investigation," he said.

The parents of the girls have reached Indore and their statements will be recorded, the police official said.
Yadadri (Telangana): BJP state president Bandi Sanjay on Saturday challenged Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to swear that he isn`t involved in the MLA poaching. "KCR ran away without accepting my challenge. He did not come because KCR was involved in this matter," said the BJP state president Bandi Sanjay. He demanded that an inquiry be conducted with the sitting judge or the CBI to find out the whole matter. "If KCR is not involved, he should be ready for a lie detector," said Bandi Sanjay. Bandi Sanjay further demanded Chief Minister KCR write a letter asking the CBI to conduct an inquiry into the entire matter. "KCR knows that the Munugode assembly bypoll is going to be a setback for the party (TRS) and hence all of this has been plotted. I came here and took an oath. I am asking Chief Minister KCR, can he do the same?" said Sanjay.

Earlier on Friday, amid the ongoing MLAs poaching controversy in Telangana, state BJP chief Sanjay Bandi took an oath in wet clothes at Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Yadadri and said that the party has no role in the case.

Also Read: TRS MLAs poaching case: BJP's Raghunandan Rao demands ED probe; says 'no faith in local officials'

BJP state president Bandi Sanjay while speaking to the media stated that "In the holy abode of Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy swore that BJP is not involved in the alleged poaching of four TRS MLAs".

Live : Press Conference at Yadadri https://t.co/a7YEzyT89s  Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 28, 2022

Earlier on Friday, Telangana`s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court rejected the request of Cyberabad Police to remand to judicial custody the three accused who were arrested for allegedly trying to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). All three accused in the TRS MLAs poaching case were released by police on Thursday following orders of the Anti-Corruption Bureau court. The judge instructed the police to issue notices under Section 41 Cr PC and ordered the release of the accused.

The Cyberabad Police had arrested the three persons at the farmhouse in Ranga Reddy on Wednesday evening, after being informed following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday. As per the FIR copy, Rohith Reddy alleged that the accused offered him Rs 100 crore and in return, the legislator had to leave the TRS and contest as a BJP candidate in the next Assembly elections.

They also offered him civil contract work from the central government besides higher positions and monetary benefits. The accused also threatened that if he does not heed, ED and CBI cases will be filed against him. They also warned that the TRS government in the state will be toppled.
Hyderabad: Amid the ongoing MLA poaching controversy, BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao on Friday urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to look into the entire matter. "The whole episode drives at a mystical game of local politicians and police servants put together to enact a sequel to blemish the leadership of the national party to which I belong. I request the ED to investigate the whole of the sequence in-depth and unearth the actuals in the interest of Justice," he said. He further said that he did not have any faith in the local officials working and accused them of being mechanical tools obeying instructions prompted by the politicos from behind. Earlier today, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay challenged Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to swear that he isn`t involved in the MLA poaching.

Challenge to Telangana CM KCR

"KCR ran away without accepting my challenge. He did not come because KCR was involved in this matter," said the BJP state president Bandi Sanjay. He demanded that an inquiry be conducted with the sitting judge or the CBI to find out the whole matter.

Also Read: BJP trying to 'BUY' 4 TRS MLAs, say Cyberabad police after farmhouse raid

"If KCR is not involved, he should be ready for a lie detector," said Bandi Sanjay.

Bandi Sanjay demanded that Chief Minister KCR write a letter asking the CBI to investigate the entire matter."KCR knows that the Munugode assembly bypoll is going to be a setback for the party (TRS) and hence all of this has been plotted. I came here and took an oath. I am asking Chief Minister KCR, can he do the same?" said Sanjay.

The MLAs poaching controversy

Earlier on Friday, Telangana`s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court rejected the request of Cyberabad Police to remand to judicial custody the three accused who were arrested for allegedly trying to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). All three accused in the TRS MLAs poaching case were released by police on Thursday following orders of the Anti-Corruption Bureau court.
Hyderabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday shook a leg with a group of tribal artists during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Telangana`s Mahabubnagar district. Donning a horned tribal headgear, the party MP joined the tribals in performing the traditional dance much to the excitement of party leaders and other participants in the yatra. Taking to Twitter, he said: "Our tribals are the repositories of our timeless cultures & diversity. Enjoyed matching steps with the Kommu Koya tribal dancers. Their art expresses their values, which we must learn from and preserve." The senior leader also posted a video of his dance with the tribal artists. On the fourth day of its journey in Telangana, the walkathon started from Dharampur and entered Mahabungara town. Rahul Gandhi was accorded a warm welcome by a group of tribals with a display of traditional arts.

Hundreds of party cadres enthusiastically walked along with their leader. He stopped en route to meet a group of students learning karate and also watched performances by the children and their instructor.

Also Read: 'Will introduce one GST slab instead of 5: Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra vows to revisit GST if voted to power

Some members of the traditional shepherd community also called on Rahul Gandhi, who interacted with them to know their problems. Leaders and workers of National Students Union of India (NSUI) Telangana unit also met the Congress leader to brief him on the problems faced by the students in the state. Members of the Osmania University PhD Scholars Association also called on him to explain their problems.

Our tribals are the repositories of our timeless cultures & diversity.



Enjoyed matching steps with the Kommu Koya tribal dancers. Their art expresses their values, which we must learn from and preserve. pic.twitter.com/CT9AykvyEY  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 29, 2022

The yatra halted at Enukonda for a mid-day break. Later in the day, Rahul Gandhi will interact with representatives of various educational institutions, eminent academicians and student leaders.

Issues like education policy and fee reimbursement are likely to be discussed. Problems faced by students of residential school and frequent incidents of food poisoning, lack of infrastructure in universities are also expected to come up for discussion.

The yatra will reach Jadcherla in the evening where a corner meeting will take place. The foot march will resume from Jadcherla on Sunday.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Telangana on October 23 from Karnataka. Following a three-day break for Diwali and the swearing-in of new Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, it resumed on October 26.

The yatra will continue in Telangana till November 7 with one-day break on November 4. Party leaders said Rahul Gandhi will walk 20-25 km daily covering 375 km in 19 Assembly and seven parliamentary constituencies in Telangana.
New Delhi: Asserting that India has been a victim of terrorism for decades, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said zero tolerance to all acts of terror, irrespective of its motivations, should continue to be the guiding approach of the international community in shaping the global counter-terror architecture. Addressing the heads of delegations of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC CTC), who had called on her, the president said India has a national commitment to fight the evil of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations.

The president emphasised that zero tolerance for all acts of terror, irrespective of their motivations, should continue to be the guiding approach of the international community in shaping the global counter-terror architecture, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement. Welcoming the delegation members, President Murmu appreciated their gesture of commencing their visit by paying tributes to the 26/11 terror attack victims in Mumbai. She said that India as the world's largest democracy, with one of the most open and diverse societies in the world, has been a victim of terrorism for decades.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi vows to provide 10 lakh jobs, says Union govt working on it

During the meeting, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations (UN), in her capacity as chair of the CTC, informed the president about the working of the UNSC CTC and its priorities. Michael Moussa Adamo, President of the UN Security Council and Foreign Minister of Gabon, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also made brief interventions apprising the president of the salient aspects of the UNSC CTC's deliberations and the way ahead, as outlined in the Delhi Declaration adopted earlier on Saturday, the statement said.

Also Read: India has highest unemployed in 35 years': Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP during Bharat Jodo Yatra

Among the dignitaries who attended the meeting were Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Minister of Ghana, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of UAE, and Megi Fino, Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania. Senior officials of the United Nations, including Vladimir Voronkov, Under Secretary General, United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism, were also present on the occasion.
NAIROBI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The umbrella body for Kenyans who have lived in China in pursuit of higher education met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Friday amid calls to deepen cooperation in areas that would unleash mutual benefits.

The meeting brought together diplomats and dozens of local citizens who studied in the Asian nation.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian said members of the alumni association were in a vantage position to promote fruitful cooperation among long-standing allies.

Zhou said Kenyans who have studied in China should be at the forefront of advancing friendship and cross-cultural understanding as they apply skills, acquired at the Asian nation's tertiary institutions, to develop their homeland.

He said China-Kenya cooperation has reached a significant milestone and the two countries should share a wealth of experience and best practices to rejuvenate institutions of governance.

Henry Rotich, chairman of the Kenya-China Alumni Association and a beneficiary of a Chinese government scholarship, said local scholars can apply skills acquired in China to transform the economy as well as tackle poverty and unemployment.

According to Rotich, an extended study tour in China has exposed Kenyan youth to the rich culture of the Asian nation and the positive attributes of its people like courtesy, hardworking spirit and friendliness.

"One of our core missions as members of the alumni is to promote Kenya-China friendship. Kenyans from all walks of life who have benefitted from scholarships to study in China are actively working in key sectors of the economy," said Rotich.

He noted that China-funded projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway and the Nairobi Expressway have hastened economic modernization besides fostering job creation and skills transfer in Kenya.

Rotich added that some of the skills, acquired in China by members of the alumni association including proficiency in mandarin, engineering, mining and medicine, can be harnessed to revitalize the local economy. 
MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana on Friday (October 28) night set temperatures soaring by posting his shirtless image.He posted the hot picture with a quirky caption.

"May I come in? Oh I'm already in. Time for some action. Jald hi kuch bataungi ki agli dafa kab aunga," Ayushmann captioned the post. As soon as Ayushmann dropped the picture, fans and members of the film industry went gaga over it.Tiger Shroff dropped a fire emoji in the comment section.

"Hottest," a social media user wrote.

"Hayeee hot," a netizen commented.

"Matlab kya," veteran actor Neena Gupta commented.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ayushmann was recently seen in 'Doctor G', which opened to mixed reviews. In the upcoming months, he will be seen in 'Dream Girl 2' and 'An Action Hero'.

Speaking about his upcoming films, Ayushmann had earlier said, "I hope to have an incredibly exciting year in cinema because I have really diverse films releasing in 2022. I have always looked to handpick projects that are out of the ordinary and I'm confident that I'm bringing the best of content that I could find for audiences to watch and enjoy on the big screen."
MUMBAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has filed a chargesheet against comedian Bharti Singh, her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa and a drug peddler in connection with a 2020 drug case, a senior official said on Saturday. The chargesheet, which runs into around 1,200 pages, was submitted by the NCB in a court here recently, he said.

The couple was arrested by the anti-drug agency in November 2020 following the seizure of ganja (cannabis) at their residence in suburban Andheri, the official said. Both the accused were booked under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including section 8 (c) (possession of drugs) and 27 (consumption of drugs), he said.

During the investigation, the NCB team had arrested one more person who had played a role in the supply of the banned drug, he said.

Accordingly, the NCB team investigated the case and submitted the chargesheet a few weeks ago, he said. The couple was granted bail after two days of custody on a bond of Rs 15,000 each, he said.
New Delhi: If the bank doesnt resolve your grievances or the banking staff is rude to you, then there is no need for worries. A discontent customer can register a complaint against the bank or its staff directly to Reserve Bank of India under its Integrated Ombudsman Scheme. You can register a complaint against any bank or financial instiution regualted by RBI to centralised ombudsman.

ALSO READ | Do THIS step to get 12th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi by November 30

Its an overarching platform where customers can register their complaints against Banks, NBFCs, or Bad behaviours of bank officers, or any problem related to ATM and Banking system. Moreover, you can submit your documents, take the progress of your complaints or give suggestions.

ALSO READ | From Tesla to SpaceX: THESE 7 companies have Elon Musk ownership now - in PICS

When can you register your complaints?

You can only register complaints under Integrated Ombudsman Scheme when you have already registered your complaint to concerned bank or NBFC and it has been rejected by them or dont get any answer within 30 days.

Here are ways to register your complaints:

1)You have to visit https://cms.rbi.org.in website to register online complaint for any matter related to banks. On the website, you will get the option of File a Complaint, where you can complain about the matter.

2)If you wish, you can also make a complaint through mail to the Centralized Receipt and Processing Center notified by RBI. For this, you have to write your complaint and send it to CRPC@rbi.org.in after attaching all the documents.

3)If you want to register the complaint in physical form, then the complainant or its authorized representative will have to sign the complaint, after which you can send the complaint along with all the necessary documents to the mentioned address. Address is- Reserve Bank of India, 4th Floor, Sector 17, Chandigarh - 160017
New Delhi: After a hectic 'RRR' promotion tour in Japan, actor Ram Charan has hit the safari trail in Africa. The actor is currently in Kenya, taking in the sights and sounds of the rich wildlife from close quarters.

Ram Charan is vacationing in the most untouched and untamed part of Africa with his family and friends, and appears to be enjoying every moment in the lap of nature.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the actor could be seen driving around, cooking eggs along with the locals and also taking pictures of big cats in their natural habitat.

Ram Charan and his wife Upasana had earlier shared pics of their sojourn in Japan. The actor, along with co-star Jr NTR, and 'RRR' director S.S. Rajamouli had toured Japan to promote the movie, which recently had its theatrical release there.

'RRR' became a pan-India hit this year, grossing more than Rs 1,000 crore.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss 16, Day 28 starts with Katrina Kaif who is standing outside Salman Khan's house with her 'PhoneBhoot' co-stars Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Actors show a glimpse of SK's house, show his living room, gym and even bedroom.

Salman Khan welcomes everybody to the horror night in Bigg Boss 16. All the inmates dress up in Halloween costumes for the 'Shanivaar Ka Vaar' with 'Saam Daam Dand Bhed.'

Salman appreciates Abdu and gives him the Saam task of giving horror garlands to the people he thinks are fake, liars, disrespectful and more. Ankit gets a 'no brain' garland, Sumbul gets 'no respect,' Shalin gets 'no heart,' Tina gets 'no fun' and Priyanka gets 'no truth.'

Daam task begins, SK offers Nimrit to shift in Shiv's room with more than half ration from her room. The actress refuses the choice. SK moves on and offers Gautam the captaincy and asks him to give up the ration of the whole house and guess what, he accepts it.

After Gautam's decision, everybody goes against him and starts screaming. Sajid Khan, Archana and Nimrit lash out on the TV actor for such a poor decision. Everybody else, except Soundarya, calls it a foolish choice. Even the calmest contestant, Abdu gets angry and calls Gautam 'shit people.'

Priyanka and Soundarya try to explain to Gautam that what he did was wrong, he even tries to undo his decision but BB refuses his request. The living room's gate gets locked and a few people enter the house and take away all the ration. Archana literally starts crying.

Salman on the other hand appreciates Gautam for playing an individual game and slams other gharwalas who called themselves his friend for not being able to stay hungry for a few days to help the actor out. SK even calls Soundarya's love fake as even she says that she wants to be with Gautam but not at the stake of food. Salman clarifies that Gautam will only be the captain if he does not get evicted this weekend.

Announcing the elimination of the week, Salman says that Gautam has to come out, he jokes about his eviction. Sajid and Archana get very happy with this decision and start calling out things like 'jaisi karni waisi bharni,' and 'Karma.' Shalin goes to Gautam, SK slams him for not being there with him when he needed to which Shalin says that now he is doing it for humanity. SK again takes a dig at him for saying humanity and medical thing again and again and never showing it.

SK then says that Abdu is eliminated and Nimrit starts crying, Sajid doesn't let him get up either. SK scolds gharwalas for even nominating him and then after scaring everybody off, he says that this week no one's getting evicted. SK and Bigg Boss congratulate Gautam for captaincy, contestants do slow clap for him.

After all this seriousness, the fun banter between Salman and Katrina Kaif begins on the set of Bigg Boss 16. Both play games, dance and even share some laughs. Salman sings 'kinna sona tenu rab ne banaya' for Katrina.

Later, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi enter the sets and enact 'Andaaz Apna Apna' scene in front of SK and Kat. The veteran actor laughs along and hugs Ishaan and Siddhant for their performance.

Ishaan and Siddhant enter the BB house and give bananas to the contestants who have lost all their food for one week. Actors have some fun with the gharwalas whilst Katrina and Salman give them hidden instructions.

Katrina then enters the house with the Dand task, everybody takes a broom to take off a 'bhoot' from their fellow contestant. Most people call Gautam and want his selfishness and greed to go away. Amid the Dand task, Shalin reveals that Tina is crushing on Siddhant and he is jealous.

PhoneBhoot team has fun with the contestants, MC Stan and Siddhant do rap together whereas Ishaan and Shiv groove on 'Zingaat.'

Bigg Boss sends food for the inmates just for tonight. Everybody is a little relieved as they eat the food. Gautam and Soundarya dine alone as they are yet not able to face everyone, especially Gautam.

After dinner, Shiv calms Sajid down as he lost his cool today. He explains to him that this behaviour can be dangerous. The episode ends with a cat-fight between Soundarya and Tina, over Gautam in the bedroom.

One whole week, without food! Everybody is going to be hungry as well as thirsty for Gautam's blood.

Keep watching this space for more updates.
Travelling to beautiful places can be the best medicine for some. In today's time and age when stress and anxiety can cloud your mind, a break into some far exotic property for relaxation can be the best possible solution. Atmantan Wellness Centre, which was honoured with the Best Wellness Centre (West) award by the Ministry of Tourism on World Tourism Day 2022 has of late become a celeb-favourite place to unwind. From Malaika Arora to Ankita Lokhande - many stars have been to the wellness centre and taken some time off their mundane daily life. Nikhil Kapur, co-founder and director at Atmantan Wellness Centre in conversation with Zee News Digital, shared his views on the importance of Wellness Tourism, health facilities and what celebrities usually look out for:

Q. How is Atmantan different from any other exotic resort property in India?

A. We live in a world where good health is a prerequisite for happiness, and Atmantan has been created with the sole purpose of transforming the health of individuals. Curating the personalised offering and delivering results is what differentiates wellness resorts from others. Atmantan being at one end of the wellness spectrum offers deep transformative retreats that enhance the body, physiology, and mind and the walk down the path of self-discovery.

Our team of 300, along with our 22 Doctors, are specialised in the various alternative sciences, and together they all dispense our integrated approach. Here we incorporate evidence-based protocols from the alternative healing schools of Ayurveda, Naturopathy, and Functional Medicine along with energy healing, oriental medicine, yoga and fitness, all of which help us treat and manage chronic ailments for our guests.

Our care starts right at the time of enquiry for admissions, where our team of specialists understand the health objectives and guide the people on a complimenting programme and duration. (Incidentally, we also have to turn down admissions once in a while, when guests come looking for solutions to their ailments that we are unable to help with due to the advanced nature of the disease or the complication of the condition e.g. A stage IV Cancer, contagious skin conditions, chronic kidney diseases etc.)

Atmantan is a place of life-changing transformations and offers personalised wellness to all our guests, and this is something not everyone is able to create. After all, a result-oriented transformative wellness solution is not a one-size-fits-all. My wife and I are both passionate wellpreneurs who have the academic knowledge & the experience to build a team of highly skilled professionals who deliver wellness of the whole self. True wellness is one that addresses the body, its physiology, and the mind and also takes one on a path of self-discovery; This deeper understanding and our integrated protocols are what help Atmantan differentiate from the others as an innovative and result-oriented wellness solution.

Q. What do you think about 'wellness tourism'?

A. People's attitude towards their well-being is changing for the better. They are making the effort to keep themselves fit and healthy and are signing up with gusto for gym & yoga memberships, ordering organic and farm food etc. Thus, when these evolved people travel, they choose destinations that are an extension of their urban lifestyle. This is exactly what then blossoms into healthy or healing holidays, which is in turn fueling wellness tourism.

While the west has traditionally had more wellness travellers looking for deeper programs, this has changed in the past 2 years; We now see a surge in Indian tourists as well who are all coming out to address their wellness needs. Regarding our Indian guests, those looking for longer transformative programmes, the average stay per guest has increased from 6.2 nights (pre covid-19) to 11 nights (in the past 12 months) per guest per stay!

As we continue to have complex lives, so has our expectation, and wants out of a holiday have also increased manifold. Hence, demand for life-changing transformative programmes, and deep experiential packages are on the rise.

Q. How has the response to the health facilities and wellness packages been at Atmantan?

A. We have witnessed an overwhelming surge in demand for our services in the past 18 months. Atmantan is the preferred wellness solution centre as we have a highly skilled team who delivers results! Our result-oriented, integrated treatment programmes for chronic lifestyle ailments like Hypthyroid (incl. Hashimoto's Thyroid), PCOS, IBS, Diabetes, Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Migraine, Sleep issues, many autoimmune conditions and stress management are extremely popular with guests looking for a lifestyle correction, especially in the new normal.

Add in to our skilled team is the complimenting multi-speciality infrastructure, luxury spaces, and state-of-art facility, all of which are tucked in the folds of the virgin Mulshi valley on a crystal hill... all this has been exactly what people are looking for as they choose to prioritise their health.

Q. Do you have plans for expansion to other cities as well?

A. Yes, we are actively assessing opportunities and are looking at both wellness centres in India and overseas.

Q. Many celebs have visited your property, any special memories to share?

A. Our guests love the privacy that Atmantan offers them, so this is not a subject where we can share too much information. However, I must share 3 aspects about celebs that most people may or may not realise...

(i) Celebs talk about their transformation. They know when they talk about their lives, it helps create more awareness of how natural/alternative sciences can actually treat one, without any side effects. We truly believe that each time a celeb speaks about his/her health issue and how were addressed it at Atmantan, she/he does so with a strong sense of noblesse oblige as they are choosing to positively influence and benefit others through their life journey.

(ii) While celebs like all others are short on time and want quick results (and hence like many of us tend to tread the allopathic way), what we have seen is that they all are more natural and organic conscious and even very well informed about alternate healing methods; they hence tend to spend more time on their wellness here at Atmantan than an average traveller.

(iii) Some of the popular wellness goals that the celebs travel to us include treatment of gut-related issues (Detox), inflammatory conditions, certain skin ailments, weight loss, rehabilitation and emotional healing.

Q. Do you think wellness tourism is not promoted enough?

A. I believe we are getting some mileage with how our Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji has been actively spreading the message of India being the hub of all types of wellness and ancient sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda. He believes and propagates that India is the ultimate land of healing as it is. Today, the need for a solution for our mind, body and spirit is that much more urgent and we all need to do more when it comes to promoting Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Spiritual sciences globally.

That said, both the central and state departments can contribute further but planning and executing a unified campaign that puts India as the top-of-mind choice for any wellness traveller! The goal of this campaign should be such that it promises India (the land of Prana) as the one-stop solution for all things related to wellness.
New Delhi: Russia has accused Britain of "involvement" in a botched drone strike in Crimea. According to Russia's Defense Ministry, "specialists" from the United Kingdom helped with "training" and "supervision" for Ukraine's failed attack. "The Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships that were on the outer and inner roads of the Sevastopol base. The attack involved nine unmanned aerial vehicles and seven autonomous maritime drones," According to a statement issued by Russia's Defense Ministry. "The preparation of this terrorist act and the training of military personnel of 73rd Marine Special Operations Centre were carried out under the supervision of British specialists," it said. Britain has yet to respond to the allegations.

Russia also claimed that representatives of the British Navy were involved in the planning and execution of the September 26 attack in the Baltic Sea to blow up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. The fleet's headquarters and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine are located in Moscow-annexed Crimea, which has been targeted several times in recent months.

Also Read: Hindus in good position, supported by govt: Bangladesh Minister assures minoritys safety

The Russian army claimed to have "destroyed" nine aerial drones and seven maritime drones in an early Saturday attack on the port. The Russian military said the ships aimed at their Crimean base were part of a UN-brokered agreement to allow Ukrainian grain exports. According to an article in NDTV. Russia recently criticised the agreement, claiming that Western sanctions had hurt its own grain exports. According to AFP, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Sevastopol governor appointed by Moscow, said Saturday's drone attack was the "most massive" the peninsula had ever seen.

Also Read: Zero tolerance to all acts of terror... President Droupadi Murmu makes strong statement

Attacks on Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, have increased in recent weeks as Kyiv launches a counter-offensive in the south to retake territory held by Moscow for months. Moscow-installed authorities in Kherson, just north of Crimea, have vowed to fortify the city in preparation for an impending assault. In early October, a blast blamed on Ukraine damaged Moscow's bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland, which Putin personally inaugurated in 2018. A drone attacked the Russian fleet stationed in the port in August.

(With agencies inputs)
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi has suffered a skull fracture after a violent home invasion. Paul was reportedly attacked by an intruder at his San Francisco home on Friday morning. The assailant had attacked Paul with a hammer and had tried to tie him up as well. The attacker screamed, "Where is Nancy?" as he was waiting for her to arrive home according to a CNN report. Meanwhile, Pelosi thanked all her supporters for sending her well-wishes. "Paul Pelosi underwent surgery Friday "to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands," a statement released by Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. According to a statement released by the Democratic speaker's office Paul Pelosi, 82, is currently hospitalized and is expected to make recovery.

Pelosi flying back to be with her husband

Speaker Pelosi is flying back to San Francisco with her family to be with her husband, according to a source familiar told CNN on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in an official statement condemned the attack against Paul Pelosi and said that the prayers are with Speaker Pelosi`s whole family. She further stated that US President Biden is also praying for Paul Pelosi and also had a morning call with House Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack.

(Image: ANI)

Joe Biden condemns attack

"The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi`s whole family. This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected. The President continues to condemn all violence and asks that the family`s desire for privacy be respected," the official statement read.

Analysts question lack of security outside home

The US speaker is second in line to become the US President after the Vice President in case the President is incapacitated. Analysts are saying that given the fact that Pelosi is second in the order of succession it is strange that her house had no security and an intruder could enter her San Francisco house without any trouble.

(With ANI inputs)
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday launched longan exportation to China, marking another fruitful cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries.

Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian attended the launching ceremony here.

Speaking at the event, Tina said practical cooperation in agriculture has promoted the development of Cambodia-China friendly relations, and friendly relations between the two countries have also provided good development space for their agricultural cooperation.

"From 2019 to the end of June 2022, Cambodia exported a total of 2.4 million tons of agricultural products to China, with a total export value of 1.942 billion U.S. dollars," he said.

The minister said China has been the largest export market for Cambodian rice for several years, and since 2019, Cambodia has been approved to export bananas, mangoes, Basa fish, corn and longan to China one after another.

"At present, the two sides are speeding up the export of Cambodian pepper, wild aquatic products, edible aquatic animals, bird's nest, coconuts, etc. to China," he said.

It is believed that more Cambodian agricultural products will be allowed to be exported to China in the future for the benefit of the two peoples, Tina said.

Meanwhile, Wang said that in recent years, under the care of the leaders of the two countries, agricultural cooperation between China and Cambodia has shown great vigor.

In April, the agricultural ministries of the two countries held the second meeting of the China-Cambodia Steering Committee on Agricultural Cooperation, which clarified the key direction of agricultural cooperation between the two sides in the future, he said.

The agricultural development planning project aided by China in Cambodia also started to be implemented, he said.

The ambassador said cooperation between the two countries in the field of animal husbandry has also been fruitful. The two sides have reached an agreement on a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in veterinary drugs, veterinary biological products and feed additives.

He added that with the efforts of both sides, Cambodian Basa fish, corn and longan have been successfully approved for export to China this year.

"Today, we witnessed the successful export of Cambodian longan to China. This is another substantive achievement of China-Cambodia agricultural cooperation under the pandemic. It will bring tangible benefits to the two peoples and greatly promote the further development of China-Cambodia friendly relations," Wang said.

Tina and Wang jointly issued licences to eight Cambodian packaging plants for exporting longan to China.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
People visit a Turkish defense and aviation fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, Oct. 28, 2022. Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul. (Photo by Unal Cam/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul.

The fair, which opened on Tuesday and will last till Friday, has attracted around 1,000 defense companies from 57 countries, which has doubled in size compared to last year, said its organizer, the Defense and Aerospace Cluster Association of Istanbul.

The highlight of this year's fair is the display of self-destructing drones, different types of ground vehicles, electric-driven autocannons, and graphene-enhanced armor plates.

Deli, a domestic aerial drone loaded with an explosive warhead of around 3 kilos that can crash into target with a speed up to 180 km/h, captured much attention from the visitors.

Sarbot, one of the several domestic unmanned ground vehicles, featured the classical quadrupled "dog-robot" design. Its prototype at the moment can move in all terrains and provide housing to machine guns of all sizes.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has met with his counterparts from several countries, including Britain, Azerbaijan, Libya, Pakistan, and Kuwait.

The inking of a military deal on enhancing training and overhaul of the Libyan Air Force was announced by the Turkish Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

The Turkish defense industry has already surpassed the last year's total volume of exports, which reached 3.2 billion U.S. dollars, and is expected to hit 4 billion dollars by the end of this year, announced the Turkish Defence Industry Agency.

The fair will be digitally open in November, offering an opportunity to visit it online for professionals and enthusiasts from all around the world. 

People visit a Turkish defense and aviation fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, Oct. 28, 2022. Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul. (Photo by Unal Cam/Xinhua)

People visit a Turkish defense and aviation fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, Oct. 28, 2022. Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul. (Photo by Unal Cam/Xinhua)

People visit a Turkish defense and aviation fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, Oct. 28, 2022. Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul. (Photo by Unal Cam/Xinhua)

People visit a Turkish defense and aviation fair in Istanbul, Turkiye, Oct. 28, 2022. Cutting-edge domestic weapons and technologies captured the visitors' attention at the ongoing Turkish defense and aviation fair held in the largest city of Istanbul. (Photo by Unal Cam/Xinhua)
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Friday warned some western entities over "irresponsible" allegations of atrocities.

The Ethiopian Government Communication Service in a statement condemned irresponsible allegations of atrocities "for sinister political agenda."

"The government of Ethiopia can no longer tolerate the defamatory falsehood being spread against Ethiopia by various western entities," the statement read.

Describing the allegations as "shameful", the Ethiopian government said such institutions parrot the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) 's irresponsible propaganda.

"It is regrettable that few institutions of repute could not resist joining this orchestrated campaign against Ethiopia. Some might be fooled into believing this defamation against Ethiopia. Some share the intention of using these allegations to force Ethiopia into submission," the statement read.

It said such western entities are mistaken that by making such outrageous allegations they could intimidate the government of Ethiopia to change course in its defensive measures against the TPLF.

"Some western officials openly admit that they pushed such rhetoric because Ethiopia refused to succumb to their instructions," the Ethiopian government said.

It, however, underscored that the "bandwagon of accusations and slander" does not change facts on the ground.

The Ethiopian government further acknowledged that some venerable organizations and well-meaning actors could be unwitting participants in this campaign. "It is very irresponsible and shameful that allegations of the most reprehensible and the gravest of all crimes are being made for political ends," it said.

The Ethiopian government further emphasized that the situation has forced it "to weigh its options and consider its relations with some states and entities that are making unsubstantiated and politically motivated accusations of such gravity against the country."

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government underscored its commitment to the ongoing African Union (AU)-convened peace talks to end the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

Noting its determination to end the conflict peacefully and durably, the Ethiopian government said it is equally committed to ensuring accountability for violations of human rights and humanitarian law arising out of the conflict. 
KUNMING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese law enforcement vessels returned to a port in southwest China's Yunnan Province at noon on Friday, concluding the 122nd joint Mekong River patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Four vessels from the four countries sailed over 600 km for four days and three nights with missions to ensure the safety and stability of the river basin, according to the Yunnan provincial public security department.

A total of 75 law enforcement officers were on board.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have been conducting joint patrols on the river since December 2011. 
People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at Town Square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Despite growing up in a time when the threat of gun violence is ever-present, these students all agreed that people should still be allowed to own guns.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Today's children in the United States grow up knowing that every day at school their lives could be at risk, reported 59News on Thursday.

"You see it happen at schools, like in Florida, and at Walmarts, in Texas. You just always have to be ready, like whenever and wherever, for that stuff to happen," Joshua Helton, a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School, told the CBS and FOX-affiliated Nexstar Media Group station for southern West Virginia.

Do kids even feel safe in schools? "For the most part, yes. But you always have a little bit of a doubt," said Davon Allard, also a junior at the school. "Especially when, at the beginning of the year, they have you going over ALICE drills."

ALICE is an acronym that stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. "These are the five steps schools take in the event of an active shooter situation," said the report.

Despite growing up in a time when the threat of gun violence is ever-present, these students all agreed that people should still be allowed to own guns, it noted. 
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the 127th meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Council of Chairpersons of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee held a meeting Saturday to hear reports on the deliberation of a draft law and law revisions.

The meeting, presided over by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, heard reports on changes made to a draft revision to the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women, a draft Yellow River protection law, and a draft revision to the Animal Husbandry Law.

Lawmakers also heard deliberation reports on treaties on international judicial assistance in criminal matters, reports on deputies' proposals, and personnel-related bills.

The meeting decided to submit the drafts to the ongoing session of the NPC Standing Committee for review. 
BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have deployed an in-situ scientific experiment station on the seabed that will enable long-term uncrewed scientific research in the deep sea, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said.

The researchers aboard the research vessel Tansuo-2 (Discovery 2), carrying the crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior), deployed the station during their expedition. The vessel has returned to Sanya in south China's Hainan Province, said the CAS.

The in-situ scientific experiment station is a new deep-sea system proposed by China in recent years. It takes a deep-sea base station as the center, can carry a variety of uncrewed submersibles, and access chemical/biological labs and other platforms to carry out a series of in-situ experiments and exploration.

Chen Jun, a researcher from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering under the CAS, said traditional marine surveys take samples from the seabed and get them tested in the land labs. Conducting in-situ testing in the deep sea can avoid damage or loss of sample data due to environmental changes, said Chen.

According to the CAS, the station will work autonomously on the seabed and be able to conduct its monitoring and management. All data will be regularly transmitted back to the shore-based control center through the deep sea glider, and researchers can also remotely control the in-situ scientific experiment station.

The station's power system can store 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and support the station to work continuously on the seabed for more than half a year.

In this mission, the "Deep Sea Warrior" crewed submersible connected to the base station with the in-situ lab and carried out a series of tests, such as the wireless communication and mode switching of the station.

In future missions, the station will connect to more intelligent, uncrewed experiments, detection, and information transmission systems. 
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian health authorities said on Friday the government has set aside 8 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 3.4 million U.S. dollars) for training 139 medical specialists.

Ummy Mwalimu, the health minister, said the training of the medical specialists under the government scholarships was aimed at filling the shortage of the highly required medical personnel.

"The 139 medical personnel that will benefit from the scholarships is the brainchild of President Samia Suluhu Hassan," Mwalimu told a news conference in the capital Dodoma.

She said 136 of the selected 139 medical specialists will be trained abroad and three will be trained within the east African nation.

Upon completion of their studies the medical specialists will be assigned to work in public hospitals for three consecutive years, said the minister.

She said the medical specialists have been selected from the country's leading medical facilities. 
LONDON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of a human community with a shared future has been an "outstanding" theoretical achievement of global significance, a renowned British sociologist said.

"When you talk about a shared human future, you talk about the things that we can do together in the future, not a future where we are all the same," Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua.

Albrow has made multiple visits to China since the 1980s and has been closely watching China's development.

A pioneer in the study of globalization in the West, he has been focusing his research on China's development, systems and governance in recent years.

Albrow told Xinhua that he first came across the idea of a human community with a shared future in the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," and that he was impressed most by Xi's "logical and theoretical exploration of concepts."

"For the future, you have to have ideas developing all the time," he said. "And this is what Xi Jinping does. He is, from that point of view, absolutely outstanding."

That is how he started off with years of research into this idea, having published two books in recent years, titled "China's Role in a Shared Human Future: Towards Theory for Global Leadership" in 2018 and "China and the Shared Human Future: Exploring Common Values and Goals" lately.

At the launch of his new book in April, Albrow said the idea of building a human community with a shared future was to update the age old Chinese idea of harmony without uniformity, between cultures, including all people.

In his new book, the British scholar wrote that the COVID-19 has shown to perfection that it is imperative for human beings to work together to meet global challenges and build a human community with a shared future, and that it is also imperative for all in the world to recognize that mankind has a shared destiny and future and must therefore look out for each other and marshal a collective response to global challenges.

At present, China offers the world qualities that can mobilize other countries to meet global threats, he noted.

China now, with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is for the first time in its history taking its unique national experience into a wider world far beyond its traditional boundaries, Albrow said in his book.

The proposal's main difference from the Western-inspired models of governance is that it looks to shared goals rather than the imposition of rules, and it approaches other cultures in the spirit of finding common goals and shared projects, he added.

"The global future of the human species ... is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world. There are so many things that need to be done. So China can take the lead on that," Albrow said.

This echoed his words during a previous interview with Xinhua, in which he said: "Belt and Road provides the world with two important examples of how to build a community of shared future. Firstly it shows that technologies cross boundaries. They are the products of human ingenuity and efforts that can benefit all who care to make use of them. Secondly, it is the exact opposite to isolation. China and the other nations joining in the Belt and Road agreements are using their sovereign rights and power to work towards goals that all can share and help to meet global challenges that face us all."

"China has this fabric of ideas which holds it together ... It is also held together by its past and its culture," the expert said. "China has a theoretically-led government system. This is one of the most extraordinary strengths of it."

The global future "is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world, not just people of this country or that country," Albrow noted.

Tackling such big global issues as climate change, nuclear security and deforestation needs "the focus for collective activities, which go beyond national boundaries," he said. 
South Africa: President Ramaphosa commits government to working with Zulu King

President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed government to work with King Misuzulu KaZwelithini to change the lives of the people, and transform rural areas into places of development and prosperity.

Our traditional leaders are the custodians of the cultures, customs and traditions that make us who we are, President Ramaphosa said on Saturday.

He was speaking at a ceremony to hand over a certificate of recognition to the King of the Zulu nation, His Majesty Misuzulu KaZwelithini, at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

President Ramaphosa had already issued the certificate to His Majesty earlier this year, and in accordance with a wish expressed by the Royal Family, he formally handed over the certificate in todays ceremony.

I do so to fulfil my duty under our Constitution, which affirms the role of our kings and queens. Today, we are here to witness a new epoch in the history of AmaZulu.

We pray that His Majestys reign will be a long and glorious one. May your hand be guided by the Almighty. May your rule be one of justice, compassion, peace and unity.

May your rule be one of justice, compassion, peace and unity. Your Majesty, Hlanga Lomhlabathi, your people look to you to lead them to a bright, glorious new future. It is a heavy responsibility, but also an illustrious one, President Ramaphosa said.

The President said King Misuzulu is the bond that binds the Zulu nation together.

You are the latest in a long line of great kings, who have seen many challenges across the centuries, and today we are also faced with many difficulties.

Millions of our people are unemployed and live in poverty. Substance abuse, crime and the abuse of women, children and the elderly are devastating our communities. Many of our rural areas suffer from poor services and lack of jobs. Land reform remains a huge problem.

"As government at local, provincial and national level, we continue to make several interventions to address all these challenges and will want to rely on you, Your Majesty, to work with us to address the problems that our people are facing on a daily basis.

President Ramaphosa said King Misuzulu is a leader who enjoys the respect and confidence of the people. "A leader that governs with compassion and kindness, especially to the most vulnerable, is loved.

Addressing the ceremony, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said today marks a time, as the province, they finally leave behind the pain they felt as a nation when they lost in quick succession their beloved King Zwelithini and the Regent Queen Mantfombi.

Today, we turn an important page, a new chapter in a fascinating book, in which resides the great tales of our kingdom. We embark on this exciting journey as a nation, in which we take part in the ascendancy to the throne of our King, whose name is King Misuzulu, said Dube-Ncube.

Dube-Ncube said the province's hopes for a better and fruitful future are raised aloft today, as King Misuzulu takes the throne to continue being the light that illuminates the people's collective future.

You are the hope and father of the Zulu nation, irrespective of political affiliations or religious dominations. We are particularly grateful that Your Majesty is following firmly on the late fathers footsteps in preaching unity among the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

The provincial government will continue to honour the throne by providing all the necessary support to the Royal Family and the institution of traditional leadership, she said.

Today was the first time many witnessed a certificate handover ceremony, as many did not witness the inauguration of the late King Zwelithini more than 50 years ago.

Duduzile Nkabinde, who came all the way from Port Shepstone, told SAnews that she would not have missed todays big event.

I wanted to see the President and the King sitting together. This is something we dont see or witness everyday, Nkabinde said.

Mthokozisi Nkambule said todays ceremony will be remembered many years to come and that generations to come will be told about it.

Kings are very important in every nation. They are custodians of our cultures and traditions. A nation without a king is like lost sheep.

The certificate handover ceremony of the ninth AmaZulu King takes place after King Misuzulu ascended to the throne following the passing of his father, King Goodwill Zwelithini Zulu in March last year and the subsequent passing away of the Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini in 2021.

Misuzulu was recognised as the King-elect of the Zulu nation by President Cyril Ramaphosa after consultation with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the then Premier of KwaZulu-Natal.

Todays ceremony was attended by Cabinet Ministers, politicians and dignitaries from other countries.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were shot outside of a church in Pittsburgh of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania on Friday afternoon.

One victim is in critical condition, while others suffered less serious injuries, in the shooting that took place during a funeral service, police said.

The Pittsburgh Public Safety Department tweeted that "multiple shots fired in the area of 3700 block of Brighton Road."

No information about the suspect has been released.

Gun violence has led to more than 36,600 deaths across the United States so far this year, according to the latest data from Gun Violence Archive. 
Kenyans who studied in China take part in an event supporting China's fight against the novel coronavirus in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, Feb. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

The umbrella body for Kenyans who have lived in China in pursuit of higher education met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi amid calls to deepen cooperation in areas that would unleash mutual benefits.

NAIROBI, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The umbrella body for Kenyans who have lived in China in pursuit of higher education met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Friday amid calls to deepen cooperation in areas that would unleash mutual benefits.

The meeting brought together diplomats and dozens of local citizens who studied in the Asian nation.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian said members of the alumni association were in a vantage position to promote fruitful cooperation among long-standing allies.

Zhou said Kenyans who have studied in China should be at the forefront of advancing friendship and cross-cultural understanding as they apply skills, acquired at the Asian nation's tertiary institutions, to develop their homeland.

He said China-Kenya cooperation has reached a significant milestone and the two countries should share a wealth of experience and best practices to rejuvenate institutions of governance.

Henry Rotich, chairman of the Kenya-China Alumni Association and a beneficiary of a Chinese government scholarship, said local scholars can apply skills acquired in China to transform the economy as well as tackle poverty and unemployment.

Mary Anne Njen Kungu (C), a Kenyan student studying in China and a volunteer at Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, helps a tourist with QR code scanning at one of the park's entrances in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang)

According to Rotich, an extended study tour in China has exposed Kenyan youth to the rich culture of the Asian nation and the positive attributes of its people like courtesy, hardworking spirit and friendliness.

"One of our core missions as members of the alumni is to promote Kenya-China friendship. Kenyans from all walks of life who have benefitted from scholarships to study in China are actively working in key sectors of the economy," said Rotich.

He noted that China-funded projects like the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway and the Nairobi Expressway have hastened economic modernization besides fostering job creation and skills transfer in Kenya.

Rotich added that some of the skills, acquired in China by members of the alumni association including proficiency in mandarin, engineering, mining and medicine, can be harnessed to revitalize the local economy.
Photo taken on Oct. 22, 2022 shows bicycle taxi riders waiting for customers in Petauke district, Eastern Province, Zambia. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A visit to Petauke district, located in the eastern part of Zambia, is incomplete without one experiencing the excitement of being on a bicycle.

It is because bicycles are a popular mode of transport in the district used to ferry people and goods from one place to another.

But the use of bicycles as taxis did not start because of the need to promote environmental awareness in Petauke, as is the case in many parts of the world. Instead, it was financial challenges that pushed residents to seek out cheaper modes of transport.

Bicycle transport fares in the district are about four to five times cheaper than those of ordinary taxis. The fares start from 3 Zambian Kwacha (about 0.19 U.S. Dollars). Riders earn around 60 Zambian Kwacha (about 3.8 U.S. Dollars) per day.

"I have made it a point to use a bicycle taxi whenever I am going to work or running errands. Doing so has helped me reduce expenses," said Sara Nyirenda, a 28-year-old Petauke resident.

And Genesis Zulu, who has been in the bicycle transport business for about a year, pointed out that many of the district's young people have escaped extreme poverty by working as bicycle taxi riders.

"Most of those involved in this business are able to afford necessities. They have even stopped looking for jobs because they use the bicycles to meet financial needs," he said.

The 24-year-old Zulu explained that the trend of using bicycles as a mode of transport started in Chipata, the capital of Zambia's Eastern Province, and spread to other districts in the province.

While bicycles for sale are readily available in Petauke, some youths lack resources to buy them. To help young people in such situations, some bicycle traders and owners hire those youths to work as bicycle riders for a specific period, after which they give them bicycles as payment.

Prices of bicycles vary depending on the type and model. However, one can get a considerably good pre-owned utility bicycle with 5000 Zambian Kwacha (about 315 U.S. Dollars).

"I was engaged as a bicycle taxi rider for ten months, after which I was given the very bicycle I was using. It is a common way of acquiring a bicycle for many youths in Petauke," said Allan Sakala, 27.

Sakala revealed that he has been a bicycle rider for about two years and is now looking forward to owning a fleet of bicycles to empower younger youths.

Civic leaders observed that the use of bicycles for transport has not only created employment for many youths in the district but also enhanced Petauke district's environmental awareness programs.

"Studies show that places, which encourage using bicycles as a mode of transport, have cleaner air. This is good for our town," said Geoffrey Daka, a councilor for Nyakawise ward in Petauke.

Daka further observed that bicycles take up far less parking space than motor vehicles. "Fewer motor vehicles means less congestion in busy trading spaces and more space for people to move about," he added. 

Photo taken on Oct. 22, 2022 shows a bicycle taxi rider and a passenger in Petauke district, Eastern Province, Zambia. (Photo by Lillian Banda/Xinhua)
MOGADISHU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least three people have been confirmed dead and several others wounded in twin blasts in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Saturday, witnesses and the police said.

A police officer told Xinhua on the phone that scores of civilians including a journalist were among the casualties in the latest attack at K-5 junction which is home to government offices, hotels and restaurants.

"So far three people have been killed and several others wounded in the attack that targeted the ministry of education. Fighting is still going on and the death toll could rise since the situation is tense," a police officer who declined to be named said.

Sadiq Dudishe, Spokesperson of the Somali Police Force said an unspecified number of people were killed, including a journalist and a district police officer.

Witnesses said the fighters stormed the Ministry of Education building located near scene of the Oct. 14, 2017 deadly attack where a massive car bomb killed 587 people that ranks as the deadliest ever attack involving the use of improvised explosive devices.

"Plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing from the scene. The number of casualties will be more since there were several people where the attack took place," Hassan Omar, a witness said.

The blast comes as the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and leaders of the federal member states including security officials were meeting in Mogadishu to discuss the ongoing offensive operations against al-Shabab.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but the al-Shabab group frequently targets government and civilian buildings across the country. 
Representatives take part in a panel discussion during a meeting under the theme "Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum" in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

The strategic partnership between Africa and China is "indisputably vital" to help the continent implement regional and global agendas through equipping its youth with technological capabilities, experts and officials have said.

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The strategic partnership between Africa and China is "indisputably vital" to help the continent implement regional and global agendas through equipping its youth with technological capabilities, experts and officials have said.

They made the remarks at a meeting under the theme "Prospects of China- Africa Cooperation: Youth Leaders Forum," that was held Thursday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye said the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) established in 2000 is "an excellent approach" to resolve the technological deficiency the African nations have faced with.

Ethiopian Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye speaks during a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

"China-Africa cooperation and diplomatic relations are overwhelming and growing as manifested by social, economic, and political partnerships," Tesfaye said, noting that the two sides have been defending intrusions coming from different corners of the world.

According to the minister, the human capital in Africa is predominantly unskilled and technologically unequipped and these situations have subjected the people in the region to poverty.

"The implementation of the regional and global agendas, such as AU's agenda 2063 and SDGs 2030, respectively, are considerably dependent on technological capability and knowledge of the youth labor force, therefore, the strategic partnership established between Africa and China is indisputably beneficiary," she said.

She added that the growing partnership between Ethiopia and China is positively contributing to the favor of a green economy, global governance system, and solidarity through trust building towards the mutual growth and development of the two countries.

The one-day forum, which was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), dwelt on possible ways to boost China and Africa multidimensional relations and promote peace and development in Africa through increased participation of the youth in leadership positions.

Zhao Zhiyuan, China's Ambassador to Ethiopia, on his part emphasized that the purpose and goal of China foreign policy is crystal clear, and that is to safeguard world peace, promote common development, and push for a community of shared future for mankind.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan speaks during a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

The ambassador said some forces continue interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and threatening global order, adding the government of China would continue striving for fairness and justice, achieving modernization and global development.

Zhao noted that global development initiatives of China would help Africa implement the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and jointly write new chapter in the era of solidarity and cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, Tesfaye Yilma, State Minister for Political and Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said China and Ethiopia have long-standing relations built on shared history and solid foundation, guided by the principles of trust and respect.

Yilma said China remains to be Ethiopia's major trading partner and source of foreign direct investment and finance for infrastructure projects across the country.
BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's automobile manufacturing industry posted steady revenue growth in the first three quarters of this year, official data showed.

The sector raked in some 6.61 trillion yuan (about 922 billion U.S. dollars) during the January-September period, up 6.7 percent from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

In the first three quarters, the sector's profit shrank 1.9 percent year on year, with the decline narrowing by 5.4 percentage points over the first eight months, data showed.

In September alone, the industry saw its profit rise 47.4 percent from a year ago, supported by the recovery of supply and industrial chains and growth in new energy vehicle output, the bureau said.

China produced 19.63 million vehicles in the first nine months, up 7.4 percent year on year. A total of 19.47 million automobiles were sold in the country during the period, rising 4.4 percent over last year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. 
BEIJING, Oct. 29 (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).

President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo said that under Xi's outstanding leadership, China has made historic achievements in economic and social development, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, and will usher in an even better future.

President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum said that Xi has led China to great achievements in national development, and his election demonstrates the unparalleled confidence of the Chinese people in him.

The 20th CPC National Congress has charted the future course for the Chinese people, and it is believed that China will make new major contributions to peace, democracy, development, human rights and international cooperation, said Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said that thanks to Xi's efforts, Cyprus and China have forged closer ties. He said he believes that the mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries in various fields will be further strengthened.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani extended sincere congratulations to Xi on his election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. He wished the friendly Chinese people continuous development and progress, and that the strategic partnership between Qatar and China will be further strengthened.

Xi's election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee demonstrates the trust of the CPC and the Chinese people in him, said Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the Militant Socialist Movement of Mauritius and Mauritian prime minister.

He voiced confidence that under Xi's leadership, China will remain committed to safeguarding international peace and stability.

In the course of achieving the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, China will have closer cooperation with other developing countries, said Gaston Browne, leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and the country's prime minister.

Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa expressed sincere congratulations to Xi, saying she believes that under Xi's strong leadership, China will continue to develop and always enjoy prosperity.

China has provided the world with a solution to poverty alleviation of milestone significance, said Ronnie Brunswijk, head of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), who is also vice president of Suriname.

Brunswijk also said that the ABOP looks forward to strengthening relations with the CPC and continuously promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of Thailand's Palang Pracharath Party and the country's deputy prime minister, said that his party is willing to further deepen all-round exchanges and cooperation with the CPC and make greater contributions to the development of bilateral relations and the welfare of the two peoples. 
BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has ordered the arrest of Sun Yuanliang, former vice chairman of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, for suspected bribe-taking.

The National Commission of Supervision has completed an investigation into Sun's case and handed it over to prosecutors, the SPP said.

Further handling of the case is underway. 
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Delegates to a one-day conference on China-Africa cooperation through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) agreed that the forum has helped bolster friendship and cooperation between China and Africa.

Opening the conference on Thursday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Tanzania's Minister for Trade and Industrial Development Omar Shabaan said FOCAC, established in 2000, is helping Africa to realize industrialization.

The FOCAC was an effective platform and multilateral mechanism for China and African countries to conduct collective consultations and carry out pragmatic cooperation.

"The FOCAC is raising African countries' status in the global industry and supply chains," Shabaan told the conference jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the Center for International Policy - Africa (CIP), a regional think-tank that analyses pressing global challenges and contributes to actionable steps that leaders and citizens can adapt to address them.

Shabaan said Africa's trust in Sino-African cooperation is a result of China's favorable and deliverable policy toward the continent, which is based on sincerity, equality, mutual benefit and common development aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Chinese ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said the FOCAC is a successful example of mutual assistance and common development among developing countries.

Chen said since the establishment of the FOCAC, Chinese enterprises have built more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 1,000 bridges, nearly 100 ports, and a large number of hospitals and schools in Africa, which have made outstanding contributions to improving infrastructure and enhancing independent development capacity in Africa.

"The FOCAC is an important pillar for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era," said the Chinese envoy.

She said in 2021, China-Africa trade volume was 254.2 billion U.S. dollars, and China's stock of direct investment in Africa exceeded 56 billion U.S. dollars, 25 times and 100 times that of 2000, when the forum was established, respectively.

Wu Peng, the Secretary General of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC and Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said over the past 22 years, with the continuously enabling mechanism and enriching content, FOCAC has become a flag of China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.

Speaking in a video message, Wu said China firmly believed that developing countries should be more confident to blaze a new pace suited to their national conditions toward modernization.

Wang Huiyao, President of the Centre for China and Globalization, said in his video presentation that the China-Africa relationship is heading in a direction of prosperity and richness.

"China-Africa has achieved fruitful cooperation in terms of trade, investment, infrastructure, construction and many more," said Wang.

The African Union (AU) Permanent Representative to China, Rahamtalla Osman Elnor, said in a video presentation that the 8th FOCAC ministerial conference held in Dakar, Senegal, announced initiatives and commitments for new important development for the African continent.

Elnor said it was important for African governments, businesses to digest the initiatives and commitments and ensure implementation of what has been agreed.

President and CEO of the CIP Omar Mjenga said the China-Africa friendship has not been an overnight achievement, nor has it been gifted from on high.

"The friendship has been fostered throughout the years when China and Africa supported and stood alongside each other in trying times," said Mjenga.

He added that "it is during these trying and difficult times, when none was ready to support the continent, when China came to the heed of many African countries despite of its poor economic situation at that time."

Indeed, China and Africa have stood together in success and adversity, setting an example for building a global community of a shared future, said Mjenga.

Delegates to the conference included former Tanzanian ambassadors to China, ambassadors and high commissioners representing their countries from the African continent and representatives from international organizations, especially the United Nations.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
HELSINKI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ways to further enhance cooperation between Finland and Sweden, especially on their path to membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), topped the agenda of talks held here by Sweden's newly-elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and her host and Finnish counterpart, Sanna Marin, on Friday.

The two prime ministers highlighted the importance of cooperation between Finland and Sweden, particularly in the future NATO membership.

"This relationship plays a particularly important role in the current crises. Concrete areas where cooperation should be strengthened include developing security of supply and countering hybrid threats," the Finnish government said in a press release.

The two leaders agreed that their countries should join NATO in lockstep.

"The trilateral agreement between Finland, Sweden and Turkiye is valid and we are committed to fulfil our obligations according to that agreement," Kristersson said. The agreement paves the way for the NATO allies to invite Finland and Sweden to join their ranks.

This was Kristersson's first visit abroad since becoming prime minister last week. He also met with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto. 
Visitors watch a giant panda at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office".

Early Friday morning, visitors came to the post office of the zoo to buy limited edition of giant panda stamps for the anniversary.

By talking to the "true love fans" who were waiting eagerly in the long queue, one might just get a glimpse of how popular pandas are in Japan.

"I have been to 23 countries and regions to see giant pandas." "I even dream of giant pandas." "Fifty years ago, I took a special leave from work to see the giant pandas."

On Oct. 28, 1972, a pair of giant pandas, Kang Kang and his partner Lan Lan, arrived at Ueno Zoo as a gift from China to commemorate the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries, sparking an unprecedented panda craze in Japan.

The annual number of visitors to the zoo, which stood at around 4 million before the giant pandas' arrival, soared to a record high of 9.2 million in 1973.

In the queue waiting to buy the commemorative stamps, some people wore masks with giant panda pictures, some were carrying bags with giant panda patterns, some were covered in panda accessories, and some were holding giant panda dolls in their arms. Whether it was a gray-haired man or a babbling kid, they expressed love for giant pandas in their own way.

Miho Nakagawa, known as the "giant panda reporter", was at the front of the line. She told Xinhua that she has been to 23 countries and regions in order to see giant pandas. In 2019, she published a monograph on giant pandas, telling the stories of giant pandas around the world.

Today, Nakagawa has become a full-time reporter, taking various photos related to giant pandas every day and sharing them with the Japanese people on the Internet.

Seventy-three-year-old Kikue Hisatsune told Xinhua about her visit to Ueno Zoo to see the pandas 50 years ago. "I asked for a special leave when I heard I could see giant pandas." Now, retired Hisatsune has become a giant panda volunteer at the zoo to help more visitors, especially children, to learn about pandas.

Sanpei Hayashiya, a well-known Japanese rakugo comedian, also showed up at the zoo with his wife on the anniversary. Hayashiya has lived near the Ueno Zoo since he was a child, and he still remembered the first time he saw giant pandas.

"I was five years old at that time, and I had to wait in a very long line to see the pandas," Hayashiya said, adding that now that he has become a father, he often comes here to see the pandas with his son.

Tadao Futatsugi, honorary president of the Ueno Tourism Federation and a full-time giant panda ambassador, has a huge collection of giant panda dolls. "Giant pandas make Ueno full of energy," he said.

Around Ueno Park where Ueno Zoo is located, there are panda-themed bakeries, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops everywhere.

Katsuhiro Miyamoto, professor emeritus of Kansai University in Osaka prefecture, took Xiang Xiang, a giant panda born in 2017, for an example and estimated that the female had brought a 26.7 billion yen (181 million U.S. dollars) economic effect to Ueno Park and its surrounding stores.

"Wow, that's so cute!" At 10:00 a.m., the Panda Forest at Ueno Zoo opened its gate. Excited voices echoed from the crowd. Camera shutters sounded non-stop as the giant pandas turned and twisted to the delight of the visitors.

Toshimitsu Doi, former director of Ueno Zoo, told Xinhua that Ueno Zoo has made great efforts in the raising and breeding of giant pandas over the past 50 years, and China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has provided tremendous support.

"When the pandas were to deliver cubs, we would always invite Chinese instructors to come guide us on the spot. They were very skilled and professional in every detail and taught us everything," Doi said.

Many visitors expressed their deep affection for the pandas during the interview. "Giant pandas are like our own precious children. Watching them from birth to growth, their every move touches our hearts."

"Giant pandas are ambassadors of peace and happiness. We will always love pandas," Futatsugi's words have spoken the mind of the Japanese people who love giant pandas. 

Giant pandas eat bamboos at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Visitors watch giant pandas at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

People take photos of a panda-shaped balloon, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas, at the exit of Ueno station in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Visitors watch giant pandas at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

This photo taken on Oct. 28, 2022 shows panda-themed products at a shop near the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

A woman prepares to take photos of a board, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas, at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Chinese giant pandas in Japan, Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has recently set up a "Giant Panda Post Office". (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
YAN'AN, Shaanxi/ANYANG, Henan, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The most challenging and arduous tasks we face in building a modern socialist China in all respects remain in rural areas, stressed Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, during his recent inspection tours to Shaanxi Province's Yan'an city and Henan Province's Anyang city.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged solid steps to comprehensively study and implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and continue prioritizing the development of agriculture and rural areas. The Yan'an Spirit and the Hongqi Canal Spirit should be carried forward, and our achievements in poverty alleviation be consolidated and expanded, said Xi. He also called for efforts to advance rural revitalization across the board and ceaselessly strive for the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the visits.

The visits lasted from Wednesday to Friday. Xi visited the rural area and a school in Yan'an city with the company of Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, and Zhao Yide, governor of Shaanxi province. He visited Anyang city, where he inspected a revolutionary education base and a cultural relics protection unit, accompanied by Lou Yangsheng, secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, and Wang Kai, governor of Henan.

An old revolutionary base, Yan'an used to suffer entrenched poverty. Xi has been concerned about folks in northern Shaanxi. In February 2015, Xi presided over a seminar on eliminating poverty for a better life in the old revolutionary bases of the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. He delivered an important speech that charted the course for the critical battle against poverty in these regions. Yan'an was Xi's first destination for his inspection tour after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress. He wished to see how the folks were doing after being lifted out of poverty and learn about the difficulties they were facing and their views on rural revitalization.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, Xi traveled to the Nangou village of Gaoqiao town, Ansai district of Yan'an city as soon as he got off the train. An apple orchard in the mountain was embracing a bumper harvest. Xi walked into the orchard and chatted with growers who were picking apples. He asked about this year's harvest and picked a big red apple. He also learned about apple-growing technique, picking method, apple variety and quality, sale price, villagers' income as well as how to further promote apple-growing and other industries. Xi showed great concern for irrigation and water use. Local villagers told him that they had effectively solved the problem by building dams, as well as adopting drip irrigation and fine management. Xi recognized their efforts, saying, "This is exactly agricultural modernization. And you have found the right path to industrial development."

At an apple washing and selecting workshop, Xi was briefed on the development of the local apple industry and checked the production line for sorting and packaging apples. A variety of locally-grown apples and deep-processed products were on display. He looked at them with great interest and listened to the briefing carefully. Xi affirmed what the locals have done in developing modern agriculture and rural tourism, cultivating and boosting the collective economy, which has helped villagers increase their incomes and become well-off.

Outside the workshop, villagers gathered to greet Xi in a loud voice. Xi chatted with them and recalled the years he spent as an educated youth in northern Shaanxi. He said to them, "I once lived in northern Shaanxi for seven years. During that time, when I saw people were leading a hard life, I thought about what could be done to make their lives better. This time, when I came, I saw a bumper harvest, well-improved traffic conditions as well as other fundamental changes." In the past, villagers in northern Shaanxi had to reclaim terraces and plant crops, having their feet firmly planted in the soil. Carrying hoes into the field and farming all day long, they lived a tough life with their work hardly paying off. Now, with the efforts to convert farmland on the mountains to forest, apple trees have been planted on the hillsides. Villagers have work to do with stable income, children enjoy good education and the elderly benefit from medical insurance -- their lives are getting better day by day. The achievements made in northern Shaanxi are a vivid epitome of the great changes taking place in China, Xi said, pointing out that China has achieved the First Centenary Goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the problem of absolute poverty has been solved and the villagers now enjoy good living conditions, but we should continue to work hard and make our lives even better. The climate, sunlight, latitude, altitude and other factors in northern Shaanxi shape it into a suitable place for developing the apple industry. Besides, equipped with advanced technologies such as drip irrigation, dwarf planting, and production lines for sorting fruits, apples can be sold out locally with a vast market awaiting. Shaanxi embraces the favorable timing, geographical and human conditions to vigorously develop the apple industry, which is the perfect, most suitable and promising industry for the region, he said. Xi stressed, the CPC is a Party of the people and for the people. As the ruling Party, the CPC is committed to serving the people and doing a good job for their benefit. Empty talk will do nothing for our country; only solid work will make it flourish. We must gain a full understanding of and apply the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, advance rural revitalization across the board, implement one policy after another for the prosperity of the people, speed up the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, so that all the country folks could live a more prosperous life. Xi's remarks won thunderous applause from the villagers.

After that, Xi traveled to Zaoyuan campus of Yan'an Middle School, which was the first school of its kind set up by the CPC. With great care and attention of revolutionaries of the older generation, educationists, and leaders of the Party and the country, Yan'an Middle School has a glorious history as well as fine revolutionary traditions and has fostered many talents for the old revolutionary base areas. Xi walked into the school's education history museum to learn more about how the school is run and operated. He expressed his hope that the school should follow the Yan'an Spirit in imparting knowledge and educating students, deliver an education that the people are satisfied with, and carry forward the fine revolutionary traditions and cultivate talents of the new era.

A variety of tasty dishes were on offer at the student dining hall. Xi checked on the dishes and asked the cooks about the prices and flavors, urging them to ensure food quality and pay special attention to food hygiene, so as to provide safe and delicious meals for the students.

The students were having classes at the teaching building. Xi stepped into the classroom of Class 2, Grade 10, where he had a cordial conversation with the teacher and students. He asked the students about their ideals and what they want to become after growing up. One of the students told Xi that she wanted to be a doctor like Li Shizhen, the renowned Ming Dynasty herbalist. A student said he wanted to study pharmacy at university in the future, another student said she would like to learn foreign languages and become an interpreter for diplomatic affairs. Xi was very delighted to hear their answers and praised them as having clear life goals and lofty aspirations. He encouraged the students to establish great ideals at an early age, aspire to become capable young people of a new generation who will contribute to the development of socialism and carry forward the socialist cause, so that our revolutionary traditions and heritage can be passed down from generation to generation.

Night fell as the leaders were leaving. All students went out of their classrooms, clapping hands to see the general secretary off. Xi also waved to bid farewell to them.

On the morning of Friday, Xi arrived at the Memorial Hall of the Hongqi Canal in the city of Linzhou in Anyang, Henan Province. In the 1960s, the local people, in order to deal with the severely harsh local environment where they lived completely at the mercy of the scanty rainfall, built the water conservancy project on the mountainside of Taihang with the support of the Party and the government. The project, which diverts water from the Zhanghe River to the area, is called a "man-made river from Heaven." Xi walked into the exhibition hall and watched different parts of the exhibition -- "Millennial Struggles against the Drought," "Creating Miracles under the Leading of the Red Flag," "Heroic People and Taihang Mountain Monument," "Grand Changes and Realizing Dreams," and "The Eternal Spirit and Marching into the Future" -- one by one. Xi noted that the Hongqi Canal is a monument inscribing the heroic spirit of the unyielding and valiant local people who dare to fight to change their fate. We need to educate people, especially the youths, with the Hongqi Canal Spirit that China's socialism is won by hard work, struggles and even sacrifice of lives. This was not only true in the past but also true in the new era. Without the arduous work of the older generation, or without the blood and even lives they devoted, there would be no happy life today. We must always remember them. Today, our material life has been greatly improved, but the spirit of perseverance like "the bullheaded old man removing the mountain" and the hard-working style must not change. The Hongqi Canal is of so much educational significance that everyone should come to have a look. Then, Xi inspected the operation of the canal's water diversion sluice gate on the site and learned about the functions of the sluice gate in water diversion, irrigation and environmental improvement.

During the construction of the Hongqi Canal, 300 youngsters formed a commando team, and, with 17 months of hard fighting, they tunneled through the hard rock on the dangerous terrains for a stretch of the canal. The tunnel they made was named "The Youth Tunnel." Xi walked up the steps and came to "The Youth Tunnel," inspecting the canal along the way. He stressed that the Hongqi Canal Spirit and the Yan'an Spirit are coherent and come in continuity, and both are indelible historical memories of the Chinese nation, always stirring people's soul. He said the younger generation must carry forward the spirit of staying tough and diligent, self-reliant and hard-working, abandon the finicky lifestyle and complacent attitude, and, like our parents' generation, leave a memorable legacy in history with their youthful enthusiasm. The onus is on our generations to realize the Second Centenary Goal, Xi said. We are living in a remarkable time and must make our own contributions so as to live up to people's expectations. The Hongqi Canal Spirit will never perish!

On the afternoon of Friday, Xi made an inspection tour of the Yinxu Ruins situated on both banks of the Huanhe River in the northwest suburbs of Anyang. The 3,300-year-old Yinxu Ruins has been confirmed by historic documents and archaeological excavations as the capital site of late Shang (Yin) Dynasty, the first such ruins so confirmed in Chinese history. Walking slowly into the Yinxu Museum, Xi attentively observed the bronze ware, jade ware, oracle bone inscriptions, and other unearthed relics. Then, Xi visited the Exhibition Hall of Chariot Pits where he observed the original-sized samples of animal-driven carts and remains of a Shang Dynasty road. He pointed out that oracle bone inscriptions unearthed at Yinxu Ruins kept the evidence of the Chinese written language of 3,000 years ago, helping to bring recorded Chinese history nearly 1,000 years earlier than previously believed. "I have long been yearning for visiting here. This time I come here for a deeper study and understanding of the Chinese civilization so that we can make the past serve the present, and draw inspirations for better building modern Chinese civilization," he said. The Chinese characters are extraordinary and serve as a tie in the forming and development of Chinese nation, and the archaeologists have done a great job in this regard. We should attach more importance to and put more efforts on archaeological research to carry forward the project of tracing the origins of the Chinese civilization. With a long and continuous history stretching back to antiquity, the Chinese civilization shaped our great nation, and this nation will continue to be great, he added. Xi urged efforts to carry forward the fine traditional culture through discovery, research and conservation of the cultural relics. He stressed that fine traditional Chinese culture is the root of the Party's new theories. The ultimate approach of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times is to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture. We should stay confident in our culture and be more confident and prouder to be Chinese.

Chen Xi and other leading officials of relevant central authorities accompanied Xi in these activities. 
Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, hosted a horse race on Friday. Fifty jockeys participated in the race, which consisted of six runs.
Cuban legislators condemned the intensification of the U.S. trade embargo against the Caribbean nation during a parliamentary hearing.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




NIS, Serbia, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) pledged to allocate 165 million euros (165 million U.S. dollars) to aid Serbia amid the ongoing energy crisis, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said here on Friday.

She made the remarks after she met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at a gas infrastructure construction site near the city of Nis in Serbia.

Vucic and Von der Leyen toured the construction work at the Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector, which should be completed by September 2023, the Serbian president's office said in a press release.

Von der Leyen called on Serbia to join the EU's joint procurement of natural gas and highlighted the importance of diversification of gas procurement as well.

Vucic hailed that the EU allocated support worth 500 million euros for the Western Balkans, related to investments in electrical transmission interconnection between countries in the region, and the EU co-financed the construction of natural gas pipeline interconnector with Bulgaria. (1 euro = 1 U.S. dollar) 
QUITO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 people died from bootleg liquor poisoning in two Ecuadorian provinces, with 52 others suffering from methyl alcohol intoxication, the Public Health Ministry said on Friday.

Authorities continue "to monitor and investigate the cases of mass intoxication," the ministry said in a press release.

In Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, seven people aged 25-56 have died, including a woman, while in Esmeraldas, five men died, ranging in age from 42 to 65.

The ministry also warned the public to avoid consuming alcohol of dubious origin.

Anyone with symptoms of methyl alcohol intoxication, such as abdominal pain, blurred vision, nausea or altered state of consciousness, should seek immediate medical help, the ministry said. 
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supports the renewal and full implementation of the agreements to facilitating the export of food and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia, said his spokesman on Friday.

"The Secretary-General expresses his unwavering commitment and strong support to the renewal and full implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as for the full implementation of the agreement signed with the Russian Federation. Both agreements aim to ensure that grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and the Russian Federation reach global markets at the speed and price needed to avert a global food crisis and ensure food security," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The United Nations continues its active and constant engagement with all parties toward that goal, said the statement.

"We underline the urgency of doing so to contribute to food security across the world, and to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people," said the statement. "If food and fertilizers do not reach global markets now, farmers will not have fertilizers at the right time and at a price they can afford as the planting season begins, endangering crops in all regions of the world in 2023 and 2024, with dramatic effect on food production and food prices worldwide. The current crisis of affordability will turn into a crisis of availability."

The impact of the agreement signed in Istanbul has been clearly demonstrated. Exports of grain and other food products under the Black Sea Grain Initiative have surpassed 9 million tons, with the close monitoring and coordination of the Joint Coordination Centre, which comprises representatives from Russia, Turkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations under the terms of the agreement, it said.

The resumption of exports has significantly contributed to lower prices of wheat and other commodities. The Food and Agriculture Organization's food index has declined for 7 months in a row. According to UN estimates based on the World Bank model, the reduction of prices for staple foods has indirectly prevented some 100 million people from falling into extreme poverty, said the statement.

The initial duration of the agreement to facilitate grains and fertilizer exports from Ukraine is 120 days and can be extended automatically on Nov. 19 if no party objects.

"We urge all parties to make every effort to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative and implement both agreements to their fullest, including the expedited removal of any remaining impediments to Russian grain and fertilizer export. The United Nations is fully committed to continuing to work with all parties to ensure that we reach this goal. We do not underestimate the challenges. But we know they can be overcome," said the statement.

Governments, shipping companies, grain and fertilizer traders and farmers all over the world are now looking for clarity on the future, it said. 
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on Oct. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, briefed Burns on the major achievements and significance of the 20th CPC National Congress.

Wang noted that China-U.S. relations are at a critical juncture. Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out that China and the United States should respect each other, coexist peacefully and forge win-win cooperation. Wang said this is the fundamental principle for the two countries to develop their relations.

Neither China nor the United States can change the other, the United States should stop trying to deal with China from a position of strength and stop trying to suppress and contain China's development, Wang said.

Burns said the United States is willing to strengthen communication with China, manage differences, and advance cooperation. 
BAGHDAD, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- A tanker truck explosion in northeastern Baghdad on Saturday killed at least eight people and wounded another 18, Iraqi security sources have said.

The moving truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas exploded after a road accident with another car in the al-Binouk neighborhood, damaging several nearby civilian cars and buildings, a source from the Iraqi Interior Ministry's media office told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The death toll could rise as ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals and medical centers, the source said.

Meanwhile, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command confirmed the deadly blast in a statement. It said that more details would be released after an investigation into the incident. 
HOUSTON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Six children aged from one year to 13 were killed in apparent murder-suicide at home on Thursday in Broken Arrow, south central U.S. state of Oklahoma, authorities said Friday.

Two adult suspects were also found deceased in the home, Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill said at a news conference, adding that guns have been recovered from the home.

"At this time we do not believe that any of the victims died from the fire, however the final determination for the cause of death will be made by the medical examiner," Broken Arrow Fire Chief Jeremy Moore said.

A blaze erupted Thursday afternoon in the rear of the home, and fire crews responded within minutes and found the dead inside, said Moore.

Broken Arrow is a suburban city about 15 miles southeast of downtown Tulsa, the second-largest city of Oklahoma. 
By Trend

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) plans to open a representative office in Turkmenistan, Trend reports with reference to "SNG.fm" online radio.

This was announced by Deputy Head of the Department for Science and Technology of SOCAR head Office Emin Alekperov at the 27th "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan -2022" International Conference (OGT-2022), which started on October 26 in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat.

He noted that SOCAR is engaged in the exploration, development, production, transportation and refining of oil and gas. The company has joint ventures and its own factories in a number of countries, representative offices in more than 10 countries, as well as a research and design institute, whose branches are located in Uzbekistan.

Alekperov noted that SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf held a meeting with the Turkmen side, where the topic of transportation of natural resources was discussed, as well as the issue of opening an office of the company in Turkmenistan.

Furthermore, he stressed that the establishment of political, economic, and cultural ties always has a positive effect on the development of interstate cooperation, and also added that business meetings are actively held at the OGT-2022 international forum, which help to accelerate the resolution of technical issues on interaction.
Srinagar: Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI has prepared a plan to infiltrate into India. In this regard, the Pakistani agency has also held a meeting with the terrorist commander of terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). According to sources, terrorists on the border are trying to do fidayeen attacks. This has been revealed in the MAC report.

According to the report, the number of terrorist training camps and launch pads in PoK has increased rapidly. According to sources, the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has increased the terrorist training camp by 50 per cent. Terrorists have become active in PoK amid the current situation in the neighbouring country. Suddenly the number of terrorists has increased on 24 launch pads of PoK. Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI wants to infiltrate terrorists into India through PoK.

Terrorists are being brought to the launch pad with the help of the ISI and the Pak army. In the last one week, 117 terrorists have arrived in the Keran, Gurez and Machil sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. According to intelligence sources, 32 terrorists have been assembled through 3 launch pads (Losar complex, Sonar, Sardari) of PoK across the border in the Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorists can use 3 routes from these areas. According to sources, terrorists can infiltrate into India through routes like Nowshera Nar, Govind Nala, and Paribal Forest.

First road made from plastic waste in Punjab, minister said- Will help in...

'Teri Aukaat Batau Tere Ko..,' BJP leader abuses woman in public place

World's tallest Shiva statue inaugurated, can be seen from 20 km away
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (October 28) lashed out at Pakistan and China on the issue of terrorism. Jaishankar said that the main conspirators of the 26 November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks are still safe and have not been punished. He stressed that India understands the consequences of terrorism far better than others. At the same time, regarding China, he said that it has on many occasions obstructed the proposals brought in the UNSC to ban Pakistani terrorists.

Addressing an informal session of the UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, the External Affairs Minister said the main perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks are still safe, while India has nabbed one of the 10 attackers. taken and convicted. Jaishankar further said that when the step was taken to ban some terrorists, in some cases the UNSC could not act due to political reasons.

He said that 'A terrorist (Ajmal Kasab) was caught alive, the Supreme Court of India prosecuted and sentenced him, while the main conspirators of the Mumbai terror attacks are still safe and have not been punished.' Jaishankar said that this attack was not only on Mumbai but on the international community. He said, 'Terrorism from across the border, which has been happening for decades, has neither weakened nor will our commitment to fight it (terrorism).' He said that we have to keep our political differences away to deal with this problem. The fight against terrorism has to be fought resolutely on all fronts, under all circumstances and in all places.

J&K: 15 houses gutted in massive fire, no casualties reported

Farmers protest in a unique way by climbing on the tank, watch this video

Why did CM Mamata ask for a loan of 10 thousand crores from RBI?
Russias invasion of Ukraine has shone a spotlight on the powerful new capabilities of commercial satellitesand painted a target on their back.

Russian officials have mused about attacks on these spacecraft. Diplomat Konstantin Vorontsov told a UN meeting this week that quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation.

Read more

While the US military and intelligence agencies have their own spacecraft in orbit, a new generation of satellite operators is now providing communications and remote-sensing to American soldiers and spies, as well as their allies. Privately owned satellites are tracking the Russian military using optical, radar, and radio sensors, and providing communications to Ukrainian forces.

This has not escaped the notice of the Russian military. Russian-backed actors have attempted to jam transmissions from communications satellites and GPS navigation signals, and hacked into satellite networks to shut them down. But these non-kinetic attacks have not really succeeded in stopping the use of space assets in support of Ukraine. That has led to the discussion of kinetic threatsusing missiles to destroy satellites in orbit.

Theres no question that Russia has the capability to do this. In Nov. 2021, it destroyed one of its own satellites as a demonstration, a move that scattered chunks of satellite and missile around the planet, which the International Space Station had to dodge to avoid being struck.

Why destroying a modern satellite network is so difficult

The problem for Russia is that most privately-built satellites are small and relatively cheap, operating as networks of hundreds or even thousands of spacecraft flying many miles apart. Destroying one or even several of these spacecraft could degrade the capability of the satellite network, but not put it out of action entirely. The precision-guided missiles required to destroy the satellites, on the other hand, are expensive to build and launch, at a time when key components like silicon chips and gyroscopes are difficult for Russia to import due to sanctions.

Story continues

Indeed, the ability of SpaceXs Starlink network to continuously provide communications to Ukraine fighters has convinced the US military that using swarms of smaller satellites is smarter than its traditional approach of flying large, expensive satellites very high above the planet.

Legally speaking, an attack on civilian infrastructure exists in a grey area. Signatories to the UN Outer Space Treaty, which include Russia, commit to the peaceful exploration of space and to not deploy nuclear weapons in orbit. Otherwise, however, there is no limit on military action. Anti-satellite weapons have been tested by several countries, including the US, Russia, China, and India. They havent been used against enemy targets because, thankfully, space powers have not gone directly to war with one another.

Now, ostensibly civilian satellites are providing services directly to military users. Its easy to see, from a Russian perspective, why they could become targets of opportunity. If in some future conflict, a privately built Chinese satellite network was assisting the Peoples Liberation Army in a conflict against a US ally, you can imagine the tables being turned.

Still, theres another reason to be cautious about attacks in orbit: Destroying a satellite generates debris that threatens other spacecraft, which is why the US and other countries are pushing for a ban on testing such weapons. Any serious attempt to take out a constellation would involve multiple strikes and unpredictable results. Other satellites would be threatened, as would the International Space Station. Any state that has invested in space assets would think twice about risking them with a large strike in orbit.

More from Quartz

Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Union and United States of America agreed today to increase their collaboration to boost sustainable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, by unlocking more of the continent's abundant renewable power generation potential and improving local access to affordable green energy. European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and USAID Administrator Samantha Power signed in Washington a renewed Memorandum of Understanding on closer EUU.S. cooperation that will allow joint promotion of projects such as the African Continental Power System Masterplan.

(PRNewsfoto/Delegation of the European Union to the United States)

Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said: "Under Global Gateway, we are boosting our cooperation with the U.S. administration to build the strategic autonomy of our African partners, including by unlocking more opportunities to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. Together, we can electrify even more schools and health centers, and fight even more efficiently the inequalities linked to energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa."

Increasing production and access to sustainable energy in Africa

The closer EUU.S. cooperation aims at supporting a just and green energy transition, reducing energy poverty, and increasing access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all in Sub-Saharan Africa. By working together towards these common goals with their respective strengths, expertise and resources, the EU and U.S. hope to boost their impact in increasing sustainable energy availability and access in Africa as part of poverty reduction, fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and mitigating climate change.

The EU and U.S. intend to coordinate efforts supporting projects in Sub-Saharan Africa at regional and national level in the following areas:

Small-scale and off-grid power generation to increase access to renewable energy, including the electrification of health facilities and schools, women and youth-led businesses, and rural households.

Energy storage, energy efficiency, and transmission line development.

Empowering women in the power sector.

Policy dialogue and regulatory reforms to improve the enabling environment, and institutional investments to leverage new sources of capital and drive investment.

Knowledge sharing to maximize mutual technical assistance and the progress of reforms and capacity building activities.

Specific flagship projects to further mobilize public resources and leverage private sector investments.

Story continues

Background

Nearly two out of three people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity, a serious limitation to accessing quality health care, education, and economic opportunities for up to 600 million people.

Under Global Gateway , the AfricaEU Green Energy Initiative aims to support Africa's green transition in the energy sector by supporting the deployment of renewable energy generation, ensuring access to affordable and reliable energy, promoting energy efficiency, and supporting market integration and sector reforms. The EU supports Africa's ambition by 2030 to increase the renewable energy generation capacity on the continent by at least 300,000 megawatts.

The first EUU.S. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on energy availability and access in Sub-Saharan Africa was signed in 2015. Coordinated by USAID, the Power Africa Presidential Initiative aims to leverage private and public sector partnerships to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding at least 30,000 megawatts of new, cleaner electrical power generation capacity, 60 million electrical connections, and 5 000 kilometres of new transmission lines by 2030.

The European Union and United States of America are working together in the G7 context of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investments (PGII).

For More Information

Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and the United States of America for a Just and Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of the Energy Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

Global Gateway

EU-Africa: Global Gateway Investment Package | European Commission

EU-Africa: Global Gateway - Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative

Power Africa | Power Africa | U.S. Agency for International Development

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-gateway-eu-and-us-boost-cooperation-on-green-energy-in-africa-301650076.html

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States
New UK prime minister Sishi Sunak is African. Not by birth but through his roots which historians trace to east Africa.

Sunaks father, Yashvir Sunak, was born and raised in colonial Kenya while his mother, Usha Sunak, was born in mainland Tanzania, then called Tanganyika. They migrated from east Africa with their families to the UK in the 1960s. His grandparents were born in Punjab, India.

Read more

According to London-based historian Levin Opiyo, Sunaks grandfather Ram Dass married Suhag Rani in the 1930s and began making plans to migrate to Kenya at a time when the colonial government needed skilled workers in a country where most Africans lacked formal education to be hired.



As the government strived to address the situation by encouraging Africans to attend mission schools, it sought a temporary solutionencouraging skilled Indians to migrate to Kenya to fill the gap, Opiyo writes. Indians would later dominate Kenyas middle class, with their number rising to 150,000 by the end of World War l.

Sunaks grandfather sailed to east Africa in search of new opportunities

Dass, Opiyo writes, bought a one way ticket to Kenya, boarded a ship which set sail for Mombasa. He then took a train to Nairobi, over 400 kms away, where he began working as a casual laborer while studying accounting.

Soon he got a job in the office of chief secretary in Nairobi as a clerk. Two years later, in 1937, as soon as he was settled, Dass invited his wife to join him in Nairobi. They were blessed with six children three girls and three boys. One of the boys was Yashvir (Sunaks father), Opiyo writes.

While Yashvirs sisters went to advance their education in India, he and his male siblings were sent to study in the UK. Yashvir started his O-level studies in 1966 in Liverpool before proceeding to do medicine and graduating in 1974 and becoming a general practitioner.

Story continues

In 1972, Sunaks mother Usha, who was born in Tanzania to a tax official from Punjab graduated with a degree in pharmacy from Aston University. The two were introduced to each other by friends and married in 1977 in Leicester. They were blessed with three children among them Sunak, the new British prime minister, Opiyo writes. Sunak was born in Southampton in 1980.

Another Obama moment

When he became prime minister on Oct. 25, some citizens in Kenya and Tanzania, especially those of Indian descent were proud to see a man whose parents were born and raised in their territory take over UKs top political office. Their hope is that he will strengthen diplomatic ties and advocate for minorities, but this optimism should be tempered by the fact that he is part of the conservative party whose policies have not always favored these groups. Enthusiasm remains nonetheless.

Its another Obama moment for us. We pride ourselves in seeing him steering UKs rocky boat back to stability, Julia Onyango, a fishmonger based in Kisumu, a city located 58 kms from former US president Barack Obamas KOgalo village where his father was born, tells Quartz. However, none of Sunaks relatives live in Kenya currently.

Facebook user Abdi Yufuf wondered, So Kenya is the River Jordan where world leaders should cross to reach the promised land?

Patel Suri, a Tanzanian investor of Indian descent based in Dar es Salaam tells Quartz, Indians are smart people. You will find them playing the role of CEO in many Big Tech companies across the world. Rishi Sunak is no different. He is intelligent and the right choice for prime minister at this point of the political and economic challenges.



More from Quartz

Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
The Nebraska Hospital Association recently named F. Thomas Waring, MD, the 2022 Trustee of the Year. The Trustee of the Year award recognizes outstanding leadership and hospital governance, a commitment to excellence in health care and collaboration with community leaders to build support for their hospital.

Waring joined the medical staff at Memorial Hospital of Dodge County (now Methodist Fremont Health) in 1961 as an eye, ear, nose and throat physician. He retired in 2001 after practicing for 40 years in Fremont.

Waring was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Fremont Area Medical Center (now Methodist Fremont Health) in 2005.

For the last decade, hes been an active member of the boards Credentials, Quality and Safety Committee. His strong clinical knowledge, combined with his passion for patients and the community, continues to benefit the organizations quality and service efforts.

Dr. Waring is prepared for every meeting, having carefully reviewed all materials in advance, and frequently shares articles with the committee and other hospital leaders, said Brett Richmond, president and CEO of Methodist Fremont Health.

According to Richmond, Waring was extremely involved when Fremont Health began exploring partnership with a larger health system.

Dr. Warings involvement gave both the medical staff and the larger community confidence that the decision to partner with Methodist Health System was in the best interests of the organization and the community, Richmond said.

Waring has served Fremont and Nebraska in a variety of other ways, including serving on the boards of the Fremont Area Community Foundation, the UNMC Alumni Association and Nebraska Wesleyan University. He is a lifetime member of the American Medical Association and the Nebraska Medical Association, and an active member of the Fremont Rotary Club.

Dr. Waring and his late wife Carol have been pillars of the Fremont community for more than 60 years, Richmond said. They are both known for their generosity, faith, class, and respect for others and have served as role models for many young couples in the Fremont community.
Six members of the Fremont Area Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard attended the third annual conference of the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard (NNHG) on Saturday, Oct. 22 in Ashland.

Carol Bohling and Jan Ostransky of the Fremont Area NNHG were recognized for their excellence in community service to the Fremont area.

They were awarded the Community Service Award by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Bohling and Ostransky were instrumental in the organization of the NNHG in the Fremont area in April 2021 and continue to serve as its co-leaders.

Seventeen active and retired nursing professionals serve the Fremont area.

The mission of the NNHG, a non-profit organization, is to recognize and honor the everyday heroes who dedicated their lives to the nursing profession. The goal of the NNHG is to continue to grow and establish NNHG groups across Nebraska. The NNHG honors active or retired nursing professionals at the time of their deaths upon request of their families. The brief service is conducted at funerals, graveside services, visitations, or rosaries.

Organized in November 2019, the NNHG has inducted 139 members.

There are seven area groups in Nebraska who offer services to surrounding communitiesOmaha, Lincoln, North Platte, Fremont, Columbus, Northeast Nebraska, and North Central Nebraska.

Since the guards organization in 2019, 254 services have been conducted across the state.

The Fremont area NNHG has conducted 18 tribute services for nursing colleagues.

A Living Tribute can also be conducted for nursing professionals in hospice care.

For more information or if interested in becoming a member of the NNHG, visit the web sitenebraskanursehonorguard.org.
Fred Mytty remembers the smoke-filled room and debate over whether the county should get a ballot-reading scanner.

It was the early 1980s and Mytty, whos the Dodge County clerk and election commissioner, was at a board of supervisors meeting. County supervisors were trying to decide if they should approve the purchase of an optical scanner.

Mytty knew the scanner would eliminate ballot-counting boards and save taxpayer dollars.

Not everyone was convinced about the purchase and quite a discussion ensued.

Decades after that meeting, Mytty recalls this and other moments during his 48-year career with the county. This will be Myttys last election. He is retiring and his last day will be Jan. 4.

As he looks toward retirement, Mytty ponders changes that have occurred during his tenure.

Born in Michigan, Mytty was 2 years old when his dad died and 6 when his mother, Edith, moved the family to Fremont. At 16, Mytty was at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area when he broke his neck in a diving accident in 1967.

I know theres a reason God gave me another chance to live, Mytty later said.

Mytty would be in a wheelchair and lose full use of his hands, but he adjusted. He spent most of that year in an orthopedic hospital. Mytty did his schoolwork, taking a chemistry lab using actual labs in the hospital.

He graduated with his Fremont High School class, earned a bachelors degree in math from Midland University and a masters in business administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

After he graduated from Midland, Mytty and a cousin and his friend formed a company and went to school in San Francisco to learn to produce holograms.

Sounding like someone on Star Trek, Mytty explains the process.

You form a hologram by having two laser beams point at an object. One is reflected off and the other is not and that forms a three-dimensional picture of the object. For the 1970s that was amazing, Mytty said.

They created pictures of fun things like necklaces.

Mytty said, unfortunately, he couldnt figure out how theyd make money from that.

Nowadays, they (holograms) are on every credit card and various other security measures, he said.

Mytty doesnt regret that they left their hologram-making endeavor.

It was fun, Mytty said, adding that his cousin went on to stage laser light shows around the world and has patents on methods.

Myttys life took another turn after a neighbor suggested he run for the county clerks office. Mytty figured it would be fine if he won the election. If he didnt win, Mytty planned to go to graduate school for computer science.

He was elected in 1974.

I became a public servant, Mytty said. If I would have gone on to graduate school in computer science, I might have been rich.

As county clerk, Myttys duties have included paying the countys bills and employees. The clerk does human resources work such as handling the employees insurance applications.

The clerk creates the countys budget, serves as secretary of the county board and files documents including veterans discharge papers and marriage licenses.

Mytty manages a staff of four.

While other counties have a separate election commissioner, Dodge County doesnt, so Mytty has served in that capacity as well.

His office handles the paperwork when people file to become candidates. They prepare ballots with issues put before voters along with names of candidates running for office.

They hire poll workers, find polling places and count results.

Primary and general elections take place on even-numbered years and many special elections have occurred on odd- and, sometimes, even-numbered years.

Mytty oversees about 160 poll workers in the countys 32 precincts.

Before Mytty took office, the previous clerk and staff would be at the courthouse until 6 a.m. the day after elections trying to count all the ballots by hand.

Myttys first year, he reduced that time to 2 a.m., because he increased the size of the counting boards.

The majority of people probably dont remember that back in the 70s, the biggest problem we had were national delegate ballots, he said.

There usually were 90 names of candidates and voters selected nine in a primary election.

That took forever just to count that ballot by itself, he said.

Mytty recalls the lengthy discussion that took place years ago in the smoky room as supervisors considered buying a ballot-counting scanner.

A local resident wondered why the county would buy a machine that basically would be used just once a year. The resident and board members bantered back and forth.

Finally, supervisor Lavern Marquardt pushed his cigar to the side of this mouth.

Ive got a $200,000 combine that I only use once a year, Marquardt said.

The board approved the purchase with a 6-1 vote.

Weve had scanners ever since, Mytty said.

Eventually, the county board room wouldnt be smoke-filled after such things were banned, something Mytty, a nonsmoker, appreciates.

It was nice to see indoor quality acts like that, Mytty said.

During his tenure, Mytty has been involved in associations and honored for his work.

Hes been active in the Nebraska Association of County Officials and was president of that organization and named County Official of the Year in 2005.

In November 2018, Mytty was elected for his 12th and final term.

Hes appreciated the voters support.

Its an honor to be voted in by the people, thats for sure, he said. I dont take that lightly.

Mytty makes an observation.

Im the first person in the county to know what the elections results are, he said. Im also the first to know the tax rates for property taxes since Im the one that puts that all together for the boards approval.

Hes enjoyed his work.

As a math major, I like to see stuff balance, he said. When were working on the budget and elections, I want to make sure everything balances out before we release the figures.

He notes the complexity of elections and the budget.

Forty years ago, there werent as many people being elected, he said.

And the budget document is much bigger now with several hundred categories. Extra work is needed on lid calculations.

Myttys appreciated his staff, the board of supervisors and colleagues throughout the state.

My staff has been tremendous over the years, Mytty said. Ive had a good relationship with the county board. Weve had some great chairmen leading the county.

Mytty was married for 31 years. He has two sons, Andre and Austin, who with his wife, Sarah, are parents of a daughter, Kira.

After he retires, Mytty hopes to do some writing, maybe about his life.

Mytty also notes he and Andre took a standup comedy class. The last night of class, all 12 students had to provide a five-minute routine before a live audience.

He and Andre were the last to do their routine. They got a lot of laughs.

Now, Mytty tries to think of something humorous each day and writes notes on it.

He also hopes to travel.

Ive been to all 48 states already and Ive still got to get to Alaska and Hawaii someday, Mytty said. I plan on doing that.
HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP)  After Superstorm Sandy struck the northeast U.S. in 2012, an unprecedented effort began to fortify the densely populated coastline against the next big storm.

Thousands of homes were raised on pilings. Concrete and steel walls meant to help hold back the sea were hidden beneath rebuilt dunes and beach boardwalks. Tunnels near New York's harbor were equipped with giant flood doors.

Then, last year, the region learned that even all those precautions might not be enough in an age of more powerful storms.

Flash floods killed at least 58 people from Maryland to Connecticut when the remnants of Hurricane Ida blew into the northeast after first striking the Gulf Coast. In New York and New Jersey, people drowned in basement apartments far from any ocean or bay. In the suburbs, motorists were swept away trying to escape flooded inland roadways.

The two deadly storms, nearly a decade apart, left public officials and residents alike contemplating what more needs to be done. And today, 10 years after Sandy and with billions of dollars already spent, the most ambitious and comprehensive protections are years away from completion, with some still in early stages or even unfunded. Experts say Ida showed the area was not ready for another storm  and they worry about what will happen when the next one hits.

"We must be more prepared than we are now," said Shawn LaTourette, New Jersey's environmental protection commissioner. "We have done a lot of work since Sandy  developing the dune system, the buildings raised and the flood control infrastructure. We're still not ready."

Residents echo his concerns. "I will be forever nervous because of Sandy," said Liz Ndoye, whose Hoboken home flooded. "I will never feel safe. We can mitigate, but we will never stop the city from flooding. Every time it rains, I worry. We are in a climate crisis."

She watched Hurricane Ian devastate the Florida coast weeks ago. "This is coming for all of us," she said of future storm fears.

Experts nationwide say hurricanes like Ian set off a familiar cycle: Another round of evaluations follows each storm, adding to the list of needed work, from the overhaul of aging inland stormwater management systems to infrastructure projects to address climate change concerns.

"We have to think of more sustainable ways to live along the coast," said Greg Tolley, executive director of the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. "We have to do things differently. The so-called 100-year storms and the Category 4 and 5 hurricanes are happening more frequently."

When Sandy made landfall just north of Atlantic City on Oct. 29, 2012, it touched off a rethinking on not just rebuilding the region, but on the effect of a warming planet and rising seas for all plans.

In New York, work began last year on a $1.5 billion effort to protect Manhattan's Lower East Side by raising the East River shoreline about 8 feet. The project involves bulldozing around 1,000 trees and a waterfront park, then rebuilding it and a 1.2-mile-long floodwall on top of tons of fill. It's one phase of a ring of planned flood barriers and levees dubbed "The Big U." Completion isn't expected for years.

The project proceeded despite criticism that it cut too many mature trees. It's a common concern among environmental advocates and other experts: Each project may offer a solution to a singular issue while creating new problems, especially where climate change is involved.

"Because the challenges we face are very widespread and can vary  they might deal with something like long-term sea level rise or being prepared for a big storm shock like Sandy  I think we're at real risk of it showing up in a slightly different way, and we won't have the defenses in place to handle that," said Andrew Salkin, who co-founded New York-based nonprofit Resilient Cities Catalyst.

"Solely relying on hard infrastructure and gray infrastructure, like concrete and steel, to erect things to keep out nature is challenging," he said. "Over time, nature tends to win."

Last month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers unveiled a $52 billion proposal to build tidal gates and storm surge barriers to protect parts of New York and northern New Jersey. Construction would start in 2030 at the earliest, with projected completion in 2044 if all is approved and funded.

The Army Corps has a separate $16 billion plan to build gates that could stop storm tides from surging up inlets and bays behind the Jersey Shore. It would be one of the costliest flood-prevention projects any state has undertaken, and there's no guarantee Congress will pay for any of it.

Some projects launched after Sandy are complete. A 4-mile steel wall is buried under the sand of replenished beaches in Mantoloking and Brick at the Jersey Shore, where storm surge cut a coastal highway in half and swept dozens of homes into Barnegat Bay.

The Jet Star roller coaster  whose collapse into the ocean at Seaside Heights, New Jersey, became an iconic Sandy image  has been replaced with a new ride, built on the beach instead of over water.

A New Jersey train station where floodwater gushed in through an elevator shaft has been rebuilt with aquarium glass and flood doors that can be slammed and locked in less than a minute.

And billions of dollars have been spent hardening power infrastructure, ringing water and sewage treatment plants with better storm barriers, and elevating home electrical, heating and cooling equipment.

Officials admit the scope of that work is vast but say it's a fraction of what remains.

"Are we better off than we were before Sandy? No question," said LaTourette, the New Jersey official. "But it's not enough."

Complicating the calculus of storm protection was Hurricane Ida  a "humongous wakeup call," said Amy Chester, managing director of Rebuild by Design, an organization that worked with federal officials to jump-start post-Sandy resiliency projects.

"It showed us that every single community can flood, not just those in flood plains," she said.

The group says urban areas need to be transformed from concrete jungles into sponges by creating "resiliency parks" designed to flood during storms. The parks capture water that would otherwise flow into streets and sewer systems.

The city of Hoboken built two such parks after Sandy, with three more to come. They can hold millions of gallons of stormwater, some via large underground cisterns, one of which is the size of a city block.

New York has begun some work to improve inland drainage, including spending $2.5 billion to upgrade antiquated sewers, though many billions more in spending would be needed to make the system capable of handling storms like either Sandy or Ida.

In the Bronx, the city hopes to take a brook diverted into the city's sewer system a century ago and bring it back above ground. That might help avoid a repeat of issues during Ida: The brook, swollen beyond capacity of the sewer pipes, ran onto a major city expressway and submerged cars.

Other work that began after Sandy and continues today includes six projects sponsored by Rebuild by Design and funded in part by nearly $1 billion in federal seed money given in 2014. "The Big U" is among them. So is a resilient energy generation project in the Bronx and a plan to lessen flooding in northern New Jersey's Meadowlands. Other projects are in Hoboken and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Some aspects of the largest projects could be completed next year, while others will take years more to finish.

"Am I happy with the pace? No," Chester of Rebuild by Design said. "But it is reality that it's going to take time to get our cities prepared for future storms. One thing we quickly realized is just how complex these projects are."

At a groundbreaking Wednesday for one segment of "The Big U," New York Mayor Eric Adams asked the federal government for another $8.5 billion for future storm-protection projects.

"Sandy wasn't just a storm; it was a warning," he said, echoing officials' comments over the past decade. "Another storm could hit our city at any time."

And each storm is likely to bring more plans and adaptations.

Florida has been forced repeatedly to rethink its resiliency goals, from stronger construction codes adopted after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 to a $1 billion plan approved last year to help communities build barriers, elevate roads, improve drainage and protect wetlands.

Tolley, the Florida educator, said Ian proved the need for urgency in all states' plans: "We need to have that conversation now about what we have to do and what things should look like 20, 30, 40 years from now."

In New Jersey, LaTourette agrees.

"The Sandys and the Idas will keep coming and they'll keep getting worse," he said.

"We have to get better at doing what we always say we'll do: Look at things from the perspective of what we leave our kids. We decide whether the barrier islands are still there for them in their retirement," LaTourette said. "We're deciding that now."

AP writer Bobby Caina Calvan in New York contributed to this story.

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
By Trend

Personnel appointments have been made in the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Trend reports citing the bank.

Following the changes, Elchin Alizada has been appointed to the post of director of the Internal Audit Department, while Elnur Mammadov has been appointed to the post of head of the Operational Risks Division.
A Pakistani known for being the oldest detainee at the U.S facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was released to his home country on October 29, Pakistans Foreign Ministry said.

Businessman Saif Ullah Paracha was detained in 2003 in Thailand and accused of financing the Al-Qaeda terrorist network.



Paracha , 75, was never formally charged. He has maintained his innocence.



"The Foreign Ministry completed an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation of Mr. Paracha," Pakistan's Foreign Office said in a statement on October 29. "We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family."



Paracha's arrival comes after U.S. President Joe Biden last year approved his release, along with that of another Pakistani national, Abdul Rabbani, and Yemen native Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Uthman.



Biden is under pressure to clear out uncharged prisoners at Guantanamo and move ahead with the trials of those accused of having direct ties to Al-Qaeda.



Among the roughly 40 detainees left are several men who allegedly had direct roles in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and other Al-Qaeda attacks.



Paracha, who studied in the United States, had an import-export business supplying major U.S retailers.



U.S. authorities accused him of having contact with Al-Qaeda figures, including Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. He had claimed he didnt know the men he was dealing with were members of the terrorist group.



In 2008, Paracha's lawyer said the businessman had met bin Laden in 1999, and again a year later, in connection with the production of a television show.



Reprieve, a U.K.-based human rights charity, described Paracha as a "forever prisoner.

With reporting by AFP
At least two Pakistani soldiers were killed and two others injured in an exchange of fire with militants in northwestern Pakistan, police told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal.

Militants attacked military and police forces accompanying a survey team in the flood-affected area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district late on October 28, police official Attaullah Inaam told RFE/RL.

It is a mountainous area and a search operation for militants is ongoing, Inaam said.



The attack was claimed by the banned Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP).



A day earlier, one soldier was killed and three others injured in the South Waziristan tribal district. The attack was also claimed by the TTP.
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.
By Trend

Spanish companies are eager to take part in the growth of the Azerbaijani economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain told Trend.

According to the ministry, especially those Spanish companies engaged in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, and energy could contribute the most.

The ministry noted the particular interest from Spanish companies to cooperate more in the green energy sector with Azerbaijan, as well as to further strengthen the existing partnership in the oil and gas field, as the current trade deficit between the two countries is decreasing, especially due to Spains hydrocarbon imports from Azerbaijan.

Moreover, in the coming years, Spain intends to increase cooperation with Azerbaijan in the tourism sector, the source said.

"Spain is one the biggest tourist destination in the world with 84 million visitors in 2019 and this activity represents 12 percent of our GDP. In this context, and as tourism is one of the options for the diversification of the Azerbaijani economy, it could greatly benefit from the experience of Spanish companies," the source added.

As the recent visit to Madrid of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov proves, the political relationship between Spain and Azerbaijan is excellent. This circumstance will pave the way for the exploitation of the full potential of the economic ties between the two countries, the ministry concluded.
Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading.

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy
Tait Strom, a member of the Montana National Guard 163rd Combined Arms Battalion, returned home to Helena on Wednesday from a yearlong military deployment.

Tait was deployed Nov. 5, 2021, to the Middle East.

He was greeted at Helena Regional Airport by his wife, Kayla, a teacher at Jim Darcy Elementary School, their daughter, Brynley, and son, Riggins Ty, who is 6 months old.

It was the first time Tait has met his son, born during his deployment.
Department of Public Health and Human Services and Reach Higher Montana officials over the next several months will mail more than 50 care packages to support Montanas youth in foster care pursuing postsecondary education as part of the Red Scarf Project.

Reach Higher Montana and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) staff spent time this week assembling care packages for Montana youth, now or previously in foster care, who are now enrolled in the fall semester of a postsecondary program, and receiving Educational Training Voucher (ETV) funds.

In February 2023, students enrolled in only the spring semester will receive a Valentines Day package.

The care packages will include homemade red scarves with special notes from the donors, and personal care items including a cookbook, monthly bill planner, chewing gum, snacks, Emergen-C, socks, gloves, and a small frying pan.

DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said the project is a way to brighten the students day and provide them with some essential items.

We want them to know how proud we are of them as they diligently work to pursue their educational goals, Brereton said in a news release, adding the DPHHS stands ready to help however it can.

The ETVs, administered by Reach Higher Montana, support Montanas foster youth in their efforts to attain postsecondary education. Eligible students can receive up to $5,000 per year for up to five years to offset costs educational costs. The ETV program is available to participants up to age 26. In 2022, 43 Montana students received ETVs this fall, and its expected another 10 will receive them next spring.

The care packages are one way to show our continued support for Montanas youth, said Rhonda Safford of Reach Higher Montana. Over the years weve heard back from previous recipients about how much it means to them to receive a package, and were excited to continue this tradition. We also really appreciate the support this program receives from Montanans through the donated scarves.

Reach Higher Montana helps students pursue educational opportunities and works with DPHHS to ensure that foster youth in Montana feel supported in their efforts to attain postsecondary education, by providing specific funding and programs to help those students reach their educational goals. Learn more at www.ReachHigherMontana.org.
Wildlife advocacy groups filed a lawsuit Thursday in state district court alleging that a stale wolf management plan and potential conflicts with federal law render Montanas wolf hunting and trapping regulations illegal.

WildEarth Guardians and Project Coyote, a project of Earth Island Institute, filed the lawsuit in Lewis and Clark County District Court against Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. The groups make several allegations in their lawsuit including that the state has failed to timely review its wolf management plan, meaning subsequent regulations based on the plan fall short of state law. The lawsuit further alleges that the state has not used scientifically defensible methods in estimating wolf populations. Finally, the lawsuit claims that killing wolves that venture outside national parks disrupts management of park wolves, causing a conflict with federal law.

Montanas wolf hunting and trapping seasons have come under more scrutiny the last two years following new laws and regulations aimed at reducing the states wolf population. Those include allowance of snares in some areas, increased bag limits, hunting at night on private land and elimination of quotas near Yellowstone and Glacier national parks; a six-wolf quota was reinstated this season near Yellowstone.

Thursdays lawsuit is the third in state court directed at the process around drafting Montanas wolf regulations, although the first to raise legal arguments around the management plan and federal law. Additional litigation is also ongoing in federal court with wildlife groups attempting to push a return to Endangered Species Act designation.

Lizzy Pennock, the Montana-based carnivore coexistence advocate at WildEarth Guardians, said polices enacted in Montana were not based in sound wildlife management.

Trophy hunting for wolves does not put food on anyones table, make elk populations healthier, or protect livestock, she said. Montanas pile of wolf carcasses stacks higher every day, and we are done waiting for somebody else to act.

A spokesperson for FWP said Thursday the agency had not yet been served with the lawsuit and typically does not comment on litigation.

The lawsuit itself largely challenges the procedures state wildlife managers took in enacting regulations, quotas and population estimates. Montana drafted a wolf management plan in 2002 in anticipation of the animals delisting from the federal Endangered Species Act. The groups point to language in the plan that states it should be reviewed every five years.

Despite the requirement that the 2002 wolf plan be reviewed every five years, respondents have never updated it or engaged in a formal review, even though the science of wolf conservation and carnivore ecology has developed significantly since 2002, the lawsuit states.

The failure to review means that quotas adopted under the stale 2002 plan are invalid, the lawsuit alleges, while also making the same argument about FWPs change from physically counting wolves to population modeling.

The lawsuit challenges the use of patch occupancy modeling by the state to estimate wolf populations as an illegal amendment to the 2002 plan. It is not one of the listed methods in the wolf plan, which includes techniques such as track surveys and DNA gathering.

The plan does refer to noninvasive methods and lists examples, but does not explicitly identify patch occupancy modeling, or iPOM.

Respondents cannot make scientifically sound predictions about the impact of wolf hunting and trapping on the sustainability of wolf populations without accurate population data, at a minimum, the lawsuit states.

Montanas model for estimating wolf populations itself has come under criticism from wolf advocacy groups who believe it to be flawed and inaccurate, in part pointing to an assessment authored by Montana State University Professor Scott Creel, who wrote that the model is prone to compounding errors and uses oblique data. I am aware of no examples other than the Montana iPOM suggesting that population size can be estimated reliably in the absence of direct demographic data and/or population counts, he wrote.

A major criticism levied against Montanas model has been the use of wolf observations by deer and elk hunters as one of the inputs, with critics asserting that hunters could produce biased results. Wolf advocates have pushed for different surveying methods such as physical counts from airplanes, track surveys or howling surveys done by trained biologists or technicians.

The level of scientific scrutiny of Montanas use of patch occupancy modeling has also been raised by opponents of wolf hunting and trapping. Each input had independently gone through the rigor of the peer review process, but the integration of those inputs had not been peer reviewed and published during recent wolf seasons. In August, FWP announced that its integrated patch occupancy model had made it through peer review for publication.

FWP has defended patch occupancy modeling as a cost-effective and accepted method, noting that as wolf populations in Montana grew, it impaired the ability to accurately count them from the air.

Chris Morgan, vice president west of the Montana Trappers Association, pointed out that patch occupancy modeling has been used in biology for a variety of species and includes layers that account for variability or biases. The estimated 3,300 wolves in the Northern Rockies is far above recovery goals, he says.

In my point of view, these people  try to manipulate science a lot, he said. Science is never static so to speak, but patch occupancy modeling has been around forever. Weve been using it here to some extent for the last five years, so why now is it so imperative to say its so incorrect?

We believe the science is sound for the management of the species.

Most recently the model estimated 1,141 wolves in Montana  a number that is in line with recent years. Hunters and trappers killed the fewest number of wolves last hunting season despite increased methods of take. This years quota for wolves is 456, although hunters and trappers have never come close to that number in past seasons.

The lawsuit further alleges that laws passed in 2021 by the legislature and subsequent regulations that direct reduction in Montanas wolf population violate a legal principle called the public trust doctrine, which in this case dictates that the state manages wildlife for the benefit of the public. The groups argue that the polices ignore science and professional judgement which jeopardizes wolf populations for future generations.

Finally, the lawsuit claims Montanas wolf policies run into conflict with federal law and policy, including management of wolves by the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Federal law that may preserve wolves preempts state law that may allow them to be hunted or trapped, the lawsuit alleges.

The groups ask the court to direct FWP to review and update the wolf management plan including any amendments through a formal public process, and to temporarily halt wolf hunting and trapping while the review takes place. The further ask the court to declare the recent wolf laws and regulations unconstitutional under the public trust doctrine.
Salish Kootenai College, Montana Technological Institute and University of Montana received a total of $4.5 million in collaborative grants to better serve Native and rural Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students.

Specifically, Salish Kootenai College was awarded $900,000 to fund scholarships for eligible STEM students.

Over the course of six years, the funds will support scholarships of up to $10,000 for students at the tribal college, according to a news release. Because students can receive more than one scholarship, the tribal college estimates that the project will fund 260 scholarships for 105 students, meaning some students could receive a scholarship every year. The grant specifically aims to support low-income, academically talented students.

Antony Berthelote, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs at Salish Kootenai College, said the tribal college serves predominantly low socio-economic populations who are often required to simultaneously seek employment while attending classes to afford their education and support their families.

Opportunities like this help students succeed without compromising their potential, he said in a statement. The direct financial support to those with unmet need also enhances equity and socio-economic justice by reducing the debt burden often encumbered by our student population."

STEM students who are enrolled at least half-time at Salish Kootenai College, Montana Technological Institute or University of Montana and who demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply.

For more information, visit umt.edu/stars. Applications must be received by Nov. 20 at midnight.
DECATUR  Almost half of Decatur Public Schools students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year.

With 8,518 students in the district, 3,947 missed 17 or more school days, or 10% of the total according to the Illinois Report Card, released on Oct. 27. Those absences include both excused and unexcused absences.

Several Macon County's schools saw a high rate of chronic absenteeism during the 2021-22 school year, a trend that is statewide and that Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Carmen Ayala called alarming. Statewide, 30% of students were chronically absent last year, which aligns with national trends.

Decatur schools are already taking steps to address the situation.

"Every DPS school is putting into a place a student attendance intervention plan to identify reasons for student truancy, document steps taken to address it, and develop specific plans to improve future attendance" said Decatur schools' spokeswoman Denise Swarthout. "These interventions include phone calls home every time a student has an unexcused absence, meetings with the principal to discuss the situation and identify barriers, getting community agency assistance to address those barriers when needed, and in some cases creating an Attendance Contract to be signed by both the student and parent."

At Eisenhower, the four-year graduation rate is 69.8% for all students, 63% for Black students, while at MacArthur, the graduation rate is 72.6% for all students, 69.8% for Black students. Macon County's highest graduation rate is at Maroa-Forsyth High School, where it's 95.9%, followed by Mount Zion at 93.8%.

After two years of pandemic, with schools in remote or hybrid learning, comparing the 2022 results of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness with the data from the 2020 and 2021 state assessments is not realistic, said Jill Reedy, superintendent of Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education. The last normal set of data is from 2019.

The Illinois School Report Card data will contain no real surprises, Reedy said. Most, if not all, area schools expect to see a change in their scores due to the disrupted routines of the pandemic. Those disruptions were not limited to schools. All aspects of life were impacted, so, of course, academic performance is not excluded.

Because of the disruption of the past couple of years, the ways the designated calculations have also changed. The 2019 data cannot be compared to the 2021 data. The Regional Office of Education is helping schools understand what the new data means in order to make school improvement plans. We are assisting schools to develop plans to specifically address the academic needs of students.

Schools that have high rates of poverty, like Decatur's schools do at 70%, have greater challenges to overcome at the same time they're trying to return to normal after the pandemic, she said.

It's important to consider poverty, attendance, truancy, and mobility rates as well as academic data to get a more complete understanding of the challenges in education, Reedy said. Area schools are focused on academics and the emotional and mental health needs of students  rebuilding trust and engaging community agencies to support families  as schools have been transitioning into more traditional routines. Academic achievement improves when students feel safe, valued, and accepted.

The good news, however, is that more than half of Macon-Piatt region schools have at least one school rated "exemplary," the highest summative designation.

"Among our 11 districts in Macon and Piatt Counties, we have six out of 11 districts with a school in exemplary status," Reedy said. "Not many (regional offices of education) can say over 50% of their districts have a school in the top 10%. There is more to a district than test scores. However, this gives us data to highlight that our region is doing something right and working hard to educate our kids."

The schools that received the exemplary designation are Argenta-Oreana Elementary, Bement Middle School, Maroa-Forsyth High School, Monticello High School, Mount Zion High School and Warrensburg-Latham Elementary.

Besides attendance, an important factor to consider for students' future academically is how many students are passing algebra in eighth grade. Ayala said that students who do not pass algebra in eighth grade are unlikely to have time to take higher math like calculus in high school if they follow the typical pattern of algebra, geometry, algebra II, trigonometry and calculus. Higher math is required for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) career paths.

Macon County students varied widely as far as passing algebra in eighth grade. In Mount Zion, 61% of eighth graders passed algebra, and at Meridian, 32.8% did. In Decatur schools, Johns Hill Magnet School had the highest percentage of eighth graders passing algebra at 34.3%, followed by Montessori Academy for Peace with 29.3%.

Another important data point is how many freshmen are on track to graduate. Macon County schools are largely on par with the state average of 86.6% and has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Maroa-Forsyth is highest, with 98.8% of freshmen on track, followed by Mount Zion with 97%, Sangamon Valley with 95.2%, and Warrensburg-Latham with 91.1%. Decatur is lowest, with 66.9% of freshmen on track, 65.3% at Eisenhower and 68.2% at MacArthur.

It could be years before Illinois students fully recover from the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the time spent in remote and hybrid learning. And while the numbers of students who are classified as proficient on the state assessments might be low, the state board of education is more interested in how much students grow academically from year to year.

I don't know if we'll ever go back to normal, Ayala said. We're putting the focus on growth.
By Trend

Istanbul will host the 19th MUSIAD EXPO Fair on November 2-5, the Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA) told Trend.

The exhibition, which is held once every two years by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), will be visited by more than 124,000 entrepreneurs, investors, public and private sector representatives from 100 countries.

The event will be attended by companies offering food and non-food products, as well as technology parks. In total, over 600 companies representing 24 areas are expected to participate in the fair.
DECATUR  Mount Zion High School Freshman Aiden Dalby was invited to spend Friday at college.

By lunch time, he had already learned valuable life lessons.

Team building is really important, Aiden said. And trusting others with other stuff is important as well.

Students gathered from various Macon County schools on Friday to take part in a Sherrods Independent Mentoring Program, or SIMP, Youth Summit at Millikin University.

Middle Schools included Parsons, American Dreamer STEM Academy, Stephen Decatur, Robertson Charter School and Hope Academy. High schools joining the event were Eisenhower, MacArthur, Mount Zion, Maroa-Forsyth and St. Teresa.

Volunteers came from Parsons, South Shores and Sangamon Valley schools.

SIMP President and CEO Jarmese Sherrod and her group invited the estimated 200 students and local police officers to a central location, instead of meeting at the schools. This is an opportunity for our law enforcement to come and empower them in one day, to talk about some of the hard issues or things that are going on in their communities, she said.

The sessions were designed to address issues like combating violence in the schools, neighborhoods and other areas of the communities. Today is about being selfless leaders and giving back, Sherrod said.

Topics include economic and financial workshops, mental health and life skills programs and violence prevention advice from the local police officers.

Games and activities were used to keep the students attention. We want students to walk away saying I had a good time, I love working with law enforcement, Sherrod said.

Yoga and meditation were part of the fun, the students said.

It relieves stress, Aiden said.

American Dreamer students Jaiden Binkley and Uriah Curry are still in middle school, but they were given a glimpse of what higher education might be like.

It was fun to see what college is like, Jaiden said.

But Ive thought about trade school, Uriah said. Maybe be an electrician.

Millikin University students attended the summit with hopes of encouraging the youth to continue their education. Serron Pettis and Elisha Williams IV are members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Along with Andrew Smith III, the trio introduced themselves, then performed a short dance, to show the students that college isnt just about studying.

The kids see this everywhere on social media, on TV, but its hard to see it in person, Williams said about college experiences. For them to get the opportunity, to think about it early, you can get the knowledge for it and research it.

The men socialized with the students during lunch, providing other college examples.

Its more than just studying, and its more than just sports, Pettis said. Its crucial to know the balance.

This is the second year for the youth summit. Sherrod and the organizers evaluated last years event, which included law enforcement demonstrations. The participants suggested workshops and more discussions, she said.

For this year's activities, organizers brought vintage games to the event. Jump rope, chess and card games were part of the fun.

The participation by law enforcement officials was important to the youth summit, according to Sherrod. Without them, our violence prevention program wouldnt be the success that we are right now, she said. We always tell our youth that they are the superheroes of Macon County.

Sherrod hopes the students will return to their schools to discuss the lessons they learned from the event. Then open the opportunity and doors for them to have violence prevention clubs or programs inside of their schools, she said.

Dean Hazen, police chief of Richland Community College, wanted to connect with the students, not only to build a positive relationship, but also to encourage them to consider law enforcement as a career.

I want them to see a face and know who we are, he said. We want them to know they are welcome and we want them there.
DECATUR  Keith Wilson and his siblings were a few of the young family members allowed to roam through Decaturs Fire Station 3 near Fairview Park nearly 30 years ago.

We were here quite often, since we lived on this side of town, he said.

The Wilson childrens father, the late David Wilson, was a Decatur firefighter who worked at the now retired station. The Wilsons and other firefighters' kids would often visit their parents at the station.

I remember the Coke bottles being in glass bottles, Wilson said. You obviously dont see them anymore.

On Saturday, community members were invited to walk through the historic fire station one last time during the open house.

The event was organized by History of the Heartland, a sponsor of community events highlighting historic preservation and stories of Macon County structures and people.

Firefighters moved to their new location around the corner on Fairview Plaza a year ago. Now, Businessman Mark Allen is in the process of purchasing the nearly 100-year-old building.

The location and aesthetics of the station were enticing, Mark Allen said. However, he will be changing several details.

It will have a whole other footprint, the owner said.

The lower level will be expanded 45 feet into the lot west of the building. Mark Allen, who owns Speed Lubes in Central Illinois, has an affection for cars: I have a bunch of them, he said. And yet I cant get to them.

The buildings he owns are being used for construction materials and other business-related items, so he plans to store his vehicles in the old fire station.

Plans for the upper level will include three executive-level apartments. Because who wouldnt want to be right here by the park, Mark Allen said.

The station was one of the older and smaller fire houses in Decatur before the city began building larger facilities a few years ago.

Sonya Evans, the Wilson childrens mother, understood why her husband had a close relationship with his co-workers at the fire station.

It became a way of life, she said about the small station. This takes me back.

As a child, Cassy Ndembe, the Wilson daughter, wanted to hang out with her brothers at the fire station.

Growing up with brothers and a dad that I really admired, I liked being included and shown what he was doing, she said.

Her final tour of the building brought back memories. But it feels like a bit of a different lifetime, Ndembe said.

Gabriel Kenney, 11, and his siblings, 6-year-old Joseph Kenney and 9-year-old Danica Kenney, brought their dad Michael Kenney and grandma Vickie Nelson to the station on Saturday to check out where their great-grandpa had worked.

This looks old, Gabriel said, standing in the second-floor bedroom area.

Benny Haws spent most of his career at the station until his retirement in 1980, according Nelson, his daughter. It was small for all those men, she said.

Michael Kenney was one of the family members who would visit his grandpa at the firehouse. They always had the cabinets full of big candy bars, he said. It was fun.

Another Mark Allen, a retired firefighter, displayed several pieces of fire memorabilia during Saturdays event. He worked at the station in the past.

I worked at all seven stations at one time or another, he said. But this house was always one of my favorites because it was so busy.

The equipment and uniforms on display dated back nearly 60 years.

They are well worn, the retired firefighter said.

The location of the building, at the entrance to Fairview Park, was a central area for the city.

You might have two or three fires a day, said Deputy Chief Dan Kline, remembering his time at the station. It was a very busy station.

Several current firefighters stopped by the open house to reminisce.

I spent a little more than 18 years here, said Deputy Chief Jim Ohl.

The amount of work and the size of the building were what made the station a popular house for the firefighters.

The crews all got along because it was a small place, Ohl said. Theres no place to hide here.

One of the features that has since been removed included a button used to change the Fairview Park street signal to green for 45 seconds, allowing the trucks to pass through the intersection. It would give the other three ways a red light, Ohl said.

When they werent busy, firefighters would sit on the open porch watching the traffic and park visitors pass by.

Some nights you might sit out here for a couple of hours, other nights you might sit here for two minutes, Ohl said. This was just a great little place.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Thunder possible. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Thunder possible. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
A Claremont man was convicted on multiple charges, including bank robbery, by a federal grand jury in Statesville on Friday.

Spencr Denard Rickerson, 35, was found guilty on charges of bank robbery, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Dena J. King said in a news release.

Rickerson could face up to 47 years in prison and $500,000 in fines. A sentencing date has not been set, King said.

Between June 30, 2020, and March 20, 2021, Rickerson used false information to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan and multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, according to court documents, witness testimony and evidence presented at trial, King said.

In order to obtain the Paycheck Protection Program loan, Rickerson submitted a fraudulent application for a non-existent company that contained false information, including the purpose of the loan and the companys payroll costs, King said.

Rickerson also submitted fraudulent applications for several loans under the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program, in which he provided fake information about the number of company employees and gross revenue, King said.

As a result of the fraudulent applications, Rickerson received more than $84,233 in fraudulent funds intended to assist businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, King said.

In addition to the fraudulent loan scheme, on March 18, 2021, Rickerson committed an armed robbery of a BB&T bank, now called Truist, located at 12 N. Main Ave., in Newton. Rickerson used the stolen funds from the fraudulent loan scheme and the bank robbery to pay bills and to buy cryptocurrency, King said.

Rickerson remains free on bond. The maximum statutory penalty for the bank robbery is 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison term consecutive to any other prison term imposed, King said.

The FBI in Charlotte investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lambert Guinn and Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte are in charge of the prosecution, King said.

To report suspected COVID-19 fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or file an online complaint at the U.S. Department of Justice website. Complaints filed will be reviewed by the National Center for Disaster Fraud and referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for investigation, King said.

Members of the public in the Western District of North Carolina are also encouraged to call 704-344-6222 to reach their local Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator, King said.
CONCORD  Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County (Habitat Cabarrus) is one of more than 230 Habitat for Humanity affiliates organizations awarded a grant from Wells Fargo as part of its nationwide initiative to help low-to-moderate income families construct and improve homes across the country.

Habitat Cabarrus will receive $80,000 and use the funding to build four new homes in Cabarrus County, including in the cities of Kannapolis and Concord. Habitat Cabarrus has built and closed on 176 homes since 1989 and manages the mortgages on 91 of them. Every future homeowner receives extensive financial training to give them the necessary tools to be successful long-term.

At least one in every four Cabarrus County households spends over half of their income on housing, and the number of Cabarrus County families who are struggling to afford rent is on the rise. Habitat Cabarrus is committed to building five new homes this fiscal year and complete 75 critical repairs to help its county residents move into affordable homes and keep current owner-occupied homes safe and livable.

This is the second year we have been a recipient of Wells Fargo Builds funding, said Habitat Cabarrus CEO Bill Shelton. The Wells Fargo gifts totaling $160,000 not only impacts the lives of our current homeowners, but also the legacy of their families and future generations.

Wells Fargo team members were on-site Oct. 20, volunteering their time on a Habitat home site in Kannapolis. They worked side-by-side with the future homeowners in the Habitat program and a group of dedicated weekly volunteers known as Weekday Warriors.

The grant is part of a $7.75 million donation Wells Fargo is making to Habitat for Humanity International through Wells Fargo Builds, an initiative that provides philanthropic financial support and volunteerism to create sustainable affordable housing. More than 350 homes will be constructed or repaired with Habitat in over 40 states through the initiative this year. Wells Fargo Builds is part of Wells Fargos $1 billion philanthropic commitment to create more housing affordability solutions by 2025.
Like every other Lake Norman community, Denver has experienced unprecedented growth over the last few years.

Although no major housing developments have been approved for Denver since 2018, there are around 3,000 homes approved for Lincoln County that have yet to be built, with most of those homes located in the eastern part of the county, the Denver Citizen reported.

In addition to the approved subdivisions, three developers have submitted proposals to build a combined 268 homes and 688 apartments in Denver, according to the Lincoln County Planning and Inspections department website.

The growth continues as key infrastructure projects, including the widening of N.C. 73 and N.C. 16 Business  two of Denvers most congested corridors  are on hold due to funding constraints resulting from the pandemic.

While Denver is similar to nearby neighbors such as Mooresville, Huntersville and Cornelius, it is not an incorporated community, meaning decisions on new developments are left up to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. After the upcoming election, Republican Bud Cesena will likely be the only commissioner on the board who lives in Denver.

Incorporation would allow a town board or city council made up exclusively of Denver residents to create zoning ordinances that could slow growth in the eastern portion of the county  but most residents have been resistant to the idea.

Incorporation efforts in Denver

The community of Denver has been unincorporated for more than half a century.

Denver was officially incorporated in 1877, but due to the lack of a rail line, the town did not have the funds to maintain its infrastructure, and lost its incorporated status in 1971, according to longtime Denver resident David Rohr.

Since then, there have been at least two attempts to incorporate Denver, with the most recent effort in 2020, Charlotte radio station WFAE (90.7 FM) reported.

However, most Denver residents have long been opposed to incorporation, largely due to the additional taxes it would bring.

In 2018, a survey conducted by N.C. Rep. Jason Saine, who represents Lincoln County, found that 80% of Denver residents did not support incorporation, the Lincoln-Times News reported.

Taxes would go up pretty dramatically, Lincoln County Commissioner Cesena said. It adds another layer of government that is not necessary at this point.

The incorporation process

To incorporate, prospective towns must submit a petition signed by at least 15% of registered voters in the proposed town boundary to the N.C. General Assembly at least 60 days before their next regular session, according to the UNC School of Government.

The petition must include a plan to levy a tax rate of at least five cents per $100 of property value. However, that tax  which would be used to fund all of the facilities N.C. towns are required to provide  could be as high as 26 cents per $100 of valuation, Cesena said.

Within three years of approval, incorporated towns are required to provide at least four municipal services, such as police protection, fire protection, solid waste collection and water distribution, according to the UNC School of Government. All of those services in Denver are currently provided by Lincoln County.

Im not sure what the upside to incorporating Denver is, Cesena said.

Alternatives to incorporation

Though many who are in favor of incorporation have cited unregulated growth in Denver as a motive, county commissioners recently approved a policy that will likely slow it down.

In August, the board voted unanimously to require a minimum lot size of one acre for new single-family homes  a move that will lower the number of large-scale housing districts in Denver, Cesena said.

Residents who live near proposed new developments have been attending public hearings and community involvement meetings to make their voices heard, Cesena said. Four hundred people were expected at a recent community involvement meeting to prevent a rezoning request that would allow developer D.R. Horton to build 176 townhomes and 292 apartments near the intersection of North Ingleside Farm Road and N.C. 73.

Well, what does that tell the commissioners? Cesena said. It says dont do it.

Community involvement is really the ticket to what makes this work and not work.
Devin Allen admits that he occasionally behaved like a knucklehead, growing up in Baltimore. But he was not so irreverent as a 10th grader that he could see an image of Emmett Till's open casket and not find it arresting.

The story of the 14-year-old Black boy who was lynched in Mississippi became widely known because his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, asked a press photographer to document Emmett's funeral. The horrifying 1955 photographs depicted tangible evidence of how violent racial hatred was plaguing the U.S., catalyzing the civil rights movement.

"Back then, I was like, 'Wow, that happened so long ago. It would never happen now,'" Allen said, recalling the first time a high school history teacher showed him the images.

Yet, roughly 10 years later, Allen himself would capture searing images of protests and civil unrest in Baltimore after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, a Black man who died in police custody. Allen's reverberant black-and-white image depicting a protester running from a line of charging police officers made the cover of Time magazine that year and is in the Smithsonian collection.

Allen's photographs highlighting the effects of police brutality on Baltimore's Black community are part of the new "Impact of Images" campaign, inspired by the power of photographs like the ones of Emmett printed nearly 70 years ago in Jet magazine. The exhibit, curated by Lead With Love, is in collaboration with the studio and production company behind the biopic "Till," which goes into wide release Friday.

The collection includes the celebrated work of Black photographers and photojournalists from the civil rights and post-civil rights era, such as Gordon Parks, Kwame Brathwaite and Ernest Withers, alongside work from photographers of the Black Lives Matter generation. It will open to the public Saturday at Atlanta's ZuCot Gallery, a Black-owned gallery.

"When I became a photographer, I started understanding," Allen said. "I'm nothing but a conduit, doing something that has been passed down from generation to generation. We are truthful revealers. We are storytellers. We are light bringers."

Another featured photographer, Noemie Tshinanga, took up photography as a young teenager. Much of her professional work is about showing Black people when they are not in pain, grief or anguish.

"It doesn't matter who you are, whether you're a notable figure or someone walking down the street like, your existence is enough," the Brooklyn-based photographer said. "That is the importance of showing that flip side of just us being."

The collection includes Tshinanga's regal portrait of the late, pioneering Black actress Cicely Tyson. There's also a photograph of a Black man on a beach, eyes shut and head tilted as though he is taking in a healing breath of sea breeze.

Tshinanga first saw the image of Emmett's open casket as a teenager. Like Allen, she didn't fully grasp its continued relevance until one of her generation's versions was splashed across social media in 2014.

"I remember Mike Brown's photo and just like everyone trying to figure out what was happening and just kind of processing that," she said, referring to an image of the lifeless body of Michael Brown, left for hours in the middle of the street after the 18-year-old was fatally shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

"And so once that image was ingrained in my head, it made me understand Emmett Till's image," she said.

In the late summer of 1955, Till-Mobley put her son on a train from Chicago to visit family in her native Mississippi. She warned Emmett he was bound for a place where his safety depended on his ability to mute his outgoing, uncompromising nature around white people.

In the overnight hours of Aug. 28, Emmett was taken from his uncle's home at gunpoint by two vengeful white men. Emmett's alleged crime? Flirting with the wife of one of his killers.

Three days later, a fisherman on the Tallahatchie River discovered the teenager's bloated corpse. An eye was detached, an ear was missing and his head was shot and bashed in.

"They would not be able to visualize what had happened, unless they were allowed to see the result of what had happened. They had to see what I had seen," Till-Mobley said in a 2003 memoir. "The whole nation had to bear witness."

Till-Mobley handpicked Jet photographer David Jackson, a Black man who had spent much of his career documenting the horrors of Jim Crow segregation in the south, to take the controversial images of her son's body at a funeral home in Chicago.

The vast majority of U.S. news outlets worried that they would drive away readers and advertisers if they printed graphic images of the teenager's body  but not publishers in the Black press. John H. Johnson, the late founder of Jet and Ebony, dared to show what happened to Emmett.

"(Johnson) said, 'If his mother asked me to do it, I was gonna do it no matter what,'" said Margena Christian, a senior lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago and former editor and writer at Jet and Ebony. She worked for a decade with Johnson, who would occasionally recount the thought process behind Jet's coverage.

Jet discontinued its print edition in 2014, but president Daylon Goff said the now-digital brand continues to promote its legacy as the outlet that fearlessly told Emmett's story.

The images of the teenager's open casket are a turning point in the plot of "Till," the first-ever feature-length retelling of the atrocity and Till-Mobley's pursuit of justice. In her research for the film, director Chinonye Chukwu learned that Till-Mobley was "very intentional" in how she shared the story of her son's murder with the world.

"It was no accident that she chose a Black photographer for the photo," Chukwu told The Associated Press. "She knew what she was doing and she knew the importance of us telling our own story."

Reggie Cunningham, another featured "Impact of Images" photographer, began taking photos during the Ferguson uprising over Brown's death. While many photos showed pain and confrontations between residents and police, his images included depictions of joy and a sense of community in the predominantly Black suburb of St. Louis.

Years later, after his wife and another prominent voice from the Ferguson protests, Brittany Packnett-Cunningham, gave birth prematurely to their son, he documented their bond. Those black-and-white photos are part of the image collection.

"It was about how much she loves him and the joy that she brings him in her motherhood," Cunningham said. "That is the story that I really wanted to tell."

These are the images he wants his son accustomed to seeing as he grows up, Cunningham said: "In my work, I seek to tell these stories and spread awareness of the full expanse of Blackness, in an effort to create an affinity for our experience."

Brothers and ZuCot Gallery managing partners Onaje and Omari Henderson said people coming to see the exhibit won't feel like they are "going into a repast after a funeral." Instead, they said, visitors will see a showcase of resiliency.

The collection  which can be viewed every Saturday and by appointment on weekdays until Nov. 13  also includes personal photos from the Till family, stills from the movie, and images from Ebony and Jet.

In addition to the exhibit in Atlanta, a mural bearing the likenesses of Emmett and Mamie Till-Mobley is up at The Beehive, a Black-owned space in South Los Angeles. New Orleans-based artist Brandan "BMike" Odums, whose artwork was recently featured on the cover of actor Will Smith's autobiography, dedicated the mural alongside artist Whitney Alix last weekend.

Before completing the mural, Odums told the AP Till-Mobley's courage in telling her son's story through arresting photographs anchors him in his mission as an artist.

"That's what the power of our images, the power of our voice does," he said. "It ripples into spaces and rooms where people might not be ready to have the conversation. But the ripples go far and wide."
CHAMPAIGN  A three-man team representing Ameren Illinois' Mattoon and Effingham operating centers, respectively, took third place honors in the journeyman lineman pole climb event at the International Lineman's Rodeo in Overland Park, Kansas.

Journeymen linemen Jason Kenter of Mattoon, Blake Mette of Mattoon and Clint Dasenbrock of Effingham finished third overall in the timed, pole climbing competition. Ameren Illinois had six other teams finish in the top 15, along with two apprentices who finish in the top 15 in individual events.
By Azernews

By Fatima Hasanova

On 28 October, a Declaration of Intent (DI) was signed in Shusha to set up a Forum of Audiovisual Media Regulators under the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) member and observer nations, Azernews reports.

The first part of the visit included an official signing ceremony of the Declaration of Intent, agreed upon at the October 27 meeting in Baku.

The Declaration of Intent stipulates the creation of the Forum of Audiovisual Regulatory Authorities of the OTS Member and Observer Countries (Turkic Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum - TBRAF) in order to improve cooperation and dialogue between regulators.

It also includes the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences related to audiovisual broadcasting and its regulation, as well as creating a permanent format for discussing issues related to audiovisual media, which are regarded as part of a shared cultural heritage.

The second part of the trip included a tour of Shusha, where the visitors were briefed on the reconstruction efforts following its liberation from occupation, as well as visited Jidir Duzu (Jidir Plain).
The N.C. Court of Appeals on Friday upheld a conviction of a Forsyth County man for intimidating or interfering with a witness and for being a habitual felon, authorities said.

Henry Joseph Steele, 48, is serving a sentence of eight years and four months to 11 years in prison after he was convicted in Forsyth Superior Court in August 2021, the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office said.

Steeles attorney argued in the appeal that the trial judge erred in admitting a disk containing a recording of a phone call that Steele had made while he was awaiting trial.

A three-judge appeal panel unanimously ruled that Steele received a fair trial that had no errors.

Steele was arrested on Oct. 7, 2020 on outstanding warrants for domestic violence-related offenses, including assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, assault on a female and false imprisonment, the district attorneys office said.

Lisa Flowers, Steeles girlfriend at the time, was the victim of these offenses, the district attorneys office said.

On Dec. 22, 2020, Steele called Flowers on a recorded line at the Forsyth County jail and told her not to come to court if she was subpoenaed, the district attorneys office said.

Steele said, (E)ven when they give you a little subpoena thing at your door, they cant do s*** to you. Do not come down here. Do not come to this courtroom because theyre trying to hang me, according to the appellate courts ruling.

After the trial jury convicted Steele of intimidating or interfering with a witness, he also was found guilty of being a habitual felon because he had been convicted of three prior felony offenses, the district attorneys office said.

Judge Susan Bray of Forsyth Superior Court then sentenced Steele to prison.
A Lincoln man died Friday night when his motorcycle crashed into the back of another vehicle, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a news release.

Hadeer Ali, 25, was northbound on Interstate 180 after avoiding multiple traffic stops when the crash occurred.

The Patrol requested the Lincoln Police Department investigate the crash, which occurred at about 10:10 p.m.

At approximately 9:20 p.m., a trooper attempted to stop Ali for having no license plates on his motorcycle near 48th and O streets. Ali fled, and the trooper did not pursue.

The Patrol helicopter was airborne and observed the failed traffic stop and tracked Ali, who was switching lanes between vehicles as he traveled through town, police said.

The helicopter tracked Ali into the Haymarket, where another traffic stop was attempted at 10 p.m.

Ali drove onto the sidewalk, narrowly missing pedestrians. Because of the heavy pedestrian traffic in the area, troopers did not pursue him.

The helicopter continued tracking the motorcycle as it headed out of downtown on I-180.

Ali was weaving between traffic at a high rate of speed when he ran into a vehicle and crashed before reaching the Cornhusker Highway interchange, according to police.

Troopers attempted life-saving measures, but Ali was pronounced dead at the scene.
OMAHA  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 subscribers.

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.

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.
Nine storytellers will step to the microphone starting at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 12, to share a personal story with an audience at the Nebraska Storytelling Festival in the Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St.

The storytellers will come from across Nebraska, and some even have international roots in Nigeria and Ukraine. Their stories can all be considered a slice of life as theyve observed or lived it.

Lincoln has such a rich cultural scene, but one thing we were missing was an opportunity for people to share stories, said Mary Kay Roth, co-founder of the festival. And one of the reasons that stories are such a valuable cultural activity is that when stories are shared, we connect with one another on so many levels.

Following several months of planning, Roth and co-founder Randy Bretz issued a call for storytellers, which resulted in the nine selected for the November event.

As we read through the applications, we became more and more excited, shared Roth. One person will be talking about something that impacted her life nearly 15 years ago. Another will be sharing what shes observed in war-torn Ukraine.

The list of storytellers includes Jenny Okoliko, a Nigerian living in Lincoln and attending UNL; Milan Wall, a North Platte native and longtime resident of Lincoln; Jackie Ostrowicki, an assistant vice president at the University of Nebraska; and Toni Heimes, who teaches at Lincoln Southwest High School. Following their selection, they gathered for a storytelling workshop recently to help prepare them for the event.

I love stories, said Bretz. I love to hear them, I love to read them, I even love to write them.

Bretz invited Roth to coffee and recruited her to help plan the event. The two of them have recruited others, including Jan Bretz and former Nebraska Poet Twyla Hansen, who worked with Roth to help prepare the storytellers.

Others involved in the event include Pat Leach, retired director of Lincoln City Libraries, Jodene Glaesemann of Lincoln City Libraries, Morrie Enders of the Lincoln Community Playhouse, Doug Dickeson  a local musician and media producer, William Anderson of Nebraska Public Media, Mark Stephens of Bob Stephen Associates, and Rich Claussen of Olsson and Associates.

Other storytellers include Marcia White, Madison Hager, Craig Larson, Barb Schmit and Jennifer Pool. Emcee for the event is someone with his own interesting story as a TV and radio host, public speaker, beatboxer and TEDxLincoln speaker, D-Wayne Taylor. A limited number of tickets are available by searching for Nebraska Storytelling at Eventbrite.com.

For more information, contact Mary Kay Roth at marykayroth7@gmail.com or Randy Bretz at rgbretz@gmail.com.
Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson left the field with a few minutes left before halftime with an apparent hand injury and No. 17 Illinois took a lead into intermission on Saturday.
At the beginning of the school year, Margret Hinze was both a special education teacher for grades six to 12, and a contestant in the Miss Racine Scholarship Competition.

One of her students joked that if she did not win, Miss Hinze could not be their teacher anymore.

It looks like they get to keep their teacher.
Allowed to speak on his own behalf Friday, Greer said he did not commit the crime and outlined the shaky evidence  as he saw  that was used to convict him. Greer became a suspect after the murder weapon was found next to Greer, who was passed out on a stoop weeks after the killing.
This story was originally published in the final week of October 2022, prior to Burlington voters saying in a nonbinding referendum Nov. 8 that they want Echo Lake saved.

BURLINGTON  If the city removes Echo Lake, cleaning up and redeveloping the site might not be the only job that gets a little messy.

Figuring out who owns the land currently submerged underwater could become another complicated project  one that may lead to infighting and even lawsuits.

In the decades that have passed since the manmade lake was established in the 1840s, several homes have been built along what is now the shoreline of the impoundment known as Echo Lake.

Some of those homeowners have come forward and raised the possibility that they would try to stake a claim to additional land if the lake is drained and their waterfront homes are suddenly left high and dry.

If any such claim is successful, it could impact city plans for redeveloping the 70-acre former lake site as a new public park or other community attraction.

The issue involves riparian rights, or the rights of those owning waterfront property. It is an area of law that frequently creates conflict between neighbors or between public and private interests.

The fact that the Echo Lake land has been underwater since the 19th century  before any current homeowner was born  could make it even trickier to sort out who owns what.

Debbi Conrad, an attorney who has studied riparian rights for the Wisconsin Realtors Association, said it is possible that nobody truly knows the rightful owner of Burlingtons lake bed.

The question is who owned it before, Conrad said. Thats a tough question. It could be very complex.

When nearby homeowners first asserted publicly that they might have ownership rights to part of the Echo Lake impoundment, a city attorney said homeowners would have to produce records dating back to pre-Civil War times. And if those landowners still wanted to stake a claim, the attorney said, they could be held responsible for part of the Echo Lake cleanup.

City officials later announced that they would hire consultants to take a deeper dive into the riparian rights issue. But no such study has been presented.

City Administrator Carina Walters said an initial examination of the issue showed that the land now underwater was bought and sold in piecemeal fashion involving numerous transactions over many years.

Walters said city officials have decided to hold off on any further study until after they decide the future of Echo Lake. For now, the city administrator said, Current ownership of the impoundment area remains an undetermined factual and legal question.

The city is preparing to make a difficult choice regarding Echo Lake, which has become polluted and neglected over the years.

State regulators have said the manmade dam no longer meets safety standards, so the city must either invest in rebuilding and fortifying the dam, or remove the dam and watch the lake vanish into the history books.

The impoundment was created in the 1840s by building a dam on the White River. If the dam is removed, the White River will be restored in its place, flowing through an area that could be replenished naturally or transformed into a new park.

Consultants have estimated that saving the lake would require about $5 million in dam upgrades and lake dredging, while removing the dam and draining the lake would cost $1.5 million. A citywide referendum Nov. 8 will allow voters to signal a preference between two hypothetical scenarios that involve keeping or removing the lake.

If the Burlington City Council ultimately decides to save Echo Lake, the riparian issue likely will become moot, as the 70 acres of real estate will remain submerged. If the city chooses to drain Echo Lake, the land could become a hot product.

Travis Schroeder, a waterways and wetland field supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said if no private property owners can show clear title to the lake bed, it probably would become public land owned by the city.

Schroeder said he has seen scenarios where ownership created difficult and complex disagreements among parties.

Anytime youre near water, he said, that is a contentious issue.

Wisconsin state law has long established that lakes and rivers belong to the public, and that everyone should have access to them and be able to use them for fishing, boating or swimming. The land beneath lakes and rivers is generally regarded as state-owned, if there is no clear private ownership.

But when a body of water is manmade, like Echo Lake, the issues can become murky and complicated.

Eric Olson, director of Extension Lakes, an outreach of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, compared a manmade lake to a serious flood that overtakes homes or other private property. Just like when floodwaters recede, if a lake is removed, the property underneath remains owned by whoever owned it at the outset, Olson said.

If a lake has existed as long as Echo Lake has, Olson said, determining the original ownership and how that relates to todays landowners is not always easy.

It can get ugly, he said.

About six residential properties stand on the northern shore of Echo Lake along Grove Street and Honey Lake Road, some in the Town of Burlington. One of them belongs to A.J. Schkeryantz, an outspoken opponent of removing Echo Lake, who served on a steering committee that worked with city consultants on the issue.

The consultants have drafted one option of redirecting a restored White River toward the northern shore in a dramatic S-shaped curve, partly so that Schkeryantz and his neighbors can maintain some semblance of waterfront property, if the lake is removed.

The S-shaped river alignment would cost an extra estimated $2 million, according to city estimates.

The city also is forecasting a budget of $100,000 for legal services if the lake is drained.

Another eight or so residential properties stand along the lakes southern shore on Chestnut Street in the city.

Real estate records maintained by Racine County show that none of the residential lots overlooking Echo Lake are larger than two acres and many are as small as one-third of an acre.

Jill Niesen, deputy recorder of deeds for Racine County, said the countys vast repository of records describes real estate sales and other transactions going back as far as the 1800s, in some cases.

Nisen said determining if any of todays lakefront properties included a piece of Echo Lake before the lake was created would require a painstaking process of examining every transaction over 175 years that involved any part of each parcel.

Can it be done? Yes, she said. It may take you back  I dont know  to where it started.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the occasion of the country's national holiday.

"Dear Mr. President,

Dear Brother,

I sincerely congratulate you and through you all the people of your country on the occasion of the national holiday of brotherly Turkiye-the Republic Day, and convey my most heartfelt wishes.

Strengthening day by day, Turkiye has become one of the most powerful countries which has a say in the international arena. Today, brotherly Turkiye is among the most advanced countries of the world with its important achievements in political, economic, military, technological and other fields. At the same time, your country has gained immense authority and respect at the international level with its consistent and decisive position on the establishment of peace and stability, protection of rights and justice in the world and the region where extremely complex processes are taking place.

All this is based on your hard and tireless work, the great trust and support of your people for the state policy conducted under your wise leadership. We consider every success of the mighty Republic of Turkiye to be our success too, and we are extremely proud of them.

I would like to note with a sense of tremendous pride that Azerbaijan-Turkiye relations, built on friendship and brotherhood, have no parallels in the world today. Our brotherhood, unity and solidarity represent the spiritual heritage of our ancestors and form the main direction for our peoples, serving as an important security and stability factor for the region and the world.

Brotherly Turkiye supported Azerbaijan in the most important moments of our history. We always appreciate and never forget the fact that Turkiye was with us during the second Karabakh war, and that all your people, including you, supported us from the first hours to the last minutes of the war. Even today, brotherly Turkiye is still the biggest supporter of Azerbaijan in the restoration and reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur regions. A few days ago, our participation in the opening of the Zangilan International Airport, the Dost Agropark smart agricultural complex, and the joint laying of the foundations of a number of important infrastructure projects within the framework of your visit to Azerbaijan are further evidence of the unshakable traditions of our fraternal relations.

We are very happy that our relations, which have risen to the peak of alliance with the signing of the Shusha Declaration, are manifested in all spheres of life, including politics, economy, energy, transport, culture, education, military and others. I am sure that the alliance between our countries guided by the slogan One nation, two states will continue to develop successfully through our joint efforts.

On such a joyous day, I wish you the best of health, happiness, and success in your high state activities, and the brotherly people of Turkiye peace, prosperity and well-being," the head of state wrote.
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
KEARNEY  Asked how long hes been a member of Kearneys Eagles Club, Ed Milner paused. Its been so long  44 years  that he cant quite remember. Ill have to check a calendar, he said.

When he was a child, Milner went with his uncle to an Eagles Club meeting in Lexington. He was so impressed that he vowed that he would join when he grew up.

He did just that. One night I was at a bar, and I knew a guy who was an Eagles member. I said, Take me down to the Eagles club. I want to be a member. The man did, and Milner joined. The year was 1978.

Milner, a past president, will be at the 75th anniversary celebration Saturday at the Kearney Aerie No. 2722 Eagles Club at 17 W. 24th St. It will include food, ceremonies, karaoke and a silent auction. Eagles state president Tim Melvin and state auxiliary president Diane Wilken will be on hand.

75th anniversary celebration The Fraternal Order of Eagles Kearney Aerie No. 2722 will hold its 75th anniversary celebration 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday at 17 W. 24th St. It will include a cream can supper (corn cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes and sausage), a birthday cake and karaoke led by Bee the Party Guy starting at 8 p.m. A Crown Royal quilt and a 12-gauge shotgun will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are $10 for one or three for $25. A silent auction is set, too. The cost is $10 for the meal. All other events are free. The public is invited. For more information, call Rob Humphreys at 308-380-4445.

Special guest will be Kenny Beahm, 94, the last survivor among the 108 men who started the lodge  or aerie in Eagles lingo  here in 1947.

Born and raised in the Huntley-Wilcox area, he moved to Kearney from Wilcox in the 1940s and became one of the first Eagle members when he was 18 and worked for Bob Hillebrandt, a key member in establishing the club.

In 2016, when the Eagles Club needed funds to continue operating, Beahm donated $300 to kick off that successful campaign. In 2018, he was inducted into the Nebraska Eagles Hall of Fame for his service and longevity. He still attends some local functions.

Hes helped the club out over the years, Rob Humphreys, a club trustee, said. He cant drive, but he comes for beer and burgers now and then. His mind is still sharp.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles was founded in Seattle in February 1898. Now headquartered in Grove City, Ohio, it boasts 658,000 members in the U.S. and more in Canada.

Kearney is officially Kearney Eagles Aerie No. 2722, so named because it was the 2,722nd aerie in the nation. Its one of 30 aeries (lodges) in Nebraska. Membership of $40 a year includes national dues of $12. Membership is free for the first year for military members and first responders.

The aerie owns the building at 17 W. 24th St. Its ballroom, which holds 250 people, is the largest in the city. The social hall holds 75, and the east room holds 125. Its open daily except Monday for its 250 members and the public.

Humphreys, who will be sworn in as club president Tuesday, joined the Eagles aerie after a divorce 12 years ago.

I was sitting at home with my dog, and we didnt have a lot of conversations, Humphreys said. Id always had the impression that people my age dont hang out at the Eagles Club. Its a lot of old people. Then I realized that I knew most of these old people, so I joined.

Each year, the club chooses a charity to support. This year, that charity is the Alzheimers Association, which will get part of the $7,500 the club is raising for its 75th anniversary year. The rest of that gift will go to Band of the Strong, a nonprofit formed in 2019 that offers art and music to children who have been traumatized.

One little boy, age 8, got a box guitar. His father had died, and his dad used to play guitar. Now the little boy is coming along, Humphreys said.

Nationwide, the Eagles have contributed to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis. The aerie has also raised money for the Monroe Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Club members enjoy sporting competitions, too. Last week, the Kearney aerie finished second in the Nebraska Eagles State Dart Tournament in Fremont. Milner, current aerie vice president and a retired city of Kearney employee, was on that team.

Saturday morning we were almost at the bottom, but we ended up in second place, Milner said. I had a broken shoulder in June, and the first dart I threw didnt even get to the board, but the longer I played, the better I got. By Sunday morning, I couldnt believe how crazy I was shooting, he said.

In March, the aerie will have one of the states largest pool tournaments, with 60 tables and 1,000 competitors. Last June, it hosted the Midwest BBQ Association Barbeque on the Bricks with main sponsor Graczyk Lawn & Landscaping.

Starting Nov. 21, the Eagles will have their annual Christmas tree event at Hilltop Mall. Six decorated trees will be on display. Mall shoppers can choose their favorite tree and register for a chance to win the ornaments from that tree.

The club also honors the military, assists needy individuals and more. If someone has a medical problem, is in a car wreck, whatever, we help, Humphreys said. This group grows on you. You help someone in need. It gives you a feeling money cant buy.
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."
"To Love Your Country"

By Maxim Rogoff

What does it mean to love your country? For some it could be putting your life on the line or it could be lighting up the sky with fireworks. To love your country is a combination of loyalty, pride, and unity.

No person was as loyal to the United States as Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor recipient Tibor Rubin. Rubin felt it was his duty to defend the United States after American troops liberated him from the Mauthausen camp. During the Korean War, he saved his company TWICE! Rubins leg was injured by a shell in battle. Doctors wanted to send him home but Rubin refused and demanded to keep fighting. Rubins loyalty to the United States defined him as a true patriot.

On Independence Day, we celebrate independence from Britain. When we light fireworks, I think it represents the United States because each firework is unique, showing how diverse the United States is. When rockets light the sky, we are taking pride in the United States and freedom.

Unity is that feeling of camaraderie that is so important! Think how much greater the United States could be if we helped each other always. Putting away racial, religious, and political differences away would create a better country! Therefore every time you go against a good idea based on these differences, its really hurting our country. Those who are open minded are helping the United States by showing theyre willing to put gain behind and country forward.

If everyone could be loyal like Tibor Rubin, take pride in the United States, and be the person who wants a better country, not just a better you, then our country will be a better place for all.
An extradition hearing for a 17-year-old Texas youth suspected of murdering his mother has been scheduled for Nov. 30 in Hall County Court.

At a court appearance Friday morning, Tyler Roenz requested an extradition hearing. He was represented by Hall County public defender Vicky Kenney.

Hall County Judge Arthur Wetzel scheduled the next court appearance for 11 a.m. on Nov. 30. The timing allows the Texas governors office 30 days to submit a warrant to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

The body of Michelle Roenz, 49, was found in the trunk of the car Tyler Roenz crashed Oct. 14 near Grand Island.

Roenz, who lives in Humble, Texas, is currently in custody in Hall County Jail. He appeared at Friday mornings preliminary hearing via video.

No bail has been set for Roenz, who will turn 18 on Nov. 11.

The teen has been charged as an adult with murder in Texas in the death of his mother, according to Harris County, Texas, Sheriffs Deputy Thomas Gilliland.

The two were reported missing from their home in Harris County on Oct. 13 by the teens father.

Following a law enforcement alert issued in Harris County, Nebraska State Troopers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, a Mazda 3, on Interstate 80 near Grand Island. After a high-speed chase of about 9 miles, Roenz tried to slow down, but the car hit the back of a semi truck and left the road, hitting a tree in a ditch.

Troopers found the body of Michelle Roenz in the cars trunk. Investigators have said Michelle Roenz died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.

Tyler Roenz was taken to CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island with injuries that were not life-threatening, and he was later transferred to a hospital in Omaha, according to the patrol.

Roenz was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 21.
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster and state Sen. Julie Slama are dropping their lawsuits against each other.

In a filing Wednesday, both sides asked that the case be dismissed with prejudice. Judge Rick Schreiner signed an order granting that request Thursday.

Herbster filed a defamation lawsuit against Slama, a Dunbar lawmaker, in April after the Nebraska Examiner reported allegations from eight women who said Herbster  a Republican mega-donor and then-candidate for governor  had groped them in recent years. Slama was the only named accuser in that initial report.

She answered Herbsters lawsuit quickly and filed a counterclaim alleging sexual battery.

The first hearing in the case was held in June. Schreiner considered five motions but only made decisions on two of them.

Slama had given notice to depose Herbster on May 6, but Herbster opted not to attend. At the hearing, Herbsters lawyers filed a motion to quash the deposition notice and seek a protective order that would limit his deposition to scheduling at a mutually convenient time.

Schreiner overruled that motion, but a new deposition was not scheduled at the hearing.

Schreiner ruled that Herbster could add more evidence to his defamation complaint against Slama, and that the deposition could wait until the amended complaints were filed.

However, Schreiner quashed Herbsters request for a protective order against Slamas attorneys for, in the words of Herbsters attorney, attempting to try the case in the press.

Herbsters team filed their amended complaint on July 28, but Slamas lawyers requested an extension to answer the complaint.

A second hearing in the case was postponed multiple times and had been scheduled for later this month.

The order dismissing the suits with prejudice means the parties cannot refile the same claim again in that court.

An attorney for Slama noted in an email to the World-Herald that the parties had dismissed their litigation and "will make no further statement on the matter." An attorney for Herbster did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday morning.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Finnish Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary of State for external economic relations Nina Vaskunlahti have discussed multifaceted ties, as well as regional and global security issues, Azernews reports, per the ministry.

The diplomats discussed various aspects of the bilateral cooperation agenda between the two countries, multilateral cooperation, as well as Azerbaijani-European Union cooperation directions, and the regional situation on October 27 in Baku, the ministry elaborated.

During the meeting, the two discussed ways of improving cooperation in the political, economic, humanitarian, educational, high-tech, investment, and cultural spheres.

Furthermore, regional energy and transportation projects undertaken with Azerbaijan's initiative and involvement, as well as issues of cooperation within international organizations, were highlighted.

Bayramov updated the opposite site on the latest developments in Azerbaijan's territories liberated from occupation as a result of the 44-day war with Armenian in 2020, as well as the mine danger and the current state of normalizing the Azerbaijani-Armenian ties. He emphasized that, despite its aggressive anti-Azerbaijani approach, the country is willing to ink a peace treaty with Armenia based on international legal principles.

The minister emphasized Azerbaijan's vital role in the economic sector, particularly in the diversification of energy resources. The importance of signing the Memorandum of Understanding, which envisages doubling of gas transit to the EU, as well as expanding cooperation in the development of alternative energy sources, was stressed in this respect. He said that the existing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU is good, but there is potential to enhance it further.

Vaskunlahti, for her part, underlined that there is considerable potential for expanding Azerbaijan-Finland cooperation in a variety of spheres. She highlighted the areas of cooperation in economic and environmental protection, education, and high technology, as well as initiatives undertaken in Azerbaijan with Finnish involvement. The diplomat stressed that Finland supports the Azerbaijani-Armenian normalization process.

The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest, including regional and international security problems.
State Sen. Brad Pfaff, Democrat from Onalaska, is running for the U.S. House seat in western Wisconsin and has raised about $1.6 million for the race, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

Thats compared to more than $6 million raised by Republican candidate Derrick Van Orden.

Those figures are accurate up to Oct. 19, the final campaign finance reporting deadline before the election.

Van Orden has, on his own, shattered the record amount for the district he and Democratic Rep. Ron Kind raised for their tight election about $5 million  in 2020.

Federal campaign limits allow an individual to give a candidate for federal office a maximum of $2,900 per election. Since candidates face a primary and a general, one person can give a total of $5,800 to one candidate per election cycle. A political action committee can give $5,000 per election to a candidate for a total of $10,000 per election cycle.

Big donors to Pfaffs campaign include Judith Faulkner, CEO and founder of Epic, the healthcare software giant based in Dane County, her husband Gordon Faulkner, and Kevin Conroy, the CEO of the Madison-based Exact Sciences, all of whom have given $5,000.

The retiring Kinds campaign committee has given Pfaffs campaign at least $4,000. Kind and his wife Tawni Kind also personally have given Pfaffs campaign at least $3,000 and $3,750 each. Pfaff previously worked for Kinds congressional office.

Former Democratic state legislator Tim Cullen has given Pfaff $3,400. Lynde Uihlein, a Schlitz heir, major Democratic donor and relative of the Republican billionaire donor Dick Uihlein, has given Pfaff the maximum $5,800. Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl has given the campaign $2,700.

Here are top Pfaff donors along with their city and state:

BADGERPAC, La Crosse, $10,000

KERN, DEBORAH, SHOREWOOD, WI $5,800

LAUX, JOE, ONALASKA, WI $5,800

LUBAR, MARIANNE S, RIVER HILLS, WI $5,800

MERINOFF, CHARLES, NEW YORK, NY $5,800

MILLER, JOHN W, FOX POINT, WI $5,800

PFAFF, SHAWN W, FITCHBURG, WI $5,800

UIHLEIN, LYNDE B, MILWAUKEE, WI $5,800

WALKER, THOMAS, BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI $5,800

WEIL, SAGE, MADISON, WI $5,800

PAGE, GLORIA, LOS ALTOS, CA $5,300

WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS CONDUIT FUND, MADISON, WI, $5,000

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC, MOORHEAD, MN $5,000

CONROY, KEVIN T., MADISON, WI $5,000

FAULKNER, GORDON, MOUNT HOREB, WI $5,000

FAULKNER, JUDITH, MOUNT HOREB, WI $5,000

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 139, PEWAUKEE, WI $5,000

NEA FUND FOR CHILDREN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. $5,000

NEW DEMOCRAT COALITION ACTION FUND, WASHINGTON, D.C. $5,000

UA UNION PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS VOTE! PAC, ANNAPOLIS, MD $5,000

WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS CONDUIT FUND, MADISON, WI $5,000

KIND FOR CONGRESS, LA CROSSE, WI, $4,000
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona's Republican attorney general has issued an opinion saying county officials can hand-count all ballots in at least five races from the Nov. 8 election, a move that gives a green light to GOP officials in at least two counties who have been clamoring for hand counts.

The efforts to hand-count ballots are driven by unfounded concerns among some Republicans that problems with vote-counting machines or voter fraud led to former President Donald Trump's 2020 defeat.

The new attorney general opinion led the two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County board of supervisors to boost their plan to hand-count some races in both early and Election Day ballots. They had pledged to pare back the effort on Wednesday.

Under state law, the local leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties would have to provide hundreds of volunteers to do the counts.

At a fiery meeting Friday, Democratic Supervisor Ann English said she'll do everything she can to stop the county Democratic Party chair from providing those workers.

It would be my fondest hope, that if I have any authority, any way that I can convince the chair of the Democratic party in Cochise County not to provide people for this fiasco that will be my intent, English said. Because I think that every day that were discussing this, then people are wondering 'whats wrong with our elections.' 

That comment came after GOP Supervisor Peggy Judd said she wanted to move ahead, and Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby pushed back strongly on English's opposition and effort to halt the full count.

Im OK talking about how this will be done, but all you want to do is make it not get done, Crosby said. "So, Im not interested in that discussion  Im interested in the discussion of how it will get done.

The Cochise County Democratic Party referred inquiries about whether they would send volunteers for the expanded hand count to the state party on Saturday. Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Morgan Dick said party officials are consulting with their attorneys on the issue.

The county party did post on its Facebook page Saturday, saying they were beyond disappointed in yesterdays circus of a meeting.

Judd, Crosby and (county Recorder David) Stevens are hell bent on appeasing MAGA election deniers instead of doing whats right for our county, the post continued.

The hand count would take place along with the machine count, and the machine count will be used for the legal results.

The informal opinion issued Friday by Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office came as the board has been battling with Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. She warned officials there not to expand the required small hand count to all races because it was illegal. Hobbs is the state's top election official and is running for governor.

Hobbs did give them the OK to hand-count all Election Day ballots in four races, but she said it would be illegal to do so for early votes, which make up more than 80% of ballots in the state. Normal hand-count audits required under law to ensure accuracy of ballot counting machines cover only a small percentage of ballots.

The opinion from Brnovich's deputy solicitor general said the county may hand-count all the ballots in as many as five races.

Hobbs' office said they disagreed and that the law does not allow it for early ballots.

"With early voting well under way and less than two weeks from election day, these antics are doing nothing more than creating chaos and confusion around the election and tabulation of ballots, which is wildly irresponsible, a statement from Hobbs' office said.

Supervisors in Pinal County, a much larger and growing suburban area just south of metro Phoenix's Maricopa County, also have been considering a hand count. Both boards have meetings planned for next week to discuss the issue.

The elected Republican county attorneys in both jurisdictions have warned their respective boards there is no legal authority to expand a hand-count of ballots.

"It would be illegal at this point to do a full hand count, Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer told his board on Wednesday.

Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre has told the board he also believes a full hand count is illegal and said the board and county Recorder David Stevens would need to find outside attorneys if they went ahead. He repeated that Friday, after Supervisor Judd said Brnovich had given the go-ahead.

He also noted that the effort runs afoul of a legal doctrine set up by the U.S. Supreme Court that says election rules and procedures can't be changed close to an election.

An effort to hand count ballots in rural Nevada's Nye County has been beset with issues, including slow counts and a legal challenge that forced the effort to halt on Thursday night. Officials in the GOP-led county pledged to restart their effort as soon as they can.

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

Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections.
A Wisconsin appeals court is refusing to block a lower courts ruling banning the practice known as ballot spoiling, which allows voters who already submitted an absentee ballot to void it and vote again.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals decided Thursday against hearing an appeal of a Waukesha County circuit court judges ruling this month in favor of a conservative group founded by prominent Republicans. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission scheduled an emergency meeting for Friday afternoon to react to the ruling, which comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 8 election.

Wisconsin voters have been submitting absentee ballots by mail for weeks and in person since Monday. As of Friday, more than 490,000 ballots had been cast either by mail or in person, according to the elections commission.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson are both on the ballot in tight races. Johnsons race could determine which party has majority control of the Senate and the next governor will be in position to either enact or reject bills passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature heading into the 2024 presidential election.

The appeals court on Oct. 10 agreed to put the lower courts ruling on hold while it decided whether to hear the appeal from the elections commission, the Democratic National Committee and Rise, Inc., a group that works to get college students to vote.

The courts order does not change what is on the ballot. Nor does it prevent a single voter  Democrat, Republican, or otherwise  from casting a ballot in the upcoming election, the appeals court said. Thus, claims of confusion and disenfranchisement ring hollow.

The appeals courts ruling lifted that hold as of 3 p.m. Friday. The elections commission was meeting at 12:30 p.m.

The order from Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general, required the elections commission to inform municipal clerks and local election officials that its guidance on ballot spoiling issued Aug. 1 had been withdrawn. Schimel also forbid the commission from issuing any future guidance related to ballot spoiling that is not allowed under the law.

Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections filed the lawsuit last month. The group was created in July by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove, GOP donor Steve Wynn and others. It has also filed election-related lawsuits in the battleground states of Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Ballot spoiling got more attention in Wisconsin during the August primary after a Republican candidate for governor and three top Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate dropped out of the races, but their names were still on the ballots. The elections commission made clear then that voters who had cast their ballots for one of them absentee could spoil it and vote again for someone still in the race.

RITE argued that the practice in Wisconsin is both against the law and creates additional opportunities for fraud and confusion. The appeals court noted that state law does allow for a clerk to issue a new ballot if a voter returns a spoiled or damaged absentee ballot. But the law does not appear to authorize a clerk to spoil a ballot thats already been cast and issue a new one, the appeals court said.

The elections commission did not immediately provide numbers of how many ballots were spoiled by voters in recent elections.
Monona-based WPS Health Insurance is ending its Medicare Part D drug coverage next year, requiring about 11,000 enrollees in Wisconsin to find other plans.

WPS is dropping the prescription drug plan, which it has offered since the government added drug coverage as a Medicare option in 2006, so it can concentrate on its Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, spokesperson DeAnne Boegli said.

WPS is focused on retaining our status as Wisconsins leading Medicare Supplement provider, Boegli said in a statement. We aim to keep that lead and are bringing this coverage to even more states with the goal of being a leading national Medicare Supplement provider in the years ahead.

Medicare Supplement plans, often called Medigap, fill in gaps in the coverage of traditional Medicare insurance. WPS has about 70,000 Medicare Supplement members in Wisconsin, Boegli said. About 7,000 of them, and 4,000 others, have its Medicare Part D plan that is ending, she said.

Twenty-three other Medicare Part D plans, which cover medications, will be offered in Wisconsin next year by nine out-of-state companies, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana and United Healthcare.

People in the WPS Part D plan that is ending can choose one of the other plans. They can also switch to Medicare Advantage, private plans that often include drug coverage.

Fred Wade, 80, of Shorewood Hills, has had WPS Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D coverage for many years. He takes expensive chemotherapy drugs for multiple myeloma and was upset to learn Thursday that the drug coverage was ending.

It was a big shock, said Wade, a retired attorney, noting the hassle of trying to find other coverage.

His wife, Marilyn Townsend, an attorney who has state benefits through her job on the state Labor and Industry Review Commission, said she previously also had WPS health insurance.

We trusted a local company more, Townsend said. I always felt wed have a little more local accountability.

Editors note: This story has been changed to correct Fred Wades name.
Election Day is fast approaching, and I believe that Ryan Huebsch is the best candidate to represent the 94th district to Madison.

Steve Doyle has spent most of his life in politics starting back in 1986 when he was first elected to the La Crosse County Board. During a recent County Board meeting, Doyle tried to play both sides when discussing ballot referendums. He said, I dont think it is the role of this County Board to inject ourselves in the middle of partisan debate, but then turned around and voted in support of the very resolutions he thought were partisan. Career politicians who constantly mislead their constituents is irritating.

Then in the Wisconsin State Legislature, Steve claims to work for us but as discussed above, its apparent he ultimately does whatever his party wants. Steve voted against legislation to ensure public safety and keep criminals off the streets and against getting state employees back to in-person work.

All in all, I am voting for Ryan Huebsch for the 94th Assembly so we can get a new and young leader who will truly work for us and do what is right for Wisconsin.

Jordan Briskey
BURLINGTON  Black and Hispanic drivers stopped by police in Burlington account for 15% of those getting citations, but only 3% of those being let go with warnings. Those figures were presented by Burlington Police Department officials to the citys special task force on race relations Thursday evening.

The data, which cover about 400 traffic stops during the month of August 2022, show that white motorists account for 84% of those receiving citations and 95% of those getting warnings.

Task force members are questioning whether the statistics suggest that police officers are more likely to write citations for racial and ethnic minorities than they are for white people.

The 2020 Census shows that Burlingtons population of 11,008 people is 84.9% white, 11% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, 0.4% Native American and 0.3% Black. This indicates that out of 11,008 people living in Burlington, just 33 are Black.

After determining that the data are not adequate to draw conclusions, task force members have agreed to gather more statistics about police traffic enforcement in Burlington.

Police Lt. Jeremy Krusemark assured the task force that his department would not tolerate any racial or ethnic bias, and would immediately respond if any officers caseload showed an unusual spike in citations or arrests of minorities.

Were going to bring that officer in, and were going to have a conversation: What is going on? Krusemark told the group.

Members of the city panel agreed to seek out more data  possibly from a database maintained by the University of Wisconsin  to examine more fully a history of police stops in Burlington based on the race and ethnicity of drivers.

Task force member Josiah Angley-Thorngate said that although he is making no allegations, he wants greater assurances that white motorists are not getting disproportionately lenient treatment.

You cant tell from this data what actually did happen, Angley-Thorngate told the police officials. If there is some kind of bias, the data may reveal it.

The task force, appointed by Mayor Jeannie Hefty, is working to improve race relations in Burlington.

State education officials last year released a scathing assessment of the Burlington Area School District, reporting that a racially hostile environment existed in the schools without adequate response from school administrators.

The mayors task force, under different leadership, issued recommendations for targeted action in the schools, public education forums, and other strategies to improve race relations. But none of those recommendations have yet been implemented.

The task force of about 20 people is meeting monthly in an effort to find a way forward and to produce tangible results. Current discussions include conducting a community survey on race relations, and holding a public event in January marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The group, which began holding its meetings in public in September, asked police officials to provide statistics showing a breakdown of how racial minorities are treated on routine traffic stops.

Krusemark was joined by Sgt. Robert Jones to present the August data during a task force meeting Thursday night in the citys public works headquarters. Nine members of the task force were in attendance, as well as the mayor.

The data showed that out of 297 traffic citations issued in August, 84% were given to white drivers, 10% to Hispanics and 5% to Black drivers. Out of 109 warnings issued, 95% went to white drivers, 2% to Hispanics and 1% to Black drivers.

The police department also reported that a total of 49 citations were issued to all minorities combined, resulting from 23 traffic stops. Several people received more than one citation. The most common traffic stop for minorities involved speeding, followed by registration issues.

Task force members questioned why similar statistics were not presented for white motorists.

Krusemark said he did not think the task force had requested such statistics. He also said it took him several hours to put together the data as presented.

Angley-Thorngate said he applauded the police department for its transparency, and he said the department should make similar statistics available on a regular basis.

Thats worth looking further into, he said. Its interesting, and its a good place to start.

Other task force members who questioned the police representatives were Laura Bielefeldt, Melissa Staatz and Brittany Angley-Thorngate.

Krusemark told the task force members that all officers receive extensive training, including on racial and ethnic diversity.

Our officers care about this community, he said. And I think this community cares about our officers.
Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is Nov. 8. Republican candidate Marisa Voelkel did not respond.

Jenna Jacobson

Party: Democratic

Age: 40

Address: Oregon

Family: Husband, three kids

Job: Stay-at-home mom

Prior elected office: Oregon village trustee, 2017-2021, 2022-present

Other public service: Vice chair, Oregon Housing Coalition, two years; Governors Council on Financial Literacy Education, one year

Education: Bachelors degree in consumer financial planning, Purdue University

Q&A

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I am the only candidate running that currently serves as an elected community leader. I listen first, then work with people to build solutions for todays challenges. I will continue to take action to secure the fundamental freedoms for all of us to thrive: accessible, affordable health care; personal choice in health decisions; high-quality public education; and quality affordable housing.

What is the most important issue in this election and how would you address it?

I believe the most important issue this election season is fair representation. Gerrymandering, voting restrictions and criminalized abortions do not reflect Wisconsinites values of fairness, freedom and forward progress. I support creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission, implementing fair voting practices that allow all voters to cast their vote with ease, and legalizing abortion.

What changes, if any, would you make to the states election system?

The disinformation spread about the 2020 election is intentional and dangerous. Questioning the integrity of Wisconsin and national elections, without evidence, undermines confidence in election results and in democracy. I support nonpartisan oversight of our elections, like the former Government Accountability Board, to help maintain integrity and bolster confidence in our elections.

What are your priorities for the states $5 billion surplus?

I believe that some of the surplus should be used to fill the funding gaps in education, specifically special education. Governor Evers has now released two reasonable plans for the surplus, which include education funding. I think it is paramount that the legislature gets back to work for the people of Wisconsin and decide the best way to return this money to Wisconsinites

Should abortion be legal in all cases, illegal in all cases or something in between? Explain.

Everyone should have the freedom to choose if and when they have a family and the size of that family. The government should not be making those choices for individuals. I believe in keeping government out of private health care decisions between a patient and their doctor; whether that be about abortion, vasectomies or any other medical procedures.

How should the state improve educational outcomes, especially in the wake of how the pandemic affected student achievement?

The state should start by fulfilling its commitment to Wisconsinites and fully funding education. The best way to improve educational outcomes is to fund the programs designed to improve educational outcomes. Paying teachers a fair wage, reducing class sizes, making sure students have access to food and school supplies will help students gain ground in their education.

How should the state address its workforce challenges, both in the public and private sectors?

We need to work with businesses and job training programs, through the Department of Workforce Development and other State departments, to have a multi-pronged approach to workforce challenges. Programs that provide adequate child care, training, and transportation assistance will help workers to prepare themselves to participate in the workforce and to expand their current participation.

Was the Michael Gableman investigation of the 2020 election a good use of taxpayer resources? What follow-up should there be?

No. Robin Vos used taxpayers money to launch an investigation that only benefited his personal, political campaign. There should be an investigation into this use of funds and recommendations for accountability put in place based on the findings.
By Trend

After the end of the second Karabakh War, the time came for Azerbaijan and Armenia to sign a peace agreement, Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said at the 54th plenary meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Uzbekistan's Samarkand on October 28, Trend reports.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova welcomed the participants of the plenum on behalf of the Milli Majlis, recalled the celebration of the IPAs 30th anniversary in Almaty in March this year and said that the linkage between the organisation members legislatures rested on mutual respect, mutual trust and good will. The joint activities within the Assembly foster bilateral and multilateral inter-parliamentary co-operation whilst they also help strengthen the overall bonds amongst our states, according to Mrs Gafarova.

As she was telling the audience of the current state of affairs in the region, the Chair of the Milli Majlis also mentioned the large-scale restoration and rebuilding work that Azerbaijan carries on in her lands freed from Armenian occupation. As President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan had said, Mrs Gafarova continued, restoration of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur as well as the return of our former IDP to their native parts constitute our national idea and Azerbaijan is sparing no effort to make certain that this idea is fulfilled as soon as practicable. New towns and villages are built from scratch; large infrastructural projects are under way. The international airport of Zanghilan was commissioned a few days ago; it is the second of its kind in the de-occupied lands after the international airport of Fuzuli and had been built as rapidly. The numerous overseas visitors who went to Shusha, Agdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil and Zanghilan were able to eye-witness the scale of the destruction wreaked there during the former occupation period as well as the sweep of the restoration work current there, according to Mrs Gafarova.

Life is returning to those territories. The new village of Agali was created anew in Zanghilan and former IDPs went over to settle there in May this year as the first ever to make a come-back to the liberated lands. The first bell was rung at the village secondary school in September then after 29 years of forced silence.

The Chair of the Milli Majlis said as she continued with her speech that the mines planted by the Armenian side remained a big problem for the conduct of restoration. Mine explosions have either killed or maimed more than 260 Azerbaijani citizens in the two years since the end of the Karabakh War II. Armenia had been planting those mines both during the occupation period and in 2021, that is, after the war had been ended, Sahiba Gafarova emphasised. She also highlit yet another military provocation on Armenias part on 13 September this year when an attempt at mining the supply lines of the Azerbaijani Forces in the borderlands resulted in clashes on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and a heavy loss of life consequently.

Though it was Azerbaijan that had been a victim to occupation for thirty years, it was also Azerbaijan that offered Armenia a peace settlement, to be based on the five principles of the international law accepted universally, stressed the Chair of the Milli Majlis. The conversations held by the leaders and foreign ministers of the two states, the recent sittings of the border delimitation commission and the encounters planned for the nearest future give rise to certain optimism as to the peace process. It is time a peace accord was signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia, in light of the end to the Karabakh War II. According to Mrs Gafarova, she hopes that Armenia will demonstrate a political will, avoid delaying this process and will take tangible steps towards signing a peace treaty. Those steps include honouring all the provisions of the Trilateral Statement of November 2020 inclusive of allowing unhindered movements between mainland Azerbaijan and her Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as well as a complete withdrawal of the armed forces of Armenia from the Azerbaijani territory. Signing a peace treaty is setting foot on the sole way that leads to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, concluded Chair of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova.
U.S. Defense Policy Documents Integrate All Aspects of Strategy Against China and Russia

Oct. 28, 2022 (EIRNS)For the first time, all the defense policy documents that were released yesterday, the National Defense Strategy (NDS), the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and the Missile Defense Review (MDR), were composed and released together. The development of the three documents together led to substantive coherence, a more integrated and seamless approach to issues like deterrence and risk management, and it resulted in a very tight strategy to resources linkage, said a senior defense official briefing reporters on background.

China:. With respect to China, the NDS seeks to prevent the P.R.C.s dominance of key regions while protecting the U.S. homeland and reinforcing a stable and open international system. A key objective of the strategy is to dissuade the P.R.C. from considering aggression as a viable means of advancing goals that threaten vital U.S. national interests. The DOD supports broader whole-of-government efforts to develop terms of interaction with the P.R.C. favorable to our interests and values while managing strategic competition and enabling the pursuit of cooperation on common challenges.

The document characterizes China as the most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security because of the P.R.C.s coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences. The document claims that The P.R.C. seeks to undermine U.S. alliances and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, leverage its growing capabilities, including its economic influence and the Peoples Liberation Armys growing strength and military footprint, to coerce its neighbors and threaten their interests.

The P.R.C.s increasingly provocative rhetoric and coercive activity towards Taiwan are destabilizing, risk miscalculation and threaten the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, it claims. This is part of a broader pattern of destabilizing and coercive behavior that stretches across the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and along the Line of Actual Control.

The P.R.C. has expanded and modernized nearly every aspect of the PLA with a focus on offsetting U.S. military advantages, the document complains. The P.R.C. is therefore the pacing challenge for the Department.

Russia: While focused on the P.R.C. as the pacing challenge, the NDS also accounts for the acute threat posed by Russia, demonstrated most recently by Russias unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine (this is the lie that the whole document hinges on respecting Russia). Therefore, The Department will support robust deterrence of Russian aggression against vital U.S. national interests, including our treaty Allies. The U.S. will work with NATO and our partners to provide U.S. leadership, develop key enabling capabilities and deepen interoperability.

Then the NDS gets even nastier. Contemptuous of its neighbors independence, Russias government seeks to use force to impose border changes and to reimpose an imperial sphere of influence, it says.

Its extensive track record of territorial aggression includes the escalation of its brutal, unprovoked war against Ukraine. Although its leaders political and military actions intended to fracture NATO have backfired dramatically, the goal remains. Russia presents serious, continuing risks in key areas. These include nuclear threats to the homeland and U.S. Allies and partners; long-range cruise missile threats ... and extensive gray zone campaigns targeted against democracies in particular.

Nuclear Threat: The nuclear policy of the U.S., in effect, is to prevent war by threatening alleged aggressors if they start one. U.S. nuclear weapons deter aggression, assure allies and partners, and allow us to achieve Presidential objectives if deterrence fails, the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) declares. However, deterrence alone will not reduce nuclear dangers. Therefore, The United States will pursue a comprehensive and balanced approach that places renewed emphasis on arms control, nonproliferation, and risk reduction to strengthen stability, head off costly arms races and signal our desire to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons globally.

Going along with this is a completely false statement about Russias alleged nuclear saber rattling in Ukraine, which the U.S. must respond to. Russias leadership should have no doubt regarding the resolve of the United States to both resist nuclear coercion and act as a responsible nuclear power.

The NPR adopts a series of steps toward what is said to be a safe and secure deterrent while supposedly reducing the role of nuclear weapons in deterrent strategy. Two of these steps are the following:

 Adopt a strategy and declaratory policy that maintains a very high bar for nuclear employment while assuring allies and partners and complicating adversary decision calculus.  Adopt an integrated deterrence approach that works to leverage nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities to tailor deterrence under specific circumstances.

The declaratory policy of the U.S. is: As long as nuclear weapons exist, the fundamental role of nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attack on the United States, our allies and partners. The United States 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. The extreme circumstances and vital interests are not defined in the document. The U.S., it says further, wont use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against states that are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and in compliance with their obligations thereto. For all other states, there remains a narrow range of contingencies in which U.S. nuclear weapons may still play a role in deterring attacks that have strategic effect against the United States or its allies and partners.

The NPR dispenses with no-first-use and sole-purpose policies by reporting that the reviewers concluded that those approaches would result in an unacceptable level of risk in light of non-nuclear capabilities being developed and fielded by competitors that could inflict strategic-level damage to the U.S. and its allies and partners. It claims that the U.S. retains the goal of moving toward sole-purpose declaration and we will work with our allies and partners to identify concrete steps that would allow us to do so.
The U.S. wildlife agency says Antarcticas emperor penguins are now threatened because of the effects of climate change.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued a warning that the species is in danger of disappearing, or becoming extinct, if steps are not taken to protect it.

The declaration officially calls for protections of emperor penguins under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The flightless seabirds are native to Antarctica. But the U.S. agency said warming oceans linked to climate change have harmed the penguins sea ice environment. The animals need sea ice to reproduce, hunt for food and avoid other creatures.

Martha Williams is the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She said in a statement the listing of emperor penguins on the ESA demonstrates a growing extinction crisis affecting many species worldwide.

The listing of the emperor penguin serves as an alarm bell, but also a call to action, Williams said.

The wildlife agency said a major examination of available evidence suggests the penguins are not currently in danger of extinction. However, if carbon emissions continue to rise, temperatures will as well, leading to more sea ice destruction. This harm could result in the emperor penguins disappearing in the foreseeable future, the agency said.

The agency's declaration followed a 2011 request by the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity to list the penguins under the ESA.

Climate change has reduced reproduction rates in emperor colonies, the agency said. One example is the Halley Bay colony in the Weddell Sea, the second-largest emperor penguin colony in the world. Officials say several years of poor ice conditions in areas around the colony led to the drowning of all newborn penguins beginning in 2016.

The endangered declaration is designed to improve international cooperation for conservation efforts and increase financial assistance. The action also requires federal agencies in the United States to take steps to reduce extinction threats.

Shaye Wolf is the climate science director for the U.S.-based Center for Biological Diversity. She told Reuters news agency she sees the U.S. declaration as a warning that emperor penguins need urgent climate action in order to survive.

The penguins very existence depends on whether our government takes strong action now to cut climate-heating fossil fuels and prevent irreversible damage to life on Earth, Wolf said.

The 1973 Endangered Species Act is credited with bringing several animals back from the danger of extinction. These include grizzly bears, bald eagles, gray whales and others. Some drilling and mining industries have opposed the act because it can halt development in areas considered necessary for species survival.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

species  n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

alarm bell  n. a device that makes a loud ringing sound to warn of danger

emission  n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

conservation  n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources

fossil fuels  v. fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas that are formed in the Earth from dead plants or animals

irreversible  adj. not possible to change; impossible to return to a previous condition

___________________________________________________________________

What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works:

Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free.

Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.
Increasingly severe droughts in Africa make it very hard to grow food, especially in the dryer areas of the continent. But a water system developed in the United States is helping improve crop production in drought-affected areas.

The system involves plastic membranes that look like clear covers. When put in the ground, they prevent the loss of water and other healthful substances from the soil.

The technology has so far been tested in Zimbabwe and Kenya and has been performing well.

In the village of Ulilinzi of southeastern Kenya, the sandy soil has made it nearly impossible to produce a lot of crops. The problem is made worse by droughts. But the new water retention technology is giving farmers here new hope.

Alvin Smucker is a professor of soil biophysics at Michigan State University. He developed the water system.

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, he said.

"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 is a researcher at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. He is one of the scientists leading the testing of the technology in Kenya. He said the membranes were tested on farms that grow cowpeas and corn.

We realized that farms where we had installed these membranes were more productive, he said.

Florence Mutisya is a farmer there. She has tried the technology at her farm.

I saw the benefits, she said. And I can say that this technology is working very well because now, I get [a] good harvest.

Ulilinzi farmer Anne Mutunga agrees.

The technology is very good, she said, adding, we have vegetables which you cant find anywhere else around here.

Sylvia Nyawira is a researcher at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, one of the organizations leading testing in the sub-Saharan area. She said the retention technology could help crop growth over a long time period.

If farmers continue to retain their crop residues in the soiltheres buildup of organic matter, she said. 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 production, experts say the technology can also help reduce the effects of climate change.

As you increase productivity, the crops are able to take carbon from the atmosphere and fix it into their biomass, Kuyah said. You are able to lock it into the soil.

However, the new water retention technology has a high cost and requires a lot of labor. It costs as much as $2,000 to buy the membranes to cover one hectare of land.

Im Caty Weaver.

Juma Majanga reported this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

drought  n. a long period of dry weather

membrane  n. a thin soft flexible sheet or layer especially of a plant or animal part (as a cell, tissue, or organ)

retention  n. the act of retaining : to keep in possession or use

benefit  n. something that does good to a person or thing

residue  n. whatever remains after a part is taken, set apart, or lost or after the completion of a process

yield  n. the amount or quantity produced or returned

biomass  n. plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel
Villager in central China's Henan goes online to promote art of suona

People's Daily Online) 17:29, October 28, 2022

A suona artist in the countryside of central China's Henan Province is promoting the traditional Chinese musical instrument by playing it on online platforms.

Ma Chunfeng is from Mazhuang village, Hong'en township, Zhecheng county, Shangqiu city of Henan, a village where performances of the instrument have a long history. Ma started to learn the suona when he was eight, and began performing with bands three years later. Since going online this January, he has garnered some 323,000 followers on one livestreaming platform.

(Photo/Henan Business Daily)

Ma, who had been thinking about ways to pass down the instrument, uploaded some clips of him playing suona first on short-video platforms, but attracted little attention. Then his son, who had experience of making video clips and livestreaming, suggested boosting the content of the clips by adopting better forms. Ma then invited his relatives and neighbors to play suona and other musical instruments, and sometimes even danced in the videos.

In addition, he also tried his hand at livestreaming sessions, in which he either played suona solo or along with some villagers. Their performances were received enthusiastically by many of his fellow villagers. At the end of one session, which brought him over 2,000 new followers, Ma and his wife, despite being a little tired, played Hundreds of Birds Worshipping the Phoenix, a masterpiece that requires exceptional skills, igniting the enthusiasm of audiences.

"My family's capability is limited. Inheriting the art of suona requires the joint efforts of the entire village," said Ma, who plans to involve more villagers in the next online performance.

(Screenshot from Ma's TikTok account)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
By Trend

The Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) resolutely condemns Iranian foreign minister's speech made in Armenia's Kapan and demands to retract the statement, Trend reports via the CMO.

The CMO made the remark regarding the threatening statements of Iran and military drills carried out along the border with Azerbaijan.

"Since the 2020 Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its clear intention to develop political and economic ties with neighboring countries to ensure regional peace and cooperation. However, Azerbaijan's good intentions are often perceived negatively and completely misinterpreted. This is especially evident in relation with neighboring Iran. As far as Azerbaijan is a secular, law-governed and democratic state, it's the responsibility of officials to express an opinion on political and economic issues. As for theocratic Iran, the religious community of the country is responsible for commenting on political events. Thus, as the religious center of Azerbaijan, we regard as a duty to express our attitude toward religious-spiritual realities," the CMO noted.

The statement said that the religious factor between Iran and Azerbaijan ??is of particular necessity among other historical and moral values. This phenomenon should foster the further rapprochement of the two peoples.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed. Protective attitude of Iran towards Armenia before and since the solution of the Karabakh conflict, is condemned by Muslims, the Azerbaijani people. Unlike other Muslim countries, which didn't establish political and diplomatic relations with the aggressor-country and made statements condemning the occupation, Iran further enhanced all-inclusive cooperation with Armenia, thus ignoring the resolutions adopted within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). This attitude running counter to Islam values is not perceived by the Azerbaijani believers," said the statement.

According to the CMO, during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, when Armenia transformed mosques into pigsties, committed the Khojaly genocide, forced a million Azerbaijanis to leave their native lands, Iran made no statements to protest against these atrocities.

"When the Armenians, having destroyed Azerbaijani mosques in Karabakh and Western Azerbaijan, "rebuilt" the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque in Shusha and the Blue Mosque in Yerevan in order to create the image of allegedly caring of mosques, the Iranian companies were covering the vandalism of Armenia through changing the peculiarity of Azerbaijani mosques," the statement said.

Besides, the CMO noted that the Azerbaijani society negatively perceives military drills of Iran on the border with Azerbaijan against the backdrop of new realities in the region in the post-war period.

"The political, economic and military power of the Azerbaijani state is able to prevent all threats, including any provocations on our borders. Confrontation between close neighbors, brothers is only for the benefit of enemies," the statement further said. "The highest religious authorities of Iran, claiming justice, for some reason doesnt express their position on the zeal of their country regarding cooperation with Armenia, which occupied Azerbaijani lands, nor comment on how this corresponds to Islamic values."

"The opinions of some Iranian imams, who, instead of sharing the joy of the Azerbaijani people who have won the struggle for the restoration of justice, slander the country, are perceived negatively by believers in Azerbaijan," the CMO pointed out.

"The Araz River is sacred for the Azerbaijanis living on both sides of it. Only bridges of friendship can be built through it. As President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, hoisting the Azerbaijani flag on the Khudafarin Bridge, the bridge is a national treasure of the Azerbaijani people. The Khudafarin Bridge is a symbol of Azerbaijani-Iranian friendship, the Azerbaijani-Iranian border is the border of friendship, cooperation," the CMO reminded.

The CMO also reminded that religion in Azerbaijan is separated from the state, and no propaganda is conducted against any state in the mosques of the country, and there is no interference in the internal affairs of any country.

"However, we cannot ignore any threats and slander against our spirituality and statehood. Islam, our sacred religion, teaches us to stand for truth and justice. As the Caucasus Muslims Office, we demand retract the statement of the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian at the opening of the Iranian Consulate General in Kapan. This is necessary in the name of common Islamic interests, as a sign of respect for the ideals of peace and brotherhood of the Islamic religion, in order to preserve relations between our neighboring states, including in the religious and spiritual terms. For us, this is the "red line"," the CMO stressed.

"The Muslims of Azerbaijan are always committed to the statehood of their country, determined to protect the interests of the state, the sovereignty of our country. In the 2020 Karabakh War, the people of the country, regardless of religion, language and ethnicity, having united as a fist around the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, demonstrated an example of unity to the whole world, and can repeat this. Azerbaijani believers always support the head of our state. May the Almighty always preserve our independence and statehood!" concluded the CMO.
What the Madison School District characterized as an altercation involving seven students outside West High School Thursday was called in to police as a fight involving as many as 25 students and a strong-arm robbery in which police recovered marijuana, fake IDs, fake currency and a spent shell casing.

Police were called to the school at 30 Ash St. just after noon because several people had battered a person and stole his backpack, according to an entry in the police chiefs blog Friday morning, and because 20-25 students were involved in a fight, Madison police spokesperson Hunter Lisko said.

Officers searching the vehicle the suspects arrived in found the marijuana and other items, the blog said. Lisko said that while no charges have been filed, a detective has been assigned to the matter.

Principal Dan Kigeya said in an email home to parents Thursday afternoon that staff responded to the incident quickly, and due to the large number of students involved, requested support from the City of Madison Police Department.

He also said some students reported that a weapon might have been involved in the incident, but a search of the area with a police dog didnt turn up one. Lisko confirmed no weapons were found.

District spokesperson Tim LeMonds said later Thursday that seven students had been involved in the fight. He had not responded to a request to clarify whether the district was aware of other details in the incident and whether all of the people involved are district students.
SPRING GREEN  With its swift currents, shifting sand bars and undeveloped shoreline, the Lower Wisconsin River is the longest free-flowing river in the Midwest, snaking more than 92 miles from the Prairie du Sac dam to the Mississippi River.

It is also one of the most ecologically diverse, providing habitat for 98 species of fish, including rare species like longnose gar, grass pickerel and the paddlefish.

Its my favorite place in the state, said John Lyons, who has studied the river for four decades, first as a research scientist with the state Department of Natural Resources and now as an angler and volunteer with Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. You can be out there ... and you can imagine its 500 years ago.

But as temperatures rise, the river is increasingly under threat of invasion.

If climate change is left unchecked, the Lower Wisconsin and more than half a dozen other rivers could become breeding grounds for invasive carp within a generation, according to a new study.

Here, but not reproducing

Voracious eaters, bighead and silver carp disrupt food chains and lower water quality, outcompeting native species for food and space. Bighead carp can weigh over 100 pounds and eat up to 20 pounds of plankton a day. Silver carp, while smaller, are known to leap from the water when startled by noises, creating a hazard for boaters.

Imported from Asia in the 1970s to help clean catfish ponds in the south, carp escaped into the Mississippi River and have since spread to the Missouri and Illinois rivers.

Adult fish have been found in the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries, including the St. Croix and Wisconsin rivers, according to the DNR, but so far theres no evidence they are reproducing.

Wisconsin is really at the very edge of the carp invasion front, said Zach Feiner, a research scientist with the DNR and UW-Madisons Center for Limnology and coauthor of the study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Theyre adapted for warmer temperatures.

But with climate change already warming Wisconsins waters, Feiner and his fellow scientists wanted to understand where these fish might be likely to establish breeding populations.

The researchers looked at 38 river reaches across the state. While all have conditions that could support adult carp, survival rates varied and fish tended to grow in fewer than half the places studied.

Currently there are a few places that could be good habitat, but really only for adults, Feiner said. Theres almost nowhere they would survive as juveniles.

The researchers then modeled conditions under temperatures that scientists say are likely by midcentury without cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and found a four-fold increase in the number of rivers where carp could thrive.

Parts or all of the Baraboo, Fox, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Pecatonica, Red Cedar, Rock and Wisconsin rivers would be at very high risk for invasion. The Black, Root and Chippewa rivers are considered at high risk, while dozens more in every part of the state  including the Sugar, Kickapoo, and Trempealeau rivers  are medium risk.

If theyre in a place and theyre reproducing, then it becomes much more difficult to control them, Feiner said. They could spread to other places.

Giant experiment

While people often think about ways that climate change can affect the weather, the paper is just the latest example of the havoc it could wreak, said Scott Laeser, water program director for Clean Wisconsin.

Climate change is like a never-ending, always-evolving earthquake that will continue to disrupt our forests, our grasslands, our rivers, our lakes  in some ways we know and already expect and in some ways we dont know, Laeser said

A report last year by the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts documented dozens of ways rising temperatures threaten Wisconsins ecosystems, making cold water streams too warm for trout, turning walleye lakes into bass fisheries, and threatening already stressed native habitats.

Because river systems are complex and dynamic, its hard to know how they will respond to changing variables like temperature and precipitation.

If we dont bring climate change under control, were going to be doing a giant experiment, Lyons said. Theres going to be lots of changes beyond the carp. Many of them will be unanticipated. It seems likely that some of those are going to be undesirable.

Other variables

But even if warming temperatures make Wisconsins rivers habitable for Asian carp, theres no guarantee they will take over.

The models showed carp could not survive, even in warmer waters, with lower levels of plant growth. That means limiting runoff of manure and chemical fertilizers could mitigate some of the impacts of climate change.

And Lyons points out that rivers like the Wisconsin, St. Croix and Chippewa are far less degraded than waterways like the Illinois and lower Mississippi, which could make it harder for carp to take over.

My hope is that if theres a good balanced predator-prey community, a good diverse fish community, there isnt really a niche for them to occupy, Lyons said. Theyre present but theyre not really taking over the system because theres something else.

Worst-case scenario

The study modeled river conditions based on an average global temperature increase of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, a scenario that many scientists now think is unlikely to play out as a result of the rapidly falling price of renewable energy.

The worst-case scenario, at least from an energy use perspective, is implausible, but its not out of the question, said Steve Vavrus, a senior climate scientist at UW-Madisons Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

But just this week the United Nations warned there is no longer a credible pathway to capping warming at 1.5 degrees as outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement, and current policies have the world on track for 2 to 3 degrees warming, which could make Wisconsins climate more like that of central Illinois.

And even with limited warming, Feiner said its possible those conditions will be present by the end of this century.

Fewer of the coldest, least hospitable rivers become habitable for carp, Feiner said. But you still see an increased risk in many, particularly southern, rivers.

Sandbars, swamps and cactus leads to international recognition for the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway The 92-mile Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is now recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Hanging on

Wildlife officials have deployed sound, bubble and electronic barriers in Illinois in an effort to keep the invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes, where they could decimate the $7 billion commercial fishing industry and threaten recreational boating, which generates more than $16 billion in spending.

With the numbers of carp still low, the Wisconsin DNR has not deployed barriers, though Feiner said the study can help identify rivers where investments in monitoring and prevention would be most useful.

But barriers dont stop all the fish, and they dont work during big floods, which happen more frequently as the climate warms.

The idea of completely blocking them is unrealistic, Lyons said. They may help manage a problem but they wont prevent it. Theyre not a silver bullet.

Laeser said thats an argument for doing everything possible to slow climate change. Lyons argues its equally important to protect the habitat.

Lets try to keep what weve got, he said. That may be our best hope for keeping carp and some of these other invasives from running amok.
This is Amara Taufners third season working at Spirit Halloween in West Towne Mall. While she enjoys the costumes, theres always one accessory that makes her uneasy.

One of the things I feel the most weird about selling, especially to people who arent Asian, are the rice hats, Taufner said. I just feel a little suspicious about what theyre going to do with the hats.

One day, an older couple came in and confirmed her fears. They put the hats on and said a few racial slurs, she said.

In the age of social media, theres been more discourse around cultural appropriation. And as Halloween nears, these conversations are often reignited.

In recent years, many celebrities have been blasted online for blackface and wearing Native American-style costumes for the holiday. And while many parents didnt hesitate to dress their children up as Elsa from Frozen in 2018, they debated whether it was appropriate to send them out as Moana, a Polynesian Disney princess whose How Far Ill Go ballad took schoolchildren by storm.

So the question remains: Should certain costumes be off-limits?

Cultural appropriation is borrowing or stealing from cultures or ethnic groups or marginalized groups without giving them credit, said Mia Moody-Ramirez, chair of the department of journalism at Baylor University. Its actually something that has been going on for a long time, but now people are just more aware of it because of social media.

Moody-Ramirez, who wrote the book From Blackface to Black Twitter, said some costumes such as blackface, Native headdresses and sombreros are always unacceptable. But for other costumes, she encourages parents to do their research and use their best judgment.

Parents have to practice common sense, said Moody-Ramirez. People are very sensitive right now. They have to decide if theyre gonna let their child dress up in a certain costume or if they want to protect their child.

Before she had children, Fitchburg resident Emily Sivesind-Finger said she didnt give too much thought to what made a Halloween costume appropriate. Now, as a mother to a first- and third-grader, she and her husband have come up with a set of guidelines.

Our policy on Halloween costumes is somewhat practical. They need to be warm because its Wisconsin, but we also go with your Halloween costume cant be anyones identity, Sivesind-Finger said. We also tend to say you cant dress up as real people who have been hurtful or harmful.

Gray area

Moody-Ramirez acknowledges that there can be somewhat of a gray area when it comes to what constitutes cultural appropriation. More recently, shes noticed a trend of culturally insensitive costume choices. Some common examples include people dressing up as Jeffrey Dahmer, Trayvon Martin or Anne Frank.

I think that weve already moved beyond the question of whether it would be appropriate to wear blackface on Halloween, she said. Now were grappling with some of these other issues.

Sofi Curutchet-Errecart also works at Spirit Halloween. She said that while the store no longer sells Native American costumes, theres more that could be done.

We have a voodoo witch doctor costume, and that really bothers me because as a spiritual practitioner, I recognize thats somebodys culture, she said.

Work at UW

Artist Dakota Mace is leading the development of a curriculum dedicated to cultural appropriation within the Center for Design and Material Culture at UW-Madison. The curriculum examines what cultural appropriation may look like through design as participants explore larger themes of privilege and intent versus impact. Mace, who is Navajo, hopes this work encourages others to consider the stakes of cultural appropriation.

So much of our culture is deeply rooted in our textiles and in our clothing and in our designs, she said. Thats something very hard to translate to a larger audience. When they appropriate a costume, that almost feels like a slap in the face.

Moody-Ramirez said we are living in a call-out culture, where people are quick to criticize others online for anything they view as problematic. Therefore parents and anyone planning to dress up this spooky season should make their costume decisions accordingly, and, most importantly, lead with empathy.

Just consider if youre trick or treating and you ring the doorbell and the person that youre appropriating answers the door and youre dressed up in a certain way, she said. Empathize with that person and think about how they might feel.
Halloween weekend looks mostly warm across the US, but for the areas with rain in the forecast, trick-or-treaters will be saying "boo-hoo" instead of "boo."

It all begins this weekend with a storm system along the Gulf Coast.

"A low pressure system will bring a quick round of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms across the lower Mississippi Valley," said the Weather Prediction Center. "The low pressure system will then spread unsettled weather into the eastern US Sunday and into Monday."

We are also watching a new atmospheric river event that will push into the Pacific Northwest spreading rain and high-elevation snow on Sunday.

If you have some early Halloween events to attend, or if you are going to some fall festivals this weekend, you may want to have an umbrella close by.

Stormy Saturday for Southeast

Saturday, some much-needed rain moves across the Lower Mississippi River Valley. These drought-stricken states have been dealing with historically low water levels along the river for weeks now, and could use the beneficial moisture.

Memphis, Little Rock, and Jackson, Mississippi, are all currently in various levels of drought and are forecast to receive a total of 1 to 3 inches of rain through the weekend.

The downfall is that there is also a chance of severe storms Saturday afternoon and evening for cities such as New Orleans, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Mobile, Alabama.

The main threats will be damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding.

"Rainfall rates with the strongest storms could exceed 2 inches/hour," the National Weather Service office in New Orleans said. "A couple of hours of this over one location, especially an urban one, could cause problems, even though we've had next to no rain for the last 6 weeks in most of the area."

New atmospheric river arrives Sunday

On Sunday, the system along the Gulf Coast pushes northward into the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys.

Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Knoxville all have high-end rainfall chances where up to 2 inches of rain is expected the latter half of the weekend.

On the other side of the country, weather conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly for the Pacific Northwest as a new system pushes onshore.

"The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting 3-6 inches of precipitation over the Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon and the northern Cascades over the next 7 days," according to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes. "Precipitation associated with these atmospheric rivers will help to improve severe drought conditions in the northern Coast Ranges and Cascades."

Another benefit to the atmospheric river is that it may bring precipitation to the Willamette National Forest in Oregon and help with firefighting efforts at the Cedar Creek Fire.

Soggy trick-or-treat forecast

If you live near the central and southern Appalachians, or in the Pacific Northwest, you may need to have your umbrella handy on Monday.

"On Halloween Day, the wettest areas will be over portions of the Pacific Northwest, as well as across the Ohio Valley, Southeast, & Mid-Atlantic," the Weather Prediction Center said.

While rain is in the forecast on Halloween for Atlanta and Asheville, North Carolina, the good news is most of that rain clears out by the start of trick-or-treating.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true for cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore, where rain chances only increase as the day goes on.

It may not be a bad idea to have an umbrella handy if you live in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Roanoke, Virginia.

Snow will also be making a "spooky" appearance in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains for Halloween.

While snow levels start off relatively high on Sunday morning around 8,000 feet, by the time we get to Monday afternoon those snow levels drop to less than 4,000 feet. By Monday night, snowfall totals could reach 4 to 6 inches.

Another component of this system will be the increasing winds which will peak on Monday as the system shifts to the south. Wind gusts up to 40 mph across the Northwest will be common.

"The majority of the US mainland should enjoy tranquil weather conditions for this weekend into Monday," the Weather Prediction Center said. "Above-average high temperatures are forecast to span the Northern Tier from the Plains to New England, with highs into the 50s and 60s as we head into Halloween."

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia announced Saturday that it will immediately suspend its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain deal that has seen more than 9 million tons of grain exported from Ukraine during the war and has brought down soaring global food prices. Ukraine accused Russia of creating a world "hunger games.

The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack Saturday against Russias Black Sea Fleet ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that the Russians mishandled their own weapons.

The Russian declaration came one day after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the grain export deal, which was scheduled to expire on Nov. 19. Guterres also urged other countries, mainly in the West, to expedite the removal of obstacles blocking Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

The U.N. chief said the grain deal  brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July  helps "to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people, his spokesman said.

U.N. officials were in touch with Russian authorities over the announced suspension.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people, said Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian move predictable. He accused Moscow of blockading ships carrying grain since September. Currently, he said, 176 vessels are backed up at sea, carrying more than 2 million tons of food.

This is a transparent attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale famine in Africa and Asia, Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly video address. He called for a tough response against Russia from international bodies like the U.N. and the G-20.

Ukraines Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Russia of playing hunger games by imperiling global food shipments.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the suspension was regrettable and urged all parties to keep this essential, life-saving Initiative functioning.

Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry, Blinken said in a statement Saturday night. In suspending this arrangement, Russia is again weaponizing food in the war it started, directly impacting low- and middle-income countries and global food prices, and exacerbating already dire humanitarian crises and food insecurity.

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused British specialists of being involved in the alleged attack by drones on Russian ships in Crimea. Britains Defense Ministry had no immediate comment on the claim.

In connection with the actions of Ukrainian armed forces, led by British specialists, directed, among other things, against Russian ships that ensure the functioning of the humanitarian corridor in question (which cannot be qualified otherwise than as a terrorist attack), the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period,'' the Russian statement said.

Ukraines Ministry of Infrastructure said that Ukraine has never threatened the Black Sea grain corridor which is exclusively humanitarian in nature, and would continue to try to keep shipments going. It said since the first ship left Odesa on Aug. 1, more than 9 million tons of food have been exported, including more than 5 million tons to African and Asian countries. As part of the U.N. World Food Program, it said, 190 thousand tons of wheat have been sent to countries where there is hunger.

Russia also requested a meeting Monday of the U.N. Security Council because of the alleged attack on the Black Sea Fleet and the security of the grain corridor, said Dmitry Polyansky, Russias first deputy representative to the U.N.

Russia's agriculture minister said Moscow stands ready to fully replace Ukrainian grain and deliver supplies at affordable prices to all interested countries. In remarks carried by the state Rossiya 24 TV channel, Dmitry Patrushev said Moscow was prepared to supply up to 500,000 tons of grain to the poorest countries free of charge in the next four months, with the help of Turkey.

Earlier Saturday, Ukraine and Russia offered differing versions on the Crimea drone attack in which at least one Russian ship suffered damage in Sevastopol, a key port on the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a minesweeper had minor damage during an alleged pre-dawn Ukrainian attack on navy and civilian vessels docked in Sevastopol, which hosts the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet. The ministry claimed Russian forces had repelled 16 attacking drones.

The governor of the Sevastopol region, Mikhail Razvozhaev, claimed the port saw a massive attack by air and sea drones. He provided no evidence, saying all video would be seized for security reasons.

But an adviser to Ukraines Interior Ministry claimed that careless handling of explosives had caused blasts on four warships in Russias Black Sea Fleet. Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Telegram that the vessels included a frigate, a landing ship and a ship that carried cruise missiles used in a deadly July attack on a western Ukrainian city.

In other developments on Saturday, Russian troops moved large numbers of sick and wounded comrades from hospitals in Ukraine's southern Kherson region and stripped the facilities of medical equipment, Ukrainian officials said as their forces fought to retake the province.

Kremlin-installed authorities in the mostly Russian-occupied region have urged civilians to leave the city of Kherson, the region's capital  and reportedly joined the tens of thousands who have fled to other Russia-held areas.

Zelenskyy said the Russians were dismantling the entire health care system in Kherson and other occupied areas.

The occupiers have decided to close medical institutions in the cities, take away equipment, ambulances. just everything," Zelenskyy said.

Kherson is one of four regions in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last month and where he subsequently declared martial law. The others are Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

As Kyiv's forces sought gains in the south, Russia kept up its shelling and missile attacks in the country's east. Three more civilians died and eight more were wounded in the Donetsk region, as Russian soldiers try to capture the city of Bakhmut, an important target in Russia's stalled eastern offensive.

Russian shelling also hit an industrial building in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region.

In the latest prisoner exchange, 50 Ukrainian soldiers, including two former defenders of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, and two civilians were released Saturday as part of a swap with Russia, who received 50 Russian soldiers, both sides reported.

This version has been corrected to show the Russian Defense Ministry said one ship, not two, was slightly damaged in Crimea port.

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
By Trend

The Azerbaijani Army has completed comprehensive measures on transferring weapons and military equipment into the autumn-winter operation mode in accordance with the combat training plan for 2022, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

All military units are provided with fuel, lubricants, other necessary spare parts, and equipment to ensure the uninterrupted and stable operation of weapons in winter.

In accordance with the norms, food supplies, warm clothing, and fuel reserves, as well as weapons and ammunition for military personnel that is on combat duty are being delivered to the units. Servicemen serving in mountainous areas with harsh climatic conditions are provided with extra supplies.

The transfer of weapons and military equipment into the autumn-winter operation mode is fully ensured in all units of the Azerbaijani Army.

---
Traditions of Terror

MVUUF member Jon Thompson discusses blind adherence to traditions in two works: Shirley Jacksons The Lottery and Weird Al Yankovics Weasel Stomping Day.

Jonathan Thompson will discuss the importance of using self-reflection to break free from harmful practices.

Our service Sunday will be both in person at our location 160 Ninth Ave. E. in Twin Falls and on Zoom. To access Zoom, please email mvuuf83301@yahoo.com for sign-in information. In the subject line write Zoom Service October 30th.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. Unitarian Universalists believe in the dignity of every person regardless of race, creed or none at all, immigrant status or sexual orientation.

Everyone is welcome, no exceptions. We believe in justice, equality and compassion in human relations, and acceptance of one another. We are handicapped accessible in rear.

Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

Join us at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

For further information, please call 208-613-3852, email us at mvuuf83301@yahoo.com or visit magicvalleyUU.org. When calling, please state your name in order to be connected.

Quilt Raffle for Neighbors in Need

Neighbors in Need at Ascension Episcopal Church will be selling raffle tickets for two embroidered wall hangings/youth sized quilts. Both quilted items were donated by members of Community Quilts. Raffle tickets are $1.00 apiece, or 6 for $5.00. Raffle tickets may be purchased after church also on Nov. 6, and at the parish office Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., through Nov. 10. The quilts are on display in the gathering area of the church.

Neighbors in Need is an outreach ministry at Ascension which provides food to local families though school food pantries, and also assists with limited financial assistance for rent or utilities when referred by South Central Community Action Partnership. NIN has been an active ministry at Ascension for over 40 years.

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension invites the community for Sunday worship of Holy Communion, beginning at 9 a.m. Childcare may be available; Children are also welcome in the sanctuary for worship. Services are online as well as in person. To view, click on the link at episcopaltwinfalls.org or go to Ascensions YouTube channel The Episcopal Church of the AscensionTwin Falls.

The Ascension library has recently been weeded and books are available for free, for anyone who would like to take them home. The books will only be available this week through Oct. 30th. Free books are located on tables in the gathering area and hallway of the church.

Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Drive N. More information about Ascension can be found at ascension.episcopalidaho.org or 208-733-1248.

Seven-week Advent observance

United Methodist Magic Valley Ministries churches will begin a seven-week Advent observance which includes Bible studies, sermon series and at home devotionals and family activities on Nov. 6.

For the past century, Advent has been a 4-week celebration but the length and observance havent been consistent. Advent was originally six-seven weeks, then changed to 3 and finally to 4. In John Wesleys (the founder of Methodism) time it was 4 weeks and in the late 1700s American Methodists stopped observing Advent for over a century!

This year at Magic Valley Ministries, we will be observing a seven-week Advent. The first 3 weeks will focus on Christs coming  the second coming  which is already part of the lectionary we use. The final four weeks will focus on the birth of Christ. More information is available at magicvalleyministries.com.

The United Methodist Churches of Buhl, Hagerman, Wendell, and Jerome share ministry and mission in rural Magic Valley. Sunday worship times are 9:15 a.m. at Buhl UMC, 10:15 a.m. at Hagerman UMC on the first and second Sundays of each month, 10:15 a.m. at Wendell UMC on the third and fourth Sundays of each month, and 11:30 a.m. at Jerome UMC. Worship is casual and relaxed with a liturgical formal and hymns. Come as you are; you will feel welcome with us.
TWIN FALLS  The College of Southern Idaho aquaculture program is at a crossroads.

The program is on pause as its fish hatchery relocates, but program director Melissa Wagner says good things are on the way.

I am very excited about the changes we are going to make, Wagner said. Not only are there going to be more opportunities for students but we are going to build more relationships.

The former fish culturist at Idaho Department of Fish and Game was hired by CSI this year to help the school make the transition, and the goal is to re-start the program in August.

Were trying to paint a picture of how it will run, she said recently as she looked over the equipment at the Walter Priebe Hatchery in Rock Creek Canyon, deciding what is salvageable when the hatchery moves to the Pristine Springs hatchery near the Blue Lakes Country Club in Jerome County.

Riverence is leasing the Pristine Springs hatchery from CSI, and the college will be using a small portion of the grounds for its hatchery.

In closing the hatchery, CSI has liquidated about 60,000 rainbow trout with Riverence. The company is housing CSIs broodstock, with the other fish being processed into food or integrated into fish populations. Other stragglers are being used for an occasional fish fry or donation to the vet tech or animal science for students to dissect.

She admits shes also made a lot of trout jerky for students.

In addition, she is working to release 58 sturgeon in the Snake River near Blackfoot.

In 2017, CSI purchased the Pristine Springs location from the Idaho Water Board, intending to use an artesian geothermal well on the property for heating its campus, and the hatchery for its aquaculture program.

The decision to move the Priebe Hatchery comes at a time when the flow from its spring has dwindled during Idahos sustained drought, Wagner said.

To add to the mix, the city of Twin Falls has an eye on the spring water for a future water quality project, and for several years has been contemplating digging another well that CSI worried would further affect spring flow, said City Manager Travis Rothweiler. The city has been negotiating with the college on a deal, possibly a land swap, that will benefit both sides.

We wouldnt be pumping more water, but wanted to choose which well to draw from for efficiency and effectiveness, said Rothweiler of the citys plans for a new well.

He said the negotiations are an example of two entities working toward a solution.

We value our relationship with the college, Rothweiler said.

But as for relocating the hatchery, Wagner is working with a building at Pristine Springs that needs sprucing up. Insulation and siding has been added to the building that houses the indoor raceways.

Its spring offers more plentiful water.

The old CSI hatchery had disease-free status because of its location. Pristine Springs wont have that status, but it isnt necessarily a bad thing.

On the bright side we will be treating fish and not just talking about it, Wagner said.

Another bright spot? The hatchery will be located in the middle of the Riverence hatchery.

In addition to Reverence possibly being able to loan equipment as the new hatchery gets underway, Wagner said she holds prospects for an internship program.

In the past, collaboration hasnt been solely with Riverence, but other companies, the University of Idaho and agencies including Fish & Game.

We have had a long-standing working relationship with the college and their aquaculture program for many years, said Fish & Game spokesman Terry Thompson, so we look at this as just maintaining, or even growing our commitment to work together for the betterment of CSI students.

Internships and assisting students with fish aquaculture practices are two of the ways Fish & Game can help, Thompson said.

Ultimately, we are very interested in assisting CSI since their program is a natural opportunity to help develop and train the next generation of fish culturists and hatchery managers by ensuring the program is preparing students to continue their formal education towards a four-year degree or beyond, which makes them highly competitive in todays job markets, he said.

Since the 1970s, CSI aquaculture students have gotten hands-on experience at the Priebe Hatchery that has a long, colorful history, being started by a pioneer Twin Falls jeweler who gained an interest in fish and game conservation.

A century ago, Walter Priebe started the hatchery to care for fingerling trout he began raising in a washtub.

The hatchery was later leased to the Fish & Game and then to CSI in 1977.

In 1991, the hatchery was renamed the Walter Priebe Hatchery and ownership was transferred to CSI.

Wagner said she hopes to have about 10 students in the aquaculture program in August. While the program is on pause, there are a few students who have declared for the program and are taking general education classes this semester.

Students in the program often have an interest in agriculture but like to get their hands a little wet, she said

In the program, students have the daily opportunity to learn and work with rainbow trout in areas of fish culture best practices, fish nutrition, fish health, water quality and spawning.

The program offers an intermediate technical certificate and an associates degree.

Idaho is the nations largest producer of commercial rainbow trout, about 70% of U.S. production, almost all of the production coming from Twin Falls, Jerome and Gooding counties, according to the University of Idaho.
BOISE  Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney launched a new web portal Friday, providing Idahoans with a means to report election-based misinformation.

The site encourages Idaho voters to be aware of election misinformation, and to report anything on social media that appears inaccurate or misleading.

Examples would include dates of the election, mail ballot rules, ballot information, polling place hours, election night reporting, voting technology, and poll watchers.

Idahoans are paying close attention to the November 8 General Election, but so are those seeking to interfere with our elections by spreading misinformation, said Secretary of State Lawerence Denney. With this new web service, Idaho voters can report social media posts that appear to be misleading, either accidentally or by intent.

Once misinformation has been reported, the Secretary of State Elections divisions cyber security team will evaluate the information.

If it is determined that the social media post is trying to disenfranchise voters and undermine our democracy, Denny said in the statement, the report will be passed to the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), who will verify the information and forward it to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for further action.

Intelligence officials are unanimous in warnings of foreign and domestic actors spreading misinformation ahead of the November 8 General Election. This new web service was created to provide Idaho voters with a single, nonpartisan location to report social media posts that seek to destroy the integrity of Idaho elections.
All active duty and retired military personnel deserve to receive the full care and benefits they have earned. When Major Richard A. Star, namesake and champion of S. 344, the Major Richard Star Act, passed away last year after a long fight against cancer, our country lost a resolute leader in ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned. Major Star was a father, husband and decorated war veteran who, as a result of his combat-related injuries, was medically retired. In honor of his legacy and with deep respect for his fellow veterans and military families, we continue pursuing every possible opportunity to enact this needed legislation.

I recently joined Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Montana) in filing the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This would ensure medically retired and combat-injured veterans receive both military retired pay and disability compensation earned through their service to our country. Since we introduced the stand-alone bill, S. 344, in February of 2021 along with Committee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and more than 40 original co-sponsors, including fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, the legislation has steadily gained support. The Major Richard Star Act now has commanding Senate support, with 67 Senate co-sponsors. Also, the House companion bill, H.R. 1282, has 319 co-sponsors, including Representative Mike Simpson (R-Idaho).

The legislation has the strong backing of leading Veterans Service Organizations making the case for ensuring medically retired and combat-injured veterans receive full compensation. This includes Idaho veterans who have informed my decision to co-lead the legislation and have worked to gain support for ending pay offsets for medically retired combat veterans.

The non-partisan Congressional Research Service explains the issue: Concurrent receipt refers to a veterans simultaneous receipt of two types of monetary benefits: military retired pay from the Department of Defense (DOD) and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Prior to 2004, existing laws and regulations stipulated that a military retiree could not receive both payments. As a result, military retirees with disabilities recognized by the VA would incur a retired pay offset (i.e., dollar-for-dollar reduction) by the amount of their VA compensation.

Congress made changes to federal law to ensure military retirees with a disability rating of 50 percent or higher could receive both military retired pay and disability compensation. However, for retired veterans with less than 20 years of service, their disability pay is deducted from their retirement pay.

The Major Richard Star Act would correct this injustice by providing combat-wounded veterans with less than 20 years of service, also known as Chapter 61 Veterans, both their disability compensation and retirement pay without reduction. The funding for this policy change will come from the existing Military Retiree Trust Fund, with no increase to VA or DOD budgets.

More than 50,000 veterans, including hundreds in Idaho, could benefit from this change, based on the most currently available data from the DOD Office of the Actuary. We must meet the responsibility of fixing unfair discrepancies, such as this, to honor the service of all veterans and Major Stars enduring legacy. I look forward to enactment of the Major Richard Star Act.
A youth suffering from cholera symptoms is helped upon arrival at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

The sun shone down on Stanley Joliva as medical staff at an open-air clinic hovered around him, pumping air into his lungs and giving him chest compressions until he died.

Nearby, his mother watched.

"Only God knows my pain," said Viliene Enfant.

Less than an hour later, the body of her 22-year-old son lay on the floor wrapped in a white plastic bag with the date of his death scrawled on top. He joined dozens of other Haitians who have died from cholera during a rapidly spreading outbreak that is straining the resources of nonprofits and local hospitals in a country where fuel, water and other basic supplies are growing scarcer by the day.

Sweat gathered on the foreheads of staff at a Doctors Without Borders treatment center in the capital of Port-au-Prince where some 100 patients arrive every day and at least 20 have died. Families kept rushing in this week with loved ones, sometimes dragging their limp bodies into the crowded outdoors clinic where the smell of waste filled the air.

Dozens of patients sat on white buckets or lay on stretchers as IV lines ran up to bags of rehydrating fluids that gleamed in the sun. So far this month, Doctors Without Borders has treated some 1,800 patients at their four centers in Port-au-Prince.

People inside a car suffering from cholera symptoms arrive at the door of a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders for treatment in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Across Haiti, many patients are dying because say they're unable to reach a hospital in time, health officials say. A spike in gang violence has made it unsafe for people to leave their communities and a lack of fuel has shut down public transportation, gas stations and other key businesses including water supply companies.

Enfant sat next to her son's body as she recalled how Joliva told her he was feeling sick earlier this week. She had already warned him and her two other sons not to bathe or wash clothes in the sewage-contaminated waters that ran through a nearby ravine in their neighborhoodthe only source of water for hundreds in that area.

Enfant insisted that her sons buy water to wash clothes and add chlorine if they were going to drink it. As Joliva grew sicker, Enfant tried to care for him on her own.

A girl suffering from cholera symptoms is helped by her father upon arrival at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

"I told him, 'Honey, you need to drink the tea,'" she recalled. "He said again, 'I feel weak.' He also said, 'I am not able to stand up.'"

Cholera is a bacteria that sickens people who swallow contaminated food or water, and it can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, in some cases leading to death.

Haiti's first major brush with cholera occurred more than a decade ago when U.N. peacekeepers introduced the bacteria into the country's biggest river via sewage runoff at their base. Nearly 10,000 people died and thousands of others were sickened.

The cases eventually dwindled to the point where the World Health Organization was expected to declare Haiti cholera-free this year.

But on Oct. 2, Haitian officials announced that cholera had returned.

At least 40 deaths and 1,700 suspected cases have been reported, but officials believe the numbers are much higher, especially in crowded and unsanitary slums and government shelters where thousands of Haitians live.

A youth suffering cholera symptoms is helped upon arrival at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Worsening the situation is a lack of fuel and water that began to dwindle last month when one of Haiti's most powerful gangs surrounded a key fuel terminal and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Gas stations and businesses including water companies have closed, forcing an increasing number of people to rely on untreated water.

Shela Jeune, a 21-year-old hot dog vendor whose 2-year-old son has cholera, said she buys small bags of water for her family but doesn't know if it's treated. She carried him to the hospital where he remains on IV fluids.

"Everything I give him to eat, he just throws it up," she said.

Jeune was among dozens of mothers seeking treatment for their children on a recent morning.

Lauriol Chantal, 43, recounted a similar story. Her 15-year-old son would vomit as soon as he finished eating, prompting her to rush him to the treatment center.

Medical personnel attend patients with cholera symptoms at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

While at the center, her son, Alexandro Francois, told her he felt hot.

"He said to me ... 'Mama, could you take me outside to wash me or pour water over my head?'" she said.

She obliged, but suddenly, he collapsed in her arms. The staff ran over to help.

Children younger than age 14 make up half of cholera cases in Haiti, according to UNICEF, with officials warning that growing cases of severe malnutrition also make children more vulnerable to illness.

Haiti's poverty also has worsened the situation.

"When you are unable to get safe drinking water by tap in your own home, when you don't have soap or water purifying tablets and you have no access to health services, you may not survive cholera or other waterborne diseases," said Bruno Maes, Haiti's UNICEF representative.

Perpety Juste, a 62-year-old grandmother, said one of her three grandchildren became ill this week as she fretted about how their situation might have led to her sickness.

A girl whith cholera symptoms is helped by her mother during her treatment at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Patients with cholera symptoms receive treatment at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

A nurse carries a saline drip as doctors try to save Stanley Joliva, a patient with cholera symptoms, at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

A worker carries medical supplies to take to another clinic in need, from a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Doctors try to save Stanley Joliva, a patient with cholera symptoms, at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

A doctor walks next to the body of Stanley Joliva and another unidentified person, who died while presenting cholera symptoms at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Medical personnel transfer the lifeless body of Stanley Joliva, who died of cholera symptoms at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

The body of Stanley Joliva who died of cholera symptoms lies on a stretcher while a relative touches him, at a clinic run by Doctors Without Borders in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. For the first time in three years, people in Haiti have been dying of cholera, raising concerns about a potentially fast-spreading scenario and reviving memories of an epidemic that killed nearly 10,000 people a decade ago. Credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

"We spent a lot of days without food, I cannot lie," she said. "Nobody in my house has a job."

Juste, who lives with her husband, five children and three grandchildren, said she used to work as a house cleaner until the homeowners fled Haiti.

The increasing demand for help is squeezing Doctors Without Borders and others as they struggle to care for patients with limited fuel.

"It's a nightmare for the population, and also for us," said Jean-Marc Biquet, a project coordinator with the organization. "We have two more weeks of fuel."

Life is paralyzed for many Haitians, including Enfant, as she mourned her son's death. She wants to bury him in her southern coastal hometown of Les Cayes, but cannot afford the 55,000 gourdes ($430) it would cost to transport his body.

Enfant then fell quiet and gazed into the distance as she continued to sit next to her son's bodytoo stunned, she said, to stand up.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A cramped, high-stress environment for animals and people has the Missoula City-County Animal Control Shelter moving forward on a project to expand its facility at 6700 Butler Creek Road.

The facility takes in about 1,500 animals every year.

The project really is essential for the animals to reduce stress, to keep them well," Shannon Therriault with the Missoula City-County Health Department told the Missoula County commission on Thursday. "We need expanded and better kennels. We need a better flow.

Staff have been having trouble with cats getting sick in tight cages.

They are too small, she said. And once we have upper respiratory illness break out in the shelter, it is really hard. And then we have to keep the cats in. We can't, you know, take them in for surgery and then let them be allowed for adoption. So we're keeping animals longer, it's more stress to them.

They also dont have enough space to clean the puppy kennels to appropriately prevent Parvo, a deadly disease for puppies, she explained.

We also get gerbils and snakes and geckos and ferrets and rabbits, she said. We get all of these things and they are put on the table where people also are expected to eat lunch or have a meeting. Or they're put on the floor. They're put on all kinds of counter space and so we definitely need an additional space for the animals.

Theres also a need for better flow inside the space for the public accessing services.

When you walk in there might be dogs or cats that are being adopted, and it's all happening right there, Therriault said. It's just very close. And so there's the potential for safety issues. There's no space for somebody who is in the unfortunate position of giving up their animal to have a private goodbye with their animal.

Holli Hargrove, the countys animal control officer, said the current facility was built about three decades ago.

Animal sheltering in general throughout the years has developed guidelines, Hargrove explained. We need more space for when people are surrendering an animal, we need a private space for people to meet and greet animals they are adopting, and we need room for staff breaks or lunch.

She said the dogs need bigger cages so that they are less stressed. Cats need a space where they arent overwhelmed by dogs barking. And she agreed with Therriault that all the other animals the facility takes in, from guinea pigs to birds and rabbits, are currently housed on counters or on the floor because theres no dedicated space.

Therriault was asking the commissioners for an alternative project delivery contract to allow the architect, Oz Architects, to bring on a general contractor and construction manager.

Doing so has shown to reduce overall costs, facilitate the least amount of disruption to services during construction and shorten time of construction over waiting to hire a general contractor until after the plans have been completed, Therriault said.

The commissioners agreed, and voted unanimously to allow the alternative delivery contract.

Im frustrated (that its taken so long for an expansion) but also glad that were finally moving in the right direction, explained county commissioner Juanita Vero.
Since the June 13 flood, Carbon County is dealing with a different world and its residents and officials need a different set of rules to mitigate future damage.

That was the message from County Commissioner Bill Bullock at a Thursday night flood update meeting attended by about 70 people at the Joliet Community Center. Other county officials and residents expressed frustration that without immediate work in Rock Creek and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River to remove debris and dredge old channels, next springs runoff will cause even more damage.

Were going to flood again next year, Ill bet you money on it, said Fromberg Mayor Tim Nottingham.

Page Dringman, Carbon County Floodplain administrator, said landowners are upset work hasnt been done, in part because the permitting process involves several state and federal agencies.

There needs to be not just a joint application but a one stop shop, she said, so all six of the agencies can easily share information. This process is not user friendly, and it needs to be for people working on their property.

Traci Sears, local floodplain administrator for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said her agency usually gets about five permits to process in an entire year. Now it has 150 for Carbon County alone. Dringman said of the 150 applications, shes only seen 40 and just received 80 more.

Clarks Fork Valley landowner Shane DeRudder, who lives between Bridger and Fromberg, said inaction now, when the river is low, is indefensible.

As a farmer in the Carbon County community, the land we farm has been in our family over 100 years and were losing it, he said. Were not going to lose any more. If we have to do something to our land, its up to us to fix that problem on our land. It aint up to nobody else.

You do it yourself, and you get it done. That is whats going to happen on the Clarks Fork River, he added. Theres going to be a piece of equipment put in the river, and its going to get done.

DeRudder said he wasnt asking for any money or help with the work, he just wants to know county officials will have our back.

Sharon Flemetis, of the Carbon Conservation District, said if DeRudder feels the work is an emergency, such as removing a log jam or other debris in the river thats not natural, there may be grant money available. As to permitting, she said the district wants to make it as easy as possible, but that doesnt mean allowing a mile-long riprap project.

So do what you need to do, and then just come in and we can do the paperwork, she said. Take some pictures. Thats all we ask.

Commissioner Bullock echoed her statement, adding, I can say without exception that this board of commissioners will be in support of whatever you do, as long as you are doing it to salvage your property and maintain your livestock.

Bullock said attempts by the commissioners to contact state and federal politicians and agency officials to speed up the permitting process or the ability to do work have been met with silence. He singled out Sen. Steve Daines as the countys lone advocate.

This event was all-encompassing to our county, Bullock said. There was virtually not a spot that hasnt been impacted. And those impacts may not have been water related but it might be the fact your road wasnt graded for two or three months because we were doing flood work.

So it doesnt just impact folks along the creek, he added. It impacts the entire county.
By Trend

Uzbekistan plans to open the Termez-Intermex International Trade Center early next year, Trend reports via Uzbek media outlets.

Due to its location in the Termez city (on the country's south border), the center will significantly increase the volume and intensity of Uzbekistan's foreign trade with the countries of Central and South Asia: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and other states.

Shopping center and free trade zone with a total area of??260,000 square meters will enable entrepreneurs to carry out retail and wholesale trade without paying customs duties when importing goods.

The project for construction of the trade center is currently at the completion stage. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
Taylor Rose has worked in healthcare his entire career. Now hes a month into his newest chapter as Barrett Hospital and HealthCares CEO, which he started Sept. 18.

Rose, 38, succeeds Scott Manis, who served as interim CEO following the January departure of long-time CEO, Ken Westman.

After an extensive selection process with the assistance of HealthTech, we are pleased and proud to welcome Taylor to Barrett and look forward to working closely with him as the new CEO. Barretts board president Patti Mitchell said in a press release. He has excellent experience in hospital management and looks forward to introducing new services as we continue to grow our hospital and our offerings.

Rose has been interested in the healthcare field since childhood.

As a kid, I always got hurt, Rose said. I ended up in ER quite frequently  and I was fascinated with the hustle and bustle of everything around me when I was there.

When he was a teenager, he took some off-campus classes and eventually got his EMT license coming out of high school in 2004. His work in healthcare progressed from there.

I really liked working at hospitals, but I wasnt great at patient care, Rose said. The blood and stuff wasnt my forte, but I like healthcare and working in a mission-driven industry that cares about people and cares about taking care of the community.

A Salt Lake City native, all three of Roses degrees are from the University of Utah. He has a bachelors in health, society and policy, an MBA and a masters in health administration.

Before taking the position at Barrett, Rose worked as an administrator at Big Sky Medical Center in Big Sky, a member hospital of Bozeman Health. Before coming to Montana, he worked at hospitals in Utah and Washington.

Rose said he decided to apply to the position at Barrett because, while he enjoyed living in Big Sky, he wanted to live in a more family-friendly town with his wife and children.

Ive got a really good feeling that theres a lot of really good people trying to do the right thing at Barrett, Rose said. They have a well-intentioned team thats really trying to provide the best healthcare possible.

Rose said that although he is still trying to understand the organization fully, there are a couple of exciting things on the horizon that he has already started working on.

For example, Barrett is working on a partnership with Bozeman Health to provide cancer services in Dillon. Rose said its still in the very initial stages and that the hospital is trying to figure out exactly what itll look like, but that the hospital is excited about it.

Rose said that personally, hes looking forward to getting more involved in Dillons community and to seeing how the hospital can better support the community.

Were looking down the road of 'what does the community need, in five years, 10 years from now,' and making those plans, Rose said.

Day-to-day, Rose said his job will mostly consist of coordinating teams and people across the hospital, working with staff, doctors and providers, making sure the staff has what they need and making sure the hospital is following quality, safety and compliance standards.

I want to create a culture where people want to work here, Rose said. I want to create an environment where people are heard and listened to and people know we value them.

Looking out on the horizon, he said hes working to recruit providers in community who are going to bring in high-quality care to patients and figuring out innovative ways to help with challenges the hospital and healthcare industry are facing.

I dont think Barrett is an outlier as far as challenges go, Rose said. The healthcare industry is really challenged right now in general, recovering from the pandemic and facing burnout from employees. Its been really hard to recruit people for a lot of skilled positions within hospitals and the cost of care has been going up, so theres increased wages and increased (cost of supplies).

Overall, Rose wants to express his gratitude for both the job and how he and his family have been welcomed in the community.

I appreciate the job, appreciate the work and Im excited to be here and support people that are actually providing care and making a difference, Rose said.
In March, a man was arrested and charged for allegedly having 13 grams of fentanyl  a highly addictive and potent painkiller  mailed to his home in Bozeman.

The 13 grams of fentanyl was estimated to contain about 6,500 lethal doses of the potent drug.

Even just two years ago, law enforcement seizing fentanyl during an arrest or drug bust was rare.

Now near the tail end of 2022, its becoming all too common.

Two years ago, catching a few pills was a big deal, now were frequently seeing thousands of pills, said Nate Kamerman, the commander of the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid thats about 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency, is quickly becoming a public health crisis in Montana.

Last year, 49 people died of opioid-linked overdoses in Montana. The state has already seen double the number of overdoses in 2022. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, Montana saw 101 overdose deaths between January and October 11.

Montana officials this year also noted a worrying increase in overdose 911 calls, averaging 70 calls per month in 2021. Thats compared to an average of 45 calls per month in 2020 and 24 monthly calls in 2019.

The problem isnt unique to Montana.

In 2021, the U.S. reported more than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses. It was an all-time high and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed over 70,000 of those deaths to fentanyl.

The CDC estimates that Montanas overdose death rate is lower than other states  but officials fear that the state will soon catch up.

Dr. Eric Lowe, the medical director of Bozeman Healths emergency department, hasnt noted a recent uptick in overdose deaths coming through the hospital recently, but remembers a rash of deaths a few years ago.

The health care agency hasnt recently tracked overdose patients, and doesnt distinguish between types of overdoses or the substance used, Lowe noted.

Still, with the lull in overdose patients, the hospital has been eyeing a worsening trend in other Montana counties.

Billings and Helena have recently reported spikes in fentanyl-related overdose deaths, and the Blackfeet Reservation this year declared an emergency after a number of deaths.

Gallatin County has averaged about five overdose deaths per year from 2016 to 2020. During that time frame it ranked fourth for the counties with the highest number of overdose deaths, behind Yellowstone, Cascade and Missoula counties, according to DPHHS.

Gallatin County has already seen five overdose deaths so far this year, with three of those deaths involving opioids, according to DPHHS.

Fentanyl is rapidly becoming a drug thats sought out by users in southwest Montana.

Meth is still our biggest challenge and biggest focus, but thats quickly being overtaken by fentanyl, said Kamerman with the Missouri River Drug Task Force.

The task force encompasses Gallatin, Lewis and Clark, Park, Meagher, Madison, Broadwater, and Sweet Grass counties.

The amount of fentanyl seized in the first six months of 2022 was more than double the amount sized in the entirety of 2021, according to DPHHS.

Through June, law enforcement seized 111,611 dosage units of fentanyl, according to the Montana Department of Justice. That was up from 60,577 dosage units in 2021, and 6,663 in 2020. In 2019, law enforcement reported seizing 1,900 dosage units.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer said fentanyl is often sent to Montana through the mail. Interstate 90 and Highway 191 are also important corridors in distributing the opiate.

While fentanyl is present in Gallatin County, both Springer and Kamerman noted that geographically speaking, the county is also poised to be a distribution center to other parts of the state.

Fentanyl is about 50 times stronger than heroin, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, and is used pharmaceutically to treat patients with severe pain, and with advanced forms of cancer.

Most fentanyl thats abused recreationally, however, is an illegally manufactured version of the narcotic, according to the CDC.

Only about 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose. In comparison, a dose of about 10 milligrams of heroin would be lethal.

Many fentanyl-related overdose deaths are accidental  partly due to the potency of fentanyl and how variable its concentration can be.

Even Kamermans task force has to rely on testing from the state crime lab to determine the concentration of the pills or powders it seizes.

It can vary from no fentanyl in a pill to 4 milligrams in a pill, he said.

Thats where the drug becomes even more dangerous, said Rowen Schuler, an impact manager with the Belgrade addiction clinic Community Medical Services.

When someone doesnt know what theyre taking is pure fentanyl, thats whats leading to overdoses, she said.

While the drug task force is seeing more seizures of fentanyl pills  often blue pills meant to emulate oxycodone pills  fentanyl is also often laced in other drugs like methamphetamine.

Sheri Bagley, a family nurse practitioner at Ideal Option, an addiction clinic in Bozeman that treats a wide range of substance use disorders, said about 60% of new patients the clinic saw in the past two months reported issues with fentanyl use.

Bagley said many of her patients were surprised to learn from a urine test that they even have fentanyl in their system.

And it scares them, Bagley said.  ... Theres so many people dying from fentanyl, especially people who are opiate naive, because they dont have the tolerance. And so I mean, they can take one puff off a meth pipe and collapse.

Even with fewer overdoses recently reported in Gallatin County compared to other counties, Schuler said the drug is in the community  and people should be aware of its devastating effects.

Educating the population about the drug and destigmatizing addiction treatments are key to reducing overdoses, but something the state needs to work on improving, Schuler said.

Bagley pointed to fentanyl test strips as an example.

Fentanyl test strips are used to alert to the presence of fentanyl in substances, like cocaine or marijuana.

The test strips help prevent accidental overdoses, but under Montana law theyre considered illegal drug paraphernalia.

(In) lots of other states, health departments are purchasing fentanyl test strips and getting them into the community, because its saving lives, Bagley said. But in Montana, its considered against the law.

Schuler thinks thats partly because many have the misconception that harm reduction measures  like providing sterile needles to users to prevent HIV or other diseases  enables drug use.

But the problem isnt going to go away, she argues, so the focus should be on saving lives.

Its not a simple fix, Schuler said, adding that accepting the issue and giving people resources to combat the disease is a first step.

Naxolone  an overdose reversal medicine commonly known as Narcan typically administered through a nasal spray  for example, has become fairly available in Montana but most people dont know where to get it, or when or how to use it effectively.

Narcan saves lives, but often people dont know the signs of an overdose  lethargy, pale or clammy face, limp body, vomiting or gurgling, or a slowing breath or heart beat  or how to administer the nasal spray, Schuler said.

Narcan is available, for free and with no questions asked, at both Community Medical Services and Ideal Option.

Its also available over-the-counter at many pharmacies, after Montana passed a law in 2017 to make the medication available statewide.

With Gallatin Countys population growing, the need for services will too. Stigma surrounding addiction, and treatment options like medication assisted treatments are still a challenge for those needing care, Bagley said.

Schuler agrees.

People with substance use disorder may be reticent to seek treatment because of fear of judgement, or repercussions like job loss or criminal charges.

But resources in Gallatin County, and even statewide, are lacking.

Bagley said the county lacks a safe detox center, and a lack of behavioral health services  which closely connect with addiction  is well-documented.

People must also travel out of the county to seek in-patient care  the closest care sites being the Montana Chemical Dependency Center in Butte and Rimrock Foundation in Billings.

As Gallatin County begins to grapple with the issue, already stretched resources will get thinner.

Its scary to think of and say, but its going to get worse before its going to get better, Schuler said.
Crush kills at least 151 at Halloween festivities in Seoul

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A mass of mostly young people among tens of thousands who gathered to celebrate Halloween in Seoul became trapped and crushed as the crowd surged into a narrow alley, killing at least 151 people and injuring 82 others in South Koreas worst disaster in years. Emergency workers and pedestrians desperately performed CPR on people lying in the streets after the crush in the capitals nightlife district of Itaewon on Saturday night. Choi Seong-beom, chief of Seouls Yongsan fire department, said the death toll could rise further and that an unspecified number among the injured were in critical condition.

Russia suspends Ukraine grain deal over ship attack claim

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia says it will immediately suspend a U.N.-brokered grain export deal that has seen more than 9 million tons of grain exported from Ukraine and brought down global food prices. The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack Saturday against Russias Black Sea Fleet ships moored off occupied Crimea as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack and said the Russians just mishandled their own weapons. The Russian declaration came one day after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the grain deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian move predictable, saying Russian delays have already backed up 176 grain ships at sea. Another Ukrainian official said Russia was starting a new world hunger games.

Pelosi attack shocks country on edge about democracy threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  At times these days, it can feel like the United States is on edge about threats to American democracy. And now there's been a new jolt, less than two weeks before Election Day. The violent attack on the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their San Francisco home was a particularly savage reminder of the extremism that has coursed through American politics in recent years. And it's adding to a sense of foreboding with the Nov. 8 election nearly at hand. A new domestic intelligence assessment from the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies says extremists, fueled by election falsehoods, pose a heightened threat to the upcoming midterms.

What is known about the attack on Speaker Pelosi's husband

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says her husband Paul's condition continues to improve." Paul Pelosi is being treated for injuries he suffered after a man broke into their home in San Francisco and severely beat him with a hammer. Nancy Pelosi was in Washington at the time. Her office has said that 82-year-old Paul Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery after surgery to repair a skull fracture. He also suffered serious injuries to his right arm and hands. The 42-year-old suspect is expected to be charged next week. In a letter to congressional colleagues, Nancy Pelosi says the attack has traumatized her family.

Permitless carry laws raise new dilemmas for police officers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  Permitless carry laws in states including Kentucky, Idaho and Texas are creating a dilemma for police officers working the streets: They now have to decide, sometimes in seconds, if someone with the right to carry a gun is a danger. Advocates of the laws say they make people safer, because the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to have a good guy with a gun. Opponents say that allowing anyone to carry a gun anywhere makes it more dangerous for ordinary people, and for police officers. The debate has unfolded as gun violence is on the rise nationwide.

Oz-Mastriano: An awkward pair atop Pennsylvania's GOP ticket

MALVERN, Pa. (AP)  Republicans have political winds at their back, but the party's nominees in Pennsylvania for governor and Senate are running dramatically different campaigns and targeting two very different types of voters. Campaign strategists say that dynamic is complicating a path to victory for Mehmet Oz, the heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity, in the Senate race and Doug Mastriano in the governor's contest. Strategists say it makes sense for Oz to avoid Mastriano because Mastriano's running a far-right campaign and trailing Democrat Josh Shapiro in polls. Strategists also say Mastriano is driving away the moderate voters that Oz will need to beat Democrat John Fetterman in the closely contested Senate race.

Affirmative action under threat as high court hears UNC case

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)  The University of North Carolina was once a bastion of segregation. Today, the school takes account of race to make up for that history and to increase the number of Black students and other underrepresented minorities on campus. Its affirmative action program, using race among many factors to build a diverse student body, is similar to plans in place at other selective public and private institutions. But a Supreme Court that's twice blessed race-conscious college admissions programs in the past 19 years now seems poised to restrict their use or outlaw them altogether. The court is hearing two such cases on Monday, involving UNC and Harvard. They're the nations oldest public and private universities, respectively.

Arizona AG gives county OK for full ballot hand counts

PHOENIX (AP)  Arizonas Republican attorney general says county officials can hand-count all ballots in at least five races from the Nov. 8 election. An opinion issued Friday from Mark Brnovich's office gives a green light to GOP officials in at least two counties who have been clamoring for hand counts. The efforts are driven by unfounded concerns among some Republicans that problems with vote-counting machines led to former President Donald Trumps 2020 defeat. The new opinion led the two Republicans on the three-member Cochise County board of supervisors to boost their plan to hand-count both early and Election Day ballots. They had pledged to pare back the effort on Wednesday after the secretary of state called it illegal.

US storm survivors: We need money faster, less red tape

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. (AP)  Survivors of storms that pounded several U.S. states say the nations disaster aid system is broken and they want less red tape to get relief money. People who went through Superstorm Sandy or hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Ida gathered Saturday, 10 years after Sandy made landfall at the Jersey Shore. The gathering included victim advocacy groups from New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. The survivors and their advocates have listed five reforms they say will help avoid the delays, runarounds and financial desperation they experienced. A Federal Emergency Management Agency official says the agency has to get taxpayer money into the right hands and is looking for a way to provide quicker relief.

No. 1 Georgia pulls away late, wins 'Cocktail Party' 42-20

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)  Daijun Edwards and Kenny McIntosh ran for two touchdowns each, and No. 1 Georgia pulled away from Florida following a second-half scare to win 42-20 in the rivalry dubbed the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The defending national champion Bulldogs looked to be in trouble when the Gators scored the first 17 points of the third quarter and turned a 28-3 deficit into a one-score game. But the Dawgs answered with consecutive touchdown drives to seal their 10th consecutive victory. Georgia beat Florida for the fifth time in six years.
The opinion of the Napa Valley Register

While doing our endorsement interviews for the District 3 supervisor race, the editorial board was struck by the depth of intelligence and talent coming from the two finalists  John Dunbar and Anne Cottrell. We collectively agreed that in a perfect world, both would be excellent additions to the Board of Supervisors, and either will well serve the interests of Upvalley residents as well as that of the county as a whole.

However, we believe Cottrell has the edge, and so we recommend a vote for her in the Nov. 8 election. First, though, we want to explain why it was such a difficult decision.

Dunbar has made much of his experience as a member of the Yountville Town Council for 18 years  12 of those as mayor. He says with a high degree of authority that he understands how to get things done at the municipal level, and he can point to numerous successes in his time in elected office to back that up.

He also points to the relationships he has developed over the years with other elected officials, high-ranking county workers, and movers-and-shakers in the local wine and tourism industries. He noted his time as president of the statewide League of California Cities in 2019-20 provided him with the experience of negotiating common ground between elected officials with vastly different needs.

The board felt this last part to be particularly relevant, as most close observers of our current Board of Supervisors ardently hope its newly elected members from Districts 1 and 3 will be a salve for that occasionally fractious group.

Despite all of this, the board had its concerns that Dunbars focus is too narrow, and that his experiences helping to run the countys smallest municipality would not translate to the county as a whole.

Though Cottrell has not held elected office, she has proved from her eight years on the county Planning Commission that she can deal with contentious issues with intelligence, equanimity and with a collaborative spirit. Her background as a land-use attorney we also felt would prove incredibly helpful, assisting the board as a whole untie the knots produced by complicated zoning regulations and the California Environmental Quality Act.

The board also felt she had developed a clearer plan for what she would want to do in the position, which she said was balancing three main things: keeping residents safe and healthy; keeping the economy vibrant; and continued stewardship and protection of the Ag Preserve.

She also is not afraid to say she doesnt have all the answers, saying that many different ideas will likely need to be tried, and shes open to listening and considering a wide variety of options. This will be a requirement for whoever sits on the dais, as increasing pressure by the state on matters of housing and fire regulation will mean a number of tough decisions will have to be made in the years ahead  or risk having some policies simply handed down from Sacramento.

Regardless, either Cottrell or Dunbar will have their work cut out for them in serving the countys largest district, which includes Lake Berryessa, Angwin and other rural communities in addition to a part of the city of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. In addition to being geographically diverse, the district also includes a large Spanish-speaking population and lower-income seniors in addition to being the playground of some of the countys most wealthy residents and second (or third) homeowners.

Doing this will be a challenge for anyone, but we feel Cottrell is better positioned due to her background, experience and temperament.

The editorial board researches, interviews stakeholders and discusses issues of importance to Napa County residents. Its written opinions are the institutional views of the Napa Valley Register and is not beholden to interest groups, public officials, or its own advertisers. Its larger goal is to provide clear-eyed analysis of these issues to help make our county and region a safe, equitable, peaceful, and just place to live and work.
The holidays are all about spending time with the people we care about. For those looking to level up their Christmas celebrations this year, 
Stop killer robots! Lobbyists fight to save Europe from bad AI

U.S. green subsidies increase fears about German industry

NATO's looming fault line: China

Estonian FM calls on European countries to double defense spending because of war in Ukraine

Cavusoglu says Sweden and Finland have not yet fulfilled Ankara's requirements for NATO membership

Police crack down on European cocaine super cartel

Ardshinbank is the exclusive sponsor of Vladimir Spivakov's charity concert (PHOTOS)

Japan's prime minister orders to double defense spending to about 2% of GDP in five years

U.S. is considering sending 150-mile strike weapon to Ukraine

EU countries resumes talks on introducing price ceiling on Russian oil

Participants of international forum 'New stimuli for millennial relations' visit 'Tsitsernakaberd'

Volcano eruption kicks off in Hawaii

Condition of servicemen wounded as result of Azerbaijan's violation of ceasefire is satisfactory

Russia and Iran sign memorandum on car exports

Tokayev: There are issues in relations between Russia and Kazakhstan that require negotiations

FT: Global inflation peaks but will slow in future

2 soldiers injured after Azerbaijan shells Artsakh defense army positions

Japan to build constellation of 50 military satellites

Azerbaijan hands over to Armenian side bodies of 13 Armenian servicemen

Iraqi PM announces return of part of $125 million stolen from state

Inaugural Divine Liturgy served at first Armenian church in Spain

Russia and Kazakhstan intend to increase CSTO potential

Process of US granting market economy status to Armenia is discussed (PHOTOS)

Borrell says NATO has enough threats and challenges besides China

Azerbaijani government-controlled media announces change in Baku's foreign policy

Reuters: Turkey ready for ground invasion in northern Syria

Cavusoglu: Turkey may appoint an ambassador to Egypt in the coming months

Dollar, euro go up in Armenia

Indian political analyst: Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during aggression against Karabakh

Belgian police officers protest after officer killed

Citizens of Western countries arrested in Iran for participating in riots

Seyran Ohanyan: Drawing CSTO into our region in matters of use of force may cause serious conflict in future

Armenia parliament opposition leader: Its not that we, as opposition, like everything in CSTO

Political analyst: Cooperation with Yerevan becomes more important amid contradictions between powers

New Ecuador ambassador presents copy of credentials to Armenia deputy FM

Erdogan: Realization of the grain deal showed the possibility of diplomacy in Ukraine

Armenia parliament speaker to head for Qatar, to watch World Cup match from stadium

Toivo Klaar: Many challenges remain; restraint, strong political will be needed by Azerbaijan, Armenia

Armen Baibourtian: Armenia-India cooperation on North-South road corridor started back in 2000s

Armenian envoy: India becoming more sensitive about Azerbaijan ambitions towards Armenia

India MFA: Cooperation with Armenia should be further deepened

Deputy FM: Armenia can make use of progress with India to increase its security level

Armenia Kurdish community staging protest outside UN office

Pashinyan: Armenia attaches importance to development of cooperation with Albania

Azerbaijan president receives Philip Reeker

MP: Tourists visiting Armenia have difficulty making purchases over 300,000 drams at duty free shops

Marukyan: 2 years ago Azerbaijan president signed ceasefire agreement where Nagorno-Karabakh is mentioned 5 times

US diplomatic mission reveals details of CIA head with Naryshkin

Karabakh army did not open fire at Azerbaijani positions in occupied territories

UK intends to maintain military assistance to Ukraine in 2023

Copper prices falling

World oil prices falling

Gold falls in price

Armenia PM, wife attend charity concert in support of soldiers undergoing treatment

Azerbaijan army fires towards Armenia positions

Eurasianet: Azerbaijan's Russian natural gas deal raises uncomfortable questions for Europe

The Hill: Will a strong dollar trigger a global recession?

Stanislav Zas: CSTO proposed several measures to help Armenia

MOD: Artsakh Defense Army did not fire at Azerbaijani positions

Princess Diana was 'murdered' because she was pregnant with Dodi Al Fayed's baby, claims his father

Israel will fall apart, says Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps chief

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan leaders summit to be held in Ashgabat

Elon Musk announces he will support Ron DeSantis if Florida governor runs for US president

Armenia MOD dismisses Azerbaijan disinformation

Baghdad ready to help Tehran-Riyadh negotiations resume, Iraq FM says

Russia presidential spokesman: Attempts to interfere with CSTO work will continue

Protests staged in Shanghai over China COVID curbs

Iran parliament approves law on country's membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Worlds biggest nuclear-fusion project faces delays due to component cracks

Erdogan announces Turkeys Bayraktar UAV fighter manufacture by end of 2023

Venezuela authorities and opposition resume talks, eyeing US sanctions relief

Azerbaijan's Armenophobia policy to be presented in Australia (PHOTOS)

Armenia FM: I am deeply shocked by news of Vladimir Makei's death

The New York Times: Artillery breaking in Ukraine, becoming problem for Pentagon

Karabakh MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement

Americans spend record $9.12bn on online shopping on Black Friday

North Korea aims to have world's strongest nuclear force, Kim Jong Un says

What is best age to seek jobs?

Scholz says Germany will allocate another 10 million to ensure grain supplies from Ukraine

Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian border positions

Parapolitika: U.S. drone base is being set up near the Greek city of Larissa

Belgium to send to Ukraine 100 instructors who fought in Afghanistan

U.S. household spending up $433 for the year

Authorities of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine signs Declaration of Lublin Triangle PMs

CIS Executive Committee says they agreed with CSTO, SCO on combining anti-terrorist exercises

Over 10 people are missing in Italy after landslide

Finns saving on alcohol

Kyodo: Japan ready for joint counterstrikes with U.S. in case of attack

OSCE PA session in Warsaw kicks off in darkness as sign of solidarity with Ukraine

Times: Britain may triple its nuclear energy production by 2050

IAEA tells what blow to spent fuel at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant will lead to

AFP: Macron wants to dissuade Biden from unequal competition with EU

ARF Dashnaktsutyun delegation meets with Spanish PM

India launches vehicle with 9 satellites on board

Bloomberg says cost of chartering oil tankers exceed $100,000

Belgium to provide Ukraine with underwater unmanned drones and mobile laboratories

Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan has phone talks

22 people injured in Turkish minibus accident

Xi Jinping says he wants to develop relations with North Korea amid global changes

Inauguration ceremony of Tokayev takes place in Astana
Giorgia Meloni, who became Italy's first woman to head a government, insists that she should be addressed in the masculine form in her new position. According to a circular sent to ministries and other institutions distributed to the media on Friday, the prime minister should be addressed as "Presidente del Consiglio," which was the original title.

In addition, "honorable" (the Italian word for "onorevole" sounds the same in both the masculine and feminine) Giorgia Meloni is added to official papers. This definition applies to members of the lower house of parliament.

Meloni has always refused to translate established masculine job titles into feminine ones. With this decision, she drew criticism from her female colleagues, mostly from her opponents. In particular, some noted that the name of the party she led, Brothers of Italy, did not mention "sisters. She was also rebuked for having only six women in her cabinet of 24 ministers.

That said, Meloni became famous for her phrase at one of her rallies, at which she proclaimed that she is a woman,a Christian, a mother. At the same time, she condemned attempts to replace the lines "father" and "mother" on child birth documents with "parent 1" and "parent 2. Meloni is considered a member of the conservative political right wing.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces along the frontline, Trend reports.

The erupted 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

Chronicle of the 33-rd day of the second Karabakh war:

- President Ilham Aliyev approved a law on renaming the Vang village of Khojavand district into Chinarli village.

- President Ilham Aliyev called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry released information on the latest situation in the frontline. A list of destroyed military equipment of the Armenian Armed Forces was announced.

- A video of the liberated villages of the Gubadli district was released.

- The territory of Goranboy and Tartar districts came under fire. The Armenian troops, who were forced to retreat, opened fire on the civilian population.

- High-ranking Armenian officers were killed. Footage of equipment and ammunition left by the Armenian troops on the battlefield was released. Two Armenian Su-25 planes were destroyed.

- The territory of the Tartar district, including diplomatic representatives, came under fire. Another civilian was killed as a result of the Armenian fire.

- Armenian servicemen, who fired at civilians in Azerbaijans Barda, were killed on the battlefield. Equipment of Armenia's troops was destroyed.
The families affected by the Azerbaijani military aggression, whose damages have been assessed, have been restored, the restoration works at the houses that were completely collapsed have not started yet, and the rent matter of these families has been resolved. The governor of Armenias Gegharkunik Province told reporters about this ahead of todays congress of the ruling Civil Contract Party, adding that 80 percent of displaced residents have returned, and the question of the rest is being resolved.

Reflecting on the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, Karen Sargsyan said that he has already met with them, accompanied them to the areas affected by the aforesaid military aggression, showed them the damages, and that they are informed.

"The monitoring mission has already started," Sargsyan added.

The governor of Gegharkunik believes that if a peace treaty is signed with Azerbaijan there will be peacealbeit he does not trust the adversary.
The Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) delegation meetings with high-ranking officials continue in Canada. Hasmik Hakobyan, a member of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction in the NA, wrote about this on Facebook.

"Our next meeting was with [Canadian] MP, [Canadian] foreign ministers parliamentary secretary Robert Oliphant.

In the opening speech, our Canadian colleague emphasized that Armenia's democracy is developing with great strides after the peaceful revolution of 2018, and that Canada is ready to assist Armenia in this matter.

Also, by opening the Canadian Embassy in Armenia, Canada is sending a message to the world that it stands with democratic Armenia.

After discussing various matters aimed at the development of bilateral relations, we gave our interlocutor new information about the latest Azerbaijani [military] aggression. Azerbaijan has occupied territories from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. Although we have achieved a fragile ceasefire, Azerbaijan fires at Armenian positions almost every day. As much as the international community does not urge to withdraw the troops, Azerbaijan still has troops accumulated in the RA territory. Azerbaijan does not allow the retrieval of the bodies of Armenian servicemen from the Armenian territories occupied by it, which is an anti-humanist and unacceptable step. Evidence of war crimes committed by Azerbaijan on September 13-15 regularly appears on the internet.

We have emphasized not only the verbal warnings of the international community, democratic countries, but to punish Azerbaijan, which they themselves call an aggressor, with active steps," he Armenian MP added.
In recent days, the attention of all Armenians, without exaggeration, is riveted on the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Arayik Harutyunyan wrote this on Facebook.

A number of power centres submitted proposals to the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the key issues regarding the settlement.

The proposed principles and approaches, in case of their acceptance and realisation, will have a crucial importance for both the Republic of Artsakh and its people, and for Armenia and other countries of the region.

Thats why we have no right to make mistakes as any of them may become fatal. We are confident that those proposals and principles that deny the right of people of Artsakh to self-determination, deprive of the prospects of fair settlement of the conflict and bring into a question the existence of Artsakh should be rejected once and forever. This stems not only from the interests of the Republic of Artsakh, but also from those of the entire Armenian people, as the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh together form a single homeland and inseparable set of values and interests.

We welcome the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia stating that Armenia agreed to work towards the establishment of interstate relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in early September of the current year, based on the principles and parameters presented by Russia, and is ready to reaffirm this at the high-level meeting to be held in Sochi on October 31.

Of course, as a result of the negotiation process, we would like to achieve a fair and final settlement of the Karabakh conflict and international recognition of the independent status of the Republic of Artsakh. However, taking into account the existing challenges and limited possibilities, in our opinion, the Russian proposals mostly meet the minimum standards that allow to ensure the security of Artsakh and do not throw into question its future.

We voice hope that as a result of the tripartite summit to be held on October 31, it will be possible to ensure the elements related to the fate of Artsakh. First of all, we are talking about the untimely extension of the mission of the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in Artsakh. Their presence in Artsakh is of vital importance, because since November 2020, Russian peacekeepers bear the main responsibility for the security of the Republic of Artsakh and its people. The second key parameter is the maintenance of at least the current status of Artsakh.

The statement of the President of the Russian Federation during the meeting of the "Valdai" International Club inspires certain hopes that these goals are completely achievable.

We anticipate that the vital interests of the Artsakh Republic and, first of all, the inalienable right of the Artsakh people to self-determination will be fully protected during the upcoming negotiations. International recognition of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination and the results of the realization of that right has no alternative.

We are confident that with joint efforts we will succeed in preventing the legitimization of the consequences of the illegal use of force by Azerbaijan and its allies against the Republic of Artsakh, thus ensuring conditions for a safe and prosperous future of our homeland and people, the Artsakh President added.
The European Parliament has called on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships.

The respective document noted that Russias military aggression against Ukraine has had implications for the South Caucasus and has further complicated the security situation in the region.

It is noted that a durable and sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be achieved through military means but requires a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with international law, including the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 OSCE Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE Minsk Groups 2009 Basic Principles.

The report Strongly condemns the large-scale military attack by Azerbaijan in September 2022 against multiple targets in the sovereign territory of Armenia and its consequences for the peace process; reiterates that the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan must be fully respected and underlines the EUs readiness to be more actively involved in settling the regions protracted conflicts.

The report Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 and to urgently implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexistence; calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric which threatens to undermine the peace process.

The report strongly supports the initiative taken by the President of the European Council Charles Michel to convene and mediate bilateral meetings of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels and encourages the work on the ground of the EUs special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

The document welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU mission to build trust and contribute to the border commissions, the humanitarian aid provided by the EU for the conflict-affected population in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and its assistance for humanitarian demining in the areas affected by the conflict.

It is noted that the EU Continues to be concerned about the fate of Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict and still held by Azerbaijan and welcomes the release of some of them; demands the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining detainees, including those captured during the recent military confrontations, and that they be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law.

In addition, it Condemns the footage that has appeared depicting the torture, mutilation and killing of an Armenian servicewoman and unarmed Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani armed forces; calls for a full and impartial investigation of the videos to identify those responsible and hold them accountable for their actions.

The European parliament Strongly insists that Azerbaijan and Armenia refrain from destroying cultural, religious or historical heritage; calls for the restoration of damaged sites in accordance with UNESCO standards and indications; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to quickly allow a UNESCO mission to visit both countries without preconditions.

It Encourages increased bilateral contacts between the political authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The document Supports the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey and welcomes the progress achieved so far; calls for the speedy implementation of agreements reached by the special representatives; calls on both sides to engage in the process in good faith and without preconditions.

Also, the European Parliament report Calls on Armenia to consider diversifying its security partnerships, as its long-standing reliance on Russia and its allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organization has proved insufficient.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Culture Ministry Anar Karimov has received Ambassador of Chile Rodrigo Arcos to discuss cultural cooperation, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

In his speech, Anar Karimov noted that although the distance between Azerbaijan and Chile is far, there are many cultural values??that unite both nations.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's cultural riches, the minister pointed out that the state provides continuous support to young people working in cultural and art fields.

He outlined that there are ample opportunities for the development of cultural relations between the two countries.

The minister drew attention to cooperation in the field of classical music, as well as library work, and stressed the importance of the exchange of experience in this direction.

He emphasized that joint exhibitions and literary evenings can also contribute to the cultural partnership.

In his turn, Anar Karimov said that it is possible to organize a discussion about Nobel Prize laureates in literature, Chilean poets Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957), Pablo Neruda (1904-1973), and others at relevant higher education institutions.

Anar Karimov also informed the diplomat about the Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival, which is traditionally held in Azerbaijan annually.

He invited Chilean musicians to join the festival which unites musicians from a number of countries.

Mr. Rodrigo Arcos said that Chile is ready to organize joint cultural projects with Azerbaijan.

He emphasized that such projects can contribute to mutual recognition of the literature and culture of the two countries.

The meeting continued with the discussion of other issues of mutual interest.
At Saturdays congress of Armenias ruling Civil Contract Party, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan read a part of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree of November 10, 2020.

The decree is entitled: "On measures to ensure peace in Nagorno-Karabakh," whose third point refers to communications.

"It is the third point, where it is said that Armenia will provide transport communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. That is, it is written that Armenia provides this, and Russia as an intermediary, oversees that Armenia fulfills this political obligation or ensures uninterrupted traffic. There can be no misinterpretation here. We say that we are ready to implement it today; let there be no other expectation beyond this.

There is the next question. Azerbaijan says that due to the conflict, it will be problematic if Azerbaijani citizens come into contact with Armenian customs officers and border guards while passing through the western regions. They say let the Russian border guards stand at the border. We say that we can understand the expectation, but we agreed in the tripartite relief group that all agreements should be based on the principle of parity, equivalence. Here parity is broken. If an Azerbaijani does not come into contact with an Armenian border guard, in that case, an Armenian also should not come into contact with an Azerbaijani border guard.

We have proposed a solution. To outsource that service at that point to other organizations or countries and agree that the operators will stand at the border; that is, a third party. We say from the beginning that we are ready to delegate that operation to the Russian border guard troops. Who does Azerbaijan want to delegate? For example, it can choose Turkey, too. Or let Armenian services stop on the side of Armenia, and Azerbaijani serviceson the side of Azerbaijan," Pashinyan announced.
Among the Armenian public, they are attempting to create the impression that there is a Russian proposal on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is positive for Armenia, and that there is a Western proposal, which is negative for Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this at Saturdays congress of Armenias ruling Civil Contract Party.

"They say that Armenias government rejects the Russian plan and accepts the Western plan. Sorry, this has nothing to do with reality. It is true that there is a Russian and Western perception, and Armenia has agreed with the Russian perception and reached an agreement in principle in January 2021. The cornerstone provision of those agreements was that the Russian Federation is the guarantor of the security of Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. This is a very important nuance, and we have agreed on that scenario and plan," said the Armenian PM.

He noted that in September, Armenia agreed to the implementation of the Russian plan.

"I say that at the meeting to be held in [Russias] Sochi city, I am ready to officially accept, sign the document on reaching an agreement based on 15 points; that is, to accept that document as a basis for signing a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Pashinyan.

The Armenian premier announced that he is ready to sign the document in Sochi and accept that the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh be extended for 10-20 years.

"I am ready to sign that paper. I suggest that the President of the Russian Federation make that proposal. If necessary, I will make that proposal, but Russia must support that proposal because I cannot decide that the Russian peacekeepers should stay there for a certain period of time. It is a tripartite paper. And if we and Russia agree, we will be the majority," Pashinyan emphasized.
One of the important points of the January 2021 agreement was that Armenia's borders are a red line for our allies. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Saturdays congress of Armenias ruling Civil Contract Party.

"When Azerbaijan violated the border at the Sotk-Khoznavar section on May 12, 2021, we said, based on international documents: the red line was violated and mechanisms were envisioned that should act. They told us, Yes, but it seems the border [with Azerbaijan] is not demarcated. To say that we do not know where the border passes means that the CSTO does not exist because there is a responsibility of the CSTO, which is enclosed by the borders of the member states. If one of the [member] states does not have a border, it means that there is no zone of responsibility of CSTO; it means that there is no [CSTO] organization.

Our position is that there is a border. There is a state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is the administrative border of the [former] Soviet Union, and that border has been violated. The CSTO, as well as the Russian Federation which has security obligations in a bilateral format, the bell of these obligations has sounded," said Pashinyan.
Two years after launching the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, partners Emory Healthcare and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation are celebrating the official opening this week of the Emory Addiction Center. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Oct. 26.

Made possible by almost $10 million in donations from public and private community partners, the center advances the Addiction Alliance of Georgias goal of confronting the states addiction and overdose epidemic through addiction-related clinical care, education and research.

The new Emory Addiction Center sits on the campus of Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods (1821 Clifton Rd). It offers outpatient and intensive-outpatient addiction treatment and co-occurring mental health care for adolescents and adults. The center welcomed its first patients on June 27 during a soft opening phase.

We are so grateful to all of the foundations and individuals who made the vision of opening this new treatment center a reality. Their generosity will help save and change lives in this time of tremendous need and for years to come, said Justine Welsh, MD, medical director of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine.

Emory Addiction Center is run by leading U.S. health system Emory Healthcare, with management, training and operations support from Hazelden Betty Ford, the nation's leading nonprofit dedicated to people, families and communities affected by substance use disorders.

The new centers multidisciplinary treatment team includes board-certified addiction psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, addiction counselors and psychologists. Its outpatient services  provided both virtually and in-person  include individual and group therapy as well as medication-assisted treatments and family support. Patients will be referred to Hazelden Betty Fords national system of care and other treatment centers whenever a higher, residential level of care is needed.

Opening a new outpatient treatment center is a significant milestone in our multi-phased, collaborative plan to help reduce rates of substance use disorder and improve rates of recovery throughout Georgia, said Stephen Delisi, MD, medical director for Hazelden Betty Fords Enterprise Solutions division and assistant adjunct faculty member at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. As we celebrate and continue to engage in other initiatives throughout the state, were excited to begin looking ahead to longer-range plans, too.

Hazelden Betty Ford and Emory Healthcare formed the Addiction Alliance of Georgia in 2020 as a community-based, collaborative enterprise that integrates addiction and mental health care, prevention, research and educational initiatives, and engages partners in a sustained effort to reduce the negative impact of addiction and increase the positive impact of recovery in Georgia communities. In addition to opening the new treatment center, the Alliance has been, and continues to be, engaged in a number of education, outreach and research initiatives, including:

Grady Hospital Collaboration : With support from a $350,000 grant from the John and Polly Sparks Foundation, the Alliance is working with the Grady Health System and other community partners, including the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, to integrate additional substance use disorder services into Grady's primary care clinics.

: With support from a $350,000 grant from the John and Polly Sparks Foundation, the Alliance is working with the Grady Health System and other community partners, including the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, to integrate additional substance use disorder services into Grady's primary care clinics. DBHDD Collaboration: Thanks to a $1.5 million government grant, the Alliance partnered with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities to plan two years of virtual community-wide events and workshops for Community Service Boards, aimed at reducing stigma and preparing community partners for medication-assisted treatment servicesand also is partnering with DBHDD to provide immersive educational experiences for medical, nursing and public health students.

Thanks to a $1.5 million government grant, the Alliance partnered with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities to plan two years of virtual community-wide events and workshops for Community Service Boards, aimed at reducing stigma and preparing community partners for medication-assisted treatment servicesand also is partnering with DBHDD to provide immersive educational experiences for medical, nursing and public health students. CDC Collaboration: The Alliance worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide content and subject matter expertise for online micro-learning training modules, an addiction medicine toolkit, and an educational webinar series.

The Alliance worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide content and subject matter expertise for online micro-learning training modules, an addiction medicine toolkit, and an educational webinar series. Capstone Program : The Alliance developed and delivered an Emory School of Medicine Capstone on addiction and opioid use disorder in the medical setting for fourth-year medical students, and plans to expand the capstone to other medical schools as well.

: The Alliance developed and delivered an Emory School of Medicine Capstone on addiction and opioid use disorder in the medical setting for fourth-year medical students, and plans to expand the capstone to other medical schools as well. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church (PRUMC) Collaboration : In August 2021, Hazelden Betty Ford Vice President William C. Moyers shared his personal story of recovery at a large community education event held at PRUMC in Atlanta and participated in multiple related media opportunities to highlight efforts by Georgias faith community to confront the statesand nationsaddiction and mental health crisis. An October 2022 community event at PRUMC featured a panel of addiction recovery professionals, including the Alliances medical director, Dr. Justine Welsh. The panel was led by the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse.

: Student Education : The Alliance awarded full scholarships to students from four of Georgias five medical schools Morehouse School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Emory University School of Medicineto attend Hazelden Betty Fords immersive five-day Professionals in Residence and Summer Institute for Medical Students programs. Utilizing Hazelden Betty Fords immersion program model and funding from DBHDD, the Alliance also developed a weeklong Community-Based Immersion Healthcare Education Program and is training students from Emorys School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Rollins School of Public Health. Discussions are now underway to expand the program to M.D. and Ph.D. students at the Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia State University.

:

About the Addiction Alliance of Georgia

Utilizing the experience and strengths of two national health care leaders, Emory Healthcare and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the Addiction Alliance of Georgia is a comprehensive partnership dedicated to reducing substance-use-disorder rates; improving recovery rates; and bringing hope, healing and health to more people and families throughout Georgia and beyond. Founded in 2020, the Alliance integrates addiction treatment and co-occurring mental health care, education, prevention, outreach and research, collaborating with government agencies, concerned donors and partners throughout the larger community.
While L&T has an eminent presence in Odisha, the company may explore to develop common industrial facilities such as water and effluent treatment plants for upcoming industrial hubs such as Paradip, Gopalpur, and Dhamra, Patnaik said.

Odisha is home to all major minerals and metals. Hence, he urged Subrahmanyan that the metallurgical and material handling arm of L&T can set up an office in Bhubaneswar.

The company has also been requested to upgrade Mindtree's Global Learning & Software Delivery Centre in Bhubaneswar to a development centre.

Stating shipbuilding is one of the priority sectors in Odisha with three major ports Dhamra, Paradip and Gopalpur, the CM suggested the company CEO to develop services such as refits, repairs, and midlife upgrades for defence and commercial vessels.

Talking about opportunities in the education sector, he said that L&T can introduce its school adoption programme in villages near infrastructural hubs to enhance the quality of education for the children of workers.

Further, he suggested the company to set up a mega structure fabrication facility in the state for supply to its construction sites.

Patnaik urged Subrahmanyan to consider the above factors to expand his company's presence in the state and also enter new verticals of business to gain from Odisha's ever-growing industry landscape.

--IANS bbm/pgh

( 258 Words)

2022-10-28-22:56:03 (IANS)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 29 (ANI/PNN): Focus Lighting & Fixtures Limited. (NSE - FOCUS), engaged in manufacturing & innovative lighting solutions of LED lights and fixtures, announced its unaudited Financial Results for the Quarter and Half Year ended September 30, 2022. Key Financials at a Glance (Q2 FY23): Total Income for Q2 FY23 at Rs 40.61 Crore against Rs 23.15 Crore in Q2 FY22, 75 per cent YoY growth EBITDA for Q2 FY23 at Rs 8.30 Crore against Rs 1.86 Crore in Q2 FY22, 346 per cent YoY growth EBITDA Margin for Q2 FY23 at 20.44 per cent against 8.03 per cent in Q2 FY22, 1,240 bps YoY growth Net Profit for Q2 FY23 at Rs 4.59 Crore against Rs 1.58 Crore in Q2 FY22, 191 per cent YoY growth Net Profit Margin for Q2 FY23 at 11.30 per cent against 6.83 per cent in Q2 FY22, 448 bps YoY growth EPS for Q2 FY23 at Rs 4.53 against Rs 1.56 in Q2 FY22, 190 per cent YoY growth H1 FY23 Total Income for H1 FY23 at Rs 67.55 Crore against Rs 45.18 Crore in H1 FY22, 50 per cent YoY growth EBITDA for H1 FY23 at Rs 11.59 Crore against Rs 1.57 Crore in H1 FY22, 638 per cent YoY growth EBITDA Margin for H1 FY23 at 17.16 per cent against 3.47 per cent in H1 FY22, 1,368 bps YoY growth Net Profit for H1 FY23 at Rs 6.83 Crore against Rs 0.04 Crore in H1 FY22, 16,975 per cent YoY growth Net Profit Margin for H1 FY23 at 10.11 per cent against 0.09 per cent in H1 FY22, 1,002 bps YoY growth EPS for H1 FY23 at Rs 6.74 against Rs 0.04 in H1 FY22, 16,750 per cent YoY growth. Key Financial Highlights: For H1 FY23, Cash Flow from Operation stood at Rs 5.02 Crore against Rs 0.61 Crore in H1 FY22 For H1 FY23, Revenue from Manufacturing activities contributed Rs 49.54 Crore against Rs 19.65 Crore in H1 FY22 For H1 FY23, Revenue from Trading activities contributed Rs 17.32 Crore against Rs 25.12 Crore in H1 FY22 For H1 FY23, Manufacturing activities contributed Rs 8.67 Crore in PBT against a loss of Rs 0.73 Crore in H1 FY22. For H1 FY23, Trading activities contributed Rs 0.98 Crore in PBT against Rs 1.24 Crore in H1 FY22. Commenting on the performance, Amit Sheth, Managing Director of Focus Lighting And Fixtures, said, "For the H1 FY22, we have seen demand coming back to the pre-pandemic levels, and our margins have improved significantly on the back of diversifying into new business verticals like Projects and Railways which will also provide good margin business because of the government's push towards increasing make in India contribution. Also, our thrust on increasing manufacturing contribution has helped us achieve higher operating margins. Further, our innovative lighting solutions are one of the preferred brands among leading retail giants, which has helped us increase our turnover and margins over the previous year." Focus Lighting & Fixtures Limited (NSE - FOCUS) The company was established in 2005. The company currently provides a wide range of products which includes recessed adjustable spotlights, recessed downlights, surface-mounted spotlights, surface-mounted / suspended downlights, system-based spotlights/wall washers, track-mounted spotlights, etc., each with different working capabilities. Its comprehension of lighting technology, the influence it can have on the viewer, and the techno-aesthetic requirement of the market have enticed it to develop lighting solutions where the criteria are efficiency, color rendition and trouble-free service life to achieve optimum lighting parameters such as luminous intensity, maintenance-friendliness and freedom from glare. The new range of luminaires has been designed and developed by the finest product designers from Germany, proficient in the field of lighting design, supported by a proficient team of Indian Professionals. The company has its manufacturing unit in Sanand, Gujarat. Post-pandemic, the Company has emerged strongly by doubling its revenues to Rs 106.6 Crore in FY22 compared with Rs 60.84 Crore in FY21, while the bottom line is back in the black at Rs 4.10 Crore as against a loss of Rs 2.28 Crore in the same period. Safe harbour statement: Statements in this document relating to future status, events, or circumstances, including but not limited to statements about plans and objectives, the progress and results of research and development, potential project characteristics, project potential and target dates for project-related issues, are forward-looking statements based on estimates and the anticipated effects of future events on current and developing circumstances. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are not necessarily predictive of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results changed assumptions, or other factors. This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN)
By Trend

Some places in Azerbaijani liberated lands were set fire by Armenia many times during the occupation, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Firdovsi Aliyev told reporters in Baku, Trend reports on October 29.

According to Aliyev, about 60,000 hectares of forest land and non-forest areas were destroyed.

"Almost all living organisms died there. There are places which are planned to be fenced. An integral part of the 'Great Return' is the restoration of these territories, too," he said, noting that for this purpose, appropriate measures are being taken to restore the vegetation cover of the lands affected by fires.

He also noted that several appeals were made to international organizations on this issue.

"However, due to double standards, our requests remained unanswered," added the deputy minister.
Initially, the restrictions were imposed starting June 1 to October 31, 2022.

However, the restriction is not applicable to the sweetener (raw, refined and white) being exported to European Union and the US under CXL and TRQ quota, the notification put out by DGFT on Friday said.

It added that other conditions such as mandatory permission from the relevant department for exports would remain unchanged.

The idea behind the sugar export restriction -- putting a cap on the export of sugar to 100 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) -- was to make prices of sugar stable, Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, of the Department of Food and Public Distribution, had said in May. while imposing the restriction.

The government wants to ensure enough sugar stock availability in India and the export restriction has been purely imposed to safeguard the interests of the domestic supply. (ANI)
Delhi-NCR [India], October 29 (ANI/NewsVoir): Any kind of property investment necessitates the use of organised consultancy services. Real estate is a big-ticket investment which involves the streaming of substantial monetary resources and assets. Buyers do not wish to go wrong in this decision, which is why real estate consultancy services are in top demand. In a space which was marred by frauds and unscrupulous activities a while ago, real estate consultancy firms provide credence to land dealings and bookings. The presence of realty advisory companies has established a trust factor in the real estate space and brought new consumers to the forefront. Propelling on the ever-expanding market base of real estate, consultancy firms are offering a diverse range of services, apart from facilitating sales of residential and commercial spaces and lowering or mitigating risk factors associated with real estate investments. The holistic and all-rounder services include risk management, real estate management, capital markets investment and management, tax advisory, mergers and acquisitions, and digital real estate and proptech. Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Orenda India Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Orenda India (BHHSOI) founded in 2021 provides real estate solutions and advisories to possessors, tenants, and investors in India. Headquartered in Delhi NCR, Shrey Aeren chairs it as the Managing Director and Country Head. The company offers to help customers sell, buy, and lease commercial, retail and residential properties. In addition to this, it also provides wealth management solutions and investment policy frameworks for UHNIs and HNIs. It has an efficient team to supervise capital market processes like mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures etc. The company also has robust mindpower and a structural plan in place to provide development management services, i.e property audits, addressing critical development issues and reframing strategies for landowners and developers. BHHSOI also offers hospitality services like clubs for customers, home management services, and hotel operations to entertain guests and provide temporary stays for customers in the period of shiftings, moving in and other times as well. Through its global hegemony, local contacts, and in-depth knowledge, the company has been able to satisfy a wide range of clients within just a year of existence. 360 Realtors Gurugram-based real estate consultancy firm 360 Realtors is your one-stop solution for all your property needs and queries. Ankit Kansal, Founder & MD, 360 Realtors, founded the company in 2014 the firm offers a diverse range of services like real estate consultancy, home loan consultation, legal consultation, and specialised services such as NRI services and After Sales Assistance. It also offers value added services to their clients like Portfolio Management, Interior Design & Decoration, and Vastu Consultation. ElitePRO According to Viren Mehta, Director, ElitePRO, "With a diverse team composed of professionals with IT, Finance and Management educational backgrounds, Elite PRO has emerged as an empowering agency for property consultancy and utility assistance for over a decade. The company has sold 45 million sq. ft. of area in the NCR region and catered to the demands of more than 25,500 customers. Elite PRO has won the support of 750+ channel associates and employs over 500+ skilled professionals. Addressing the problem of forgery and duplicity in the real estate sector, the company's vision is to provide insights related to property transactions and choosings and uphold the values of transparency, honesty, and commitment in their relationship with clients." Axiom Landbase Pvt. Ltd. Axiom Landbase is among the top-ranked Property advisory firms in Gurugram. The company was formed by Mr. Rajesh K Saraf, MD, Axiom Landbase in 2006 and is known for providing services right from property selection to acquisition. It currently has five offices based out of Gurugram and offers Legal Consultation, Transaction Coordination, and Documentation and Home Loan & Financial Services. The company has served more than 80000 customers and sold properties across commercial, residential, and luxury segments. It has also demarcated separate teams to deal with people wanting to invest in residential and commercial spaces. Buniyad Group Since its inception in 1989, Buniyad Group has established itself as one of the Delhi-NCR region's most reliable and bankable real estate consultancy firms. The company possesses a specialised team of 200+ property experts and has served a solid client base of more than 25,000 customers. Forging a pan-India presence, Buniyad Group has offices in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore. The company has listed 1 lakh properties across various categories and given buyers a sizeable swarm of real estate options to choose from. Investin PRO Another Gurugram-based real estate consultancy which makes it to the list is Investin Pro. The company was founded by Ms. Ritu Ahlawat, CEO, Investin PRO. The firm has time and again reiterated its vision to affirm real estate consultancy based on sound market research and experience. Investin PRO is serving over 5K clients and employs a vast team of dedicated professionals who engage in one-to-one interactions with customers and give them a diverse pool of options to choose from. This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 29 (ANI/PNN): CMR Engineering College, one of the top premier private Engineering colleges in Hyderabad, successfully celebrates its 9th Graduation Day. On Saturday (October 22nd), around 509 students of the 2018-22 batch turned out to celebrate their success at the graduation ceremony held at the Central Auditorium of the College. During the programme, the College's principal, Dr A. Srinivasula Reddy, addressed the students and praised them for overcoming life's challenges and moving forward to contribute to the country's progress. He added, "Graduation is a very special day, not only for those graduating but also for their families and friends who join them in celebrating their accomplishments. I want to congratulate all the students on their outstanding achievements, representing the culmination of their years of hard work. Professors and all staff members also deserve special recognition for their dedication, commitment, and professionalism in assisting our students to reach their full potential." "College functions are always unique, but this was a memorable one. Graduation doesn't mark a full stop to learning, so I advise the students to grow and continuously learn and unlearn in life. I am confident that these graduates will change the face of the community, and their passion, drive, and commitment will definitely make them a credit to their employers and the CMR Engineering College," said Dr G. Venkataramireddy, Professor IT Department, Deputy Director Academy Audit Cell, JNTU Hyderabad. The high-end event brought together well-known dignitaries of the academic field, principals of other CRM-affiliated colleges and a power-packed audience of more than 500 enthusiastic students and parents. Dr. G. Venkataramireddy, Professor IT Department, Deputy Director Academy Audit Cell, JNTU Hyderabad, graced the occasion as the chief guest of the program. Umamaheswara Rao, Director of Engineering, CapGemini, participated as a special guest and awarded degrees to the graduating students. In addition, the Vice Chairman of the College Management Mr. Ch Bhoopal Reddy, College Training and Placement Head, Vijay Karthik and College Secretary and Correspondent, Mr. Ch Srisailam Reddy, congratulated the students on their completion of the academic course. "If you want to be successful in life, there is no shortcut; there is no substitute for hard work. In fact, you must be willing to work until the wee hours of the morning. You've all received a value-based education here. Keep in mind that value-based education is a great equaliser, and once you have it, you are equal to everyone. Always be a strong, independent, and unbiased body," Ch Srisailam Reddy, College Secretary and Correspondent, advised the students present. Established in 2010, CMR Engineering College is one of the top premier private engineering colleges in Hyderabad and spreads over a vast area of 10 acres. The CMR College is authorised under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi and affiliated with JNTUH. With the commencement of CMR Hyderabad, the College hit the list of 100 top engineering colleges in India. Additionally, the College is also rated 5 Star under Institution Innovation Council, Ministry of Education, Govt of India & Achieved the ARIIA Ranking. With these achievements, today, CMR Engineering College is known as one of the Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad. This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN)
Ram Charan is vacationing in the most untouched and untamed part of Africa with his family and friends, and appears to be enjoying every moment in the lap of nature.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the actor could be seen driving around, cooking eggs along with the locals and also taking pictures of big cats in their natural habitat.

Ram Charan and his wife Upasana had earlier shared pics of their sojourn in Japan. The actor, along with co-star Jr NTR, and 'RRR' director S.S. Rajamouli had toured Japan to promote the movie, which recently had its theatrical release there.

'RRR' became a pan-India hit this year, grossing more than Rs 1,000 crore.

--IANS pvn/arm

( 173 Words)

2022-10-29-19:00:06 (IANS)
Amid the ongoing MLA poaching controversy, BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao on Friday urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to look into the entire matter. "The whole episode drives at a mystical game of local politicians and police servants put together to enact a sequel to blemish the leadership of the national party to which I belong. I request the ED to investigate the whole of the sequence in-depth and unearth the actuals in the interest of Justice," he said. He further said that he did not have any faith in the local officials working and accused them of being mechanical tools obeying instructions prompted by the politicos from behind. Earlier today, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay challenged Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to swear that he isn't involved in the MLA poaching. "KCR ran away without accepting my challenge. He did not come because KCR was involved in this matter," said the BJP state president Bandi Sanjay. He demanded that an inquiry be conducted with the sitting judge or the CBI to find out the whole matter. "If KCR is not involved, he should be ready for a lie detector," said Bandi Sanjay. Bandi Sanjay demanded that Chief Minister KCR write a letter asking the CBI to investigate the entire matter. "KCR knows that the Munugode assembly bypoll is going to be a setback for the party (TRS) and hence all of this has been plotted. I came here and took an oath. I am asking Chief Minister KCR, can he do the same?" said Sanjay. Earlier on Friday, Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court rejected the request of Cyberabad Police to remand to judicial custody the three accused who were arrested for allegedly trying to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). All three accused in the TRS MLAs poaching case were released by police on Thursday following orders of the Anti-Corruption Bureau court. (ANI)
In a fresh affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had written a letter to the Prime Minister but when the investigation progressed and the role of his own then Principal Secretary was detected, the state machinery turned against the agency. The affidavit said: "Even though a letter was sent by the CM of Kerala to the PM, when the investigation progressed and the role of his own then Principal Secretary was detected, the state machinery turned against the ED and registered false cases by influencing the accused and making efforts to derail the investigation and trial." The ED said one of the key accused, who was then the Principal Secretary, M. Sivasankar, is continuing in a key high-ranking position in the government of Kerala even today and if the trial continued in Kerala, the high profile accused will influence the accused persons and witnesses and thereby derail the fair and independent trial of the case. "The above two points clearly explains the mala fide action taken by the state against the ED and mala fide inaction of not taking any action against the actual culprits. Furthermore, the influence of a Principal Secretary to the CM of the state over the state machinery has to be given due consideration and cannot be discounted," it added. The ED said after coming out on bail, IAS officer Sivasankar has been influencing other accused and is using the state machinery to fabricate false evidence against the investigating officer and the investigating agency. "The very fact that the state government constituted a commission of inquiry to inquire into an investigation conducted by a central investigating agency demonstrates that powerful persons involved in the case who are holding high offices in the Government of Kerala, are willing to misuse the state machinery and powers in order to thwart and derails proceedings in the case," it added. On October 10, the Supreme Court issued notice to Kerala government on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate seeking transfer of the trial in the gold smuggling case from Kerala to Karnataka. The ED has alleged that "free and fair trial" of the case is not possible in Kerala due to the close nexus between the accused and top officials and functionaries in the Kerala government. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, referred to the averments made by Kerala government in its impleading application that the statements of accused Swapna Suresh regarding the involvement of those holding high political offices created riots in the state. Mehta added these statements are enough to conclude that free and fair trial is impossible in Kerala. Mehta submitted that Kerala Police lodged an FIR against ED alleging fabrication of evidence, which was quashed by the Kerala High Court, and also cited allegations made by accused Swapna Suresh and other accused regarding pressure exerted by the Kerala Police. --IANS ss/vd A A ( 524 Words) 2022-10-28-22:32:03 (IANS)
Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan on Friday said that a bandh is a democratic means of peaceful protest, as she referred to the protest announced by the BJP on October 31 against "rising terrorism" in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore and to crush it. Addressing media persons at the Coimbatore International airport, she noted that Jameesha Mubin, who was killed in the car blast was questioned by NIA in 2019 and was monitored by the agency, and the Tamil Nadu Police could have watched his day to day activities closely. She called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take steps to build confidence among people that they were living in a safe environment. Sounderarajan said that with the NIA taking over, the investigation would be totally impartial. She also called upon the politicians not to use tough language against one another and to felicitate an impartial investigation of the Coimbatore blast case. --IANS aal/d ( 164 Words) 2022-10-28-22:34:04 (IANS)
The special public prosecutor for the Tamil Nadu government in the Kodanad heist-cum-murder case on Friday filed an intimation memo before Udhagamandalam district sessions judge P. Murugan, informing that the case has been taken over by the CB-CID (Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department). It may be noted that after the case was handed over to the CB-CID, the DGP of the elite wing, Mohammed Shakeel Akthar, conducted an investigation at the Kodanad estate on October 26 and questioned the estate management. Advocate K. Vijayan, representing the 10 accused in the case, said that the defence had appealed to the judge to pass orders to provide a copy of the intimation memo filed by the prosecution. The lawyer also said that two of the accused, Sayan and Walayar Manoj, were present in the court for the hearing. It may be noted that an armed gang had broken into the Kodanad estate jointly owned by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late J. Jayalalithaa and her aide V.K. Sasikala in April 2017. The gang led by the former driver of Jayalalithaa, Kanagaraj, had entered the estate at midnight and killed the security guard, Om Bahadhur. Another guard, Krishna Thapa, was grievously injured and the gang, according to the police, had decamped with a few costly watches. Five days after the incident, Kanagaraj was killed in a road accident on the Salem-Chennai national highway. On the same day, another truck hit the car in which Sayan, another accused, and his family members were traveling in Palakkad, Kerala. Sayan's wife and daughter died on the spot, while Sayan escaped unhurt. A computer operator of the Kodanad estate, Dinesh Kumar, committed suicide at his residence a few months later. The DMK had promised that if elected to power, it will launch a fresh probe into the Kodanad heist-cum-murder case. --IANS aal/arm ( 316 Words) 2022-10-28-22:36:05 (IANS)
In its ongoing operation against gangsters, the Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested four sharpshooters of Pakistan's ISI-backed terror module, an official said on Friday. The arrested accused have been identified as Lakhwinder Singh alias Matru, 31, Gurjeet alias Guri, 21, Harmander Singh, 26, and Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha, 28. These criminals were operating on the behest of Canada-based gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh 'Landa' and Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorist Harvinder Singh 'Rinda'. The end objectives of both Rinda and Landa are to execute the tasks which may lead to a resurgence of terrorism in Punjab, for which ISI is backing them with Chinese grenades, AK-47 and MP-5 rifles and loads of ex-China Army stock star pistols. According to DCP, Special Cell, Manishi Chandra, the first arrest came on September 24 when hardened criminal Matru was nabbed from Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan. "After his interrogation, on October 13, the movements of Gurjeet alias Guri were established near ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, and he was apprehended," he said. "Guri revealed that Harmender and Sukhdev Sukha were overseeing a major chunk of cross-border operations for Landa and Rinda. "Both Harmender and Sukhdev were arrested from Punjab's Moga on October 18," the DCP said. Few days ago, another dreaded member of the same syndicate -- Deepak alias Tinu -- who fled from custody of Punjab Police on the intervening night of October 1-2, was arrested from Rajasthan's Ajmer. He was found in possession of five highly explosive Chinese hand grenades. Meanwhile, the interrogation of the arrestees revealed that Harmender and Sukha coordinated the dropping of arms and ammunition through drones from across the border, on behest on the ISI. "AKs, MP-5s, grenades and Star/Beretta pistols that were dropped through drones have been seized while a substantial amount is yet to be recovered," said the DCP. "The hydra was the ISI-supported Rinda-Landa network. While both the rival criminal groups are fighting a bloody turf war in India, both of them are sourcing their weapons and drugs from Rinda and Landa," said a senior police official. Not only weapons but several newly-minted criminals are also being used by these rival gangs as mercenaries without any affiliation to one particular group. The greater conspiracy of ISI and ISI backed terrorists Rinda and Landa is to create unrest among Indian masses on religious and communal lines, the official added. --IANS ssh/vd ( 403 Words) 2022-10-28-22:54:05 (IANS)
State Government approached the Kerala High Court seeking to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Congress MLA Eldhose Kunnappillil by the lower court in Thiruvananthapuram in the case of rape and attempt to murder. Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court granted him anticipatory bail on October 21. State Government has contended that custodial interrogation is needed in this case. It also said that the lower court has erred in giving anticipatory bail in the initial stage of investigation in the case. "The long-standing relationship between the accused and the victim ran into rough weather when she was raped and physically assaulted several times by the accused. While granting anticipatory bail, the lower court should have considered whether a prima facie case existed against the petitioner on the basis of the materials placed before the Court. Instead, the lower court based its conclusions only on the complaint given by the de facto complainant before the Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram pursuant to a man missing complaint," the state contended. Earlier, the Congress party suspended MLA Eldhose Kunnappillil for six months. The MLA was representing Perumbavoor Constituency in the assembly. (ANI)
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation has announced the provision of a $566.4 million Export Credit Agency supported Islamic financing facility for Saudi Electricity Company. This is to facilitate a Saudi-Egypt electricity interconnection project.

The electricity interconnection project is the first large-scale, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection in the Middle East and North Africa to link electricity grids. The project will allow Saudi Arabia and Egypt to exchange up to 3,000 MW of power. The connection is expected to be in place by 2026 and will support the flow of power in multiple directions, between Badr in Egypt, to El-Madinah El-Munawara via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

The 14-year financing will be guaranteed by the Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN) and funded by the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK). The landmark facility is structured on the Islamic concept of Commodity Murabaha.

$3 billion syndicated loan

The bank was also among other financial institutions to provide $3 billion as part of the five-year syndicated loan, demonstrating SCBs commitment to Saudi Arabia and Egypt and in playing a key role in their economic development.

Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Africa and Middle East, Standard Chartered said: We are driven to play a vital role in in the development of key economies across AME, with both Saudi Arabia and Egypt being dynamic and pivotal markets for us. This facility represents our strategy in action as we work with businesses and our partners in facilitating capital for greater integration to deliver impact to communities - helping support the growth of electricity connectivity in the Arabian Gulf and North Africa.

Cross-border electricity trade is rapidly growing in importance, and takes advantage of economies of scale, giving countries efficient, flexible, secure and decarbonised access to power. Given the strength of our global network, the Bank is uniquely positioned to act as a bridge to facilitating inward and outward investments from Saudi into overseas markets and vice versa.-- TradeArabia News Service
A man has been arrested here for allegedly stabbing a 20-year-old youth to death following a heated argument between them, the police said on Friday. The arrested individual has been identified as Arman, a resident of Azadpur. He has been apprehended within 16 hours of the incident. Police said that they have also recovered a knife, used in commission of crime, from the possession of the accused. "On October 27, at around 9 p.m., a call was received at Adarsh Nagar police station regarding a stabbing incident near Lal Bagh area in Azadpur following which a police team rushed to the spot," said Usha Rangnani, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest). The victim -- Sabir, a resident of Lal Bagh, was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead, said the DCP, adding a case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code was registered and investigation was taken up. "As there was no CCTV footage of the incident, it was a completely blind case. A police team, tasked to crack the case, started analysing CCTV cameras of nearby areas to identify the suspect while another team started collecting local intelligence which led to the arrest of the accused, Arman," said the DCP. "On questioning, Arman disclosed that he stabbed the victim after they had a heated argument when he made some remarks to a female friend of the deceased," the police officer said. --IANS ssh/pgh ( 252 Words) 2022-10-28-23:16:03 (IANS)
Maharashtra's former Deputy Chief Minister and currently the leader of opposition Ajit Pawar criticised the Shinde-Fadnavis government after the state lost the Tata Airbus project to Gujarat. "Despite having 100 time more conducive environment for the business in the state compared to other states, still we are losing the projects," he said. Pawar took a swipe at the Shinde-Fadnavis government calling their claims to be erroneous. "After Vedant Foxconn went to Gujarat, they went to Delhi, I don't know what happened there but the Shinde-Fadnavis government had promised bigger projects to entire the state, instead the state lost the Tata Airbus project as well," he said. He further added that one needs to understand that if parties continue to blame each other, then people would lose faith. Earlier on Friday, former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray 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 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 Maharashtra and the various project". (ANI)
According to Delhi Police, gangster Nadeem alias Kaaliya is a prime member of Nasir gang and is a proclaimed offender (absconding for 2 years) in MACOCA case. A murder case under section 302/34 of IPC was registered against him at Seelampur police station. Court had also issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.

Nadeem (40) is a resident of Jafrabad, Delhi.

To nab Nadeem, a dedicated team was assigned by Delhi Police. On secret information regarding his presence in the Seelampur area, the police team laid a trap at GT Road near Gurudwara Seelampur. After a brief chase and scuffle, police apprehended Nadeem on Thursday.

Police recovered a semi automatic pistol loaded with six live cartridges from his possession. A separate case under Arms Act was registered at Seelampur police station.

During sustained interrogation, Nadeem confessed to his crime and further revealed to police that he was hiding in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh for a long. But after the death of his wife, he was staying in Darya Ganj, Delhi in a rented flat for the last one month. He said he used to visit Seelampur to meet his friends. (ANI)
The Saini community thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for including the Sikh community belonging to the Saini caste living in the union territory to the list of Other Backward Classes (OBC). In a press conference, the Jammu and Kashmir Saini Sabha said that this is a historic decision which will benefit the socio-economic development of the weaker and neglected sections of the community. Sabha President Satpal Saini said, "This was our long-standing demand, which has now been fulfilled by the central government and the UT administration." "We have achieved OBC status because of the sincere struggle of our community members, who were struggling for it for the last several decades and their repeated demands. We welcome the decision of Justice GD Sharma and the Government of India to grant OBC status to the Jat community and the Saini community in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. He further said that it has been possible only because of the abrogation of Article 370 that several sections have been brought under the OBC category. (ANI)
Two girls died and one girl is undergoing treatment after they attempted suicide by consuming poisonous substance in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday late evening, an official said. "All the three girls are residents of Ashta and they are school students. They somehow reached Indore and consumed sulphas (a poisonous substance) at a park near Apple hospital under Bhanwarkuan police station limits," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Prashant Chaubey said. "According to the doctors, two girls have died while one is undergoing treatment and she has also given the statement to the police. She stated different reasons for all of them to attempt suicide. One girl consumed poison because of family dispute, one had a dispute with friend and one said that if both her friends were committing suicide then why should she live," ADCP Chaubey added. The official further said that the police would investigate the matter under what circumstances they came to Indore from Ashta and took such a step. CCTV footage was being checked and a detailed investigation into the matter is underway. Further action into the matter would be taken accordingly. (ANI)
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the alleged State government's delay in handing over the Coimbatore blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Friday said there should be "no politics" on terrorism. Governor Ravi also expressed serious concern over the possible destruction of crucial evidence in a "high-profile terror plot", said Raj Bhavan. Governor praised the police which established the car blast as a serious terror attack conspiracy within hours of the incident and lamented soft peddling by the State government. He urged "no politics on terrorism and no leniency to terrorists as they are enemies of the nation and friends of none," added Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister RB Udaya Kumar lambasted the DMK government over the law and order situation. He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should tell people what measures he had taken to prevent terrorist activities in the state. Speaking to media persons, Kumar said, "Whenever the DMK was in power, there have been continuous bomb blasts in Tamil Nadu. In 1998, there were serial bomb blasts in 11 places and more than 50 people died during the DMK regime. No terrorist attack took place during the AIADMK rule. And now when DMK is in power, terrorist attacks are taking place in Tamil Nadu." "Chief Minister Stalin should break his silence and resolve this issue. DMK regime will be overthrown by the people if Stalin does not break his silence," he added. NIA registered a case to probe October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion that occurred in a car. The NIA registered the case after the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order asking the anti-terror agency to start probe into the case. The MHA order comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended for NIA probe in the case. Stalin, in a recommendation letter, to the MHA had requested on Wednesday to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area in Coimbatore to the NIA, and directed police to ensure security in Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu Police so far has arrested six people in connection with the case, and have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Those arrested are learned to be 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. According to police, Mubin, 25, who was an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. His name is mentioned as the primary accused in the case. Five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27. However, the sixth person, identified as Afsar Khan, a relative of the deceased, was arrested earlier on Thursday. Khan is the cousin of the deceased. He was picked two days before by the special investigation team. On Wednesday, Police officials also conducted searches on Khan's residence and took his laptop. Earlier on Sunday, Tamil Nadu DGP 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)
As per the information, the incident took place around 3.30 pm after the shop caught fire and resulted in the injury to over 50 people.

Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and several police personnel sustained burn injuries while trying to put out the fire.

The owner of the shop Anil Kumar said that the incident took place while his wife was preparing food for Chhath Puja.

"There was Chhat Puja at my place for which my wife was preparing food and that was when we realised that the shop had caught fire and everybody started running here and there. Amidst this a cylinder exploded and all of us, including my son got injured," shop owner Anil Kumar said.

Those injured were undergoing treatment at a hospital, officials said.

Police are investigating the incident and further details are awaited.

Earlier in Hyderabad, one person died and six persons were injured after a cylinder exploded in a house in Hyderabad's Mettuguda Division Dood Bavi area on Wednesday. (ANI)
Baruah was 86.

"His death is an irreparable loss I pray to God for the eternal peace of the late artist and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the artist's death.

Baruah was born in 1936 in the Jorhat district to his father Binanda Chandra Baruah and mother Labanya Prabha Baruah.

He had created a unique style by sketching art on match and cigarette boxes, displayed at various exhibitions.

In 2021, the Assam government conferred him with Assam Saurav Award, the state's second-highest award. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janta Party State President in Himachal Pradesh Suresh Kashyap on Friday said that continuous dialogues between the BJP rebel candidates are taking place to ensure that they all fight together ahead of the polls. The polls in Himachal Pradesh are slated to be held on November 12, whose votes will be counted on December 8. Refusing to term the Himachal Pradesh leaders who left the party as "rebels", Suresh Kashyap said that they are their people who filed the nominations and are unsatisfied and angry. "As far as rebels are concerned, I would not call them rebels as they are our people who have filed their nomination and are unsatisfied and angry. A continuous dialogue is underway with them and most have joined us," BJP State President Suresh Kashyap told ANI mentioning that only a few of them are left to bring back to the party. "There are a few who are left. We are trying to ensure that no party leader and the worker is angry with us and we all move forward together and form the government in the state again," he added. Kashyap also conveyed that the party has decided to organise Vijay Sankalp Sabha across the state on October 30, where all the senior leaders, union ministers, and the ministers of the state will conduct public rallies in each constituency of the state. "We are doing these rallies to boost the election campaign and the decision has been taken to ensure the victory of the BJP," state president Suresh Kashyap said further adding that chief minister of the neighboring states-- Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar and Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami will also join the campaign. He further said that all-star campaigners of Bharatiya Janata Party will be kick start 'Vijay Sankalp Abhiyan' on October 30 in all the 68 assembly constituencies of the state. Out of these, 32 star campaigners would also address public meetings in various districts and assembly constituencies of the state. (ANI)
As per reports the arrested accused and his gang members robbed a truck of DBG technology, Pvt Ltd. carrying mobile phones worth Rs 5 crores, near the Kasola Police Station area, Rewari, and kidnapped the driver.

"The criminal was at large since a case was registered against him at the Kasola Police Station," police said.

Notably, from 2017-2022, three cases have been registered against the accused in different cases in Madhya Pradesh's Tonk Police Station.

The arrested person will be handed over to Dharuhera Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), police added.

Further investigations are underway.

Earlier in July, the Special Task Force of the Haryana Police arrested six people for allegedly giving death threats and extortion calls to MLAs.

Four MLAs from the state received death threats and extortion calls from multiple phone numbers which were traced to countries in the Middle East between June 24 and June 28, informed Police.

FIRs were lodged against these threats and had been assigned to STF(H) by DGP Haryana PK Agrawal, IPS, to investigate.

"Technical analysis of these mobiles has confirmed that these numbers are registered in the Middle Eastern countries and were being operated from Pakistan. Some ex-MLAs of Punjab had also received similar threats from these numbers. Different tones and conversational styles, like Mumbaikar tone and Punjabi language, were used during these conversations with these MLAs," said the Punjab Police.

The two-week-long operation was personally monitored and supervised by PK Agrawal IPS, DGP Haryana. (ANI)
Daikin Industries, a leading global manufacturer of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) solutions, is working on expanding its footprint across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in line with its Fusion25 five-year growth plan.

With a focus on sustainability and localization, Daikin seeks to grow its footprint across residential, commercial, and industrial applications as it supplies the regions leading hotels, malls, commercial buildings, residential compounds, and stadiums with innovative and sustainable solutions.

In the last 10 years, following the setting up of its MEA headquarters in Dubai, Daikin has established entities in KSA, Egypt, and Qatar as well as sales offices in Nigeria and Morocco and reached 600 employees covering the region, and a sales network of more than 100 independent distributors.

As part of its localization drive, Daikin recently opened its second regional manufacturing facility after Jebel Ali, Dubai and first factory in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Located in Sudair Industrial City, 150 km from Riyadh, the custom-built premises is designed to enable Daikin to better serve the local market with its latest technologies and innovations.

At the same time, the new facility will support national energy efficiency and sustainability goals, create vital job opportunities, and support the Kingdoms economic growth. The opening of the new facility also marked ten years of operations in the Kingdom for the company.

Meanwhile, in Africa, the company opened its first training centre in Nigeria, which is focused on providing wide-ranging training programmes for the local workforce.

Developed in partnership with Lagos-based technical vocational training institution Etiwa Tech, the new centre is part of Daikins aim to build a cleaner environment in the African region by appointing new channel partners and establishing more training centres.

"At Daikin Middle East and Africa, we are committed to fuelling local economies, empowering local talent, and investing in, supporting, and facilitating initiatives that support carbon emissions reductions as we expand our regional footprint," remarked Tuna Gulenc, the VP of Daikin Middle East and Africa.

"With over 80% of our net sales coming from outside of Japan, the high-growth markets of MEA are critical to realizing our strategic growth plans as outlined in Fusion 25. These markets will remain a priority as we continue to introduce our state-of-the-art energy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Telangana High Court on Saturday ordered three accused in the MLA poaching case to surrender before police for further investigation. The High Court was hearing the plea by Cyberabad Police seeking the arrest and remand of the three accused in the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs poaching case. HC's order came after Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court had rejected the remand request of the three accused in the case. Cyberabad Police had moved to the HC challenging the ACB court order. The Cyberabad Police had arrested the three persons Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamyat the farmhouse in Ranga Reddy on Wednesday evening, after being informed by the TRS MLAs about the poaching bid, which the leaders alleged was done by the BJP. All three accused in the TRS MLA poaching case were released by police on Thursday following orders of the ACB court. Notably, TRS had alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to poach the MLAs by luring them with money and contracts. 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. 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. Meanwhile, the BJP has moved to the Telangana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the allegations. Moreover, Union minister and BJP leader G Kishan Reddy refuted the TRS MLAs' poaching allegations and said it shows the fear the TRS is looming under and demanded the probe be conducted by sitting High Court judges. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Police has lodged an FIR against nine people for allegedly forced conversions to Christianity in Meerut, officials said. The complaint has been registered under the sections of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. As per reports, the accused threatened the said people and instructed them not to take the police into the loop. The FIR stated that the accused had helped the people during the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdown and encouraged them to visit the church. Further investigations are underway. Earlier in another instance Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas said that the government will probe the alleged assault on a Dalit family in a village of Baran district of the state as reports emerged that some people from the community had converted to Buddhism following the incident. "If any poor, backward or Dalit faces any kind of crime, our responsibility is to raise our voice against that. We'll get the matter investigated," Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas said on reports that 250 people of the Dalit community in Baran allegedly converted to Buddhism. Another Minister Mamata Bhupesh said that FIR has been registered in the matter. "FIR has been registered, have faith on police, Chief Minister monitors everything himself. Probe will be conducted and justice will be delivered. Action to be taken against accused," she said. A press release by Zila Berwa Mahasabha Yuva Morcha, Rajasthan said that a Dalit family was assaulted for worshipping a Goddess during a religious procession on Friday, following which the Dalit organizations carried out a protest in Bhoolon village, Rajasthan. (ANI)
A Delhi Court granted bail to an accused who was caught with a photocopy copy of answers of a question paper at an examination center for the Delhi Police recruitment online exam. Delhi police had sought five days custody for interrogation which was declined by the court. Metropolitan magistrate Abhinav Pandey of Karkardooma Court on Friday granted bail to accused Dheeraj in a case of cheating. The Court said that the offence against the accused is u/s 420 IPC and as per the case diary, it is clear that the offence was not committed in the presence of a police officer and that police only proceeded for the investigation to the spot of occurrence upon the complaint of the complainant where the accused was already present. While declining the police custody remand the court said, "In these circumstances, as per the guidelines of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar, there was no requirement of the arrest of the accused and proceedings u/s 41A Cr.p.c could well have been resorted to." "It seems that some or the other vague grounds for police custody have been mentioned in the present application only to justify the arrest," the court added. In these circumstances, the present bail application of the accused Dheeraj is allowed, and he is admitted to regular court bail upon furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 30,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of this Court. The court, however, clarified that the bail bonds shall only be accepted after due verification. Till the furnishing and acceptance of bail bonds, the accused will be remanded to judicial custody for a period of 14 days, to be produced on November 11, 2022. The Investigating Officer (I0) has moved an application seeking police custody remand of accused Dheeraj for a period of 05 days. Advocate Satya Prakash opposed the remand sought by the police. He moved a bail application and submitted that there is no requirement of arrest and remand as per the guidelines of the Supreme court in this case. The allegations against the accused Dheeraj was allegedly appearing in an online examination for the post of Head Constable in Delhi Police at Arawachin School, Vivek Vihar. It is further alleged in the complaint made to the police that during random checking inside the examination venue, the accused was found to be in possession of a photostat of a paper sheet having words, numericals, figures, etc. written into and divided into 5 parts mentioning part A (general knowledge), part B (Science), part C (Maths), part D (Reasoning) and part E (Computer). The complaint alleges that the said paper sheet was actually an answer key to the question paper of the examination. The question paper itself admittedly has not been recovered. It has been stated by the IO that TCS employees were asked to provide the question paper, but they showed inability for the same, and stated that the same can be obtained only from the Staff Selection Commission but no notice in this regard seems to have been given to the TCS employees, the court noted in the order of October 28, 2022. (ANI)
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking stronger laws and policies restricting remission and paroles of rape convicts. The letter cited the Bilkis Bano case and the Gurmeet Ram Rahim matter and demanded that Bilkis Bano rapists and Gurmeet Ram Rahim be sent back to jail. "On August 15 this year, the rapists were let off by the Gujarat Government citing the 1992 remission policy that allowed prisoners to apply for a reduction of their sentence. Apparently, this was done despite CBI and Special Judge (CBI) raising objections against the release of the convicts. The media has also reported that some of the rapists of Bilkis Bano were charged for crimes such as 'outraging the modesty of women' when they had been released on parole. Despite this, their sentence was reduced as even the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India recommended the premature release of the convicts of Bilkis Bano," read the letter. "In a separate case, recently the Government of Haryana has released Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim on parole who has been convicted of rapes and murders and is serving a life sentence in a jail in Rohtak. It has been observed that the convict has been released multiple times during his incarceration. This time, when out on parole, he has held several 'Pravachan Sabhas' and released music videos promoting himself. In fact, recently several senior functionaries of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Government including the Deputy Speaker and Mayor (Haryana) and Transport Minister (Himachal Pradesh) attended his 'Pravachan Sabhas' and pledged their complete allegiance and support to him! They stood in queues in his Sabhas with folded hands and sought his blessings and commended the 'work' of the convict!," the letter added. Calling the incidents as deeply disturbing the DCW chief also stressed on the reflection of the connivance of highly placed politicians with influential convicts. "The politicians continue to use rapists to further their vote bank politics, especially when elections are round the corner, which happens to be the case in both Gujarat and Haryana. If influential people enjoying political clout can seek undue benefits while serving life sentences in heinous crimes against women and children, justice is clearly denied and any steps of the Government for ensuring the safety of women and children are rendered devoid of any merit," she noted. She also listed that the existing rules and policies vis a vis remission, parole, and even furlough in the country as extremely weak and said that these can be easily manipulated by politicians and convicts for their own benefit. To avoid any further misuse of the laws and policies the DCW chief sought an urgent need to review the lawsand make them more stringent so that justice is served. "It is the considered view of the commission that the remission of sentence of convicts should not beallowed in the case of heinous crimes against women and children such as rape, murder, trafficking, acidattack and others. Further, parole and furlough should only be granted to convicts serving sentences insuch heinous crimes under extraordinary circumstances, in the rarest of the rare cases, with strictconditions and for a few days only," added the letter. Maliwal also suggested a few steps for the same. "Take up the matter of the premature release of Bilkis Bano's rapists with the Gujarat Government and Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI so that the rapists are made to serve their complete jail term. Take up the matter of the parole of Gurmeet Ram Rahim with the Haryana Government so that his parole is canceled immediately. Ensure strict action against senior functionaries of the Haryana and Himachal Pradesh governments who have attended the Sabhas of the rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim," she added. She also requested the setting up of a high-level committee to ensure stringent laws and policies regarding remission, parole, and furlough for convicts serving sentences in serious crimes against women and children. She also noted that the sentence of convicts in cases of crimes against women and children should not be reduced under any circumstances. "The cases of Bilkis Bano's rapists being released from jail without serving their complete sentence as well as dangerous and influential rapists and murderers like Gurmeet Ram Rahim being released on parole have shaken the conscience of the country. Through these steps, the Governments of Haryana and Gujarat have not just denied justice to the victims, they have also lent their support to rapists which is extremely demoralizing for the women of the country," added Maliwal. "Sir, I request your Hon'ble self to urgently reverse this travesty of justice. I look forward to your kind and urgent intervention in the matter," the letter noted. (ANI)
Talking to reporters in Bhopal on Saturday, Mishra said the police would conduct a detailed investigation into the case.

Police will also investigate if there are any allegations against the cleric in the past.

Notably, Maulvi Abdul Samad, was arrested and sent to judical custody for allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl inside a madrasa in Khandwa district, an official said on Friday.

The accused was the Maulvi of Emanual Madrasa of Zakaria Masjid, Khanshawali in Khandwa district.

According to police, the matter came to light when the 5-year-old complained of chest pain following which her parents registered a complaint at the Moghat Police Station.

Police arrested the accused and produced him in court, which has remanded him to judicial custody.

A case was registered against the accused under Section 354 of the IPC and the POCSO Act. (ANI)
In view of Chhath Puja, Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inspected Bhalswa lake in the national capital. "Bhalswa lake was dirty earlier, it has now been cleaned within 10 days. I hope devotees will get to offer prayers in a clean space this time. The lake will be further improved in the time to come," LG Saxena said. The Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday in a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the government to leave no stone unturned in the unfettered organization of the festival at all designated Chhath Puja Ghats while at the same time he urged the common people ensure environment-friendly behaviour. "It has been brought to my notice that more than 840 sites have been identified and designated for this purpose by the departments concerned. Anticipating large gatherings this year and keeping in mind the zeal and fervor with which the festival is celebrated, it becomes imperative on part of the administration to leave no stone unturned in the unfettered organization the festival at all designated Chhath Puja Ghats, with the utmost professionalism," wrote the Delhi LG. He added that it is the responsibility on part of the government to ensure cleanliness at the Chhath Puja Ghats before, during and after the religious ceremony is also of paramount importance. Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival that 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. 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. (ANI)
A First Information Report has been lodged against a female advocate and her clients for alleged misbehavior and physical altercation with another lawyer at the family court of Kasganj District Court in Uttar Pradesh. The complaint was lodged by Advocate Yogyata Saxena who belongs to Kasganj stating that she was thrashed by the prosecution advocate following a difference of opinion. Demanding a probe into the matter, Advocate Saxena lodged the FIR with Kasganj Kotwali police against Aligarh-based laywer Sunita Kaushik and seven others under sections 147, 323, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The advocates had arrived here to resolve the matrimonial matter of a pair Rahul Bose and Parul Saxena when the lawyers of both the parties entered into a scuffle which later turned violent. The incident came to light when the purported video from the courtroom started surfacing over the Internet. However, it was claimed that the video was a day old. "I came here as advocate for my client Parul Saxena when the Panipat-based prosecution comprising Sunita Kaushik, Rahul Bose, Kishor Kumar Bose, Tarak Nath, and Shubham Kumar assaulted me in the courtoom. As a result of it, I've received injuries on the face and fracture in one hand. The police have lodged my complaint after an X-Ray was taken," advocate Yogyata Saxena said. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Kasganj Police said the woman arrived here on Thursday to complain about the matter thus seeking necessary probe into the matter. Further details into the matter are awaited. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India is hosting a two day international conference on the theme 'Role, Framework & Capacity of Election Management Bodies' at New Delhi. The ECI leads the Cohort on Election Integrity - which was established as a follow on to the 'Summit for Democracy' held in December, 2021. The two day conference to be held on October 31 and November 1. It will be inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar. The concluding session will be chaired by Election Commissioner, Anup Chandra Pandey. ECI, as the lead for the Cohort on 'Election Integrity', took a collaborative approach and invited Greece, Mauritius and IFES to be co-leads for the Cohort. ECI also invited UNDP and International IDEA, apart from EMBs and Government counterparts dealing with the conduct of elections worldwide, informed the government on Saturday. Nearly 50 Participants from Eleven EMBs from 11 countries including Armenia, Mauritius, Nepal, Cabo Verde, Australia, Chile, Federal States of Micronesia, Greece, Philippines, Sao Tome & Principe, USA and three international organisations namely, IFES, International IDEA and UNDP India are expected to join. Many more countries are being represented by their Missions in New Delhi. The first two sessions on Day-1 will have discussions on the current & future challenges being faced by the EMBs with respect to their role and framework to ensure 'election integrity'. The inaugural session will be chaired by the CEC who will deliver the keynote address. Prior to that, US Charge d' Affaires will also address the Conference. The first session on the 'Current challenges' faced by EMBs will be co-chaired by the Electoral Commissioner of Mauritius and Nepal. The session will have presentations from Election Authorities in Mexico, Chile, Nepal and Greece. The second session on 'Future Challenges' is to be co-chaired by Secretary General, International IDEA and the Head of the Department of Elections and Political Parties, Directorate of Elections, Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Republic, Greece. The session will have presentations from representatives of the Australian Electoral Commission and COMELEC, Philippines. The session on Day-2 'Capacity of EMBs' will be chaired by President & CEO IFES. The session will have presentations from IFES Country Director (Sri Lanka & Bangladesh), representative from UNDP and Head of the Department of Electoral Rolls and Results, Directorate of Elections, Ministry of Interior, Hellenic Republic, Greece. The concluding session of the Conference on 1st November, 2022 which will also see the summary of the proceedings being presented, will be chaired by Election Commissioner, Shri Anup Chandra Pandey who will deliver his address. A special virtual session to enable stakeholders, who could not send delegation to New Delhi, is scheduled on 1st November, 2022 at 6:00 PM. USA, US AID will be participating along with other delegations. To firm up recommendations of the Cohort on Election Integrity, ECI will also hold Conference covering thematics of 'Technology' and 'Inclusive Elections' - both vital building blocks for Elections Integrity worldwide. 'Summit for Democracy', was an initiative of US President and hosted in December 2021. The Prime Minister of India spoke at the Leaders Plenary Session on December 9, 2021. Following this Summit, a "Year of Action" was proposed with events and dialogues on themes related to Democracy and to host an in-person 'Leaders' Summit for Democracy' subsequently. The Summit also developed two platforms - 'Focal Groups' and 'Democracy Cohorts' to facilitate participation in the Year of Action. As part of the 'Summit for Democracy' Year of Action, India through the ECI, is leading the 'Democracy Cohort on Election Integrity' to share its knowledge, technical expertise and experiences with other democracies of the world. ECI, as its lead, has proposed to also provide training and capacity building programmes to Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across the world and provide technical consultancy as per needs of other EMBs. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai on Saturday condemned the DMK leader Sadai Sadiq's derogatory remarks against women BJP leaders and said that the latter's comments were really wrong. "What the DMK leader said is seriously wrong. I've spoken to Khushbu, Namitha, Gayathri Raghuram and Gautami Tadimalla. I appreciate Kanimozhi (DMK MP) for supporting (them) and condemning the DMK leader," Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai while addressing a media briefing. He also tore into Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and said that the Coimbatore blast case was handed over to NIA only after four days. "NIA is a professional Agency it finds cross border terrorism, from Tamilnadu also 2 or 3 officers also present in NIA. Governor has spoken clearly that Tamil Nadu police have done a clear investigation but after 4 days only Tamil Nadu Chief Minister took actions and gave the case to NIA," added Annamalai. Earlier on October 27, Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai said that 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. (ANI)
BJP's district unit on Saturday withdrew the strike planned for October 31 against the Coimbatore car blast case. A few industrialists contacted our state chief K Annamalai to call the strike off considering the losses that would incur, said Coimbatore BJP chief Balaji Uthamaramasamy. The Coimbatore unit of BJP in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday announced to conduct a 12-hour strike across the city on October 31 as a mark of protest against the car cylinder blast that took place on October 23 in Ukkadam. Earlier on Friday, expressing his dissatisfaction over the alleged State government's delay in handing over the Coimbatore blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on said there should be "no politics" on terrorism. Governor Ravi also expressed serious concern over the possible destruction of crucial evidence in a "high-profile terror plot", said Raj Bhavan. Governor praised the police which established the car blast as a serious terror attack conspiracy within hours of the incident and lamented soft peddling by the State government. He urged "no politics on terrorism and no leniency to terrorists as they are enemies of the nation and friends of none," added the Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister RB Udaya Kumar lambasted the DMK government over the law and order situation. He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should tell people what measures he had taken to prevent terrorist activities in the state. Speaking to media persons, Kumar had said, "Whenever the DMK was in power, there have been continuous bomb blasts in Tamil Nadu. In 1998, there were serial bomb blasts in 11 places and more than 50 people died during the DMK regime. No terrorist attack took place during the AIADMK rule. And now when DMK is in power, terrorist attacks are taking place in Tamil Nadu." "Chief Minister Stalin should break his silence and resolve this issue. DMK regime will be overthrown by the people if Stalin does not break his silence," he added. NIA registered a case to probe October 23 Coimbatore LPG cylinder explosion that occurred in a car. The NIA registered the case after the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalization (CTCR) division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order asking the anti-terror agency to start probe into the case. The MHA order comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended for NIA probe in the case. Stalin, in a recommendation letter, to the MHA had requested on Wednesday to transfer the investigation of the case related to the car cylinder explosion in the Ukkadam area in Coimbatore to the NIA, and directed police to ensure security in Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu Police so far has arrested six people in connection with the case, and have invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Those arrested are learned to be 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. According to police, Mubin, 25, who was an engineering graduate, has been previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 for alleged terror links. His name is mentioned as the primary accused in the case. Five people arrested on Monday night were Mohammad Thalka, 25, Mohammad Asarudheen, 25, Muhammad Riyaz, 27, Feroz Ismail, 27, and Mohammad Navaz Ismail, 27. However, the sixth person, identified as Afsar Khan, a relative of the deceased, was arrested earlier on Thursday. Khan is the cousin of the deceased. He was picked two days before by the special investigation team. On Wednesday, Police officials also conducted searches on Khan's residence and took his laptop. Earlier on Sunday, Tamil Nadu DGP 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)
Masdar, one of the worlds fastest-growing renewable energy companies, has pledged to strengthen its support for Saudi Arabias clean energy objectives, with the opening of a new dedicated office in the kingdom.

The strategic move comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is planning to generate 50% of its electricity from clean sources by the end of this decade, targeting 58.7 GW coming from renewable sources.

The world's biggest oil exporter has also pledged to cut its carbon emissions to net zero by 2060, with plans to invest more than $180 billion to reach that goal.

Masdar said it will be participating with partners in the upcoming Round 4 tender announced by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) for wind and solar projects with a combined capacity of 3.3 gigawatts (GW).

The SPPCs Round 4 tender will be for three wind power plants with a combined capacity of 1.8 GW, and two solar parks totaling 1.5 GW, as part of the countrys National Renewable Energy Program.

Saudi Arabia is planning to generate 50% of its electricity from clean sources by the end of this decade, targeting 58.7 GW coming from renewable sources. The world's biggest oil exporter has also pledged to cut its carbon emissions to net zero by 2060, with plans to invest more than $180 billion to reach that goal.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, along with representatives from Masdar partners, Saudi government officials, and industry leaders.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi was also present, along with other senior company executives, who were also participating in the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh.

Sheikh Nahyan said: "This occasion reflects the close ties that unite our two countries. These ties are based on a solid foundation supported by the leadership of both nations and work to achieve shared developmental goals for a more prosperous future and increased Emirati-Saudi integration in various fields."

"We are committed as countries and peoples to cooperating in this regard, not only for the benefit of our countries but also for the region and world at large. The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain keen to strengthen strategic cooperation and leverage joint resources and capabilities," he stated.

Al Ramahi said Masdar is actively committed to supporting Saudi Arabias efforts to reach net zero, and the kingdom represents a key strategic market where it has established a proven track record in developing clean energy projects.

"This new office will support Masdars ongoing growth and expansion in the kingdom, and it will better enable us to help diversify Saudi Arabias energy mix and meet the ambitious renewable energy targets outlined in Vision 2030. We look forward to working with our partners to continue to deliver world-class clean energy projects in Saudi, he added.

General Manager (Saudi Arabia) Abdulaziz Omar Al Mubarak said: "Establishing a physical office further demonstrates our commitment to Saudi Arabia and will help ensure we are aligned with the Kingdoms Vision 2030. The Saudi office will not only look over our existing assets, it will also play a key role in the development of future pipeline projects here."

"Masdar is committed to providing best-in-class services and solutions  whether that be providing utility-scale projects or solutions for commercial and industrial customers looking to offset or reduce their energy bills," stated Al Mubarak.

Masdar is already contributing to Saudi Arabias clean energy objectives, with the 400-megawatt (MW) Dumat Al Jandal Wind Farm  the kingdoms first and the largest in the Middle East  having begun electricity production last year.

Developed by a consortium of Masdar and EDF Renewables with Nesma Company, once fully operational Dumat Al Jandal will generate enough clean energy to power 70,000 Saudi homes while displacing 988,000 tonnes of CO per year.

Masdar is also developing the 300-MW South Jeddah Noor Solar Photovoltaic Plant, through a consortium led by Masdar with EDF Renewables and Nesma Company as partners.

The consortium signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SPPC last year to design, finance, build and operate the plant, which will be located in Third Jeddah Industrial City, 50km south-east of Jeddah.-TradeArabia News Service
Increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year have become a matter of serious concern with the Union Environment Ministry pointing out that Air Quality Index (AQI) is likely to sharply deteriorate as only about 45-50 per cent of sown area in the state had been harvested till October 24. Sources in the Environment Ministry told ANI that the contribution of stubble burning to the adverse air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been increasing sharply and is about 18-20 per cent currently and with the trend is only likely to increase further. As per the Standard ISRO Protocol, for the period of September 15-October 28 this year, a total of 10,214 paddy residue burning events have been reported in Punjab compared to 7,648 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about 33.5 per cent. "About 71 per cent of farm fires during the current paddy harvesting season have been reported only from seven districts namely Amritsar, Sangrur, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Tarn Taran. These have been traditional hot-spot districts in Punjab and focused attention was thus needed for these districts," an environment ministry official told ANI Out of total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 burning incidents have been reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 per cent, added the official. Under directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a comprehensive Action Plan was prepared by the Punjab government, with major pillars of action as diversification to other crops, diversification to low straw generating and early maturing paddy varieties; In-situ crop residue management; Bio-decomposer application; Ex-situ crop residue management; IEC activities; Monitoring and effective enforcement. According to the official, the Centre through its CRM scheme has made funds available to Punjab alone to the tune of about Rs. 1,347 crore during the last 5 financial years, including the current year. "Wide range of farm machinery to facilitate in-situ and ex-situ management of paddy stubble has been procured by the state of Punjab through the allocations made under the scheme. Including the additional procurement in the current year, a total of more than 1,20,000 machines are available in Punjab," sources added. More than 13,900 custom hiring centres (CHC) have been established in the state to facilitate farm machinery for in-situ and ex-situ farm applications under the CRM scheme. Official sources added that the utilization of the available machinery has however been very poor and large number of machines have been allowed to remain idle, a serious drain on the resources. "Despite successful field experience with the application of bio-decomposer for in-situ management of stubble in the state of Uttar Pradesh and also in the NCT of Delhi, no efforts were made in Punjab for employing this effective technique for management of stubble. GNCTD last year undertook an extensive publicity campaign to promote bio decomposers. Even the CSR initiative by a private organization for bio-decomposer application was not facilitated in Punjab," the official added. The official further added that no significant efforts were evident toward enhancing the use of straw for various ex-situ applications and for the supply of fodder to fodder-deficient areas. "The IEC activities and campaigns launched by the state have been highly ineffective as reflected in the substantially higher fire incidents this year. Ineffective monitoring and enforcement at the field level is also very evident despite more than 8,000 nodal officers reported to be deployed for the purpose by the State Government," noted the official. "For effective implementation, consultative meetings were also held with major Departments concerned of Government of Punjab like Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare, Environment, Power and Punjab Pollution Control Board and senior officials of the Government of Punjab from time to time, including reviews with the Chief Secretary and also at the level of Deputy Commissioners of the districts" the official added. The official also noted that there were serious lapses in implementing farm fire control laws and the Government of Punjab is solely responsible for the failure of the governance and for creating a situation by which the people of NCR have to breathe highly polluted air and the continued inaction from the Government of Punjab will lead to further deterioration of the air quality index in the entire NCR adversely affecting health of people. (ANI)
Two minor youths were thrashed on suspicion of theft at Choithram vegetable mandi in Indore on Saturday, an official said. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media in which the minors were spotted being tied to a mini truck and dragged too. After the assault, the youths reached Rajendra Nagar police station and lodged a complaint about the incident. On the other hand, the traders of the mandi also lodged a complaint of theft at the same police station. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nihit Upadhyay said that the incident occurred around 8 am on Saturday. Upon getting the information about the incident, the police started an investigation. During this, it came to light that the minors were caught stealing cash and other items from an onion mini truck at the mandi. Following which, they were beaten up. The police brought both minors to the police station and conducted their medical check-up. Further investigation into the matter was on and action would be taken accordingly, ACP Upadhyay said. The complaint was filed by the vehicle owner Sunil Verma, a resident of Katkoot village in the Khandwa district. On the other hand, an investigation against the people who had beaten up these two youths was also going on and action would be taken against them too, Upadhyay added. (ANI)
The Chief Minister was speaking at the national seminar on environment and sustainable Development and the role of judiciary organised by the Gauhati High Court in collaboration with the Assam government at Kaziranga.

The function was attended by judges of the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court.

Sarma said in a tweet that he laid before the Supreme Court judges his government's achievements and priorities on matters of environment and digitisation vis-a-vis judiciary.

The event was also attended by Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju.

Sarma said in tweets that he laid special focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision on how using digitisation in the judiciary with appropriate inter-operable technologies, "we should strive to serve the last person in our society".

"This should also be used for enhancing the efficiency of our system. The decision of holding this seminar in Kaziranga conveys a powerful message on the conservation of biodiversity. It is also noteworthy that the Indian judiciary has a commendable history of contributions to environmental protection and upholding principles of sustainable development," he said. (ANI)
The West Bengal police have arrested four persons for allegedly throwing crude bombs at five children in the Narendrapur area of West Bengal's South 24 Paraganas, it informed on Saturday. The police have booked all the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. According to an official statement from the West Bengal police, the accused persons were identified as Rabin Dey (44), Sudam Mondal (38), Prasenjit Mondal (44), and Jatan Rana (35) under sections 341, 326, 307, and 120B of the IPC, sections 3 and 4 of Explosive Substances (ES) Act, and section 75 of the JJ Act. The police had reported the matter on Friday when it mentioned that all the children were out of danger and four of the accused persons were arrested so far, Superintendent of Baruipur Police, Pushpa said on Friday. More details are awaited. Earlier on September 13, a bomb exploded on the roof of a school in Titagarh during school hours, however no one was injured. Commissioner of Police of Barrackpore Alok Rajoria on the matter had said that they had arrested four people and recovered 10 crude bombs from the residence of one of the accused. CP Rajoria further added that the other three arrested belonged to the same school and one of them was a former student. He stated that "personal enmity" between the accused and some school students as a cause for this attack. (ANI)
The German nationals were detained by police on Friday and they were restrained in Kaziranga National Park of Assam. The district administration and police have taken appropriate measures to deport them.

According to police, the German nationals reached Kaziranga National Park on October 26 and then they left for Karbi Anglong district and participated in missionary activities which are not allowed under tourist Visa.

GP Singh, Special DGP of Assam said that, police found that they took part in religious activities, and participated in religious gatherings, preaching activities etc.

"This is violation of tourist Visa conditions. As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs for violation of tourist Visa norms, we have fined 500 US dollar per person. We have contacted with the competent authority to deport them, from here to Delhi and then their respective country," GP Singh said.

Earlier, three Swedish preachers were detained in the Dibrugarh district on October 26 and deported for violating visa norms. (ANI)
Delhi Police have registered an FIR against 'The Wire' after BJP leader Amit Malviya registered a complaint alleging that the news website "forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish" his reputation. Malviya, who is head of BJP's Information and Technology Cell, had filed a criminal complaint against The Wire and its top editors with the Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) on Saturday. In his complaint, the BJP leader sought registration of FIR under sections 420, 468, 469, 471, 500 r/w 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. In FIR names mentioned are The Wire, its founding editors Siddharth Vardarajan, Siddharth Bhatia and MK Venu, and Jahnavi Sen, deputy editor and executive news producer. The complaint said FIR should also be registered against the Foundation of Independent Journalism and other unknown persons "for the offences punishable u/s 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 469 (Forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record.), 500 (Punishment for Defamation) r/w 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860". The complaint to Delhi Police said that "the accused persons have with common intention conspired to maliciously defame the complaint and the BJP by spreading false news to the public". The matter pertains to Meta stories which were "retracted" by The Wire. It retracted the stories after Meta and various other experts pointed out critical flaws in their reporting. Amit Malviya had alleged in a statement on Friday that on October 6, 2022, The Wire published a report claiming that Meta (the parent company that owns Facebook and Instagram) had removed an Instagram post within a few minutes of it being uploaded by a private account namely "Cringearchivist". The report claimed that the company regularly colludes with members of the BJP in removing content deemed unfavourable to the party. He further said that on October 10, 2022, the news website went on to claim that "I was the nodal point, interfacing between the party and Meta, for said censorship activity, having been bestowed certain "XCheck" and other privileges by the company". "As per the report, this status had bestowed on me the following powers overriding any filters, algorithms, vetting, verification or any other checks and balances within the company," Malviya said. He alleged that the report went on to cite alleged internal correspondence of Meta to justify its claims, alleging had used said privileges to take down a total of 705 posts to date. "On October 11, 2022, Meta's Communication Head, Andy Stone, issued a categorical denial and stated that the documents presented by 'The Wire' in its report were fabricated' and that the "Xcheck" status had been mischaracterized. Once Meta issued this statement, 'The Wire' should have at the very least paused its coverage of this issue and commenced an internal audit. Instead, on the same day, it went on to publish yet another malicious report claiming to have accessed further internal emails of Meta employees, namely those exchanged between Andy Stone and his team, purportedly trying to effect a coverup," he had said in a statement on Friday. He had stated that The Wire publicly apologised to its readers on October 27 and retracted the stories about "XCheck" and Meta after scathing public scrutiny and the exposure of significant fabrication of dates, times and content in its alleged "proof". "However, even while retracting the story, The Wire' refrained from apologising to me, despite maligning and tarnishing my reputation and causing serious harm to my professional career. My role requires me to vociferously advocate the BJP's point of view on national issues, across platforms," he had said. "This role is based on trust and camaraderie, between me and my interlocutors across platforms and more importantly with the public. However, The Wire's stories have vitiated the atmosphere and severely dented relationships and trust built over the years for me to carry out the functions of my responsibility," the BJP leader added. Stating that The Wire and some unknown persons entered into a "criminal conspiracy" with the intent to "malign and tarnish" his reputation, he said that the news portal "deliberately" inserted his name into a story, and "fabricated" evidence to "implicate" him. "This also undermines the democratic and informed choices that the public makes, through a carefully calibrated campaign of disinformation and calumny, and does irreparable harm to the democratic right of dissent," he had said. The complaint to police also said that The Wire "with the help of such fabricated and false stories tries to attract viewership on its website wherein readers are requested to donate money in the name of "true and independent journalism". Malviya, who is also BJP's co-incharge for West Bengal, had said on Thursday 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 had said. 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". 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)
Contrary to false claims by some people with partisan vested interests, the LG said in a Tweet that MCD plans not a single new dumping site in the city.

"Have instructed MCD to take strict legal action against elements who mislead Delhi," he added.

LG said that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with people's help cleared 26.1 Lakh MT of legacy waste in the last four months and the height of garbage mounds came down by 10-15 Mtrs, on Saturday.

Total legacy waste at Delhi's three landfill sites (Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla) in 2019 was 280 Lakh MT.

While in May 2022, it was 229.1 Lakh MT; 50.9 Lakh MT of garbage disposed of in three years at the rate of 1.41 Lakh MT per month.

Total Legacy Waste at Delhi's three Landfill Sites in September 2022 was reduced to 203 Lakh MT; 26.1 Lakh MT of garbage was disposed of in just four months at the rate of 6.52 Lakh MT per month

The disposal of legacy waste between June to September 2022 has increased by a massive 462 per cent as compared to the previous three years

The government's target is to completely remove the legacy waste by April 2024.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the civic body was planning to develop 16 more waste dumping sites. The MCD on Friday said there was no such plan. (ANI)
Keeping in tune with India's mission for technological upgradation and self-reliance in the defence sector, the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has approved a new research centre at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee). The facility will be known as 'DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence' (DIA-CoE) at IIT Roorkee. This has also been intimated in a seminar on Atmaanirbharta in Defence R&D held at the recent DefExpo 2022, India, at Gandhinagar, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It was announced that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with its vision and new role towards nation-building has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with six IITs including IIT Roorkee. Prof. Vipul Rastogi, Department of Physics, IIT Roorkee was present to acknowledge the MoU exchange with DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamath at the DefExpo. Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, Director General Technology Management (DGTM), Hari Babu Srivastava, and the Director, Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM) Kailash Pathak witnessed the event. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also concurred on the important role of DRDO as a facilitator for enhancing and help developing research facilities in academic Institutes like IITs. DFTM, DRDO HQrs will be steering and coordinating with academia/IITs, Industries, and DRDO labs for directed research through the DIA-CoE. With the establishment of the Research Centre, IIT Roorkee will have improved prospects and avenues to address critical and futuristic defence technology requirements of the armed forces. The Facility will receive financial assistance from the DRDO, Government of India. The DIA-CoE IITR will facilitate and undertake multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research in the research verticals mutually identified by the DRDO and IITR. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will also collaborate with the academic researchers and faculties at IIT Roorkee, startups, industries, and other institutes in the country in facilitating and progressing advanced defence technology research. It will include IITR faculty members and students, DRDO scientists, start-ups, industry, and other research organizations. Key research areas of the Centre include, Smart Infrastructure and Hardened Structures for Defence Applications, Energy Storage Devices, Landslide, Snow, and Avalanche Studies, Pulsed Laser and Specialty Fiber, Shock and Detonics, Thermal Management The vertical coordinators for the DIA-CoE proposal are Prof Manish Shrikhande, Prof Yogesh K Sharma, Prof Vimal C Srivastava, Prof Vipul Rastogi, and Prof Andallib Tariq. The DIA-CoE IITR will enable collaborative research on these themes of verticals, which would lead to the development of new technologies for cutting-edge future defence systems as per the research and technology roadmap of the nation. Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, "IIT Roorkee hopes that with the establishment of this CoE, the collaborative research and development activity will be able to further enhance our research capacity and make a meaningful contribution to society. This will not only facilitate self-reliance in defence technology but also cater to the needs of our defence personnel deployed in areas with extreme environmental conditions. The establishment of the Center will help utilizing the huge potential of IIT Roorkee to advance research and development under the six identified verticals." Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO said, "DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence at IIT Roorkee will provide a big leap in the scientific endeavours in the identified technologies. The CoE will enable structured engagement of DRDO laboratories with academic community for development of future technologies. In the context of IIT Roorkee." Hari Babu Srivastava, DGTM, said, "The themes of identified technology verticals are chosen carefully with mutual consultations between the experts of IIT Roorkee and DRDO. He also noted that the establishment of the DIA-CoE is a natural progression of strong relationship between IIT Roorkee and DRDO, built over a large number of successful research projects since long. The CoE would strive towards developing high-end technologies and products by leveraging the strengths of all three participants, i.e., theoretical base of IITR faculty, domain expertise of DRDO laboratories, and fabrication capabilities of industry partners. Establishment of DIA CoE at IIT Roorkee is expected to play a major role in making India world leader in identified defence technologies towards Atamnirbhar Bharat". (ANI)
A mineral and transport businessman Suryakant Tiwari surrendered in the District Court Raipur in an alleged money laundering case on Saturday. Following which, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) got a remand of 12 days. Tiwari told media persons that there was a threat to his life and that he had surrendered. "Keep faith in the judicial system and everything will get clear," he added. Ramakant Mishra, additional solicitor general of India who appeared on behalf of ED said, "The court accepted the formal surrender and gave information to us. We applied for formal custody and after that, the court has given us remand. Now he will be interrogated". "Suryakant Tiwari is the main suspect. An FIR has been filed against him in Bangalore, on the basis of which he was taken into custody. After that whatever things will come to light in the inquiry, then we will take action accordingly," Mishra added. On the other hand, Tiwari's advocate Faisal Rizvi said that Tiwari reached the court premises at 3:30 pm and he presented his application before the court when he came to know that he was being searched for questioning. So he was ready to give his full cooperation and in the past also he had given full cooperation to the IT department in the inquiry and still would give his full cooperation. (ANI)
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, along with other naval commanders will review the major operational, materiel, logistics, training and administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last few months at the second edition of Naval Commanders' Conference scheduled to held here between October 31 and November 3. At the conference, the senior naval officers will deliberate upon the future plans for important activities and initiatives. The conference will also dwell upon the dynamics of the geostrategic situation of the region and the Navy's readiness to deal with the same. The conference serves as a platform for naval commanders to discuss important maritime matters at the military-strategic level through an institutionalised forum. Due to the dynamic and fast-paced developments in security imperatives in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as in other parts of the world, the conference has its own significance and relevance. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the conference and interact with the naval commanders on matters pertaining to national security. The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Manoj Pande and the Chief of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, would also interact with the naval commanders during the conference to address the convergence of the three services vis-a-vis the common operational environment, and avenues of augmenting tri-service synergy and readiness towards the defence of the nation and India's national interests. The Navy has focused on being a combat ready, credible and cohesive force with a future-ready outlook and continues to assiduously execute its mandate. The Navy has witnessed significant growth in its operational tasking over the years in consonance with India's rising maritime interests. --IANS kvm/arm ( 299 Words) 2022-10-29-19:16:02 (IANS)
The energy trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability will be at the centre of discussions when ministers from 40 countries, policy makers and energy industry leaders gather in Abu Dhabi for ADIPEC 2022 which kicks off on October 31 and runs until November 3.

With attendees from more than 160 countries, and featuring 28 dedicated country pavilions, ADIPEC 2022 will be the largest and most inclusive energy forum this year, driving the conversation around a pro-climate, pro-growth energy transition.

Taking place a week before COP27, and as the UAE prepares to host COP28 next year, ADIPEC 2022 will help accelerate pragmatic solutions to the worlds most pressing energy challenges and provide the pathway to navigate a successful and inclusive energy transition.

Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO, ADNOC Sour Gas and ADIPEC 2022 Chair, said: "With rising geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility, the trilemma of secure, affordable and sustainable and energy is a key focus for the worlds economies. ADIPEC 2022 will provide an a-political platform for thought leaders to advance practical solutions and deliver action that will advance a progressive and realistic energy transition."

"It will bring together the best minds, industry leaders and policy makers, reinforcing Abu Dhabi and the UAEs status as a unifying and convening power at the center of the global energy dialogue," he added.

With more than 350 conference sessions and over 1,200 speakers, ADIPEC 2022 will provide strategic insights into the strategies, investment policies and technological innovation shaping global energy markets and the path to a net-zero future, said the organisers, dmg events.

Among the leading international and regional decision-makers confirmed to speak are: Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry & Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate, Managing Director and Group CEO, ADNOC; Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia; Dr Bader Hamed Al Mulla, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil, Kuwait; Hardeep Singh Puri, the Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs; Bernard Looney, CEO of bp; Tengku Muhammad Taufik, Petronas President and CEO and Vicki Hollub, President and CEO at Oxy.

Also it will see high profile speakers including Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni; Takayuki Ueda, President and CEO at Inpex; Alfred Stern, CEO of OMV; Russel Hardy, CEO, at Vitol; Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO, Baker Hughes; Jeff Miller, the CEO of Halliburton; Girish K. Saligram, President and CEO of Weatherford; Mansoor Mohamed Al Hamed, the CEO of Mubadala Energy and Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director, Taqa taking part, stated the organisers.

Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, said: "With record global participation, this is a big year for ADIPEC as it gathers innovators and leaders from every corner of the world to explore solutions to global energy challenges at a time when the world needs more collaboration and dialogue."

"Taking place just ahead of COP27 in Egypt, ADIPEC 2022 will be where the global energy industry can reframe the debate around practical and commercially viable solutions for the energy transition," he stated.

ADIPECs Strategic Conference will see Looney and Taufik share a panel where they will discuss the new business and energy portfolio model. Both industry leaders will discuss how they are accommodating short-term security mandates and transitioning their organisations over the next 10 years.

Five other industry leading panellists, including Ueda and Stern, will discuss key supply and demand trends and how oil and gas companies are responding to the needs and challenges of todays energy markets.

A new feature at ADIPEC 2022 is the Decarbonisation Zone and Conference, which will provide an in-depth focus on the cleaner forms of energy and innovative technologies bridging to net-zero, with an emphasis on methane, hydrogen, CCUS and new energies.

The Decarbonisation Conference will host Bjrn Otto Sverdrup, OGCI Executive Committee Chair and, Steven Hamburg, Environmental Defence Fund Chief Scientist and SVP, who will share their views on methane management as a priority action and address the growing demand for robust, reliable methane emissions data on a worldwide scale.-TradeArabia News Service
SSP STF Ajay Singh said that they recovered a large number of spurious drug-making machines, three spurious medicine boxes, 3160 medicines, fake wrappers and raw material in the factory of spurious drugs from the house of Khalid Hussain.

He said two persons, Sarwan Kumar and Ravi Mishra, have been arrested.

The main accused Khalid and his wife Shama Ansari are absconding. The police official said the place has been sealed by the Drug Inspector and SDM Roorkee.

For the past several days, Uttarakhand STF were working on the leads in the case. In the past too, under Operation Health, a dozen arrests and millions of counterfeit drugs along with illegal factories have been exposed. (ANI)
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai convened a high-level meeting on Sunday to discuss the issues related to the implementation of GRAP-3 in Delhi. On October 30, at 12 noon, a meeting will be held in the Civil Lines Camp office of Minister Gopal Rai. Officers related to Environment Department and other departments will be present at the meeting. With rising pollution levels, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued instructions to implement GRAP-3 in Delhi-NCR today. Earlier on Saturday, to address the deteriorating air quality of the National Capital Region, the Sub-Committee for invoking actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas held an emergency meeting. While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavourable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR. "As per the dynamic model and weather/ meteorological forecast, the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in the Very Poor to Severe category from 29.10.2022 to 30.10.2022. The air quality is likely to deteriorate and remain in a Severe category from 31.10.2022 to 01.11.2022 and for the subsequent 6 Days, the air quality is likely to fluctuate between the Severe to Very Poor category. The winds are forecasted to be CALM in the coming days and the wind direction is likely to change course frequently. Thus, there is a high likelihood of the pollutants getting trapped in the region and not getting dispersed effectively", the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement. Ministry further said that the Sub-committee exhaustively reviewed the air quality scenario in the region and noted that the air quality parameters are likely to dip in the coming days and in an effort to address the AQI of Delhi-NCR, the sub-committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP - 'Severe' Air Quality (DELHI AQI ranging between 401-450), today with immediate effect in the entire NCR. This is in addition to the restrictive actions mentioned in Stage I and Stage II of GRAP. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage III under GRAP during this period. Further, the CAQM appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter "Choose a cleaner commute - share a ride to work or use public transport or walk or cycle. People, whose positions allow working from home, may work from home. Do not use coal and wood for heating purpose. Individual house owners may provide electric heaters (during winters) to security staff to avoid open burning. Combine errands and reduce trips. Walk to errands wherever possible," the Ministry had said in a Statement. (ANI)
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 Vadodara, Gujarat today. India is all set to enter an illustrious league of about a dozen nations with the capacity to manufacture military transport aircraft. Tata-Airbus combine had said, "C295 manufacturing is the first Make in India aerospace programme in the private sector involving the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem; from manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft." Under the terms of the deal, 16 C295 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between September 2023 and August 2025 in flyaway condition, while the remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured at the Vadodara facility. In another first, "indigenous content in the planes will be the highest ever in India, and 96 per cent of the work that Airbus does in Spain will now be done at the new facility, said the Tata-Airbus combine. Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry lauded the project and said that the project is a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter the technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation industry. "This project offers a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter the technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation industry. It will augment domestic aviation manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and expected increase in exports," said the Defence Ministry. According to officials, 13,400 parts, 4600 sub-assemblies and all significant component assemblies will be manufactured by 25 domestic MSME suppliers spread across seven states. All these 56 aircraft will be fitted with an indigenous electronic warfare suite developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited. As per the Allied Market Research report, the military transport aircraft industry is set to reach $ 45 billion industry size by 2030. Tata-Airbus facility is due to complete its IAF commitment by 2031 and can start exporting its products to other nations as well. As per officials, the Vadodara facility will be initially geared to manufacture 8 aircraft per year, but it has been designed such that it can also cater to the additional needs of Indian armed forces or exports. As per Defence Ministry, following the delivery of 56 aircraft to IAS, the combine will be allowed to sell India-built C295 aircraft to civil operators and to countries cleared by the government. It is believed that the Vadodara facility will replicate the success of Brahmos in missile exports. India has embarked on a massive transformation of its defence sector through the ambitious Make in India program of the Modi government. Several projects for the domestic manufacturing of various defence platforms like missiles, field guns, tanks, aircraft carriers, drones, fighter planes, tanks, and helicopters are currently underway and are fulfilling the defence modernization needs of the Indian armed forces, informed the officials. (ANI)
Before the announcement of the dates for Assembly elections, the ruling BJP government in Gujarat seems to have played a crucial political bet on Saturday by announcing the formation of a committee to study various aspects on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. During a conversation with IANS, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, said that this decision should not be linked to the election strategy, terming it a 'historic decision' taken in the national interest. Rupala, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, spoke on a range of issues including the decision of the Gujarat government on UCC, the entry of Aam Aadmi Party in state Assembly elections and its aggressive campaign, and the prospects of the Congress. Here are some excerpts from the conversation: Q: Many questions are being raised regarding the timing of Gujarat government's decision to form a committee on Uniform Civil Code. Why this decision was taken at this time when the Assembly elections are so close? A: The discussion should be on whether this decision is right or wrong. Is there any mistake in the initiative to make Uniform Civil Code which has been started by the Gujarat government... discussion should be on this matter. The country needed this for a very long time. Congratulations to the Gujarat government that they have started working on this. This is not a political but a historical decision taken under national policy. Q: But how will the Uniform Civil Code be implemented in the state? A: It is clear in the decision of the Gujarat government itself that a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of a retired high court judge. This committee will give its recommendations to the state government after in-depth deliberation on all aspects of the Constitution, Law and Uniform Civil Code of India. On those recommendations, the state government will try to make it legal. Q: But your opponents say that the Aam Aadmi Party tried to snatch the issue of Hindutva from the BJP by demanding to put the picture of Lakshmi-Ganesh on the currency notes, in response to which the BJP government had to take this decision. A: This decision is not politically motivated in any way. It is neither in favour of Hindu nor in favour of Muslim. This is not a decision taken in favour or against anyone, but to make everyone equal. It should not be confused with election strategy. Q: What will you say on the stance of the opposition parties? A: The opposition parties are not concerned about national interest and national policy but they are more concerned about their vote bank. That is why they are doing such things to please a particular section. I challenge the opposition parties to clarify their stance and tell in whose favour this decision is. Is it in favour of Hindus or in favour of Muslims or in favour of all? This is a decision to strengthen national policy and democracy. My appeal to all the opposition parties is that everyone should support it in the national interest. Q: BJP is in power continuously since 1995 in Gujarat. In the earlier elections, the main contest of AAP has been with the Congress, but this time the Congress seems to be calm and the Aam Aadmi Party is campaigning very aggressively. In such a situation, with whom is going to be the main contest of BJP this time in Gujarat -- Congress or AAP? A: It will not be fair to say that Congress has has been finished in Gujarat. Congress will remain as the main opposition party here and as far as AAP is concerned, it has already contested elections in other states by talking big.... This is AAP's election strategy and it is fighting accordingly but Congress will remain as main opposition party in the state. Q: But you are also going to announce the name of the chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat. A: In a democracy, everyone has the right to declare his/her candidate. Q: According to you, what is going to be the biggest issue in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections this time? A: People have seen how our governments (in state as well as Centre) are continuously working in the interest of Gujarat and the country. That is why this time also, the people of Gujarat are going to vote to form the BJP government in the state, putting their stamp on the agenda of development. Q: How many seats BJP is going to win this time? A: It is certain that this time by winning the maximum number of seats till now, BJP is going to form the government once again with a thumping majority in the state. --IANS stp/uk ( 814 Words) 2022-10-29-22:18:02 (IANS)
Scientists studying how an organic molecule affects bacteria that are resistant to drugs have found that it can suppress and destroy a pathogen that can cause significant disease or, in some circumstances, death. Often seen in hospital patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of bacteria that can cause infections in the blood, lungs (pneumonia), or other regions of the body following surgery. Recently, it was shown that the germ and several other clinically significant bacteria, including as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia, were susceptible to the bacterial killing action of hydroquinone, an organic chemical found in the bark of some trees. The research team, made up of members from the University of Portsmouth, Naresuan University, and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University in Thailand, has since looked at the molecular reactions of various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to hydroquinone. In order to do this, they examined which genes the medication activated and which ones it turned off. Hydroquinone drastically changes the expression levels of virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to a recent study published in the journal Antibiotics. Additionally, it implies that the substance obstructs the assembly and movement of the germs. Dr. Robert Baldock from the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Portsmouth, said: "There's quite a long list of antibiotics that don't work on Pseudomonas. aeruginosa, but our experiments found some of the genes governing the motility of the bacterium were quite drastically switched off by hydroquinone. Biofilm formation and the swarming and swimming off the germ were significantly reduced. "If we know that this drug is working in a really unique or different way then it firstly explains why it's active on these drug-resistant cells, but it also means that you can potentially look at combining it with other existing antibiotics to make them more effective." More than 2.8 million infections are caused by drug-resistant bacteria, which also cause 35,000 fatalities each year. Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and stop responding to drugs over time, making it challenging to treat infections. Antibiotics that are often used yet to which some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have developed resistance include amoxicillin and trimethoprim. In addition to being used to treat nocturnal muscle cramps in the Netherlands, hydroquinine is already recognised to be an effective treatment for human malaria. Little research has been done up until now on its drug-resistant traits. Dr Jirapas Jongjitwimol from the Department of Medical Technology at Naresuan University added: "Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the greatest threats to public health globally, so to discover an organic compound has the potential to be used as an effective weapon in the fight is very exciting. "We now need to look at how the compound works against a wider variety of bacterial strains so that we better understand why some germs are affected or not affected by it." (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on Friday took a sharp dig at Shehbaz Sharif-led ruling coalition, saying that he will continue to fight the thieves till his dying breath and halted the long march on the very first day of the anti-government protests. He announced that the march will again resume for Islamabad from Shahdara from 11 am on Saturday, Geo News reported. "I knew Lahore will never disappoint me," he said, addressing the participants of the march at the Data Darbar, Lahore. "However, we are concluding our Islamabad-bound journey for today," he said adding that the long march is a "jihad" for real freedom. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman called PTI Chief Imran Khan's politics deceit and that his lies have been exposed. In a press conference, she said Khan would "sacrifice the country for his greed for power". "PTI's march is not a long march, but a short march. If he wants to do a long march, he should have started from Karachi. They ask us why we have put blockades all over the capital," Geo News reported quoting Sherry Rehman as saying. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan started his "Haqeeqi Azadi Long March" on Friday to press for his party's demand for early polls. The march took off from Lahore's Liberty Chowk at 11 am on Friday. "The purpose of the long march is not any political gains or to topple the government, but to make sure that our future is not decided by foreign players," said the PTI chief via a video message on Thursday. Earlier this month, Imran Khan directed his supporters to call off demonstrations for the long march against the government, after his disqualification by the Pakistan Election Commission triggered nationwide protests. Ahead of PTI's long march, Islamabad police issued instructions to its officers pertaining to the code of conduct during the march expected to reach Islamabad in a few days. The PTI's long march comes a day after Pakistan's spymaster addressed the public in a rare joint press conference, alongside the head of the country's military media wing. On Thursday, the Director-General (DG) of the ISI, Nadeem Anjum, and the DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar held an unprecedented joint press conference over the mystery surrounding the killing of senior Pakistan journalist Arshad Sharif. "When lies are being spoken so easily, fluently, and without inhibition from one side that there is a danger of chaos and upheaval in the country, the truth cannot remain unspoken for too long," Anjum was quoted as saying by Dawn, about his decision to speak out, in response to the alleged role in Sharif's killing. (ANI)
Paul Pelosi, husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who a male assailant attacked on Friday morning, has undergone surgery for a skull fracture and other severe injuries to his right arm and hands, CNN reported citing a statement released by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US House Speaker also expressed gratitude and thanked people for the outpouring of support and prayers following the deadly attack on Paul Pelosi. "Paul Pelosi underwent surgery Friday "to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands," a statement released by Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Moreover, Deputy Chief of Staff and spokesperson Drew Hammill, added: "The Pelosi family is immensely grateful to Mr Pelosi's entire medical team and the law enforcement officers who responded to the assault." Paul Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery, it read, CNN reported. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden described the attack on Pelosi's husband as "despicable." "This is despicable. There's no place in America -- there's too much violence, political violence. Too much hatred. Too much vitriol," Biden told a fundraising dinner Friday in Philadelphia. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in an official statement condemned the attack against Paul Pelosi and said that the prayers are with Speaker Pelosi's whole family. She further stated that the US President is also praying for Paul Pelosi and also had a morning call with House Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. "The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi's whole family. This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected. The President continues to condemn all violence and asks that the family's desire for privacy be respected," the official statement read. US Vice President Kamala Harris also had a call with Nancy Pelosi after Pelosi's husband, Paul, was attacked with a hammer at the couple's home in San Francisco. She called the attack an "act of extreme violence," CNN reported. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked with a hammer on Friday morning in their home in San Francisco. The attacker was a male assailant who also tried to tie up Pelosi's husband during the attack as the attacker was waiting for Nancy to arrive home. According to analysts, the US speaker is second in line to become the US President after the Vice President in case the President is incapacitated. (ANI)
Paul Pelosi, husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was attacked using a hammer at his California home on Friday morning, has undergone surgery for a skull fracture and other severe injuries. "Mr. Pelosi was admitted to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital where he underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. His doctors expect a full recovery," Drew Hammill, spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said in a statement, posted on her website. Paul Pelosi was attacked with a hammer in their home in San Francisco, California. The attacker was a male assailant who also tried to tie up Pelosi's husband as he was waiting for Nancy to arrive home. The US House Speaker said that Paul was attacked at home by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker. She, along with her family, also expressed gratitude and thanked people for the outpouring of support and prayers following the deadly attack on Paul Pelosi. "The Speaker and her family are thankful for the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, constituents and people around the country. The Pelosi family is immensely grateful to Mr. Pelosi's entire medical team and the law enforcement officers who responded to the assault. The family appreciates respect for their privacy during this time," the statement added. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the man alleged to have attacked Paul Pelosi on Friday morning is expected to be arraigned Tuesday. David DePape, the suspect accused of entering Pelosi's house and hitting him with a hammer, now faces multiple felony charges, including attempted homicide, according to CNN. "We are coordinating closely with federal and local law enforcement partners on this investigation. We will bring forward multiple felony charges on Monday and expect DePape to be arraigned on Tuesday. DePape will be held accountable for his heinous crimes," Jenkins tweeted. US President Joe Biden described the attack on Pelosi's husband as "despicable." "This is despicable. There's no place in America -- there's too much violence, political violence. Too much hatred. Too much vitriol," Biden told a fundraising dinner Friday in Philadelphia. In an official statement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the attack against Paul Pelosi and said that the prayers are with Speaker Pelosi's whole family. She said that the US President is also praying for Paul Pelosi and also had a morning call with House Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. "The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi's whole family. This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack. He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected. The President continues to condemn all violence and asks that the family's desire for privacy be respected," the official statement read. US Vice President Kamala Harris also had a call with Nancy Pelosi after Pelosi's husband, Paul, was attacked with a hammer at the couple's home in San Francisco. She called the attack an "act of extreme violence". According to analysts, the US speaker is second in line to become the US President after the Vice President in case the President is incapacitated. (ANI)
Saifullah Paracha, the "last" Pakistani national who was held at Guantanamo Bay for almost 20 years, returned to his home country on Saturday after his release from the infamous US detention camp in Cuba, media reports said. Saifullah, now 74, was taken into custody from Bangkok in 2003 on suspicion of ties with Al Qaeda. Pakistan's Samaa News earlier described Paracha as the "last Pakistani" in Guantanamo. Pakistan Foreign Ministry said Saifullah was released from the high-security prison after an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation. "Mr Saif Ullah Paracha, a Pakistani national, who was detained in Guantanamo Bay, has been released and reached Pakistan on Saturday, 29 October, 2022. The Foreign Ministry completed an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation of Mr Paracha. We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family," the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a United States military prison located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, also referred to as Guantanamo, GTMO. The prison, which was opened by President George W. Bush to hold terrorism suspects captured overseas after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks came to symbolize harsh detention practices that opened the United States to accusations of torture. The prison with high walls and barbed wires was opened in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US by then president, George W Bush, to jail terrorism suspects captured overseas. Soon, Guantanamo became notorious with harsh practices, opening the United States to criticism of torture. However, over the few years, the inmate population came down. Last month, Pakistan interior ministry officials told the Senate's Standing Committee on Human Rights that Saifullah Paracha will soon be released. His son Mustafa appeared before the standing committee meeting that was discussing the issue of Pakistani citizens who are detained in the US military prison. His son told the Pak committee that his family is Pakistani by birth, Samaa News reported. Mustafa said his father and his brother were arrested in 2003 from Thailand and New York, respectively. They were awarded 30 years imprisonment, the report added. This decision comes on the heel of Pakistan's exit from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) 'grey list'. Though Islamabad managed to exit the list, the global watchdog stated that Pakistan would continue to work with the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering to further improve its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system. (ANI)
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, on Saturday highlighted that the threat posed by terrorism is grave and universal and member states need to be agile, forward-thinking and introduce comprehensive legislation to address the issue. "Unprecedented technological progress is consistently breaking down barriers, connecting people, and laying out new possibilities like never before. Several technological innovations have created new prospects and tools for law enforcement, border security, countering terrorism financing, and other areas of counter-terrorism. However, their use is not uniform," she said at UNSC's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) meeting at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. India's Permanent Representative, who Counter-Terrorism Committee Chair, stressed the need for better collaboration to share big data-driven innovative solutions with States who lack the necessary resources. "Member States need to be agile, forward-thinking and introduce comprehensive legislation to address this issue. Upholding human rights in practice and procedures, along with understanding the gendered impacts and biases of new technologies is crucial. Ongoing dialogue with multi-sectoral partners and sustained State efforts would be required to successfully create a bulwark against the use of new technologies for terrorist purposes," she said. "The threat of terrorism is grave and universal and continues to grow in several parts of the world, particularly in several parts of Africa and South Asia. Terrorism in any part of the world is a threat to peace and security for the whole world. Therefore, it is important we reaffirm that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation, and wherever, whenever and by whomever it is committed", she added. Highlighting the prevalence of commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS), she said how terrorist groups used these UAS for launching attacks. "We have seen evidence of virtual assets being used to fundraise for families of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and their affiliates in north-eastern Syria. In recent years, commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS) were used by terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, Da'esh and their affiliates for the trafficking of drugs, arms and launching attacks. Unprecedented technological progress is consistently breaking down barriers, connecting people, and laying out new possibilities like never before. Several technological innovations have created new prospects and tools for law enforcement, border security, countering terrorism financing, and other areas of counter-terrorism. However, their use is not uniform. We need better collaboration to share big data-driven innovative solutions with States who lack necessary resources" she said. In Mumbai on Friday, members of the international community attended the meeting at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and paid tribute to victims of terrorism, one of the places attacked by a 10-member team of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in November 2008. India is leading the Counter-Terrorism Committee until the end of this year. The two-day meeting in India marks the first time since 2015 that the Committee has convened outside the UN headquarters in New York. The discussion will focus on three areas: internet and social media; financing for global terror networks; and the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, such as drones. The Counter-Terrorism Committee was established by unanimous consent on 28 September 2001, in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States, and all 15 Security Council members sit on it. The Committee is tasked with monitoring the implementation of measures to enhance countries' legal and institutional counter-terrorism abilities, at every level, locally and internationally. (ANI)
China opens more sectors to foreign investment

Xinhua) 09:11, October 29, 2022

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)

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday issued a new catalog of industries where foreign investment will be encouraged, opening more sectors to foreign investment.

The 2022 version of catalog, jointly unveiled by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce, will include 1,474 items, with 239 new items added and 167 existing ones modified.

The revision is particularly relevant to items related to the manufacturing sector and producer services and aims to optimize the foreign investment layout.

The latest version of the national-level sub-catalog will focus more on the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector and technological upgrading.

Professional design, technical services and development are among new sectors added to the catalog. More sectors are added to the sub-catalog for central and western regions.

The expanded catalog represents a significant step for China to advance high-level opening-up, stabilize foreign investment, and optimize the structure of foreign investment, said an official with the NDRC, adding that it will boost the expectations and confidence of foreign investors.

The new catalog will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Abu Dhabi Airports has announced its refreshed brand architecture and visual identity, as the operator of Abu Dhabis five airports re-affirm its commitment to developing the aviation sector in the UAEs capital.

The new corporate identity, reinforced by a redefined purpose, mission and set of organisational values, underpins future growth plans for Abu Dhabi Airports.

In line with this, Abu Dhabi Airports will continue to drive long term growth and development, reaffirming its commitment to the overarching strategy of Abu Dhabi and the wider aviation ecosystem through three vital areas of priority.

These are Providing safe, secure and sustainable airport environments and operations; Providing connectivity and hospitality that showcases the emirate as a prime travel destination as well as delivering an industry-leading airport experience and product and service excellence.

Managing Director and CEO Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri said: "As we prepare to enter our next chapter of growth and development, our corporate rebrand reflects our bold vision to shape the future of airport experiences. Our strategic pivot is a direct response to the changing nature of our sector, allowing us to unlock additional value and opportunity for our passengers, partners and stakeholders."

"By harnessing the power of our people, capitalising on our successes and working closely with our government and industry partners, Abu Dhabi Airports will continue to play an important role in the socio-economic development of Abu Dhabi," he added.

Acting Chief Strategy Officer Ahmed Jumaa Al Shamisi said: "Our evolving priorities are representative of our ambition to be at the forefront of the aviation sector."

"Guided by our redefined vision and mission, we have identified key pillars and priorities that will fuel our future growth, as we look to strengthen our value proposition to our stakeholders, continue our economic contributions to Abu Dhabi, and become more competitive, agile and dynamic as a business," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is on a official visit to India, on Saturday said the is excited to work with the newly appointed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saying that the first non-white head will make "fantastic Prime Minister." "Very very exciting working with Rishi. I know he will be a fantastic Prime Minister," Cleverly told reporters in the national capital. The UK Foreign Secretary today addressed the counter terrorism meeting and stressed the need to curb the exploitation of emerging technologies and starving terrorists of the vital funds used in terror activities. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, he called on countries to work together to fight online terrorism - including global terror recruitment campaigns and live streaming of attacks. "Within the space of two decades, terrorists have gone from circulating crackly voice recordings from the depths of Tora Bora, to global online recruitment and incitement campaigns, to live-streaming attacks," he said. This address comes after he paid his respects on Friday at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, to those who lost their lives in the city's 2008 terror attack, including three British nationals. His visit comes only two days after UK's Rishi Sunak spoke to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi conveyed his best wishes on the Sunak's appointment on behalf of 1.6 billion Indians. "The Prime Minister said he was a visual representation of the historic links between the UK and India, and intended to build on this relationship to develop ever closer ties between our two countries," the UK PM office said in a statement. Discussing shared global challenges, the first Indian origin UK PM praised Modi's leadership in tackling climate change and the leaders welcomed opportunities to bolster our security, defence and economic partnership. Sunak hoped the UK and India could continue to make good progress in negotiations to finalise a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. (ANI)
Svetlana Martynova, Senior Legal Officer at the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), on Saturday said all countries are continuously monitored by UN bodies to ensure their compliance with the security council resolution, including on the counter-terrorism. Answering a question on how the UN ensures compliance on countering terrorism in countries like Pakistan, she said, "Each country is monitored by us for its compliance with UNSC resolutions on all topics, including countering the financing of terrorism, assessment and its compliance on our side continue." "It takes the form of country visits, desk reviews, etc. We have dedicated desk officers that cover each country of the world. The monitoring and analysis is continuous," she added. Martynova said CTED works closely with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and added that even when the country is delisted, "they are still being monitored through regional FATF-style body." This decision comes on the heels of Pakistan's exit from the FATF's 'grey list'. Though Islamabad managed to exit the list, the global watchdog stated that Pakistan would continue to work with the Asia/Pacific Group on money laundering to improve its counter-terrorist financing system. India is hosting the two-day anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The ongoing meeting in Delhi is being held under India's chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC). Speaking alongside Martynova, David Scharia, Chief of Branch, the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), said the focus of today's UNSC meeting in New Delhi is global because the issue of technologies is global. "There may be a concern in Pakistan, there can be a concern in Nigeria and there can be a concern anywhere in the world. But we are trying to come up with a global solution," he added. The head of the UN counter-terrorism body said the most important takeaway from the meeting is the fact that the UNSC under Indian chairmanship, takes issue with new and emerging tech as a point of main concern and focus of attention. "It is likely to adopt at the end of the meeting, what will become the Delhi Declaration. If you read through, you'll see action plan of how UNSC CTC intends to take up commitments it takes upon itself in next few months, what it'll ask CTED and other entities in UN to do," he added. (ANI)
Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister, Dr. Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking tough action against the miscreants who target the Hindu minority in the country. He made these remarks while speaking exclusively to ANI on the sidelines of the 4th Bangladesh Film Festival which began on Saturday at Press Club Kolkata. In recent years, there have been instances where Hindus and their places of worship were targeted. While commenting on the steps taken by the Bangladesh government to protect minority rights, the Minister said, "Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies are supporting these fanatics groups. Their main politics is anti-India and anti-Hindu. Our government has taken tough action against the miscreants." While speaking to ANI, Dr Hasan Mahmud added, "There are about 2 crore Hindus in Bangladesh. This year there were over 33,000 Durga Puja pandals. Hindus are in a good position and supported by the government. Prime Minister Hasina has ordered our party workers to keep a watch on puja pandals so that no wrongdoing happens like last year." Moreover, on cattle smuggling from the India-Bangladesh border, Bangladesh's I&B minister Dr. Mahmud said, "Both governments are working on it and it has come down in the last few years." "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and under the leadership of Indian PM Narendra Modi, the ties between Bangladesh and India have been strengthened over the last couple of years," he added. Not only on the economic front, the minister said the partnership between India and Bangladesh has been strengthened across sectors. "Our government has given the emphasis on connectivity and the connectivity which was closed after the 1965 war, many of those have been already opened and some others are in the process of opening.More exchange of culture will further strengthen our ties. In particular, in Bangladesh and in West Bengal in Tripura, we speak the same language and we sing the same songs and we eat the same food, wear the same clothes. We have all the similarities," he added. Notably, on July 15, the homes of the Hindu minorities were set on fire in the Sahapara area of Lohagara, Narail. The mobs went on a rampage after Friday prayers, saying that an 18-year-old man from the neighborhood hurt their religious feelings on Facebook. As far as cattle smuggling is concerned, earlier in 2020, the number was 46,809. However, numbers are falling consistently over the last three years as they plummeted 71 percent from 77,410 in 2019 to 21,917 in 2021. From the year 2022 till July 31 only 12,864 seizures of cattle were reported at the Bangladesh border. Emphasizing for broadening the ties by also opening up broadcasting channels, he said, " There are obstacles to showing our TV channels, especially in West Bengal but there is no obstacle to broadcasting Indian channels in Bangladesh. All the Indian channels are broadcasted in Bangladesh which is not the case in West Bengal." (ANI)
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra on Saturday said that it is a historical moment that United Nations Security Council's counterterrorism committee held its deliberations in India's iconic cities -- New Delhi and Mumbai. "I would thank all the council members for endorsing Delhi Declaration. It is for the first time ever, that the council held its deliberations in two of India's iconic cities. For the very first time ever, the Security Council came to India and held its discussions in Mumbai and Delhi," Kwatra said. The Delhi Declaration was adopted by the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee which held a special meeting in India focused on new and emerging technologies. Over the Delhi Declaration that was adopted unanimously by the UN counterterrorism committee, Kwatra said, "Today's Delhi declaration is not only a commitment to fight terrorism but also a commitment of the Security Council." "Delhi declaration marks the commitment of the security council to address this menace. India's External Affairs Minister would be chairing the briefing of the Security Council in December this year." He highlighted that counterterrorism is India's priority. As India hosted the anti-terrorism meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in Mumbai on Friday numerous survivors of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks outlined their experiences and highlighted that the masterminds behind the attacks were still not behind bars. Over this, Foreign Secretary Kwatra said, "Yesterday you expressed solidarity with victims. You all heard the first time, the voices of victims still stood up and called for peace and harmony." He further apprised the gathering that the discussions earlier on Saturday deliberated on the questions "that confront us. How do we address misuse of drones, internet? How to collectively respond to these new and emerging threats." With the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, India decided to work on recommendations on the three themes of the CTC special meeting, namely -- "Countering Terrorist Exploitation of ICT and Emerging Technologies", "Threats and opportunities related to new payment technologies and fundraising methods" and "Threats posed by the misuse of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by terrorists". (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday praised US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken for his strong and clear message on counter-terrorism. He also discussed the Ukraine conflict and other regional issues with Blinken. "Thanked him for his strong and clear message yesterday on counter-terrorism and 26/11 accountability. Discussed the Ukraine conflict and other regional issues," tweeted EAM Jaishankar. In an apparent message to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said all relevant parties should support the designation of terrorists and no nation should stand in the way. He delivered this message via virtual statement during an informal briefing of the Counter-Terrorism Committee at one of the main sites that saw the Mumbai terror attacks - the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. China, in recent months, has blocked several bids to designate several terrorists based in Pakistan. Beijing this month put on hold a proposal to list Talha Saeed, son of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed. This bid was moved by India and co-supported by the US, under the 1267 sanction regime. Addressing the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee members, Blinken said many members of the security council, including the United States, have adopted their own sanctions against the terrorists behind these attacks. "But our efforts are more effective when we act together, which is why we worked with India to put the nomination to designate several terrorists through the UN 1267 committee. All relevant parties should support this designation and no nation should stand in the way," he said. In his message to the UN committee members, the top US diplomat said Washington is joining New Delhi and people around the world to mourn lives lost, including 141 Indians, 6 Americans and victims from 15 other countries from every region in the world. Blinken said India, the United States, and all nations around the world have a responsibility to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks. "We have a responsibility to the victims and the people everywhere to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks including their masterminds. That's what the US is working to do, together with India and other partners for the last 14 years," he added. "Because if we allow the attacks of these attacks go unpunished, we send messages to terrorists everywhere that their heinous crimes will be tolerated," he added. Speaking at the counter-terrorism briefing, Jaishankar said the world knows that money is the lifeblood of terrorism. "Terrorist organizations require funds and resources to maintain their organizational functions and undertake activities. The reality that terrorism continues to exist and expand points to an underlying truth: that terrorism continues to get the necessary financial resources to thrive," he added. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met his UK, Ghana, and UAE counterparts - James Cleverly, Shirley A Botchwey and Reem Al Hashimy respectively - and thanked them for active participation in the United Nations Security Council special meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held here. Jaishankar met Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley A Botchwey and discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism, defence and development partnership focused on digital, health, green, food and water. "Our historical solidarity guides our common efforts to work for our people. Ghana's One village, One Dam and India's Amrit Sarovar initiatives is an apt example," he said in a tweet. Both leaders also discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism, defence and development partnership focused on digital, health, green, food and water. Jaishankar also met UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. This is the first high-level visit from a UK minister to India since Rishi Sunak took charge as UK's new Prime Minister. "Noted the progress in our Roadmap 2030. Also discussed the #Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific," Jaishankar said in a tweet. He also met with UAE Minister of State International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy. "Her participation at the UNSC special meeting reflects the trust of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussed shared threat terrorism poses to the world and the global responses," he tweeted. The two-day Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting in India marks the first time since 2015, that the committee has met outside UN Headquarters in New York. The discussion focussed on three areas: the internet and social media; financing for global terror networks; and the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, such as drones. In his speech at the plenary session of the meeting, Jaishankar said terrorism is one of the gravest threats to humanity. "The UN Security Council, in the past two decades, has evolved an important architecture, built primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime, to combat this menace." Jaishankar underlined that the internet and social platforms have become potent instruments in the toolkit of terrorists. "Internet and social media platforms have turned into potent instruments in the toolkit of terrorists and militant groups for spreading propaganda, radicalisation and conspiracy theories aimed at destabilising societies." He said terrorist groups have recently been using unmanned aerial platforms, such as drones and quadcopters for cross border trafficking of drugs and arms and for carrying out terrorist attacks. "And such risks are not just limited to India. In Africa, drones have been used by the terrorist groups to monitor movements of security forces and even of UN peacekeepers, making them vulnerable to terrorist attacks. A few months ago, terrorists launched cross-border drone attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, which led to loss of lives and injuries, including to Indian nationals there. India has strongly condemned these cross-border drone attacks both in UAE and Saudi Arabia," he said. Jaishankar said that India will contribute USD 500,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to aid capacity-building support to member states in combating terrorism. He made this announcement during his keynote address at the plenary session of the UNSC special meeting of the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) on 'Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes' here today. Jaishankar highlighted the global threat of terrorism is growing and expanding, particularly in Asia and Africa, despite the UN Security Council's (UNSC) best efforts to combat the "gravest threat to humanity". The Counter-Terrorism Committee was established by unanimous consent on 28 September 2001, in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States, and all 15 Security Council members sit on it. The Committee is tasked with monitoring the implementation of measures to enhance countries' legal and institutional counter-terrorism abilities, at every level, locally and internationally. (ANI)
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan kicked off his long march on Friday by taking a potshot at the country's spy agency chief Nadeem Anjum saying the latter's "political presser" conveniently ignored any reference to the "group of thieves" that got Rs 1.1 trillion theft written off, reported Dawn. This reference was towards the members of the ruling coalition. Imran kicked off the Haqiqi Azadi long march from Lahore's Liberty Chowk to Islamabad on Friday. In a strong warning to the country's intelligence agency, Imran Khan said that "he could have exposed the ISI but refrained for the betterment of the country." "DG ISI (ISI Director-General Nadeem Anjum) open your ears and listen, I know a lot of things but I am quiet only because I don't want to harm my country... I do constructive criticism for betterment otherwise there was a lot I could say," Imran Khan and other party members started off the much-anticipated "Haqiqi Azadi Long March" from Lahore's Liberty Chowk to Islamabad. The rivalry between Imran Khan and ISI has been an upbeat issue since Imran Khan's ouster from power. Earlier, Imran Khan said that the then-opposition coalition was "afraid" that he would appoint former ISI chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed as the next chief of the army staff. "They were afraid that I wanted to appoint Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed. They feared that if that would have happened then it would shatter their future," the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman said. Clarifying his stance, Imran Khan said, "I never thought of appointing someone as army chief. I have never taken a decision that is not based on merit." During the rally, Imran Khan also called out two other army officers for playing the role of "Dirty Harry" for picking up and torturing a party senator. Seeking the attention of army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, the PTI chairman said these officers were tarnishing the image of the institution. Meanwhile, Pakistan spy chief Nadeem Anjum's unprecedented press conference over the mystery surrounding the killing of senior Pakistan journalist Arshad Sharif was held as the spy agency wanted to give a direct befitting reply to PTI chief Imran Khan who was making false statements by taking the names of top officials. Nadeem Anjum and Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday held a press conference where one of the key takeaways was that the slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was fed propaganda on cypher by Imran Khan, reported The News International. Responding to queries as to why ISI's chief Lt-Gen Nadeem Anjum had to come before the public the military sources told the media outlet, "attempts are being made to discredit the Pakistan Army on the killing of Arshad Sharif by creating propaganda against it, to turn friends into enemies in the name of a cypher." "Calling their own army names and embarrassing them, aspersions are being cast on those who have been putting up with it all patiently for the last eight months. Linking false and fake statements to top officials, people are being misled," the source added. Adding further it said, "When the State is in a state of war, the people and the army tackle it together." "An officer who had kept himself even from publishing his pictures was forced to take such a big step just because the country is in a difficult time," the source revealed. (ANI)
Pakistan spy chief Nadeem Anjum's unprecedented press conference over the mystery surrounding the killing of senior Pakistan journalist Arshad Sharif was held as the spy agency wanted to give a direct befitting reply to PTI chief Imran Khan who was making false statements by taking the names of top officials. Pakistan spy chief Nadeem Anjum and Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday held a press conference where one of the key takeaways was that the slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was fed propaganda on cypher by Imran Khan, reported The News International. Responding to queries as to why ISI's chief Lt-Gen Nadeem Anjum had to come before the public the military sources told the media outlet, "attempts are being made to discredit the Pakistan Army on the killing of Arshad Sharif by creating propaganda against it, to turn friends into enemies in the name of a cypher." "Calling their own army names and embarrassing them, aspersions are being cast on those who have been putting up with it all patiently for the last eight months. Linking false and fake statements to top officials, people are being misled," the source added. Adding further it said, "When the State is in a state of war, the people and the army tackle it together." "An officer who had kept himself even from publishing his pictures was forced to take such a big step just because the country is in a difficult time," the source revealed. "All these things had to be answered. But before that, every effort was made to quietly stop Imran Khan from trying to spread anarchy and ensure peace. But when the matter crossed the limit, this step had to be taken for the sake of the people, for the sake of the country." The sources said, "now the nation should think for itself if saving people from death and the country from anarchy is cowardice, bargaining, weakness, or bravery. Senior officers left their offices behind and came forward to tell the truth to the nation so that it realized the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter. On the other hand, since Imran Khan was making false statements by taking the names of top officials, it was necessary to give a direct reply," the sources concluded. 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. DG ISPR General Iftikhar said Arshad Sharif conducted several programmes on cypher -- which Imran Khan has touted as evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust his government. 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 Sharif's death have to be determined, he said, the media portal 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," Iftikhar added. He said that several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the "baseless and unfounded" narrative surrounding it. The ISPR informed the National Security Committee that no proof was found regarding the conspiracy against the PTI government, he said, adding that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) also did not find any evidence regarding the conspiracy. "This is all part of the record. We wanted to bring this to the public. And we left the decision to the-then government." Earlier, Imran Khan claimed that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu was involved in the "foreign conspiracy" to topple his government. (ANI)
Fire authorities were administrating CPR to at least 50 people in the Itaewon district as of 11:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) on Saturday, according to the news agency.

Emergency officials received at least 81 calls from people with breathing difficulty, " South Korea's Yonhap News Agency

Social media footage showed several people being assisted by rescue officials and private citizens at the scene.

A large crowd pushed forward on a narrow street during Halloween festivities, resulting in dozens needing first aid.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the dispatch of the emergency medical team to the area and said hospital beds should be prepared to minimize casualties, his office said.

He also instructed the Health Ministry to swiftly deploy disaster medical assistance teams and secure beds in a nearby hospital to treat the injured.

Authorities are still looking into the exact origins and the cause of this accident. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday emphasized zero tolerance to all acts of terror while meeting the heads of delegations of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "India has been a victim of terrorism for decades, which is why India has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism... I'm confident that the discussions during the meeting will provide good foundations for concrete action by the int'l community," said Murmu. The President emphasized that zero tolerance to all acts of terror, irrespective of its motivations, should continue to be the guiding approach of the international community in shaping the global counter-terror architecture. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister, S Jaishanakr also addressed the heads of delegations of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) who called on President Droupadi Murmu. "It's a matter of satisfaction that all members of UNSC and those who'd be entering it shortly have all cooperated to the fullest to send strongest possible statement. We're here, President, to seek your guidance & report to you a successful conclusion of CTC meeting," said EAM Jaishankar. The President said that India has a national commitment to fight the evil of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, read the President of India press release. The President said that UN CTC's gesture of travelling to Mumbai and paying homage to the victims of terrorism, has conveyed a strong message to the perpetrators and supporters of terrorism. "The international community must come together to bring them to justice," she added. Welcoming the delegation members, the President appreciated their gesture of commencing their visit by paying tributes to the 26/11 victims in Mumbai. She said that India as the world's largest democracy, with one of the most open and diverse societies in the world, has been a victim of terrorism for decades, read the press release. "India has a national commitment to fight the evil of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations," said Murmu. She emphasized that zero tolerance for all acts of terror, irrespective of their motivations, should continue to be the guiding approach of the international community in shaping the global counter-terror architecture. During the meeting, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, in her capacity as Chair of the CTC, informed the President about the working of the UNSC CTC and its priorities. Michael Moussa Adamo, President of the UN Security Council and Foreign Minister of Gabon and External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar also made brief interventions apprising the President of the salient aspects of the UNSC CTC's deliberations and the way ahead, as outlined in the Delhi Declaration adopted earlier today. Among the dignitaries who attended the meeting were Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Minister of Ghana, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation of UAE, and Megi Fino, Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania. Senior officials of the United Nations, including Vladimir Voronkov, Under Secretary General, United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism were also present on the occasion. (ANI)
The condition of media persons continues to be grim in Pakistan as the crackdown is persistent and there have been no convictions in 96 per cent of murder cases of journalists between 2012 and 2022, according to a report of Freedom Network's Annual Impunity 2022. According to the report, 53 Pakistani journalists were killed between 2012 and 2022 but the perpetrators were convicted in only two out of these 53 cases, Dawn reported. Notably, the report "The killing fields: no justice for Pakistan's murdered journalists" was launched ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, which falls on November 2 due to a surge in killings of media personalities in the South Asian country. Reacting to the report findings, Executive Director of Freedom Network, Iqbal Khattak questioned the safety and security of journalists in Pakistan and said, "This open-ended impunity for crimes against journalists and media in Pakistan is taking the ugliest shape and latest killing of under-threat journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya reminds us how stronger perpetrators of crime and press freedom predators are getting." Arshad Sharif (49), a senior Pakistani journalist, was killed in cold blood on 24 October in Kenya when he was driving from Magadi to Nairobi, accompanied by his brother Khurram Ahmed at around 10:00 pm. Initial reports suggested that he was shot dead in his forehead by a Kenyan sniper from the Kenyan Police. Soon, these reports were denounced as being fake when the Kenyan Police itself came out with a statement asserting the correct sequence of events, reported The Geneva Daily. Khattak further added that the report's findings indicated that despite the existence of laws to protect the freedom of journalists at both the federal levels as well as in Sindh province, the journalists remained unsafe. As per the report, most of the cases never reach the completion of the trial process in the courts resulting in delayed or no justice for journalists in Pakistan. The highest cases of fatalities have been reported in the Sindh region (16, or 30 pc of the total) followed by Punjab province in Pakistan, Dawn stated citing the report. Pakistan remains among the top 10 countries where predators of attacks on journalists and media go unpunished. Besides fatal attacks, journalists face other categories of threats such as physical attacks, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, imprisonment, and torture. (ANI)
PTI chief Imran Khan has dubbed the recent joint press conference by the chiefs of the country's premier spy agency and military's media affairs wing as "foolish", claiming that only "lies and half-truths" were told in it, media reports said. Khan made these remarks in an interview with BBC Urdu on Friday night after the start of his protest march in Lahore, Dawn reported. The former Prime Minister, who is currently leading his party's anti-government long march towards Islamabad, has been increasingly critical of the army since his ouster as the country's chief executive through a no-confidence vote in April, the report said. On Thursday, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum joined Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar and spoke to the media, addressing Khan's confrontational narrative against the military, among other issues. During the explosive press conference, Anjum claimed that the Chief of Army Staff, Qamar Javed Bajwa, was given a "lucrative offer" in March for an extension in his tenure, but it was rejected. While the ISI chief did not elaborate any further on this subject, it is being perceived that the said offer was made by then Prime Minister Khan to seek the army chief's intervention and survive the opposition's no-confidence vote. When BBC Urdu asked Khan about it, he said: "Things have been taken out of context that we made an offer for an extension. Did they tell which side made the offer? In what context the discussion took place? If they tell the whole story, it would be very embarrassing for them." The former PM went on to describe the press conference as "very sad" as the ISI chief had never before held a presser in such a manner. "I can respond to it point by point, which could be very embarrassing for the army," Dawn reported. He continued, "But we don't want any harm to our institution of the army as our enemies want the army to weaken and in turn, Pakistan weakens." Khan was also asked about the DG ISI highlighting contradictions in his statements about the army chief. Without naming anyone, Anjum had said: "If you see him as a traitor, then why do you meet him through the back door? [] Don't do this where you meet quietly at night through the back door and express your unconstitutional wishes but call [the army chief] a traitor in broad daylight." In reply, the PTI chief said, "We will praise when they will do good. It is childish to [think] that if we praise you, you will always be good. You also appreciate your children but also criticise them when they do something bad. It was actually a very foolish press conference." The ISI chief's press conference was the first instance in Pakistan's history of the head of the country's spy agency directly addressing the media. During the presser, the ISPR chief had also announced that the military establishment had decided that it would restrict itself to its constitutional role, Dawn reported. In the interview with BBC Urdu, Khan also clarified that he "does not want to come to power because of the establishment's approval". Answering a question about his ties with the establishment, he insisted that his party's win in the 2018 elections was not engineered by the military, Dawn reported. The PTI chief said that the purpose of his protest march was free and fair elections and that was why his party wanted to introduce electronic voting machines. But the "two big parties and the [chief] election commissioner, who takes orders from elsewhere, did not let it happen," he regretted. "As a result, our election will always be controversial and chances of interference will remain". He elaborated that while the long march was aimed at free and fair elections, the broader purpose of the PTI's struggle for "Haqiqi Azadi" (true freedom) was that "Pakistan's decisions be taken inside Pakistan. That nobody dictates us from outside... I want an independent foreign policy". Moreover, the PTI chief continued, "I want the supremacy of law". "Here, there is the law of jungle," he lamented, decrying people being picked up, them being subjected to torture, restrictions on the media and the treatment of journalists in the country. Khan also called on Gen Bajwa to take action against the alleged custodial torture of PTI Senator Azam Swati. "If he wants to protect the image of the institution of the army, Gen Bajwa should take action," the PTI chief urged, Dawn reported. --IANS san/arm ( 764 Words) 2022-10-29-21:56:05 (IANS)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Toy Story and The Dark Knight Rises are among the films on this list (LucasFilm/Pixar/Warner Bros)

Theres nothing worse than a smart-alec film fan.

Weve all done it, of course. Picked apart a cheesy blockbuster for its perceived flaws. Poked holes in some sloppy plot logic. Proposed another ending that would have made oh so much more sense.

The fact is, though, were often not as smart as we think we are. Often, films are simply more interested in telling a story than in bulletproofing themselves against pedants.

Sometimes, even widely circulated complaints are totally fatuous. People watch Titanic, for instance, and ask why Leonardo DiCaprio didnt simply hop on the door alongside Kate Winslet at the end. Its enough to make you want to scream: Thats not how buoyancy works!

But sometimes, plot holes are so egregious that you just cant let them go. These are the ones that really stick in your mind, and leave you searching for any kind of plausible explanation.

Some of the best films ever made have still been liable to contain a few baffling plot holes, from Citizen Kane to Back to the Future. No matter what defences people conjure up, theres always some nagging feeling that never quite goes away.

Here are 15 of the biggest plot holes in popular movies

The Shawshank Redemption

Frank Darabonts prison drama features a famous twist, in which it is revealed that the wrongly imprisoned Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) has secretly tunnelled out of Shawshank prison, hiding his escape path with a poster of Rita Hayworth. But how did he manage to reattach the bottom of the poster after leaving through it?

The Karate Kid

In the final act of the 1980s classic The Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) bests his rival Johnny Lawrence (Billy Zabka) with a sensational kick to the head. However, it was established at the start of the fight that blows to the head were not allowed, per tournament rules  meaning LaRusso should have been disqualified. Its a plot hole that was poked fun at in the recent sequel series, Cobra Kai.

The Karate Kid (1984) was one of the defining films of Eighties pop cinema (Sony)

Toy Story

Story continues

Much of the first Toy Story revolves around Buzz Lightyears (Tim Allen) refusal to accept that he is, in fact, a childrens toy. If this were the case, though, why would he play dead whenever a human enters the room? Its a plot hole that has been questioned by fans for years, and no explanation is ever quite satisfactory.

Armageddon

Nineties sci-fi blockbuster Armageddon featured a plot hole so glaring that it was ridiculed by Ben Affleck on the films own DVD commentary: with the Earth in dire peril, Nasa decide to train a cadre of drill workers as astronauts, a lengthy, expensive (and, in reality, infeasible) process, rather than just train existing astronauts how to operate the drill. I asked [director Michael Bay] why it was easier to train oil drillers to become astronauts than it was to train astronauts to become oil drillers, said Affleck on the commentary. He told me to shut the f*** up, so that was the end of that talk.

Back to the Future

Picking holes in Robert Zemeckiss timeless time-travel romp perhaps goes against the films goofy spirit. But its hard to get past one lingering quibble: why wouldnt Marty McFlys parents notice that their son looked identical to the strange and charismatic teenager who once set them up? Even if you accept that decades have passed since they last saw his face, its a stretch to believe that they wouldnt notice the uncanny similarities.

Michael J Fox as Marty McFly in Back to the Future' (Universal Studios)

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Towards the end of Peter Jacksons nearly 10-hour fantasy trilogy, there comes an almighty deus ex machina, as the forces of good are saved by the arrival of the Great Eagles. But the scene left many viewers asking the question: why couldnt the Eagles have simply given everyone a lift to Mordor in the first place? The apparent plot hole has spawned endless debates among Middle Earth fanatics, with counter-arguments digging deep into eagle lore to disprove its merits. But the fact remains that for the everyday viewer this was a head-scratchingly simple solution that everyone on screen ignored.

Citizen Kane

Even a film as immortally great as Citizen Kane has its foibles  and the iconic opening scene is one such. As Charles Foster Kane perishes alone in his bedroom, he utters the enigmatic word: Rosebud. The word becomes a riddle which newspapermen scramble to decode. The only problem? There was no-one around to hear him say it.

Beauty and the Beast

The titular beast in this classic Disney cartoon is shown to be on the cusp of his 21st birthday; that is when the spell becomes permanent. And yet, one of the songs suggests that he has been living as a beast for a full decade, meaning he was cursed back when he was still a pre-teen. Not only does this raise a whole lot of questions about the circumstances leading to the curse, it also directly contradicts the portrait we see of the beast back when he was a human, and very much looking like an adult.

Beauty and the Beast was released during the Disney Renaissance in the 1990s (Disney)

Ant-Man

In this Marvel caper, it is stated several times that Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) retains his full-size mass every time he shrinks down to the size of an ant. Its what allows him to beat people up while tiny. But this raises a whole load of inconsistencies about the way in which Ant-Man interacts with the world  not least when his human-sized mass is able to be flown around on the back of an ant-sized ant.

The Butterfly Effect

This poorly received thriller starring Ashton Kutcher was pretty solid in its understanding of the butterfly effect at points, showing how small changes to a moment in time can have far-reaching consequences. There were lapses, however, such as the moment when Kutchers character goes back in time to stab his childhood self through the hands  which led him to the exact same adult circumstance, only with hand scars. The idea that the experience wouldnt have a greater effect on a young life is, frankly, absurd, and jars with much of what the rest of the film is trying to say.

Old

M Night Shyamalans 2021 sci-fi drama, about a beach that makes people age rapidly, was twisty, fun and original. Its a small shame, therefore, that the films ending hinged on one of the most bizarre plot contrivances in recent years. Shyamalans own character, tasked with monitoring the beachs victims from afar, decides to pack up his equipment and leave when the last two people dipped underwater for just a couple of minutes  apparently deciding that no-one could possibly survive that long. After watching them for many hours, he suddenly couldnt spare another minute to make sure? Its a hilarious moment in a film which is otherwise a thought-provoking and profoundly unsettling watch.

Not a day at the beach: Guy (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Trent (Alex Wolff) in Old' (Universal Studios)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Over the course of its dozen-odd films, the Star Wars franchise boasted its fair share of plot holes and inadvertent Easter eggs, though one moment in 2015s The Force Awakens had fans especially up in arms. When Rey (Daisy Ridley) and the gang return from the starkiller base after Han Solos death, General Leia (Carrie Fisher) rushes to give her a sad, grief-stricken hug, completely ignoring Chewbacca, her decades-old friend and Hans former confidante. Out with the old, I suppose.

The Dark Knight Rises

Though the film had its ardent defenders, there was much about Christopher Nolans 2012 trilogy-capper The Dark Knight Rises that just felt a little underbaked. Whether it was the entire police force being lured underground and trapped, or the fact that internationally famous billionaire Bruce Wayne was able to fake his death and live out his life without being recognised, the plot holes ran so deep in this film you could follow them all the way to the batcave.

The Dark Knight Rises concluded Christopher Nolans hit Batman-themed trilogy (Warner Bros)

Black Panther

After TChalla (Chadwick Boseman) is nearly killed in a fight with Erik Kilmonger (Michael B Jordan), he lands in a river, and floats downstream until he is dragged out of the water by a fisherman. However, we later learn that the tribe who discovers him is vegetarian  so just what are they fishing for?

A Quiet Place

Though its inarguably one of the better studio horrors of recent years, A Quiet Place has been mocked for a few of its smaller touches  such as the whiteboard with How many in Area?? scrawled in huge lettering. One pretty conspicuous plot hole comes midway through the film, when the family go to a nearby waterfall, and are able to shout to one another without the noise being detected over the crashing of the water. Any sensible person would look at that and go why not move nearer the waterfall? Some people just like the quiet I guess.

This article was originally published in May 2022
Motley Fool

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy that has the potential to make investors wealthy over time, but there are few approaches that have a better track record of success than investing in dividend stocks. Companies that pay dividends are often successful, profitable businesses -- year in, year out -- which have generally proven over time that they can withstand market cycles and recessions. The asset managers at Hartford Financial Services looked at the performance of the benchmark S&P 500 going all the way back to 1930 and found there was not a single decade in which dividend stocks in the index didn't generate positive returns, even when the broader market was losing money for investors.
A state grant will provide half the funding for 43,000 new railroad ties in the Poconos, an infrastructure upgrade that is necessary if Amtrak is to add a passenger route between Scranton and New York City.

The $3.7 million grant through Pennsylvanias Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program has been awarded to Monroe County Industrial Development Authority, which is part of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation.

Freight trains currently run on this section of track, along with passenger excursions, but the key here is Amtrak service requires much higher speeds said Larry Malski, president of the Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority.

Amtrak would run at 80 mph on certain long, straight sections of track, Malski said, and the federal government and inspectors require a certain amount of new railroad ties for higher speeds.

This grant covers half the cost, which allows us to file for the federal portion once final guidelines are received from the Federal Railroad Administration, Malski said.

If that funding comes through, tie installation would begin once warm weather sets in next year. The work would stretch about 40 miles from the Delaware Water Gap past Tobyhanna.

My guess is even if we have everything signed, sealed and delivered by February, March or so, usually you want to hold off installing this type of massive amount of ties until youre pretty sure of the weather, Malski said.

This map from Amtrak shows the stops on a potential Scranton to New York City route.

Amtrak proposed 39 new routes last year, including service between Scranton and New York City. Routes connecting NYC to Allentown and Reading were also proposed. If all three come to fruition, they could serve a combined 1.3 million riders each year. Amtrak also estimates that the Scranton-NYC route would have an annual economic impact of $87 million, following an initial impact of $2.9 billion from one-time capital investments.

In June of this year, a group of federal, state and local elected officials  including a bipartisan group of state legislators representing Monroe  sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration to formally express their interest in participating in a grant program.

Story continues

More:Scranton-NYC Amtrak advocates send 'expression of interest' to Federal Railroad Administration

Related:Northeast Pa. business, tourism leaders express support for Scranton-NYC Amtrak route

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8), who led that letter, said in a statement that the grant is another great step forward when it comes to restoring passenger rail service to New York and will go towards replacing railroad ties in Lackawanna and Monroe counties.

This award adds to the building momentum and is a crucial step forward. Im grateful for Gov. Wolfs action and the work done on it by State Representative Maureen Madden, who represents a major part of Monroe County. A large and diverse group of supporters has come together to ensure we maximize our efforts when it comes to this significant economic development opportunity, and its great to have the Pennsylvania executive branch on our side, added Cartwright, who chairs the Lackawanna Cut-Off Rail Restoration Caucus.

That name refers to the 28-mile section of track that must be rebuilt between Port Morris, New Jersey, and Slateford, Pennsylvania, for the route to be complete. A 7-mile section in New Jersey is under construction.

I am among a passionate and vocal throng who have been advocating for the return of Northeast PA passenger rail service because it can do so much good for so many reasons, and this funding goes a long way toward making that a reality sooner rather than later, state Rep. Maureen Madden (D-115) said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pa. grant provides funds for railroad ties required for passenger rail
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But if you try your hand at stock picking, your risk returning less than the market. We regret to report that long term Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE:AKR) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 50% in three years, versus a market return of about 32%. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 35% lower in that time. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 18% in the last three months.

The recent uptick of 7.3% could be a positive sign of things to come, so let's take a lot at historical fundamentals.

See our latest analysis for Acadia Realty Trust

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Acadia Realty Trust became profitable within the last five years. We would usually expect to see the share price rise as a result. So it's worth looking at other metrics to try to understand the share price move.

We note that the dividend has declined - a likely contributor to the share price drop. In contrast it does not seem particularly likely that the revenue levels are a concern for investors.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We know that Acadia Realty Trust has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Acadia Realty Trust stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Acadia Realty Trust, it has a TSR of -45% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Acadia Realty Trust shareholders are down 32% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 21%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 7% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 5 warning signs with Acadia Realty Trust (at least 2 which are a bit unpleasant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Despite the fact that Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) stock rose 6.8% last week, insiders who sold US$275k worth of stock in the previous 12 months are likely to be better off. Selling at an average price of US$387, which is higher than the current price, may have been the best move for these insiders because their investment would have been worth less now than when they sold.

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.

Check out our latest analysis for Accenture

Accenture Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Independent Director, Paula Price, sold US$275k worth of shares at a price of US$387 per share. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. The good news is that this large sale was at well above current price of US$288. So it may not tell us anything about how insiders feel about the current share price. Paula Price was the only individual insider to sell over the last year.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

I will like Accenture better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Insider Ownership Of Accenture

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. Accenture insiders own 0.1% of the company, currently worth about US$176m based on the recent share price. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

Story continues

So What Does This Data Suggest About Accenture Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Accenture shares in the last quarter. While we feel good about high insider ownership of Accenture, we can't say the same about the selling of shares. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Accenture, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
David DePape, pictured in 2013, is accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul, at the couple's home in San Francisco on Friday. (Michael Short / San Francisco Chronicle)

For the record:

7:56 p.m. Oct. 28, 2022: A previous version of this article referred to Black Adam as a Marvel movie. Black Adam is a DC Comics character.



In the months before police accused him of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Friday morning, David DePape had been drifting further into the world of far-right conspiracies, antisemitism and hate, according to a Times review of his online accounts.

In a personal blog that DePape maintained, posts include such topics as "Manipulation of History," "Holohoax" and "It's OK to be white." He mentioned 4chan, a favorite message board of the far right. He posted videos about conspiracies involving COVID-19 vaccines and the war in Ukraine being a ploy for Jewish people to buy land.

DePape's screeds included posts about QAnon, an unfounded theory that former President Trump is at war with a cabal of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring and control the world. In an Aug. 23 entry titled "Q," DePape wrote: "Either Q is Trump himself or Q is the deepstate moles within Trumps inner circle."

DePape's daughter, Inti Gonzalez, told The Times that her father wrote the blog. She said that she and her mother were reeling from the news that DePape had been arrested in connection with the attack on Paul Pelosi.

Im a little shocked," she said, "but not really that shocked, in all honesty.

Authorities have not revealed a motive for the attack at the Pelosi home in San Francisco early Friday. But law enforcement sources said the assailant shouted, Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy? before confronting Paul Pelosi, and San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott called the attack "intentional."

Several lawmakers have blamed hyper-partisanship and divisive political rhetoric for an increase in political violence and security incidents in recent years, especially following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Scott said after a 911 call to the Pelosi residence, officers found a man  later identified as DePape  and Paul Pelosi "both holding a hammer." The intruder pulled the hammer from the 82-year-old Pelosi and then began striking him, Scott said. Officers tackled the suspect, disarmed him and took him into custody.

Story continues

DePape, 42, was taken to a hospital and later booked on suspicion of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and destroying a cellphone to prevent someone from seeking help, authorities said.

Paul Pelosi underwent surgery Friday after the attack. Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Nancy's Pelosi's office, said in a statement that Pelosi suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. "His doctors expect a full recovery," the statement said.

DePape followed a number of conservative creators online, including Tim Pool, Glenn Beck, DailyWire+ and the Epoch Times. He also followed an account on YouTube called Black Pilled and reposted several of its videos on his blog. "Blackpilling" is internet slang for coming to believe supposedly unacceptable facts about society, and the reposted videos include accusations such as the FBI covering up child rape.

Three of DePapes relatives  including his father  declined to be interviewed for this article. They said they haven't been in contact with DePape for years and that hes not in contact with his family. DePape grew up in British Columbia and moved to California more than 20 years ago, one of them said.

DePape was mentioned in a 2013 San Francisco Chronicle article and was described as a "father figure" to Gypsy Taub, a nudist who lived in a three-bedroom Victorian apartment in Berkeley with her then-fiance and her three children. DePape, who was "a hemp jewelry maker," was the best man in Taub's wedding.

When DePape was sounding off about QAnon, he posted: "Remember when the UK arrested parents for trying to rescue their children from being gang banged at pedo rape parties and f LET the pedo's CONTINUE their kiddie rape orgies," he continued.

Another post referenced "pizzagate," a bogus conspiracy theory that posited that children were trapped in a sexual abuse ring in a Washington, D.C., pizzeria run by Hillary Clinton and a chief aide.

"Pizza gate is connected to Epstien hahahahha," a post from Aug. 23 read. "My friends would be like pizza gate was debunked their is NO such thing as elite pedophile sex rings and I'm like HELLO Epstein what planet are you on?"

In another, he called equity a leftist dog whistle for the systematic oppression of white people and diversity a dog whistle for the genocide of the white race. In others, he posted separate videos questioning the Holocaust and alleging Jewish bankers were responsible for Hitlers rise to power.

DePape also ran a WordPress blog with the domain godisloving.wordpress.com, which included racial slurs and far-right conspiracy theories, according to news reports. A spokesperson for WordPress.com, which is owned by Automattic, confirmed that DePape's blog was taken down Friday "for violating our Terms of Service."

DePape also shared intimate emails and texts with family members, peppering them with xenophobic ideas and conspiracy theories. Even nonpolitical posts, such as one about a visit to a movie theater to watch Black Adam, were laden with conspiracy theories and ideas about racial tension.

The critics are f commie gate keepers, reads a post written two days before the attack on Pelosi. In it, he writes he enjoyed the superhero movie. Fantastic performance by Mr. The Rock he carried the movie.



But the writing quickly jumped to a conspiracy that the movie plot is not about the comic superhero Black Adam, but an effort to push hate against white people. "The real plot of the story was kill all white people, DePape wrote. Black adams [sic] was just a plot device for hollywood to push their white hate narrative.

Days after Kanye West's Twitter and Instagram accounts were locked due to antisemitic remarks, DePape created a subsection of his personal blog dedicated to posts about Jewish people. He attempted to debunk the Holocaust and repeated antisemitic sentiments in nearly 20 posts over a 10-day period.

He also posted personal conversations with his daughter. Their chats sometimes were about simple moments, including whistling back at birds, while others were darker, angry moments among DePape, Gonzalez and her mother.

Gonzalez said she was aware that her father posted some of their text conversations on the blog, but said she hadnt paid very close attention to the rest of the content.

I knew that he was posting things like that, but I didnt know he posted all the stuff that I sent him, she said. "But I dont really care.

Shed been in contact with her father, she said, but said her family did not want to discuss him at the moment.

DePape posted videos to Facebook by MyPillow Chief Executive Mike Lindell saying that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, according to reports.

He also linked to sites with claims about the deadliness of COVID-19 vaccines.

The death rates being promoted are what ever THEY want to be promoted as the death rate, one post read.

DePape's Facebook page appeared to no longer be accessible Friday. Facebook's parent, Meta, didn't immediately respond to a request for information.

Times staff writers Noah Goldberg, Richard Winton, Alexandra E. Petri and Gregory Yee contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
carlos alcaraz

BASEL, Switzerland  Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz will face No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Swiss Indoors semifinals after both advanced in straight sets.

Alcaraz, who won the U.S. Open last month, clinched a 6-3, 6-4 win against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta with a service winner.

It is difficult to play against a friend like Pablo, the 19-year-old Alcaraz said in a post-match interview on court. Every day we go and have dinner, lunch together.

Auger-Aliassime hit 31 winners and made just four unforced errors in a 6-2, 6-3 win over Alexander Bublik.

The 22-year-old Canadian is seeking a third straight title  after wins in Florence, Italy and Antwerp, Belgium this month  and has not faced a break point on his serve in three matches at Basel.

Auger-Aliassime landed in Alcarazs half of the draw as the third-seeded player in Basel. Second-seeded Casper Ruud lost in the first round to three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who lost his quarterfinal 7-5, 7-6 (5) to sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut.

A second 19-year-old, Holger Rune, took his place in the semifinals by beating unseeded Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (0), 6-2. The 25th-ranked Rune is aiming for back-to-back titles after winning last weekend in Stockholm.

Alcaraz, Auger-Aliassime to meet in Swiss Indoors semifinals originally appeared on NBCSports.com
An Ankeny couple famous for their hunting videos on YouTube pleaded guilty in federal court this month to conspiring to break a federal wildlife protection law.

Josh Bowmar, 32, and Sarah Bowmar, 33, were among dozens of defendants charged in a poaching case after they went on hunting tours guided by Broken Arrow, Nebraska-based Hidden Hills Outfitters, between Sept. 10, 2015, and Nov. 6, 2017. Hidden Hills owner Jacob Hueftle was indicted on charges that its 118 clients from 21 states hunted primarily by using illegal bait traps to attract white-tailed deer.

Hueftle was also charged with killing hawks, falcons and other protected non-game migratory birds, according to the indictment. Hueftle was sentenced in 2020 to 30 months in federal prison. His father, Hidden Hills Outfitters co-owner Nolan Hueftle, was sentenced to five years probation last year.

At least 36 defendants, including the Bowmars, were charged in the case, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Josh and Sarah Bowmar pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiring to break the Lacey Act, which prohibits selling, receiving or acquiring wildlife in interstate commerce taken in violation of state or federal wildlife laws. Their business, Bowmar Hunting, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

The Bowmars' attorney Kline Preston told the Des Moines Register the Hueftles were the main targets of the investigation and that Josh and Sarah Bowmar will pay their debt to society. They should have known better and should have known how Hidden Hills Outfitters was operating, Preston said.

Who are Joshua and Sarah Bowmar? Bodybuilders, archery dealers,

Josh Bowmar played football for NCAA D-III Heidelberg University in Ohio. He and his wife, Sarah Bowmar, met in 2014 while participating in a bodybuilding competition, according to the website of Bowmar Nutrition, an Ankeny-based supplement company they own. They're avid hunters who have posted dozens of videos on fitness and hunting on YouTube and social media. They also sell archery equipment under the name Bowmar Archery.

Story continues

What happened during the Nebraska hunt?

Between Sept. 10, 2015, and Nov. 6, 2017, Josh and Sarah Bowmar hunted deer in three central Nebraska counties by attracting animals with bait traps, according to an indictment in U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. Josh Bowmar hunted for trophy deer named Goalpost," Superman and "Head Turner. They filmed the expeditions and posted videos to their YouTube and social media accounts, according to the Indictment. Four charges relating to hunting in baited areas were dropped in their plea agreement.

Sarah Bowmar hunted deer and turkeys in a baited area on Nov. 1, 2016, without a valid permit, according to the indictment.

The Lacey Act can be easy to break, Preston, their attorney, said. If people break state wildlife rules or regulations and then take plants or animals across state lines, it triggers Lacey Act violations, he said.

"It's so easy for something that under the state law would be the lowest level criminal offense, the equivalent of a speeding ticket, can become a federal case with huge penalties," he said.

The Bowmars will be sentenced on Jan. 12 in Omaha. Each faces one year in prison and one year of probation. They must pay a total of $44,000, according to the agreement.

More:Surge in population of troublesome raccoons prompts call for open hunting season

Josh Bowmar hunt spurred a Canadian law, his business is being sued

The federal poaching case is the latest in a string of incidents that have gained the Bowmars followers, and criticism, online.

In 2016, Josh Bowmar, who lived in Ohio at the time, baited a trap in the Canadian woods and then impaled a bear with a long spear that had a camera attached to it, according to Reuters. The video went viral in Canada and outraged some residents, hunting groups and animal-rights activists. Bowmar was never charged because Alberta did not ban spear hunting at the time. In February 2018, the province banned spear hunting because of the video, according to Canadian news outlet Global News.

The killing was ethical, and "no one cares more about these animals than us hunters," Bowmar told Reuters at the time.

In October 2021, Bowmar Nutrition was sued by consumers who said that laboratory testing proved some of its products have 10% to 67% fewer grams of protein than advertised, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Some of those claims were dismissed in March, according to the Capital Dispatch, but the case is still ongoing.

More:Hunter accidentally shoots himself while trying to fight off grizzly bear in Wyoming, officials say

Josh Bowmar's controlled burns got out of control

In one YouTube video. posted on Aug. 13, Josh Bowmar accidentally lit his pickup truck on fire when a "controlled burn" got out of hand.

"Thank God nobody got seriously hurt in the making of this video, unless your the Ford F350 LOL. Farming accidents happen. It's unfortunate Josh caught his favorite truck on FIRE, but sometimes you win and sometimes you learn," the note on the video posted on Bowmar Bowhunting said.

Meanwhile, state charges are pending against Josh Bowmar after another "controlled burn" on his property in Clarke County got out of hand this spring. At 11 a.m. April 10, Bowmar started the fire on his property in Clarke County despite extremely strong winds and dry conditions, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 18 by Brian and Susan Crites, who live in Waukee and own land that neighbors Bowmar's. The fire spread to the Crites' land and burned down a cabin.

Brian Crites declined to comment on the lawsuit to the Register.

Bowmar was charged with reckless use of a firearm or explosive, a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. Clarke County Sheriff Rob Kovacevich told a deputy who investigated the fire that, "It was extremely windy that day and he was surprised that someone would be open burning," according to a criminal complaint. The fire was left unattended at some point in the day, according to the criminal complaint.

"Bowmar did not take the necessary precautions to ensure that the fire did not escape the Bowmar farm, the Crites' attorney Dustin Mueller wrote in their lawsuit. "Defendant Bowmar has made comments that he did not think the fire would jump the creek and spread onto the Crites farm."

More:Python haul, beef theft ring, Kansa warrior statue: News from around our 50 states

Philip Joens covers public safety and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-443-3347 at pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa YouTubers Josh, Sarah Bowmar plead guilty in poaching case
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

AOC said the US is experiencing fascism and voter intimidation that mimics the Jim Crow era.

As the midterms approach, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said Americans must "strongly defend democracy" in the US.

Federal officials warned that threats of violence may rise due to "perceptions of election-related fraud."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the US is experiencing "an environment of fascism" as some states are facing concerns of voter intimidation amid early voting.

Ocasio-Cortez's comments on Friday come as a federal judge ruled it is acceptable for activists to watch ballot drop boxes following reports of armed and masked individuals monitoring a ballot drop in Mesa, Arizona last week.

"We are really truly facing an environment of fascism in the United States of America. This type of intimidation at the polls brings us to Jim Crow," Ocasio-Cortez said on MSNBC's "All in with Chris Hayes" on Friday in a conversation with Hayes and Rep. Jamie Raskin.

"It brings us back and harkens back to a very unique form of American apartheid that is not that long past ago, and we have never fully healed from it," she added. "Those wounds threaten to rip right back open if we do not strongly defend democracy in the United States of America."

On Friday, federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, US Capitol Police, and National Counterterrorism Center warned that the midterm elections will likely see an increase in threats, though the officials did not list specific threats, per CNN.

"Following the 2022 midterm election, perceptions of election-related fraud and dissatisfaction with electoral outcomes likely will result in heightened threats of violence against a broad range of targetssuch as ideological opponents and election workers," the bulletin from the federal officials said, per CNN.

Ocasio-Cortez echoed the sentiment on MSNBC, citing her experience listening to testimonies while on the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Story continues

"There is absolutely no doubt that the data shows that the vast majority of incidents of domestic terror come from white nationalism," Ocasio-Cortez said while acknowledging that "political violence can come from all different parts of the political spectrum."

In Arizona, two nonprofits filed a lawsuit arguing that a group called Clean Elections USA was encouraging violence and intimidation after the group organized efforts to watch ballot drop boxes across the country in their attempt to prevent voter fraud, echoing similar claims that were rampant yet vastly disproven following the 2020 election, per The New York Times.

Judge Michael T. Liburdi argued that while "many voters are legitimately alarmed by the observers filming" near drop boxes, there was no evidence that the group had encouraged violence, per the Times. The judge did, however, opt to leave the case open and agreed to hear new evidence.

On MSNBC alongside Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Raskin said it is imperative that voters "show no fear."

"You've got to view the guy showing up in cammo gear and masks as part of that history as an attempt to discourage people from going out to vote," Raskin said. "It's really critical in this election that every voter understand all of the different ways that they can vote in their state and that they do vote and they show no fear."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has blasted House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for saying nothing in the wake of the violent hammer attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband.

The New York Democrat hit out at her Republican counterpart on social media on Saturday, comparing Mr McCarthys silence over the assault on Paul Pelosi to his refusal to take action last year when a GOP lawmaker shared a video of her being assassinated.

Last year, a GOP Congressman shared a depiction of himself killing me. When the House rose to censure, @GOPLeader defended him, AOC tweeted on Saturday.

Yesterday, a man sharing that members rhetoric tried to assassinate the Speaker and her spouse. What has @GOPLeader said? Nothing. This is who he is.

Last November, Rep Paul Gosar posted an anime video on social media that depicted him killing AOC.

He was ultimately censured by the House and stripped of his committee assignments.

But, only two Republicans  Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger  voted with Democrats in favour of his censure, with Mr McCarthy refusing to support it.

More than 24 hours on from Fridays attack, the House Minority Leader has failed to publicly address the assault that left 82-year-old Mr Pelosi hospitalised with a skull fracture.

A spokesperson for Mr McCarthy said that he had reached out to the Speaker to check in on Paul and was praying for his recovery but he stopped short of condemnation for what happened.

Mr McCarthys silence comes after he infamously walked back his criticism of January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

In the hours after the riot that left five dead and hundreds injured, he called it the saddest day I have ever had serving as a member of this institution. He later voted against forming a bipartisan commission to investigate the riot and branded the House committee investigating it a partisan sham.

Kevin McCarthy has not publicly condemned the attack on Paul Pelosi (Getty Images)

On Friday, when news of the attack on Mr Pelosi spread, several other high-profile Republicans spoke out to condemn it.

Story continues

Former Vice President Mike Pence  who was hunted by Donald Trump supporters chanting Hang Mike Pence during the Capitol riot  said the assault was an outrage.

This is an outrage and our hearts are with the entire Pelosi family. aWe pray Paul will make a full recovery, he tweeted.

There can be no tolerance for violence against public officials or their families. This man should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also condemned the incident saying he was horrified and disgusted by what had happened.

David DePape, a 42-year-old hemp jewellery maker, allegedly broke into the Pelosis San Francisco home in the early hours of Friday morning searching for the Democratic lawmaker and shouting Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?

Mr Pelosi was home alone, with his wife away in Washington DC at the time.

Finding the House Speaker missing, Mr DePape allegedly proceeded to try to tie Mr Pelosi up in the aim of waiting until she returned home.

The alarm was raised when Mr Pelosi managed to secretly dial 911 from his cellphone and spoke in code to a dispatcher.

The 82-year-old left the line open as he spoke to Mr DePape, enabling the dispatcher to hear what was going on and send officers to the home.

Police tape blocks a street outside the home of Paul and Nancy Pelosi (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

When officers arrived on the scene, police said they saw both Mr Pelosi and Mr DePape with their hands on one hammer. At that moment, Mr DePape allegedly pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it, striking him at least once.

Mr Pelosi was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a skull fracture on Friday. He also suffered serious injuries to his right arm and hands and is expected to make a full recovery.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in a press conference that the attack was intentional and not a random act.

While he stopped short of detailing a motive, he referred to Speaker Pelosis role as an elected official.

Its wrong. Our elected officials are here to do the business of their cities, their counties, their states and this nation. Their families dont sign up for this to be harmed and it is wrong, he said.

Police sources told KTVU that the assailant had a hit list of other lawmakers he planned to target, while a search of his online history reveals a deep-rooted obsession with extreme right-wing conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccine and QAnon. He also revealed his support forMr Trump to run in 2024 with Tulsi Gabbard as his running mate.

Mr DePape was arrested at the scene on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and other felonies.

Mr Pelosi underwent surgery for a fractured skull and is now recovering in hospital.
The Amarillo Police Department is investigating a Saturday afternoon shooting at a gas station, which left a man with life-threatening injuries.

According to police, on Saturday at 3:13 p.m., Amarillo officers were dispatched to a home on NW 19 on a report of a man who had been shot. Police said the shooting occurred at a gas station in the area of 24th and Dumas.

Amarillo Police Department

The male victim was pumping gas and someone came up and shot him multiple times. He was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

No further information was available, including any details on a possible suspect.

This is an active investigation, and detectives from the violent crimes unit are investigating.

This is a developing story; more information will be added as it becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo police report 1 man in hospital after shooting at gas station
Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, holds a news conference in Phoenix, Nov. 18, 2020. Ward refused to answer questions during a deposition of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, an attorney for the panel revealed Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, during a court hearing in Phoenix.

In a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol described the actions of Kelli Ward, the head of Arizonas Republican Party, in the weeks leading to the riot as tantamount to a seizing of government power.

Dr. Ward aided a coup attempt, the Friday filing reads.

The filing before the nation's highest court explained why it was vital for the committee to see logs of texts and calls made by Ward between November 2020 and January 2021.

That tumultuous time span encompassed attempts to get government officials not to canvass the election and the convening of a slate of electors who would falsely certify themselves has having Arizona's official vote. It was an attempt designed at best to muddy up the official certification of the results.

The paragraph in the filing that uses the word "coup" goes on to list Wards actions that the committee said fueled the passions of those who breached the Capitol buildings on the day Congress met to count the Electoral College votes.

Arizona politics: Kelli Ward wins temporary halt for turning over phone records

Ward tried to stop Maricopa County officials from counting ballots, the filing reads. Further, the filing says, she tried to get a top official in Arizona most populous county in contact with then-President Donald Trump. She also, the filing says, promoted false claims about voting machines.

Finally, the filing notes that she became part of an alternate slate of electors who were part of a failed scheme that could delayed or overturned the 2020 general election victory of President Joe Biden.

These matters are of significant interest to the Select Committee, the filing reads.

It asked the court to allow Wards cell phone company, T-Mobile, to release the call logs to the committee.

The committee also noted to the U.S. Supreme Court that time was of the essence. The committee might disband in January, the filing notes, making production of records a pressing matter.

Story continues

Ward did not immediately return a request for comment sent to a party spokesperson.

The committee first subpoenaed T-Mobile for Wards records in January. The cellphone company informed Ward, and she and her husband filed a federal lawsuit looking to block the release of the records.

In court filings, Ward has argued two points on why the committee shouldnt see her records. First, she said that she and her husband use their phone to talk with patients they see at their medical weight loss clinic.

She also has said that producing the records would have a chilling effect on her First Amendment rights of association. In short, she has claimed that Republicans would not want to associate with her if they feared a record of that communication would end up before investigators.

2022 election: These candidates still deny or question 2020 Trump election results

Neither of those arguments prevailed in district court or before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ward took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday. Justice Elena Kagan put a temporary hold on the release of the records and ordered the congressional committee to respond by Friday.

The committee has since narrowed its request only to Wards activities, not those of her family.

These records will shed light on how Dr. Ward contributed to the multi-part effort to interfere with the peaceful transition of power and the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the filing reads.

Although the logs only contain a list of numbers, not the content of the calls, the committee told the U.S. Supreme Court that it could be vital pieces of additional information.

Many of the people Ward talked to, the committee said in its filing, might have already been among the more than 1,000 people the committee has interviewed.

The committee said in its filing that the primary investigative value of Dr. Wards call detail records likely will be establishing when and with what frequency she communicated with individuals known to be relevant to the Select Committees investigation.

Ward was subpoenaed to testify before the Select Committee but took the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination, the filing says. That further adds to the argument that her records are needed, as she refused to provide information herself.

Some information about Wards interactions are known.

Ward, according to records the Republic obtained from Maricopa County in 2021, sent a message to Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman on Nov. 13, 2020. The message used the acronym shorthand for President of the United States in telling Hickman, POTUS will probably be calling you.

Hickman texted Ward that he didnt think he would be available.

Ward persisted. Just a check in from the President of the United States, she wrote. ... So I guess that means you could/should take the call.

On the day that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was set to certify the election results, Ward sent a text to Supervisor Bill Gates at 6:30 a.m. pressing him not to do so.

I know the Republican board doesnt want to be remembered as the entity who led the charge to certify a fraudulent election, she wrote.

Later that morning, just before the supervisors met to certify the results, Ward expressed dismay in another text to Gates.

Sounds like your fellow Repubs are throwing in the towel, she wrote. Very sad. And unAmerican.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jan. 6 Committee says AZ GOP Chair Kelli Ward aided a 'coup'
Askar Askaraovs status as a rostered UFC fighter appears to be in question.

On Saturday, Askaraov said in an Instagram post that he received a positive response after asking the UFC to release him from his contract, which he added has only one fight remaining on it.

Due to my return being delayed due to medical reasons and being my last fight under my contract, I asked UFC to release me, Askarov wrote in Russian, according to the translation. To which, I received a positive response. First, lets put our health in order, and then we will see what and how.

Its unclear if Askaraovs post means hes been released. The UFC doesnt typically announce or confirm fighter releases when requested by MMA Junkie.

Askarov, 30, is No. 4 in the latest official UFC rankings at 125 pounds. He was set to meet No. 5 Brandon Royval two weeks ago at UFC Fight Night 212, but Askarov (14-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC) withdrew on weigh-ins day because of weight-cutting issues.

Askarov missed weight in March 2021 for his fight against Joseph Benavidez at UFC 259. He weighed in at 127 pounds and lost a percentage of his purse after his unanimous decision win. In March, he lost for the first time when Kai Kara-France upset him at UFC on ESPN 33. Kara-France got an interim title shot with the win, leaving Askarov to go back to the drawing board.

He was supposed meet Alex Perez in July, but Askarov pulled out of that fight. The weight-miss before the Royval fight continued a rough patch for the Dagestani fighter.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) takes measurements around Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's home after her husband Paul Pelosi was assaulted with hammer inside their Pacific Heights home early morning on October 28, 2022. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Friday attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband has quickly garnered comparisons to January 6.

But one extremism expert told Insider that the isolated assault is in many ways more dangerous.

Individuals now feel "empowered to carry out those acts of political violence," Eric Ward said.

The violent attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband early Friday morning quickly garnered comparisons to the political violence displayed by a mob of rioters on January 6, 2021, as experts, analysts, and lawmakers condemned the assault.

But the early-morning, isolated incident at the couple's San Francisco home this week represents a more ominous crisis than the insurrection ever did, according to one expert on extremism.

"This is the unfolding of events since January 6," Eric Ward, senior advisor to the Western States Center, told Insider. "I think it's just a reminder of where we are as a country."

"It's as predictable as the sun rising again," he added.

Authorities said a 42-year-old man broke into the Pelosi residence early Friday morning and violently attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, sending him to the hospital. The speaker was in Washington, DC with her protective detail at the time. Paul Pelosi, 82, is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery to repair a skull fracture from the attack.

The suspect, who police alleged beat Paul Pelosi with a hammer in front of cops as they arrived at the home, was searching for the Democratic lawmaker, according to reports. A person briefed on the attack told CNN that the intruder shouted, "Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?"

The description of the alleged attacker's apparent motives is eerily similar to events that unfolded inside the Capitol on January 6 as a mob of Trump supporters searched for Nancy Pelosi inside the building, issuing threats toward her and other lawmakers.

"We know that Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House and third in line for the Presidential succession, was a main target of insurgents on Jan. 6," Ruth Ben Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian Studies at NYU, told Insider. "The attacker who injured Paul Pelosi was looking for Nancy Pelosi, likely wanting to finish the job of Jan. 6."

Story continues

United States Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi, attend a Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul lead by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica in June. Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Early searches of the suspect's social media history suggest he was a follower of several far-right conspiracy theories and beliefs.

"But the attack on Pelosi's husband is something much more dangerous," Ward said. "That's not a coordinated attack like the attack in the Capitol on January 6."

"This is individuals shifting the very environment that we live in where people now on their own feel self-actualized and empowered to carry out those acts of political violence and bigotry on their own," he added.

There have been numerous isolated incidents against lawmakers in recent months. An armed man was arrested outside of Rep. Pramila Jayapal's home in July for making alleged threats; police in June arrested an armed man near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home who made threats against the judge; and earlier this week, police arrested a suspect accused of breaking into the campaign office of Arizona Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs.

These would-be radicals no longer need the safety of a large group to act out their anger, Ward argued. "They have the safety of the environment," he said.

It's a cultural shift that is unlikely to improve unless the federal government takes swift, sweeping action, according to Ward.

"Our government refuses to admit what everyone else sees: That there is a war on American democracy fueled by conspiracies, bigotry, and the promotion of violence," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Atlanta police have announced the arrest of three men whom they say stole a car on Wednesday evening.

Police say 21-year-old Deion Wade, 20-year-old Terrance Beeks, and 18-year-old Jamarrie Toney have been arrested as in for carjacking.

At around 6:15 p.m., officers arrived at the 800 block of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard after seeing a 2018 Toyota Corolla, which was recently carjacked, traveling in the area.

Officers gained a position on the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop and took off at a high rate of speed, committing several traffic infractions and striking multiple vehicles. A.C.E. units were authorized to pursue the vehicle as it had recently been carjacked.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

During the chase, the getaway driver crashed the Toyota into a mailbox, and the vehicle came to a rest near a wooded area. Officers then chased the men on foot while their air unit provided aerial surveillance.

All the men were caught and arrested.

Wade was charged with auto theft, fleeing and eluding, and obstruction. Beeks was charged with auto theft, obstruction and obstruction of officers. He was also served a warrant with full extradition for a weapon-related offense that was issued in May by the Cook County Sheriffs Office. Toney was arrested for auto theft and obstruction of officers.

One of the men was wanted in Chicago on other charges, according to police, but police did not specify which man.

TRENDING STORIES:

The APD Robbery Unit communicated with the Chicago Police Department and received information that all males were criminal street gang affiliates.

Police recovered a 2018 Toyota Corolla, a key fob to the victims vehicle, a Glock handgun, a black hoodie, and a multi-colored mask.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
(Pinkfong/AP)

No, Joe Biden didnt sing the Baby Shark song.

But a viral deepfake video showing the US president launching into the childrens tune convinced plenty of people that he had.

Likewise, a clip of a child shouting shut the f*** up at First Lady Jill Biden during a reception to celebrate Diwali never happened.

The clip was shared on Twitter by a pro-Maga account where it had received more than 600,000 views by Thursday.

A succession of deepfakes videos targeting political figures have gone viral in the lead up to the November midterms, stoking concerns they could play a role in determining the outcome of tight races.

Deepfakes are made using artificial intelligence programmes that are manipulate from authentic videos to misrepresent a persons actions and words.

Once an expensive and complex process, creating the hyperrealistic content is now cheap and easily available to developers on sites such as GitHub.

At a time when trust in media is near an all time low, according to Gallup Research, and the Big Lie that Donald Trump won in 2020 has created deep-seated distrust in elections, deepfakes are the latest weapon in an ongoing information war.

Experts tell The Independent that as technology improves, deep fakes will become harder to spot and erode public trust even further.

But they believe the real danger lies in the clips ability to circulate rapidly online, and that social media companies are doing nothing to curb the threat.

One deepfake video doesnt mean anything. The video becomes dangerous when it goes viral, Wael Abd-Almageed, director of the Visual Intelligence and Multimedia Analytics Laboratory at the University of Southern California (USC), told The Independent.

A report in September by US media monitor firm Newsguard found that nearly one in five videos automatically suggested by TikTok contained misinformation on topics from school shootings to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As deepfakes videos become extremely prevalent, social platforms were shrugging their shoulders at the problem, Dr Abd-Almageed said.

Story continues

He has developed tools with his students at USC that would allow social media companies to flag the deepfakes, or even stop fake content from being posted altogether.

He said he offered the tools to social media companies for free, and implored them to use them to stop the propagation of misinformation, and was told explicitly: We dont care.

There are so many things they can do but they are not interested in doing anything to stop misinformation. They just want to maximise user engagement, the more people stay on the platform, the more money they make from advertising.

Dr Abd-Almageed finds it shocking and frightening how little the large social media platforms were interested in preventing the spread of deepfakes.

No tool will be bulletproof, but if I could stop 50, 60 or 70 per cent of these deepfakes, its much better than nothing. What theyre doing now is nothing, he said.

We keep eroding the line between whats true and whats not and at some point everything becomes not true, and we will not believe in anything. Its extremely important to keep trying to protect that line, but theyre not interested, Dr Abd-Almageed told The Independent.

This literally keeps me up at night

A report released by the Congressional Research Service in June warned that the proliferation of photo, audio and video forgeries generated by artificial intelligence could present national security challenges in the years to come.

State adversaries or politically motivated individuals could release falsified videos of elected officials or other public figures making incendiary comments or behaving inappropriately, researchers found.

Doing so could, in turn, erode public trust, negatively affect public discourse, or even sway an election.

Dr Abd-Almageed agrees a fake video could easily be used to manipulate the outcome of an election.

For example, a fake video claiming that the president is extremely sick and dying is posted to social media three hours before polls close on election day.

The video goes viral, people start believing it, and stop going to the polls. In the time it would take for the White House to disprove the story, voters may have already missed the window to cast their ballot.

This literally keeps me up at night, Dr Abd-Almageed tells The Independent.

We always grew up thinking that seeing is believing, even after someone debunks it it becomes very difficult to reverse that belief.

He said the solution may be for lawmakers to compel social platforms to curb the flood of deepfakes.

All these platforms are hiding behind saying we are just a news stand, we are not responsible for the content on our platforms. They have to accept the moral and ethical responsibility to fight misinformation.

Separating real from fake

Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, a video of Volodymyr Zelensky calling for his soldiers to surrender spread rapidly online. Hackers managed to briefly get it broadcast on Ukrainian television, before it could be debunked by Ukrainian officials.

The doctored clip of Mr Biden singing Baby Shark was taken from a speech he gave at Irvine Valley Community College, in California on 14 October.

In the clip, the president announces the national anthem, but instead of singing The Star-Spangled Banner he sings the opening lyrics to the annoyingly familiar Baby Shark.

The initial clip posted to TikTok received half a million views before it was taken down, and spread rapidly on other social networking sites.

Hundreds of commenters believed the clip was authentic.

Hes lost his mind, one person commented on TikTok.

Ladies & Gentlemen, This is whos leading this country! How? another wrote.

Factcheckers at the Associated Press debunked the clip, but their efforts to dampen the flames of misinformation invariably reach a far smaller audience.

The deepfake creator Ali Al-Rikabi, a civil servant based in the United Kingdom, told the Associated Press that he used voice cloning software to make Mr Biden sing the Baby Shark lyrics and lip syncing software to make his lips match the words.

In a separate deepfake, footage of Jill Biden clapping and singing ahead of a Philadelphia Eagles NFL game was digitally altered to swap the authentic audio with a crude anti-Biden chant.

Reuters reported that a single tweet of the fake clip received hundreds of thousands views before it was taken down.

An AI voice clone is set to replace James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader (Wikimedia Commons)

More examples have surfaced and circulated in recent weeks.

A recent viral clip on TikTok appeared to show White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ignore a question from a Fox News reporter.

An Associated Press fact check found it had been digitally altered.

In a recently resurfaced clip from 2021, Kamala Harris appears to say that nearly all of those to have been hospitalised or died from Covid-19 had been vaccinated. In fact, she said unvaccinated.

A separate deep fake from 2019 appeared to show an intoxicated Nancy Pelosi slurring her speech. It was debunked, but only after it had been viewed 2.5 million times on Facebook and has continued to spread online.

An analysis by the AI firm Deeptrace in 2020 found there were nearly 15,000 deep fakes in existence, more than double the number nine months earlier. Of those, 96 per cent were pornographic, with the vast majority superimposing the faces of celebrities on to graphic sexual content.

Exact figures are hard to pin down, but experts say the number of deep fakes have exploded in the years since then.

A popular sub-genre of deep fakes features mashups of well-known actors in unfamiliar roles, such as Jim Carrey in The Shining, or Jerry Seinfeld in Pulp Fiction.

After actor Paul Walker was killed during the filming of Fast and Furious 7, in 2013, Weta Digital used deepfake technology to map his face onto the bodies of his brothers Cody and Caleb to complete the film at huge expense.

Artificial intelligence is also being used to give new life to James Earl Jones portrayal of Darth Vader after the 91-year-old actor gave his permission to clone his voice and record new lines for future Disney films.

That same technology is readily available on sites like GitHub for anyone to use.

Siwei Lyu, director of the University of Buffalos Media Forensic Lab, has studied user behaviour around deepfakes and told The Independent that more needs to be done to educate social media users.

Social media world is very biased, very polarised. People are living in their echo chambers. Everybody has confirmation bias, and we like to see evidence supporting our beliefs, Professor Lyu said.

If everybody has a higher awareness this type of media manipulation. If they know this is false, then that will prevent them from having such an impact.

He shares concerns about deepfakes spreading around an election day, and believes the dangers of tipping the balance in a tight election are very real.

Professor Lyu told The Independent algorithms exist that can expose most fake clips, but the more savvy deepfake creators can get around these.

He said the onus was on social media users need to check the source and authenticate clips before sharing them with friends.

A spokesman for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, provided The Independent with its policies on manipulated media.

Meta says it cannot define what constitutes misinformation as the world is changing constantly, and what is true one minute may not be true the next minute.

It adds that it removes posts that are incite violence or are likely to directly contribute to interference with the functioning of political processes.

TikTok and Twitter did not respond to a request for comment.

In comments posted to Twitter on Thursday, Elon Musk said he did not want to see the platform become a free-for-all hellscape, after previously saying he would allow any content that did not break local laws.
Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

If you were visiting the West Coast of Ireland last fall and found yourself on either Inishmore in the Aran Islands or Achill, there is a good chance you wouldve seen Colin Farrell jogging to the Banshees of Inisherin set wearing mint green short shorts.

Alas, I was a year too late, but I did experience other impressive sights, all of which feature in director-writer Martin McDonaghs latest triumph. Inisherin is a fictitious location, but there is a sense that the early Oscars contender could do the same for the two Irish island destinations that In Bruges did for the Belgian city back in 2008.

More than a decade later, The Banshees of Inisherin reunites McDonagh with In Bruges stars Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, to tell the story of a rift between friends and the ripple effect on the tiny island community they share. Bruges may have provided a temporary haven for the actors hitmen characters in that film, but, on Inisherin, it is impossible for fiddle player Colm Doherty (Gleeson) to escape his persistent former best friend, Padraic Suilleabhain (Farrell).

Back when things were good between them, Padraic and Colm would meet for a pint (or a dozen) each afternoon. Like clockwork, Padraic called on Colm at his idyllic beach locale every day at 2 p.m., so they could walk to the nearby pub together. But not on this fateful day. The year is 1923, and, as a Civil War rages on the mainland, the pleasant illusion of island life is shattered by Colms unexpected rejection and the aftermath that follows.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleesons characters have a view of the Cloughmore coast from where they sip their pints. Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

Referencing a place as an additional character in a movie is a cliche that would typically elicit an eye-roll reaction from me. But in this case, the island setting is the lifeblood of the films malaise, casting a long shadow over the entire story. A lush green picturesque paradise is juxtaposed with imposing rock dipped in melancholy. The otherworldly aesthetic adds to the fable-like exploration of despair, masculinity, and legacy. It is no wonder McDonagh opted to shoot on-location rather than attempt to recreate this natural beauty on a sterile soundstage.

Story continues

Padraic loses everything in the world that he had experienced any of the joy in his life through. You see it at the start; I walk through a cemetery with a fucking smile on my face. He's so happy-go-lucky and so connected to the world around him, Farrell explained at the films Irish premiere in Dublin on Oct. 14. It all comes crashing down the instant Colm says he no longer wants to continue their daily ritual. Colms curt, brutal reason: I just dont like you no more. Now Padraic has to make the short trek to the cliffside tavern alone, the violent crashing waves of the Atlantic matching his now-solemn mood.

In reality, the small cottage Padraic shares with his sisterand voice of reasonSiobhan (Kerry Condon) was filmed on a different island than Colms home, a 150-kilometer journey via ferry and road from Inishmore to Achill.

At the premiere, McDonagh explained why he knit two visually distinct west coast landscapes to represent the unlikely pals: Colin is marked in one type of terrain, Brendans in another. Colm is artistic and wants to leave something behind beyond his inane daily chats with Padraic about nothing. In contrast, Padraic is content living a simple existence in which he tends to his animals (including the scene-stealing miniature donkey, Jenny) and knocks back a few pints at the local spot.

The Irish Banshee Giving One of the Best Performances of the Year

After attending the premiere, I headed to Inisherin (aka Achill) to follow in Padraic and Colms footsteps up to the cliff-top pub. Technically the pub itself is no longer standing there, as it was built for filming. But there was no green-screen trickery in the film; the bar existed, and that jaw-dropping setting was real.

Eagle-eyed viewers will notice a shot early on in the film when it becomes clear the interior of the pub is not recreated in a Hollywood studio. When the camera peers out the window, both Padraic sitting at a lone outdoor table with a Guinness and Colm drinking inside are in frame.

A pint with a view! I jotted in my notes when I first saw the film. (If youre curious, that view is of the Cloughmore coast, along the Wild Atlantic Way.) At the premiere, Gleeson said that going outside while shooting at the pub was like witnessing a free Donald Teskey painting. As I stood in the same spot where Colm tells Padraic he has this tremendous sense of time slipping away on me, I can say that it resembles the literal and figurative end of the world. It is easy to see why McDonagh was drawn to this isolated area, even if it was more challenging to shoot there.

Keem Beach is one of the jewels of Achill where Martin McDonagh, top, shot The Banshees of Inisherin. Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

My brief was Ryans Daughter: big landscapes, stunning coastal vistas, location manager Eoin Holohan describes over Zoom, speaking about McDonaghs vision for the area surrounding the pub. For the bar itself, a John Ford classic provided the reference for Holohans search. It needs to be like The Searchers and the famous scene when they opened the door, was his instructionsswitching the West Texas wilderness for the ocean. Martins like, Were not going to find a pub where you open the door, and the Atlantic is right there. Were gonna have to build it. The specific area where they built it proved challengingthough it turned the temporary tavern into a tourist hot spot.

Theres that beautiful road in Achill that has nothing on it, no buildings, describes Holohan. Days earlier, I had ventured to the remote layby where Holohan had stood with the enthusiastic director. What? In the middle of the road on a cliff? Are you mental? was Holohans response to McDonaghs request. Having been pelted by rain and wind, I can see why Holohan had initial doubts. During my visit, Unit Manager Evelyn ONeill said there was one particularly blustery day when the trucks were practically lifting off the ground. We couldnt open the door of the trucks without the risk of losing the door. Trying to even speak to someone was impossible, Holohan confirms.

After seeing how inviting the pub looks on-screen, it is understandable that residents and tourists were disappointed that this would not be a permanent fixture. Beside the fact that it is on a roadside, the structure is made from tin metal, plywood, and flagstone. Oh, and it is also a stones throw from the ocean. Yeah, I think we are definitely taking that away, says the locations manager. (For a cozy step back in time, Lynotts Pub on Achill has peat-burning fires that offer a snapshot of the Banshees tavern atmosphere come to life)

The pub is one of several practical sets built for the shoot, including the village store in Purteen Harbor and Padraic and Siobhans house on Inishmore. The working harbors makeover is jaw-dropping when comparing what it looks like in its raw state to the hub of gossip we see in the film, with shopkeeper Mrs. ORiordans (Brid Ni Neachtain) Inisherins village store as the center of activity.

Much of what is seen is Banshees is native to Achill. A crucifix in the water and the impressive view are equally mesmerizing IRL as they are in the film. Some religious artifacts, such as the Virgin Mary at the crossroads, are props, but this one in the water is the real deal.

Harsh beauty mirrors the dual Banshees themes: sorrow and comedy run throughout, overlapping so that a laugh caught in your throat will turn into a gasp. The pub serves as a community hub, but it immediately becomes a source of conflict when Colm dumps his pal. Theres only the expression of pain, loneliness, love, need, Farrell said, reflecting on the story that doesnt ask you to pick a side between the former friends.

Jenny the donkey and sheep were only a few of the animals on set. Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

The first half of filming took place on Inishmore at the end of the summer tourist season. The year-round population hovers over 850, but accommodation on the island was enough to house the 100-plus cast and crew. In contrast, Achill is Irelands largest island and boasts a population of approximately 2,700both swell during the summer season, which has kicked back into gear after COVID lockdowns (Sheila Mangan, our other guide for the day, runs Achill Isle House).

One element witnessed on both islands was Farrells aforementioned preferred exercise attire. The first time he came out in those, I honestly thought, Is this 80s Friday or Flashdance Saturday? Oh no, thats his LA jogging gear. Then he would jog around Inishmore in these little short shorts and knee socks, Holohan says about the noticeable (and much snapped) get-up. He would go into SuperValu in Achill and buy waffles and get his photo taken, the location manager adds about the star who was at one with the locals.

The Banshees of Inisherin Is Colin Farrell at His Very Best

Farrells jogging fashion ended up marking the change in seasons and weather. On Inishmore, it was beautiful and idyllic, and the lower September sunlight adds to cinematographer Ben Davis impressive visuals. We got to Achill, and it changed. Then we had a lot of wind, rain, and storms. We went from shorts and T-shirts to wearing ski gear, Holohan says.

Luckily, I had packed with changeable weather in mind, and the crimson beret I wore proved to be on-theme for Siobhans color palette. Red skirts were worn by the women of the West at the time, and I loved the way red pops in the landscape. So that red became the red coat that Siobhan wears, costume designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh told me over email.

The landscape and pub setting also informed the direction of Ni Mhaoldomhnaighs creations. I realized quickly that a lot of the interiors were going to have very low light levels, so we used checks and stripes and dyed the shirts to create color and texture in the pub and against the green of the landscape, she says.

Kerry Condon filming by Lough Acorrymore. Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

On the day I visited, rainbows were a common sight. One appears behind Padraic at the harbor, matching his cheerful demeanor that is about to get rained all over. There is no pot of gold to be found here. Instead he is in for a rude awakening when he arrives at the abode of his former friend, Gleesons Colm.

Colms house was meant to be in a much more kind of lyrical setting, less bleak. [McDonagh] had written it as this perfect horseshoe cove, beautiful beach with cliffs, Holohan saysn. Achill has been a popular tourist destination since the 1800s, and Keem Beach is one of its jewels.

Padraic keeps invading Colms space, and while his home is in an isolated spot, he still cant get any peace. On the day we visit, a handful of families and couples enjoy the sunny spells, and intermittent drizzle does nothing to dampen the extraordinary panorama utilized by McDonagh to great effect.

But the humans arent alone on the island. You cannot talk about The Banshees of Inisherin without bringing up the collection of animals that enliven the material.

Off-camera, Farrell has recounted how Jenny the miniature donkey reared up and gave me a good kick one day. But he holds no ill feelings. At the premiere, he spoke about the benefits of working with creatures who arent going to take notes. I think they pick up on energy and where its supposed to go in relation to the natural rhythms of life perhaps, so theyre all very affecting, he said. Jenny wasnt the only one to show disdain for the A-list star: His [Gleeson] fucking dog bit me. And the horse tried to fuck me off the cliff. (On Stephen Colberts talk show, Farrell explained that Minnie almost reversed the cart into the fecking Atlantic Ocean.)

Purteen Harbor was used as a set. Photo Illustrations by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, Emma Fraser, and Tourism Ireland

Holohan was in charge of the animal logistics, including giving Jenny time so shed get used to the cottage. Going from Inishmore to Achill also meant transporting Jenny and Minnie the horse (who was local to Inishmore). There was a scene with the cows on Achill, and everyones like, Are you seriously gonna bring these cows off an island on a ferry the whole way to Achill for one scene? Holohan says. Luckily, common sense prevailed, and Padraics cows did not make the sometimes choppy Atlantic crossing.

On Achill, sheep roam every stretch of land and pay zero attention to the oncoming traffic. On the way to Lough Acorrymore, they lay on the grass verge by the roadside without flinching at the passing cars on our tour. At this particular spot, the eerie, otherworldly, disquieting beauty hits me hard in the faceno, it wasnt the wind. It turns out Holohan feels similarly. There was loads of moments scouting where you come over a hill and went, Oh my God! But that was one of those places where I gasped, he describes. This lake has what can be best described as a vibe.

That shot of Siobhan standing in the middle of the frame with the lake and all behind her, Id hang it on my wall, Holohan says.

If Bruges is a Medieval fairytale town, then the two islands knitted together to make Inisherin a fable come to lifedonkey and jogging attire optional.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Oct. 28Over the course of his career, Matthew Patrick Davis has always tried to find roles that challenged him.

Yet, it wasn't until he read the script for "Barbarian" that he felt like it was a role that would take him to another level.

"The script was wild and crazy," he says. "I was intrigued by how many twists and turns it took and how many crazy things I was going to get to do. It was a little scary."

"Barbarian" tells the story of a young woman, in town for a job interview, arrives at her Airbnb rental late at night only to find that the house has been mistakenly double-booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgment, she decides to stay the night anyway, but soon discovers that there is much more to be afraid of in the house than the other house guest.

Since its release, the film has been getting rave reviews.

Davis had a feeling it would engage with audiences.

In the film, he plays The Mother, which required him to transform into the character.

"I didn't know if and how the prosthetics were going to look," he says. "I knew it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

The production took place last year in Bulgaria, where the cast filmed for a few months.

Joining Davis in the cast is Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long and Richard Brake. The film is written and directed by Zach Cregger and its showing at theaters and available on HBO Max, as well as video on demand for rental or purchase.

"When Zach told me that Justin was going to be in the film, I was excited," Davis says. Then I realized that I was going to have to force breast feed one of the nicest people in the world. There was an even grosser scene that didn't make the film. It was there The Mother still wants to feed her baby and grabs a rat and bites the head off the rat and feeds it to Justin's character."

Though you don't recognize Davis in the film, he feels proud of his performance. When production first started, it took him five hours to transform into the character.

Story continues

Then it sped up to three hours.

"It was very vulnerable. I had prosthetics on my head and chest and had a merkin. I had dropped some weight for the role because I was going to pretty much only have those things on me," he says. "The night shoots were cold and I wished I hadn't dropped the weight. But I feel like it's my niche now."

Davis has gotten responses via social media about them not knowing The Mother is played by a man.

"You want a role that challenges you and one that you're a little scared by," he says. "This role was exactly that. I knew that I wasn't going to phone it in. I was really scared going in and I did a lot of research. I wanted to be prepared for whatever is asked of me."
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Tikva market in Tel Aviv on Oct. 28 ahead of the November general elections. Credit - Gil Cohen-MagenAFP/Getty Images

The biggest question ahead of Israels Nov. 1 election is whether former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will return to power, aided by a bloc of far-right parties.

Netanyahus main oppositiona diverse coalition of right-, center-, and left-wing parties led by Prime Minister Yair Lapid will be relying heavily on turnout from Palestinian citizens of Israel to succeed.

Lapids alliance had ousted Netanyahu last summer with the help of the first independent Arab party to be part of an Israeli ruling coalition. But they lost their parliamentary majority in May after a left-wing Palestinian Israeli lawmaker quit, triggering a new election.

Does Netanyahu have a chance?

Israeli border police stand guard during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the northern Arab city of Nazareth, Israel, on Jan. 13, 2021. Sebastian ScheinerAP

The latest polls suggest that Netanyahuwho was the countrys longest-serving leaderis just one seat short of attaining an outright majority. If no victor emerges, Lapid would remain caretaker Prime Minister and Israel would head to the polls again within a few months.

For most Israelis, their vote once again comes down to one thing. The single most important issue of division is over Benjamin Netanyahu, says James Zogby, co-founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Arab American Institute. Theres far more agreement on policy in that a solid 80% members of the Knesset would be on the right of Israeli politics.

Why is Israel embroiled in never-ending elections?

Tuesdays elections will be Israels fifth in under four years. As a parliamentary democracy, governments are typically formed by larger parties joining forces with smaller ones to form a ruling majorityat least 61 of the 120 seats in the Knesset.

No single party has ever won an outright majority in Israels parliament. But neither has the country been so evenly divided, for so long, over the question of who should lead it. Theres clearly a cult of personality issue here, Zogby says, referring to Netanyahu.

Story continues

Read More: Arab Israelis Could Block Netanyahus Return. Heres Why They Might Stay Home Instead

The tiny margins mean Israeli parties are often forming and breaking alliances to further their goalsand subsequently triggering further elections. Netanyahu survived two elections in 2019 and one in 2020, but after the 2021 ballot the centrist Lapid formed a government that rotated the prime ministry with the head of another party, right-winger Naftali Bennett. Thats the coalition that came undone by the defection of a single member in July.

Abseiling workers hang an election billboard of Israeli far right wing Itamar Ben Gvir leader of Otzma Yehudit (Jewish power) party as they remove a billboard depicting Palestinian-Israeli politician Ahmad Tibi in Jerusalem, Sept. 29. Abir SultanEPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Israel may lurch further to the right

Experts say a victory for Netanyahu and his Likud party will push Israel even further to the right, given his increasing reliance on extreme and ultra-Orthodox Jewish political parties and candidates. This electionmore than othersis a test case to show the extent to which the far-right has been a part of the Israeli mainstream, says Shaul Magid, a professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College.

Among Netanyahus key allies is far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was long considered an outcast in Israeli politics for his racist views. Ben-Gvir, who leads the Jewish Power party, has previously said that he considers Israeli American extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane a hero. Kahane supported banning marriage between Arabs and Jews, stripping Palestinian citizens of Israel of their citizenship, and the mass expulsion of Palestinians. Israel banned him from parliament and the U.S. long listed his political party as a terrorist group.

Read More: The Far-Right Will Dominate Israels Future

Ben-Gvir has earned an extreme reputation of his own. The Israeli army considered him too dangerous to serve in its ranks. He has previously advocated explicitly for the expulsion of all Palestinians but in recent efforts to appear more moderate, now saying he only felt this applied to Palestinians he considers traitors or terrorists.

The reason why Ben-Gvir isnt as radical as Kahane was is that the whole country has moved closer to him, Magid says.

The Arab vote

Palestinians take part in a demonstration during the visit of the Right-wing politician Itamar Ben-Gvir to Al-Nabi Samuel village, north of Jerusalem, on Sept. 2. Ilia Yefimovichpicture alliance/Getty Images

Israels Arab voters could prove to be key in Tuesdays election. Variously called Arab Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel, they account for 20% of Israels population. But they enjoy fewer government services, endure higher poverty and unemployment rates, are not permitted to serve in the military, anduntil last yearhad never had a party in a ruling coalition.

But with Jewish Israelis so evenly divided, their vote may once again prove decisive.

With such a historic divide among the Jewish parties, the Arabs have become the kingmakers, says Thair Abu Ras, a Ph.D. student in the department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland and Palestinian citizen of Israel, in an email to TIME. A small Arab turnout will most likely crown Netanyahu as Prime Minister, an average turnout will lead to a tie and sixth election, but an above average turnout will hand Lapid the victory.

Most polls are suggesting a low turnout. The AP predicts Arab parties will win eight seats. If that translates into a Netanyahu victory, and any backlash over an extremist government thats openly hostile to Palestinians, I consider it blaming the victims, says Zogby. Theyve gotten nothing to encourage them to turn out.

The Palestinian issue

When it comes to the West Bank, where some 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military occupation, and the Gaza Strip, where Israel has reluctant de facto rule over some 2 million more, the rival alliances are in relative agreement. Though experts note that a Netanyahu-led government could be more aggressive.

Read More: The Problems With Israels Version of the Killing of Reporter Shireen Abu Akleh

When it comes to the Palestinian issue, there is virtually no difference and that is in large part because its not a priority for Israelis, says Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. Things are likely to get worse on the ground for Palestinians under Netanyahu, even though theyre not great now.

An Israeli Arab voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Kafr Manda, 16 kilometres northwest of Nazareth, on March 23, 2021. Ahmad GharabliAFP/Getty Images

Under the current government, Israel has continued with expanding Jewish settlement inside Palestinian territory, and demolishing Palestinian homes. Israel has also come under international scrutiny over the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian. But experts say that, if elected, Netanyahu may be more likely to pursue formal annexation of significant portions of the West Bank, or greater expansion of settlement construction there.

They also caution that aggressive moves by an Israeli government against Palestinians carries the risk of turmoil within its own borders. In 2021, agitation among Palestinian citizens of Israel over a range of actions by Israel cascaded into street fights and bloodletting. The country is going to lurch to the right, and I think whats gonna end up happening is that you can also start to see Arab riots in Israel and youre going to start to see the potential of a third intifada, Magid says.
An energized President Joe Biden returned Friday to the Keystone State, his 15th visit since he took office, this time to attend a fundraiser with Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders to boost Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman.

The candidate had a shaky debate performance earlier this week that put some Democrats on edge. The president laid out the stakes immediately, cautioning the Nov. 8 midterm elections were not a referendum, its a choice, a choice between two vastly different visions of America.

The White House has showered attention on the Keystone State  Bidens birthplace  in the final weeks before the election, and officials preparing for another visit next week.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

WATCH FULL DEBATE: Fetterman, Oz face off in first and only Senate debate Four winning Powerball tickets sold in Pennsylvania Winning $100K Powerball ticket sold in Childrens Hospital shop VIDEO: Teen shot in head in Pittsburghs Beechview neighborhood has died DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
President Joe Biden will attend the U.N. COP27 climate conference early next month, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Friday.

On November 11th, President Biden will attend the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Jean-Pierre said in a statement. At COP27, he will build on the significant work the United States has undertaken to advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts, and he will highlight the need for the world to act in this decisive decade.

After arriving at the worlds most consequential climate discussions largelyempty handed last year, Biden will now be able to tout the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, a bill that devotes hundreds of billions of dollars to clean energy initiatives and brings Bidens pledge to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030 closer within reach.

The Washington Post first reported on Bidens plan to attend the conference earlier this month.

After the climate conference, Biden will travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to participate in the annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit on November 12-13. He'll then attend the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, from November 13-16, according to the White House.
56% of Black adults have an unpaid medical or dental bill, a challenge faced by only 37% of white adults, according to a national poll conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation.

Health care debt, a rising issue affecting over 100 million Americans in 2022, disproportionately burdens Black communities due to deeply embedded wealth disparities, a recent investigation by Kaiser Health News and NPR found.

Per results from a national poll conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation, 56% of Black adults have an unpaid medical or dental bill, a challenge faced by only 37% of white adults surveyed.

The disparity is among the lasting impacts of generations of racial discrimination depriving Black Americans of equal access to housing, employment, and other avenues to build generational wealth, according to the study.

(Photo: Adobe Stock)

This legacy of segregation and structural racism underlies the racial health gap, Berneta Haynes, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, told NPR. It impacts health outcomes and access. And it impacts the level of medical debt.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the median white family in the United States in 2022 has roughly $184,000 worth of assets, including properties, savings and retirement accounts. By comparison, the median Black family has only $23,000 in assets.

Fallout from accruing medical debt can include having to take out a loan, uprooting from residences, being pursued by collections agencies and more, challenges which Black Americans are found to be experiencing at a higher rate than white counterparts across the board, per the study.

30% of Black Americans surveyed by KFF said they have been denied care due to an outstanding medical debt, compared to 17% of white patients. 20% of Black patients said they have altered their living situations due to medical debts, compared to 10% of white patients. 56% of Black Americans said they have been contacted by a collection agency in the past five years, compared to 37% of white patients surveyed.

Story continues

(Photo: Adobe Stock)

Black adults are also nearly twice as likely than white adults to report being denied health care as a direct result of unpaid medical bills, the study found.

Access to proper health care has additionally been limited in Black communities due to increasingly lofty prices as well as discriminatory medical practices from facilities and doctors, leading to distrust between Black patients and the national health care system, per the report.

African Americans dont seek health care until we are really, really sick, and then it costs more, Tabace Burns, a former emergency room nurse in Knoxville, told NPR.

Millions of Americans facing financial insecurity and medical debt have been aided by recent expansions in Medicaid and other health care additions supported by the Affordable Care Act, according to NPR.

However, approximately 2.2 million Americans who reside in one of the 12 states that have rejected the expansions are unable to access these benefits. Of these residents, 60% are people of color and roughly 25% are Black, according to the KFF survey.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Black Americans are more likely to have medical debt: report appeared first on TheGrio.
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.
Kinghorn had the chance to win the match for Scotland (AFP via Getty Images)

Glen Youngs second-half yellow card proved pivotal as Australia came from behind to defeat Scotland 16-15 in a dramatic Autumn Test at Murrayfield.

The Scots looked on course for a fourth consecutive victory over the Wallabies when they led 15-6 after a couple of excellent tries from Ollie Smith and Blair Kinghorn.

But the sin-binning of Edinburgh lock Young on his first Murrayfield appearance allowed Australia a much-needed foothold and they managed to turn the game in their favour in the closing quarter.

Kinghorn, playing at number 10 following Gregor Townsends contentious decision not to include Finn Russell in the squad, could have won it for Scotland at the end but sent a penalty agonisingly wide.

With the match taking place outside the international window, the Scotland XV was made up entirely of Edinburgh and Glasgow players. Flanker Jamie Ritchie, 26, captained the side for the first time since it was announced last week that he would be replacing Stuart Hogg as skipper.

Australia arrived in Edinburgh under pressure after winning just three of their previous 12 matches, while they had also lost each of their last three meetings with the Scots.

The Wallabies started brightly, threatening the hosts try-line on more than one occasion in the opening 10 minutes.

But it was Scotland who made the breakthrough when Glasgow full-back Smith, making his first appearance at Murrayfield too, received a lovely offload from Kinghorn and darted beyond a couple of opponents before planting the ball down left of the posts.

There were audible groans from the home support as Kinghorn spurned his conversion attempt from what appeared to be a perfectly kickable position.

This aberration allowed the Wallabies to reduce the arrears to just two points in the 15th minute when Bernard Foley kicked a penalty from a central position after Ritchie was penalised at the breakdown.

(AFP via Getty Images)

The hosts were forced into a change in the 24th minute as Sam Skinner went off to be replaced by Young.

Story continues

Scotland should have stretched their lead in the 27th minute when Kinghorn looped a superb pass out to the right for Sione Tuipulotu, but the Glasgow centre dropped the ball just as he looked set to burst over the line.

In the following phase of play, the Scots somehow failed to force their way over the line after a sustained spell of pressure in front of the Australia posts, but the visitors did superbly to hold the ball up.

The Scots were left to rue those moments of profligacy as another Foley penalty from 30 metres out on the stroke of half-time edged Australia in front after Dave Cherry failed to roll away.

But, three minutes after the restart, the Scots got themselves back in front when Kinghorn, under scrutiny as a result of taking Russells place, seized on a loose ball in his own half, kicked it in behind the Wallabies defence and raced on to it himself before kicking it forward again, collecting it just in front of the line and bounding gleefully over for a magnificent solo touchdown.

This time the Edinburgh number 10 made no mistake with the conversion.

Kinghorn then extended Scotlands lead to nine points with a penalty in the 54th minute.

The hosts appeared in the ascendancy and ready to put the Wallabies to the sword, but their momentum was halted in the 56th minute when, following a TMO review, Young was sent to the sin-bin for an illegal entry during a promising Scottish attack.

After an hour, amid a raft of substitutions, Jack Dempsey, who won 14 caps for Australia between 2017 and 2019, was introduced for his Scotland debut, the Sydney-born Glasgow flanker able to take advantage of a recent change in World Rugbys eligibility rules to switch allegiance.

Within seconds, however, the Wallabies made their extra man count when captain James Slipper forced his way over on the right and Foley once again converted, bringing the visitors back to within two points.

Australia got their noses in front in the 70th minute with a Foley penalty.

Scotland had a chance to win it in the last minute, but Kinghorns penalty drifted agonisingly wide.
The body of a 4-year-old was found late Friday evening in a northeast Iowa pond hours after the child was reported missing.

The child, who has not yet been identified, was reported missing to the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office at about 5 p.m. Friday, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The child was last seen around 3:45 p.m. outside their home in the 1400 block of 145th Street in Fairbank.

The body was found in a nearby pond at 11:40 p.m. Friday after authorities performed an extensive search of the home and surrounding area.

No foul play is suspected, according to the news release. An autopsy will be conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death.

Nina Baker is a news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at NBaker@gannett.com or on Twitter@Nina_Baker0.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa child found dead in pond hours after being reported missing
Police have identified a man who was shot and killed in the citys Dorchester neighborhood earlier this month.

Christian Berryman, 19, of Dorchester, was found suffering from fatal gunshot wounds in the area of 38 Westville Street in the early morning of Oct. 4.

Boston police investigating early morning shooting that left man dead

Officers responding to a report of a shooting in that area around 12:40 a.m. found Berryman. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470.

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

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
5:05 p.m. UPDATE: Joseph Ernstoff has returned home safely.

-Original Story Below-

The Boston Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a missing boy who has autism.

Police said 14-year-old Joseph Ernstoff was last seen shortly after 10:10 a.m. Saturday in the area of 3 Frederick St. in South Boston.

Ernstoff is a Hispanic male who was last seen wearing a white sweater, black pants, black shoes and black framed glasses. He is 56 and approximately 140 lbs, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts please call the Boston police detectives at (617) 343-4742.

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

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Maybe youve glossed over the wild news coming out of the U.K. recently, but its actually important stuff, especially as it concerns the countrys new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, whose backstory has deep and surprising American ties.

Ill get to that good stuff on Sunak in a second, but first a word about the bond between America and England. France or Israel might believe they have a special relationship with the U.S.but theyre fighting for second place. Weve had ties with England going back to the ill-fated Virginia colony in 1584 and over the ensuing five centuries no country has been closer.

Winston Churchill described the U.S.-U.K. relationship as "special" in a 1946 speech in Fulton, Missouri with President Harry Truman. True, we have a few differences: cold beer vs. warm beer, color vs. colour, football vs. football. But we have much more in common. The U.S. and U.K. share a love of the British royal family and amazing cross-cultural mashups when it comes to rock music, fashion and TV.

Economic ties between the worlds first and sixth biggest economiesbehind India, Germany, Japan and Chinaplay a crucial role, too. The U.S. and U.K. serve as each other's No. 1 source of direct foreign investment, according to the U.S. embassy in the U.K. website.

Theres more to it than that, says Wall Street investor Ann Berry, a Brit who has a Harvard MBA. The U.S. needs all of the allies it can get in light of tensions with Russia, Saudi Arabia, and China, she notes.

Historical ally-ship is becoming more relevant in the modern world, because global allegiances are becoming less transparent, more transient, more transactional," she said. "I think the UK is still a friend to the U.S., I think it will remain a friend to us. And it's still an interpreter on this side of the Atlantic when it comes to figuring out how to play in Europe.

The U.K. is facing significant economic issues, some due to universal supply demand imbalances, others due to circumstances particular to the U.K., some of which stem from Brexit, or leaving the EU, almost two years ago now. That resulted in multinational companies moving their European headquarters out of London, shortages of labor and trade friction. The soaring dollar and high energy prices are inflicting more pain.

Story continues

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with members of the media as he visits Croydon University Hospital on October 28, 2022 in London, Britain. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS

This troubled economy falls in the lap of Britains new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, (pronounced REE-she SUE-nack) leader of the Tory party, which has been in power for 12 years. He's taking over for Liz Truss, whose rocky term as Britain's prime minister ended after just six weeks amid extreme market volatility.

Sunaks financial expertise should prove invaluable in this new role, and markets have already stabilized. In addition to having links to the financial world, the new PM also has deep connections to the U.S.

The new prime minister is a man of many firsts. At 42, hes the youngest PM since William Pitt (the Younger), who took office in 1783 at the age of 24. Sunak, who was born in the United Kingdom, is the first PM of Indian heritage. Hes also the first former hedge fund executive, the first to have a Stanford MBA, and the first to have worked at Goldman Sachs.

Lets take a closer look at some of those American connections. After graduating from Oxford in 2001, Rishi joined Goldman in London as an analyst, where for a time he sat next to the aforementioned Ann Berry.

He was very smart, analytical, very articulate and a really pleasant character, she says. He was very focused, even then, on making sure that he was doing something that had a broader impact."

Sunak left Goldman and went to Stanford on a Fulbright scholarship where he received an MBA in 2006. Theres some color on his Stanford days in a biography of Sunak published in 2020 (how many 40-year-olds warrant that?) titled (one hopes not literally) Going for Broke written by Lord Michael Ashcroft, a 76-year-old billionaire businessman and Tory politician. Ashcroft writes that Silicon Valley dazzled Sunak, and that he once commented on how it was possible to take a 10-minute drive through the Bay Area and pass hundreds of businesses that have changed people's lives.

The book speaks to the rigors of Stanford, and one of his classmates, Maria Anguiano, told the author: Rishi coped very well. He was always very positive. Another student there at the time, Rashad Bartholomew, remembers serious partying, but noted that Sunak didnt drink but did sometimes join some low-stakes poker games.

After graduating from Stanford's business school, Sunak worked at hedge funds in London including The Childrens Investment Fund (known as TCI), run by British billionaire Chris Hohn, described to me as a fascinating guy whos a massive risk taker, by a British hedge fund manager. At one time Hohn was doing activist investing that included targeting American railroad CSX, which traces its origins to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (or B&O), the oldest in the United States. The stake in CSX ended up becoming a tangled affair and ended badly for TCI. Sunak worked on the CSX investment and his role was mentioned in litigation.

Sunak is extremely wealthy, the bulk of which comes from his wife, Akshata Murthy, a graduate of Claremont McKenna, whom he met at Stanford, and the daughter of billionaire founder of Infosys, Narayana Murthy. Akshata owns .93% of Infosys worth some $700 million, according to Business Today, an Indian magazine. Infosyss primary business has been to outsource thousands of U.S. jobs to India, or replace jobs in the U.S. with foreign nationals. It has also repeatedly knocked heads with U.S. regulators.

But waittheres more Americana via the Murthys. Through Akshata and her familys businesses, Sunak also has ties to companies that operate Wendys in India and a joint venture with Amazon in India, according to an investigation by the Guardian.

Finally, Sunak even had a U.S. green card at one point, according to the BBC. He still has a luxury apartment in Santa Monica, the Guardian reports.

The point I'm making is that Sunaks connections to America are as significant and singular as Britains itself, and in fact, reflect the changing nature of our relationship with England.

Think about it this way: In the 19th century our ties were mostly commercial, perhaps best symbolized by Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-born American steel baron noted for his philanthropy in the U.S. and British empire. In the 20th century our military alliance with the U.K. was paramount, with Winston Churchill, much-loved by Americans, (and reciprocated to a degree) as emblematic of that bond. And now in the 21st century, with finance ascendent, who better than Sunak, a former Wall Street guy with an American MBA, to be the latest representation of Anglo-Americanism.

Rishi Sunak: As British/American as steak and kidneyand applepie.

This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on Oct. 29. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe

Follow Andy Serwer, editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance, on Twitter: @serwer

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube
Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden

Country artist Brooke Eden and her now-wife Hilary Hoover celebrated their love with not one  but two  wedding ceremonies.

On Aug. 27, the couple first wed in a legal ceremony held at a little white church in Nashville surrounded by their parents and siblings, as well as their nieces and nephew.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was Garth Brooks, who was Hoover's boss up until recently when she left to manage Eden's touring. Brooks sang "To Make You Feel My Love" as Eden and Hoover, both 33, walked down the aisle with their parents, while his wife, Trisha Yearwood, served as the wedding officiant.

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Garth Brooks, Hilary Hoover, Brooke Eden and Trisha Yearwood

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden

After the ceremony, the couple and their guests celebrated on a party bus and hit several local honky-tonks.

RELATED: Brooke Eden Says She and Fiancee Hilary Hoover Are 'Chill Brides' Ahead of Mexico Beach Wedding

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover

Two months later, on Oct. 27, the couple had 140 family and friends attend their second wedding ceremony at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

"With our families living so far away from each other (Brooke's family is in Florida, and Hilary's family is in Indiana), they hadn't had a lot of quality time with each other," the couple tells PEOPLE. "We had to get legally married in the states prior to Mexico, so we knew a Nashville ceremony with our families would be the perfect way for our families to bond."

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler The families

"It was the most amazing thing watching our families fall in love," they continue. "Hilary's nieces and nephew became best friends with Brooke's niece (our flower girls and ringbearer) and so did the rest of our family. We've had so much support from family and friends that we really wanted to celebrate with everyone."

Story continues

RELATED: Out and Proud, Brooke Eden Is Singing About the 'Love of My Life' in New Singles: 'This Is My Girl'

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover with their nieces and nephew

In Mexico, Eden and Hoover said their "I Dos" on a bridge leading out onto the beach. Their best friend, Nashville-based photographer Ford Fairchild, married them, and they exchanged their own vows.

For the big day, Eden wore the dress she wore during her Love Inc. magazine cover shoot that came out this week. The designer, Savin London, surprised her with the dress weeks before their ceremony.

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover, Ford Fairchild and Brooke Eden

Both brides wore rings from Consider the WLDFLWRS, a local ring shop in Nashville, stacked between rings from Marrow Fine jewelers.

RELATED: Twice the Engagement Joy! Brooke Eden and Girlfriend Hilary Hoover Pull Off Twin Surprise Proposals

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover

Following the ceremony, the couple held a reception in an open-air tiki palapa, where they played a "curated playlist" of '90s jams, country favorites and classic throwbacks. They both did a mother-daughter dance and a father-daughter dance, and Eden's 5-year-old niece Colbee gave a speech.

After the couple did their first dance to a song written and recorded by Eden, they surprised their guests by breaking out into a choreographed dance to Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca."

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden

"Mexico has been such an incredible experience," they tell PEOPLE. "Most people made a weeklong vacation out of our wedding, so seeing people from all walks of our life mingle and become friends is very special to us."

"We got to have our wedding and then wake up the next morning and spend the day in the sun with all of our favorite people," they continue. "We feel so lucky."

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover

The couple's love story first began back in 2015, when Hoover was still working at Eden's record label.

"Our connection was immediate," says the couple, who knew they were each other's "person" within days of meeting.

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden

The two then got engaged with twin proposals in May 2021, months after Eden's public coming out.

"It was, as Lizzo said, 'About Damn Time!'" says the couple. "We've lived together since three months in, we have a puppy and own three houses together. We knew from the very beginning this was it for both of us, but after coming out publicly last year, we knew we wanted to make it officially official."

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover with their puppy

RELATED: Brooke Eden Revels in the Freedom to Be Vulnerable on Her New EP: 'I Have Nothing to Hide'

When it comes to their relationship, Eden  who released her EP, Choosing You, in July  and Hoover say they are "true" partners.

"We support each other and always try to remember we're on the same team," they say. "Even if we're upset with each other, we always kiss each other good night. We worked so hard to be together, and we're happier than we've ever been. Remembering all we've been through reminds us we will get through everything side by side."

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden

While they feel like they've been "married for years," the couple is excited to have their union officially recognized by law.

"[We're excited] to walk up to a hotel and check in with the same last names, and be legally tied at a hospital, or in a court," they say. "And also, just getting to call each other wife. That's cool."

Though their wedding felt like a "honeymoon," the couple is also planning a trip to Italy and Spain in the spring.

Brooke Eden and Hilary Hoover Where was the image taken - Tennessee and Mexico When was the image taken - 08/27/22 and 10/27/22 Who took the photograph - Rebecca Adler Full credit line  Rebecca Adler Source contact information: Name: Caroline Fields Phone: 901.289.0086 E-mail: caroline@bbrmusicgroup.com

Rebecca Adler Hilary Hoover and Brooke Eden
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai is speaking out against his teams star player, Kyrie Irving. Tsai issued a statement on Twitter on Friday, saying he condemns Irving for promoting an antisemitic film and book on his social media accounts.

Im disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-Semitic disinformation, the Nets owner tweeted. I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.

Im disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation. I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.  Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022

According to RollingStone, Irving went to social media on Thursday to promote a movie titled Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. The film, according to RollingStone, is based on a book which suggests that many famous high-ranking Jews have admitted to worshiping Satan or Lucifer.

According to the films description, Hebrews to Negroes uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel. The 2015 book, written by Ronald Dalton, Jr., also gives a similar description.

Since the European and Arab slave traders stepped foot into Africa, Blacks have been told lies about their heritage, the book states.

Dalton, who also directed and narrated the film, expressed concern about how slavery is taught in schools. The writer said schools dont teach about the Jewish slave ships that brought our West African negro or Bantu ancestors to slave ports owned by [Jews]. He also said the mass media is the biggest tool of indoctrination, brainwashing, and propaganda that the world has seen and it has been helping Satan deceive the world for centuries.

Despite facing backlash from Tsai and other social media users, Irving has not deleted the amazon link he posted on his Twitter.
A Community Thrives Challenge from Circle of Friends School on Vimeo.

Burrito Brigade and Circle of Friends School in Eugene are the Oregon recipients of the Local Operating Grants through the Gannett Foundations crowdfunding initiative, A Community Thrives.

Nonprofit food access group Burrito Brigade was awarded for the third year in a row, receiving $9,200 this year, which required local fundraising to be eligible. The group raised an additional $6,000 from supporters during the crowdfunding portion of the campaign, for a total of $15,200. The money will help the group refurbish an old Chinese restaurant they are leasing into an industrial kitchen to produce the 750 burritos made each week to distribute to people experiencing homelessness. Previous grants allowed the group to purchase their first and second vans, taking pressure off volunteers using their personal vehicles to haul donated food.

Burrito Brigade's mission is to feed the unhoused and hungry of Oregon through a local community network of personal donors and nonprofit partnerships.

Burrito Brigade members assemble their free grocery store, the Waste to Taste Food Rescue program, in 2021. The organization has been awarded a grant from the A Community Thrives program.

We are honored to be a recipient, and the funds will greatly improve our ability to complete our mission to help the food insecure, Executive Director Jennifer Denson said in a news release.

Circle of Friends School, a nonprofit serving youth with complex disabilities and medical hurdles, will receive a $2,500 grant. The school additionally crowdfunded more than $27,500 during the campaign.

The female-founded school said on its campaign site that the donations would ensure the school "can continue to provide existing programming, as well as expand to after-school programs, respite care, provide grief counselors and other mental health specialists for families, and even have a private classroom option for those who want the additional support."

Learn more at circleoffriendsschool.org.

Previous coverage:Burrito Brigade again awarded $8,400 grant for feeding community, tackling waste

Nationwide, 187 Local Operating Grants from $2,500-$35,000 were handed out in 2022.

Story continues

This year, the initiative sponsored by USA TODAYs parent company, Gannett, raised $3.1 million in an effort to support local organizations that alleviate hardships their residents face on a daily basis. The organizations cater to issues surrounding homelessness, pre- and perinatal care, immigration reform, addiction services and more. The local grants are chosen by leaders in one of the 250 news sites from Gannetts USA TODAY Network.

"In 2022, the A Community Thrives program leveraged the Foundations investment and USA TODAY consumer base resulting in a $6 mill social impact investment in nonprofits doing important work across the country," said Sue Madden, director of the Gannett Foundation. "We are thrilled to engage with these impressive grantees."

For the full list of grant recipients, go togannettfoundation.org/act.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: 2 Eugene nonprofits receive Gannett Foundation grants
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in turn, said that the value of these bonds stands at about CAD 500 million ($366 million).

Read also: NBU resumes trading in treasuries and bonds

All funds to be received from the sale of the securities will be funneled to Kyiv through the International Monetary Fund. This initiative is a continuation of financial assistance to Ukraine from the Canadian government in the amount of CAD 2 billion ($1.465 billion) provided in 2022.

"Everyone will be able to contribute to our countrys economic and financial stability by buying these securities," Shmyhal said, adding that this step will help Ukraine to finance priority expenditures, such as pension payments or preparations for the winter season.

Read also: National Bank of Ukraine buying war bonds to finance the budget. Is this the right tactic?

On top of that, Ottawa also imposed sanctions against another 35 Russian citizens and six organizations from Russia. In particular, the list of sanctions includes Deputy Prime Ministers Alexander Novak and Denis Manturov, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom, Viktor Zubkov.

Sanctioned companies include:

oil company Lukoil

insurance company Sogaz

transport and logistics group Transoil.

Read also: Canada will focus on bolstering support for Ukraine at G-20 summit, Trudeau says

Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Canada has applied sanctions on over 1,400 individuals and legal entities from Russia.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A car crashed into the front of a United Dairy Farmers in Butler Township Saturday afternoon.

Crews were called to reports of a car into a building in the 8000 block of North Dixie Drive around 1:30 p.m.

According to dispatchers, no injuries were reported.

>> Sheriff: Man who jumped into pond to avoid deputies captured in Butler Co.

Video from the scene shows a van through the front doors of the UDF.

It is not known what led up to the crash.

We will update this story as we learn more.




The Chester County School District will soon receive a fleet of electric school buses.

Chester is one of 16 South Carolina school districts who are receiving funding for electric-powered buses, which is apart of a federal grant.

The state as a whole has been awarded more than $50 million to purchase the electric buses, which is a part of the Clean School Bus Program rebate competition.

The rebate amount Chester is receiving totals $3.1 million for eight buses. They are expected to be delivered by October 2024.

ALSO READ: Chester County residents vote against $263 million bond referendum to fix schools

We are thrilled to be chosen for this grant, Chief of Operations Adam Davis said. This is an exciting time for Chester County Schools, and these new buses will hopefully be the first step for further development and progress of our transportation in the future.

The school district hopes the buses will bring a better overall experience for the students who will be riding them.

Chester County Schools 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, said Superintendent Dr. Antwon Sutton.

(WATCH BELOW: Chester County bus driver to be recognized for actions during fight, district says)








DeeDee and Mitchell Bitran after the birth of their first child (left). DeeDee Bitran and Alexis Shaw on embryo transfer day in 2019. DeeDee Bitran

DeeDee Bitran and her husband used a surrogate after doctors told her she couldn't get pregnant.

The surrogate, Alexis Shaw, lost the baby after Bitran found out she was also pregnant.

This is Bitran's story, as told to Lucy Laing.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with DeeDee Bitran. It has been edited for length and clarity.

It was a phone call that I never expected to make.

"You will never believe it, but I'm pregnant too," I told Alexis, the amazing woman who had agreed to be a surrogate for my husband Mitchell and I.

Even though it was so unexpected, Alexis, who was 25 at the time in 2019, was thrilled for me. It was an unusual situation  we had only just found out that Alexis was pregnant with our embryo, and now I was telling her that I was pregnant, too.

It had already been such an emotional journey for Mitchell and I.

At the age of 22, a test confirmed that I have a BRCA gene mutation, which can make you more likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer.

While about 13 percent of women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, the chance is between 45 to 72% for women with certain BRCA variants. For ovarian cancer, around 1% of women will develop it, rising to between 11 and 44% for people with BRCA, depending on the variant.

My grandma, great aunt, and great grandma had all had breast cancer, so I was screened for the gene, and the test came back positive.

Mitchell and I got married in 2015 when we were both 25. We knew we wanted a family, but I didn't want to give the gene to any of our children.

In 2017 we decided to have IVF treatment to screen the embryos before putting them into my womb, to prevent the gene being passed on.

I got pregnant but had a miscarriage, and was told a procedure to scrape the uterus afterwards had made the lining of my womb thin. According to two IVF doctors, it was now impossible for me to carry a baby.

We tried IVF several more times, but my lining would never grow thick enough for an embryo to implant properly, so the cycles kept being cancelled.

Story continues

DeeDee Bitran and Alexis Shaw at the hospital on the day that the embryo was transferred in 2019. DeeDee Bitran

My husband and I wanted a family, even if I couldn't carry our baby

Having a family was important to Mitchell and I, and we were determined to achieve it somehow. If I couldn't carry a baby in my womb, then we needed to find someone who could.

So we contacted an agency that connected people with surrogates. We were put in touch with Alexis, who lived in Idaho, over 2,000 miles away from us in Miami, and already had a daughter of her own.

There was an instant connection between us, and after some discussions in person and over the phone she agreed to carry our baby. We still had embryos frozen at the fertility clinic from our previous IVF cycles and Alexis had one of them implanted in her womb in October 2019.

When my period was late, I knew I couldn't be pregnant

Before the baby was born, I was due to have a mastectomy operation  although we hadn't yet confirmed a date  to limit my chances of developing breast cancer. It's an extensive surgery so I didn't want it to affect my ability to hold and care for the baby.

But my period was late, and I didn't want to have the procedure while I was pregnant in case the baby got harmed. Considering my medical history, I was convinced I wasn't pregnant but I still did a test just to check.

I couldn't believe it when it came up positive. We had only just found out several weeks before that Alexis was pregnant with our embryo, too.

I didn't know how Alexis would feel when she heard our news, but she was excited, and so were Mitchell and I. We were going to have two babies, not one, and we would be bringing them up together like twins.

DeeDee Bitran when she was pregnant with her first child. DeeDee Bitran

Alexis supported me throughout my pregnancy, despite what she'd been through

But a few weeks later, Alexis called me. She was devastated. She'd had a lot of bleeding during the night, and had to go to the hospital. She had lost the baby. Alexis, Mitchell, and I were heartbroken.

I just had to put all my hope in my body and pray that this baby would be strong enough to hold on. We had just lost one, and I couldn't bear to lose this little one, too.

But the odds were stacked against me. My body had never been able to successfully carry a baby before.

Despite what she had been through, Alexis and I talked a lot on the phone during my pregnancy and she supported me all the way through it.

The weeks went by, and my body hung on to the baby. It seemed like a miracle.

Ellie was born in March 2020 and she was perfect. I was in shock when she was born healthy and safe. We had tried for so long and I was finally a mom.

Then, when Ellie was just ten months old, I got pregnant again and gave birth to our son Mauricio in September 2021. The doctors said my womb must have healed itself for me to have gotten pregnant without treatment.

DeeDee and Mitchell Bitran with their children, Ellie and Mauricio. Dainty Blue Photography

I'm now 32 and I will have a mastectomy when Mauricio is a little bit older and I've finished breast feeding. I do worry that I may have passed the gene on to Ellie and Mauricio, but for now, I'm just enjoying being a mom to my two children.

Alexis and I are still good friends and always will be. Even though she didn't carry a baby for me in the end, I couldn't have done it without her. Our children haven't yet met, but I can't wait for them to do so.

Read the original article on Insider
The Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled kicker Chris Boswell out of Sundays game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a groin injury, the team announced on Saturday. Boswell was originally listed as questionable to play in the teams initial injury report on Friday.

Boswell was first listed on the Steelers injury report on Friday, when he missed practice with the previously unannounced injury. Boswell was a full participant in the teams practices on Wednesday and Thursday before suffering the injury. The Steelers have not revealed how Boswell was injured. He finished the teams Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins without apparent issue.

The Steelers do not have a kicker on their practice squad at the current moment, though they will undoubtedly sign one at some point before Sundays 1 p.m. kickoff in Philadelphia.

Wake Forest alum Nick Sciba, who was with the team in training camp, is available. So is Matt Lambo, who was on the teams practice squad in 2021 when Boswell suffered an injury.

Click here to read more from our partners at Sports Now Group Pittsburgh.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

WATCH FULL DEBATE: Fetterman, Oz face off in first and only Senate debate Four winning Powerball tickets sold in Pennsylvania Winning $100K Powerball ticket sold in Childrens Hospital shop VIDEO: Teen shot in head in Pittsburghs Beechview neighborhood has died DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Art and food will burst with color at EPCOTs Festival of the Arts next year.

EPCOTs International Festival of the Arts will return Jan. 13 and last until Feb. 20, 2023, Walt Disney World announced Thursday.

The festival will include vibrant new food options.

Read: Passholders file lawsuit against Disney World over park reservation system

There will be 16 Food Studios with art-inspired menus, including two new areas.

Moderne will be near Test Track and Figments Inspiration Station will be at the Odyssey: Art, Food, and Little Sparks of Magic.

Disney said it will release more details about the treats and drinks next year.

Read: Heres when Fantasmic! returns at Disneys Hollywood Studios

Over 100 Disney and visiting artists will display their work.

Guests can learn how to draw a Disney character at the Animation Academy and visit the Expressions Section: A Paint-by-Numbers Mural.

Parkgoers can also participate in a Figment scavenger hunt to learn about art around the World Showcase.

Read: New holiday tunes coming to the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride at EPCOT

Admission to the festival is included in park admission.

For more events in Central Florida visit our event calendar here.

Watch this video below:

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center had to spend $2 million to complete what was billed as a bike lane as a condition for city approval. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

On a short stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood is a sidewalk cutout that was billed as a bike lane.

A short half-block long, it took about 18 months to complete and cost roughly $2 million, and yet it is not marked as a bike lane and does not connect to one.

Its a bike lane to nowhere, said Stephen Burn, general manager of building services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which was required to complete and pay for the project as a condition of approval.

Burn apologized for calling it a stupid waste of time and money that delayed the opening of badly needed supportive housing and social services, but no apology was necessary. He said he honestly wanted to pull his hair out at times when dealing with various government agencies, and after he shared the details, I wanted to pull my hair out.

Im bringing this up now, on the eve of elections, for a reason.

The campaign focus on strategies around homelessness, crime and housing in the mayoral and City Council elections is certainly warranted. But lets not forget that L.A. is desperate for a mayor and other leaders who will crack down on ineptitude, call out nonsense, and deliver basic services.

I hear frequently from frustrated taxpayers who get the runaround, or no response at all, when they try to get attention for various municipal breakdowns.

In recent days, a North Hollywood resident complained of encampments multiplying despite the promise of relief after the opening of a tiny home village she supported, and she asked, When did our city officials become indifferent to their constituents pleas for help?

A Venice resident sent me photos of knee-high trash on Lincoln Boulevard and said hed made multiple efforts to get someone to clean it up. Finally, it was cleared. But 24 hours later, another landfill appeared. The lack of attention, basic services and sanitation continues to be untenable, he said.

In a city that has paid out tens of millions of dollars in settlements for injuries caused by ruptured sidewalks, I pulled up to a doozy a few days ago on Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. The sidewalk looked like a skateboard ramp in a Jackass movie.

Story continues

I could go on and on, but lets get back to Santa Monica Boulevard and the LGBT Center, which I first toured a few weeks ago with mayoral candidate Karen Bass. She sighed and shook her head when staffers told her about the headaches and mounting costs involving the carved-out lane that fronts the building's property, and she asked if anyone at City Hall had come to their rescue.

There was a bit of help, but not enough. I was curious to find out more, so I later returned to the center to hear the details.

A lot of new buildings in Los Angeles are set back farther from the street, but not necessarily for the sake of bikes. Critics, in fact, have said the real goal is to make more room for vehicles.

At the center, though, Burn was told from the beginning by public officials that his building's sidewalk carve-out was part of a long-term bike lane project, and a long trail of documents back him up. By the way, I think the city needs more bike lanes, but design and location are key, and this project flunks both tests.

Burn and I paced off the supposed bike lane, which is about 150 feet long, starting mid-block and ending at McCadden Place. Theres no bikeway just east of there, outside a 7-Eleven strip mall, and no bike lane just west of there, where theres a pawn shop and a doughnut shop.

There werent many cyclists in sight  possibly because its dangerous to pedal along a busy thoroughfare with a stop-and-go shoulder. The carve-out appears to be used more as a right-turn lane for cars and trucks, which makes it all the more dangerous for bikes.

But the larger point, aside from the absurdity of considering that location for a bike lane, is the rigmarole the center was subjected to.

Burn told me the land for the center was purchased in 2012, with full support from local officials and the community, and yet 10 years later, the paperwork is not complete. The first snag was a zoning change requirement, and Burn said that turned into a $1-million process.

Construction didnt begin until 2016, and thats when the bike lane came up. Burn said that stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard is technically a state road, and he was told that Caltrans and the city wanted a bike lane there, and that the property owner would have to foot the bill.

Center officials sought help from then-Councilman David Ryu, whose chief of staff, Sarah Dusseault, recalls thinking it was inappropriate to demand that a nonprofit provider of urgently needed services be on the hook for a bike lane in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Why is this not a state infrastructure issue? said Dusseault, who called both the demands and the design all sorts of wrong.

Dusseault went to work hunting for money to help out, but costs only grew when the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power got involved. Two wooden utility poles, with overhead lines, stood in the center of the proposed lane and had to be removed.

Power would have to be run underground, Burn was told, and the center would have to pay for a backup power line to serve the evolving needs of the surrounding neighborhood. Dusseault says that seemed to be an unfair burden, but there was no getting around it.

So the DWP went to work, but the madness did not end.

The actual work of undergrounding the power didnt take long, Burn said. But the poles didnt get removed from the street, so we couldnt complete the roadwork.  We didnt know what the issue was and kept asking for them to come and take the poles away, but mostly our requests were unanswered.

Burn was eventually told the overhead wires included internet connectivity lines and DWP had nothing to do with it and couldnt find anyone to say, Those are our wires.

Months passed. Insurance costs rose. Financial juggling was required, even though Dusseault dug out some public money to help defray the cost of the project. Permits expired and applications had to be resubmitted. Aspects of the overall development of the center were delayed.

Dozens of housing units for seniors and youths, along with an array of social services, were finally in place by last year, and the LGBT Center is helping to save and rebuild lives on a daily basis. But full operation was delayed by close to a year, Burn said, and when people are shocked to hear the high cost of homeless housing units and how long it takes to put people into beds, its because of just what the LGBT Center has experienced.

The saddest thing is that these kinds of problems are not the exception in Los Angeles; theyre the rule. I hear about them all the time from service providers and developers who say its not this bad in other cities. They speak in tortured tones about what Burn called a Kafkaesque experience in managing the often conflicting demands of multiple agencies.

One inspector would say do it this way, another inspector would show up and contradict the other inspector. City electrical inspectors said they were available only after or before regular work hours, often at around 4 a.m., when overtime pay applies.

No fewer than nine funding sources were used in the LGBT project, each with its own attorneys and rules. Burn said two cutaway ramps for wheelchair access on McCadden have been ordered redone three times because of conflicting inspections and demands, adding about $100,000 in costs.

This is not free money, Burn said of cost overruns of at least $2 million on all aspects of the project. It means not spending it on feeding people, on housing them, on helping them with legal issues or domestic violence, on teaching them to read.

This villainous level of bureaucratic dysfunction and political impotence is stupefying, and over the years weve heard plenty of candidates vow to clear out the rot, streamline services, and finally make City Hall work for the people.

Karen Bass and Rick Caruso follow in that tradition of big promises, and whoever wins, we'll be watching.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
There are growing concerns on Hawaiis Big Island as officials monitor the Mauna Loa Volcano for heightened unrest.

Mauna Loa is the worlds largest active volcano. State officials have been monitoring its activity since September. The main reason for increased monitoring is the number of earthquakes has gone up from 10 to 20 per day to 40 to 50, the Associated Press reports.

RELATED: How Do You Know Which Island In Hawaii You Should Visit? Weve Got You

Scientists believe more earthquakes are happening because theres an increase in magma flowing into the volcanos summit reservoir system, according to The Week.

Im in Hawaii and have dealt with 1 hurricane, 2 lava inundations and countless earthquakes in 10 years. Gotta go with volcanoes being the most destructive on my island. (Were currently on volcano watch for Mauna Loa) pic.twitter.com/DJNeOkW8D9  Marcie  (@GhostGirl1957) October 28, 2022

Getting The Word Out

State leaders are telling residents that while they are not trying to cause panic, its vital that everyone stays informed.

They have to be aware that [if] you live on the slopes of Mauna Loa, theres a potential for some kind of lava disaster, Talmadge Magno, the administrator for Hawaii County Civil Defense, said tells the Associated Press.

The volcano, rising 13,679 feet above sea level, hasnt erupted since 1984. It could cause catastrophic damage if it erupts, making up at least 51% of the islands landmass.

Mauna Loa is larger than the Kilauea volcano, which destroyed more than 700 homes after erupting in 2018. One huge concern is the population on the Big Island has more than doubled since its last eruption in 1984. More than 200,000 people live on the Big Island compared to 92,000 in the 1980s.
Jezebel

The family of the late Katie Meyer, formerly Stanford Universitys star soccer captain, is suing the university for wrongful death, after Meyer took her life in her dorm room in February. Last week, Santa Clara County ruled that there is no indication of foul play, and Meyers death was determined to be self-inflicted, prompting Meyers family to file a lawsuit on Wednesday, Sports Illustrated reported.
A drone attack in the bay of the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol has been allegedly repelled by Russian naval vessels

Read also: About 1,000 summonses served in occupied Sevastopol amid partial mobilization in Russia

According to Russian state-owned propagandist network TASS, no objects in the city were hit and the situation is under control, the occupation authorities said. Ferries and boats have been grounded, while movement been city districts has been restricted to buses, the occupiers added.

Read also: Explosions again rock Sevastopol in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea

Explosions and fires at military facilities captured by Russian forces have been regularly reported in the occupied Crimea since the beginning of August. In some places, this led to serious losses among the Russian troops.

Read also: Russia losing, trying to freeze war at any cost, says Polands Duda

According to Ukrainian intelligence, after a series of explosions in Crimea, Russia withdrew part of its ships and aircraft from the occupied peninsula.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Blockchain Association, a crypto lobbying organization based in Washington, D.C., filed for permission to support Ripple as a friend of the court in its ongoing defense against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) late Friday.

The SEC sued Ripple at the end of 2020 on allegations that it sold XRP as an unregistered security. The case has gone through a number of procedural motions since, and the parties recently filed their motions for summary judgement. On Friday, the Blockchain Association asked the court overseeing the case for permission to join the case, as well as the actual "amicus" brief.

"The SECs extremely broad interpretation of the securities laws would have devastating effects on the industry (and even outside the industry)," the motion for leave said.

A memorandum of law in support of the motion for leave said its actual brief points out different uses of crypto tokens within the industry, rather than just Ripple itself.

Read more: SEC, Ripple Call for Immediate Ruling in Suit Over Whether XRP Sales Violated Securities Laws

The brief itself says the court should look at a token's specific purpose, and argues the SEC "unlawfully" looked at secondary sales as proof that the company was violating federal securities laws.

The filing went on to say that many tokens are used in secondary market transactions, and they do not meet the different tenets of the Howey Test, a U.S. Supreme Court case generally used as precedent in trying to interpret if an asset is a security.

Much of the brief focuses on the question of how broadly securities laws apply to tokens outside of initial sales.

"The securities laws do not contemplate how an asset that may have been issued as a security can exist when it is no longer attached to any form of investment contract, a crucial consideration when attempting to apply Howey," the filing said.

Another group, the Investor Choice Advocates Network and SpendTheBits Inc., filed its own friend of the court brief on Friday, with the court's permission.

These entities argued that the SEC is using a "vague" definition of "investment contract" to bring its case, and pointed to ongoing legislative efforts to define where the SEC's jurisdiction over crypto begins and ends.

"Until a consensus is reached, the SEC has no authority to fill what it apparently perceives as a vacuum," the filing claims.
Most of us spend too much time on the internet and not enough time changing our passwords to protect our internet activity. Now is as good time as ever to take stock of our internet activity as October is Cyber Security Month.

Often the bad things that can happen to us are totally out of our control. However, there are things that we do that we shouldnt. Many of these things apply to us the regular consumer and to businesses as well.

A recent report puts Illinois only behind Kansas and Rhode Island when it comes to identity theft. The Javelin report also listed the top 20 metro areas in the country with the highest number of identity theft victims. Unfortunately, Rockford lands at number 18 on the list with 792 victims per 100,000 residents.

The numbers reflecting the rate of loss of money and personal information that can lead to identity theft and instances of malware are alarming.

According to the Cyber Infrastructure Security Agency, at least 1/3 of homes in the United States have been infected with malicious software. They estimate that over 600,000 Facebook accounts are hacked every day and almost half of American adults have had their personal information exposed by cybercriminals.

The United States Department of Homeland Security and the Cyber Infrastructure Security Agency created cybersecurity month to give consumers the tools and resources they need to stay safe and secure online.

We read almost daily about major companies and all their customer information being hacked as well as government agencies. But cybercrime can hit any individual and businesses of all sizes. Advocate Aurora Health, a major health care provider in the Chicagoland area, reported recently that as many as three million of their patients records had been compromised due to a data breach.

Victims of cybercrimes can suffer identity theft, a loss of money and dangerous ransomware or malware downloaded on their computers.

Thats why its so important for people to be very proactive in protecting their personal information, and luckily there are some simple steps that go a long way to do so. Rule number one is to harden your passwords. Never use anything crooks could find online like the names of your children, your first pet, favorite band, birthday, or anything simple that ties directly into your personal life.

Story continues

Here are some other tips that you can use to protect yourself:

Protect your passwords. Change passwords often and keep them long and strong. Use different passwords for various accounts and enable multi-factor authentication when available.

Connect with caution. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi as these networks are not secure. Ensure the website is security-enabled when entering financial or credit card information.

Click with caution. Use a critical eye on the email address the mail is coming from. Beware of links in unsolicited emails, text messages and those found in ads on social media sites. Never download or install files from unverified sources. If something looks strange, dont click it and immediately report any phishing attempts.

Own your online presence. When applicable, set the privacy and security settings on websites to your comfort level for information sharing. It is ok to limit how you share information.

Regularly update computer and app software to keep the latest security improvements.

Dennis Horton is director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau, which serves Winnebago, Boone and Stephenson counties among others in northern Illinois.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Cybersecurity month is the perfect time to change your passwords
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Thousands of Czechs protested in Prague on Friday, demanding the centre-right government step down to allow an early election and calling for talks with Russia on gas supplies ahead of winter.

The demonstration on a national holiday in Prague's main square was the third organised by far-right political movements, fringe groups and the Communist party. Police estimated the crowd in the lower tens of thousands, less than the two previous rallies.

The organising group "Czech Republic First!" opposes the European Union and NATO transatlantic alliance, and wants the nation of 10.7 million to be militarily neutral.

Protesters waved Czech flags, chanted "Resign, Resign" and carried signs calling for an exit from NATO and the EU.

"This is a new national revival and its goal is for the Czech Republic to be independent," event organiser Ladislav Vrabel said. "When I see a full square, no one can stop this."

High energy prices, fuelled by the war in Ukraine, have piled pressure on governments across Europe to cushion the blow of mounting energy costs for consumers and businesses.

The Czech government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala has signed up to EU sanctions against Russia and taken a tough stance over the invasion of Ukraine. It has also adopted a string of measures, including financial aid for companies and price caps on electricity for households.

(Reporting by Michael Kahn and Jiri Skacel, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Even Peters stars as Jeffrey Dahmer in "Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." Netflix

An attorney who represented the families of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims called out Ryan Murphy.

Thomas M. Jacobson said Murphy's suggestion to fund a memorial site was an "afterthought."

Instead, Jacobson suggested Murphy share his profits from the series with the families.

A former attorney for the families of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims said that Ryan Murphy should share the profits from his hit Netflix series.

Thomas M. Jacobson, who represented eight of the 11 victims' families, shared his thoughts in an email to The Wrap published Friday. According to the outlet, Jacobson addressed comments Murphy made at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday when he acknowledged the controversy surrounding "Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."

The AHS Zone (@ahszone) October 28, 2022

Following complaints from some of the victims' families  who said Murphy never contacted them about the series  Murphy said he'd be "happy to pay" for a memorial honoring the victims in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the murders took place.

"Anything that we could do to get that to happen, you know, I would even be happy to pay for it myself," Murphy told the audience, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I think there should be something. And we're trying to get a hold of people to talk about that. I think there's some resistance because they think the park would attract people who are interested in paying homage to the macabre but I think something should be done."

But Murphy's response didn't impress Jacobson.

Ryan Murphy addressed criticism around his Netflix series. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"The memorial contribution for the Dahmer victims by Ryan Murphy seems like an afterthought," Jacobson told The Wrap. "Milwaukee wanted Dahmer's memory to disappear, so not wanting any remembrance of his mayhem in the community is a given."

Jacobson said that Murphy should pay the victims' families for exploiting their trauma.

"The only meaningful Dahmer-victim-family action on Murphy's part would be a monetary consideration from the Netflix profits for their exploitation and continuing trauma," Jacobson told the outlet.

Story continues

Jacobson fought to stop Dahmer and his estate from profiting from the crimes and expressed his dismay over Murphy and Netflix making a profit.

"All my efforts on behalf of the Dahmer-victim families were consistent with my belief that network TV series, books, movies, trading cards, comic books, action figures, any and all Dahmer-victim exploitation commercially, all profits need to be shared with the victims and their families," Jacobson told The Wrap.

The series premiered on Netflix in September. Netflix

Jacobson added: "Netflix receives the gain, the Dahmer-victim families the pain. This is not just, this is not fair, this is not right."

Representatives for Netflix and Murphy did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

"Dahmer  Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" premiered on Netflix in September and quickly became a pop-culture phenomenon. The 10-episode series chronicles Dahmer's murders from the viewpoint of the victims and explores how law enforcement's apathy allowed multiple murders. "American Horror Story" star Evan Peters portrays Jeffrey Dahmer in the series.

Following the premiere, some of the victims' family members called out the series for retraumatizing them and exploiting the deaths for viewership.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy also said he contacted 20 of the victims' friends and family, but nobody responded at Thursday's event.

"So we relied very, very heavily on our incredible group of researchers who  I don't even know how they found a lot of this stuff," Murphy said. "But it was just like a night-and-day effort to us trying to uncover the truth of these people."

Read the original article on Insider
The Pentagon will send Ukraine another $275 million in weapons and military equipment as part of a new package meant to help shore up Kyivs forces ahead of winter fighting.

Well share whats in the latest package and what weapons Ukraine is still waiting on, plus whats causing cracks to form in the mostly united U.S. response to Russias war, and details of the latest North Korean missile launches.

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.

Close

Thank you for signing up!

Subscribe to more newsletters here

The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter





US to send Ukraine $275M in weapons, equipment

The new $275 lethal aid package to Ukraine will include more ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) among other critical ammunition to bolster Ukraine in its fight against Russia, the Defense Department announced Friday.

Also included, according to deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh:

500 precision-guided 155 mm artillery rounds

2,000 155 mm rounds of remote anti-armor mine systems

1,300+ anti-armor systems

125 Humvees

2.75 million+ rounds of small arms ammunition

Four satellite communications antennas

A replenishment: While there are no new weapons in the U.S. package, the additional aid is meant to restock critical weapons systems already in Ukrainian hands. Among those systems is HIMARS, which Kyivs forces have used to push Russian troops from chunks of Ukrainian land in its counteroffensive begun at the start of September.

Some of the equipment and systems that are mentioned are having everyday impacts that were seeing on the battlefield and thats why we are providing more, Singh said.

Still waiting: Ukrainians are still waiting on other major weapons systems, including the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), which could be used to knock down targets in the sky including drones, ballistic missiles or fighter jets.

Story continues

The weapon is expected to be delivered early next month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday.



The U.S. has committed two of the air defense systems to Kyiv, which continues to press Western nations for more of the critical capability.

Finishing up: Singh said a Pentagon training program for Ukrainians to operate NASAMS will conclude soon, and once finished the system will be ready for delivery to Ukraine.

Read more here



Cracks in US support for Ukraine risk helping Putin

Cracks are forming in what has largely been a united U.S. response to Russias war in Ukraine, with calls rising from the right and left for President Biden to push harder for peace talks.

The push from figures ranging from former President Trump on the right to progressive leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) on the left has thrust questions about the Biden administrations strategy toward Ukraine into the fore as Kyiv has seized momentum on the battlefield.

The argument: Supporters of current U.S. strategy say pressuring Ukraine into negotiations now would only help Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

It helps the Russians and it hurts the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians want the Russians out of their country. And right now theyre on track to do that, said William Taylor, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine now with the United States Institute of Peace.

Cracks showing: The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) stirred up a hornets nest on Capitol Hill this week with the release of a letter calling for Biden to increase pressure on Kyiv to open negotiations with Moscow, and for the U.S. to explore direct talks with Russia.

The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks, the 30 lawmakers wrote in the letter, which was retracted a day later amid intense criticism from within the Democratic Party.

The issue: One reason many Democrats were upset with the letter  a point Jayapal acknowledged when she withdrew it  was that it muddied a message the party is trying to send ahead of the midterms about how Republicans are a threat to U.S. unity behind Ukraine.

Timing: The letter came a week after Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) spurred concerns about GOP support for Ukraine with his warning that a Republican majority would not issue a blank check to Kyivs war efforts.

Former President Trump has repeatedly pushed for peace talks in Ukraine while stumping for candidates ahead of Novembers midterm elections.

Read more here





NK fires two ballistic missiles as South finishes drills

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on Friday for the first time in two weeks, coinciding with the last day of South Koreas annual Hoguk military drills.

The South Korean military detected the short-range missiles in the Tongchon region, on the east coast of North Korea nearing its southern neighbor.

The details: South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the missiles flew at 140 miles at a maximum altitude of 15 miles, according to The Associated Press.

The military organization condemned the missile launches, which it called a grave provocation and accused of breaching UN Security Council resolutions.

Talks held: The southern countrys foreign ministry weighed in on the situation, reporting that it held talks with allies Japan and the U.S. following the launches aimed at strengthening a coalition against North Koreas weapons tests.

The Pentagons response: The Defense Department late on Friday confirmed the North Korean launches, which officials said came from the central part of the country early in the day.

The missiles landed in the vicinity of Alsom Island  a rocky outcrop about 18 kilometers off North Koreas coast. U.S. officials assessed that the launches does not pose any immediate threat to U.S. personnel or our allies, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

She added that the United States will continue working closely with our partners, and that the actions of North Korea further destabilize the region.

Read that here





ON TAP FOR MONDAY

The Atlantic council will hold a conference on the future of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship at 8:30 a.m.

Robert Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, will speak at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on the Biden administrations Iran policy at 10 a.m.





WHAT WERE READING

 Lighter click: The Hills Photos of the Week





Thats it for today! Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you Monday!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Libby German and Abby Williams were killed back in 2017 (Indiana State Police )

Its been more than five years since best friends Libby German, 14, and Abby Williams, 13, set off on a walk in their hometown of Delphi, Indiana  never to be seen alive again.

Since then, several local men have fallen under suspicion for their murders.

But no arrests were made, no suspects formally named and one promising lead after the next went cold. Until now.

For the first time, a man has been arrested in connection to the 2017 murders of the teenagers.

Richard Allen, a 50-year-old married Delphi man, was taken into custody on Wednesday (26 October) and booked into Carroll County Jail. He has since been moved to a state facility for his own safety.

On Monday, Indiana State Police announced Mr Allen is charged with two counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty.

Officials said the affidavit is currently under seal and declined to provide additional details about the bombshell development in the high-profile case that has rocked the small, close-knit community of Delphi and gone unsolved for more than half a decade.

As news of the arrest broke on Friday, Libbys sister Kelsi German tweeted that today is the day they had been waiting for.

Just know how grateful I am for all of you. No comments for now, any questions please refer to the Carroll county prosecutors office. There is tentatively a press conference Monday at 10am. We will say more then. Today is the day, she said.

In a follow-up tweet, she added: Nothing is confirmed at this time.

Heres what we know about the case:

What happened to Libby and Abby?

Libby and Abby went missing on 13 February 2017 after they set off on a hike along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana.

Their bodies were discovered the next day in a wooded area around half a mile off the trail.

For years, police have refused to say how the girls died and have revealed few details about the crime scene.

However, shocking new details about the murders came to light in a search warrant application obtained by podcast The Murder Sheet and shared with The Independent back in May.

Story continues

Libby German posted a Snapchat as the girls walked along the trail (Snapchat)

The warrant, filed by an FBI agent investigating the murders back in 2017 and partly redacted, was to carry out a search on the home of a local man Ronald Logan.

In it, the agent revealed that the girls had lost a lot of blood during their deaths and that their killer is believed to have moved and staged their bodies, before taking some sort of souvenir from the scene.

For the first time, the warrant also revealed that the teenagers had been killed by some type of weapon. The word for the weapon was redacted in the document.

The murderer would have been covered in the victims blood in the aftermath of the slayings due to the large amount of blood was lost by the victims at the crime scene, it reads.

Because of the nature of the victims wounds, it is nearly certain the perpetrator of the crime would have gotten blood on his person/clothing.

Abby and Libby are believed to have been killed in another location, before their murderer then moved their bodies to where they were found, the surfaced documents show.

Chilling footage of suspect

On the day the girls went missing, Libby had posted photos on Snapchat of her and Abby walking along the trail.

The happy image of the two best friends is believed to be the last photo of them before they died.

In a move that propelled the investigation forward, Libby also captured a grainy video on her phone of a man dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap walking along the abandoned railroad bridge.

Investigators released a grainy image from the video and a chilling audio of the man telling the two girls: Go down the hill.

This grainy image was taken on Libbys phone on the trail the day the girls went missing. Investigators believe the man is the killer (Indiana State Police)

Investigators have long suspected that this man is the girls killer and have praised the girls for documenting the video as evidence.

Up until now, the man has never been identified.

Police gave the description of the man as a white male aged between 16 and 40 years old, between 5 6 and 5 10 in height and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds.

Multiple police sketches were circulated of a man matching the description of the man in the footage.

Who is Richard Allen?

It is not clear what information has led to Mr Allens arrest now, more than five years on from the 2017 slayings.

In August, Indiana State Police were spotted searching the Wabash River in Peru  around 40 minutes east of Delphi  in connection to the case.

At the time of the murders, Mr Allen would have been 44 years old.

The 50-year-old is a local resident of Delphi, where the teenage girls lived with their families.

According to online records, Mr Allen has lived in Delphi since at least 2006, and in Indiana his whole adult life.

He is married and works as a pharmacy technician, receiving his most recent pharmaceutical licence in February 2018  one year on from the murders.

A police sketch of the man believed to have killed Abby and Libby (Indiana State Police)

A local resident told Fox59 that Mr Allen currently works at the local CVS store  coming into contact with members of the community as part of his job.

When I will go into CVS as a customer myself, he would say do you need any help? I would be like no, said Chandler Underhill, the manager of the local Brick & Mortar Pub, where he said Mr Allen was a regular.

Just like a normal guy that Ive seen for the last couple years, not really thinking anything.

Mr Underhill said that Mr Allen always seemed normal when he would come into the pub where he works.

I would talk; he wouldnt say much. He seems like a normal guy, he said.

One of my servers was telling me that he wouldnt speak much.

Law enforcement officers search the Wabash River in Indiana in August (Courtesy of The Murder Podcast)

Mr Allen appears to have no prior criminal record.

However, the Carroll County Jail record lists Mr Allen as also going by the alias of Craigh Ross Rentfrow.

Other names tied to the case

The arrest of Mr Allen marks the very first time his name has been publicly tied to the unsolved murders.

Over the years, authorities have honed in on several other men.

A 27-year-old Indiana man fell under the spotlight last year when the online account he used to groom underage girls online was tied to the teenage victims. His home had been searched on suspicion of child porn charges just two weeks after the 2017 murders.

In December 2021, Indiana State Police announced that officials had uncovered a fake online profile called anthony_shots.

Kegan Anthony Kline fell under the spotlight last year when the online account he used to groom underage girls online was tied to the teenage victims (Miami County Sheriffs Office)

The profile was used from 2016 to 2017 on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram and used photos of a known male model, portraying him as being extremely wealthy and owning numerous sports cars.

Investigators said the person behind the account was Kegan Anthony Kline, 27-year-old man with addresses in Kokomo and Peru, close to Delphi.

According to an affidavit, Kline posed as the model in order to groom underage girls and get them to send nude photos and their addresses and try to get them to meet him. The male model whose photos were used had no connection to the case.

Kline was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse images and child exploitation tied to the account in 2020.

He allegedly admitted to investigators that he groomed underage girls online.

The affidavit said that Indiana State Police and the FBI carried out a search warrant on 25 February 2017 - less than two weeks after Abby and Libby were murdered - at Klines home in Peru after tracking down the user of the anthony_shots profile to the property.

Kline allegedly told investigators he would use social media accounts to talk to underage girls and had exchanged messages with and received about 100 sexual photos and about 20 sexually explicit videos from around 15 underage girls.

One of the photos used on the bogus online account where the individual posed as this male model (Indiana State Police)

However, he denied any knowledge or involvement in the two teenagers deaths.

Kline was charged with 30 felonies in 2020 over the case.

The documents, filed in 2020 and heavily redacted, do not mention the murders of Libby and Abby and he was not accused of involvement in their deaths.

Libbys grandmother Becky Patty told The Independent in December that the teenager had never mentioned speaking to anyone online prior to her death and that there had never been any indication that the two girls had arranged to meet anyone online the day they were killed.

Up until last night we were all under the impression that there was no indication and even now, as far as Im aware, there is no indication that the girls had any plans to meet anyone out there [on the trail], she said.

Ms Patty, who raised Libby from the age of three along with her husband Mike Patty, also said she had never heard of Kline before investigators released the information about the social media profile to the public.

However, after so many leads had gone cold she said she was not going to get her hopes up that it was the breakthrough the families had been waiting for.

Investigators urged anyone who had communicated with, met, or attempted to meet the individual posing as anthony_shots to come forward with information.

Prior to this, Mr Logan had previously been on police radar, according to the 2017 search warrant application.

Ron Logan lied to investigators about where he was the day Libby and Abby went missing (Carroll County Sheriffs Office)

Mr Logan owned the land on which Libby and Abbys bodies were found and his home was just 1,400 feet from the crime scene.

The warrant application cites multiple complaints that he was violent towards women and that he owned multiple weapons, including handguns and knives.

Mr Logan also allegedly lied about where he was at the time that the teenagers disappeared.

He told investigators that he was picked up by a friend around 2pm on 13 February and driven to an aquarium store, returning hours later at around 5pm, the document states.

The friend confirmed the alibi  before admitting two days later that Mr Logan had made up the story and asked him to lie.

Instead, cellphone location data placed Mr Logan in the area around the trail at the time Abby and Libby disappeared.

The document also says that his voice was not inconsistent with the man captured in the video by Libby.

Mr Logan was never charged and he died in 2020, before the case was solved.

Delphi community hopes for closure

More than five years on from the murders, news that an arrest has finally been made has raised hopes among the Delphi community that there can finally be closure in the case.

Local store owner Laura Greene said that the community has never been the same after the murders.

Its had a big effect. I mean in the beginning we didnt trust people we were always looking behind our back, she told Fox59.

For many we spoke to, the worst revelation today was that the suspect was one of their own.

For those of us who came in contact with this suspect its kind of eerie.

Finally having a breakthrough in the case was a positive day for the community, she said.

Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together (Facebook)

We are very happy. We are very happy as a community. We can all put this behind us and Im very happy for the family, she said.

Resident Audrey Wardrip said that the family never gave up hope.

Despite their grief, and maybe they found that in their grief, to never give up and never quit. I mean they have built softball fields to bring awareness to their children and its just a beautiful thing that they are just so strong, she said.

However, even if the development does bring some closure to the case, the families of Libby and Abby will never have closure from what happened, she said.

It doesnt heal the hurt or, you know, change anything for the families, but maybe this will bring some sort of ease to them.
Dispatch audio has revealed how Nancy Pelosis husband managed to alert authorities that he was under attack from a hammer-wielding assailant by speaking in code in a secret 911 call.

Paul Pelosi relayed to law enforcement that a man called David had broken into his San Francisco home and planned to lie in wait for his House Speaker wife, according to a dispatcher.

Mr Pelosi, 82, described the man as a friend  in an apparent attempt to keep the 911 call under wraps from the alleged attacker David DePape.

In a police audio clip, from 2.28am local time, the dispatcher is heard telling another operator that the caller stated that there is a male in his home and he is going to wait for his wife.

The caller, later identified as Mr Pelosi, stated that he does not know who the man is but said that his name is David and that he is a friend, the operator said.

Police revealed on Friday evening that Mr Pelosi had managed to call police to the home by secretly dialling 911 from his cellphone and speaking in code.

The 82-year-old left the line open as he spoke to Mr PePape, enabling the dispatcher to hear the interaction without alerting the assailant to what was happening.

The operator heard Mr Pelosi asking: Whats going on? Why are you here? What are you doing to me?

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott praised the intuition and quick-thinking of the dispatcher who realised the call was suspicious and dispatched law enforcement to the property as an emergency.

The first police officers were on the scene within three minutes.

She figured out there was something more to what she was being told, her actions resulted in a higher priority dispatch and a quicker police response. I think this was life-saving, he said.

Police sources told CNN that Mr DePape was searching for Speaker Pelosi and entered the home shouting Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?

1/2 Initial dispatch recordings from response to calls from the Pelosi residence from around 0230 this morning. https://t.co/g7OhA9pT2W pic.twitter.com/CyGAMRgsvz  Ray Alexander (@rma1776) October 29, 2022

The attacker then allegedly tried to tie Mr Pelosi up in the aim of waiting until his wife returned home.

Story continues

The House Speaker was in Washington DC at the time.

When officers arrived on the scene, the attacker allegedly said that they were waiting for Nancy.

Chief Scott said that someone inside the home opened the front door and the officers saw both Mr Pelosi and Mr DePape with their hands on one hammer.

At that moment, Mr DePape pulled the hammer away from Mr Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it, striking him at least once, the police chief said.

The officers tackled Mr DePape to the ground and administered medical aid to Mr Pelosi.

It is currently unclear if Mr DePape brought the hammer to the home or if it belonged to the Pelosis.

Mr Pelosi was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for a skull fracture on Friday.

David DePape allegedly struck Paul Pelosi with a hammer in the attack (AP)

He also suffered serious injuries to his right arm and hands and is expected to make a full recovery.

The police chief condemned the attack describing it as intentional and not a random act.

Its wrong. Our elected officials are here to do the business of their cities, their counties, their states and this nation. Their families dont sign up for this to be harmed and it is wrong, he said.

Mr DePape, a 42-year-old resident of Berkeley, California, was arrested on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and other felonies.

While the motive for the attack remains unclear, sources told KTVU that police found the assailants manifesto which detailed conspiracy theories and anti-government Covid-19 beliefs.

The manifesto also included a hit list of other lawmakers he planned to target, the sources said.

It is not clear whose names are on that list.

Mr DePapes online history also reveals a deep-rooted obsession with extreme right-wing conspiracy theories.

Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi together. The husband of the House Speaker is expected to make a full recovery (AP)

In blog posts and social media pages, the 42-year-old spewed transphobic, antiSemitic and racist views, and pushed conspiracy theories about the Covid-19 vaccine, the Holocaust and QAnon.

He also revealed his support for Donald Trump to run in 2024 with Tulsi Gabbard as his running mate.

Speaker Pelosi has been the target of politically-motivated attacks and harassment in the past.

Fridays encounter has chilling echoes of the January 6 riot when Donald Trump supporters  spurred by lies that the 2020 election was stolen  broke into the US Capitol and hunted for the House Speaker.

Wheres Nancy? the mob chanted as they ransacked her office, searching for her.

In one video posted online, a woman told the camera: We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the frickin brain. But we didnt find her.

Mr DePape, originally from British Columbia, is a hemp jewellery designer.

He is currently being held in San Francisco County Jail.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP)  No. 7 TCU is still working on putting together an ideal performance on both sides of the ball.

For now, the Horned Frogs are happy to still have a perfect record.

Max Duggan threw three touchdown passes, Kendre Miller ran for 120 yards and a score and TCU used big plays on offense to beat West Virginia 41-31 Saturday.

Though the Horned Frogs had four plays of at least 50 yards, with three going for touchdowns, they had to fight hard in the fourth quarter to hold on.

Were not playing for how pretty it looks," Duggan said. Were playing to get that win, whether its won by one or by 40. Obviously, theres things that we need to work on that will make it easier for us.

The Horned Frogs (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) didnt need a comeback from a double-digit deficit like they did in their two previous games. Duggan staked TCU to a 28-21 halftime lead that held up.

TCU has won its first eight games for the first time since 2015 and broke a four-game losing streak to the Mountaineers.

Duggan previously had gone 0-3 against West Virginia. He changed that by completing 16 of 28 passes for 341 yards.

We're grateful to be 8-0," he said. "You're never going to take winning for granted. We know it's hard to win in this league, especially on the road.

West Virginia (3-5, 1-4), which was coming off a season-low 282 yards of offense in a lopsided loss at last week at Texas Tech, gave the Horned Frogs a fight.

JT Daniels threw a 23-yard TD pass to Reese Smith with 4:12 left to cut the Mountaineers' deficit to 34-31. TCU recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Duggan was intercepted by Malachi Ruffin at the West Virginia 16, giving the Mountaineers another chance. West Virginia was forced to punt, and Duggan found Savion Williams with a 29-yard scoring toss on fourth down with 20 seconds left.

After combining for 637 yards of offense before halftime, both teams squandered several second-half touchdown chances from inside the opponent's 20.

Story continues

The Mountaineers recovered a muffed punt at the TCU 17 early in the third quarter, but settled for a field goal. On its next possession, West Virginia drove to the TCU 4, but Daniels threw incomplete into the end zone on fourth down. TCU then drove 95 yards to the West Virginia 1. Quentin Johnston was tackled for an 11-yard loss on third down, resulting in a short field goal for a 31-24 lead.

Some crazy stuff happened in this game today, said TCU's Sonny Dykes, who joined Francis Schmidt in 1929 as the only Horned Frogs coaches to win their opening eight games. There was some wild plays, some strange stuff.

West Virginia mistakes contributed to TCU's first three touchdowns.

Duggan took advantage of blown coverage in the secondary, throwing TD tosses of 71 yards to Taye Barber and 55 yards to Johnston. Midway through the second quarter, Daniels was hit going back to pass and fumbled. TCU recovered at its 49 and Miller scored untouched on the next play for a 21-14 lead.

Miller now has a rushing TD in nine straight games.

Daniels finished 23 of 39 for 275 yards for West Virginia, which now needs to win three of its final four games to become bowl eligible.

I thought our guys competed, really played their tails off, West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. I'm proud of how they played. We're based on outcomes. I get that. The outcome wasn't what we wanted. We just didn't make enough plays in the second half.

THE TAKEAWAY

TCU: The Horned Frogs weren't dominant, but they did enough to stay atop the Big 12 standings.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers put up a fight on offense despite being without two injured linemen and leading rusher Tony Mathis. Freshman running back CJ Donaldson, who finished with 104 yards, twice left the game with injuries. West Virginia kept the game close after starting slowly in its three previous games.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

TCU should hold onto its top 10 ranking.

UP NEXT

TCU hosts Texas Tech next Saturday. The Horned Frogs have won the last three meetings.

West Virginia visits Iowa State next Saturday. The Mountaineers had lopsided losses in their last two trips to Ames, Iowa.

___

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://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP)  Parker McKinney completed 35 of 42 passes for 398 yards and and Patrick Nations kicked two fourth-quarter field goals as Eastern Kentucky held off Southeast Missouri State, 28-23 on Saturday.

McKinney scored from three yards out as time expired in the third quarter, then passed for a two-point conversion to give the Colonels a 22-16 lead. Paxton DeLaurent scored from 13-yards out to get the Redhawks within two, 25-23 with 5:17 left, but McKinney engineered a nine-play, 71-yard drive to set up Nations' 21-yard field goal with 1:23 left to set the final margin.

Braedon Sloan caught six passes for 97 yards and Jayden Higgins pulled in eight for 76 yards and a touchdown for Eastern Kentucky (5-3).

DeLaurent was 27 of 46 for 375 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice for Southeast Missouri State (6-2). Ryan Flournoy caught 15 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown.

__

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://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2
EASTON  The Bristol County District Attorney's Office is investigating an incident in which a police officer shot an armed man and grazed another person, police say.

Easton police Chief Keith Boone said the department received a 911 call shortly after 11:40 p.m. Friday regarding a disturbance at a Central Street home.

When officers arrived at the scene, they encountered a "potentially lethal situation" involving a man who was holding a knife, according to Boone.

Boone said the officers drew their service weapons and one Easton officer fired his weapon at the armed man, striking him with a bullet that ended up grazing another resident.

Officers immediately rendered aid to both people who were shot. Easton Fire Department paramedics then arrived at the scene and transported the injured parties to area hospitals for treatment.

Boone said the man who was armed with a knife remains hospitalized and is being held in custody pending arraignment. The resident who was grazed by the bullet was treated for their injury and released from an area hospital.

The officer who fired their weapon has been placed on paid leave while the shooting is being investigated per standard procedure.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Easton police: Officer shoots man armed with knife, grazes resident
FBI agents work outside the home of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco, on Friday. Paul Pelosi was attacked and severely beaten by a man who broke into their home early Friday. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

America is now a nation where acts of political violence are so predictable that for months before an assailant broke into the San Francisco home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacked her husband, Paul Pelosi, on Friday, experts have warned such an incident was likely.

Politically catalyzed violence should be expected to rise with the election calendar and to fall between campaigns, Rachel Kleinfeld, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, said in testimony to Congress in March.

In August, two counterterrorism experts at Georgetown wrote that with a midterm around the corner, a former president under investigation, and major upheavals occurring on hot-button issues such as abortion and gun control, extremists inclined to violence will be increasingly likely to lash out.

And earlier this month, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told the New York Times that threats of violence against members of Congress have become so intense that I wouldnt be surprised if a senator or House member were killed.

Public officials, and their families, should not have to live with this level of fear. It is horrific that campaign season has become a time of violence and threats rather than healthy debate about the issues.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., when the intruder broke into her San Francisco home shouting, Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy? before attacking her husband with a hammer, fracturing his skull and seriously injuring his arm. Police booked David DePape  who reportedly said he was waiting for Nancy after police arrived at the Pelosi home  on suspicion of several crimes, including attempted homicide and assault with a deadly weapon.

A Times review of DePape's online presence shows he was engaged in spreading far-right conspiracies , spewing antisemitism, hate and bizarre QAnon screeds and posting videos from Donald Trump supporters pushing the bogus claim that the 2020 election was stolen.

Yes, occasional political violence across the ideological spectrum is as old as America itself. Whats different now is the frequency. In the five years after Trump was elected president in 2016, recorded threats against members of Congress rose more than tenfold, to 9,625 in 2021, according to a New York Times analysis of figures from the Capitol Police.

Story continues

On Friday, a man pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) and his staff. Earlier this summer, a man tried to stab New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin , a Republican congressman, during a July campaign event, and an armed man was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal outside her Seattle home.

A Simi Valley man was arrested near the Maryland home of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh in June after he flew across the country with a black tactical vest, a Glock 17 pistol and, according to authorities, a plan to harm the Supreme Court justice. In August, two men were convicted of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a plot that involved obtaining a bomb to blow up a bridge and thwart police.

And in May, two Northern California men pleaded guilty to plotting to blow up the state Democratic Partys headquarters in Sacramento in a scheme prosecutors described as politically motivated by Trumps 2020 loss.

Republicans who believe that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and that Joe Biden is an illegitimate president are substantially more likely than other Americans to believe that violence is justified to advance political objectives, according to a new study by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program.

They are more likely to hold extreme and racist beliefs, to endorse political violence, to see such violence as likely to occur, and to predict that they will be armed under circumstances in which they consider political violence to be justified, the authors wrote.

This trend is a stain on the nation and something leaders of all kinds  political, religious, community and cultural  must work to reverse. Violence against public officials and their families is the mark of an undemocratic society.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

a Connecticut GOP alderman admitted to entering the Capitol on January 6 in an interview with NBC Connecticut.

"I wouldn't want to be arrested for it," Gino DiGiovanni told NBC Connecticut. "I guess hindsight is 20-20."

The FBI's New Haven, Connecticut field office did not immediately return Insider's request for comment

A Connecticut alderman said in a television interview that he entered the Capitol during the January 6, 2021, riot.

In an interview with NBC Connecticut, Gino DiGiovanni, a GOP alderman from Derby, Connecticut admitted to being inside the Capitol after internet sleuths gave NBC Connecticut video of DiGiovanni on January 6 from open source surveillance video, NBC reported.

"I was there, I went inside there, and, you know, I didn't damage or break anything," DiGiovanni told NBC Connecticut. "Obviously, you got the pictures to prove it."

The video shows DiGiovanni entering the Capitol building through the Upper West Terrace door at around 2:38 p.m., NBC Connecticut reported.

928 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot so far. Seven people from Connecticut have been charged in connection with the insurrection.

It has been 21 months since the attack on the Capitol in which 140 police officers were assaulted according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. On Friday, a former Capitol Police officer was convicted for obstructing a January 6 related investigation.

DiGiovanni told NBC Connecticut that he "didn't see any violence" in the Capitol and that Capitol Police were at the door when he "walked in."

"I wouldn't want to be arrested for it," DiGiovanni said. "I guess hindsight is 20-20."

According to NBC, the footage appears to show DiGiovanni entering the Capitol wearing a jacket that has his last name on it. DiGiovanni told NBC Connecticut that he had not been contacted by the FBI or other law enforcement regarding the footage.

The FBI's New Haven, Connecticut field office did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Saturday,

"If somebody calls me and says, 'Hey, Gino, we're going to arrest you for trespassing in the Capitol that day,' then I'm going to have to deal with that at that time," DiGiovanni told NBC Connecticut.

Read the original article on Insider
Ridesharing. Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The smartest insight and analysis, from all perspectives, rounded up from around the web:

The Biden administration wants to rewrite the rules of the gig economy, said Noah Rothman at MSNBC. "Labor activists have long demanded" that the federal government force companies to classify more of their staff as employees rather than independent contractors. Now the Labor Department is giving them their wish, proposing new guidelines this month that would replace more lenient Trump-era policies. Not surprisingly, shares of Uber and Lyft, two symbols of the gig economy, sank on the news. But proposed rules have implications that go far beyond ride-sharing services. The administration is following in the footsteps of California, which passed a wide-ranging freelance law that transformed the jobs of "independent writers, graphic designers, photographers, journalists, and content producers"  most of whom "didn't seem to appreciate the reform" passed in their behalf.

All the proposed changes would simply "bring Labor Department policy back in line" with where it was before the Trump years, said Timothy Noah in The New Republic. The rules at issue were derived from two 1947 Supreme Court cases "that established an 'economic reality' test typically based on six questions," including whether the worker's services are integral to the business and how much control the business maintains over the worker. The Trump administration significantly winnowed that precedent and made it "much easier to classify a worker as an independent contractor"  letting companies like Uber and FedEx keep taking advantage of their workers.

Well, I'm an Instacart and Uber driver, and I don't feel taken advantage of, said Roman Juela in Fortune. I'm also a construction worker. During the pandemic, I realized I needed extra income, "but getting a second full-time job was out of the question." The Labor Department proposal would "make independent work harder, undercutting the freedom and flexibility I enjoy today." Changes in how workers are classified will have "unintended" impacts, said Morgan Meaker in Wired. Ironically, Uber and Lyft, the initial targets of California's 2019 law, ended up winning an exemption via a statewide ballot initiative. But the legislation has "reshaped a raft of other industries, from yoga studios to theater productions and trucking." Consider strippers. While the law guaranteed exotic dancers a minimum wage, club owners restructured their businesses to "take larger cuts of the money earned through private dances"  which make up most of dancers' income.

Story continues

It's understandable that organized labor and liberal lawmakers want to "lump as many workers into the 'employee' bucket as possible," said Christian Britschgi in Reason, "to guarantee more people the overtime pay and benefits that come with that designation." But those efforts have often been rebuffed by gig workers themselves, "who object to the added regulation and rigidity." A more expansive federal definition of an employee is likely to encourage more restrictions at the state level too. As gig economy arrangements keep growing around the country, this fight is only beginning.

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

You may also like

7 terrifyingly funny cartoons about America's spooky political season

The most and least environmentally friendly countries of 2022

Biden predicts student debt payments will go out 'in the next 2 weeks', despite pending lawsuits
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Global Industrial (NYSE:GIC), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Global Industrial

Global Industrial's Earnings Per Share Are Growing

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Shareholders will be happy to know that Global Industrial's EPS has grown 18% each year, compound, over three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about.

It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. The music to the ears of Global Industrial shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 7.7% to 10% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Global Industrial's future profits.

Story continues

Are Global Industrial Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Insider interest in a company always sparks a bit of intrigue and many investors are on the lookout for companies where insiders are putting their money where their mouth is. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.

While there was some insider selling, that pales in comparison to the US$67m that the Executive Chairman, Richard Leeds spent acquiring shares. The average price paid was about US$32.37. Big purchases like that are well worth noting, especially for those who like to follow the insider money.

Along with the insider buying, another encouraging sign for Global Industrial is that insiders, as a group, have a considerable shareholding. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$334m. This totals to 28% of shares in the company. Enough to lead management's decision making process down a path that brings the most benefit to shareholders. Very encouraging.

While insiders already own a significant amount of shares, and they have been buying more, the good news for ordinary shareholders does not stop there. The cherry on top is that the CEO, Barry Litwin is paid comparatively modestly to CEOs at similar sized companies. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Global Industrial, with market caps between US$400m and US$1.6b, is around US$3.9m.

Global Industrial's CEO took home a total compensation package worth US$3.0m in the year leading up to December 2021. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.

Is Global Industrial Worth Keeping An Eye On?

If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Global Industrial's strong EPS growth. Better still, insiders own a large chunk of the company and one has even been buying more shares. These things considered, this is one stock worth watching. What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Global Industrial (of which 2 make us uncomfortable!) you should know about.

Keen growth investors love to see insider buying. Thankfully, Global Industrial isn't the only one. You can see a a free list of them here.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
ROMAN PETRENKO  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 29, 2022, 10:51

Patrol officers have detained a man in the city of Kharkiv for reporting the coordinates of Ukrainian settlements of Kharkiv Oblast to Russian forces.

Source: Oleksii Biloshytskyi, First Deputy Chief of the Patrol Police Department, on Facebook

Quote: "It is Kharkiv once again. Another accomplice of the occupiers.

The piglet [a derogatory term for collaborators] was wandering around the city during curfew.

Patrol officers stopped and checked him. Correspondence with users under Russian mobile numbers was found on his phone, which may mean that he was cooperating with the aggressor country.

The piglet managed to use the war for a side hustle. Screenshots with transfers from a Russian bank were found.

Sooner or later, we will find everyone. And everyone will get their share of justice."

Details: The police clarified that the communication found in the phone proved that the man showed support for Russian invaders and had passed them the coordinates of Kharkiv Oblast settlements.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Every night in Tehran, when the clock strikes nine, Iranians take to apartment rooftops and windows, and their voices echo across the city.

Death to the dictator! they shout, along with the slogan that has become the rallying cry of more than a month of protests, Woman, Life, Freedom!

We chant every night from behind the window with the lights off, so we cant get recognized or shot by the police in the streets below, said one Iranian woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect her safety.

The same chants can be heard in daily protests in cities and towns across the country, a wave of public anger that only seems to gain momentum even in the face of a violent crackdown by heavily armed security and paramilitary forces.

Roof Landscape of Tehran (Thomas Janisch / Getty Images)

Since the protests erupted in mid-September after a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the countrys morality police for allegedly failing to comply with a law requiring women to cover their hair, Irans clerical regime has struggled to contain a movement that keeps spreading and growing.

Every day seems to bring another humiliation for the regime.

From anti-government graffiti to students heckling government officials, to women walking in the street without headscarves to workers putting down their tools, Irans regime looks increasingly bewildered by events.

Historians who study Iran, human rights activists, political analysts, U.S. officials and Iranians on the ground all say the protests represent a potentially revolutionary moment, and that Iranian citizens are increasingly ready to risk their lives for the cause.

Its like a war, the Islamic Republic versus the Iranian people, said the woman from Tehran. She and other Iranians say the helmeted police flooding the streets resemble an occupying force, unsure of their position and unable to trust the local population.

There have been major protests before, but the protests this time are different, Iranians say, because the movement transcends class and geography, and the demands are explicitly political, calling for an end to the regime and not reforms or higher wages.

Story continues

Iranian students protest outside a university in the city of Mashhad on Oct. 1, 2022. (via AFP - Getty Images)

Every protest weve seen before has been limited geographically, or social-economically or related to a particular grievance, said Hadi Ghaemi of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran.

The Green movement protests of 2009 focused on an election that demonstrators believed was rigged and lasted months, but the movement was dominated by mostly educated, more affluent people in Tehran. Protests in 2019 were shaped by economic hardship and the frustrations of the working class, Ghaemi said.

This is different. It seems to have touched every Iranian, in every corner of the country, he said.

The protests have no formal leadership or opposition leader, making it difficult for the regime to cut off oxygen to the movement.

The protest are often smaller scale than the mass demonstrations of the past in major cities, but they are more numerous and dispersed across rural as well as urban areas. The security forces have to put down constant pockets of defiance in well-organized neighborhoods where the locals know where to hide and how to outmaneuver the police, human rights groups and Iranians said.

The demonstrators have even set up separate medical care for injured protesters in private homes to try to bypass official clinics, said Ramin Ahmadi, an Iranian-American physician based in the U.S. who is a longtime human rights activist.

They dont even go to the hospital when they get injured. There is a whole network of physicians now that they have and they treat them at home, said Ahmadi, who has provided medical advice by phone to the doctors treating the protesters.

But the regime has shown it is ready to unleash lethal force to stifle the protests, using live ammunition, buckshot, pellets, rubber bullets, tear gas and batons to roll back the demonstrators, according to human rights groups. Thousands of people have been arrested, including civil society and labor leaders, the rights groups say, and an unknown number have been killed by bullets or beatings.

The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights and the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Friday more than 250 protesters have been killed in the six weeks since protests began. The death toll includes more than 20 protesters under the age of 18, according to Amnesty International. Iranian authorities last month put the death toll at that point at 41 people, including security officers.

The regime has survived street protests before, by using violence, imprisonment and censorship to silence dissent. And the government still retains support among a significant section of the population, especially those with ties to the states bureaucracy.

The countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word in Irans theocratic system, has dismissed the protests as scattered riots orchestrated by Irans enemies.

But the protests represent the most serious challenge to the theocracy since the 1979 revolution and its aftermath, and could mark the start of an unraveling of the regime  though that process could take months or years to play out, experts and U.S. officials said.

Image: IRAN-PROTEST-WOMEN-RIGHTS (AFP - Getty Images)

Theres an increasing separation between state and society, and its widening under (Iranian President) Raisis administration, a senior Biden administration official told NBC News.

The official said that you have an erosion of the legitimacy of the system, thats basically hanging on by threats of force.

He added that nobody can say for certain how this will unfold.

Roya Hakakian, an Iranian-American writer who recently met with Biden administration officials along with other activists, said the protests were the start of a revolution about democracy in its purest form  the desire for a normal life.

The cultural foundation is there and the shift from theocratic thinking to democratic thinking has already occurred, but when and how they will pragmatically succeed is a matter of time and the confluence of other forces, she said.

Students at a school in Shiraz chanting Basiji, go and get lost! towards a man standing at the podium. (Twitter)

Despite the increasingly violent crackdown, Iranians  especially women  keep coming back to protest. The fear that tended to discourage open defiance of the regime has begun to dissolve, said Abbas Milani of the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University.

The fear is dissipating, because I think people are recognizing that from their large numbers, theyre not alone, Milani said.

Seven years ago, Milani wrote that underneath a facade of normality, while most of the world focused on Irans nuclear program, Iranian society was shifting away from the ultra-conservative ideology promoted by the regime, and that its leaders were sitting atop a seething volcano.

The trend line is that this regime is becoming increasingly isolated, increasingly misogynist, increasingly incompetent, increasingly corrupt, and Iranian society is becoming increasingly democratic, increasingly secular, and increasingly desiring an economic future that doesnt exist, Milani said. That cannot continue.

The Iranian government could decide to deploy even more lethal force to try to snuff out the protests, but theres a risk such all-out violence  especially against young women  could backfire, and trigger a massive reaction on the streets, he said.

I think we are at the beginning of a process. Iran has been in a revolutionary moment for some time, it needed a spark, we have to see where this will head, said Ali Ansari, an Iran scholar at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. But even if this subsides it wont be long before the next wave begins.

For Iranians in the streets, there is a feeling they have the regime on the backfoot, but that there is still terrible bloodshed to come.

We all know that this time we will overthrow the regime, said the woman in Tehran. But at what cost? How many people should get killed?

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jonathan Spicer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Russia said on Saturday it was pulling out of a deal aimed at unlocking Ukrainian grain and fertiliser exports from Black Sea ports and easing global food shortages. Here are details of the U.N.-led Black Sea Initiative, according to senior U.N. officials who briefed reporters when it was signed in July:

OBJECTIVE

The deal aimed to help avert famine by injecting more wheat, sunflower oil and fertilizer into world markets and to ease a dramatic rise in prices. It targeted the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month.

The U.N. World Food Programme said at the time the deal was signed that some 47 million people had moved into a stage of "acute hunger" due to fall-out from the war which halted Ukrainian shipments.

The United Nations and Russia also signed an memorandum of understanding committing the U.N. to facilitating unimpeded access of Russian fertiliser and other products to global markets. "The aim of these agreements...is to provide some kind of solace to the global south," said one of the U.N. officials.

TIME FRAME

The deal signed on July 22 was valid for 120 days and the United Nations expected it to be renewed unless the war had ended by then. Work started after the signing to establish inspection teams and staffing a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul overseen by members of all four parties to the agreement.

Negotiations for the deal began in April when U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised the idea in separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine.

SAFE PASSAGE

The deal ensured safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what the official called a "de facto ceasefire" for the ships and facilities covered.

Though Ukraine has mined the nearby waters as part of its war defences, there is no further need for de-mining. Under the deal, Ukrainian pilots guide the ships along safe channels in its territorial waters, with a minesweeper vessel on hand but no military escorts.

Story continues

Monitored by the JCC, the ships then transit the Black Sea to Turkey's Bosphorus strait and off to world markets.

All sides agreed there would be no attacks on these entities. If a prohibited activity is observed, it will be the task of the JCC "to resolve it", the official said.

JOINT COORDINATION CENTRE (JCC)

The JCC in Istanbul, which straddles the Bosphorus, monitors all ship movements and inspections, and decides whether, for example, a vessel detracts from agreed channels in the Black Sea. It is staffed by U.N. officials and military officials from the three countries involved.

INSPECTIONS

In response to Russian concerns about ships delivering weapons to Ukraine, all returning ships must be inspected at a Turkish port by a team with representatives from all parties to the agreement and overseen by the JCC.

WHAT HAS BEEN EXPORTED SO FAR

Since the deal was signed, more than 9 million tonnes of grains and other food products have been exported, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffith said this week. He added the deal had been successful in bringing food prices down and boosting export quantities.

RUSSIA'S REASONS FOR PULLOUT

Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol on the annexed Crimean peninsular with 16 drones in the early hours of Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate the "terrorist" attack.

Russia said it had repelled the attack, with just minor damage to a minesweeper, but that the ships targeted were involved in ensuring the grain corridor.

Zelenskiy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of inventing "fictitious terrorist attacks on its own facilities" while Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Moscow was using a "false pretext" to sink the deal.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Ece Toksabay, Mark Heinrich, Frances Kerry and Christina Fincher)
Recipients will receive fresh produce and non-perishable canned goods. Farm Share, one of Floridas leading food nonprofits and the states largest food bank, is distributing food to food-insecure Floridians in the Jacksonville area.

Distributions are drive-thru only to minimize contact and to help ensure the safety of all parties, and attendees must arrive in a vehicle with a trunk or cargo bed

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Farm Share distribution will distribute food at the Greater Church of God by Faith this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until supplies last at 2434 Old Middleburg Rd. N, Jacksonville.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

With more than 3.9 million families suffering from food insecurity throughout Florida, Farm Share meets the everyday hunger needs of Floridians by working hand-in-hand with local farmers to recover and redistribute produce that would otherwise be thrown away due to aesthetic imperfections.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Farm Share currently serves all 67 counties in Florida. Since its inception, Farm Share has distributed more than 751 million pounds of food, with a value of more than 1.9 billion dollars. In 2020 alone, Farm Share distributed more than 104 million pounds of food and served more than 86 million meals to Floridians. For more information about Farm Share, visit FarmShare.org.





Farm Share distributes food to the community through its network of soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, churches, and senior centers across Florida, free of charge. To find a food distribution near you, please visit www.farmshare.org/farm-share-find-agencies-food-pantries.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
BRAZIL-ENVIRONMENT-AMAZON-DEFORESTATION

View of a burnt are of the Amazonia rainforest in Apui, southern Amazonas State, Brazil, on September 21, 2022. - According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), hotspots in the Amazon region saw a record increase in the first half of September, being the average for the month 1,400 fires per day. Credit - MICHAEL DANTAS-AFP

For Amazonian land activist Erasmo Theofilo, this years Brazilian presidential election is the most important in the countrys history. But he could not vote during the first round on October 2 because he and his family were in hiding from assassins.

Since Jair Bolsonaro came to power in 2019, this is the fourth time that Theofilo, his wife Nathalha, and their four small children have had to go into protection programs to avoid assassination. Two of their colleagues have been murdered, bullets have been fired at their home, their children have been threatened, and local businessmen who want to use the land for cattle ranching have reportedly put a price on their heads.

On the other side of the country in Sao PauloBrazils biggest and richest cityAna Mirtes woke up on election day ready to vote for former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But she gave up when she realized her 10-year-old son would not eat that day if she spent the familys money on a bus ride to the polling station. They are among the 33 million Brazilians who are hungry, many of whom had to choose between voting or eating. Under Bolsonaro, Brazil is back on the global Hunger Map.

These two stories may seem disparate, but they are connected by more than a struggle for survival.

Sao Paulo is the largest constituency in the country, giving its voters great influence in deciding the outcome of the elections, whose second and decisive round takes place on October 30. These elections in turn will affect the lives of forest defenders like Erasmo, hungry families like Mirtess, and the future of the Amazon rainforest. Which makes Brazils elections an international concern as well, because the Amazon plays a critical role in the fight to preserve a livable global climate.

Story continues

Under Bolsonaro, an ardent admirer of former President Donald Trump, deforestation of the worlds biggest rainforest has hit the highest rate in 15 years. On August 19, 2019, Ana Mirtes and the entire population of Sao Paulo saw day turn to night in the gigantic metropolis as a result of a cloud of ash from the fires in the Amazon. It was a sign that what happens in the forest has repercussions more than a thousand miles away.

This is also how the election in Brazil should be understood. The poll results here will not just shape national politics, but the health of the rainforest, which has a powerful knock-on effect on regional weather systems and the global climate. Without a healthy Amazon, whose trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, it will be extremely difficult to stop the planet from heating to a dangerous level. The signs are not encouraging. Recent scientific research has shown that parts of the forest already emit more carbon than they absorb, creating a climate foe from what used to be a climate friend. This, of course, is not the fault of the forest.

More than two billion trees have been cut down or burned in the Amazon under Bolsonaros watch, according to calculations by two of Brazils most prestigious forest research groups, Imazon and MapBiomass. That is 15 trees destroyed every second and with each one goes a far far greater population of other living beings, such as insects, termites, fungus, moss and lichenthat are vital for the healthy functioning of nature and the chemical composition of our atmosphere.

The power of nature is not measured by the number of individuals, but by their collective interaction. Everyone depends on everyone else. The whole is more vibrant and important than the sum of its parts. Thus, it is not trees that fall, but interconnected worlds. And each time, one of these tree-worlds is eradicated, the forest moves a little closer to a point of no return, when it can no longer regenerate and thus permanently degrades into a dry savannah.

Carlos Nobre, who is one of Brazils leading climate scientists, has warned that this tipping point is likely to be reached when the Amazon is between 20% and 25% cleared. Today, the level is estimated at between 17% and 20%. Four more years of Bolsonaro could be enough to push it over the edge.

With permission of Tasso Azevedo of MapBiomass Graphi shows the steep fall in deforestation under Lula and how rapid the rise has been under Bolsonaro.

The run-up to the election vividly highlighted this danger. September was the worst month for forest fires since 2010, as land grabbers and farmers rushed to take advantage of the permissive regulation under Bolsonaro before a possible change of power.

From my home in Altamira, the blazes could be seen across the river, and even when they were out of sight, the haze made the moon glow like an ember.

Read More: Why Is the Amazon Disappearing?

September also saw seven indigenous people murdered in different parts of Brazil, another horrendougly high toll that was in keeping with a central objective of this extreme-rightist government to remove obstacles to the exploitation of indigenous lands and nature reserves.

This is why the stakes are so high for the run-off on 30 October. Lula took 48.4% of the votes cast in the first round, falling a little short of an outright win. He goes into the run-off as favorite with a six million-vote lead over the incumbent. But polls suggest Bolsonaro is closing the gap and it will be a tough contest.

Forest leaders remember that Lula built large hydroelectric dams in the Amazon and his party profited from kick-backs from construction firms. But there is no comparison between this and the far deadlier threat posed by Bolsonaro, who deliberately delayed vaccinations against Covid-19 in Brazil and undermined measures to control the virus, leading to the death of 685,000 Brazilians. Among the many political forces from the left and right that have coalesced around Lula for the second round, this election is not just a contest of democracy versus authoritarianism; it is a choice between life and death.

The next Senate and Chamber of Deputies will have more of Bolsonaros supportersand enemies of nature and Amazon conservation than ever before. The electorates prioritiesand the power of Bolsonaros campaign machinewere apparent in the results of two candidates who symbolize the extremes of destruction and conservation. On one side was Ricardo Salles, Bolsonaros first environment minister who gutted forest protections and encouraged illegal logging and mining. On the other was Marina Silva, Lulas first environment minister, who was primarily responsible for the fall in Amazon deforestation rates in the 90s and remains the most internationally renowned Brazilian environmentalist. Both were elected as federal deputies, but Salles had almost triple the votes of Silva.

In the Senate, which has restrained some of the most predatory bills in the last four years, Bolsonaros supporters made strong gains. Among the newcomers is Tereza Cristina, the right-wing presidents Minister of Agriculture, who is a champion of aggressively expanding agribusiness. During her tenure at the head of the ministry, she was nicknamed the muse of poison because her office approved more than 1,600 pesticides, some of them proven to be carcinogenic.

With both chambers of the legislature now packed with politicians in favor of no-holds-barred resource exploitation, environmentalists feel the only hope for saving the Amazon is a victory for Lula. And even then, it wont be easy.

As resources grow scarcer and commodity prices rise, the war against nature in Brazil will grow fiercer in the coming years even if Lula wins. iIf Bolsonaro is re-elected, the world may well witness the end to the Amazon as we know it, with catastrophic global consequences, and dire implications for the Amazons defenders. As Erasmos wife Natalha put it. If he wins, we will be annihilated.

This article by Sumauma is published here as part of the global media collaboration Covering Climate Now.
Arian Simone, is now Queen Wa (the blessing) of the village of Dawa in the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Simone is the Founder of the Fearless Fund as well as its non-profit arm the Fearless Foundation. The designation follows Simones community investment, opening the Arian Simone Fearless Leadership Academy in Dawa Grand Berebi Village.

Fearless Foundation partnered with the ProSeed Foundation to bring the academy to life. The ProSeed Foundation is a non-profit whose mission is to build elementary schools in remote villages of West Africa.

Photo Credit: @ariansimone via Instagram

As a result, the village of Dawa bestowed Simone with the title of Queen as a token of gratitude. She was crowned at an African Royal coronation ceremony by the Village of Dawa, its chiefdom, and notables. The founder is the first person to receive this title in Dawa. The acknowledgment showcases the appreciation for what the school means to the village and the children attending the school.

Specifically, the academy aims to help eradicate generational poverty in the village of Dawa and to help shape the leaders of the next generation of the village and Africa.

I am beyond humbled and grateful to God and the village of Dawa for this honor, Simone said in a statement. Opening this academy is a momentous step in our mission to foster a more equitable world by providing the necessary support and resources to Africas future generation of entrepreneurs.

Queen Wa of Dawa

To honor the occasion, a full African Royal coronation ceremony was held on October 19th and was attended by the Governor, Mayor, and Senator of Dawa, along with the entire community. During the ceremony, Arian was given a tribal name by the chiefdom of the village and introduced to the people of Dawa as their new Queen.

Simone made the announcement in an Instagram post that reads:

This week I was crowned  Queen in Cote DIvoire  (Ivory Coast) of the Dawa People.

Story continues

Honestly Im still in shock, when I first heard I was being crowned it took a full week for me to even grasp the magnitude of what was taking place.

Who knew me building a school in Africa, which I did out of the kindness of my heart, would lead to being crowned Queen! The Arian Simone Fearless Leadership Academy is an elementary school, a STEAM school shaping new leaders in Africa. The school services kids in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana and Guinea located in the Dawa Grand-Bereby Village.

I built the school in partnership with @proseed_givinghope who diligently worked on this project in the spirit of excellence!

God I thank you for trusting me with a region, a territory, a people, and for blessing me to be a blessing to others.

Photo Credit: @ariansimone via Instagram

The Fearless Foundation

The Fearless Foundation is a 501c3 organization from the Fearless Fund with a mission to educate entrepreneurs through training, reduce racial inequities, and empower African-Americans to gain access to capital.

Related: Jada Pinkett Smith Teams Up With Netflix For Series On Powerful African Queens | LisaRaye Crowned Queen Mother Of Ghanas Central Region
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

On Thursday, Mnuchin Gallery and Berry Campbell Gallery in New York City will both launch shows dedicated to the work of Lynne Drexler, a painter whose trajectory follows a now-familiar narrative when it comes to women artists: though Drexler kicked off her career to much acclaim, even being compared to van Gogh, she languished in obscurity for most of her life.

It took until 2022 for her works to be reevaluated and command impressive auction resultsestimated to sell for $40,000 to $60,000 at Christies in March, one of her paintings went for around $1.2 million. Drexler cant enjoy her success, because she died in 1999.

The art world loves old ladies and young bad boys, Marilyn Minter, a deeply cool chronicler, in paintings and photographs, of the sensual mundanities of a womans life, told The Daily Beast on Tuesday, and even if they love you, youre not gonna succeed on the market over the most mediocre white male.

Is The Art World Truly Sexist?

Theres never, ever been a female artist that has hit the white heat of somebody like Damien Hirst or Julian Schnabel, where they cant do anything wrong, Minter said.

Minter was featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial, made a film that was displayed in Times Square and has been featured in several solo exhibitions, achieving an impressive level of prestige. Still, the same market restrictions endlessly echo and reverberate, like ripples in an infinite ocean: the most Minters work has ever sold for is $269,000.

I dont pay attention to the high end of the market because Im not one of the players, so its better for me to not even look at all, Minter said. But Im one of the lucky ones, because I can make a living from my work.

Earlier in October, contemporary artist Caroline Walker set a new personal auction record at the Frieze London auctions when her painting Indoor Outdoor (2015) sold for $598,081 over an estimate of $67,519$90,047, Artsy reported last week.

A member of staff poses with a painting titled Wall of Light Red by Sean Scully and a painting titled Indoor Outdoor by Caroline Walker during a press view for "Frieze Week Sales of Contemporary Art" at Sotheby's, London, on Oct. 7, 2022. Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty

Yale University scholars recently released a study attempting to determine whether the art market is fair to women, a question that has arisen over and over again, despite the supposedly even playing field of the free market. The study assessed data on about 4,000 graduates of the Yale School of Art over approximately 100 years: work by women artists from the program, they found, sold for an average of 35 percent more than work with similar attributes by men.

Story continues

But on the present day contemporary art market overall, womens work is still both sold for far less and sold far less often than work by men.

Is art by women simply valued differently than art by men when it goes up for auction, and if so, why? The Daily Beast reached out to Christies, Phillips and Sothebys auction houses for comment; Sothebys declined to comment.

In terms of pricing, part of the way auction houses determine value is by looking at what prices artworks with similar characteristics have sold for in the past.

When women artists encounter biases like the one uncovered in a study by the University of Luxembourg, which found that male buyers of art were more likely to think that womens art is inferior, co-author Roman Kraussl said, that derision can mean a womans artwork will sell for a low price, and subsequently, the next work of hers that will be evaluated for auction will also be priced low.

At 40 years old, Walker is enjoying the kind of stalwart mid-career market success that can still prove elusive for female artists, even amongst a present-day art world environment that champions and deliberately exalts female artists.

Artist Lyndsy Welgos is the founder of the New York-based nonprofit Topical Cream, which supports work made by contemporary artists who are women or gender non-conforming.

Mid-career is a really scary word, Welgos told The Daily Beast. Its like your life is too much, and the art world cant package it and cant swallow it if youre a living, working artist.

For comparison: in March of 2021, months shy of his 40th birthday, an NFT by the net artist Mike Winkelmann, a.k.a. Beeplewhod spent the majority of his art-making career far removed from the auction world, toiling merrily but obscurely in the digital art spacesold at Christies for $69,346,250. Almost no one in the art world had ever heard of Beeple before.

The feverish NFT craze Beeples triumph kicked off notwithstanding, these are the starkly gendered divides that still split the art market, even when taking into account encouraging contradictory data.

Paying the price

While auction houses are eager to tout huge successes with women artists like 27-year-old breakout star Anna Weyant, whose painting Falling Woman (2020) far surpassed its $200,000 estimate to sell for $1.62 million at Sothebys in May, there is simply far more work by men even available for sale in the first place.

In 2018, men created 92% of all lots and 95% of the total value of art sold at auction, Magnus Resch, an art market economist and professor, told The Daily Beast.

A study of the art resale market by the data analytics tool Mei Moses Art Indices also shows that between 2012 and 2019, 2,472 repeat sales by 499 female artists were made. In comparison, in the same time period, 55,706 repeat sales by 8,477 male artists took place on the secondary market.

After generations of dismissing, ignoring, invalidating or burying the work produced by women artists, the art world is finally years into attempts to course-correct: the 2022 Venice Biennale The Milk of Dreams pays homage to Surrealist Leonora Carrington, and 90 percent of its participants are women; major auction houses are building sales centered around women, and whats more, collectors have been found to be quantifiably interested in buying art made by women.

But the market numbers have simply not caught up to the art worlds shifting interests: in 2021, the five most expensive works of art sold at auction were all made by men, all of whom who have spent considerable time being celebrated in the spotlight: Picasso, Basquiat, Botticelli, Rothko and Alberto Giacometti.

On the list of the top 100 most expensive artists ever to sell at auction, only two are women: Georgia OKeeffe and Joan Mitchell. The misogyny that has kept women down and excluded in the art market for generations cant be reversed with only a couple of exhibitions, and women-exclusive shows and exhibitions do less to swing the pendulum in a corrective direction than one might assume.

Claude Monet (L and R) and American artist Joan Mitchells paintings (C) exposed at "Monet - Mitchell" exhibition, from Oct. 5, 2022, to Feb. 27, 2023, at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris. Joel Saget/AFP/Getty

In August, Forbes found that between 2008 and 2019, $196.6 billion was spent at art auctions: only $4 billion of that sum was spent on art by women, meaning that women represent 2% of the sales overall.

In 2019, a study of the preceding decade found that only 11% of acquisitions and 14% of exhibitions throughout 26 museums in the U.S. were for work by women artists.

Whats more, another 2019 study by scholars at Williams College found that by analyzing the online catalogues of 18 major U.S. museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, LACMA and the Art Institute of Chicago, they found that 85% of artists are white and 87% are men in these museum collections overall. The Daily Beast reached out to each of these 18 museums for comment.

The paintings included in The Tudors: Art and Majesty in Renaissance England, an exhibition currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, were all either made by men or by an unknown artist. Cubism and the Trompe lOeil Tradition, an exhibition that just opened at the Met, centers around the works of an all-male roster of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Juan Gris.

MoMA just closed a major exhibition on women photographers, and LACMA has an exhibition coming up next year called Women Defining Women In Contemporary Art of the Middle East and Beyond, but overall, the data shows that public, likely-earnest institutional displays of touting women arent working fast enough to move towards true gender equality.

I find it interesting that my art gets very typecast for shows, and this has gotten really old to me, painter Scout Zabinski, whose work draws heavily on figurative self-portraiture, told The Daily Beast. I think solely female shows have become overdonethey become a sort of silencing. They erase all of the other intricacies of someones practice and just focus on the artists external body or gender identity.

As far as the actual pricing and sales, I try not to fixate on numbers, Zabinski, whos thus far exhibited with Seasons Gallery in LA and Restaurant Projects in NYC, added. I want a long-lasting career and dont want to raise my prices too fast.

Nevertheless, does Zabinksi think her art is worth more than its being offered for at present? I definitely think Im actually having a problem with that now, I think the paintings are worth more than theyre sold for, and I think its really hard to put a value on something that means so much since my work is so deeply personal, she said. I think theres a justification being made for young female artists to start off pricing their work low, in contrast to how much you see mens work go for go for at auction early in their careers. If male artists are given more time and space in the art world, then obviously their prices rise higher and I think thats where the sexism comes in.

I think what has bothered me even more than the actual pricing and sales of my work is the way people speak to me, Zabinski said. Im a relatively young woman, But I also am extremely dedicated, hardworking and intelligent. A lot of people havent respected that. When Ive spoken to people about business, they immediately talk down to me and have argued their points by acting as if Im a child.

For Minter, 74, the sexism shes encountered in her career has vividly come from collectors: The collectors of my generation cant wrap their brains women making giant strides or being game-changers like they can with men, she said.

Overall, I think its easier for men to find a market, and I feel like women have to work harder and their work has to be better, Lanise Howard, a Los Angeles-based visual artist told The Daily Beast.

The last all-women show that I was in was in Switzerland, and that was a pretty good experience, Howard said. But sometimes I feel like [all-women shows] are very surface level, like, power and femininity but what else? What are we really trying to say?

Piece by piece, I dont think women and men [artists] should be distinguished from one another, Victoria Burns, a Los Angeles-based art advisor and consultant, told The Daily Beast. It should be about the phenomenal work: this isnt about sex, this is about talent. I never run after something because its made by a man or a woman. Im looking to place things I think are really fresh.

Historically, it was definitely different, Burns added. If you look at Abstract Expressionist painters like Helen Frankenthaler and Joan Mitchell, in their day, they never got recognition. But today, it feels like thats less the case. As long as the work is blowing peoples minds, young women are getting opportunities and selling well.

I founded Topical Cream because 10 years ago, to have work written about in the media about as a female-identifying artist was a nightmare, Welgos told The Daily Beast. You were always pigeonholed into multiple stupid categories. I seemed to me like women artists were asked if they were feminists in almost every interview, which seemed like a Litmus Test question asking if you were with us or against us. When you ask a male artist a question, so much is already assumedthey dont have to account for their maleness. Maybe now they do, but back then, no way.

If the market has still been unbalanced, I think its aiming toward more success for women, and I still think a lot of older women artists are undervalued and are still a very good market decision, Burns said.

In a 2022 study, the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization asked participants to pick choose which of two artworksone was made by a man, the other by a womanthey liked better, with and without artist information, and found that revealing the gender-specific names of each artist had no bearing on personal preferences.

However, in another experiment, when study participants were asked to guess which artwork was more expensive or made by a more famous artist, preference norms shifted towards artworks of males, who are more famous on average, the study found.

An artistss work accumulates value throughout her career in a number of different ways, but without institutional support and word-of-mouth buzz that gradually adds up to stardom, achieving steadily competitive auction prices is nearly impossible.

The market gap is also is connected to the frequency with which artists were named in book citations, the Yale study found.

Marilyn Minter poses for a portrait in front of one of her paintings of lipstick in 1995 in New York City. Catherine McGann/Getty

Among the artists Yale analyzed, before 1983, men were mentioned in books 3 to 14 times more often than women. After 1983, the study found, male artists citations continued to be two to three times more frequent.

Book citations, the Yale study states, connote an artists importance: Women received less recognition, William Goetzmann, a professor of finance at Yale and a co-author, said in the study. In economic terms, theyre not getting as much free advertising.

Even with abundant evidence that the odds are heavily against women artists in the art market, there isnt definitive information in one place to analyze all auctions and sale prices over time and to sort it by gender easily, Sandra Harris, the Executive Director of American Women Artists, told The Daily Beast.

Just as important to a group like ours as auctions and the secondary market is what women make in the primary market, or the first sale of the work by artists or galleries and whether they are acquired by museums as often as work by men, Harris said.

As aforementioned, women artists late in their career are sometimes discovered and retroactively celebrated, but this form of success comes along rarely. As their careers begin, in order to succeed on the primary market and get a chance at longevity, women artists have an extremely narrow entry point through which they must pass.

Very early on in an artists career, its already decided if the artist will be financially successful or not, and were talking here about the first 5 to 10 exhibitions, Resch said.

What makes an artist successful is not the art that she creates, Resch said. Its not the subject, and its not really the medium. What really matters is which network of galleries and museums the artist is in.

As part of Quantifying reputation and success in art, a 2018 study co-authored by Resch, we were able to prove that theres one small networkI call it the Holy Landthat consists of a few galleries and museums, all in New York, that make an artist. If youre not part of this Holy Land, you will never make it.

Four galleries, to be exact: Pace, David Zwirner, Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth. Its an incredibly daunting state of affairs for any young artist, especially when attaining representation is such a mysterious process.

Galleries always say the same thing, Resch said. Obviously the art matters, but what really matters is: who is introducing me to you? Galleries rely heavily on the artists they are already representing for referrals, Resch explained, meaning the evidence shows that a young artist must essentially become a networking force to be reckoned with in order to have any chance of survival.

In other words, institutional support comes from institutional support, and an artist cant be lauded or supported if no ones ever heard of her. Even with all the celebration of womens art in the air lately, thats a disconcerting state of affairs.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Just days away from the midterm elections, former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail Friday to urge support for Democratic candidates in narrow races and warn of looming threats to democracy.

The former president's first stop was Georgia, where he campaigned for Sen. Raphael Warnock and gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

"Democracy is not self-executing," Obama said to a crowd of more than 5,000 voters. "It depends on us working, nurturing, caring for it not just on Election Day, but every day in between."

"This election matters, Georgia," he added.

Though Georgia's Senate race remains tight, with Warnock polling an average of just one percentage point ahead of Republican Herschel Walker, Democrats are falling behind in the battleground state's gubernatorial race. Abrams, who ran for governor in 2018 and lost by about one point, is polling behind Gov. Brian Kemp by an average of nearly seven points.

In a half-hour speech, Obama acknowledged the struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent inflation while maintaining that President Joe Biden and Democrats aren't entirely to blame.

Obama hits the trail: Barack Obama campaigns for Democrats in Nevada, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin ahead of the midterms

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 28: Former President Barack Obama raises hands with Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) at a campaign event for Georgia Democrats on October 28, 2022 in College Park, Georgia. Obama is in Georgia in support of Democratic candidates, encouraging voters to turn out.

The former president also warned that a Republican Congress could move to further restrict abortion and LGBTQ rights.

"Who will fight for your freedoms? Is it some of these folks in the GOP  politicians, judges  who think they should get to decide when you start a family, how many children you have, who you marry, who you love?" Obama said. "Or is it Democratic leaders who believe that the freedom to make these personal, intimate decisions belong to every American, not politicians in Washington."

"That's the choice in this election; that's what you have to decide," he said.

Obama will travel to Michigan and Wisconsin this weekend before heading to Nevada and Pennsylvania next week.

Story continues

On Saturday, the former president will campaign with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who's seeking reelection and Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is running for a Senate seat against incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson.

Next week, Obama will stump for Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the most vulnerable incumbent Democratic senator this midterm cycle, and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is locked in a close Senate race with Republican Mehmet Oz.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Obama warns of threats to democracy in stump speech for Georgia Dems
This Yahoo News series analyzes different regions around the U.S. in terms of climate change risks that they face now and will experience in the years to come.

As the negative consequences of rising global temperatures due to humankind's relentless burning of fossil fuels become more and more apparent in communities across the United States, anxiety over finding a place to live safe from the ravages of climate change has also been on the rise.

Millions and likely tens of millions of Americans will move because of climate through the end of the century, Jesse Keenan, an associate professor of real estate at the Tulane School of Architecture, told Yahoo News. People move because of school districts, affordability, job opportunities. There are a lot of drivers, and I think its probably best to think about this as climate is now one of those drivers.

A crane demolishes the JetStar roller coaster more than 6 months after it fell into the ocean during Superstorm Sandy on May 14, 2013 in Seaside Heights, N.J.. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Yet for those fortunate enough to have the financial resources to even contemplate it, uprooting ones life and moving to a place thought to be safer from a climate change perspective is a bet based on probability, and one that has no real guarantees.

No place is immune from climate change impacts, certainly in the continental United States, and throughout the U.S. those impacts will be quite severe," Keenan said. "They will be more severe in some places and less severe in other places. Certain places will be more moderate in terms of temperature and some places will be more extreme, but we all share the risk of the increase of extreme events.

Scientifically speaking, of course, there is no real mystery as to what is behind the decades-long uptick of extreme heat waves, increased wildfire activity, worsening drought severity, rising sea levels and record-setting rainfall events that are conspiring to rewrite our understanding about where we can be assured safe haven from natural disasters and the changing environment.

In April, data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Scripps Institution of Ocean Oceanography showed that the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, was 27% higher than it was 50 years ago. As a result, the so-called greenhouse effect has gotten more pronounced and global temperatures have been rising at a faster clip (they were 2.5F above average in the U.S. this summer, according to NOAA), amplifying the consequences that study after study has linked to climate change.

Story continues

Children cool off in Domino Park, Brooklyn, during a July 2022 heat wave. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

For years, the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists has been that humans are causing temperatures to rise and that, short of an enforceable global agreement to dramatically cut emissions, the reverberations of that fact will continue to worsen. In late October, a report by the United Nations concluded that the world was on track to warm by 2.1C to 2.9C by the year 2100. As a result, the world can expect a dramatic rise in chaotic, extreme weather events.

But how and when global warming will manifest itself in a given community depends on a dizzying number of factors that include luck, latitude, elevation, the rate of global greenhouse gas emissions, the upkeep of infrastructure, long-term climate patterns, the predictable behavior of the jet stream and how warming ocean waters may affect the frequency of El Nino/La Nina cycles.

That said, computer modeling that has accurately predicted many of the dire outcomes seen over the past several years offers some insight into what different regions of the U.S. can expect in the coming decades. And with each subsequent heat wave, fire season and crippling flash-flood event, the country is being offered a real-time preview of what lies ahead.

Some factors, such as the 1-foot average of sea level rise that a recent NOAA study has said is now unavoidable by the year 2050, or the steady increase in dangerously hot temperatures already being experienced during summer months can make picking a climate haven easier. But wild cards such as extreme rainfall events  which this summer alone have occurred in Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, California, Wyoming and Mississippi  illustrate that nothing is certain when it comes to living with climate change.

The following series breaks down the U.S. by region, looking at the risks, some predicted and others playing out already, that come with rising global temperatures.

The Northeast

Top rated counties in the Northeast for climate change risks based on a New York Times/ProPublica analysis of data provided by the Rhodium Group. (Yahoo News)

While it is true, as Tulanes Keenan noted, that no place is immune from climate change impacts, a 2020 analysis published by ProPublica and the New York Times of findings provided by the Rhodium Group, a data-analytics firm, ranked U.S. counties in terms of how well they will be protected from the risks posed by climate change.

The analysis included six major categories  heat stress, the combination of heat and humidity (wet bulb), crop loss, very large fires, sea-level rise and economic damages  and rated each county on the impact climate change would have on them given two emissions scenarios: high and moderate.

Based on those metrics, the Northeast came out ahead in a ranking of counties rated in terms of relative safety from the effects of a warming world. Six of the 10 best-rated U.S. counties were found in Vermont: Lamoille, Orange Franklin, Essex, Orleans and Grand Isle.

Maine had three counties  Piscataquis, Franklin and Aroostook  in the top 10, and New York had just one, Hamilton County.

Climate change is affecting the surfing schedule at some beaches. (Derek Davis/Getty Images)

With the exception of its coastline, which is highly vulnerable to sea level rise, the bulk of the Northeast was rated low in terms of overall climate risks. Eager to promote the findings, officials in places like Buffalo, N.Y., which lies on the far eastern banks of Lake Erie on the U.S. border with Canada, have even begun marketing the city as a climate change refuge, promoting a relatively low incidence of natural disasters and a long-term forecast of mild weather.

Still, inland parts of the region also face climate change risks. Higher temperatures in the Northeast are likely to increase heat-related deaths and decrease air quality, especially in urban areas, the Environmental Protection Agency states on its website about the larger region, which includes Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia and is home to 64 million people.

Between 1958 and 2012, the Northeast saw more than a 70% increase in the amount of rainfall measured during heavy precipitation events, more than in any other region in the United States, the EPA also notes.

But according to the Rhodium Group findings, the Northeasts relative risk profile remains lower than other parts of the country. Its also unusually positioned to handle an influx of climate migrants. Several former industrial hubs across the region whose infrastructure was originally built for larger populations, and were then partially vacated as manufacturing moved elsewhere, seem like natural destinations, so long as they arent located along the coast.

A view of the road to Money Island Marina with water from the Delaware Bay coming dangerously close to the road is seen in Downe, New Jersey on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. (Michelle Gustafson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Exacerbated by local land subsidence (sinking) along the Northeastern coastal regions, seas have already risen 1 ft since 1900 and could, depending on emissions scenarios, could rise by as much as another 21 inches by 2050, according to a recent NOAA study.

Cities like Boston and New York have already begun spending the billions of dollars that will be necessary to protect some neighborhoods from rising waters, erecting sea walls and berms that some critics have assailed as too little too late.

I feel that were in a long-term denial and we are talking about resilience, but its unsustainable, Klaus Jacob, a research scientist at Columbia University who also serves on the NPCC, told Yahoo News in 2019 about New Yorks effort to protect Lower Manhattan. Sustainability is defined as doing something good for current generations without producing liabilities for future generations and thats exactly what this is not. This provides more liabilities for future generations.

The problem, however, is that relocating those already in harms way would represent a migration of unprecedented proportions.

"Millions of Northeastern residents live near coastlines and river floodplains, where they are potentially more vulnerable to these climate-related impacts," the EPA states on its website.

My husband Steve Chin in waders on our block Utica Walk in Breezy Point which suffered severe damage by Hurricane Sandy. Queens, NY (Debbie Egan-Chin/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

According to the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, a government funded website assessing U.S. global warming risks, "models predict that the [Northeast] region could see a warming of 4.5F to 10F by the 2080s (assuming the current rate of increase in emissions)." As those temperatures rise, the risks to the Northeast posed by storms like 2012s Hurricane Sandy will also rise significantly.

As you get north of New York, so you go up into Connecticut, and up towards Boston, will experience hurricanes  in some cases for the first time ever and much more frequently, Josh Studholme, a physicist at Yale University and the author of a 2022 study that showed that the strength of hurricanes will continue to intensify in the Northeast thanks to climate change, said in a statement. And because, you know, these communities that haven't developed with that risk in mind, this presents a significant risk for them.

In August, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire all recorded their warmest month on record, according to NOAA. A 2011 study published in Nature Climate Change found that the Northeast has "emerged as a warming hotspot," heating up at a faster rate than other parts of North America due to warmer ocean waters and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns because of rising temperatures.

Some of the biggest population centers in the U.S. are suffering the greatest degree of warming, the study's lead author, Ambarish Karmalkar, a professor of geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said in a statement. This warming is being driven both by equally rapid trends in the Atlantic Ocean and by changes in atmospheric circulation patterns.

An aerial view of the beach and boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean on July 25, 2022 in Ocean City, NJ. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)

While that warming will, in turn, worsen sea level rise in the Northeast, thanks to increased evaporation rates and earlier snowmelt, it will also bring an increased risk of drought like the one occurring across much of the Northeast.

"Despite its typically temperate moist climate, the Northeast US frequently experiences short-term intense dry periods that can follow a period of normal to above-normal precipitation," NOAA's Climate Program Office states on its website. "Even with normal to above normal precipitation since the 1980s, the region is currently in an economically impactful drought."

At the same time, however, the atmosphere has been shown to hold 7% more moisture for every 1 degree Celsius of warming, exponentially raising the risks of extreme rainfall events that, with little or no warning, will test existing infrastructure like never before.

To be sure, synthesizing all of the volumes of data predicting how climate change will play out is no small task. Thanks to a score of 4 out of 10 in terms of humidity and likely economic damages related to climate change in the New York Times/ProPublic analysis of the Rhodium Group data, Erie County, N.Y., which contains the self-described "climate refuge" city of Buffalo, did not crack the top 300 highest-ranked counties in the U.S. Still, like the vast majority of counties located in the Northeast, it scored much better than those located in other parts of the country.
When Robert Zimmerman was growing up in Long Island, New York, in the '70s, he spent Friday nights hiding out at diners.

"I didn't want to admit to my folks I didn't have a date for a dance, he said.

Now 68, Zimmerman is an openly gay man who has experienced firsthand a changing social climate both in his neighborhood and nationally. And he's helping lead further progress, as the Democratic nominee in the first congressional race between two openly gay candidates.

Come Nov. 8, Zimmerman faces Republican George Santos for New York's 3rd Congressional District, representing Queens and Long Island.

Their race is one in an election cycle with the highest number of openly LGBTQ candidates across the country  1,008 LGBTQ people had announced their candidacy as of this July, according to Victory Fund, a nonpartisan organization supporting LGBTQ candidates for public office. This is up just slightly from the 2020 cycle that saw 1,0006 LGBTQ candidates, and sharply up compared to 2018's 716.

Of those who ran in primaries or are still running for Congress this year, 101 identify as LGBTQ, Victory Fund reported. Four are Republicans, while the majority run as Democrats.

There are 11 openly LGBTQ members of Congress, with New York having the most of any state at three. In the countrys history, Victory Fund reports there have been 19 openly LGBTQ people elected to the House and Senate.

Santos, a 34-year-old first generation American, was born in Jackson Heights in Queens and returned to the area a decade ago. He lives in the district's Queens side now with his husband.

Congress will soon be represented predominantly by millennials. I want to make sure that I am part of that group," Santos said. This is his second run for the district seat. Santos faced the current Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi during the Republican's first run for office in 2020; he came in second by 12 points.

After a career working as a congressional senior staffer and serving on the Democratic National Committee, Zimmerman said he decided to run for the House seat at friends urging.

Story continues

Growing up as a closeted gay kid in the '70s, I never dreamed we'd have a member of the LGBTQ+ community representing Long Island and Queens, Zimmerman said. I certainly never imagined I might be that person.

Hiding behind rainbow flags: Companies' political donations don't match support of LGBTQ issues

'Rednecks 4 Rainbows': Surge in small-town Pride events helps LGBTQ folks find home

'Be really afraid right now': Stonewall generation has a warning for the LGBTQ community post-Roe

A history-making race

Santos and Zimmerman's shared identity puts the emphasis back on their politics, said Charles Moran of Log Cabin Republicans, an organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy.

Their sexual orientation is actually kind of taking a backseat to their political persuasions, and I think that that's a big important sign in politics these days, Moran said. Because there is so much general acceptance of LGBT equality issues, as candidates they can really focus on important things like the policies that really do affect people on a day-to-day basis.

If Santos takes the seat, he will be in a minority of gay Republican House members. Of the 11 openly LGBTQ representatives serving in the House and Senate, all are Democrats.

Moran said Santos represents growing variety within the Republican Party, as well as the LGBTQ community, 14% of which voted for Trump in the 2020 election, according to a poll by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The University of California, Los Angeles Williams Institute found that in 2020, 15% of LGBTQ voters were Republicans, 22% Independents and 13% other or unsure.

There really is a lot of diversity in the LGBT community in political thought, Moran said.

Santos, whose platform is focused on energy costs and public safety, said he and his opponent "have a different mentality of the direction that our country should be going in."

Zimmerman said this difference extends to LGBTQ rights and advocacy, one of his key platform issues, along with the climate crisis and protecting democracy. He criticized Santos for giving his full-blown support this April to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Parental Rights in Education legislation. The bill is often referred to as the Dont Say Gay law by opponents like Zimmerman.

I know straight Republicans who are much more progressive and accepting of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community than George Santos, Zimmerman said.

Santos said he still supports the Florida law, which bars educators from discussing sexual or gender identity with children in classes up to third grade. The New York Republican said he believes discussion on these topics should be left to parents and that "we can keep all these other -isms stuff out of education in schools.

His support of the law, he said, is not contradictory to his identity.

"I'm a gay married man, Santos said. I am openly gay, have never had an issue with my sexual identity in the past decade, and I can tell you and assure you, I will always be an advocate for LGBTQ folks."

Not defined by LGBTQ label: If Pete Buttigieg had 'a wife and not a husband, hed look really boring.'

Exclusive: 2022 could be most anti-trans legislative years in history, report says

Outcomes and effects of New York's 3rd District

The House seat for New Yorks 3rd Congressional District became an open field after Suozzi announced last November his intent to run for governor this election. He lost in the June primary to incumbent Kathy Hochul.

In a district where President Joe Biden won by 10 points, a September poll found this year's House candidates neck and neck, where Zimmerman was just a point ahead of Santos, with a 4.9 percent margin of error. The latest Cook Political Report has the district leaning Democrat, meaning Zimmerman has an edge but the race remains competitive.

While New Yorks is the nation's first congressional race of this nature, there are over a dozen elections across the country this year for positions like city council member that feature multiple LGBTQ candidates, according to Cesar Toledo, political director for Victory Fund.

"A historic number of candidates continue to step up and run for office," Toledo said. "Today, LGBTQ candidates are more electable than ever before."

In order to represent the around 7% of Americans who identify as members of the LGBTQ community, Toledo said there would need to be over 36,000 LGBTQ public officials. There are around 1,000 nationwide.

So definitely a long ways to go to have equitable representation in office, Toledo said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: First congressional race between two openly gay candidates in New York
ORLANDO, Fla.  After five hours discussing proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care, members of a key state medical committee cut short a contentious public meeting in Orlando  exiting as many in the crowd chanted, Their blood is on your hands!

A joint rules panel of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine met Friday at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport for a workshop on potential guidelines limiting gender-affirming care in Florida.

Although the panel did not finalize its proposed rules, members signaled support for prohibiting puberty blockers, cross-hormonal treatment and gender-affirming surgery as methods to treat gender dysphoria in patients under the age of 18.

Because they could not agree on whether to exclude from the ban gender-affirming treatments that are part of clinical trials and research, members recommended further discussion. The proposed rule will be reviewed again in the coming weeks when the panel will also decide when the measure will take effect.

The meeting ended an hour short of the time allotted, which led to a contentious exchange among board members, supporters, and critics of the recommendation.

We were shut down, said Abigael Hart, a transgender woman from Tampa. They got one part ... that got to say what they were going to say and the residents of the state were erased.

The panel stopped hearing testimonies despite several people demanding to be heard, as a majority of the testimonies brought forward prior to the meetings abrupt end were in support of the prohibition of gender-affirming care.

Fridays meeting came at the request of Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Earlier this year, the Florida Health Department issued a guideline for gender-affirming care in the state, advising against puberty blockers, hormone treatments and surgeries for minors. The guideline went against the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services.

Story continues

Among the practitioners opposing the proposal was Kristin Dayton, a certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist.

Dayton said the decision to prescribe puberty blockers is only applied after multiple assessments and that transgender adults who get access to treatment during adolescence face fewer mental health problems.

There is no one size fits all model, Dayton said, noting that gender-affirming care is endorsed by multiple medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.

She called for the board to leave treatment decisions in the hands of physicians and patients, as treatments are highly individualized.

In response to Daytons argument, the board highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach with a collaborative effort from pediatricians, endocrinologists and psychology experts.

Michael Laidlaw, a physician specializing in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, advocated for the prohibition of these treatments.

The gender-affirming therapy treatment proposed by WPATH, and in place with WPATH, gives very powerful hormones and surgeries on what basis? Laidlaw said, using an acronym for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

He presented compared the need to verify a patients diabetes before prescribing insulin to what he called the need to investigate the factors causing gender dysphoria before providing gender-affirming care.

Where can we find the evidence to be certain that these children will not desist by adulthood? he asked, referring to the disputed concept that many transgender teens age out of their gender identity, rather than continue treatments into adulthood.

After the committee listened to the arguments of other medical specialists, they opened the floor for public comment, which was dominated by people who identified as formerly transgender and parents of transgender youth.

Bob and Mary Flynn spoke on their experience as parents of a 12-year-old transgender child who disclosed her identity to them at age 4.

For the past 8 years, weve been on this beautiful journey, helping our child, who had suicidal ideations at age 5 and now is a healthy, happy 12-year-old, thriving in Florida, Mary Flynn said. But we are scared that were going to have to move because she has started gender-affirming care at age 12.

Mary Flynn said her daughter uses a puberty blocker and urged the board to consider the potentially life-or-death consequences of denying treatment to transgender youth.

What youre talking about is waiting until age 18, well they wont be here, [they] could commit suicide, she said.

January Littlejohn, a licensed mental health professional, spoke on her daughters experience with gender identity and how they addressed it.

She said in 2020, her daughter expressed discomfort with her sex and gender, which Littlejohn said her daughter had never expressed before a few of her classmates came out as transgender.

Littlejohn said that setting boundaries for her daughter such as allowing her to change her hair and clothing, but denying any physical procedures, helped with the childs mental health and urge to change her appearance.

We also gave her one-on-one time, in-person activities away from trans influencers, limited her internet use, and declined to affirm her newly chosen names or pronouns, Littlejohn said.

Littlejohn said she was concerned to see suicide being raised as a consequence if a child does not get treatment rather than a risk factor among transgender youth.

A 2019 study from UCLAs Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation & Gender found suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are more prevalent among transgender youth. The report also found that those who experienced family rejection were more likely to report attempting suicide.

The Florida Coalition for Transgender Liberation organized a demonstration after the meeting to protest the boards posture. The group was also joined by the Florida National Organization for Women, Florida Peoples Advocacy Center and Womens March Florida.

The board finalized the meeting and left the room as Orlando Democratic state Reps. Anna Eskamani and Carlos Guillermo Smith arrived to speak.

We are incredibly upset and frustrated by the board of medicine pursuing a political agenda to attack LGBTQ+ people and kids, Eskamani said. This is an institution thats supposed to do no harm and yet theyve been tasked by Gov. DeSantis to essentially erase transgender kids.

Eskamani criticized the panel for allowing those in support of the gender-affirming care ban to speak but leaving the testimony of those opposed to it incomplete.

Its another weaponization of a state agency with real-life consequences because were impacting kids lives, Eskamani said.


Theyre public records. Its bad enough that Gov. Ron DeSantis flew migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard as a political stunt to embarrass the Biden administration over border security. But a Leon County circuit judge found it necessary this week to order the administration to comply with the states public records law in response to queries in September about the controversial flight. The administration has 20 days to provide records sought by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled, holding that the governors office did not show any direct steps taken to gather what this court finds are public records. Such stonewalling has become the norm in Tallahassee; an attorney for DeSantis complained the center was weaponizing the Sunshine Law and that the governors office had a Dec. 1 target date to provide the records. Since when is filing a legal request for public records on a matter of great interest weaponizing the law? And who thinks waiting months for the governor to respond is reasonable? This case offers another dark glimpse of how this governor operates, and what passes for accountability in his administration.

Gus Stavros legacy. The impact that Gus Stavros had on Tampa Bay and Florida will carry on for generations. Stavros, who died Oct. 18 at the age of 97, was a legendary entrepreneur and philanthropist, one of the early mega-donors who gave their money and time to make the state and region better. Born in New Jersey into poverty, the son of immigrant parents from Greece, Stavros earned a Bronze Star in World War II before marrying Frances Shaw in 1948 and moving to Pinellas County, where he started a successful business. Stavros often credited his wife, who died in 2017, for his charitable work, and his parents little formal schooling convinced Stavros to focus on children and education. The economic education programs at Largos Gus Stavros Institute serve thousands of students each year, and other centers named for Stavros dot the University of South Florida in Tampa and Florida State University in Tallahassee. The couple made a wonderful mark in Tampa Bay and beyond and future generations will benefit from their generosity.

Story continues

UFs sole finalist. It would be easy to say the University of Florida has made a mess of a new law Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature enacted that largely conceals the search for college and university presidents. In reality, the law is working just fine  just as expected  at least for lawmakers and university officials who think these appointments are their own political spoils. UF recently announced that Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska was the only finalist for the presidency of Floridas flagship university. The move has sparked a revolt on the Gainesville campus and calls for UF to release the names of the 12 people said to have been interviewed for the post. UF previously declined requests from the Tampa Bay Times for a list of the 12 people the committee considered, citing the new state law and the alleged wishes of the candidates for privacy. If its privacy you want, dont apply to run a state school. This circus is what Floridas Sunshine Laws are made to prevent  along with the self-inflicted damage to a venerable public institution.

Karen Seels departure. We cant let Karen Seel retire next month from the Pinellas County Commission without a word or two of praise. This week, the longtime commissioner was honored with a national award from an umbrella group of metro planning agencies, a fitting tribute to Seels longtime focus on infrastructure and other quality-of-life improvements. Seel led the transformation of U.S. 19 in Pinellas, heading a task force that made the dangerous road safer. She also championed expansions to the Pinellas Trail and helped better organize local planning agencies, a move that helps Floridas most densely populated county make smarter decisions. Through a quarter-century in elected office, beginning as a Clearwater city commissioner in 1996, Seel has served with dignity and been open and accessible to her constituents. And she put problem-solving ahead of politics, a quaint notion today perhaps but one she used to serve the Tampa Bay region well.

Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news.
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 19:37

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the Russian Defence Ministrys message about Russia suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative [an agreement brokered by the United Nations with Russia, Ukraine and Turkiye launched on 22 July to enable ships to transport grain from Ukraine - ed.] as a manifestation of Moscow's course towards destabilising global food security under false pretences of recent events in Sevastopol.

This was stated by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko, writes European Pravda.

He stressed that the Russian side continues to torpedo the work of the Black Sea "grain corridor" in every possible way, casting doubt on its continued functioning.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned of this possibility, in particular in a statement on 24 October, Nikolenko added.

"It is now extremely important that the UN and Turkey, as guarantors of the Grain Initiative, as well as countries that depend on Ukrainian grain exports, send a clear message to Russia about the unacceptability of holding hundreds of millions of people in the world, in particular in Africa, Asia and Latin America, hostage to the Kremlin's Hunger Games," the Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed.

Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the implementation of the Grain Initiative allegedly because of the "terrorist attack" in Sevastopol Bay on Saturday morning.

The Russian Defence Ministry has stated that the target of the attack was allegedly ships of the Black Sea Fleet, which were involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has stressed that the Russian side can no longer guarantee the safety of ships under the Grain Initiaive.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia has found a contrived reason to withdraw from the Grain Initiative; he called on states to demand that the Russian Federation stop the "Hunger Games" and recommit to its obligations.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
PARIS (Reuters) - Clashes at a protest on Saturday against the construction of a large water reservoir for farm irrigation in western France left scores of police injured, the authorities said.

France's worst drought on record this summer has sharpened debate over water resources in the European Union's biggest agricultural sector. Artificial reservoirs have been supported by some farmers as a way to use water efficiently, but have been decried by critics as outsized and favouring large farms.

Several thousand opponents defied a ban on protesting at the planned reservoir in the rural district of Sainte-Soline, with French television showing protestors roaming across fields towards the fenced-off construction area and being repelled by tear gas.

There were 61 injured, including 22 seriously, among the police who were attacked with fireworks and Molotov cocktails by some protestors, the local prefect said in a statement.

French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau condemned on Twitter the violence against police and criticised protestors for "the intention to block a project developed locally over years."

Green party officials who joined the protest blamed an excessive security presence that mobilised over 1,500 police.

"All that to protect a water grab in the midst of a drought," lawmaker Sandrine Rousseau tweeted.

Four protestors were injured and six arrested, the prefect said.

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz, Marc Angrand and Jean-Stephane Brosse, Editing by Franklin Paul)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP)  Jake Garcias two-point scoring run in the fourth overtime  the only play of the day to reach the end zone  gave Miami a 14-12 win over Virginia on Saturday.

Neither team scored a touchdown in regulation. Hurricanes kicker Andres Borregales sent the game to overtime with a 20-yard field goal as the fourth quarter ended.

Virginia and Miami traded field goals in each of the first two overtimes. Both missed their two-point tries in the third extra period. Then, after an incompletion by the Cavaliers, Garcia ran around the left side and dove for the pylon for the game-winning score.

Miami played without quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who was injured during last weeks loss to Duke. Garcia, a redshirt freshman, started in his place and also used speedy, mobile freshman Jacurri Brown, at times. The Hurricanes offense could not get untracked with either option behind center.

The game remained close throughout because Virginias attack wasnt any more effective.

Miami went up 3-0 at halftime, getting a 38-yard field goal from Borregales on the final play. Before that, the two teams combined for 247 total yards and 10 punts.

Tied 3-3 late in the third quarter, UVa failed on four attempts from inside the 5-yard line, turning the ball over on downs when tight end Grant Misch dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone.

The Cavaliers took their first lead of the game on a 24-yard field goal by Will Bettridge with 12:11 left in the game, but Miami tied it on the final play of regulation on a 17-yard field goal to force overtime.

The Cavaliers and Hurricanes are both fighting for bowl eligibility in their first seasons under new head coaches, Tony Elliott at UVa and Mario Cristobal at Miami.

THE TAKEAWAY: Miami: Without Van Dyke at quarterback, Miamis offense looked punchless and predictable. The Hurricanes mustered just 272 total yards

Virginia: UVa still hasnt figured out its offensive woes, but once again got a solid effort from its defense.

Story continues

UP NEXT: Saturdays game was the first of four straight at home for Virginia, which hosts North Carolina next weekend.

Miami hosts Florida State in a rivalry game.

__

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://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2
Amid the frigid conditions of the ongoing crypto winter, non-fungible token (NFT) trading volume has decreased substantially since the third quarter of last year. While the NFT boom brought about a wave of popular PFP projects and multimillion-dollar JPEG sales, these trends became less prolific as the NFT market appeared to lose steam.

But in late September one artist made $17 million from selling out of mint passes to his new generative art NFT collection  a promising sign that interest in the NFT market had been reignited by these algorithmic-based designs.

Tyler Hobbs, the artist behind the collaborative generative art experiment, sold 900 of these mint passes, each priced at 14 ETH (about $18,729 at the time). The project highlighted the concept of audience curation into a generative art collection  the QQL algorithm is open to the public but only mint pass holders can mint their favorite creations as NFTs and become a part of the official collection.

I think the value [of the collection] is around the collector, contributing to the work itself and becoming part of the story of QQL and the line of artworks that are evolving over time, Hobbs told CoinDesk.

Hobbs is well known for generating buzz around an NFT project and has become a household name in the generative art NFT space. His flagship NFT collection Fidenza was minted in June 2021 via generative art platform Art Blocks, and in the months since it has continued to swell in popularity. In August 2021, Fidenza #313 sold for 1,000 ETH ($3.3 million) and, according to data from NFT marketplace OpenSea, the collections trading volume has ballooned to over 53,000 ETH, or about $82 million.

Hobbs joins a growing number of NFT artists and collectors that are embracing algorithmic art and the evolution of digital art creation.

What is generative art?

Generative art is a method of creating work based on a set of instructions, whether it be analog or computational. As the art form has expanded, it has embraced the use of autonomous systems or algorithms to randomly generate content.

Story continues

More recently, NFTs as a medium for artistic expression have brought these types of work and the artists behind them out from the shadows.

Jordan Kantor, artistic director of Art Blocks, told CoinDesk that generative art has been showcased through drawings and paintings throughout much of the 20th century. Yet, art movements in the 1960s, such as minimalism, along with the expansion of artificial intelligence and computing, helped propel generative art into the modern NFT space.

Specifically, he said Web3 technologies have allowed for significant changes in the story of generative art, and have opened up new pathways for artists to create and monetize their work. This includes building new tools for art creation, finding new ways to reach communities and developing new  and possibly more equitable  economic models.

Kantor added that merging generative art algorithms and blockchain technology can help artists to create self-reflective work that most easily fits into the stories of contemporary art.

Merging generative art and NFTs

As generative art continues to evolve as a medium, so too have the ways in which it has been used by NFT artists to enrich their communities and breathe new life into their artwork.

Emily Xie is the artist behind the Art Blocks collection Memories of Qilin, a code-based generative art project inspired by traditional East Asian art. Each output in the collection is an exploration of cultural folklore that leaves its interpretation up to the viewer.

Part of the storytelling aspect of the series is this idea of collectivity and collective consciousness. We as a community are deciding the meanings of these pieces, she told CoinDesk.

Xie, who studied art and obtained a masters degree in computational programming, has successfully merged her two areas of expertise through generative art NFTs, and her Memories of Qilin collection has amassed a total trading volume of 3,055 ETH ($4.8 million) on OpenSea.

I would do creative coding whenever I could, but I never imagined that there would be a way to actually live off of my art. So when I discovered NFTs for the first time it became possible, said Xie.

Xie also noted that NFTs have helped new generations of collectors and creators discover generative art.

[Generative art] has a very deep, rich history, but I think it has been at the margins of the art world for a very long time. What's interesting about generative art in the context of NFTs is that this medium has pushed generative art out to a wider audience, said Xie.

Auction houses note a 'revival' of generative art

While NFT platforms such as Art Blocks or OpenSea have swaths of generative art collections on their platforms, traditional auction houses have also taken notice.

Christies, the 255-year-old auction house at the forefront of the NFT boom, recently established the NFT division of its auction house called Christies 3.0. Its inaugural NFT collection was a series of artworks by 18-year-old visual artist Diana Sinclair, made up of five still works and four generative art videos.

Nicole Sales Giles, director of digital art sales, told CoinDesk that generative artwork appeals to more tech-savvy buyers looking to build out their art collections with intricate pieces.

Auction houses have also been successful at bringing together classic works of generative art and new algorithmic designs.

In April, Sothebys conducted a $2.3 million sale of generative art, showcasing the works of artists Vera Molnar, a 98-year-old generative artist who began her career in the 1940s, as well as Charles Csuri, an artist who emerged in the 1960s and who is credited with pioneering computer art and technology. On the roster were several other artists, including Hobbs.

Of the collectors who purchased these works, 69% were new to Sothebys and over a third of bidders were under 40 years old.

"[The sales data] shows that there is a real revival in this category. It's always been difficult to understand, mainly because of the coding and the artist's creative process that can become very 'techy' for more traditional collectors," Michael Bouhanna, co-head of digital art sales at Sothebys, told CoinDesk.

Bouhanna noted that while theres an uptick in generative art sales and a greater focus in showcasing these types of digital art among auction houses, theres still a need to educate collectors on the richness of this artistic medium.

We really need to raise awareness to all types of collectors about this movement. So we do it through panels, creating relationships with some of the top collectors in the space and continuing to do new sales bringing in new and younger artists, said Bouhanna.

Generative art is sparking conversations around creativity and collaboration

While conversations around NFTs have shifted to focus on long-term utility, advocates for generative art NFTs praise the unique creative process that occurs between the artist and collector. Hobbs explained that this is one of the reasons he chose to make his QQL algorithm available to the public for free.

Some may argue doing this diminishes the value of the generated artwork that makes its way into the official NFT collection. However, Hobbs sees it as an opportunity to inspire creativity in the community he has grown.

Even if they could never afford a mint pass, they're able to create beautiful artwork with it and they become part of the artistic conversation, said Hobbs. And, in their own way, they've influenced the story of QQL and the final set of artwork.
Netflix viewers have lavished praised on the new serial killer drama The Good Nurse.

Based on a true story, The Good Nurse follows Charles Cullen, a nurse who murders dozens  perhaps even hundreds  of patients over the course of a 16-year period.

Eddie Redmayne plays Cullen, while Jessica Chastain stars as another nurse, Amy Loughren.

In the days since the films release, viewers have shared their shock on social media after learning of the morbid true story that inspired it.

However, they have also flooded social media with praise for the film, with special commendations reserved for the two lead performances.

Watched Good Nurse on @netflix how can I miss if it's @jes_chastain, one viewer wrote on Twitter. I'm running out of adjectives to describe her performance, just amazing. Eddie Redmayne too excels as usual.

I just finished watching The Good Nurse, wrote another. The film is solid proof why eddie and jessica won their oscars; their performances are nothing short of extraordinary.

Eddie Redmayne as Charlie Cullen and Jessica Chastain as Amy Loughren in The Good Nurse' (JoJo Whilden / Netflix)

Watched The Good Nurse last night. Absolutely superb performances from Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne. Just Brilliant, someone else wrote.

Eddie redmayne in the new The Good Nurse movie on netflix holy shit he is amazing and actually had me scared someone give him an Oscar, wrote a fourth person.

Multiple people sharing a clip of Redmayne in character, yelling repeatedly at the top of his voice.

this scene in "the good nurse" left me speechless. eddie redmayne ate and left no crumbspic.twitter.com/80bG4k14tT  vane anti-hero (@repfolklorian) October 27, 2022

This scene in The Good Nurse left me speechless, one person claimed. Eddie Redmayne ate and left no crumbs.

Beautiful understated performance by Redmayne in @netflix film The Good Nurse, another seemed to quip.

You can read about the true story that inspired the film here.

The Good Nurse can be streamed now on Netlflix in the UK and elsewhere.
China's recipe for bigger pie of global development in new blueprint

Xinhua) 09:12, October 29, 2022

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)

Observers believe that as global recovery progresses in fits and starts, China, under the leadership of the CPC, will remain an indispensible stabilizing force and an inexhaustible source of development wisdom.

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The world has been keeping tabs on one of China's most important meetings in its political calendar concluded last week to gauge the direction China will take in the next half-decade and beyond.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday unveiled its new top leadership, which will take the world's most populous nation on a new journey of high-quality and inclusive development, with far-reaching significance to the region and the world.

Reviewing China's development success, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, reaffirmed China's commitment to further opening-up and the common values of humanity.

Observers believe that as global recovery progresses in fits and starts, China, under the leadership of the CPC, will remain an indispensible stabilizing force and an inexhaustible source of development wisdom.

Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021 shows a view of the new Tiexi Plant of BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (Xinhua)

OASIS OF GROWTH

China's economic rise and modernization from a primarily agricultural country decades ago is an inspiring rags-to-riches story. From 2013 to 2021, China's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 6.6 percent, beating the global level of 2.6 percent.

The country now boasts the world's most extensive social welfare system, the largest high-speed railway network, as well as the largest and fastest growing middle-income group, which is sure to translate into massive opportunities for China and the wider world.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s human development index (HDI), from 1990 to 2019, China is the only country to have moved from low human development category to high human development category since UNDP first began analyzing global HDI trends in 1990.

Earlier in May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to rescue and prioritize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"The multiple crises facing the world raise the bar even higher ... The years ahead will demand much stronger leadership and ambition at all levels," said the secretary-general.

Against such a backdrop, the most populous nation's miraculous, people-centered development represents a motivation for an anxious world.

China's development is not only illustrated by economic figures, but also by the sense of happiness shared by its people, and the results of the CPC's people-centered endeavors in various fields have been tested by practice and recognized by the people, said Ang Teck Sin, a political commentator in Singapore.

Now that sense of fulfillment has been shared by a wider crowd across the world. China's contribution to global economic growth during the 2013-2021 period averaged 38.6 percent, outstripping that of the Group of Seven (G7) countries combined.

The world's second largest economy has become a major trading partner for over 140 countries and regions, leading the world in total volume of trade in goods, and emerging as a mainstay in building an open world economy.

Meanwhile, Chinese modernization is widely inspiring in the way that it does not comply with a fixed or a Westernized storyline, but rather adapts to its national conditions and evolving circumstances at home and abroad.

As British scholar Martin Jacques once put it, China proves that the Western belief that "as countries modernize, they also westernize" is simply an illusion.

China's modernization has provided an important reference for many countries that are facing economic and social development problems and are exploring development paths suited to their national conditions, said Luis Delgado, a researcher of Venezuela's Center for Advanced Studies in Development and Emerging Economies.

Senegalese sociologist Mamadou Diouf said, "Chinese modernization takes into account the living environment, ecosystem and natural environment, and puts people at the center, which is key to achieving sustainable modernization."

Bathsheba Mchuza, founder and sales officer for Uyogaplus project, shows the growing of mushroom during a workshop on "Applications of Juncao Technology and its Contribution to the Achievement of Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania" in Kinondoni District, outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 10, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

SEED OF HOPE

In the mostly arid, desert-capped Sub-Saharan Africa, locals have been planting a small grass from China for livestock feed, mushroom production, or even as a green barrier to fight climate change.

The "magic" plant called Juncao, which uses grass instead of wood to cultivate edible fungi, has worked wonder in 100-plus countries as a cash cow and the source of tens of thousands of jobs.

Debunking the myth that to produce edible mushrooms trees must be chopped down, the small grass has offered a green alternative and a boon for a shared future.

First cultivated in China, the plant has taken root in the far-flung, poverty-stricken fields in Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Rwanda and Fiji, its mushrooms gracing the tables of an increasing number of households.

Petty in size, Juncao has become "grass of happiness" and "grass of prosperity" for people in developing countries and a signboard for China's foreign assistance and poverty-alleviation endeavors overseas.

In Iraq's Mesopotamia, desertification and soil salinization have long threatened to bury this cradle of one of humanity's earliest civilizations in dust.

"My dream is to transfer what I learned from China to Iraq and turn deserts into oases," said Sarmad Kamil Ali, deputy chief agricultural engineer of Iraq's State Board of Combating Desertification, who studied in China nearly 10 years ago to learn about sand control.

In tropical Ethiopia, China's climate remote sensing satellite, orbiting more than 600 km above the ground, is working like a guardian angel for this "hometown of coffee," to cushion the impact of climate change on coffee planting.

China's green energy projects and technical assistance overseas have not only worked as a magic wand turing barren, tropical areas into energy oases, but also helped fully harness the natural endowment of many countries.

China has been a true practitioner of its vision to build a human community with a shared future. Its invaluable experience in poverty alleviation has also taken root elsewhere as a seed of hope for locals.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) puts developing nations on the right track to achieving their long-term development goals, said Khairy Tourk, a professor of economics with the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

"The BRI has drawn world attention to the importance of infrastructure as an essential pillar of economic development," Tourk said.

Chinese peacekeepers clear the ruins of the port explosions in Beirut, Lebanon, Sept. 30, 2020. (Photo by Zhao Wenhuan/Xinhua)

"TEA AND BEER"

"The Chinese people are fond of tea and the Belgians love beer. To me, the moderate tea drinker and the passionate beer lover represent two ways of understanding life and knowing the world, and I find them equally rewarding," Xi said in a speech delivered at the College of Europe in Belgium in 2014.

Xi used this metaphor to elaborate on China's vision of civilization featuring diversity, equality and inclusiveness.

On multiple occasions, including the just-concluded CPC national congress, China has vowed to hold dear humanity's common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, doubling down on the joint building of an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity.

This is also the bedrock value of the country, which has long been committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, safeguarding a UN-centered international system and promoting a human community with a shared future.

China, in its earnest pursuit of national rejuvenation, knows all too well that peace is the prerequisite for development, and inclusive development requires an inclusive vision of security, in which humanity works as an indivisible whole.

To help fix global deficits in peace, development, trust, and governance, China has walked its talk to pool resources and consensus, crack security puzzles, and boost sustainable and inclusive development.

Since 1990, China has dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions. It is the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. It has supported the United Nations' work in various fields through establishing the Peace and Development Trust fund with the UN.

The vision of a shared future largely reflects the core values of China's traditional culture such as harmony and equality, said B. R. Deepak, chairperson of the Center of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, both proposed by China and based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation, are like an antidote to hegemony, unilateralism, exclusion and the Cold War mentality in today's world, he said.

Unlike some Western countries' unilateral pursuits of their safety, the Global Security Initiative seeks common security, which underlines peace and cooperation, said Bambang Suryono, chairman of the Indonesian think tank Asia Innovation Study Center.

The global future "is an issue which commands the attention of people everywhere in the world, not just people of this country or that country," said Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences.

Tackling such big global issues as climate change, nuclear security and deforestation needs the focus on "collective activities, which go beyond national boundaries," he said, hoping that China can take the lead.

(Xinhua writers Cai Shuya and Li Yan in Singapore, Hu Xiaoming in New Delhi, Wang Zizheng in Dakar, Lin Hao in Bangkok, Xu Ye and Wang Ying in Caracas, Sun Xiaoling, Du Juan and Guo Shuang in London also contributed to this story.)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
HCA Florida Memorial Hospital and HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital announced today that it is hosting its Crush the Crisis national opioid take back day to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications, on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and invites the community to safely dispose of unused or expired medication.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

In 2021, there were more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a near 15 percent increase in drug related deaths from 2020.

We have seen firsthand the devastating consequences of drug misuse and abuse, said Dr. Bradley Shumaker, Chief Medical Officer of Orange Park Hospital. As a leading healthcare provider in Northeast Florida we believe it is vital to increase awareness of this important issue and offer our community a safe way to dispose of medications to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

Law enforcement officers from the Jacksonville Sherriffs Office and Clay County Police Department will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana).

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication in leak-proof containers, vape cartridges without batteries and pet medication will also be accepted. Any medications will be accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.

In October 2021, 96 HCA Healthcare facilities just like ours in 17 states collected 15,566 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at Crush the Crisis events across the nation, said Dr. Albert Holt, Chief Medical Officer of Memorial Hospital. Thats outstanding news for our communities to get those medications off our streets.

Story continues

As a part of their commitment to curb the opioid crisis, HCA Healthcare, the parent company of Memorial Hospital and Orange Park Hospital have worked with the National Academy of Medicines (NAM) Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic. HCA Healthcare has given $750,000 to the Collaborative to support the development of safer pain management protocols and reversal of the opioid crisis.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

As a learning health system, HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 35 million annual patient encounters to help continuously improve care. The organization uses the science of big data to reduce opioid misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency and other care settings, including:

Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR): A multi-modal approach to pain management using pre, intra and post-operative interventions to optimize outcomes. HCA Healthcares ESR programs have demonstrated significant improvements in surgical recovery and patient satisfaction, including decreases in opioid usage.

Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): Aims to stem increasing rates of opioid-related addiction, misuse diversion and death by making it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop and alter prescriptions. Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records, providing data that will allow them to prescribe opioids judiciously.

Crush the Crisis will take place at the following drive-through and drop off locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

 HCA Florida Memorial Hospitals Medical Office Building - Entrance

(3625 University Blvd S., Jacksonville, FL)

 HCA Florida Park West Emergency

(6477 103rd Street, Jacksonville, FL)

 HCA Florida Middleburg Emergency

(2560 Blanding Blvd. Middleburg, FL), the site of an ER that will be opening in mid-November

For more information, visit hcahealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call toll free number at (833) 582-1970.





Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Evening Kyiv during a blackout

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Colonel General Serhiy Popko, a military officer with combat experience, as the new head of the Kyiv City Military Administration (KCMA) on Oct. 24.

His predecessor on the post, Mykola Zhyrnov, although being a military man, used to manage the rear structures of the army. Popko, however commanded the Ground Forces in 2016-2019, headed the Main Command Center of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and also held the position of acting commander of the Joint Operational Command of the Armed Forces.

Why does Kyiv need the experience of a combat general, does this mean the threat of a new enemy attack on the capital, and what tasks did the President set for the head of the KCMA?

Read also: Shedding light on plans for emergency blackouts in Kyiv Oblast on Oct. 28

Popko answered these questions for NV in his first interview in his position.

NV: Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed you the head of the KCMA, noting that your combat experience will help strengthen the defense and security of the capital. Does this mean the risks of another attack on Kyiv by the enemy from the north have increased?

Popko: The enemy continues this war of aggression, in which the great Ukrainian people are dying. It destroys the states infrastructure. The risk for the capital, as well as for the rest of our country, is still there. That is why we all work for the defense of our country. Our main goal is to win. I swore to the people of Ukraine to protect them, wherever I was and whoever I was. And the oath has no time limits, as I was taught. Therefore, I count on the unity and the efforts of our community, the civil sector, politicians of various currents and beliefs, who share the defense of our state as the main and common idea.

Read also: Kyiv gets new air defense systems, mayor says

NV: Is there any military expediency for the enemy to try to capture the capital a second time?

Popko: I think that the Russian Federation has always had the desire to capture the capital of Ukraine and Russia has not given up on this. We can discuss this topic for a long time: What are the reasons for Russia to attack Kyiv? But, I think, there are a lot of versions here and everyone is aware of it.

Story continues

NV: In February, the enemy attacked Kyiv from several directions with mechanized, tank units, units of airborne troops, marines. They also tried to land a landing party in the center of the capital. Will the Russians follow the same path a second time? If not, what options do they have available?

Popko: I believe the commander of the group of forces and means of defense of the city of Kyiv is more competent in this matter. In any case, we are ready for any actions by the enemy.

Read also: How world leaders travel to Kyiv, what they eat, and what they do

NV: Do you aim to increase the number of personnel of the military units involved in the defense of the city in order to provide additional protection of the capital? What terms and numbers are we talking here, what professions does the defense of the capital need first and foremost?

Popko: I will not talk about numbers for strategic reasons. I will only say that at the moment I am working on securing the units involved in the defense of the city. We keep improving the network of defensive lines, districts and positions, and various types of barricades, including mine-explosive barriers, are being installed. A fire damage control system has been created, and the air defense system is being significantly improved. All of the citys municipal services are ready to fulfill their duties.

NV: Can the capital oppose a mass Russian air raid, like the ones that took place on October 10 and 21?

Popko: The fact is what Russians fear the most is our truth. The truth about the quick restoration of our roads, about the quick repair of communications after strikes. Of course, the military administration, together with the military command, implements a certain set of measures. We are aware of all the risks and try to ensure the normal functioning of the city in the current conditions. Our resistance is our most important weapon.

NV: What work is currently being done in terms of the physical protection of important infrastructure facilities from damage?

Popko: A separate mandate for organizing work on ensuring the stability of critical infrastructure facilities is already underway. We handling this issue. In addition, the military administration is working hard to minimize the consequences of possible strikes.

Read also: Restoration of Kyiv's energy infrastructure to take 2-3 weeks, the mayor

NV: Regarding city affairs  public transit currently doesnt operate during an air raid, but minibuses continue to run. Could you explain this? Is this how its meant to be? Or are private carriers simply not following generally established rules? What can be done?

Popko: I understand the concerns of Kyiv residents when traffic is stopped: it is an additional expense, and causes inconveniences for commuters, especially when the curfew approaches. We are already studying this issue and will try to resolve it.

NV: Some schools in the capital are now starting to put desks in bomb shelters. How do you feel about this initiative? And wouldnt it be wiser to transfer children to remote education?

Popko: There is a government resolution on ensuring the educational process in 2022/23. On the eve of the beginning of the academic year, appropriate commissions were appointed to check all schools for the presence of shelters. I believe that first of all we should observe safety measures, as children are our future. We fight for their peace and freedom. Therefore, in the view of life under martial law, I think that it is each specific schools council that should decide the best way to organize their work. After all, our children have been constantly isolated recently. If the school is equipped with a reliable shelter and face-to-face education has a better effect on the emotional and psychological state of children, I do not see this as a threat.

Read also: Rolling blackouts in Kyiv, massive morgue in Mariupol, and NV goes to the Kherson front

NV: Would you advise Kyiv residents, who can temporarily leave the capital, to spend the winter in safer regions, given the various threats?

Popko: In fact, this is a rather resonant question. But I wouldn't want to spread panic. We realize that we need to save electricity. Everyone should consciously consume energy resources now. The enemy wants to intimidate us, to make us afraid. But as our president said (addressing the Russians): We can live without light, but it is better without you.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
How far off is Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Lowe's Companies

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$8.98b US$8.96b US$9.45b US$10.3b US$10.9b US$11.5b US$11.9b US$12.3b US$12.7b US$13.0b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x6 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 4.72% Est @ 3.9% Est @ 3.32% Est @ 2.92% Est @ 2.64% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.0% US$8.4k US$7.8k US$7.7k US$7.8k US$7.8k US$7.6k US$7.4k US$7.1k US$6.9k US$6.6k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$75b

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.0%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$13b (1 + 2.0%)  (7.0% 2.0%) = US$261b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$261b ( 1 + 7.0%)10= US$132b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is US$207b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$199, the company appears quite good value at a 41% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Lowe's Companies as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.083. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Lowe's Companies, we've compiled three important elements you should further examine:

Risks: Take risks, for example - Lowe's Companies has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is significant) we think you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for LOW's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, long term South Port New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPN) shareholders have enjoyed a 35% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 5.7% (not including dividends).

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for South Port New Zealand

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Over half a decade, South Port New Zealand managed to grow its earnings per share at 8.7% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 6% average annual increase in the share price. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

This free interactive report on South Port New Zealand's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, South Port New Zealand's TSR for the last 5 years was 65%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

Story continues

A Different Perspective

While it's certainly disappointing to see that South Port New Zealand shares lost 6.3% throughout the year, that wasn't as bad as the market loss of 15%. Of course, the long term returns are far more important and the good news is that over five years, the stock has returned 10% for each year. In the best case scenario the last year is just a temporary blip on the journey to a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for South Port New Zealand (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NZ exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
DUBAI (Reuters) -The head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets, in the clearest sign that security forces may intensify their already fierce crackdown on widespread unrest.

Iran has been gripped by protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police last month, posing one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution.

"Do not come to the streets! Today is the last day of the riots," Guards commander Hossein Salami said in some of the toughest language used in the crisis, which Iran's leaders blame on its foreign enemies including Israel and the United States.

"This sinister plan, is a plan hatched ... in the White House and the Zionist regime," Salami said. "Don't sell your honour to America and don't slap the security forces who are defending you in the face."

Iranians have defied such warnings throughout the popular revolt in which women have played a prominent role. There were more reports of bloodshed and renewed protests on Saturday.

Human rights group Hengaw reported security forces shooting students at a girls' school in the city of Saqez. In another post, it said security forces opened fire on students at a medical university in Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province.

Several students were injured, with one of them shot in the head, Hengaw said. Reuters could not verify the report.

Late on Saturday, more protests broke out in the Kurdish town of Marivan, according to social media videos which showed demonstrators starting fires on streets as gunshots could be heard. Reuters could not verify the videos.

The Twitter account @1500tasvir, which has nearly 300,000 followers, posted videos it said showed protesters in the northwestern city of Astara, lighting a bonfire with debris and motorbikes seized from police.

Story continues

Meanwhile @1500tasvir and other Twitter accounts said security forces had surrounded some campuses, including Mashhad Azad University and the Technical Faculty of Tehran University, to arrest student activists.

In another show of defiance, protesters in the small northern town of Lasht-e Nesha held a loud street rally chanting "Clerics must get lost!," according to a video on @1500tasvir.

The footage could not be authenticated by Reuters.

PROTESTERS ON TRIAL

The widely feared Revolutionary Guards, an elite force with a track record of crushing dissent, which reports directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have not been deployed since demonstrations began last month.

But the warning by Salami suggests Khamenei could unleash them in the face of relentless demonstrations now focused on toppling the Islamic Republic.

Videos posted earlier on social media by activist groups purported to show protests at a number of universities across the country in cities including Kerman, Mashhad, Qazvin, Ahvaz, Arak, Kermanshah, Yazd, Bushehr and a dozen campuses in the capital, Tehran.

The activist HRANA news agency said 272 protesters had been killed in the unrest as of Friday including 39 minors. Some 34 members of the security forces were also killed. Nearly 14,000 people have been arrested in protests in 129 towns and cities and some 115 universities, it said.

A hardline Revolutionary Court began the trials of some of the 315 protesters charged so far in Tehran, at least five of whom are accused of capital offences, the official news agency IRNA reported.

The defendants include a man accused of hitting and killing a police officer with his car and injuring five others, IRNA said. He is charged with "spreading corruption on earth," an offence punishable by death under Iran's Islamic laws.

Another man is charged with the capital offence of "moharebeh," an Islamic term meaning warring against God, for allegedly attacking police with a knife and helping set fire to a government building in a town near Tehran, IRNA added.

The court is headed by Abolghassem Salavati, a judge on whom the United States imposed sanctions in 2019 after accusing him of having punished Iranian citizens and dual nationals for exercising their freedoms of speech and assembly.

Salami issued his warning to protesters as he spoke at a funeral for victims killed in an attack this week claimed by Islamic State.

A man who the militant group said carried out the attack, which killed 15 worshippers at the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz, pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video posted on its Telegram account on Saturday. Iranian officials said he died from injuries sustained during his arrest.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; additional reporting by Moaz Abd-Alziz in Cairo; Writing by Michael Georgy Editing by Frances Kerry, Christina Fincher and Chris Reese)
At least 153 people have died in a crush as huge Halloween crowds surged into a narrow street in South Korea's capital, Seoul, officials say.

At least another 82 were injured in the incident in the Itaewon nightlife area which was holding its first unmasked Halloween celebrations since Covid.

Reports describe a desperate scene of people caught up in the crush piling on top of each other.

Most of the dead were teenagers or in their 20s. Twenty were foreigners.

The cause of the disaster is still being established.

After holding an emergency meeting, South Korea's President, Yoon Suk-yeol, ordered a task force to be set up to help treat the injured. He also launched an investigation into the cause of the crush.

With the death toll as it stands, this is the deadliest disaster in South Korea since 2014, when the Sewol ferry sank killing more than 300 people.

Live updates

Itaewon is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Seoul for a night out. Locals and foreigners flock there every weekend, but Halloween is one of the busiest nights of the year.

An estimated 100,000 people came to celebrate there on Saturday to mark the first Halloween since the start of the pandemic where gathering sizes were not limited and people did not need to wear masks outside.

The crush appears to have started in a narrow, sloped alleyway that was overcrowded with people. Pictures and videos on social media show the alley was so densely packed, people were unable to move. One video shows people struggling to breathe. In another, emergency responders try to pull out people from what appears to be a pile of bodies. Cries of distress can be heard.

Bodies were lined up along the street covered in blue blankets. Others were carried, lifeless, into ambulances. Members of the public desperately administered CPR to those who were lying unconscious, along with hundreds of emergency workers who were sent in from around the country to help.

Relatives and friends of missing people have been turning up at the scene this morning looking for clues to reveal whether their loved ones were there.

Story continues

But the bodies have been moved from the street into a gymnasium, for family members to come and identify them. With so many victims, this is expected to take time and is the authorities' immediate priority.

Jeon Ga-eul, 30, was having a drink at a bar at the moment the crush began.

"My friend said: something terrible is happening outside," she told AFP news agency. "I said: what are you talking about? And then I went outside to see and there were people doing CPR in the street."

Map of the area

A doctor who administered first aid at the scene said that when he had first started performing CPR there were two victims but "the number exploded soon after, outnumbering the first responders".

Social media messages posted earlier in the evening showed some people remarking that the Itaewon area was so crowded that it felt unsafe.

One witness, Park Jung-Hoon, told Reuters news agency that big crowds were normal for Christmas and fireworks celebration but "this was several ten-folds bigger than any of that".

A local journalist said that an emergency broadcast had been sent to every mobile phone in the Yongsan District urging citizens to return home as soon as possible due to "an emergency accident near Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon".

The attention will likely shift to the safety standards and crowd control measures in place at these occasions. President Yoon has already called for a review of the safety of festivity sites.

Several world leaders have expressed their condolences. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron said their thoughts were with the people of South Korea.

The EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he was deeply saddened and the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, pledged American support.

Banner saying 'Get in touch'

Have you been affected by what's happened? Are you in the area? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
(Bloomberg) -- Italys new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, will visit Brussels to meet the leaders of European Union institutions and Egypt for the COP27 summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in her first foreign travel.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Meloni, who was sworn in last week after winning the Sept. 25 elections, will be in Brussels on Nov. 3 for her first meetings with European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel.

Later in the month, shell be in Egypt on Nov. 6-7 for the UN climate meeting before flying to Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 15-16 to attend her first of Group of Twenty summit, where shes expected to meet with US President Joe Biden, according to Italian media.

Earlier this week, Meloni spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and said she hoped to meet him soon and in person.

Read More: Italys Premier Meloni Secures Wide Backing in Confidence Vote

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
A Jackson County sheriffs deputy shot and killed a Vancleave man late Friday afternoon.

Sheriff Mike Ezell says around 5 p.m. deputies responded to a shots fired call at Brad-AI Drive in Vancleave.

Upon arrival, the sheriff says, they were met by an armed man who pointed a gun at the deputies.

The deputies fired and the man died on scene.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation gathered evidence at the scene and will share its findings with the Attorney Generals Office.

This is the second officer-involved shooting involving the Jackson County Sheriffs Department this month.

If you have any information, call the Sheriffs Department immediately.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will set up a new joint command to manage the operations of its land, sea and air forces, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday, as part of a major defence overhaul in the face of China's increasing assertiveness over Taiwan.

The government aims to have the joint command functioning by 2024. It will be tasked with coordinating strategies and boosting Japan's defence cooperation with the U.S. military, Nikkei reported.

The defence ministry could not be reached for comment outside regular business hours.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government is boosting its military spending in response to China's growing might and geopolitical uncertainty over Taiwan and North Korea's missile developments.

The new arrangements will be included in the defence overhaul that the government will unveil by the year-end, Nikkei said.

The joint command will be overseen by a joint commander, a newly created position that will report directly to Japan's defence minister, it added.

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christina Fincher)
With 1957 releases Whole Lotta Shakin and Great Balls of Fire, Lewis hit the No 1 spot on the US country and western and R&B charts as well as peaking at No 3 and No 2 respectively on the US Billboard Hot 100 (Kobal/Shutterstock)

Jerry Lee Lewis was the first of a long line of rocknrollers considered to be the antichrist. A song stylist in the grand tradition of Al Jolson, Jimmy Rodgers and Hank Williams, he was an American original, one of the greatest vocal interpreters of the 20th century, able to take any song and make it his own.

However, during a 1958 UK tour at the peak of his fame, he was embroiled in scandal after it was revealed he had married his 13-year-old cousin, Myra Brown  it would be the third of his seven marriages. There was outrage in the British press and the rest of his tour was cancelled. US radio stations and concert promoters also blacklisted him, and his popularity faded. He never again had a US Top 20 hit.

Originally billed as Jerry Lee Lewis and his Pumping Piano, The Killer, as he later became known  an unfortunate sobriquet considering the amount of death that shadowed his life  was a defiantly individual artist whose perpetual teetering on the precipice of tragedy was illuminated and saved by his shimmering brilliance.

Lewis lived a life peppered with pills and potions and laced with lashings of alcohol. It was not until 1995 that he gave up drinking and it was 2004 before he played onstage for the first time since a teenager without the assistance of amphetamines, a drug first recommended to him by Johnny Cash when he started out as a performer.

Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, on 29 September 1935, his sharecropper father had recently emerged from a brief prison term for moonshining alcohol; jailed again for a second offence, he served a five-year stretch during the boys early childhood. The southern states of America had been hit hard by the Depression, and grinding poverty led to his fathers pair of prison terms. When he was three, his brother Elmo Jr, also a great musical talent, was killed at the age of eight by a drunk driver: all his life heartbreak would accompany Jerry Lee Lewis.

Lewiss education was minimal; what schooling he had ended when he was 12, and he never learned how to write a cheque, let alone comprehend his finances. Naive and innocent, with a kind of down-home village mentality, Lewiss rules of life came largely from the biblical studies he had absorbed from the Assembly of God, a Pentecostal denomination at which his parents worshipped, known for its strict adherence to the Bible as the unerring word of God.

Story continues

By the time he was 15 this inner fight had raised its head. Married for the first time, to the daughter of a Pentecostal preacher, Lewis was enrolled by his ambitious mother at a ministers college in Waxahachie, Texas. Sneaking out to nightclubs in Dallas, he was expelled after three months for playing a boogie-woogie version of My God Is Real at assembly. He took a job as a vacuum-cleaner salesman but was almost jailed for neglecting to hand over his share of the takings.

The Killer in London during his June 1958 tour (Getty)

By the time he was almost 20, Lewis had been alerted to the new sounds sailing out of the radio, especially those from Sun Records in Memphis. Leaving behind his second wife, whom he had married the same day she gave birth to Jerry Lee Lewis, Jr, his first son, a month before he was divorced from his first bride, he drove up to Memphis in September 1955. At his audition at Sun, Lewis first played a piano instrumental. He then sang a pair of tunes by the new country star George Jones. Although inspired by the recent development of rockabilly, it was country music that lay at the source of Lewiss style.

In January 1956 Lewis was in the Sun studio to play piano, for $15, on Matchbox, a new Carl Perkins single, when Elvis Presley called in on the studio. Also present was Johnny Cash. A jam session started, the engineer having the perspicacity to leave the tape rolling for the session that entered musical legend as The Million Dollar Quartet. Although at first that day it was Presley who played the piano, the novitiate Lewis, eager, full of enthusiasm, subsequently urged him to scoot over, rocking up Gene Autrys Youre the Only Star in My Blue Heaven. Presley became a big supporter of Lewis.

It was not until the next year that Phillips would release Lewiss first sensational international smash, Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On, employing only one microphone and one take, recorded when the studio owner had turned on the tape deck and let the performer go where his emotions took him.

Lewis with his second cousin and third wife Myra Brown at a press conference in the Westbury Hotel, London, 23 May 1958 (Getty)

With both Whole Lotta Shakin and his next release Great Balls of Fire, also in 1957, Lewis hit the No 1 spot on the US country and western and R&B charts as well as peaking at No 3 and No 2 respectively on the US Billboard Hot 100. As though a portent, Lewis initially had been tormented by the content of Great Balls of Fire, refusing to record it, believing it was the work of the devil: the bitter argument between himself and Sam Phillips was included in a number of Sun collections.

The counterpart to such inner religious debate was his breathtaking stage performances, driving his audiences into frenzies as he kicked piano stools and played the instrument with his feet; asked to co-headline with Chuck Berry, with Lewis closing the first half of the show, he avoided being upstaged by setting his piano alight during his final number until the stage itself was in flames. As though to mollify Gods opinion of him, on his second tour Lewis also performed gospel songs, whilst adding the dirtiest lyrics he could imagine to his secular material.

By the summer of 1958, following a 12-day engagement at New Yorks Paramount Theatre that broke all attendance records, Lewis seemed on the point of seizing the crown of Presley, who had been called up for military service.

But as his third single Breathless moved up the charts in the autumn of that year, his career famously crashed and burned over the revelations about his marriage to a girl so young she still believed in Santa Claus. His UK tour was cancelled after only three dates, and he returned to the US to similar media outrage, compounded by the subject matter of his next single, High School Confidential. Soon he was blacklisted on radio and TV, and Lewis hit the road for an endless string of one-night stands.

It took another three years before there was even a glimpse of a return to favour. Still recording for Sam Phillips, in 1961 he released his smouldering interpretation of Ray Charless Whatd I Say, a Top 30 hit in the USA and Top 10 in Britain. In 1963 he quit Sun and moved to the Mercury label; despite selling several million records, Lewis had never collected a royalty from Sun and never sued Phillips. The next year, backed by the Nashville Teens at Hamburgs Star Club, Jerry Lee Lewis recorded one of the definitive live albums.

Returning to his love of country music, he finally had another million-seller in 1968, on the US country charts with Another Place Another Time. Significantly, its follow-up was Whats Made Milwaukee Famous. By now, Lewiss consumption of alcohol and amphetamines had become notorious. But his career as a top-rank country star gave him back much of his former status, as well as a substantial ranch south of Memphis, Tennessee; driving over to visit his old friend Presley in 1975 he drunkenly crashed his Cadillac into the gates of Graceland, and was arrested for waving a pistol and calling out to Elvis to come out and get your butt whipped.

Performing during a tribute to Johnny Cash at the Pantages Theatre, LA, on 25 October 2005 (Getty)

In 1986, Lewis was named as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fames inaugural class and was inducted alongside other groundbreaking performers including Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Buddy Holly and Little Richard, all of whom predeceased him.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has lost its last inaugural inductee, the organisation tweeted on his death. Jerry Lee Lewis sang and played the piano with wild abandon, setting the world on fire with his electrifying performances and rebellious persona. His hits Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On and Great Balls of Fire served as a foundation of the sound and spirit of youth culture.

Jerry Lee was a genuine pioneer, and his music and rock and roll swagger lives on forever.

Just 12 days before his death, Lewis was finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the organisation noting that between 1968 and 1981, he had racked up no fewer than 34 Top Twenty country hits.

Yet the cartoon-like caricature he seemed to have become obscured the seemingly ceaseless tragedies in Lewiss life. Steve Allen Lewis, the son born to him by Myra, had drowned in a swimming pool in 1962 when the boy was three. In 1971 his marriage to Myra, the love that had wrecked his career, ended in divorce.

Two years later Jerry Lee Lewis Jr was killed in a car crash. Lewiss next marriage, to Jaren Pate, only lasted two years; she later drowned in a swimming pool, just over a year before the methadone overdose of Shawn Michelle Stevens, his fifth wife, less than three months after they were married in 1983. Girlfriend Bonny Lee Bakley, the mother of Jeri Lee Lewis, born in 1993, was shot to death. Lewiss 20-year marriage to Kerrie McCarver ended in a messy divorce in 2004.

Lewis himself was not immune to the excesses of his own lifestyle. In 1981 he spent five months in hospital, at first close to death, after his stomach virtually exploded from the ceaseless abuse it had been obliged to endure. Not that Lewis seemed to learn from this brush with death: moving to Dublin for the first half of the 1990s, stories of the musicians all-night carousing were commonplace.

He had relocated to Ireland to take advantage of the countrys generous tax laws, after having twice been tried by the US IRS for tax evasion. Although on each occasion they had removed his furniture, pianos, cars, motorcycles, jet skis and mechanical bull, he beat both raps  largely by showing how others had run his financial affairs for him  but was still obliged to come up with 2.5m in back taxes.

Back from Dublin at his home in Tennessee, his marriage even rockier than when it started, Lewis largely took to his bed, watching endless re-runs of Gunsmoke, but finally giving up alcohol. At the beginning of the third millennium, the philanthropist Steve Bing decided the world needed another Lewis album, financing the entire independent production himself, perhaps not expecting that the project would take the next five years to complete.

In a considerable and acclaimed return to form, Last Man Standing, which was finally released at the end of 2006, featured Lewis working with innumerable greats: Little Richard, Merle Haggard, BB King, Buddy Guy, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards, among others.

In an interview to publicise the record with Charles M Young of Rolling Stone, the musician reflected on the marriage to Myra, his child bride, that had brought down his career. As might almost inevitably have been expected, he proved utterly unrepentant: I coulda cared less, he said. I never hid nothin from the world. Sam Phillips warned me to hide it. That was a buncha baloney. Id be a hypocrite if I did that.

Jerry Lee Lewis, musician, born 29 September 1935, died 28 October 2022
SEATTLE (AP)  Facebook parent company Meta has been ordered to pay $10.5 million in legal fees to Washington state atop a nearly $25 million fine for repeated and intentional violations of campaign finance disclosure laws.

King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North issued the legal-fee order Friday, two days after he hit the social media giant with what is believed to be the largest campaign finance fine in U.S. history, The Seattle Times reported.

North ordered the company to pay by wire transfer, check or money order within 30 days. The money is to go to the state Public Disclosure Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws.

North imposed the maximum fine allowed for more than 800 violations of Washingtons Fair Campaign Practices Act, passed by voters in 1972 and later strengthened by the Legislature. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson argued that the maximum was appropriate considering his office previously sued Facebook in 2018 for violating the same law.

Meta, based in Menlo Park, California, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, the newspaper reported.

The company previously said it was assessing its options with respect to the ruling.

Washingtons transparency law requires ad sellers such as Meta to keep and make public the names and addresses of those who buy political ads, the target of such ads, how the ads were paid for and the total number of views of each ad. Ad sellers must provide the information to anyone who requests it. Television stations and newspapers have complied with the law for decades.

But Meta has repeatedly objected to the requirements, arguing unsuccessfully in court that the law is unconstitutional because it unduly burdens political speech and is virtually impossible to fully comply with. While Facebook does keep an archive of political ads that run on the platform, the archive does not disclose all the information required under Washingtons law.

In 2018, following Fergusons first lawsuit, Facebook agreed to pay $238,000 and committed to transparency in campaign finance and political advertising. It subsequently said it would stop selling political ads in the state rather than comply with the requirements.

Nevertheless, the company continued selling political ads, and Ferguson sued again in 2020.

Meta, one of the worlds wealthiest companies, reported quarterly earnings Wednesday of $4.4 billion, or $1.64 per share, on revenue of nearly $28 billion, in the three month period that ended Sept. 30.
A Champaign County Common Pleas jury on Friday returned a guilty verdict of aggravated murder and several felonies in the 2011 slaying of an 87-year-old Louis Taylor, who died several weeks after police found him in his home, Urbana Police Chief Matt Lingrell said.

Josiah Wayne Mathews, 30, was convicted of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, grand theft of a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence and felonious assault in the death of Taylor, who was found severely beaten in his home on Dorothy Moore Avenue the morning of Oct. 25, 2011.

>> PREVIOUS: Arrest made 9 years after death of man found severely beaten

Taylor underwent several days of emergency care and treatment, but never regained consciousness, Lingrell said.

Taylor died on Nov. 17, 2011.

Urbana police, after investigating the case for more than nine years, presented their case to a county grand jury on Jan. 4, 2021. That grand jury handed up criminal indictments against Mathews, who was 29 then, charging him in Taylors homicide.

The criminal trial began Oct. 11. The case went to the jury for deliberations on Thursday, Oct. 27.

In homicide cases, there really are no winners, Chief Lingrell said in a statement released to News Center 7. Mr. Taylor left a lasting legacy for the many people whose lives he touched throughout his life here in the Urbana community. His loss for our community pales in comparison to the loss his loved ones have had to experience and endure with such a long wait for justice.

Lingrell praised his police officers, some of whom he said have since retired, for sticking with the investigation into Taylors slaying.

Mathews, who has been in the Tri-County Regional Jail since his arrest, is to be sentenced at a hearing set for Jan. 20, 2023, the chief said.




While at a Maryland campaign event on Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris wished Paul Pelosi, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's husband, a speedy recovery after he was attacked in their San Francisco home. The House speaker, who represents California, is originally from Baltimore, where the Saturday event was held.

"I also wanna mention a daughter of Baltimore, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and her husband Paul, and I know we are all sending our prayers to their family and for Paul's speedy recovery," the vice president said during her speech.

Paul Pelosi was assaulted by a man who broke into their home in the early hours of Friday morning. He has since undergone surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, according to the speaker's office.

In a letter to fellow congressional members Saturday night, Nancy Pelosi wrote that her husband's "condition continues to improve.""Our children, our grandchildren and I are heartbroken and traumatized by the life-threatening attack on our Pop," she wrote. "We are grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and emergency services, and for the life-saving medical care he is receiving. Please know that the outpouring of prayers and warm wishes from so many in the Congress is a comfort to our family and is helping Paul make progress with his recovery."

Although police have not officially announced a motive for the crime, they said on Friday that it was "not a random act," and that it was targeted and "wrong." The suspect allegedly shouted at Paul Pelosi: "Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?" And, according to the Associated Press, the suspect had posted about QAnon and other various conspiracy theories, and appeared to believe false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Harris said what is happening in our country right now is scary.

"There was a time when we appreciated and understood the importance to a democracy of vigorous debate, where we appreciated that it is the diversity of opinions that will lead us to progress to smart decisions," Harris said. "But something has been happening in our country where powerful people, so-called leaders, have been using the bully pulpit that they were given by the people in a way that is about the preservation of their personal power and is being used to divide our country."

Story continues

While this behavior promotes hate, Harris said, people should look to engage in civil discourse instead. She also told people to vote, as Election Day is just ten days away.

"We got a lot of work to do, and so I know who is here, and I know this is a room of leaders who every election show up and remind our neighbors and our friends, the perfect strangers we see, but in their face, we see a neighbor and a friend, and we ask them to vote," Harris said.

The Maryland Democrats GOTV event was held for Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore. The vice president was also campaigning for Rep. Anthony Brown, who is running for Maryland attorney general, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who is seeking reelection.

During her speech, Harris touted what the Democrats have done so far to help Americans and said that because people voted in the last elections, the party passed the child tax credit and put Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female, on the U.S. Supreme Court. Harris said several issues were on the line in the midterm elections, including the right to contraception. She mentioned the Supreme Court's June decision that struck down Roe v. Wade.

"The proponents of the decision said, 'Well, we think that this is now this is a decision that should go to the states, and the voters can decide, right?' But look at who's talking because out of those same mouths, you will see people who are across our country pushing laws making it intentionally more difficult for people to vote," Harris said.

With these concerns, she said democracy is at stake in the midterm elections, adding that the U.S. needs to be a leader for the world.

"When you are a role model, people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say, and leaders around the world and people around the world are watching what is happening in our country," the vice president said.

Boy makes emotional statement at adoption hearing

Suspect in Paul Pelosi attack charged by federal authorities

Philadelphia Phillies prepare to host Game 3 of World Series
Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor of Arizona, mockingly thanked Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for her anti-endorsement, saying that it is having the opposite of the intended effect.

Cheney released a new ad in Arizona on Friday targeting Lake and the GOP nominee for secretary of state, Mark Finchem, both of whom have questioned the legitimacy of President Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election.

Lake said in a letter to Cheney that her campaign donations are skyrocketing and her website almost crashed from traffic.

In fact, my team telIs me your commercial should add another 10 points to our lead! I guess thats why they call the Cheney anti-endorsement the gift that keeps on giving, Lake said.

Thank you again for the huge boost to our campaign! Enjoy your forced retirement from politics, Lake continued, referring to Cheneys primary defeat to a Trump-backed candidate. I know America will rest easier knowing that one more warmonger is out of office.

Lake is facing Democrat Katie Hobbs, the current secretary of state, in the race for governor. Polling has shown a tight race throughout much of the campaign, but the most recent polls have had Lake in the lead by a few points.

Cheneys ad is being released through her leadership PAC, Great Task PAC, on broadcast, online and streaming platforms.

She has shown a willingness to oppose certain Republicans candidacies and endorsed Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin on Thursday for reelection to her House seat in Michigan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Voting matters, and the best politics are local. This Nov. 8, when you cast your ballot, youll have the chance to vote on ballot measures as well as candidates for elected office. These ballot measures help shape our state and local communities according to our values. When we vote, we put our values into action.

I plan to vote "yes" on all five ballot measures, but I want to talk to you about two ballot measures in particular. Ballot Questions 4 and 5 give us the chance to shape our local community and live out values of caring, compassion and equity.

Ballot Question 4 is a late addition to the ballot. A "yes" vote will uphold a law allowing undocumented immigrants to get a Massachusetts drivers license. This helps ensure that everyone driving on Massachusetts roads has met the requirements to be a safe driver. It encourages people to get their cars inspected, and to remain at the scene if they are in a crash.

Undocumented immigrants with a Massachusetts drivers license are not registered to vote, and they have to meet all the normal requirements for a license: live in the state, pass a road test, and demonstrate knowledge of the rules of the road.

Our holy texts repeat the instruction to love our neighbor, whether they are stranger or friend. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt, says the summation of the holy law in Deuteronomy. The Bible says that God loves the stranger, and provides them what they need to live.

The phrase undocumented immigrant makes it sound like these drivers are something different than you, perhaps, if you are a citizen or resident in good standing in the United States. But these are our neighbors. Their stories are human stories, of looking for work, escaping violence, or coming to this country as children. Americas economy depends on the work of immigrants. There is no them and us. We are one commonwealth, trying to be safer drivers together. I encourage you to vote "yes" on 4.

Story continues

Ballot Question 5 is for voters in Worcester and some other neighboring towns. A "yes" vote will adopt the Community Preservation Act. The Worcester City Council voted in favor of this measure earlier this year, putting it to the voters for approval.

If passed, the Community Preservation Act will add a modest increase to property taxes (my own taxes would go up by less than $70 per year), and give Worcester access to matching dollars from the state. Our city will then use this money to support green space, historic preservation, recreation, and community housing. A commission made up of citizens will decide how the money is used.

Its good for Worcester that our population is expanding and were seeing new construction and growth. The Community Preservation Act will help us manage that growth to benefit all citizens. It will give us access to state money  a fund our registry fees are already supporting  to keep our city livable and affordable. Worcester is characterized by its economic diversity, its historic neighborhoods, and its green spaces as well as by its industry and economic vitality. A "yes" vote on 5 will keep Worcester a city for everyone.

Both of these ballot initiatives are about what it means to be a good neighbor. Being human means living with other people. Being a good neighbor means being able to imagine what life is like for other people whose incomes, housing options, and life stories are different from our own.

When God reminds the Israelites to remember that they were strangers in the land of Egypt, its an invitation to be good neighbors. Know your own history, God is saying. You once needed rescue, a miracle, a hand up, manna in the wilderness. Now its your turn to show that grace to the strangers who are neighbors in your midst.

Democracy is a form of government built on neighborliness. It requires us to trust one another; it assumes that we can consider the greater good as a city. It rests on the connections formed in neighborhoods, at school playgrounds, and in houses of worship. My own religious tradition is organized democratically; these opinions are mine and not necessarily those of the church I serve. Democracy trusts that we can understand our own well-being in the context of our citys well-being. We thrive when we help make a city and a commonwealth that work for all people. The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart is minister of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Keep the Faith: Reasons to vote yes on ballot Questions 4 and 5
Kyrylo Budanov

The spy chief said that the best trained and most combat-ready Russian units are now in the occupied city. Most of them are Russian airborne troops, Russian special operations forces, and marines.

Read also: Budanov suggests Ukraine will regain control over Kherson in 2022

"These units form the backbone of the grouping, and they are also reinforced by mobilized personnel, he added.

The combat component  units that can pose a danger to (Ukraine) during the operation  amounts to about 40,000.

Read also: Russia is turning Kherson Oblast into exclusion zone, Zelenskyy says

Budanov explained that Kherson is in the middle of this grouping. The troops are also scattered in the areas of the western bank of the Dnipro river; there are also those that support their actions, but are deployed on the eastern bank.

When asked why the Ukrainian military does not surround the city and isolate the occupying troops, Budanov replied that that is exactly what the Ukrainians are trying to do.

"But they [Russians] are resisting from the outside, Budanov explained.

Read also: Russian troops in Kherson steal pair of statues of Russian military figures

They are trying to prevent our advance, and you must understand that the fighting is going on every day.

Earlier, Budanov suggested that Ukraine will regain control over Kherson city by the end of 2022. He believes that by the summer 2023, the war unleashed by Russia will end, and Ukraine will see significant victories by the end of the year.

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that rainy weather has slowed down the offensive of the Armed Forces in Kherson Oblast. He also noted that the Ukrainian army controls all bridges leading into the oblast, so Russian troops will not be able to retreat.

Read also: Russians cant blow up Kakhovka HPP dam now, says military intelligence

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that rumors about the Russian military abandoning Kherson was an information attack. The Ukrainian militarys Operational Command South reported that as of Oct. 24, the Armed Forces have liberated over 90 settlements in Kherson Oblast.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A city is on edge after two armed men allegedly broke into a home as a woman slept, and one sexually assaulted her.

It happened at about 1:00 a.m. Friday in a single-family residence in downtown Kirkland.

The suspects were arrested a mere 18 hours later in Seattle.

Kirkland police say they used every available resource, including Bellevues K9 unit, to catch the suspects, and it apparently paid off.

According to the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, Bubacarr Touray and Muhammad Sesay were charged on Monday.

Both suspects were charged with first-degree robbery. Touray was also charged with first-degree rape.

News of the sexual assault was still spreading around downtown Kirkland on this warm Saturday before Halloween.

It definitely leaves room to stay more precautious, I guess, said Sarah Wade, who has lived in Kirkland for five years.

Wade said she heard the news Friday night.

Its scary, she said. You know my heart goes out to her and I hope shes doing OK. Obviously it does put everybody on high alert.

Very disturbed and surprised, said Lisa, a 10-year Kirkland resident who declined to give her last name.

What surprises her? That thats happening in Kirkland, she said.

Kirkland police say Touray and Sesay, both armed, entered a womans residence through an unsecured door. The woman was asleep. She said one of the men sexually assaulted her, then they fled.

Detectives worked every angle to catch the duo.

We put out our proactive unit, said Tiffany Trombley, Kirkland Police spokesperson. And they worked with our Northsound Metro SWAT team, where they were able to locate and arrest both the suspects without incident. They wanted to make sure these guys stay in custody due to the nature of this crime.

That a crime like this happened here at all is giving a lot of people pause.

But look whats going on our country, said Jan Reha, a Kirkland therapist. But its kind of sad. But weve got so much craziness spurred and thats what happens.

Story continues

The two young men were first booked into the Kirkland City Jail. Then they were moved to the King County Jail in Seattle, and booked there just two minutes later.

King County prosecutors argued that Touray held on $750,000 bail and Sesay held on $500,000 bail.

They have a planned first court appearance Monday.
The suspect accused of violently attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband early Friday appeared to have far-reaching and at times contradictory political positions, according to an early dive into his background.

While a motive for the attack against 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was unclear Friday evening, a picture of the suspect, identified by San Francisco police as 42-year-old David DePape, began to emerge.

Blog posts that are being investigated in connection with DePape describe someone with sprawling and contradictory views, multiple senior law enforcement officials familiar with the case told NBC News. The posts take aspects of liberal anti-establishment ideas to more recent posts that espouse positions typically associated with far-right extremism, the sources said.

He appeared to operate a website on which he wrote a wide variety of posts touching on almost all manner of modern conspiracy thinking: aliens, Jewish people, communism, vaccines, voter fraud and many other topics.

Many of the posts were published in the last few months.

The website, which was registered under david depape and to a ZIP code in the Bay Area, according to registration records, did not mention Nancy Pelosi.

Police Chief William Scott said during a Friday news conference that officers arrived at the Pelosi home for a well-being check shortly before 2:30 a.m. PT. Police then witnessed an attack on Paul Pelosi. Both DePape and Paul Pelosi held a hammer moments before a violent confrontation, Scott said.

The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it, he said. Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid.

Paul Pelosi underwent successful surgery to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, Drew Hammill, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said in a Friday afternoon statement.

Story continues

His doctors expect a full recovery, Hammill said.

A police officer rolls out yellow tape on the closed street below the home of Paul and Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Eric Risberg / AP)

The House speaker was not in San Francisco at the time of the attack, according to her office. U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail at the time of the break-in.

Sources told NBC News that before the assault occurred, the intruder confronted Paul Pelosi shouting, Where is Nancy, where is Nancy? One of the sources, a senior U.S. official briefed on the matter, added that the investigation is still developing.

A family member traveling to San Francisco with the speaker said the suspect brought the hammer and broke the windows of the Pelosi home facing the backyard. The family member said once inside, the suspect was trying to tie up Paul Pelosi and said they would wait until Nancy got home. When the suspect wasnt looking, Paul Pelosi called 911. The family member said he was home alone and was hit in the head with the hammer multiple times. When the police arrived, the suspect said, We are waiting for Nancy.

Paul Pelosi did not have a security detail. Spouses of top lawmakers are not granted one because they are not U.S. Capitol Police protectees.

DePape was booked in the county jail on recommended charges of attempted homicide, elder abuse, assault with a deadly weapon and burglary, according to jail records. It was unclear Friday if he had retained an attorney. His relatives could not be reached for comment.

The FBI, the U.S. Attorneys Office, U.S. Capitol Police and the San Francisco District Attorneys Office are assisting local police in the investigation, Scott said.

A Berkeley resident on Friday said she last saw DePape at a neighboring home two weeks ago. He was near a school bus parked in front of the home.

The woman, who asked not to be identified because of previous encounters with another neighbor at the home, said DePape lived for a time in the school bus and in a second school bus parked in the homes driveway that advertises natural addiction treatment.

She said he appeared to be part of a hippy collective that stays at the home.

Several people who identified themselves as FBI agents arrived at another Berkeley home Friday afternoon and could be heard saying they were there voluntarily and asking about DePape.

A man who appeared to live at the home said DePape hadnt lived there in 10 years and declined to talk to the agents.

He declined to answer questions about DePape, and the apparent agents also declined to discuss why they were there.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The Kremlin hopes that the full-scale war against Ukraine will end by 2024

Sources close to the Kremlin told Medusa they realize only the overall contours of the election campaign so far, but it's already clear that the campaign will be tailor-made for Putin.

Read also: Putin is losing, while Ukrainian forces grow in strength, NATO says

There will be no liberal candidates, Meduzas source told the outlet.

Not even just for show.

Another anonymous source explained that typically, campaign preparations for these staged elections begin about a year and a half before the date: first, the overall contours of the campaign are decided; then political consultants are appointed to ensure the vote in the regions. Mobilization networks should be established six months in advance. That means people of state-funded jobs and other reliable pro-regime voters are mobilized for organized turnout, while the campaigns "ideological strategy" is finalized.

Read also: About the death of Putin and his entire system

According to Meduza, the ideological strategy of the 2024 campaign is still unknown. The only aspect of the campaign that is known so far is Putins focus on anti-Western narratives and fantasies about "Great Russia". Meduza sources say that Kremlin politicians admit this rhetoric "has nothing to do with the real concerns of the voters" but only the interests of Putin himself.

"Theres hope in the Kremlin that the war in Ukraine will end in time for the election, Meduza reported.

Yet no one knows exactly how its going to end, and how to frame its ending. There should be total support  also for the sake of demonstrating the presidents popularity to the West itself.

One of the Kremlin's political analysts told Meduza that introducing full-fledged martial law across Russia to defer the vote would be the most logical and understandable scenario for Putin's regime.

Read also: Putin's last chance

"By 2024, the economic consequences of the sanctions and of Russias isolation will become fully evident, the source explained, adding that he believes the above scenario ago be unlikely.

Of course, you can present any election result you like, but why upset the population with such, well, not very credible record numbers?"

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

An Arkansas federal judge ordered Kroger to pay two former employees $180,000.

They were fired from the store after refusing to wear an apron with a "multicolored heart," court documents show.

"Both have sincerely held religious beliefs that homosexuality is a sin and that they cannot support or promote it," the judge wrote.

Kroger has to pay $180,000 to two former employees who were fired after they refused to wear a company apron with a phrase that they considered to be an LGBTQ+ symbol after a lawsuit.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on behalf of the two employees who were disciplined and ultimately fired from their jobs at a Kroger in Conway, Arkansas. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Brenda Lawson and Trudy Rickerd on September 14, 2020, in Eastern Arkansas District court, according to court documents.

Rickerd and Lawson alleged that Kroger failed to provide religious accommodations for them when they were asked to wear an apron with a "multicolored heart on it."

"Defendant Employer refused to consider Lawson's request for a religious accommodation for her sincerely held religious belief," the lawsuit says. "Defendant Employer continued to discipline Lawson for her failure to follow the dress code by wearing the apron that was contrary to her sincerely held religious belief."

The lawsuit requested backpay for Rickerd and Lawson and asked for punitive damages and asked Kroger to "institute and carry out policies, practices, and programs which provide equal employment opportunities for Lawson and Rickerd."

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lee Rodofsky, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump in July 2019, ordered Kroger Limited Partnership to $180,000 to Rickerd and Lawson and "provide reasonable accommodations to employees who have sincere religious objections to Kroger's dress code," court documents show. Rudofsky also ordered the company to create a religious accommodation policy and new employee training.

Story continues

Rudofsky wrote in the order that Rickerd and Lawson "both have sincerely held religious beliefs that homosexuality is a sin and that they cannot support or promote it."

Kroger did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Saturday.

The EEOC said in a statement that Kroger had agreed to create a religious accommodation policy and give store management more religious discrimination training.

"This policy will provide guidelines for requesting religious accommodation," Faye A. Williams, regional attorney of the EEOC's Memphis District Office said in the statement. "The parties in the case worked in good faith to resolve this matter, and the Commission is pleased with the resolution."

Read the original article on Insider
This article originally appeared on Velo News

Lachlan Morton and his Ukranian EF Education-EasyPost teammate Mark Padun are continuing their efforts to assist those suffering in the wake of the Russian invasion.

Morton and Padun head to Poland this weekend to distribute Cannondale bikes to 13 children who fled Ukraine when Russia began its offensive of the east European country earlier this year.

The move marks a continuation of a months-long effort by EF Education-EasyPost pair.

The Donetsk-born Padun has been collecting cycling clothing and equipment to hand to refugees, while Morton raised $297,000 for Global Giving's Ukraine Crisis Relief fund when he rode from Munich to the Ukranian border this March.

Also read:

Padun fled from his homeland at the age of 17 during the first Russian attack of his country. His parents also fled and now live in America.

Padun, 27, is booked in with EF Education-EasyPost through 2024 after a tricky season that played out in the shadow of the latest Russian offense.

"The war started with my first race of the season and it was pure shock to me, Padun said before he traveled to Poland. But this is my job. I am doing this as best as I can. I always had these thoughts about what was happening, always checking the news, always asking the relatives how they are doing and hoping it is going to end soon."

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.
Law enforcement officials across the country are scrambling to assess the threats of physical attacks on politicians or election officials in the coming days, according to two local officials and two other people familiar with the matter.

The growing anxiety comes just one day after Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband was violently attacked in his San Francisco home. The alleged perpetrator, David DePape, reportedly entered the house attempting to locate the speaker, who at the time was in Washington D.C. The resulting attack sent shockwaves through California and the nations capital and raised difficult questions about the rise of threats against politicians and the precautions being taken to protect them.

Now, law enforcement officials are left trying to grasp whether there could be other threats to high-profile people involved in politics  and the scale of those threats  especially in the lead up to the elections on Nov. 8.



The increasing anxiety among local law enforcement comes just one day after the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Capitol Police and the National Counterterrorism Center issued an intelligence bulletin, first reported by POLITICO, outlining how violent extremists could pose a threat to the midterms, including to election workers.

There have been a significant number of recent violent attacks motivated by political rhetoric and sociopolitical narratives promoted on extremist forums. The attack on Mr. Pelosi is just another on a growing list, said John Cohen, the former counterterrorism chief at DHS. These people are troubled, angry people who try to justify violence to express their anger. They are consuming content online put there by domestic and foreign threat actors.

One person with direct knowledge of the law enforcement conversations said that groups and organizations, including local law enforcement that specialize in domestic threats, have been pressing the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI for more briefings to discuss the current climate, which they say is unparalleled in the danger posed to lawmakers. Their concerns have only grown as the midterms have neared. But there have only been a handful of briefings in recent weeks  many of which focused primarily on cyber threats related to the midterm elections.

Story continues

It is unclear to what extent these threats to physical violence have grown in recent weeks as we get closer to the midterms, the person said. It would be useful to know about these kinds of things, especially for local law enforcement.

Spokespeople for the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said their agencies regularly share information with and brief local law enforcement on threats.

Cohen said the traditional U.S. intelligence methodologies dont always pick up on the kinds of domestic threats posed by those like DePape.



The people who become attackers dont communicate in the typical manner, he said. They dont associate with terrorist organizations or extremist groups. Its not that they arent on the radar, its that were looking at the right radar screen.

A 2021 Brookings Institution study conducted after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol found conservative websites and political leaders, especially at the state and local level, now regularly use violent rhetoric and demonize their political opponents and that incendiary rhetoric from political leaders against their political opponents does not fade away after they are given.

Federal agents are helping investigate the attack on Speaker Pelosis husband, Paul, which took place at his home in the early hours of Friday morning and left him with a fractured skull.

The FBI confirmed to POLITICO that its San Francisco office is participating in a joint investigation into the attack alongside the San Francisco Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police.



The investigating agencies are currently working to determine both the chronology and motive of the attack. The FBI is providing resources such as investigators and forensic analysis from our Evidence Response Team, the FBI spokesperson said.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats had long warned that Pelosi, as the subject of unrelenting Republican attack ads and internet conspiracy theorists, was in particular danger. But there was also a larger concern that the modern political and media climates had created a situation in which lawmakers writ large were being increasingly targeted.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Capitol Police investigated almost 10,000 threats to members last year, which was more than twice the number than in 2018, the last midterm cycle.

Its pretty frightening since Jan. 6, said chief deputy whip Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.). I have had to have additional security measures at my own home. Of course, what we all worry about is that this sort of behavior typically can be contagious. Terrible.

Of course, our biggest concern is with the welfare of Paul at this point, Kildee said.
Oct. 28LIMA  Lima police are investigating a shooting incident that took place at approximately 9:25 p.m. Thursday.

Officers responded to the 2100 block of Lakewood Avenue in reference to shots being fired. One residence was struck but police offered no further details at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sean Neidemire at 419-221-5295 or Crime Stoppers at 419-229-7867.
The earnings bombshells from Amazon AMZN and Meta META and sub-par releases from Alphabet GOOGL and Microsoft MSFT have forced us all to revisit our long-held assumptions about the sustainability of these technology leaders earnings power.

Apple AAPL has redeemed itself with its quarterly release, cementing its leadership credentials and its Rock of Gibraltar status in the eyes of its legion of supporters.

Apples solid results aside, the questions appear to be mostly about the outlook for Amazon and Meta, as Alphabet and Microsofts results werent really that bad. Some of that differentiation was clear from the stock market reaction to the results as well, with Amazon and Meta shares literally being taken to the woodshed following the releases.

The one thing that is becoming clear after results from these Big 5 Tech Players is that none of these their profitability is Teflon coated and immune from cyclical forces. Apple may be looking invincible today in the afterglow of its quarterly report, but the consumer decision to purchase the companys pricey phones and other devices will also always remain a discretionary choice and vulnerable to economic forces.

Q3 earnings for the Big 5 Tech Players in the aggregate are down -15.2% from the same period last year on +9.4% higher revenues, as the chart below shows.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For 2022 as a whole, the group is expected to bring in -13.2% lower earnings on +6.1% higher revenues. But growth is expected to resume next year, as you can see in the chart below that shows the groups earnings and revenue picture on an annual basis.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

One possible explanation for this groups growth challenge is the all-around margin pressures, a function of their bulging payrolls, particularly for Amazon, Meta and Alphabet. One could say that if they move into the management mode of other blue-chip operators by getting on top of their expenses, they can help strengthen their profitability.

Story continues

Amazon hired a ton of workers during Covid to meet the surging demand as all of us stopped going to stores. The question now is whether they need to let some of those workers go as Covid restrictions are mostly in the rear-view mirror now.

In addition to the groups margin challenge, there are two key factors that will drive their profitability over the next two years.

The first factor is the unusual impact of Covid on their profitability in the last two years. You can see some of that from the 2021 growth figures in the above chart. The chart below shows the aggregate dollar earnings for the group in the last 6 years and estimates for the next two years.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

We have highlighted above the two years that benefited from the Covid effects. The question now is whether the +58% jump in 2021 earnings brought forward profits from 2022 only, or did it include 2023 as well?

The second factor is related to the impact of macroeconomic forces on profitability. Microsofts business was affected not only by the slump in PC demand, a function of post-Covid adjustments, but also by growth deceleration in the cloud business. We saw similar cloud-centric challenges in the Amazon and Alphabet reports as well.

This cloud deceleration is likely a reflection of companies cutting back on so-called enterprise spending, on top of digital advertising spending. The market was under the impression that cloud spending was effectively immune from economic forces and would not experience any cuts. The numbers from Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet show otherwise.

This brings us back to evaluating the seemingly Teflon-coated status of Apples gadgets and services.

I am of the opinion that once the Feds tighter policy regime produces cracks in the labor market, we will end up discovering that consumers rationally defer replacing their older devices with newer ones. We are not there yet because the labor market is rock solid, but we could very well reach that stage in either of the coming two quarterly reports.

Q3 Earnings Season Scorecard

Including all of the reports through Friday, October 28th, we now have Q3 results from 263 S&P 500 members that combined account for 52.6% of the indexs total market capitalization.

We have another super busy reporting docket this week, with results from more than 1,100 companies on deck, including results from 163 S&P 500 members.

For the 263 index members that have reported results already, total earnings are down 0.6% from the same period last year on +11.3% higher revenues, with 71.9% beating EPS estimates and 63.1% beating revenue estimates.

Here is how the 2022 Q3 earnings and revenue growth rates for these 263 companies compares across different periods.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Here is how the 2022 Q3 EPS and revenue beats percentages for these 263 companies compare across different periods.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The EPS and revenue beats percentages were notably on the weak side earlier in the reporting cycle. But as you can see above, they are very much within the historical range by now.

The Earnings Big Picture

To get a sense of what is currently expected, take a look at the chart below that shows current earnings and revenue growth expectations for the S&P 500 index for 2022 Q3 and the following three quarters.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As you can see here, 2022 Q3 earnings are expected to be up +1% on +9.4% higher revenues.

Dont forget that it is the strong contribution from the Energy sector that is keeping the aggregate Q3 earnings growth in positive territory. Excluding the Energy sector, Q3 earnings for the rest of the S&P 500 index would be down -6.4% from the same period last year.

As we have consistently been pointing out, estimates are coming down, both for the current period (2022 Q4) as well as full-year 2023.

The charts below show how earnings growth expectations for 2022 Q4 have evolved in recent weeks. The left-hand side chart shows S&P 500 earnings growth expectations in the aggregate, while the left-hand side chart shows the same data on an ex-Energy basis.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The chart below shows the aggregate 2023 earnings estimate on an ex-Energy basis.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The chart below shows the overall earnings picture on an annual basis.

Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

For a detailed look at the overall earnings picture, including expectations for the coming periods, please check out our weekly Earnings Trends report >>>>The Earnings Picture is Good, But Not Great



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
A male was taken to a local hospital after he was found shot in Pittsburghs Sheraden neighborhood Friday night.

According to Pittsburgh police, officers responded to a five-round ShotSpotter alert in the 500 block of Sherwood Avenue around 11:45 p.m.

When officers arrived, they found a male victim with a gunshot wound to the left leg, police said.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

The investigation is ongoing.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

6 people shot outside funeral in Pittsburghs Brighton Heights 2 people suspected of involvement in funeral shooting arrested after incident on McKees Rocks bridge VIDEO: Live stream inside Pittsburgh funeral captures the moments shots were fired outside VIDEO: RAW: Church member reacts after shooting outside funeral service injures 6 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
A late Friday shooting resulted in a mans death, the Nampa Police Department said in a news release Saturday.

Officers responded at 10:45 p.m. to reports of a shooting near the 4600 block of Stamm Lane, where one male victim had been shot, according to the release.

Police received two calls. One witness reported hearing gunshots, and police said the other came from the man who fired the shots.

Upon arrival, officers located a man with a gunshot wound. Police and emergency medical teams performed life-saving measures and took the man to a Boise hospital.

According to the news release, the men knew each other. The shooting was the result of a dispute between the two.

Nampa police said there was no other perceived threat to the community. The men have been identified, and detectives have interviewed the alleged shooter.

This investigation is ongoing and names of those involved are not being released, pending further investigation and family notification, police said in the release.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 208-343-COPS (2677). Callers may remain anonymous.
A 26-year-old man is in the hospital after being shot in the face early Saturday morning in south Merced, police say.

Officers responded to the 100 block of East 12th Street at 12:36 a.m. and located a large amount of blood in the alleyway and evidence a shooting occurred, according to a news release.

The victim was located and flown to a regional trauma center where he remains in stable condition.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Officer E. Chavez at (209) 385-6912 or by email at chaveze@cityofmerced.org.

Tips are confidential and you can remain anonymous.
A man was rushed to the hospital after gunfire rang out in North Memphis Friday night, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

MPD said a man was found shot on Faxon Avenue around 6:20 p.m.

When police found him, he was in critical condition and he was rushed to Regional One Hospital, according to police.

Police said the person who shot him took off in a gray Dodge Challenger with a pink stripe.

Memphis Police were investigating another scene connected to this shooting, as well.

The shooting originally happened on Ridgecrest and the man went to Faxon Avenue for help, Memphis Police said.

If you know anything about this shooting, 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.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Trending stories:
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office has released a report with a series of recommendations to better serve the transgender, gender-nonconforming and nonbinary community in New York City and across the country.

The report, described by the DAs office as a first-of-its-kind effort is designed to enhance the work of prosecutors when dealing with community members who are trans or whose gender identity or expression might differ from the more traditional male/female gender roles.

Released Friday, the report was the result of a collaboration between current DA staff members and LGBTQ community stakeholders, including the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and the Hetrick Martin Institute, the nations oldest nonprofit serving LGBTQ youth.

The group  led by trans rights advocate Cecilia Gentili  reviewed current practices and suggested protocols to lessen the trauma members of the community have historically faced at the hands of the legal and correctional systems.

Trans and nonbinary individuals, as well as gender non-conforming folks, have a long history of mistreatment when meeting the criminal justice system, Gentili, the founder of Trans Equity Consulting, said in a statement. These recommendations are a great starting point to create healing and find inclusive and caring ways to shift their experience to better outcomes.

Among the recommendations highlighted in the report is the creation of a more detailed intake form for people who contact the office, with the inclusion of pronouns, titles, and an option for victims to list their chosen name; the consolidation of the DA offices current eight hotlines into one single hotline number; the development of a system to better refer victims to available services; and the implementation of more gender-neutral bathrooms.

Commissioning this report helped to highlight where we can take stronger action, Bragg said Friday. Now we will immediately begin to implement as many of these recommendations as possible and remain committed to transparency throughout this ongoing process.
The Federal Trade Commission will call on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify in its upcoming case against the company. The FTC sued the social media giant in July in an attempt to block it from buying Within Unlimited , the creator of the popular VR workout app Supernatural .

Reuters reports that the agency listed 18 witnesses, including Zuckerberg and Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, in a court document filed with Californias Northern District Court on Friday. In addition to answering questions about the potential acquisition, the FTC plans to ask Zuckerberg about Metas VR strategy and how the company intends to support third-party developers, according to court documents seen by Reuters.

In July, the FTC accused the company and Zuckerberg of attempting to illegally acquire Within. Instead of competing on the merits, Meta is trying to buy its way to the top, John Newman, deputy director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition, said at the time.

Meta has dismissed the FTCs lawsuit, claiming it is based on idealogy and speculation, not evidence. The case could be another costly setback for a company struggling to convince the public and Wall Street of its vision for the future. Earlier this week, Meta disclosed in its latest earnings report that its Reality Labs VR and AR division is losing more money than ever. In Q3 2022, the unit lost $3.7 billion. Thats a trend David Wehner, the companys outgoing chief financial officer, told investors would continue through 2023.
Maryland Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore. Bryan Dozier/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Maryland gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore is seeking to reshape how patriotism and service are discussed in the public arena.

Moore, a Democrat, told Insider he won't cede the definition of patriotism to any one group or movement.

The former nonprofit executive has proposed a service-year option for high school graduates.

FREDERICK, Maryland  In the banquet hall of Asbury United Methodist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in the historic city roughly an hour's drive west of Baltimore, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wes Moore last week began his message to the party faithful with a focus on service.

Moore  who served as a captain and paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006  told attendees it's imperative that all Marylanders benefit from progress in the state, a driving tenet of his campaign.

"There was something that they taught us on our first day of military training, whether you were Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard ... It was simple. Leave no one behind, ever," Moore told the crowd. "If you get one of my people, I will send a battalion to go get them if I have to. We leave no one behind."

As Moore spoke alongside his lieutenant governor running mate, former state Del. Aruna Miller, he connected this theme to fighting child poverty and reducing disparities in health care, reaffirming that their potential administration would be one shaped by tackling some of the most enduring issues affecting citizens of the state.

Across much of the country, Democratic candidates have campaigned against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, while also touting the impact of President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure bill in their respective states and emphasizing the need to safeguard free and fair elections in the United States.

But Moore has crafted a deeply personal campaign pitch, with the first-time political candidate speaking forcefully about patriotism in a way that can appeal to voters across the ideological spectrum while also refusing to cede ground to the GOP on the issue  especially in the wake of the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

Story continues

As we rode on the campaign bus from Frederick County, a new swing area, to Hagerstown, a city in Republican-leaning Western Maryland, Moore noticed a property featuring both an American flag and a flag touting the "Make America Great Again" movement personified by former President Donald Trump.

"Here you've got a guy with an American flag and a Trump flag, and for so many people in our society, they think those two things are synonymous with each other. Right?" Moore, 44, told Insider. "That's what we're pushing back against right there. The idea that somehow we've allowed this MAGA movement to control this idea of patriotism and try to define what it means to be a patriot and what it means to defend your country."

"And I'm like, and I'm sorry, you mean the people who tried to destroy it?" he continued. "They're the patriots? The ones who are claiming that they are the defenders of freedom?"

Over the course of the general election campaign, Moore  a Valley Forge Military College and Johns Hopkins-educated Rhodes Scholar who wrote the best-selling 2010 book "The Other Wes Moore"  has tied his commitment to service with policies that he said would improve the lives of Marylanders.

Moore's opponent, GOP state Del. Dan Cox, is a Trump-backed conservative who represents parts of Frederick County and chartered three buses to Washington, DC, to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6; he tweeted that day that then-Vice President Mike Pence was a "traitor." Cox later denounced the violence that occurred at the Capitol and said he did not march to the building, and also apologized for his comment about Pence.

Both men are running to succeed two-term Gov. Larry Hogan, an anti-Trump Republican who won in both 2014 and 2018 by positioning himself as a consensus builder who could provide political balance in the solidly Democratic state. Hogan, who is eyeing a potential 2024 presidential campaign, has declined to endorse Cox's gubernatorial bid.

Moore, who would be Maryland's first Black governor if he is elected next month, believes it is critical for the next leader of the state to articulate that no one political party or movement holds a monopoly over service to the country.

"We are going to have to address some very real generational challenges  economic, educational, housing," he told Insider. "But I also believe one of the prerequisites of the next chief executive is we've got to step up and put to rest this idea that a fringe group has taken claim and grabbed a hold of the mantra of patriotism of a country."

"I refuse to let anybody try to wrestle that away," Moore continued, "or claim that they have a higher stake or some higher claim to it than I or my family or people who I served with or my community members."

Moore helps at a food distribution center at the Ruth M. Kirk Recreation and Learning Center in Baltimore, Md., on September 16, 2022. Win McNamee/Getty Images

'We have to fix this rupture of divisiveness'

After winning a competitive multi-candidate Democratic primary that featured Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Moore honed in on his message of patriotism, proposing a year of service that could afford critical job training and mentorship opportunities for Maryland high school graduates. He has envisioned the service-year option as something that could potentially be funded in partnership with federal, state, and local government entities.

Moore, the former chief executive of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit organization, said "those who serve together will generally stay together," alluding to the stark divides that have come to define many aspects of modern American culture.

"I'm a big believer that part of government's job is to find what works, to make sure that it's supported, and then to scale it out," he said. "We have to fix this rupture of divisiveness and this vitriol that we have in our society. Why not actually address both of those two things at the same time?"

"Give them an opportunity to be able to be part of something bigger than themselves. And the reason that I know that it worked is it's exactly what I saw in the military," Moore added. "We all had very different backgrounds. But when you gave us a collective bond, it's amazing how that changed the perception and oftentimes many prejudices that we had walking into the situation."

For Moore, traveling to western Maryland is a reflection of how he'd need to govern if elected, by listening to residents in places where Democratic candidates don't always perform well.

During the ride, Moore delved into a state-level child tax credit program that he hopes to implement that will be similar to the one that lapsed at the federal level last December; it's a policy proposal that could potentially attract some Republican support.

A September poll cosponsored by Goucher College, WYPR public radio, and The Baltimore Banner found that Moore led Cox by 22 points (53%-31%) among likely voters.

And in the latest Washington Post-University of Maryland survey, Moore held a commanding 60%-28% lead among registered voters, attracting the support of 86% of Democrats and 22% of Republicans  a reversal from 2018 when it was Hogan who was garnering sizable crossover support.

Mileah Kromer, an associate professor of political science and the director of the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics at Goucher College, told Insider that Moore's conversations about patriotism and service have been "an incredibly effective message for him."

"If you look back at 2018, Hogan was so successful because he was able to attract a broad cross-section of voters that included the full support from his base, but also a ton of Democrats and robust support from independents," she said. "Wes Moore's campaign in so many ways is so different from the last Democratic nominee, who really focused on the progressive wing of the party. And he has talked about patriotism and his military service in a way that has helped him get the attention of independents, older voters, and more conservative Democrats who may have voted for Hogan in the last two cycles."

"From a political standpoint, it has also insulated Wes Moore against Dan Cox trying to say he's some sort of far-left socialist. None of those attacks have stuck in any significant way because that's not who he is," Kromer added.

Moore emphasized that, if elected, he would put together a government that resembled the state.

"I want all Marylanders to be able to look at the administration that we're going to build, from Cabinet secretaries, agency heads, and everything to look up and say, 'I see myself around the table,'" he said. "I mean that."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. Coast Guard, a crew of scientists and others launched an air and sea mission to rescue 13 people, including a child, from a fishing vessel just moments before it sank in darkness early Friday in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia, authorities said.

The 115-foot Tremont fishing vessel collided with the 1000-foot Panamanian-flagged container vessel MSC Rita, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from shore, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The Tremont sent out a mayday call that it was taking on water and sinking with 13 people aboard that was received by watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Virginia, officials said. That call was also heard by Atlantis, a 274-foot (84-meter) ship operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts, at about 1:45 a.m., WHOI said in an email to The Associated Press.

The captain of the Atlantis contacted the Coast Guard and motored eight miles (13 kilometers) west to the fishing vessel.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from its air station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the Coast Guard said. It also dispatched a motor lifeboat crew from its station in Chincoteague, on Virginias Eastern Shore, and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Rollin Fritch to assist.

The Tremonts 12 passengers boarded a life raft, while the captain stayed on his ship, according to WHOI.

The Atlantis launched an inflatable boat that towed the life raft to another fishing vessel, the New Jersey-based Dyrsten, which took on the 12 passengers.

The Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the captain to safety in a basket.

Moments later, according to witnesses, the Tremont sank, WHOI said in its email.

No one was injured in the collision or rescue, the Coast Guard said. The cause of the collision is being investigated.

Safety of life at sea is the Coast Guards top priority, Capt. Jennifer Stockwell, commander of Sector Virginia, said in a statement.

Story continues

These are the life-saving missions for which we train each and every day, Stockwell said. While this mornings events were unfortunate, 13 people were rescued from an extremely perilous situation. The combined efforts of good Samaritans and Coast Guard response assets demonstrates a selfless commitment to others.

The Atlantis happened to be nearby as it was on a three-week mission conducting research dives on seeps of methane gas from the ocean floor, WHOI said. And it was using Alvin, the institutions famed human-operated submersible, which is probably best known for exploring the wreck site of the Titanic ocean liner.

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

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
AKRON, Ohio (AP)  Brett Gabbert threw for 184 yards and a touchdown, Jacquez Warren had a pick-6 early in the fourth quarter and Miami (Ohio) beat Akron 27-9 on Saturday.

Gabbert's deep throw to Mac Hippenhammer over the middle went for 58 yards to set up Miami's 33-yard field goal with 1:11 left before halftime for a 17-3 lead.

Warren intercepted a pass over the middle and raced the other way for a 62-yard score.

Keyon Mozee added 52 yards on the ground with a 3-yard touchdown for Miami (4-5, 2-3 Mid-American Conference). Graham Nicholson made field goals of 33 and 44 yards.

DJ Irons threw for 316 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Akron (1-8, 0-5). He also carried it 14 times for 58 yards. Alex Adams had 10 catches for 115 yards and a score, and Shocky Jacques-Louis added nine grabs for 103 yards.

Akron outgained Miami 396 to 268 but was undone by three turnovers.

___

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://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2
There are more and more signs that Russia's invasion of Ukraine could be unraveling.

One of the most glaring setbacks in its war is its recent big call-up of more troops  a plan that doesn't appear to be working. Russia's mobilization has caused anger at home, forcing the old and inexperienced into uniform, with claims they're short of even basic equipment. The call-up followed weeks of embarrassing setbacks for Russian forces, as Ukraine has retaken swaths of its territory. And in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson, officials appointed by Moscow have evacuated civilians ahead of another expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Artillerymen of Ukraine's Armed Forces destroy the Russian invaders with the help of the German 155-mm FH70 howitzer, Zaporizhzhia Region, southeastern Ukraine. Oct. 27, 2022. / Credit: Sipa via AP Images

On Russian state TV, at times the tone seems close to despair. Russia miscalculated its strength and for eight straight months can't win in its war on Ukraine, said one commentator. Perhaps another sign of Russian desperation is its new tactic: targeting the Ukrainian power grid, which has led to blackouts in Ukraine  but no collapse in morale. As Russia's nuclear forces started annual drills this week, President Vladimir Putin repeated his government's allegation that Ukraine could detonate a radioactive device  a so-called "dirty bomb." Some fear Russia is planning a false-flag operation, staging an incident and blaming Ukraine, perhaps as a pretext for using a nuclear weapon. "I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false flag operation yet, don't know," said President Joe Biden. "But it would be a serious, serious mistake." Ukraine's defense minister told CBS News Russia is exhausted, and trying to force Ukraine and the West to negotiate. In a bizarre speech this week, Putin railed against the West, including gay pride parades and so-called cancel culture. But he also said that it would make no sense for Russia to use a nuclear weapon. Biden's response to that was: If he has no intention, why does he keep talking about it?

Over 100 killed, dozens injured in stampede during Seouls Halloween festivities

Saturday Sessions: The Backseat Lovers perform "Know Your Name"

Saturday Sessions: The Backseat Lovers perform "Slowing Down"
AP

In December of 2013, the CEO of Japans Dumpling King franchise was brutally gunned down at the companys headquarters in Kyotoand now the Kyoto police have finally arrested the yakuza boss they believe was responsible. The question is: Who ordered the killing, why, and does it go all the way to the top of the dreaded Kudo-kai organization?

The suspect, Yukio Tanaka, 56, is a senior member of the Fukuoka-based Kudo-kai syndicate. He was arrested on charges of murder and violations of Japans stringent Firearms and Swords Control Lawand is suspected of shooting Takayuki Ohigashi, the then-72-year-old CEO of Japanese restaurant chain Gyoza no Osho or The Dumpling King.

The arrest was made Friday at 2 p.m. local time. Tanaka was picked up and taken into custody for Ohigashis murder at Fukuoka Prison, where he had already been serving a 10-year prison sentence for an unrelated crime but a similar MO. In 2008, Tanaka shot up a car containing employees of Obayashi Corporation, a major construction company, in Fukuoka City after the firm refused to pay off the Kudo-kai. In the year before his death, Ohigashi had ordered an internal review of whether or not the Gyoza No Osho had any ties to anti-social forces, and ordered a stop to all pay-offs to any and all Yakuza groups. The companys board of directors was presented with an internal report in November 2013 on transactions involving millions of dollars, which appeared to be paid to organized crime members. A month later, Ohigashi was dead.

457770473 This picture taken on Dec. 14, 2009, shows Takayuki Ohigashi, 72, president of the "Gyoza no Ohsho (King of Dumplings)" chain, who was found bleeding and unconscious in a parking lot in front of the company's HQ in Kyoto, Japan, on Dec. 19, 2013. Jiji Press/AFP via Getty

According to the police, his assassination may have been an attempt to prevent the firm from cutting ties with the Kudo-kai, or to cover-up extortion money already paid out to the group. Police sources believe that the orders would have come from the head of the Kudo-kai at the time, Satoru Nomura.

What is known now is that on Dec. 19, 2013, at 5:45 a.m., Ohigashi was shot four times in the chest and stomach in the parking lot of his companys headquarters in Kyotos Yamashina Ward. It was raining that morning and the shooting occurred well before sunrise. Showing up to work at dawn was nothing unusual for Ohigashi. He was known for driving to work early every morning to clean the parking lot himself. Hard working and humble, he was respected by his industry peers and his employees, so much so that for many his name was synonymous with The Dumpling King himself.

Story continues

Yakuza Boss Arrested at Manhattan Steakhouse for Alleged Rockets-for-Heroin Scheme

Gyoza No Osho, while relatively unknown outside of Japan, is one of the most successful fast-food franchises in the country. Gyoza, originally a Chinese dish, are typically dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables wrapped and fried in thin dough. Ohigashi was appointed the fourth CEO of Gyoza no Osho in 2000 and was so successful in running the company that it became the top Chinese food-chain restaurant in the country. It serves not only gyoza but other savory Chinese foods and of course, cheap beer. By 2007, the chain expanded to 600 locations across Japan. After 13 years of hard work and dedication to growing the firm, the nation was shocked when Ohigashi was shot in the parking lot, dying from massive blood loss. The shooting itself was a rare incident in Japan, which has some of the most stringent gun laws in the world.

457770479 Police officers inspect the murder site of Takayuki Ohigashi in Kyoto, western Japan. Jiji Press/AFP via Getty

Gun violence in Japan, a nation of over 122 million people, is extremely rare. It has been a decade since the annual number of fatal shootings went into double figures.

According to officials, Ohigashi was shot with a .25 caliber automatic pistol at close range. Ohigashis shooter left behind the cash found inside his car and clothing. This led police to believe that whoever it was that had killed Ohigashi was motivated by a personal grudge, or that the act was carried out as part of a shakedown.

In addition to the cash left at the crime scene, the police had found in an area linked to the crime cigarette buttsof the same brand that Tanaka regularly smoked at the time. Police conducted a DNA analysis and results showed that it was a match with Tanaka, authorities said. However, the police investigation has not yet yielded definitive evidence into the connection between the killing and Tanaka. The Kyoto police have long suspected that Tanakas Yakuza syndicate, the Kudo-kai, was involved, which is why theyve continued to crack down on its members with the help of the Fukuoka police force. They are conducting a full-scale investigation into Tanakas motives. At 5 p.m. Friday, Tanaka was transferred to Yamashina Police Station in Kyoto, which is where Ohigashis murder occurred nine years ago.

Meet The Ultra-Violent Pineapple Lobbing Kudo-Kai

The Kudo-kai, which included Tanaka as a senior ranking member, is the most vicious organized crime group in Japan. The group, located in southern Japans Fukuoka Prefecture, was founded in 1946. It has a reputation for extreme violence, even lobbing grenadescalled pineapples by the Yakuzaat rival gangs and once even into a hostess club that refused to pay protection money. They have also sprayed rat poison in a health club that would not give into their extortion demandsmaking over a hundred people ill. While most Yakuza groups nominally claim we dont bother ordinary citizens and show a degree of restraint, this doesnt apply to the Kudo-kai. They have also shown no compunction in attacking police officers, even retired ones.

Fearsome Yakuza Really Miss Halloween This Year

In Japan, the Yakuza are officially labeled boryokudan (violent groups) and are regulated but not outlawed. They are allowed to have offices and business cards. However, the Kudo-kai is designated an especially dangerous violent group, putting it under the most severe regulations allowed by current laws.

Satoru Nomura, 75, the former president of the Kudo-kai, was arrested in 2015 on a number of chargesincluding the attempted murder of an ex-police officer and the murder of a union worker. A megalomaniacal leader, he is believed to have micromanaged the groups most flagrant attacks on resisting companies and individual citizens. Last year, Nomura was sentenced to death. At the time the verdict was handed down, Nomura loudly protested, telling the chief judge at the Fukuoka district court, Youll regret this for the rest of your life. He has appealed the case to the Fukuoka upper court. In July this year, he fired his entire defense team which has delayed the opening of the appeals trial.

One of his attempted murder victims was a female nurse who had laughed at him while he was wincing in pain from a penis-enlargement procedure. He had apparently seen an ad for the service in a Yakuza fan magazine. The nurse had taunted him by saying, Oh cmon this cant hurt as much as getting one of those old-fashioned yakuza tattoos.

The Kudo-kai, which survived after Nomuras arrest, is still active today but the numbers have been reduced from over 1,000 members at its peak to roughly 470 members. The groups headquarters, a virtual fortress in Kita-Kyushu City, was finally torn down in February 2022.

A former detective in the Fukuoka Prefectural Police told The Daily Beast, We long suspected that the Kudo-kai was behind that attack on the CEO, but the motive has never been completely clear. Lets hope this case is another nail in the coffin of these assholes.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
The trial for the man charged in the 2016 killing of a Pine Grove Mills woman is set to begin Monday, the latest chapter in one of Centre Countys most high-profile cases of the past decade.

Christopher Kowalski, 35, was arrested in February 2021 after telling investigators he killed Jean Tuggy, 60, inside her home because he was depressed, down and hopeless.

Kowalski said he killed Tuggy because she was an easy target, investigators wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Ferguson Township police detective Caleb Clouse testified during a preliminary hearing that Kowalski said he killed Tuggy in cold blood.

He also said he always wanted to be a gunslinger. He kind of admired people like Wyatt Earp and John Wayne, Clouse testified during the March 2021 hearing. He watched a lot of those movies and he always wanted to be a gunslinger and a lawman.

The two were co-workers at a State College-area grocery store and developed a sexual relationship that Tuggy planned to end, investigators wrote. Tuggy died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Defense lawyer Thomas Egan III plans to mount an insanity defense, a rarely used strategy that three legal experts said is difficult to use successfully.

The defense is raised in less than 1% of felony cases nationwide, Penn State assistant law professor Jacob Schuman said. Of those limited cases, the defense is successful less than 25% of the time.

Rarely invoked and rarely successful, Schuman said. The reason is that the bar is really high to show that you were legally insane.

Added Christopher Slobogin, the director of Vanderbilt Law Schools criminal justice program: Most people found insane are found insane because the prosecutor agrees theyre insane. ... If it goes to trial, it wins less than half the time. Juries are very skeptical about it.

Kowalski has autism, chronic depression and grandiose delusional disorder. The conditions caused him to labor under a defect of reason, Egan wrote in a December 2021 notice to prosecutors.

Story continues

Kowalski either didnt know what he was doing was illegal or was incapable of obeying the law, Egan wrote. Kowalskis parents and six medical professionals are among those who may testify in an attempt to establish the defense.

Juries, University of Baltimore law professor David Jaros said, are remarkably reluctant to find people not guilty by reason of insanity.

This is not an easy defense to raise successfully. Its not as if people are constantly getting off on what is viewed by some in the public as a technicality, Jaros said. Moreover, its not that someone who is found not guilty by reason of insanity just walks out of the courtroom and back into the public.

Egan will have to show by a preponderance of the evidence that Kowalski was legally insane, Schuman said. The difference could between serving time in a state prison or a state hospital.

If youre sentenced to prison, you serve a prison sentence. You get out when your prison sentence is done, Schuman said. If youre sent to a mental institution, youre there until youre judged safe and cured. How long is that? However long they decide it needs to be. It could be a week. It could be the rest of your life.

One of the most high-profile criminal defendants to successfully argue they were insane is John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate then-President Ronald Reagan in 1981. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in federal court and was released from psychiatric care in 2016.

Outrage over the finding led to the passage of a new law that made it harder to win a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity by lowering the standards of evidence for prosecutors to prove sanity.
Twitter's newly minted owner, the self-described free speech absolutist Elon Musk, is about to get a crash course on global content moderation.

Among his first moves after completing his $44 billion takeover Thursday was to fire the social media platform's top executives, including the woman in charge of trust and safety at the platform, Vijaya Gadde.

He also posted a conciliatory note to wary advertisers, assuring them he won't allow Twitter to devolve into a free-for-all hellscape.

The problem is, not even the world's richest man can have it both ways.

Lightly moderated free speech sites such as Gab and Parler serve as cautionary tales of what can happen when the guardrails are lowered. These small, niche sites are popular with conservatives and libertarians fed up with what they see as censorship of their viewpoints on mainstream platforms like Facebook. They are also full of Nazi imagery, racist slurs and other extreme content, including calls to violence.

Some conservative personalities jumped on Twitter Friday after Musk's takeover to recirculate long-debunked conspiracy theories in an apparent attempt to see if the site's policies on misinformation were still being enforced.

Advertisers don't want to promote their products next to disturbing, racist and hateful posts  and most people don't want to spend time on chaotic online spaces where they are barraged by racist and sexist trolls.

On Friday, GM announced it would be pausing advertising on Twitter while it figures out the direction of the platform under Musk. But Lou Paskalis, former head of media for Bank of America, said Twitters most loyal advertisers, many Fortune 100 companies, believe in the platform and probably wont leave unless some really untoward things happen.

But it's not just ads and jokes that are at stake.

Eddie Perez, a former Twitter civic integrity team leader, said Musk seems to consider Twitter a digital public square where everyone has equal voice. Its a quaint idea of the modern-day version of the town square, Perez said.

Story continues

But thats not how the major social media platforms work. They have instead become powerful tools of asymmetric warfare, and many of their users dont realize they are being manipulated with disinformation by nation states and bad domestic actors  many with significant resources.

The danger here is that in the name of free speech, Musk will turn back the clock and make Twitter into a more potent engine of hatred, divisiveness, and misinformation about elections, public health policy, and international affairs, said Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

Though he'd been expected to reinstate banned accounts  ranging from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  Musk said on Friday that no decisions on content or reinstatements will be made until a content moderation council is put in place. The council, he wrote, would have diverse viewpoints," but he gave no further details.

Musk may be starting from scratch, but Twitter has spent years building up its content moderation system, which is still far from perfect. As such, experts have expressed grave concern's about Musk's efforts  after all, the Tesla CEO has little experience navigating the temperamental and geopolitical world of social media, even if he is a constant and wildly popular user of the site he just bought.

I am most concerned about Musks decision to summarily fire Vijaya Gadde, Twitters head of legal policy, trust, and safety  a senior executive who was trying, however imperfectly, to keep the platform from spreading even more harmful content than it does, Barrett said.

Many are looking to see if he will welcome back a number of influential conservative figures banned for violating Twitters rules  speculation that is only heightened by upcoming elections in Brazil, the U.S. and elsewhere.

I will be digging in more today, Musk tweeted early Friday, in response to a conservative political podcaster who has complained that the platform favors liberals and secretively downgrades conservative voices.

Former President Donald Trump, an avid tweeter before he was banned, said Friday he was very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands but promoted his own social media site, Truth Social, that he launched after being blocked from the more widely used platform.

Trump was banned two days after the Jan. 6 attacks for a pair of tweets that the company said continued to cast doubts on the legitimacy of the presidential election and raised risks for the presidential inauguration that Trump said he would not be attending.

Another task for Musk: delivering on his promise to clean up the fake profiles, or spam bots that have preoccupied him and bedeviled Twitter since long before he expressed interest in acquiring it.

The bot count matters because advertisers  Twitters chief revenue source  want to know roughly how many real humans they are reaching when they buy ads. Its also important in the effort to stop bad actors from amassing an army of accounts to amplify misinformation or harass political adversaries.

___

Associated Press writers Frank Bajak, Jill Colvin and Mae Anderson contributed to this story. Follow AP's coverage of Elon Musk: https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk
Elon Musk said Twitter will have a "content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints." Susan Walsh/AP

Elon Musk's Twitter takeover sparked a surge in the use of the N-word on the social-media platform.

A social-media research group told The Washington Post the use of the slur increased by nearly 500%.

Musk said that Twitter will form a "content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints."

After the self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist" Elon Musk closed the $44 billion deal on Twitter, anonymous accounts set about testing the limits of the social-media platform's moderation policies, The Washington Post reported.

The Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that analyzes social-media content to predict emerging threats, said that use of the N-word on Twitter increased by nearly 500% in the 12 hours immediately after Musk's deal was finalized.

The newspaper also noted that several online trolling accounts called on others to use racist language in the aftermath of the deal.

"Elon now controls twitter. Unleash the racial slurs. K---S AND N-----S," said one account, using slurs for Jewish and Black people, per the outlet.

"I can freely express how much I hate n-----s  now, thank you elon," another said, The Post reported.

The journalist David Leavitt also noticed an increase in accounts tweeting hate speech. He tweeted on Friday: "There's a massive flood of literally hundreds of people each minute using the N-word and rampant hate speech happening on Twitter right now post Elon purchase."

Twitter was also flooded with sexist and anti-LGBTQ messages, per The Post. Anonymous trolling accounts ran "tests" on Twitter's moderation policies by calling for the deadnaming of transgender people and the use of offensive terms, like "groomer," according to the report.

"Almost immediately I noticed an increase in anti-trans harassment, it's very visible," said Erin Reed, a trans activist and queer legislative researcher, per The Washington Post.

Some of the Twitter posts appear to have been organized on other platforms including 4chan, the NCRI said.

Story continues

Alex Goldenberg, NCRI's lead intelligence analyst, told The Washington Post that "online trolls regularly test the limits of moderation." He added that the online trolls may be intending "to make as big a mess as possible for Twitter's new management."

Musk tweeted on Friday that Twitter will form a "content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints." He added that major decisions on moderation won't be made until the council meets.

Nonetheless, conservative figures have celebrated the deal, suggesting that Twitter's new ownership will loosen the rules on content moderation and strengthen free speech.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted "FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!!" on Thursday evening. On the same day, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas tweeted that Musk's purchase of Twitter was "the most important development for Free Speech in decades."

In the hours preceding the deal being closed, accounts for far-right figures appeared to see a boost in followers. Accounts belonging to Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and Arizona Rep. Kari Lake, for example, witnessed a surge in new followers in the 24 hours leading up to the deal being finalized, according to Memetica, a digital investigations company.

Thousands of new accounts were created during that period, The New York Times reported.

Memetica's CEO, Ben Decker, told the newspaper the accounts that gained thousands of followers "are really well-known purveyors of disinformation, harassment, and hate."

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- The attack at House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home this week underscored the potential for violence from the escalating threats and misogyny directed at the California Democrat in recent years.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Threats against members of Congress have been on the rise, according to data from the US Capitol Police. But the hundreds of criminal prosecutions stemming from the Jan. 6 attack as lawmakers met to certify President Joe Bidens election win offered a new perspective on the depth of hostility and threatening rhetoric specifically directed at Pelosi.

Police who responded to Pelosis home early Friday found her husband, Paul Pelosi, 82, in a struggle with an intruder, according to San Francisco Police Chief William Scott. Police said the suspect, David DePape, 42, of Berkeley, California, struck Paul Pelosi in the head and body before being subdued and will face charges of attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.

Scott told reporters a motive was under investigation, but a person familiar with the investigation said that the intruder had shouted Where is Nancy, where is Nancy? before attacking her husband. Using the research site DomainTools.com, Bloomberg News found several websites registered to a David DePape that railed against the government and technology giants, and espoused far-right conspiracy theories. Blog posts took aim at immigrants, climate hysteria and feminists, among other targets.

Elected officials who serve as the public faces of their political parties unsurprisingly tend to bear the brunt of criticism -- and, sometimes, threats -- from their opponents. A November 2020 report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace identified an overwhelming amount of online abuse, harassment, and gendered defamation that women in politics face at higher rates compared to their male counterparts.

Story continues

Political scientists and extremism experts have been raising the alarm about the evolution of violent speech to violent acts as political polarization in the US deepened during former President Donald Trumps time in office and since the 2020 election.

Pelosi had been the target of political vitriol through the years, but the prosecutions of Jan. 6 rioters driven by Trumps baseless election fraud claims show the degree to which the 82-year-old House speaker has become a singular focus of right-wing anger.

Federal prosecutors, in charging papers and other court filings, describe rioters searching for Pelosi as they entered the Capitol and shouting that they were coming for her as they tried to get past law enforcement into the House chamber. One woman allegedly demanded that police bring Pelosi out so the mob could hang that f---ing bitch.

A North Carolina man brought guns and ammunition to Washington on Jan. 6 and texted a relative the following day that he was thinking of going to see Pelosi speak and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV. Hes serving more than two years in prison after taking a plea deal.

Earlier this year, jurors in federal court in Washington heard how a Texas militia member convicted of bringing a firearm to the Capitol on Jan. 6 told people around him about wanting to drag Pelosi down the steps of the Capitol by her ankles.

A Pennsylvania woman who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense for illegally demonstrating at the Capitol admitted filming a selfie-style video in which she said, We were looking for Nancy to shoot her in the frickin brain but we didnt find her.

Arkansas man Richard Barnett is set to go to trial later this year on a mix of felony and misdemeanor charges that accuse him of illegally going into the Capitol with a weapon. A photo of him sitting in Pelosis office with his foot on a desk was widely shared on social media. Prosecutors quoted a video that appeared to show him bragging about leaving a hand-written note referring to Pelosi with an obscenity and featured a photograph of the note in court filings.

Pelosi has a protective detail because of her position, but many members of Congress do not. Asked about any special security measures taken to protect Pelosi and her family after Jan. 6, a spokesperson for the US Capitol Police said in an email that, For safety reasons, the USCP does not discuss potential security measures.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
The Navy says the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln's water tanks have been cleared of bacteria just over a month after the crew first reported contaminated water while the ship was sailing off the coast of southern California.

In an email to Military.com, a Navy spokesman said that "all potable water tanks on board the ship have been tested and are clear of E. coli."

The Navy previously said that the contamination that caused water on the ship to have a foul odor and appear cloudy was not tied to the E. coli, despite a string of positive tests for the bacteria. To date, the service has not explained what substance was in the water that caused the change in appearance and smell.

Read Next: Meet the Vets Running for Congress, the Largest Group of Candidates Who Served in a Decade

The contamination reportedly came from wastewater from the ship's bilges, a system that often collects substances like jet fuel and oil.

But it would appear that the Navy didn't initially test for any of the heavy metals or oils that may have made their way into the water system, and which may have accounted for the problems with the water that sailors reported.

After news of the contaminated water broke on Sept. 21, the ship's commander, Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, addressed the crew on several occasions. Some of her comments were captured on four, undated videos that were later posted to social media. In three of those videos, Bauernschmidt firmly tells her crew that there is no jet fuel in their water.

Bauernschmidt would likely have been referencing concerns tied to water contamination aboard the USS Nimitz -- another aircraft carrier -- that had occurred only days earlier.

That incident demonstrated that once a contaminant gets into the system, it can be hard to remove. The Navy declared the jet fuel contamination resolved just days after initial reports on the Nimitz but had to reverse course within a week as the fuel kept showing up in tests. Then, reports of illnesses started to trickle in, too.

Story continues

At the time that Bauernschmidt was assuring her crew that there was no jet fuel in the water, she would likely have had no way of knowing that the source of the issue was bilgewater leaking into drinking water tanks through a hole in an air vent line, as the Navy has subsequently reported.

Navy spokesman Ensign Bryan Blair told Military.com that "engineering and medical personnel tested the water for bacteria and chlorine" -- not petroleum products like jet fuel or heavy metals -- on that first day. A Navy medicine publication on water quality aboard ships notes that the crew is responsible for testing the pH and salt content of the water, as well as making sure it is free of E. coli and similar bacteria. The document makes no mention of testing for other compounds.

The Navy maintains that the videos show "the efforts of a commanding officer trying to keep her crew informed to the best of her ability." In fact, in one video, Bauernschmidt is heard telling the crew about the E. coli contamination that the service said was discovered on Sept. 22.

The Navy has maintained that "a thorough inspection of the ship's potable water supply" was conducted; the three E. coli-infected tanks were quickly isolated from the rest of the potable water system; and free bottled water was made available to the crew.

According to Navy spokesman, Cmdr. Zach Harrell, the ship had about 6,500 bottles of water onboard when the contamination began and "the ships supply department ordered more than 12,000 additional bottles of water, which were delivered by CMV-22B Osprey between Sept. 23 and 26."

On Sept. 24, the Lincoln sent samples off to be analyzed by an outside lab. This would have been the first opportunity for the ship to know whether the water onboard -- with the contaminated tanks now isolated -- was tainted by anything besides bacteria.

The Navy's statement on the results -- which came back two days later -- said "the water was within drinking water standards for pH, turbidity, aluminum, copper, lead, sodium, and hardness." Missing in that list is any indication that the water was tested for jet fuel or any other petroleum products.

In one of the posted videos, Bauernschmidt noted "there were two that were inconclusive, which meant ... they couldn't 100% tell for 100% certainty that there wasn't something in there but definitely negative for JP5 [jet fuel]."

Military.com asked the Navy what the two inconclusive tests showed but did not receive a response before publication.

The Navy has said that no sailors have reported being made sick by the contamination episode.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with additional details provided by the Navy after publication about how much bottled water the Navy had stocked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Says It Has Found the Source of Water Contamination Aboard Carrier, Leading to More Questions
Democratic members of North Carolinas congressional delegation are asking the U.S. attorney general to investigate a South Carolina sheriffs office weeks after a bus full of Shaw University students was stopped and searched on the way to Georgia.

A group of 18 students and two advisers were on their way to a conference in Atlanta Oct. 5 when Spartanburg County sheriffs deputies pulled over the groups chartered bus. Shaw University President Paulette Dillard said in a statement that the stop was prompted by a minor traffic violation and that drug-sniffing dogs searched through riders luggage.

Deputies found nothing illegal and the students arrived home safely after attending the conference, Dillard said.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the president of the historically Black university and concern from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, The News & Observer reported.

Now congressional Democrats Deborah Ross, David Price, Alma Adams, G.K. Butterfield and Kathy Manning are weighing in.

In the letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland dated Friday, the five U.S. House members said they were deeply troubled by this unfounded search, which left students unnerved, confused and humiliated.

Now theyre requesting both an independent review of the incident and a pattern-of-practice investigation into the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office. Such probes look for persistent misconduct by law enforcement agencies that could include racial discrimination, use of excessive force or violations of constitutional rights.

The letter points to other allegations of racial bias against the department, including a 2014 lawsuit from a Black former detention officer who said that deputies used racial slurs and that the office failed to provide training comparable to the training white deputies received. The Democrats also cited a 2020 statement regarding the handling of several arrests by Spartanburg Sheriff Chuck Wright who said his deputies had every opportunity to kill two Black men and we did not do it.

Story continues

These incidents, coupled with the recent unfounded search of the Shaw students, indicate a need to further investigate the Sheriffs Office, the letter said. We believe transparency and accountability are necessary for ensuring justice for the Shaw students directly involved in the incident, as well as the larger Shaw and Raleigh communities.

Asked for comment Saturday, Lt. Kevin Bobo with the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office said the agency is planning a joint press conference Monday with the sheriff of nearby Cherokee County, South Carolina. He wrote that Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright has spoken by phone with the president of the university 3 times this week and offered her an opportunity to come view the footage.

That was supposed to happen at 4 p.m. Friday, the statement originally issued that afternoon said, but the president just backed out of that meeting.

A spokesperson with Shaw University has not yet responded to a request for comment from the N&O about the meeting.
NEW YORK (AP)  Kyrie Irving said Saturday he embraced all religions, defiantly defending his right to post whatever he believes after the owner of the Brooklyn Nets said he was disappointed that Irving appeared to back an antisemitic film.

We're in 2022. History is not supposed to be hidden from anybody and I'm not a divisive person when it comes to religion, Irving said during a tense postgame press conference. I embrace all walks of life.

Nets owner Joe Tsai said Friday he was disappointed that Irving appeared to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation. The star guard for the Nets posted a link for the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on Twitter on Thursday. The synopsis on Amazon said the film uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel.

The organization has spoken to Kyrie about it, Nets coach Steve Nash said before their loss to Indiana, not divulging specifics of what that meant.

But nothing that was said will stop Irving from what he wants to share.

Im not going to stand down on anything I believe in, he said. Im only going to get stronger because Im not alone. I have a whole army around me.

Irving said he understood Tsai's position but was quick to say that he did nothing harmful, adding that just because he posts about something doesn't necessarily means he supports it.

Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody? Irving said. Did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?

But he went far enough that the Nets and the NBA spoke out against hate speech.

Tsai and the Nets reacted quickly to the latest trouble stirred up by Irving, who had previously supported the idea of the Earth being flat and last month on social media shared an old clip from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones  though Irving clarified that he didn't stand with Jones when it came to anything regarding the shootings at Sandy Hook.

Story continues

I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion, Tsai wrote on Twitter regarding Irving.

The NBA on Saturday said hate speech of any kind is unacceptable."

We believe we all have a role to play in ensuring such words or ideas, including antisemitic ones, are challenged and refuted and we will continue working with all members of the NBA community to ensure that everyone understands the impact of their words and actions," the league said.

It was not clear if that meant the league has spoken to Irving, or plans to speak to him on the matter.

Irving was unavailable for most of the Nets home games last season because he refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as was mandated in New York City. The Nets then declined to give him a contract extension this summer, meaning Irving could be in his final season with the team.

The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech," the team said in a statement. "We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL, who have been supportive during this time.

Nash was asked Saturday if he felt if the latest Irving storyline was a distraction to the team.

I don't think our group is overly affected by the situation," Nash said. We've had so many situations over the last 2 1/2 years that I think we've kind of built an immunity to some of it. I also think our guys aren't that familiar with the material."

___

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this story.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The Poetry Foundation honored the lifetime achievements of 11 poets with the Ruth Lilly Prize this year, including Sonia Sanchez, Angela Jackson, and Rita Dove

Eleven poets were celebrated as history-making as they joined the remarkable list of recipients of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in poetry, on Thursday at the Poetry Foundations 2022 Pegasus Awards ceremony held in Chicagos Museum of Contemporary Art.

From left: Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize winners Sandra Cisneros, Angela Jackson, Kevin Quashie, Pegasus Book Criticism Prize winner, Nikki Giovanni, CAConrad, Arthur Sze, Rita Dove, Haki Madhubuti, Sharon Olds, Juan Felipe Herrera, and Patti Smith. Photo: Courtesy of the Poetry Foundation

It is a gift that we, at the Poetry Foundation, can recognize this diverse, dynamic group of artists, said Michelle T. Boone, president of the Poetry Foundation. This years Pegasus Award winners have touched many lives across generations and will continue to do so in immeasurable ways. Through their work, each of these honorees has given of themselves to others; we are grateful to them, and it was a joy to celebrate alongside them.

The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize recognizes a poets lifetime achievements and typically is awarded to only one poet each year. However, in honor of the 110th anniversary of Poetry magazine, the Poetry Foundation awarded 10 additional poets with this recognition.

We saw [the 11 spots] as an opportunity to highlight writers who have done significant work over the years, but maybe havent gotten the kind of attention that they should have, said Adrian Matejka, the editor-in-chief of Poetry magazine. Theyre poets who have been actively engaged in the community and have done so much work to support other poets  so this is one small way for us to be able to honor them and thank them.

The honorees of this years award are Sandra Cisneros, CAConrad, Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Juan Felipe Herrera, Angela Jackson, Haki Madhubuti, Sharon Olds, Sonia Sanchez, Patti Smith, and Arthur Sze. Jackson described the feeling of receiving the award as absolutely thrilling. For her, it was a dream she had always wished for but never thought would happen.

Echoing Jacksons sentiments, Dove described the recognition as a huge deal. Acknowledging that both the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine have been pillars of American literature, she said she feels honored to be a recipient  and to be among such good company with the other honorees.

Story continues

The work Ive tried to do [as a poet] is only possible because of the work they did, Matejka told theGrio. Everything that I tried to be as an artist on the page [and] as a citizen of the poetry community was modeled for me by the recipients of this award. Theyre all brilliant poets, but also dedicated to supporting and growing the poetry community. Art is only sustainable when the artists take care of each other, and I think that every one of the winners this year does the same kind of work, but in different ways.

Updated: Monday, 10/31/22 at 11:18 a.m., ET: An earlier version of this article included an incorrect caption header photo, identifying Pegasus Book Criticism Prize winner Kevin Quashie (third from left) as a guest of Angela Jackson. The caption also indicated that Sonia Sanchez was included in the photograph when she was, in fact, unable to attend. The caption has since been amended.

Kayla Grant theGrio.com

Kayla Grant is a multimedia journalist with bylines in Business Insider, Shondaland, Oz Magazine, Prism, Rolling Out and more. She writes about culture, books and entertainment news. Follow her on Twitter: @TheKaylaGrant.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai.

The post Nikki Giovanni and Haki Madhubuti among recipients of the 2022 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize appeared first on TheGrio.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)  Top-ranked Georgia expects to eventually benefit from a game like this. It might happen next year. Or maybe next week.

Daijun Edwards and Kenny McIntosh ran for two touchdowns each, and the Bulldogs pulled away from Florida following a second-half scare to win 42-20 Saturday night in the rivalry dubbed the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

Next up: No. 3 Tennessee, a game that could have Southeastern Conference and College Football Playoff implications. Georgia might not have the same margin for error against the Volunteers as it enjoyed against Florida.

The defending national champion Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) looked to be in trouble when the Gators (4-4, 1-4) scored the first 17 points of the third quarter and turned a 28-3 deficit into a one-score game.

But the Dawgs answered in resounding fashion with consecutive touchdown drives to seal their 10th consecutive victory. It was Georgias fifth win over Florida in the last six seasons.

I dont enjoy losing the momentum in the game," Dawgs coach Kirby Smart said. I enjoy the fact that we never blinked. ... Theres two things (that happen) when adversity hits: you fracture or you connect. Our team connected."

This one was dedicated to legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley, who died Friday at age 90.

Dooley dominated the Georgia-Florida series during his coaching career, going 17-7-1 against the Gators. The most famous victory came in 1980, when Lindsay Scott hauled in a 93-yard touchdown pass from Buck Belue in the closing minute. The improbable 26-21 triumph propelled Georgia to a perfect season and their first consensus national title.

Such an ambassador for our program and all of college football," Smart said. "I know if he was looking down on that one, he would have enjoyed the first half. I don't know that he would have enjoyed the second one.

Florida had all the momentum in the third quarter after Amari Burney forced two turnovers following Trevor Etienne's TD run. Burney stripped McIntosh and intercepted a pass from Stetson Bennett.

Story continues

They didnt stop us other than that, Bennett said. "We answered really well after the pick I threw and went right down the field. Everybody answered the call whenever they were asked.

Georgia put the game away thanks to a few key fourth downs. Bennett connected with tight end Brock Bowers on a fourth-and-7 play to set up one touchdown in-between Florida's two failed attempts to move the chains on fourth down.

Yeah, its a turnover on downs and turnovers affect the outcome of the game," Florida coach Billy Napier said. No different than them turning the ball over allowed them to get us back in the game. ... We had our opportunities. We can coach better. We can play better.

Georgia played nearly flawless football down the stretch and finished with 555 yards against Florida's beleaguered defense. Edwards had 106 yards rushing, including a 22-yard TD run that halted Florida's comeback. McIntosh added 90 on the ground.

Bennett completed 19 of 38 passes for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bowers caught five passes for a career-high 154 yards, including a 73-yard score in which he hauled in a ball that tipped off linebacker Burney.

Balls bouncing in the air and I just snatched it," Bowers said.

Richardson threw for 271 yards and a touchdown for the Gators, who have lost 12 of their last 15 SEC games. Nearly half of Richardsons passing yards came on plays of 78 and 41 yards.

Whenever you have a team like that, its easy for them to do what they do, Richardson said. They have people doing their job, and its kind of hard to affect them and stop them.

THE TAKEAWAY

Florida: Despite rallying against Georgia, the Gators have ground to make up in the SECs Eastern Division. Napier knows it starts on the recruiting trail.

Georgia: The Bulldogs struggled at times because of dropped passes, costly penalties and turnovers. Those are the kind of mistakes that could doom Georgia in close games with the toughest part of its schedule looming.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Georgia should retain its top spot in the next AP college football poll.

KEY INJURIES

Georgia standout linebacker Nolan Smith spent the second half in street clothes because of a shoulder injury. Freshman linebacker Darris Smith was shaken up on the second-half kickoff when Floridas Jack Pyburn drove him to the ground. Georgia right tackle Amarius Mims was helped off the field in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury.

UP NEXT

Florida plays at Texas A&M for the second in three years. The Aggies won 41-38 in 2020.

Georgia hosts third-ranked Tennessee. The Bulldogs have won five in a row and 10 of 12 in the series.

___

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
No. 22 Kansas State established itself as the No. 2 team in the Big 12 with a resounding 48-0 win over No. 9 Oklahoma State on Saturday.

The Wildcats were up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime in a game that quickly got out of hand for the Cowboys. Will Howard started at QB in place of the injured Adrian Martinez for K-State and led the Wildcats on a nine-play, 77-yard drive to open the game that culminated with a 38-yard TD pass to Kade Warner.

Oklahoma State turned the ball over on downs and K-State scored two plays later. The game was effectively over from there and coach Mike Gundy had a succinct summation in his halftime radio interview.

Mike Gundy on the radio broadcast: "They're blocking our ass."



Fair assessment.  Scott Wright (@ScottWrightOK) October 29, 2022

Howard came on in relief of Martinez early in K-States loss to TCU a week ago and played well. Howards inconsistency in 2021 was a big reason why KSU brought in Martinez as a graduate transfer from Nebraska over the offseason. And the last two weeks have shown that Howard is perhaps the best backup quarterback in the Big 12.

He finished 21-of-37 passing for 295 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those TDs went to Warner while Malik Knowles had eight catches for 113 yards and Deuce Vaughn rushed 22 times for 158 yards and a score.

Oklahoma States offense was absolutely shackled and befuddled by Kansas States defense. The Cowboys turned the ball over twice and had just 169 yards of offense on 43 plays before Kansas State backed off in the fourth quarter.

It's the first shutout for the Cowboys since they failed to score in a 2009 game against Oklahoma.

How Kansas State and TCU can meet again

No. 7 TCU (8-0, 5-0) is likely to clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game with two more wins since it has the tiebreaker over both Kansas State and Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs beat the Wildcats, 38-28, in Week 8 after Kansas State was down to third-string QB Jake Rubley for a bit when Howard got banged up. Kansas State had a 28-10 lead in that game before Howard exited the game and TCU scored 28 consecutive points for the comeback win.

Story continues

Kansas State, meanwhile, will be in great position to make the title game with wins over Texas and Baylor over the next two weeks. Both teams have two conference losses and likely need to win out to have a shot at making the conference title game.

A trip to the conference championship game would be the first in nearly 20 years for the Wildcats. Kansas State last made a Big 12 title game in 2003 when it won its only Big 12 title in school history after crushing title game defeats in 1998 and 2000.
A North Georgia man was sentenced to prison for dumping hazardous waste without a permit.

Amin Ali, 56, of Dalton, has been sentenced after dumping hundreds of drums in a chicken house in North Georgia.

Ali abused the North Georgia environment by illegally dumping hundreds of drums of waste, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said. The environmental laws are designed to keep Georgias natural beauty available and safe for future generations, and this office will work to enforce those laws.

Ali was convicted on June 22, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to the charges.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

This sentence serves as a reminder that if you choose to undermine environmental regulations by illegally dumping hazardous waste, you will be held accountable for your crimes, said Special Agent in Charge Chuck Carfagno, of EPA CID Southeast Area Branch. EPA and its state partners worked together to address the environmental problems and bring the defendant to justice.

Such blatant violations of our environmental laws pose serious risk to the surrounding community and to the natural resources of the State of Georgia and must be redressed, said Sara Lips, director of communications and community engagement, Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division.

The defendant, Amin Ali, owned property in Rock Springs, Georgia, a warehouse formerly owned by a chemical company and a farming property containing several old chicken houses.

In August 2021, Ali was found in possession of more than 100 drums and other containers of chemicals, including many containing hazardous waste, that were moved from the Goldstar property to the Rock Springs property. The drums were discarded in one of the old chicken houses, with some of the drums left in an open trench to be buried. Some of the contents of the drums spilled and leaked into the surrounding soil.

Further testing of the drums and soil revealed the presence of benzene, lead, and chromium. In addition, the contents of the drums were reactive and ignitable.

Story continues

TRENDING STORIES:

Several different agencies responded to the scene to investigate.

Ultimately, the cost of the clean-up exceeded $500,000, according to the release.

Ali was sentenced to two months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and make restitution in the amount of $32,596.93.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Criminal Investigation Division and the Georgia Environmental Protection Divisions Law Enforcement Unit.

For more information, contact the U.S. Attorneys Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:




NEW YORK  As Hurricane Sandy barreled ashore, bringing battering winds and crushing waves, thousands evacuated their homes in New York and New Jersey before the storm cut a $69 billion swath of destruction across the region, crippling public transit and causing a historic shutdown of Wall Street trading.

When Timothy Cochrane and his family returned to their bayfront property in the sleepy Queens neighborhood of Breezy Point, he found it unrecognizable. The tempest launched a nearby dock through his front door. His second floor was obliterated, possessions entirely wiped away by Sandys 14-foot storm surge. Among the debris, he found a mailbox from a Brooklyn neighborhood at least a mile away on the opposite side of Jamaica Bay.

You just can't comprehend it's going to get like that, said Cochrane, who serves as chair of the Breezy Point Cooperative, which manages the private community of roughly 2,800 homes. Nobody knew.

But 10 years after Sandy, many of the bold improvements planned in the hurricanes immediate aftermath remain incomplete or behind schedule in New York and New Jersey. So Breezy Point and other neighborhoods remain unprotected, along with many lives and valuable property. Not because the money isnt there, but because of delays, red tape and politics.

In Cochranes neighborhood, the feds pulled funding for a major storm protection project after residents refused to open their private beaches to the public, which the city said was a condition under its Waterfront Revitalization Program.

New York received $43 billion in federal disaster aid. But a recent report by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander found that more than one quarter of the city's $15 billion share has yet to be used  much of it tied up in major resiliency efforts, as well as projects to repair, replace or restore publicly owned facilities damaged by the storm.

What we need to wrap our heads around is the complexity of these projects, Mayor Eric Adams said as he marked the storms 10-year anniversary this week. Were not talking about just building a highway, or just building a building, or just building a wall. Were going into unknown territory of building projects at this level of complexity.

Story continues

New Jerseys top environmental regulator, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, said government officials need to be honest with people about the risks of another tragic storm and ever-rising seas.

We are not ready, period, LaTourette said. Neither is New York City. Neither is most of the country.

A never-ending process

Back in Breezy Point, top environmental officials and local residents couldnt come to an agreement on a $58 million sea dune project paid for by federal and city funding. City officials said the project was contingent on providing public beach access, but the private community said that was a non-starter. The cooperative, which is supported by monthly fees, has instead spent $2 million building its own dunes with plans to add more, but that work will likely fall short of the plan officials had initially envisioned.

We're not fully protected, and we're still working to try to get there, Cochrane said.

The scenario exemplifies the difficulty in launching multi-jurisdictional projects  which require cooperation from the community, city authority, state representatives and the federal government.

While it appears to be the only project outright canceled over irreconcilable differences on how to use the funds, many proposals across both states have run into delays or been altered amid backlash.

New York Citys $1.45 billion East Coastal Resiliency Plan to fortify Lower Manhattan with floodwalls and an elevated park has fomented such strong community backlash that it became a flashpoint in a recent congressional race.

The project was supposed to break ground in 2017, but underwent controversial design changes the following year that spawned an unsuccessful lawsuit, only further delaying progress. Its only just beginning to yield results. Officials recently unveiled the second of the plans 18 movable flood barriers, which are now slated for completion in 2026.

A similar local fight has broken out over a $221 million resiliency plan in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Manhattan.

Then-President Donald Trump summarily yanked study funding for a $119 million sea wall across New York Harbor, and the Army Corps is now floating a less-costly, $58 million approach. Any work wont get underway until 2030, and its unclear how the two states  which have fought over funding much smaller projects, like a train tunnel  will pay for the endeavor.

Across the Hudson River, top New Jersey officials face a never-ending stream of lawsuits filed to block major dune-construction projects. The very waterfront property owners the dunes would protect are suing to instead protect their views.

That is almost a never-ending process, said Daniel Kelly, the head of the New Jersey governors disaster recovery office.

The dunes are slowly being built, but many of the states boldest initiatives are still in the works, like a $230 million flood management project in Hoboken and a series of projects meant to protect New Jerseys low-lying Meadowlands.

The market forgets

As the government continues to work on flood protection, communities have been rebuilt and are more valuable than ever.

The New York City comptroller report found that market rate values of real estate in the 100-year floodplain have increased 44 percent since Sandy, to over $176 billion  despite their proven exposure and few new significant resiliency measures.

It only took about three years for the market to forget that the storm had taken place, said Clinton Andrews, a professor of urban planning at Rutgers University who looked at property values in hard hit Monmouth County, N.J., before and after Sandy.

New Jersey has also seen an increased value for coastal property near New York City  in part because new homes have been elevated above storm surges, but also because rebuilt homes are even larger than the ones they replaced.

Im thinking you must be crazy to rebuild in the exact same spot and hope elevating the house is enough to obviate the risk, said Andrews. That said, people are doing it and having great summers.

State officials are still working on a slate of resiliency measures as demand for waterfront properties grows unabated.

In New Jersey, theres a $160 million beach and dune project on Long Beach Island that was finished, along with ongoing projects like a $289 million multi-part resiliency project in Union Beach, a $265 million flood protection project at Port Monmouth and $236 million in periodic beach nourishment.

Two major projects to provide backup power in the event of the storm have faced setbacks amid opposition from environmental groups because they would rely on burning natural gas. One of the plants is for New Jersey Transit, the states main public transit agency that lost power during Sandy, and another is for a wastewater treatment plant that also lost power from the storm and had to dump over 800 million gallons of raw sewage into New York Harbor.

Ongoing similarly scaled projects across New York include the $107 million Living Breakwaters project to restore shoreline in Staten Island and a $140 million initiative to provide back-up power in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx.

A turning tide

After a tumultuous decade of planning, city officials said the tide is starting to move in the right direction. They plan to break ground before years end on the Raised Shorelines initiative to prevent erosion in coastal areas, beginning with Old Howard Beach, Queens. The city recently began construction on a $522 million plan to add flood walls and deployable flip-up barriers in the Two Bridges neighborhood of Manhattan.

Heralding the flood wall on Wednesday, Adams acknowledged the need for faster progress. The mayor threw his backing behind a new state bill that would allow the city to use a design-build approach to capital work  expediting the current two-step procurement process for construction projects. He also called for dedicated federal funding for coastal resiliency work, stating the city needs $8.5 billion to complete ongoing projects.

It will cost more to bail out New York City than to protect it, he warned of future flooding.

The state has completed its $1 billion program to rebuild or buy out 11,000 properties that were affected by Sandy, which includes 3,400 home elevations and repairs to 1,700 rental properties. More than 700 households sold their properties to the state and relocated, most of which were in Staten Island neighborhoods that were devastated by the hurricane. In New York City, 12,500 homes were rebuilt or repaired under its Build It Back program, and 247 properties were acquired.

In 2014, New York City codified new standards requiring more resilient construction for buildings in the 100-year floodplain. But only 3.5 percent of structures covered under the rule were built or last altered since the new standards were adopted, according to the city comptroller report.

New York officials describe their approach to vulnerable infrastructure as a balancing act, weighing the desires of the community while also creating new standards for home construction in vulnerable areas.

The longer-term major resiliency, it takes time, said Katie Brennan, executive director of the New York Governor's Office of Storm Recovery. There's the community planning, there's listening to what folks want, figuring out what's possible, going through the design and construction phases, getting all of the permitting taken care of, and then  especially when you're talking about a major resiliency initiative  it's a large construction project and a complex one at that.

The remnants of last years Hurricane Ida reminded officials of the danger of flooding caused by heavy rain. The storm killed at least 42 people in both states. Yet New Jersey has struggled to put in place new rules to harden riverside construction from such flooding, and New York officials are still grappling with how to make an estimated 100,000 basement apartments safe.

Even some relatively modest recent storms caused major erosion along the coast, which prompted LaTourette, the New Jersey DEP commissioner, to do a flyover of the damage.

He saw Strathmere, a South Jersey community wedged between wetlands and the ocean. As LaTourette held up a photo of the scene from his phone, he wondered what his kids would think about the crazy people who built here, beside a rising ocean.

What drove us to come off where the parkway is, drive through all this marshland to a sandbar and build a community on it? he said. But hindsight is 20-20. And now we have all these assets and all these lives, and we've got to protect them. We've got to. That's where we're at.
Then-President Obama with Rep. Karen Bass at Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles in Los Angeles in 2011. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press)

The Democratic circling of the wagons for Rep. Karen Bass is complete.

Former President Obama endorsed the congresswoman on Saturday in her bid to be the first female and second Black mayor of America's second-largest city.

His support helps add weight to Bass' campaign argument that she's the only real Democrat in the race and that her opponent, Rick Caruso, became one out of political expediency.

That has been a central attack line from Bass, who has emphasized that her opponent had been registered as a Republican as recently as 2019. Caruso said the GOP had shifted and became too extreme and that was why he switched parties weeks before announcing his candidacy earlier this year.

"I know Karen. She was with me in supporting my campaign from the beginning, and Karen Bass will deliver results, said former President Obama, who also recorded a robocall in support of Bass that will begin Sunday. Make no mistake, there is only one proven pro-choice Democrat in this race, and Karen Bass has devoted her life to serving her community."

With the robocall and a digital video, Obama's backing completes a string of endorsements from national Democratic figures, including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, both of California's U.S. senators and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

It comes after a nearly 2,000-person rally Bass held Thursday night alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who remains an immensely popular figure among progressives in the city.

"I am asking you in the next 12 days to work as hard as you can to elect Karen and other progressives," he told the Playa Vista crowd. "But I'm asking you to come back the day after the election and continue to struggle to make sure that in America, we have the economic justice we deserve."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) rallies with Los Angeles mayoral candidate Karen Bass after speaking in Playa Vista on Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Earlier this month, Bass appeared with Harris and Biden at successive events. Since the primary, nearly every city and state elected official has endorsed her  though not Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is friends with both Caruso and Bass and has said he wouldn't endorse either of them. He also shares a team of political advisors with Caruso.

Story continues

Mayor Eric Garcetti has also stayed out of the fray, citing former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's decision not to endorse in the 2013 mayor's race.

It's unclear if any of these endorsements alone will make a difference in a contest, which appears to be tightening based on public and private polling reviewed by The Times.

The Times' latest poll in September found that among registered voters who are Democrats, Bass leads by about 25 percentage points, and among likely voters who are registered Democrats, she leads by nearly 40 points.

"President Obamas support underscores the contrast in this race and inspires our campaign as we share our plans to solve homelessness and make L.A. safer and more affordable for everyone during the home stretch, Bass said.

Still, Obama's endorsement comes as a bit of a surprise if only because The Times reported several months ago that it was unlikely he would wade into a local election. Obama and Bass are not especially close, a person close to Obama said in June, adding that he generally has not gotten involved in races between Democrats and wouldnt anticipate deviating in this circumstance.

In recent months, Obama's political team had been observing the race and in communication with former aides to the president and others who worked on his presidential campaigns and are now involved in the mayoral contest, according to sources familiar with the matter who declined to be named to talk about private deliberations.

They include Doug Herman, who is advising Bass, Larry Grisolano, who is producing Bass' paid media, and former deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton, who is not working on the campaign but helped with Bass' debate preparation by playing Caruso.

Obama has endorsed candidates in a number of high-profile Senate and gubernatorial races in recent weeks.

"I think that anybody could see this race was getting competitive and he's paying attention to races that matter," said one of the sources familiar with the matter who declined to be named to talk about private deliberations. "My sense is that the president didn't want this race to be decided by who has the biggest checkbook."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Kanye West, seen at the White House in 2018, lost his business with Adidas after his recent antisemitic tirades. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

This might not be saying very much given the turmoil Los Angeles has undergone recently, but this week was an extremely ugly one. The unfurling of antisemitic banners over the 405 Freeway on Oct. 21 was only the most conspicuous reminder that anti-Jewish hate never went away after much of the world declared "never again" nearly 80 years ago  and that it doesn't need much (in this case, the endorsement of a celebrity) to burst into public view.

That celebrity endorsement came from the rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, and drew condemnation from businesses, political leaders and The Times Editorial Board. In readers' responses to West and The Times' coverage, there were warnings: to understand that the hate expressed by West and others has lurked in the mainstream longer than most would like to admit, and that we need to be vigilant of antisemitism even when it may be convenient to ignore it.

In the last week, The Times' prominent coverage of antisemitism has received praise, but not without some criticism.



To the editor: The editorial board urges readers to be "outraged by [antisemitic acts] no matter where or how they happen."

What does this outrage accomplish? The Goyim Defense League, the extremist antisemitic white supremacist group responsible for the antisemitic banner displayed last week, hung similar banners across the freeway in 2020, and has been distributing vile antisemitic fliers for years. Outrage has not dampened the group's zeal for disseminating hateful messages and may actually be feeding it.

But antisemitism in people we admire or who share our views is different.

A Times opinion piece in 2019 described the Women's March leaders' praise of Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan as a tolerable "contradiction," though Farrakhan has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and described Judaism as "satanic" and Jews as "termites." The author extinguished her outrage with appreciation of "some of the empowerment work that he has done in the black community."

Story continues

When creeps execute Nazi salutes on freeway overpasses, outrage is easy. Outrage is difficult when we admire the antisemite and agree on other issues. But it's the inconvenient antisemitism expressed by apparently admirable people that most requires outrage.

It's the antisemitism for which people make excuses that perpetuates this lethal hatred.

Jo Perry, Studio City

..

To the editor: I was happy to see a story about the frightening rise of antisemitism featured on the front page of The Times. But I was incredulous to see the writers assert that "racist and bigoted rhetoric" and "conspiracy-soaked rants are "entering the mainstream," and that "extremism has tended to come from the margins of political life" and "dark corners of the internet."

Where have these writers been been for the past seven years?

This country has been subjected to years of prime-time racist, inflammatory language and insane conspiracy theories, much of it emanating from the very highest levels of our government.

Just last week the former president shared a social media post threatening American Jews to "get their act together ... before it's too late." We see it in the rhetoric of popular cable network hosts, and we have seen it play out in the news in violent ways from El Paso, Texas, to Charlottesville, Va.

Yes, the Kanye West story is inflammatory and he deserves the scorn he is receiving. But mainstream media have a responsibility to shine an even brighter light on this same behavior coming from our political leaders who hold far more power over our lives than a celebrity.

Valerie Burchfield Rhodes, Laguna Niguel

..

To the editor: Someone quoted in one of your articles called West's antisemitism "historically fringe." That's a woeful misreading of history.

Most of us grew up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust. That generation saw the ugly face of antisemitism, and it was only that horror that shocked them out of the historical norm, which of course is that antisemitism is normal and acceptable.

I grew up Jewish in the best possible time to be Jewish, but that brief reprieve was bought with the blood of 6 million of my people. The World War II generation is all but gone, and it seems society is reverting to its shameful norm.

Branden Frankel, Arcadia

..

To the editor: Someone needs to tell West to start looking in the mirror. He is not white. His admiration for Adolf Hitler is abominable.

If West was living under a regime of Hitler's, he probably would not exist. He may have been exterminated much like the 6 million European Jews prior to and during World War II.

Jamie Harvey, Ventura

..

To the editor: I am a proud Angeleno Jew and agree 100% with the letter that criticized a Times article for using "Jewish person" instead of "Jew." I would have written a similar one myself if I weren't such a procrastinator, but I have been thinking of this issue for some time.

Again, in Friday's paper, you wrote in the obituary for Roz Wyman, "Centers of power like the exclusive Jonathan Club, which did not allow women or Jewish people, were off-limits to her."

If the word "Jew" needs to be reclaimed, then let's do it.

William Fields, Los Angeles

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily

BAABDA, Lebanon (Reuters) -Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun told Reuters on Saturday his nation could be sliding into "constitutional chaos", with an unprecedented situation of having no one in line to succeed him and a cabinet that is operating in a caretaker capacity.

Aoun is set to leave the presidential palace on Sunday, a day before his six-year term ends, but four sessions in the nation's fractured parliament have failed to reach consensus on a candidate to succeed him.

Aoun said in an interview an 11th-hour political move to address the constitutional crisis might be possible, but added "there is no final decision" on what that could involve.

Aoun's presidency is inextricably linked in the minds of many Lebanese to their country's worst days since the 1975-1990 civil war, with the financial crisis that began in 2019 and the deadly Beirut port blast of 2020.

In the days after the blast, Aoun said he had received a report about the roughly 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of Beirut weeks before they detonated and killed some 220 people.

He declined to comment on the blast on Saturday.

Aoun's son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who was put on a sanctions list by the United States in 2020 for alleged corruption, has presidential ambitions, according to political sources.

Bassil has denied the allegations of corruption, and Aoun said on Saturday the sanctions would not stop Bassil from eventually being a presidential candidate.

"Once he's elected (as president), the sanctions will go away," Aoun said, without elaborating.

In his final week as president, Aoun signed a U.S.-brokered deal delineating Lebanon's southern maritime border with Israel - a modest diplomatic breakthrough that would allow both countries to extract natural gas from maritime deposits.

He said powerful Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which sent unarmed drones over Israel and threatened to attack its offshore rigs multiple times, had served as a "deterrent" that had helped keep the negotiations going in Lebanon's favour.

Story continues

"It wasn't coordinated (with the government). It was an initiative taken by Hezbollah and it was useful," Aoun said, adding that the Lebanese army "had no role" in this regard.

He said the deal paved the way for gas discoveries that could be Lebanon's "last chance" at recovering from a three-year financial meltdown that has cost the currency 95% of its value and pushed 80% of the population into poverty.

Lebanon has otherwise made slow progress on a checklist of reforms required to gain access to $3 billion in financing from the International Monetary Fund.

Aoun said he would stay involved in politics in Lebanon even after he leaves office, particularly to fight Central Bank governor Riad Salameh, one of the president's main political adversaries.

Salameh is being in investigated in Lebanon and at least five countries abroad on charges of corruption and embezzlement of public funds, charges he denies.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya GebeilyEditing by Andrew Cawthorne, Helen Popper and Clelia Oziel)
Photo by Marc J. Franklin

By now, youve probably heard that a prominent character in Michael R. Jacksons A Strange Loop, now in its final run at the Lyceum Theatre, is Tyler Perry. No, the multi-hyphenate doesnt actually appear in the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical. But his legacy as one of the few Black power brokers in Hollywoodand more crucially, the writer of some pretty mediocre but extremely successful playslooms large over the shows main protagonist as he writes his own semi-autobiographical play, also called A Strange Loop.

Plenty of Black artists have sounded off on Perrys career, whether theyre defending his right to make abysmal work, criticizing his depictions of Black women, or parodying him, like in a recent episode of Atlanta. Still, there hasnt been a distillation of Perrys influence and complicated position in the Black community quite like the musical number Tyler Perry Writes Real Life, performed in A Strange Loop by some surprising figures.

First, a brief summary of the musical: A Strange Loop follows a fat, Black, queer man named Usher, whos an actual usher at The Lion King with aspirations of being a playwright. His Thoughtswhich are represented as characters and act as a chorus throughout the productionreveal the chronic self-loathing and insecurity that impedes his writing process and journey to self-love. We also learn about his complicated relationship to his parents in equally hilarious and devastating interactionsthe funniest being their insistence that he model his career after Perrys.

A Strange Loop Triumphs, Uncompromisingly, on Broadway

Tyler knows how to bring everything together with all the stories and all the singing and all the different people talking, says one of Ushers Thoughts, echoing the sentiments of his God-fearing, homophobic mother. Tyler Perry dont ever forget to bring in the spiritchalities, says another Thought. Write a nice, clean, Tyler Perry-like gospel play for your parents please!

Story continues

Usher considers himself the antithesis of the man behind Madea. According to him, Perry writes anti-Black characters who dont represent the complexity of Black life. The success of Perrys unnuanced work is especially irksome as Usher experiences the pressure to flatten his experiences as a queer, Black man to appeal to a more mainstream audience.

About a quarter of the way into the musical, his agent calls him about an opportunity to ghostwrite one of Perrys plays. Usher goes on a rant, denouncing Perrys coonery and simple-minded, hack buffoonery until hes suddenly interrupted by a shocking specter.

Who are you? Usher asks timidly, as a foreboding silhouette appears behind him.

Im Harriet motherfuckin Tubman, declares one of his Thoughts, dressed in her famous shawl and wielding a rifle. And I got a problem with you!

That excellently delivered line, by the actor James Jackson Jr., earned the biggest laugh when I saw the musical last week during Big, Black, Queer Night hosted by Bob The Drag Queen. So begins Tyler Perry Writes Real Life.

In the outrageous number, Ushers Thoughts embody several Black trailblazers and icons who pop out from the shadows and ascend from the floor like zombiestheres Tubman, Jimmy Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Carter G. Woodson, and a man dressed like Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave who introduces himself as 12 Years a Slave and holds an Oscar. The second-best reveal is saved for last, when Whitney Houston rises from the floor in a coffin and dressed in a shimmery gown. Her inclusion among these much older and frankly more revolutionary figures is hilarious, random, and ultimately unimpeachable.

Who the fuck is you, n----? they sing together, pointing at Usher as he disappears in a corner. You look it, but you aint no true n----.

Tyler Perry is a real n----, they assert. And not a cracker-pleasing Seal n----. He writes how our people feel. With him at the wheel, n----, what cant we do?

Listening to the group of deceased legends applaud Perrys depiction of fat, Black women with weaves who find love and redemption and muscle-bound Black men who own their own business is deliciously absurd and laugh-out-loud funny. But the lyrics are also painstakingly authentic. Not only does the show tune capture what many Black people appreciate about Perrys work, but it also illustrates how different generations of Black people define racial progress and standards for representation.

Theres nothing older Black people love more than conjuring up our ancestors when discussing modern Black issues, often using the experiences of historical figures like Tubman as a measuring stick. (Imagine Martin Luther King hearing you complain about that?) Michael R. Jackson uses Tyler Perry Writes Real Life to poke fun at this reductive framing. But somehow, the authority with which Tubman and the other figures scold Usher for his snobberydespite some of his critiques about Perry being accuratefeels correct.

Race, Sexuality, and The Lion King: How Michael R. Jackson Found Success Through A Strange Loop

Without being too presumptuous, a Black person taking issue with another Black person receiving as much love, money, and respect as Perry would probably sound ridiculous to an enslaved person with no rights. Yes, Hurston received similar critiques as Perry for her portrayal of Black people in her literature, and Baldwin had no problem critiquing Black art. But at the root of every great joke is a very simple and dumb truth.

On the other hand, its silly to scold Black people for criticizing folks like Perry or Jay-Z or Barack Obama for legitimate offenses just because generations before them didnt have the opportunity to be as powerful or successful. But as A Strange Loop examines, being Black is constantly being reminded of the people who came before you.

By the end of the song, Usher caves in and says hell accept the Perry gig for the ancestors. And Tubman, the last ancestor onstage, reminds him that hell never escape his skin color.

The last part of this scene, when I saw it, was seemingly ad-libbed by Jackson Jr., as its not in the musical book. In the middle of Tubman chiding Usher, she suddenly looks up like she just heard an oven timer go off and says, Oh yeah, freedom! and scurries off the stage.

While A Strange Loop is brimming with these kinds of hysterical moments, Tyler Perry Writes Real Life lands the best while also delivering the greatest fictional depiction Ive seen of Harriet Tubman. The song in and of itself is enough of a reason to see the production before it leaves Broadway on Jan. 15.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 16:37

More than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been freed from Russian captivity since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion as part of prisoner exchange agreements between the two countries.

Source: Andrii Yusov, representative of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, during the national 24/7 newscast

Quote from Yusov: "More than 1,000 Ukrainians have been freed from Russian captivity since the beginning of the full-scale invasion; more than 30 prisoner exchanges have been held."

Details: Yusov said that further prisoner exchanges are currently being discussed: "both a large-scale exchange where all prisoners are swapped, and separate smaller-scale exchanges."

The representative of Ukraines Defence Intelligence underscored that the track record of exchanges has been positive so far and said that he expects that the exchange process will continue apace.

Previously: On Saturday, 29 October, Ukraine held another prisoner exchange with Russia: 52 Ukrainian prisoners of war were freed as a result of the exchange.

Background:

On 26 October, Ukraine brought home 10 Ukrainian defenders and recovered the body of a dead American volunteer as part of an exchange of prisoners of war.

On 17 October, 108 Ukrainian women were released as a result of another prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia.

As part of a prisoner swap with the Russian occupiers on 22 October, Ukraine succeeded in freeing 215 Ukrainian defenders, including 10 foreigners. The Ukrainian businessman and pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, to whose daughter Putin is godfather, was returned to Russia together with 55 Russian occupiers.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
HEBRON, West Bank (Reuters) -A Palestinian gunman killed one person and wounded at least three others in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank before being shot dead by a guard, the Israeli military, medics and a settlement spokesperson said.

The Islamist militant group Hamas claimed the slain Hebron gunman as its member.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician from the settlement whose Religious Zionism party is projected to place third in Israel's election on Tuesday, was unharmed.

"I say to these terrorists, if they think that threats, that attempted murder will deter me - it won't help you. I am pressing ahead," Ben-Gvir told Israel's Channel 12 TV.

Violence in the West Bank, among territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has escalated since Israeli forces launched a crackdown in March in response to a string of attacks by Palestinians within Israel.

A settlement spokesperson said four Jews were wounded in the shooting near a checkpoint in Hebron, where hundreds of settlers live in an uneasy standoff among hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

One of those casualties, a middle-aged man, was later declared dead. It was not immediately clear if he held Israeli citizenship.

Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said a Palestinian had also been lightly wounded in the incident.

The Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service said one of its crew members in Hebron was hit in the shoulder by Israeli gunfire. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on that.

(Writing by Dan Williams and Nidal al-Mughrabi;Editing by Alison Williams and Chris Reese)
SAN FRANCISCO  A man accused of breaking into the home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband inhabited a vivid and resentment-fueled world of conspiracy while living a fringe existence even by the standards of the open-minded San Francisco Bay Area.

David DePape, who is in custody and facing charges that include homicide and elder abuse for the attack on Paul Pelosi at the couples home, also appears to have embraced falsehoods about the outcome of the 2020 election and political conspiracies, according to his social media and online posts.

The connection to the election falsehoods promoted by former President Donald Trump and his supporters immediately led many to conclude that the 42-year-old DePape was motivated by politics  though police have not said what motivated him to break into the couples Pacific Heights house calling out Wheres Nancy? before dawn Friday.



This attack is terrifying, and the direct result of toxic right-wing rhetoric and incitement against Speaker Pelosi and so many other progressive leaders, said state Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat who had encountered DePape before the attack. Words have consequences, and without question, the GOPs hate and extremism has bred political violence.

Police said DePape wrestled a hammer from Pelosi inside their home in the Pacific Heights neighborhood and struck him several times. The 82-year-old husband of the speaker was hospitalized but expected to recover.



Until now, the suspect was known to be part of a group of pro-nudist activists based across the Bay in Berkeley.

A photo published by the San Francisco Chronicle, and released after his arrest, shows DePape presiding, fully clothed, over the wedding of otherwise nude activists outside City Hall in 2013.

The paper said he was known as a father figure in a Berkeley group home that included a well known nudist activist known as Gypsy Taub. At the time of the wedding he was identified as a hemp jewelry maker. Wiener told the Chronicle that DePape was among a number of nude activists who protested around San Francisco in 2011 and 2012.



Story continues

In more recent years, DePape has embraced the false claims that the November 2020 election was stolen, reposting on Facebook  in an account since removed from the platform  bogus claims by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and others associated with the campaign.

He reposted a video on YouTube denouncing the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as a farce, according to CNN.

A blog featuring content authored by DePape offers a patchwork embrace of bigoted and fringe topics, including posts that feature anti-Semitic language, allege the existence of a communist agenda in schools and repeat many of the tropes of the online fever dream known as QAnon, which alleges without evidence that leading figures engage in pedophilia.



An archived page from another, now-defunct website also attributed to DePape suggests fury toward the government, the mainstream media and corporate powers, decrying the elites/ruling class and the people who rule you while warning Tech giants and private industry have become so powerful they could single handedly silence the people.

It was enough for many leading Democrats to conclude that toxic political rhetoric was behind the attack, even without authorities disclosing a motive. While the motive is still unknown we know where this kind of violence is sanctioned and modeled, Rep. Jackie Speier tweeted.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after cash was stolen from Fayette Friends of Animals in Fayette County.

According to a post from the shelter on Facebook, all of the cash in their safe was taken on Thursday evening.

The shelter said the robbery will take a toll on them because they are a nonprofit organization.

Anyone who recognizes the person in the photos is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police at 724-439-7111.

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

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

6 people shot outside funeral in Pittsburghs Brighton Heights Four winning Powerball tickets sold in Pennsylvania VIDEO: Live stream inside Pittsburgh funeral captures the moments shots were fired outside VIDEO: RAW: Church member reacts after shooting outside funeral service injures 6 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
The Amazon shoe sale will make you feel great right down to your soles! (Photo: Amazon)

Ask me why Ive got a spring in my step. Give up? Its because Amazon just unleashed a massive shoe sale, but not just any massive shoe sale. As a pre-Black Friday treat, the retail giant marked down all of the cutest, most popular styles by brands that are synonymous with comfort  think Clarks, Crocs, Dearfoams, and Dr. Scholls, to name a few!

And the selection is unreal. There are booties, flats, sneakers, slippers and more, all with thousands of five-star reviews and discounts of up to 50%. They really chose the cream of the crop for this sale. But hurry, because sizes will run out. Give the gift of happy feet this holiday season, and beat the Black Friday rush.

Crocs Unisex Baya Clog

Were starting off strong with a modified take on Amazons No. 1 best-selling shoe. The Baya Clog by Crocs  a best-seller in its own right  takes the unrivaled comfort and inimitable style of the Crocs classic clog and puts a less bulky and more streamlined spin on it. Youll save 40% right now!

Crocs Crocs Unisex Baya Clog $30 $50 Save $20 The Crocs Baya clog for both men and women is contoured to fit the foot as if it were custom-made, and provides such support that podiatrists regularly recommend it. And Crocs are currently on-trend style-wise, too  just ask a Gen Z-er! $30 at Amazon

Dearfoams Fireside Sydney Shearling Fur Scuff Slipper

Is it even a holiday without a pair of Dearfoams in someones stocking? This pair of shearling fur-lined slippers  40% off  has more than 8,500 five-star reviews, and one cheeky fan even wrote, Just call me Goldilocks, because I have finally found a slipper that fits!.

Amazon Dearfoams Fireside Sydney Shearling FurScuff Slipper $45 $75 Save $30 The Dearfoams Fireside Sydney Shearling slippers are an indoor/outdoor style, and theyre as warm and toasty as they look. They also have a padded EVA sole for extra comfort and support, and because theyre sheepskin, theyre temperature-regulated, so you can even wear them in the summer. $45 at Amazon

Dr. Scholl's Nova Sneaker

Save 35% on one of Amazons most popular Dr. Scholls top-rated styles, this slip-on sneaker thats almost too cool to be a comfort shoe. But make no mistake, they are:  Im on my feet all day and these shoes stood the test, one shopper wrote.

Dr. Scholl's Shoes Dr. Scholl's Shoes womens Nova Loafer $53 $80 Save $27 The Nova sneaker has tons of padding and is lightweight with a rounded toe box: a trifecta of comfort! Wear them with anything  even dresses  and enjoy all-day relief for even the most active lifestyles or professions that keep you on your feet all day. $53 at Amazon

Clarks Warren Slip-On Loafer

Looking for a totally gift-worthy winter loafer? This one is big on style and support, and its its got more than 10,000 glowing reviews to prove what a score it is  at 46% off, no less. One fan wrote, This is the best damn shoes Ive ever had. Especially with a heelI literally walk around in it all day at work. It is cute. It is cozy. It is a perfect fit. Even gives me a little bounce when I walk.

Clarks Clarks Emslie Warren Slip-on Loafer $56 $85 Save $30 The Clarks Warren loafer has a tapered silhouette, a button detail and a stacked two-inch heel, so itll elevate any outfit. But its also armed with an Ortholite footbed, full-length cushioning and soft uppers for all-day wear. $56 at Amazon

Easy Spirit Traveltime Mule

This suede/mesh slip-in sneaker is designed to cradle the foot and absorb shock. One reviewer who spends up to 16 hours a day on their feet at work called this shoe a back and feet saver and wrote, Before I started wearing these, my feet would start hurting after about six to eight hours. My back would be KILLING me at the end of the day. It was so bad that I was taking Ibuprofen several times a day. These shoes saved my feet. I can wear them all day, even on my longest days, and my feet do not hurt.

Easy Spirit Easy Spirit Traveltime Mule $47 $69 Save $22 Lets take a look at what makes these Easy Spirit Traveltime mules so incredible. They have soft uppers, removable sock liners to absorb sweat, and cushioned removable insoles. Theyre 41% off right now! $47 at Amazon

Isotoner Terry Ballerina Slipper

Step right up! This best-selling slipper by Isotoner is basically a terry cloth ballet slipper that offers serious comfort. Provide the right amount of fit and support, wrote a shopper. "Feeling improvement in my hips and legs too in walking.

isotoner Isotoner Terry Ballerina Comfort Slipper $14 $24 Save $10 The cozy Terry Ballerina slipper has four-way stretch and comfortable insoles that conform to your feet. They have a rubber outsole, too, so you can wear them outside! $14 at Amazon

Ryka Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe

This stunning sneaker is 33% off and built for people who love to walk a lot. Its also designed to fit a womans unique foot shape. These have been a lifesaver! So comfortable and light but supportive. I wore them on a 3-day trip to Disney and Universal and had no problems with foot pain, wrote a fan.

Ryka Ryka Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe $70 $100 Save $30 The Ryka Devotion Plus 2 walking shoe has patented responsive cushioning for shock absorption + impact protection, and has lots of cushioning, shock absorption and a wide toe box. It also has a lightweight EVA sole. $70 at Amazon

Life Stride Women's Paloma Ankle Bootie Boot

Another bootie to make the list, this Life Stride style gives modified cowgirl vibes with its brown leather and decorative tassel. Theyre great if you want a comfortable shoe that truly doesnt look like it. They are VERY comfortable! I am a big girl and they feel 'safe' and not like a high heel, balancing act :) highly recommend! wrote a pleased customer.

Life Stride LifeStride Paloma Bootie Ankle Boot $48 $80 Save $32 This bootie is a cutie but deceptively comfortable. It has microsuede upper with an almond toe, a soft system made for support and flexibility, a cushioned footbed and a nonslip sole. Enjoy 38% off! $48 at Amazon

Naturalizer Women's Flexy Ballet Flat

This adorable, go-with-everything flat by Naturalizer is 35% off and a customer favorite. Love, Love Love this shoe! Extremely comfortable whether spending the day walking and standing or sitting at my desk, wrote one rave reviewer. The leather is supple, and the rubber soles keeps me from slipping on slick floors.

Naturalizer Naturalizer Flexy Ballet Flat $39 $79 Save $40 These ballet flats are by Naturalizer, so you know theyre made for comfort. Theyre anatomically sculpted to support all the curves of your feet, have lots of arch support and are flexible enough to stay in lockstep with you. And this tan shade is our absolute favorite. $39 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, youll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Looking for more great Amazon style + beauty deals? Check these out:

Beauty

Baebody Eye Gel Treatment $25 $35 Save $10 Amazon

Bellisso Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Set $30 $40 Save $10 Amazon

AquaSonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush $30 $60 Save $30 Amazon

VieBeauti Teeth Whitening Pens $17 $30 Save $13 Amazon

Style

Columbia Women's Switchback Lined Long Jacket $67 $100 Save $33 Amazon

Akk Womens Walking Shoes $46 $70 Save $24 Amazon

Satina High Waisted Leggings $19 Amazon
Embattled Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who decisively lost the Republican primary for Colorado Secretary of State in June, is still stirring up controversy in the final stretch of the 2022 general election season.

Peters, who has been barred from contacting current employees of the Mesa County Clerk and Recorders Office, announced she was stepping down from the Colorado County Clerks Association in a press release dated Oct. 24, in which she bashed the CCCA and its current president, Pueblo County Clerk Gilbert Bo Ortiz.

CCCA Executive Director Matt Crane told the Chieftain that Peters was under an ethics violation filed by another member of the organization that is made up of the 64 county clerks in Colorado. Peters resigned from the organization before the complaint could go to a vote, Crane said.

Ortiz said that Peters letter was misinformation.

2022 election guide: What to know about Pueblo County's top races and ballot issues

Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz in 2020.

Who's surprised that she's twisting the truth? That's what she does, Ortiz said.

Peters did not respond to a follow-up request for comment from the Chieftain.

Without citing evidence, Peters accused the CCCA of colluding with Dominion Voting Systems, the Colorado-based company that most counties in the state contract with for voting equipment and software. Dominion has filed multiple defamation lawsuits against Fox News and conservative figureheads for repeatedly claiming that the company is engaged in election fraud, without proof.

It has been clear for many months now that Tina Peters violated her oath of office and did not live up to the high standards the clerks across the state set for their offices and their staff, the CCCA said in a statement about Peters resignation.

She has admitted as much in public statements and court documents. Her assertions about the association to justify her resignation are riddled with falsehoods and conspiracy theories. Her understanding of the association and how it works is almost as bad as her understanding of how Colorado elections work. Serious people are doing the hard work of conducting elections in November. Tina is not one of them.

Story continues

Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, center, reads the results from the first round of ballots for the 2020 presidential primary elections at the Mesa County election office in Grand Junction, Colo., on March 3, 2020. The countys election equipment has been decertified and will have to be replaced following a security breach allegedly aided by Peters.

Peters' statement referenced recent ballot errors and alleged Ortiz committed potential state and federal crimes. She questioned why the CCCA continues to support Ortiz amid the mistakes that were made under his leadership.

Ortiz became the president-elect of the CCCA in January 2021 and became the president in 2022: before the errors were made, he emphasized.

Ortiz said the ballots that were misprinted in the June 2022 primary election that were not sent to voters were shredded in compliance with the law. He said that the errors under his leadership were errors from him and his staff, as well as the printing vendor, unlike Peters actions.

Why would the CCA want me out of their organization if I made mistakes? Everything she did was premeditated and illegal  the things that happened in Pueblo County were mistakes. There's a big difference between the two, Ortiz said.

While Colorado law stipulates that most election records are retained for at least 25 months, unused ballots may be destroyed after a challenge period. Federal law also mandates that voted ballots with candidates for national offices are retained for at least 22 months and that negligent mistakes from election officials are not a crime.

Peters has been indicted by a grand jury and has pleaded not guilty for multiple felonies and misdemeanors from a breach of election equipment in May 2021. Photos of sensitive election information in Mesa County, including passwords, were leaked to a conservative website. A trial is scheduled for March 2023.

Other election administration errors before the 2021 incident have also been reported: under Peters leadership, hundreds of ballots were left inside a ballot drop-box.

Peters lost in the GOP primary for secretary of state to Pam Anderson, a previous municipal and county clerk who has distinguished herself from other Republicans by asserting that Trump did not win in 2020.

The Peters campaign funded a recount of the primary election in all 64 Colorado counties, which resulted in a minimal change to the final vote counts.

Peters also alleged that Dominion is considering hiring Ortiz after his term ends in January 2023, which he disputed. He said that he has not been contacted by the company for a job.

That's funny, Ortiz said about Peters allegation. I don't know how to write software. I'm a county clerk and Im not even that great at Excel. Dominion needs people that can write programs. That is not me.

Anna Lynn Winfrey covers politics for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com or on Twitter, @annalynnfrey.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Clerk Bo Ortiz disputes 'misinformation' from Tina Peters
A Richland County Sheriffs deputy was fired and arrested Friday after being charged with assaulting an inmate inside of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, the sheriffs department said in a statement.

Nathan Harris was fired after an investigation into an altercation where Harris violently shoved an inmate he transported to the county jail, according to the statement. Harris has been charged with assault and battery in the third degree.

His actions were unacceptable, and I will not tolerate this from any of my deputies, Sheriff Leon Lott said. I hold my deputies to a much higher standard, and anyone who works for me should know that I will hold them accountable for any wrongdoings.

The incident took place on Oct. 24 when Harris, 26, transported inmates from the county courthouse back to the jail. While inside of the Richland County jails pre-booking area an argument broke out between Harris and the inmate, according to a statement released by the sheriffs department.

Harris is then seen on camera violently shoving the unidentified inmate.

He was suspended without pay the next day after his supervisors learned of the incident, according to the statement.

Sheriff Lott ordered an immediate investigation by the departments criminal investigation unit, the sheriffs department said.

The investigations findings were presented to a magistrate who determined that there was sufficient probable cause to issue an arrest warrant for Harris.

Harris turned himself in at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on Friday. He received a $1,087.50 personal recognizance bond.
Oct. 28ROCHESTER  Rochester mayoral candidates

Britt Noser and Kim Norton were asked about what they'd like to see accomplished in 2023.

In the final of a series of questions with video responses, the candidates were asked: What would you like to see established as a primary goal for the city of Rochester to achieve during 2023?

Here's how they responded:
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 16:21

The Ministry of Defence of Russia has blamed members of the British Navy for allegedly having planned and carried out "terrorist attacks" on the Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2 gas pipelines.

European Pravda reports that Ihor Konashenkov, the chief spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Russia, made this claim on Saturday, 29 October.

Konashenkov also spoke of what he called a "terrorist attack" against military and allegedly civil ships in the Sevastopol Bay on Saturday, 29 October.

He claimed that preparations for the "attack" on Sevastopol were carried out under the guidance of members of the British Navy, who are allegedly currently in the Ukrainian city of Ochakiv.

Konashenkov stated that members of that unit of the British Navy had also "taken part in the planning, facilitating and implementation of the terrorist attack in the Baltic Sea on 26 September, blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines."

On Saturday, 29 October, explosions occurred in the occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea  Russian ships were allegedly "repelling drone attacks". The Ministry of Defence of Russia claimed that the Russian minesweeper Ivan Golubets and a barrier in Pivdenna (Southern) Bay were damaged after being attacked by Ukrainian drones.

The defence forces of the south of Ukraine believe that a failed launch of Russian air defence missiles might have been the cause of the explosions.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 23:40

After stopping the country's participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative [an agreement brokered by the UN with Russia and Turkey launched on 22 July to enable ships to transport grain from Ukraine - ed.], the Russian Ministry of Agriculture has announced that Russia is ready to completely replace Ukrainian grain on the world market.

Source: Dmitry Patrushev, Head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, according to information from Kremlin-aligned news agency RIA Novosti and Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza.

Quote from Patrushev: "Taking into account the current year's harvest, the Russian Federation is ready to completely replace Ukrainian grain and to make deliveries at acceptable prices to all interested countries."

"Given that Russia has always been and remains a reliable partner and is ready to provide the world with the necessary amount of food, our country is ready to supply up to 500,000 tonnes of grain to the poorest countries free of charge in the next four months. In particular, we will do this with the participation of our reliable partner  Turkey."

Details: Patrushev also stated that the grain agreement "not only failed to solve the problems of the countries in need, but even aggravated them in a certain sense", since ships from Ukraine were allegedly mainly destined for Europe, which was repeatedly denied by representatives of Ukraine.

Background:

On 29 October, Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the implementation of the "grain agreement" allegedly because of a "terrorist attack" in the Sevastopol Bay on Saturday morning.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia had found a pretext to withdraw from the "grain agreement", and called on the world powers to demand that the Russian Federation stop playing hunger games and return to its commitments.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects a strong international reaction to the suspension of Russia's participation in the "grain agreement", in particular from the UN and the G20.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is ready to supply up to 500,000 tonnes of grain to poor countries in the next four months, with assistance from Turkey, TASS news agency cited Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev as saying on Saturday.

Russia said on Friday that only 3% of food exported under a U.N.-brokered deal to release grain from blockaded Ukrainian ports has gone to the poorest countries, with Western countries accounting for half of all shipments.

Since Russia and Ukraine signed the U.N.-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative in Turkey on July 22, several million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported from Ukraine.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Moscow described the alleged Ukrainian drone strike in the port of Sevastopol as a terrorist attack (AP)

Moscow says it is halting its participation in a grain deal from Ukraine that has brought down global food prices, blaming an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on its fleet of ships in the Black Sea.

Under the agreement, brokered by the United Nations, more than 9 million tonnes of grain were exported, easing food supply shortages across the world.

The Russian defence ministry said the country would suspend implementation of the agreement, claiming Ukraine launched a massive aerial drone attack on its ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea on Saturday.

Without providing evidence, Moscow also accused British troops of directing the alleged strike as well as separately blowing up gas pipelines last month. In response the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia was peddling false claims of an epic scale.

Ukraines ministry of defence declined to comment when approached by The Independent. However Ukrainian officials have denied the accusations. Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, accused Russia of blackmail and invented terror attacks on its own territory following the explosions. Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said Moscow was using a false pretext to block the grain corridor.

The Russian defence ministry called it a terrorist attack. The Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea Initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period, a statement read. The UN said it was in contact with Russian authorities about the decision.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea grain initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people around the world, said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Moscows move came just a day after UN chief Antonio Guterres urged both Russia and Ukraine to renew the vital grain deal which was due to expire in November.

Story continues

Mr Guterres had underlined the urgency of renewing the agreement to cushion the suffering of billions of people worldwide. He also urged other countries, mainly in the West, to expedite the removal of obstacles blocking Russian grain and fertiliser exports. Russias UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia has said that before Moscow discusses a renewal it needs to see the export of its grain and fertilisers in the world market, which has never happened since the beginning of the deal.

Russia said it could no longer guarantee the safety of Black Sea Initiative ships (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine and Russia presented differing versions on the Crimea drone attack in which at least one Russian ship suffered damage in Sevastopol, a major port located on the Ukrainian peninsula which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. The Russian authorities claimed that Russian forces had repelled 16 drones and that a minesweeper had sustained minor damage during a pre-dawn attack on the port.

An adviser to Ukraines Interior Ministry claimed careless handling of explosives had caused blasts on four warships. Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Telegram that the vessels included a frigate, a landing ship and a ship that carried cruise missiles used in a deadly July attack on a western Ukrainian city. Adding to the confusion was unverified footage shared on Ukrainian Telegram channels which allegedly showed drone boats laden with explosives hitting the ships. The Independent was unable to verify either account.
Photo: Contributed

When I was little, many decades ago, Halloween was an important day.

It was a chance to break the rules, stay out late, collect a hoard of candy and eat a bunch of it that night. The only catch was coming up with a costume that made sense in chilly Calgary weather at the end of October.

In my day, we went trick-or-treating door-to-door for hours. We carried pillowcases for our loot, as we called it, and the weight of that load was usually what made us head home.

We did stay warm. I remember one year being a Martian because I had a green winter coat. Green face paint, green leggings and some antennae made from silver pipe cleaners and Styrofoam balls completed my look.

Nowadays, I know trends have changed. Most kids wear commercially made costumes and trick-or-treating is a more targeted activity, happening close to home or even at a shopping mall.

My treat bag was filled with mini chocolate bars, Smarties boxes, bubble gum balls, lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, Rockets, and of course Halloween kisses (remember that molasses taffy?). I also remember the odd caramel popcorn ball with a neighbours name to verify it was safe.

I wondered what it is like in other places. I have been teaching English as a second language online and my students live in many places across the globe. It has been interesting to ask them about the traditions of Halloween where they live.

My student in Mexico City told me many of the treats there are more like small cakes than chocolate bars (think Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes). His favourite is a bar called Bocadin that has a wafer and a peanut filling covered in chocolate.

In Portugal, where I have another student, the custom for what they call The Day of the Witches is for children to receive bread or pastries, or perhaps fruit or nuts. With the climate being different than here, children are more likely get a pomegranate than an apple.

In France and Italy, my students told me Halloween has crept in through the global influence of technology. But the tradition of All Saints Day (on Nov. 1) continues. It is the holiday that is more celebrated, honouring ones ancestors.

On All Saints Day, people visit cemeteries and put chrysanthemums at grave sites. There is often a family feast honouring loved ones who have passed. In Italy, they make a bread with raisins and walnuts that is offered to friends and family.

Being half Scottish, I am interested in Celtic traditions. I am also an Outlander stories fan, so I am familiar with the symbolism of the spring and fall equinoxes and how they are seen as times when the veil between the living world and the other side is thinnest.

The fall equinox is called Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced SAH-win) and it falls this year on Oct. 31.

While you might not be looking for standing stones to transport yourself to another time like Claire in the Outlander stories, you might want to try making soul cakes, the traditional Celtic treat that was offered to the kids as they went door-to-door. In exchange, they offered to say a prayer for souls in Purgatory.

Perhaps you just want to celebrate your own good fortune at the end of this lovely summer season.

Whether you binge on the candy you bought for the kids (wink wink) or you bake a treat to share, thinking of those gone before is, I believe, also a wonderful way to enjoy this transitional time of year.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
The Langeled pipeline is seen being laid into the North Sea. (Getty)

Russia may sabotage a North Sea pipeline from Norway to the UK this winter which would cut crucial supply, it has been reported.

Western intelligence is said to be worried Moscow could target the 5,500-mile Langeled pipeline which transports a fifth of the UKs natural gas supply.

It comes after Sweden and Denmark concluded that explosions caused four leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.

The leaks left areas in mainland Europe with a decreased gas supply after delivery was reduced or halted by Russia due to the damage.

Watch: Underwater footage shows damage to Nord Stream pipeline

Dwindling flows of gas from Russia, which once supplied 40% of Europe's 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.

There are fears Russian president Vladimir Putin could use the energy supply as a weapon as he continues as his war in Ukraine continues to falter.

Sabotage is the next step if they want to escalate by attacking Britain's critical energy infrastructure because we are so fragile, said a NATO source, according to the Mail.

And it's no coincidence that Britain has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers.

Read more: Russia 'running out of ballistic missiles' and no longer targeting Ukrainian bases

Stale Ulriksen, researcher at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, added: As a strategic target for sabotage, Norwegian gas pipelines are probably the highest value target in Europe.

The Kremlin said allegations of Russian responsibility for sabotaging the Nord Stream pipelines were "stupid" and the country's defence ministry has accused representatives of the British Navy of being responsible.

The defence ministry did not give evidence for its claim.

There is fear Russian president Vladimir Putin could use the energy supply as a weapon. (Reuters)

Langeled pipeline operators Gassco are reportedly on a high-security alert after drones were spotted above gas infrastructure in Norwegian waters and a number of Russians were arrested.

Story continues

Sweden has ordered additional investigations to be carried out of the damage done last month to the two Nord Stream pipelines, the prosecutor in charge of the case said in a statement on Friday.

Sweden and Denmark have concluded that explosions caused four leaks on Nord Stream 1 and 2, but have not said who might be responsible.

World leaders have called it an act of sabotage.

Read more: Norway arrests university lecturer suspected of being Russian spy

"I've decided together with the security police to carry out a number of additional investigations at the scene of the crime," lead prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said.

Sweden's armed forces said this week that they were carrying out an independent investigation of the seabed around the leaks with minesweepers.

Nord Stream AG, the operator of the leaking Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, sent a chartered ship to waters off the coast of Sweden to survey the damage for the first time on Thursday.
A womens running group, Red Hot Mamas, organized a run in memory of Eliza Fletcher in Salisbury, N.C. on Saturday morning.

The 5k run began at 4:30 a.m., the same time as Eliza Fletchers last run. The purpose of the run was to honor all women runner victims and to help raise awareness against all forms of violence against women.

RELATED: Eliza Fletcher: Kidnapped, slain Memphis teacher died of gunshot to head, autopsy reveals

Fletchers murder reminded many people of the dangers of running while female. Many female runners take safety precautions such as avoiding running in isolated areas, not running at night and carrying some sort of protection.

Participation in the run was free, those who were able to were urged to donate to the Terrie Hess House for child advocacy.

(WATCH BELOW: Local runners come together in Myers Park to remember murdered jogger Eliza Fletcher)
Australias Michael Hooper in action against Scotland (Robert Perry/PA). (PA Wire)

Glen Youngs second-half yellow card proved pivotal as Australia came from behind to defeat Scotland 16-15 in a dramatic Autumn Test at BT Murrayfield.

The Scots looked on course for a fourth consecutive victory over the Wallabies when they led 15-6 after a couple of excellent tries from Ollie Smith and Blair Kinghorn.

But the sin-binning of Edinburgh lock Young on his first Murrayfield appearance allowed Australia a much-needed foothold and they managed to turn the game in their favour in the closing quarter.

Kinghorn, playing at number 10 following Gregor Townsends contentious decision not to include Finn Russell in the squad, could have won it for Scotland at the end but sent a penalty agonisingly wide.

With the match taking place outside the international window, the Scotland XV was made up entirely of Edinburgh and Glasgow players. Flanker Jamie Ritchie, 26, captained the side for the first time since it was announced last week that he would be replacing Stuart Hogg as skipper.

Australia arrived in Edinburgh under pressure after winning just three of their previous 12 matches, while they had also lost each of their last three meetings with the Scots.

The Wallabies started brightly, threatening the hosts try-line on more than one occasion in the opening 10 minutes.

But it was Scotland who made the breakthrough when Glasgow full-back Smith, making his first appearance at Murrayfield too, received a lovely offload from Kinghorn and darted beyond a couple of opponents before planting the ball down left of the posts.

There were audible groans from the home support as Kinghorn spurned his conversion attempt from what appeared to be a perfectly kickable position.

This aberration allowed the Wallabies to reduce the arrears to just two points in the 15th minute when Bernard Foley kicked a penalty from a central position after Ritchie was penalised at the breakdown.

The hosts were forced into a change in the 24th minute as Sam Skinner went off to be replaced by Young.

Story continues

Scotland should have stretched their lead in the 27th minute when Kinghorn looped a superb pass out to the right for Sione Tuipulotu, but the Glasgow centre dropped the ball just as he looked set to burst over the line.

In the following phase of play, the Scots somehow failed to force their way over the line after a sustained spell of pressure in front of the Australia posts, but the visitors did superbly to hold the ball up.

The Scots were left to rue those moments of profligacy as another Foley penalty from 30 metres out on the stroke of half-time edged Australia in front after Dave Cherry failed to roll away.

But, three minutes after the restart, the Scots got themselves back in front when Kinghorn, under scrutiny as a result of taking Russells place, seized on a loose ball in his own half, kicked it in behind the Wallabies defence and raced on to it himself before kicking it forward again, collecting it just in front of the line and bounding gleefully over for a magnificent solo touchdown.

This time the Edinburgh number 10 made no mistake with the conversion.

Kinghorn then extended Scotlands lead to nine points with a penalty in the 54th minute.

The hosts appeared in the ascendancy and ready to put the Wallabies to the sword, but their momentum was halted in the 56th minute when, following a TMO review, Young was sent to the sin-bin for an illegal entry during a promising Scottish attack.

After an hour, amid a raft of substitutions, Jack Dempsey, who won 14 caps for Australia between 2017 and 2019, was introduced for his Scotland debut, the Sydney-born Glasgow flanker able to take advantage of a recent change in World Rugbys eligibility rules to switch allegiance.

Within seconds, however, the Wallabies made their extra man count when captain James Slipper forced his way over on the right and Foley once again converted, bringing the visitors back to within two points.

Australia got their noses in front in the 70th minute with a Foley penalty.

Scotland had a chance to win it in the last minute, but Kinghorns penalty drifted agonisingly wide.
The Worcester Police are turning to the public for help in locating a missing 14-year-old girl who they said did not return home from school on Friday.

Aniyah Moore, 14, of Worcester was last seen Friday afternoon wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black leggings. Moore is around 55.

If you have information about her location, please call the police at 508-799-8606.

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

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Will Smith, Floyd Mayweather

Despite the Oscars slap controversy, Will Smith will always have a supporter in his friend Floyd Mayweather, who called the King Richard star every day with words of encouragement when nearly all of Hollywood turned its back on him.

In a video from a private screening of his upcoming film Emancipation, obtained by TMZ, Smith recalls the supportive conversations he had with Mayweather following his Oscars debacle earlier this year.

The day after the Oscars, for 10 days he called me every day, said Smith, who pointed to Mayweather in the audience. And he was like, Ay, you know you the champ, right? You good? You know you the champ, right? I want you to hear my voice say it.

Smith concluded, That was every day he called me.  And its like, thats my dude forever right there.

As Oscars viewers know, Smith faced intense backlash this past March when he walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock for joking about his wife Jada Pinkett Smiths bald appearance. The incident, which was broadcast live around the world, has left an unmissable stain on Smiths decorated career as much of Hollywood lambasted the actor for his violent reaction.

Months later, in July, the Men in Black actor released a video via Instagram in which he expressed his regret and issued a public apology to Rock. Ive reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is that hes not ready to talk, Smith said. And when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris: I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and Im here whenever youre ready to talk.

As of yet, Rock has not formally accepted Smiths apology  and he isnt alone.

As previously reported by REVOLT, ESPNs Stephen A. Smith had desired to have Smith portray him in a potential biopic of his own life based on his forthcoming memoir. But that was before the slap. D**mit, it wouldve been Will Smith before the slap, Stephen said in a recent podcast appearance. But I cant go with him now. I cant go with him.

Watch the video below.
DURBAN (Reuters) - Misuzulu, who has promised to unite his nation and protect tradition, was officially recognised as the AmaZulu King by the South African government on Saturday in the first Zulu coronation since 1971.

The official recognition by President Cyril Ramaphosa puts an end to lengthy legal wrangling that mired his succession to the throne -- a battle that has played out in public and the courts.

Misuzulu kaZwelithini, 48, was crowned the king of South Africa's largest ethnic group in a customary celebration in August but required recognition from Ramaphosa to fully access government resources and support.

This certificate of recognition was officially handed over on Saturday at the coastal town of Durban, where tens of thousands of people, mostly Zulus dressed in their traditional attires and carrying shields and clubs, gathered to recognise Misuzulu as the rightful heir to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.

Misuzulu's father, King Zwelithini, passed away in March 2021 after reining since 1971.

"You have picked up the mighty spear that has fallen. May your steady hand guide and bring stability to the kingship of AmaZulu," Ramaphosa said, adding that his government was committed to working with the new king to help transform rural areas into places of prosperity.

King Misuzulu reigns over a divided royal family, with another faction, that includes some of his late father's wives and some of his siblings from the other palaces, recognising King Zwelithini's first-born son Prince Simakade as king.

Misuzulu was chosen as the rightful heir through the will of his mother, the late Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who became interim leader after the death of her husband King Zwelithini. The Queen passed away almost two months after Zwelithini.

"I commit to develop the country and the economy and promoting peace and reconciliation first among the Zulus and also among the South Africans and Africans," King Misuzulu said after taking his oath.

Story continues

The Zulu monarch does not have formal political power but is hugely influential as a custodian of the ethnic group's traditional customs and land.

The king controls vast swaths of land, estimated at about 3 million hectares, in KwaZulu-Natal under an entity called the Ingonyama Trust.

(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Christina Fincher)
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 14:32

The southern defence forces of Ukraine suspect that failed launches of air defence missiles by the Russian invaders could be a reason for explosions in the occupied city of Sevastopol on Saturday.

Source: Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the joint press centre for Operational Command Pivden (South), on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast on 29 October

Quote: "There is no official confirmation yet, but there is an understanding that, if you are afraid of "combat mosquitoes" and use aggressive air defence systems against them (if you try to strike mosquitoes with S-300 missiles), this can lead to the exact opposite reaction.

These missiles have significant destructive power, and they are destroying what is truly at fault in creating this situation. Therefore, failed launches of air defence missiles may well be the reason; we will receive official information later."

Background: Explosions rang out in the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula on the morning of 29 October. Russia has claimed that its ships were "repelling a UAV attack".

There was unverified and unconfirmed information about damage to several vessels of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation.

Later, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly attacked the occupied city of Sevastopol with UAVs at 4:00 on 29 October. They also confirmed that the Ivan Holubets, a sea trawler, was damaged.

Previously: Vasily Nebenzya, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, has said that the Russian occupiers allegedly discovered drones in Ukraine that can "spread mosquitoes infected with dangerous viruses."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Photo: pixabay

With flu season on its way, a record number of British Columbians have received their flu shot this year.

From Oct. 1 to 24, 79,455 people in the Interior Health region were immunized for influenza. IH spokesperson Ashley Stewart says the demand for the vaccine is greater this year than in year's past.

And that trend is being seen across the province. In the first 17 days of B.C.'s influenza immunization campaign, more than 670,000 British Columbians have received their flu shot. This is the highest number the province has ever seen in that timeframe.

The campaign began on Oct. 11 this year, two weeks earlier than usual. Seniors and those at a higher risk of severe illness from the flu have been eligible since Oct. 3.

More than 1.9 million doses of influenza vaccines will be distributed in B.C. for the 2022-23 season, including more than 660,000 doses of enhanced influenza vaccines for seniors.

The shot is free and offered to anyone over the age of six months.

The province says about 43% of people who've received their flu shot also got their COVID-19 booster vaccine at the same time.

In the Interior, 27% of eligible people 18 and older have received their fall COVID-19 booster shot. This mirrors the province-wide average as well.

Those looking to get their own flu shot this year can book an appointment through B.C.'s Get Vaccinated system online, or by calling 1-833-838-2323. Appointments can also be made through your primary healthcare provider or at pharmacies that are offering walk-in appointments.
A man was arrested this month on suspicion of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's apartment and destroying her belongings. His story, which police didn't buy, is far different: He was trying to fight off a bear, he said. Above, an actual black bear in Arcadia in 2020. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A Northern California city council candidate arrested on suspicion of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's apartment said he has a good reason why he's not to blame for the incident: It was a bear's fault.

Kevin Brunner, 30, was arrested Oct. 1 and accused of trying to burn his ex-girlfriend's belongings in her South Lake Tahoe apartment. He faces felony charges of vandalism and arson.

Sgt. Scott Crivelli, a spokesperson for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, said officers were dispatched to an apartment and found Brunner inside. The victim told police that Brunner did not live with her and that some of her belongings had been destroyed, Crivelli said.

"Officers there established that they had probable cause that he did not live there and destroyed her belongings, so he got arrested," Crivelli said.

Yet in an interview with The Times, Brunner maintained his innocence. As he told it, he and his ex-girlfriend were still together at the time, and although his name was not on the apartment lease, he said was staying with her to help take care of her dog. (When The Times asked for his ex-girlfriend's name and contact information, Brunner declined to provide it.)

According to Brunner, he went to her apartment after work because he was feeling sick, and while he was there, he had an unexpected encounter with a bear.

Brunner said that after he heard a noise outside, his ex-girlfriend's pit bull started barking and running throughout the apartment, knocking things over.

The bear then broke a windowpane by the door and entered the apartment, according to Brunner.

"Having to go through that situation, I freaked out," he said.

Brunner said he began throwing objects at the bear, breaking another window. At one point, he said, he tripped and fell through a third window, and cut his hand on the broken glass before collapsing and passing out.

When he awoke, he said, his ex-girlfriend and police officers were inside the apartment.

When asked about the burned items, Brunner said his girlfriend was burning sage earlier, and he denied attempting to destroy any of her belongings.

Story continues

Brunner was released on $35,000 bond and is expected to appear in court again Nov. 14, six days after the election, according to the El Dorado County district attorney's office. He does not have an attorney.

Brunner is running for City Council in South Lake Tahoe, and according to City Clerk Sue Blankenship, he remains on the ballot because he has not been convicted.

Public records show Brunner has a previous felony conviction of spousal abuse from 2013. Brunner said the charge against him was accurate but said he was not aware that he had been convicted or that the case was ever on his criminal record. He would not say what he thought had come of the case.

When Blankenship was asked about the previous conviction, she said that the city "does not conduct background checks on potential candidates" and that candidates are required to disclose felony convictions.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 in Washington, DC. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Students for Fair Admissions wants the Supreme Court to eliminate race as a factor in university admissions.

Affirmative-action supporters say such a move would decrease racial diversity on college campuses.

The Supreme Court will hear the two high-profile challenges on Monday.

For more than four decades, American colleges and universities have sought to make their campuses more diverse by considering race in their admissions processes.

But the Supreme Court may soon deem those policies unconstitutional  a decision that affirmative-action supporters fear, and opponents have long hoped for.

"I represent so many communities in which affirmative action benefits us all the time," Agustin Leon-Saenz, a first-generation immigrant from Ecuador and a sophomore at Harvard, told Insider. "Seeing the possibility of having it taken away would be so absolutely devastating."

Leon-Saenz, along with dozens of affirmative-action proponents, plan to rally outside of the Supreme Court on Monday as the justices hear two high-profile challenges that call for eliminating the consideration of race in university admissions. They and other advocates of the policy argue that affirmative action is about leveling the playing field, granting historically underrepresented groups the opportunity to access a higher education.

"It was never about removing access or prioritizing one certain population group or one student group over any other in admissions," said Leon-Saenz, who serves as a board member of Harvard Fuerza Latina, a cultural affinity organization on campus.

Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit led by conservative activist Edward Blum and the plaintiff in both cases, alleges the opposite: universities are unlawfully giving "racial preferences" to underrepresented minorities, including Black, Hispanic and Native American applicants, at the expense of other groups. Specifically, the organization claims that Harvard discriminated against Asian applicants by using race in its admissions, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discriminated against white and Asian applicants.

Story continues

After both of the universities denied those claims and lower courts sided with them, SFFA turned to the Supreme Court, urging the justices to abolish race as a factor in admissions and to overturn Grutter v. Bollinger, a nearly 20-year-old landmark decision that upheld affirmative action.

"We think that people should be treated as individuals  not on the basis of their membership in a racial group," Wen Fa, a senior attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation who filed a legal brief supporting SFFA, told Insider, calling affirmative action efforts "wrong and pernicious."

The Supreme Court has over the years confronted the role of race in university admissions and repeatedly maintained the constitutionality of affirmative action. But the current 6-3 conservative majority could overturn that precedent.

SFFA claims that universities like Harvard and UNC have over-emphasized race in their admissions policies, violating Title VI the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits private institutions that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, and the Constitution's equal protection clause.

Regardless of their race, students should be allowed to "work towards your dreams and not have the university admissions policy stand in your way just in an effort to achieve a racially balanced class," Fa said.

Racial diversity in colleges and universities could plummet

Experts warn that ending race-conscious admissions policies could have ripple effects for minority students across higher education and beyond, making them less likely to be enrolled in college and eventually enter the workforce. Studies have shown that without affirmative action programs in universities, racial diversity decreases as enrollment rates among students of color decline.

"Even though race does not play a significant factor" in admissions, David Hinojosa, an attorney at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told Insider, "The consequences of it are much more severe because it sends a signal to students of color, despite their high qualifications, that universities don't want them to apply."

Professors say that classroom discussions are more fruitful with a diverse student body, and that problems confronting "21st century America require diverse perspectives," Hinojosa, who will argue the case in favor of UNC's admissions policies on Monday, added.

Some experts say that while admissions processes might dramatically change if the court rules that race-conscious practices are illegal, they don't predict a doomsday scenario.

Colleges will just become more "deceitful and they'll just consider race in other ways without saying so explicitly," Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law, told Insider.

But in practice, ending affirmative action policies at major universities has meant dramatic drops in the number of students of color accepted to those schools. Both the University of Michigan and the University of California, in legal briefs filed to the Supreme Court, say their push to create diverse classes without affirmative action policies  which were banned in both states more than 15 years ago  have largely failed. Just under 4% of the 2021 incoming class of first-year students at the University of Michigan were Black students, the school wrote in its brief. Similarly, about 3.7% of incoming students last year at UC Berkeley were Black.

For Leon-Saenz, tossing out race-conscious admissions will make it harder for schools to achieve diversity. Though Harvard strives toward that goal, Hispanic students account for around 12% of the latest class admitted, though they make up roughly 19% of the national population.

"There is still a long way to go when it comes to equitable admissions," Leon-Saenz said, "We're gonna continue fighting because it affects every member of our community."

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decisions in the pair of cases by June.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The state Health Department warned recently that it was seeing a sharp increase in syphilis cases across the state, urging people to be aware of symptoms and seek out free testing.

Cases are on the rise nationally, too. In the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oklahoma had the fourth highest rate of primary and secondary syphilis  the most contagious stages of the disease  in the country, behind Nevada, Mississippi and Alaska.

Syphilis cases had been steadily rising since about 2000, said William Andrews, public information officer with the state Health Departments Sexual Health and Harm Reduction office.

It had been taking these incremental steps up, he said. But now  we're watching the graph, and it's really starting to curve up sharply.

A number of factors contribute to that increase, Andrews said, including fallout from the pandemic and an increase in methamphetamine use, which can make people take sexual risks they may not otherwise take.

The department has also seen a rise in congenital syphilis cases  which is when a baby is born with syphilis, which could mean serious health problems for the child.

The Health Departments surveillance team hasnt yet finalized 2021 case numbers. Theyre expecting roughly 80 cases of congenital syphilis in Oklahoma  an increase from 53 in 2020. Thats up from just 3 cases in 2016.

Syphilis is an equal opportunity infection, Andrews said, and the Health Department sees syphilis affecting Oklahomans across the state and across demographic groups.

It can resemble other sexually transmitted diseases or even ingrown hairs, but syphilis can have serious consequences if its left untreated. Heres what you need to know:

What is syphilis, and what does it look like?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection spread through contact with syphilis sores during sex.

The infection is sometimes called the great imitator, because it can look like many other conditions, according to the Health Department.

Story continues

The first sign is usually just a small, painless sore at the site of infection, Andrews said. And it's often mistaken for a zipper cut or a shaving bump or ingrown hair.

The next sign is often a rash, generally on the palms of the hands and feet.

Syphilis is most contagious during its primary and secondary stages. Symptoms from primary and secondary syphilis will go away with or without treatment, but without treatment, syphilis can stay in the body for years and cause other health issues affecting the heart, brain and nervous system.

Syphilis can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth. This congenital syphilis can cause blindness, deafness, premature birth or even stillbirth.

For more information about signs and symptoms, visit the Health Department's website.

How do you avoid getting or spreading syphilis?

Syphilis is spread through contact with syphilis sores during sex.

The only sure way to avoid syphilis or other STIs is by avoiding sexual contact, including oral, vaginal and anal sex. For those who are sexually active, you can lower your risk by being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and doesnt have syphilis.

Condoms can also reduce the risk by preventing contact with sores.

Where can you get tested?

Confidential STI testing is available for free at all county health departments in the state. People can also talk with their health care providers about being tested for STIs including syphilis.

Health officials recommend everyone be tested for STIs at least once, and people at higher risk for infection should test more often.

We have got to get to the point where talking about sexual health with your doctor is no different from talking about high blood pressure or diabetes, Andrews said. It is a health issue, and we've got to treat it as one.

How is it treated?

Syphilis can be treated easily in its early stages with a shot of penicillin. Additional treatment might be needed in later stages of the infection.

Its important to get treatment early, because syphilis left untreated can cause a host of serious problems even years down the line.

Its vitally important that people understand the signs and symptoms of syphilis, Terrainia Harris, director of the Health Department's Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Service, said in a statement. Treatment can cure the infection, but it cant undo the damage that has already been done. We need to ensure that people get tested and receive treatment quickly.

Syphilis and monkeypox  what to know

Epidemiologic data has shown that monkeypox infections can co-occur with sexually transmitted infections like syphilis and HIV.

Because of that, people with an HIV or syphilis diagnosis within the last year were added to the list of those eligible for a monkeypox vaccination, Health Department spokeswoman Erica Rankin-Riley said. To see the full list of whos eligible, go to the departments website.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Syphilis cases increasing in Oklahoma. Here's what to know about it
Khary Payton tells Insider he's excited for Henry Cavill's return as Superman. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images, Warner Bros.

Khary Payton has voiced the DC Comics character, Cyborg, for the past two decades.

Payton told Insider he thinks the recent changes at Warner Bros. and DC are "wild."

He said he hopes Henry Cavill's humorous side is able to shine through in his return as Superman.

"Teen Titans Go!" star Khary Payton was surprised to learn director James Gunn is heading up Warner Bros.' revamped DC Studios as co-CEO with producer Peter Safran.

"It's wild," Payton told Insider of Gunn's hiring while discussing the final episodes of "The Walking Dead" over Zoom on Thursday. "Warner Bros. is definitely taking a wrecking ball to everything and building it back up."

Since merging with Discovery earlier this year, WB has canceled its nearly-completed "Batgirl" film, an HBO Max "Wonder Twins" movie, and overhauled a "Green Lantern" series.

Payton is no stranger to the DC universe.

For the past 20 years, the actor has voiced Cyborg across WB's "Teen Titans" animated shows and movies. The eighth season of "Teen Titans Go!", DC's longest-running animated series, recently launched in October on Cartoon Network.

Khary Payton voices Cyborg in the DC "Teen Titans" group across animated series and films. Warner Bros.

"I love James Gunn. Good luck to him because I love DC," Payton said of the director who has made films for both Marvel Studios (the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise) and Warner Bros. (2021's "The Suicide Squad").

"I was a Marvel kid growing up, but I have been a DC guy ever since I moved to Los Angeles," Payton continued. "I became Cyborg in 2002, 2003. So it is close to my heart. All I wanna see is them do good. I'm looking forward to seeing the next iteration."

But Payton shared there was another piece of DC news from earlier this week that made him even happier: the return of Henry Cavill to the role of Superman.

On Monday, Cavill confirmed on Instagram he'll reprise his role as the Man of Steel in future DC films following a shocking cameo in "Black Adam."

"I'm also really excited  I worked with Henry Cavill. When I first moved to LA, we did a horror movie together and way back then we were like, 'That guy's just waiting to be Superman,'" Payton told Insider of appearing with Cavill in 2005's "Hellraiser: Hellworld."

Story continues

Cavill went on to play Superman in 2013's "Man of Steel," 2016's "Batman v Superman," and 2017's "Justice League." Most recently, he appeared in Zack Snyder's 2021 cut of "Justice League." Payton and Cavill briefly reunited in 2018's "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies," where Cavill voiced the iconic DC hero.

This time around, Payton said he hopes fans will get to see Cavill bring more of his own personality and a lightness to the duality of Clark Kent and Superman. In the past, Cavill's Superman has been criticized for being boring and brooding.

"I'm so glad that they're going to continue to have him play Superman because Henry's hilarious. Henry is so funny," Payton said of what others may not realize about the actor. "I think that if they lean into him being kind of that silly Clark Kent that it could  I mean, he's already great. I think that the more they let him play, he's just gonna be awesome. I can't wait to see it."

Henry Cavill as Superman in "Man of Steel." Warner Bros.

Payton may be onto something.

During a live taping Josh Horowitz's "Happy, Sad, Confused" podcast at the 92nd Street Y in New York City, Cavill said: "There is such a bright future ahead for the character, and I'm so excited to tell a story with an enormously joyful Superman."

Everything we've seen so far from Cavill's return in "Black Adam" suggests a lighter, more nostalgic reboot to the character. The film ditched 2013's "Man of Steel" Superman theme for John Williams' classic one. Additionally, Cavill wore a brighter suit, one that the actor picked out himself because of nostalgia.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, work on a "Man of Steel" sequel is currently underway.

Read the original article on Insider
(iStock)

Each year, at 2am on the last Sunday of October, the clocks go back which signals that winter is drawing closer and the days growing shorter.

Although the day that the clocks go back is sometimes considered the good one as people get an extra hour in bed, the system of changing the clocks twice a year can be controversial.

In 2019, the European parliament voted to get rid of the change of clocks after a study found that 84 per cent of people in countries that took part in daylight saving time would like it to discontinue.

However, a YouGov poll found that majority of Britons were marginally in favour of keeping it, with 44 per cent voting to keep the current system and 39 per cent voting to scrap it.

There are also some health concerns linked to the time change, as some studies have shown it disrupts the bodys natural sleep cycles, which can affect both physical and mental health.

So what is the impact of turning back the clocks on our health?

How does changing the clock impact physical health?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the human brain has a biological clock, also known as a circadian rhythm, that runs on a 24-hour cycle.

Whether it is gaining an extra hour or losing an hour of sleep, this causes disruption to the sleep cycle and can be difficult for some people to adjust back to a normal schedule. Disturbed sleep could also potentially lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

A 2019 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital examined the impact of sleep deficiency on heart disease in mice. It found that, after 16 weeks, mice who had their sleep cycles disrupted developed larger arterial plaques compared to the mice with normal sleep patterns.

The sleep-deficient mice also had twice the level of certain white blood cells in their circulation, and lower amounts of hypocretin, a hormone that plays a key role in regulating sleep and wake states.

This appears to be the most direct demonstration yet of the molecular connections linking blood and cardiovascular risk factors to sleep health, said Dr Michael Twery, director of the National Heart, Lunch and Blood Institutes National Centre on Sleep Disorders Research in the US.

Story continues

Losing an hour of sleep during the time change in the spring has been linked to a surge in heart attacks and strokes. In the US, hospitals report a 24 per cent spike in heart attack visits every year on the Monday after the clocks go forward.

Turning the clocks back means an extra hour in bed (Getty Images)

Research has also shown an increase in car accidents when the cars go back in the colder months as drivers adapt to the time change.

According to data by Zurich Insurance, drivers are more likely to have an accident between 4pm and 7pm in November, as the evenings get darker earlier. After the clocks change, the company noted a 10 to 15 per cent increase in accident volumes during that time compared to the rest of the day.

How does changing the clock impact mental health?

When the clocks go back in the autumn, we get an extra hour of daylight in the morning  however, this only lasts a couple of weeks before the days shorten and the sunrise gets later and later.

On the shortest day of the year, 21 December, the UK enjoys less than eight hours sunlight.

The increased hours of darkness can result in low mood and depression in some people, as well as fatigue, muscle pain and weakened bones due to a lack of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Some people also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a result of the shorter days. According to the NHS, SAD symptoms include a persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair or guilt, and sleeping for longer than normal.

The health service says that the lack of sunlight may stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus from working properly, which may affect the production of melatonin (a sleep hormone) and serotonin (a mood hormone), as well as the bodys circadian rhythm.

How do I adjust to the clocks going back?

The clocks have already gone back, but there are some practical things you can do to help adjust if you are sensitive to the change in time.

In a blog post, Dave Gibson, founder of The Sleep Site, emphasises the importance of practicing good sleep hygiene.

Sleep hygiene refers to daily routines and a bedroom environment that promotes consistent, uninterrupted sleep.

Gibson writes that exercising in the morning can help people get to sleep more easily in the evening, and doing things that help you relax in the evening are also beneficial.

Perhaps get your body to relax by having a bath with lavender, or do some stretching or yoga, he says. Finally, in order to help your brain wind down, dimming the lights and reading a book, rather than watching TV, are tried and tested relaxation methods.
By Brian Ellsworth

(Reuters) - As Haiti's gang-induced humanitarian crisis deepened in October, a group of looters ransacked a supermarket in a well-to-do suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince, leading police to arrest over a dozen people and take them to a nearby police station.

They were not there for long.

Within hours, the station in the area known as Thomassin came under a hail of bullets from gang members led by a man named Carlo Petithomme, whose brother had been among those arrested, according to two security sources.

Petithomme goes by the alias Ti Makak, and leads a gang of the same name. They overpowered officers and released the looters as well as others who had previously been arrested, the sources said.

Reuters was unable to contact Petithomme for security reasons.

The brazen Oct. 10 assault, which is reported in detail for the first time here, shocked residents of an area that had been largely shielded from Haitian gangs, a group of which have created a humanitarian crisis by blocking fuel distribution.

While Ti Makak is not directly linked to the fuel blockade, its rise is a sign of how Haitian gangs can quickly evolve from a ragtag band of thieves into powerful warlords who can subvert the rule of law even in the country's stablest regions.

It is further evidence of how gangs have expanded their power since the shocking 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and the difficulties facing Prime Minister Ariel Henry in restoring order to the country.

Most gangs first emerged in the slums near the capital, but residents and merchants left those areas in response, said James Boyard, a security expert and professor of international relations at the State University of Haiti.

"With the aim of having access to new sources of income, the gangs now seek to settle in what were once 'green zones,' to carry out kidnapping and extortion," Boyard said.

Haiti is now held hostage by a gang coalition called G9 led by Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, a former police officer who in September began a blockade of the Varreux fuel terminal, a move Cherizier called a protest over a plan to cut fuel subsidies.

Story continues

Many Haitians, as well as a growing number of U.S. policy-makers, believe that wealthy Haitians finance the gangs to further their own economic interests.

The blockade has left Haiti without fuel, triggering shortages of food and clean water, just as the country is facing a cholera outbreak. The United Nations has discussed a possible strike force to clear the blockade and resume fuel distribution, though it remains unclear who would lead it.

The last major foreign military force in Haiti, a 13-year U.N. mission known as MINUSTAH, was deeply unpopular by the time it ended in 2017 due to credible evidence that its troops caused a 2010 cholera epidemic as well as accusations of sexual abuse of underaged girls.

Gangs are also deeply enmeshed in the civilian population, meaning a standard military assault against them would carry risks of significant civilian casualties.

Haiti's National Police did not respond to requests for comment on the police commissary incident or about Ti Makak in general.

'THREATS ARE NOT EMPTY'

Ti Makak now has a strong grip on Laboule, an area of steep, verdant hillsides to the south of Port-au-Prince, according to residents and security experts.

Since the 1990s, Laboule has been populated by well-off families drawn by the fresh air and sweeping views, some of whom built mansions and luxury homes. Laboule's sub-districts are demarcated by numbers, and Laboule 12 has suffered a significant rise in gang activity. Its streets, which for years teemed with drivers, vendors, and restaurant-goers, are increasingly empty.

In 2021, when gangs took control of the main road heading from Port-au-Prince to Haiti's southern peninsula, drivers began taking Laboule as an alternate route.

Well-known politician Eric Jean Baptiste was killed on Friday night in an apparent gang attack as he was returning to his home in Laboule 12, according to local media reports and a tweet by Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Saturday.

Ti Makak's early activities are difficult to ascertain.

The group began getting attention when a police officer was killed in an anti-gang operation in January in Laboule 12. Local media reported that Ti Makak was responsible.

Around the middle of the year, a local entrepreneur started getting calls from unidentified men who demanded he hand over some of his shop's merchandise at the request of a man described with grandiloquent titles such as "the commander."

The entrepreneur, who for security reasons asked that neither he nor the specific nature of his business be identified, initially thought the calls were coming from neighborhood toughs pretending to have links to crime groups.

But the calls continued, he said, and a group later arrived in person, saying they were linked to Ti Makak. They became agitated when their requests for merchandise and cash payments were rebuffed.

The business has now sharply curtailed its activities due to months of threats as well as the overall situation of the country, said the entrepreneur.

"There's nothing that can stop them, except for God or the angels changing their mind," he said. "If they're coming, they're coming. In Haiti, threats are not empty."

LAND CONFLICTS

Petithomme has remained relatively discreet in comparison with other gang leaders such as Cherizier, who enjoys appearing in public in tailored suits and has even invited foreign correspondents to press conferences.

In an interview broadcast by a little-known YouTube channel called RL Media Pro, a man wearing a cowboy hat and a bandana over his face who identified himself as Ti Makak was asked about the attack on the Thomassin police station.

He did not respond to direct questions about the assault, instead describing the events of that day as an effort to protect peaceful protestors from attacks by police.

"I won't lie to you, if I wasn't quick (to protect) my guys, the majority of my guys would have been victims," said the man, without elaborating.

Petithomme has in the past said his family is from Laboule 12 and that farmers' lands had been taken over by a man named Jean Mossanto Petit, a Haitian entrepreneur who for decades ran a successful lottery business and owns land in the area.

Reuters was unable to obtain comment from Petit.

Disputes over land titles, a chronic problem dating back to Haiti's 1804 independence, erupted in bloody clashes near Laboule 12 around two years ago, according to Fenel Pelissier, a journalist who in October published research on the dispute for Haitian online media portal Ayibopost.

"(Petithomme) didn't live in the area, but he returned when he heard that people living there had sold land to (Petit)," said Pelissier, who spoke with residents in the area but said it was unclear if any land transactions had in fact taken place.

Pelissier said that one official told him that around 60 people have been killed and 100 houses burned down as a result of the conflict.

Ricardo Germain, an independent security consultant, said Ti Makak's rhetorical support for the poor signals that the group seeks, like many Haitian gangs, to win over a population suffering from a severe crisis.

"We can easily conclude that the Ti Makak band seeks to win the hearts of the people, particularly of those people who have been involved in acts of looting during recent protests," Germain said.

(Reporting by Brian Ellsworth in Miami; Editing by Claudia Parsons)
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 16:57

Ukraines anti-aircraft defence forces have shot down a Russian Iskander-K missile, which was targeting the city of Zaporizhzhia.

Source: Operational Command Skhid (East), on Facebook

Quote: "Another cruise missile launched by Russia has failed to reach its target."

Details: Operational Command Skhid (East) reported that a mobile MANPADS unit detected and fired at a Russian Iskander-K missile heading towards Zaporizhzhia on 29 October.

The missile changed course as a result of the Ukrainian strike and landed in an unpopulated area.

The Operational Command said that the MANPADS operator will be decorated for his timely and skillful work.

Background: On Saturday afternoon, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Starukh, announced that Russian troops had again struck critical infrastructure targets in Zaporizhzhia.

Later, he clarified that, fortunately, there were no victims. As a result of the impact, an industrial building was destroyed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  SATURDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2022, 06:39

On 28 October, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated a group of around 300 Russian soldiers preparing for an assault near Maiorsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 29 October

Quote: "As a result of high-precision strikes carried out by units of Ukraines defence forces, a group of 300 occupiers preparing for a new assault was eliminated yesterday in the vicinity of Maiorsk."

Details: The following day, around 60 slightly injured Russian soldiers were hospitalised in Horlivka. Up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and 30 sustained injuries of various severity in the villages of Chervonopopivka in Luhansk Oblast as a result of an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Russian forces have been forced to evacuate injured soldiers to the city of Voronezh by bus as a result of the lack of a reliable air ambulance service, the poorly prepared medical infrastructure in Belgorod Oblast, and the fact that all local hospitals there are already at full capacity.

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Vodiane, Kamianka and Nevelske (Donetsk Oblast). Russian forces carried out up to 25 airstrikes and 4 missile strikes, as well as over 70 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS). More than 35 Ukrainian cities, towns and villages came under Russian fire, including Siversk and Prechystivka (Donetsk Oblast), Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia Oblast), Davydiv Brid and Mala Seidemynukha (Kherson Oblast), and Kobzartsi (Mykolaiv Oblast).

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. There is an ongoing threat of missile strikes from the territory of Belarus, including with the use of attack UAVs.

Story continues

On other fronts, the Russians continued to fire on military and civilian targets:

On the Sivershchyna front : Russian forces deployed mortars and tubed artillery to fire on areas in and around Hai, Khrinivka and Leonivka (Chernihiv Oblast);

On the Slobozhanshchyna front : Russian forces deployed various types of artillery to fire on areas in and around Veterynarne, Dvorichna, Starytsia, Strilecha and Chuhunivka

On the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts: Russian forces deployed mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Berestove, Nevske, Spirne, Olhivka and Novoyehorivka;

On the Bakhmut front: the Russians deployed tank and artillery of various calibres to fire on areas in and around Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Bilohorivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Soledar, Zelenopillia and Yakovlivka;

On the Avdiivka front: the Russians deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Vodiane, Marinka, Novomykhailivka and Pervomaiske;

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts the Russians carried out attacks on the positions of Ukraines defence forces and civilian infrastructure in the vicinity of Velyka Novosilka, Vremivka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne and Pavlivka;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, over 20 cities, towns and villages situated along the line of contact came under Russian fire. Russian forces carried out around 20 UAV sorties in order to conduct aerial reconnaissance in the area.

Russian forces are continuing their attempts to advance on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts.

In the city of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast, soldiers from the Russian occupation forces are abandoning their military uniforms for plain clothes and moving into peoples homes. The so-called "evacuation" initiated by the Russian occupation regime in Kherson continues apace. The Russians are stealing and taking away all medical equipment and medicines from hospitals in Kherson. Doctors who have refused to "evacuate" are banned from entering the hospitals even to collect their personal belongings.

On 28 October, Ukrainian aircraft carried out 24 airstrikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment and anti-aircraft defence systems. In addition, Ukrainian air defence forces struck down two Russian Su-25 attack jets, as well as two Mi-8 helicopters and one UAV. Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck positions of Russian self-propelled artillery systems and other crucial military targets.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Xi stresses rural revitalization in inspections to Shaanxi, Henan

Xinhua) 09:27, October 29, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

YAN'AN, Shaanxi/ANYANG, Henan, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed advancing rural revitalization across the board and striving tirelessly to achieve agricultural and rural modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection trip.

Getting off the train on Wednesday afternoon, Xi headed directly to the village of Nangou in Yan'an by vehicle.

In an orchard there, Xi chatted with local villagers, asking in detail about how they grew apple trees and picked fruits, what species of apple they planted, at what prices their apples were sold, and their income. He also inquired about how the village developed apple planting and other industries.

In a workshop of the village, Xi was briefed on the development of the local apple industry and checked the production line for sorting and packaging apples.

Chatting with villagers outside, Xi said that he lived in northern Shaanxi for seven years. During that time, he saw villagers live in harsh conditions, and he kept thinking about ways to make their lives better.

"Now villagers have jobs and stable income, while children have a good education and the elderly are covered by medical insurance," Xi said. "Lives are getting better and better."

"The changes in northern Shaanxi reflect the changes in China," Xi added.

In governing the country, the CPC must do things for the people and do things well for the people, Xi stressed.

While visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in the city, Xi expressed the hope that the school will uphold the Yan'an Spirit when imparting knowledge and cultivating virtues. In a classroom, Xi asked the students about their ideals and what they wanted to do when they grew up.

Xi encouraged the students to set great goals early and aspire to contribute to and carry forward the socialist cause.

On Friday morning, Xi visited the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, Henan Province. The canal, an irrigation project built on the steep Taihang Mountains, is dubbed the "man-made river in the sky."

Xi said socialism is earned through enterprise, hard work and sacrifice. This has been true in the past and will remain so in the new era, he said.

Walking along a trail, Xi viewed the Hongqi Canal, stressing that the spirit of the Hongqi Canal is consistent with the Yan'an Spirit.

It only takes one generation or two to realize the Second Centenary Goal, Xi said. "We are living in an extraordinary time and should live up to it."

On Friday afternoon, Xi visited the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang.

Observing the bronze and jade wares and oracle bone inscriptions, Xi said that Chinese civilization has a long history without discontinuity and has shaped our great nation. This nation will continue to be great, he said.

Xi called for efforts to build cultural confidence and enhance the confidence and pride of being Chinese.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with local villagers in an orchard in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is briefed on the development of the local apple industry in a workshop in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with villagers outside an apple sorting workshop in Nangou Village of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a campus canteen of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with students while visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, chats with students while visiting a campus of Yan'an High School in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 26, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the memorial hall for Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, views the Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, views the Hongqi Canal in Linzhou City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits the Yin Ruins, remnants of the capital of the late Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), in the northwest suburbs of Anyang, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 28, 2022. Xi made an inspection trip to the city of Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Anyang in central China's Henan Province, from Wednesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Photo: The Canadian Press Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for a second term, attends a press conference after a presidential debate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday.

Pivotal elections in Brazil and the United States will present an early test to Twitter's new owner Elon Musk and his promise to ease up on the platform's policies on misinformation.

Voters in both nations have already faced a torrent of misleading claims about candidates, issues and voting. That torrent could become a deluge if Musk makes good on his vows to roll back Twitter's rules just as millions of voters prepare to cast a ballot.

This is the most critical time for this work, right before an election," said Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at Harvard Law School's Cyberlaw Clinic who has been monitoring the online response to Musk's purchase. Were going to see a test run with the election in Brazil this Sunday, when we'll see how bad things get."

Even if Musk waits until after the elections to make changes, his decision to fire the executive in charge of content moderation raises questions about the company's ability to combat misinformation and extremist content linked to deepening distrust in democracy.

Musk, the world's richest man, hasn't detailed his plans for Twitter, which he purchased this week for $44 billion. But he has called himself a free speech absolutist and has said the platform should tolerate any content that is legally permissible.

That's a threshold that varies widely among countries. In the U.S., it would cover misleading content about vaccines or elections as well as Holocaust denialism and hate speech.

He's also said he disagreed with Twitter's decision to banish Donald Trump after the ex-president's lies about the 2020 election helped spur the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Yet Musk has also signaled that he'd consider some level of moderation, as he did this week when he said he didn't want Twitter to become a  free-for-all hellscape.

On Friday, Musk announced the creation of a committee to review Twitter's policies on content moderation and the reinstatement of suspended accounts. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes, Musk tweeted.

One of Musk's first moves as Twitter's owner was to fire top leaders at the platform, including chief legal counsel Vijaya Gadde, who had overseen Twitter's content moderation and safety efforts.

Gadde's departure is not only a blow to Twitter's current election efforts, but a sign of where Musk may take Twitter, Caraballo said. Musk is also reportedly considering deep layoffs at the company.

Twitter began preparing for the elections in Brazil and the United States months ago. Over the summer, the platform rolled out a series of policies designed to stop the spread of election-related misinformation while also making it easier for users to find trustworthy sources.

Despite sometimes inconsistent enforcement, Twitter at least had rules in place prohibiting hate speech and the most harmful kinds of misinformation. Those guardrails have been shown to be necessary, according to Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a New York-based literary and human rights group.

Our politicians have learned that trafficking in disinformation can pay off big time, Nossel told the AP. Hopefully he (Musk) takes this seriously. Hopefully he's listening and asking questions. If he makes good on some of his more outlandish promises we could be in trouble.

Misinformation can have an even greater impact when delivered right before an election, when officials and independent journalists have little time to push back. Sometimes misleading claims about voting can be part of an intentional campaign to confuse or frighten people into staying home. Other times, it can mislead voters about results.

Brazilians have been bombarded by false political claims ahead of this weekend's presidential election between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Similarly, there's been a significant increase in misleading and deceptive content about the election in the U.S. next month, which will decide control of Congress.

Long-time critics of social media moderation cheered Musk's purchase of Twitter and said it heralded a new day for unfettered online communication.

He has stated he intends to do away with content moderation ... that more speech, not censorship, is the best way to arrive at the truth," said Jenin Younes, litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance.

Eager to test the rules under Twitter's new owner, some conservative and far-right Twitter users on Friday posted conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or the 2020 election. In many cases, however, the content was already permitted even under Twitter's old rules.

I can finally speak the truth on Twitter. Joe Biden did not win the 2020 Election, comedian and far-right commentator Terrence K. Williams tweeted. Yet on Jan. 6, 2021, Williams posted that the election was rigged and blamed liberals for staging the Jan. 6 insurrection. That post remains up.

Musk will have to weigh many factors before deciding how to moderate content on his new platform, said A.J. Nash, vice president for intelligence at ZeroFox, a cybersecurity firm that tracks misinformation. Advertisers, for example, could become reluctant to place ads on the platform if it becomes too extreme, he said.

Musk may also learn that running a platform with 240 million daily users in dozens of nations is harder than criticizing it from the sidelines, Nash said.

It's easy to do that from the stands, Nash said. Let's see what happens now.
The versatile miner can produce any crypto coin to help investors diversify their portfolios



London, Greater London - (NewMediaWire) - October 29, 2022 - Vertrax Miner has introduced a cryptocurrency mining product with the same namesake designed to help people mine a certain amount of cryptocurrencies daily, no matter what crypto they want. The product uses as minimum power as possible and has an easy-to-use interface. With the current high energy prices, this helps give it an edge over other crypto miners. On top of this, it is also compatible with most operating systems. Moreover, this product is to be utilized as a u-b miner, which means the mining product has the same shape and size but different components.

The company created an efficient crypto miner for anyone looking to get started in Mining without breaking the bank. It's designed to be as flexible as an affordable tool to learn much about crypto mining and its hardware.

A spokesperson for the company said, "VertraxMiner is one of the most efficient crypto miners on the market today. We spent over a year perfecting the VertraxMiner. With countless hours of hard work, sweat and dedication, we believe this miner easily performs any possible miner out there. While GPU miners are made for gaming, we created a miner for mining and not gaming!"

The product is ideal for people seeking a passive income to help them achieve the financial freedom they want. It's also perfect for people looking to diversify their crypto portfolio. A lot of the time, crypto miners only mine one type of coin. With the Vertex Miner, they can mine as many different kinds of coins as they want. This helps to reduce volatility risks.

The company representative added, "The Vertrax Miner is a device you can use to mine crypto currency with. It is an incredibly lightweight device, making it easy to utilize, and it only uses a little electricity. We made it affordable so everyone can have a chance mining and earning rewards."

Story continues

The company provides 24/7 Live customer support for all new and existing miners. They will also provide a step-by-step guide for your Vertex Miner to start automatically. The device is built for high speed and completely silent operation. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux OS software. The Vertrax miner comes with a user manual with instructions for easy setup.

People interested in buying the miner can visit the website or contact the company using the information mentioned below.

About the company

Vertrax Miner is a leading cryptocurrency mining product designed with great precision to easily mine different kinds of cryptocurrencies. It is compatible with most operating systems and uses less electricity.

MEDIA CONTACT

Company Name: Vertrax Miner

Email: info@vertraxminer.com
Two Waterbury men are facing numerous drug and other criminal charges after they allegedly unsuccessfully tried to flee police in that city, first by vehicle, then by foot.

Joseph Ferland, 27, was charged Thursday with two counts of possession of narcotics with intent to sell; possession of half ounce of more of cocaine in free base form; illegal possession in school zone; reckless driving, and several motor vehicle violations, police said in a statement.

Ferland was also placed under arrest for an outstanding domestic violence warrant charging him with third-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and violation of a protective order.

He was also served with an additional outstanding warrant for possession of a hallucinogenic substance.

Police noted in the statement that Ferland has several additional outstanding, pending cases, which involve charges for a stolen motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm, narcotics, assault, interfering with police and engaging officers.

Ferland was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

In addition to drug charges, Ferlands passenger, Joshua Morales, 29, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for domestic violence, risk of injury, third-degree assault and threatening, police said.

In addition, Morales is charged with: possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of half ounce or more of cocaine in freebase form, illegal possession in school zone, operation of a drug factory and interfering with the police, the departments statement said.

Morales posted a $300,000 bond and was released pending his next court date.

Officers first spotted Ferland Thursday sitting in an idling grey 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, police said.

Police officers attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop, as Ferland had outstanding arrest warrants. But Ferland reversed the vehicle, striking the front end of a police cruiser and then tried to accelerate forward to evade officers, but sideswiped another police cruiser and struck two unoccupied, parked vehicles, Waterbury police said.

Story continues

After hitting the other vehicles, Ferlands vehicle became disabled, police said.

Ferland and his passenger, later identified as Morales, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but were soon taken into custody by officers in a nearby parking lot on Lakewood Road.

Both police cruisers and the parked vehicles sustained damage during the incident.

The statement says police found the following in the vehicle: crack cocaine; 720 bags of heroin; marijuana, controlled substance pills and $2,930 in cash.
Gennadiy Trukhanov

Among other things, the author of the petition stated that Trukhanov actively demonstrates his loyalty to the invaders. In particular, he mentioned the Mayors refusal to demolish a monument to Russian empress Catherine II in Odesa.

Solving the issues raised in the petition (providing a legal assessment of Trukhanov's activities, possible prosecution of him, deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship, removal from the post for which he was elected) does not relate to the constitutional powers of the President of Ukraine, replied Zelenskyy.

Read also: SBU chief says Russian Orthodox Moscow Patriarchate church in Ukraine is spying threat

He said that letters have been sent to Ukraines SBU security service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with a request to verify the information contained in the petition.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
By Megan Armitage

Vladyslava Zhmuro finds safety and shelter for people when they need it the most and her efforts have led to her being recognised nationally for her work.

A Ukrainian refugee who found solace in Wales, Zhmuro now works for the Welsh Refugee Council to help others find a safe place to live away from home.

To highlight the charity's impressive work, The National Lottery unveiled a showstopping projection created by Ukrainian artist Sergey Piskunov depicting a hyper-realistic portrait of Vladyslava Zhmuro on the building of Royal Albert Docks in Liverpool. Broadcaster Chris Tarrant OBE revealed the portrait during an unveiling at the historic docks which will host the next Eurovision song contest on behalf of this years winners, Ukraine .

The installation forms part of The National Lotterys campaign championing those who are doing amazing things to support refugees and help displaced people across the world, with National Lottery players raising 30 million for good causes every week.

Zhmuro is thrilled with her team's recognition, hoping that their story will help educate others about the work they do. She said: "It's brilliant, it's unexpected and I'm really honoured.

"For me, it's just a big surprise and I feel really good about it.

"I'm definitely proud to be a part of it and I think it's important for more people to know about charities like ours and the work they do.

"Then maybe they would like to donate and change their thoughts about refugees and asylum seekers in general, not just Ukrainians but all refugees and asylum seekers.

"Some people think that people just come here because they want to move to Britain, but some people are just forced to when they would rather stay home.

"So maybe this can change people's perception of refugees in a different way, and I hope it does."

Zhmuro came to Wales in March 2022, finding work at the Welsh Refugee Council and since then has seen it expand and add a specific Ukraine focused team.

Story continues

The Welsh Refugee Council helps refugees find homes and education, supplying English courses and supporting their integration into Welsh society, providing them with protection after fleeing danger.

With an accommodating welcome to her new home in Wales, Zhmuro wants everyone to have the same experience.

Chris Tarrant has helped us to unveil the first installation in our Peoples Portraits series at the Royal Albert Dock. Its part of our UK-wide campaign celebrating the impact #NationalLottery funding has had around the country since it began 28 years ago. #ThanksToYou [1] pic.twitter.com/F0IUOhLE6K  National Lottery Good Causes (@LottoGoodCauses) October 26, 2022

She said: "It's important because many people come here and have lost so much.

"They had a whole life built in Ukraine and now they've lost their homes and everything and so they've come to a different country and often they feel lost.

"So, they are already traumatised by a war but then coming to a different country, it's important to make their lives here as comfortable as possible and give them, not just basic shelter, but also opportunities to rebuild their lives.

"For someone who doesn't have any danger in their life, maybe it's difficult to understand but they need to try and put themselves in their shoes.

"People had to leave their lives and families and maybe lost someone, not out of choice but out of need.

"But Ukrainian people are very grateful to Welsh people for the warm welcome here. Everyone has been really nice and welcoming."

Alongside the projection of Vladyslava Zhmuro, three additional digital portraits have been created by artist Yoniest Chun, depicting the stories of other individuals and projects who have achieved incredible things for their communities and peers in supporting refugees as part of The National Lotterys Peoples Portraits series. These include Mary Lafferty from Omagh Community House, Abdul Bostani from Glasgow Afghan United and Mariia Lata from Yellowscarf in Evesham, West Midlands.
Growing up in Louisa County where he wasnt allowed to say the word cant, Tom Garrett said he never imagined one day reaching the political heights of getting yelled at by the president of the United States from the Oval Office.

Garrett served five years as a state senator for the Lynchburg area in the Virginia General Assembly and represented Virginias 5th Congressional District from Jan. 3, 2017 to Jan. 3, 2019. Speaking at the Amherst County Republicans monthly meeting on Oct. 24 in Madison Heights, Garrett he wanted to leave the world better than he found it through political service.

Emphasizing he wasnt bragging, Garrett referred to his past political monikers as freshman legislator of the year in the state legislature and one of the top two most impactful freshmen in the U.S. House. Speaking candidly about his past issues with alcoholism, he said felt like he was moving down a dark tunnel and didnt know where he was going.

Boy did I think I was special, Garrett said of his political career. But I wanted to be dead.

He decided before he could fix America as a politician, he had to fix himself.

I did not like myself and I couldnt control it, Garrett said of his issues at the time. I got down on my knees and said God, I cant do it. I need your help.

That decision was on May 24, 2018. Several days later, he publicly announced he was an alcoholic and would not seek a second term.

I want to thank God, he told the Amherst crowd Monday. I am a wreck and just so blessed. And the blessings keep coming. Im so grateful to be here, grateful for so many great things in my life.

After that announcement, he said, he didnt know what he was going to do with his remaining time in office, describing himself the least impactful member of Congress.

Ive fallen from the top of the tree and hit every branch on the way down, he said.

Garrett said he hated the political gridlock of Washington, D.C., the back room deals and a system he described as broken and not properly serving the best interests of constituents by holding to campaign promises.

It was his work and experiences overseas far from that environment that brought him fulfillment in striving to help victims of religious persecution.

A member of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Garrett supported efforts to free Petr Jasek, a Christian leader arrested by Sudans Islamist regime while in the country to help persecuted Christians. Garrett said Jasek spent two years in prison for aiding rebels in Sudan, which meant he gave food, medicine and clean water to displaced Christians.

Garrett said he called Jasek to tell him he was delighted Jasek was freed and returned home. Jasek told him his colleagues still were imprisoned, which led Garrett to travel to Sudan and help secure releases of others he said were persecuted for their faith.

In those endeavors, he said, he was told not to go by U.S. officials, including the White House, because of the danger, and his staff did amazing work to get waivers around travel ban issues related to terrorism.

Ive done something that mattered, Garrett said. I was overwhelmed. I had this feeling I had never had.

He said he also was asked to go to Syria and met missionary David Eubank, founder and leader of the Free Burma Rangers, a multi-ethnic relief organization that operates in combat zones. Garrett spoke of his experiences in Nigeria where Christians are persecuted and his involvement in a documentary series called Exile that centers on the plight of suppressed minority groups and those affected by religious and ethnic persecution.

He said the decision was made for the documentary series not to focus exclusively on Christians.

The Christian thing to do is focus on humans, not Christians, Garrett said. Christians care about people. We hope that they become Christian, but I shouldnt ignore the oppressed regardless of their faith.

Garrett said the series is intended to inform audiences, particularly the younger demographics, how fortunate they are to live in America despite its flaws.

When we feel like we might get looked at crosswise because theres a Trump bumper sticker on our car, understand a world where you cant get a job because you worship differently, Garrett told the Amherst crowd.

He said he has been called a racist because of politics but has risked his life to help persecuted groups in Africa and Muslims in Syria.

Every single being has value made in the image of our God, Garrett said.

He said God has given him more than he could ever ask for and he asked what he could do in return.

Aristotle repeatedly said the future belongs to the storytellers. How can God use us? Garrett said. God put me here to do something. Judging people is not on the list but I know whats right and its my job to stand for that.

Garrett said people have asked why he is so concerned with happenings in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa.

To which I respond we should secure our borders, we should educate our children, we should extend opportunity to our citizens, but that doesnt absolve us of the right to give a darn about everybody else, Garrett said.

He said he was on top of the world at the White House Christmas party conversing with a U.S. Supreme Court justice, but that didnt feel nearly as fulfilling as coming out of Syria while struggling to pay the mortgage.

I just know when I finally acknowledged I couldnt do the drinking thing, that I needed help from something bigger than me, it was there, Garrett said. Im just a guy God has given much to.

He encouraged the Amherst crowd to know the next time they have a flat tire to think of a person who has been displaced four times before age 18 because of where they worship.

Fifteen days from now, go vote. It matters, Garrett said. But its all under control.

During his speech, Garrett didnt give his take on the midterm elections Nov. 8 and the race between current Republican Rep. Bob Good and Democratic challenger Josh Throneburg, a contest now of major consequence to Amherst County that is folding into the newly redrawn 5th District for the first time.

I think you will see perhaps the largest House majority the Republicans have ever held, I really do, Garrett said when asked by the New Era-Progress about his take on the midterms. I think theyll take the Senate, but Im wrong so often.

He said he loved serving in Richmond compared to Washington, describing the state legislature more friendly in working across the aisle, based on his experiences.

In Richmond, when I announced I was an alcoholic, three of the first four people to call me and tell me they were praying for me and rooting for me were Democrats, Garrett said. They were my friends. Even if we never voted the same, at least I respected them and liked them and I felt like they felt the same way. And then when it didnt matter, when I wasnt a vote in the Senate, they still cared about me.

In Congress, he said, it helps leadership to not personally know peers across the aisle.

In Washington, theres an industry in vilifying the other side, Garrett said.
Photo: File photo

A Vancouver mortgage broker has been fined $35,000 after it was found she had facilitated unregistered mortgage broker activities and submitted misleading borrower information.

According to a public notice posted to the BC Financial Services Authority website, Ksenia Ivanova committed multiple breaches of the Mortgage Brokers Act between January 2018 and April 2019.

Among those were failing to meet, receive information from, or take instructions from the borrowers herself; accepting the personal information of borrowers from another person for the purposes of obtaining mortgage financing on their behalf; and obtaining documents and information, including notices of assessments, general income tax and benefit returns, confirmation of employment letters, and paystubs to support the borrowers mortgage applications.

Jonathan Vandall with the Registrar of Mortgage Brokers said Ivanova submitted misleading borrower income information in respect of 11 mortgage applications, by submitting altered documents  including Canada Revenue Agency documents, or misleading information based on those documents.

The findings said borrowers annual income was significantly overstated in mortgage applications. In one case, by $298,000 and in another by $254,000.

"The amount by which the borrowers annual income was overstated in the mortgage applications, as supported by altered financial and income documents, was significant," the notice said.

As part of the penalties, Ivanova is not allowed to apply for registration under the act for 10 years. If and when she is registered under the act, Ivanova must have two years supervision.

She was also ordered to pay investigation costs in the amount of $19,958.64.

Much of the case revolved around another individual unnamed in the decision that Ivanova described as a financial advisor or an accountant. Vandall said Ivanova accepted personal and financial information of most of the borrowers from that person.

In early 2019, Ivanovas brokerages manager advised her to stop taking referrals from the person and that the brokerage would be auditing her files. She was advised to conduct more due diligence.

However, Ivanova continued to accept referrals from the individual and decided to leave that brokerage and join a new one.

Ivanova acknowledged the person was not only referring her business, but also providing her with all the information and supporting documents for each file he provided to her.

Ms. Ivanova did not question any of the information or supporting documents (the person) provided to her and simply submitted the information and documents to the lenders, Vandall said. Ms. Ivanova did not conduct sufficient, or any, due diligence.

The notice said Ivanova paid the man a commission of usually 20% of her net commission in cash or gift cards.
Hello from SOLAS, and welcome to the next chapter of cats, cats, kittens!

This week, we have a very special cat to feature. Say hello and welcome to Rascal. He is a 7-year-old Himalayan cat with a permanent grumpy face! But do not let that grumpy face fool you, hes a lovebug. He loves everyone and loves to cuddle. He has been around other animals in his past life, but would prefer a quiet home. He does have to have special food and has one eye that was born cloudy, but that doesnt slow him down any. He can see just fine. It just makes him unique and special. Can you provide this special boy a perfect home? Just let us know! He is currently in foster care and available now.

Next are a pair of equally special young cats. Meet Milo and Otis. Otis is outgoing and loving, while brother Milo is still shy but getting there. Found as young kittens, they need no more adventures, just a forever home, together or as singles.

Milo and Otis are located at one of our wonderful partners: Humane Pet Services on Valley View Drive in Council Bluffs. This is a wonderful business that allows us, and other rescues, an extra place to show our animals. We are very grateful to them and would love it if you stopped by and visited! Give our cats a hug, get your dogs nails trimmed (by appointment) and check out their great selection of pet merchandise.

Speaking of partners. We also want to remind everyone that most Saturdays, SOLAS has cats and a volunteer at PetSmart in Council Bluffs from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This allows us to assist you with answering questions and doing the adoption paperwork. It also allows more shy cats the opportunity to come to visit and see how they like the atmosphere at the pet store before coming for an extended stay in their cat cages.

The rest of the week, SOLAS usually has cats in the cages at PetSmart. The PetSmart employees can assist with adoptions. If you are looking, we suggest coming on Saturday or early in the week, as the cats go fast here!

Last order of business is while we have received some donations, for which we are EXTREMELY grateful, we are still quite short on kitten chow, cat chow, wet food and clumping cat litter. We would greatly appreciate any and all donations. The easiest way to donate is to purchase off the Amazon wish list below and let the Amazon drivers take care of the heavy lifting!

As always, all SOLAS animals are fully vetted and microchipped prior to adoption. If you want to help, SOLAS always needs volunteer fosters, or you can donate supplies through our Amazon Wish List at tinyurl.com/solaslist or donate via PayPal at paypal.me/solaspetadoption. Contact info@solaspetadoption.org for info on volunteering, adoption or anything else. You may also call us at 402-577-0213.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand announced he will hold a news conference in Council Bluffs Tuesday to announce a plan for a hiring initiative to address a shortage of accountants.

Sand will speak at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Center Reiver Room at Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road. Iowa Western officials will join Sand to discuss potential opportunities the initiative might create.

Employers across the country are being affected by the shortage, a press release from Sands office stated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 17% fewer Americans employed in accounting and auditing compared to 2019.
Morocco has dedicated its strategic commitment to the development of its Southern Provinces and has made the promotion of the welfare and economic progress of its Saharan regions a major objective, a Spanish Think-Tank said.

According to the Spanish think tank and research center, Coordenadas Institute for Governance and Applied Economics, this objective overlaps with the countrys development plans.

With the aim of accelerating the development and socio-economic integration of its southern provinces, Morocco launched an ambitious $8 billion project in 2015, the Institute specified in a note presenting a study by its North Africa Working Group.

The New Development Model for the Southern Provinces [] revolves around infrastructure. The Tiznit-Laayoune-Dakhla highway, the fishing port of Lamhiriz and the port of Dakhla Atlantic stand out for this purpose, the study notes.

The development program also provides for the creation of a maritime freight line between Casablanca and Dakhla, the establishment of nautical links between the Canary Islands and Tarfaya and between the Canary Islands and Laayoune, the document argues.

It notes that the construction of a University Hospital in Laayoune and a Technopolis in Foum El-Oued are also included in this development program, demonstrating the great commitment of Morocco to the region and its inhabitants.

Moroccos objective is to make of this region the logistical and economic bridge between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, note the authors of the study, assuring that by the end of 2018, 48% of the objectives had already been achieved, giving a strong perceived impetus to the socio-economic dynamism, increasing the creation of businesses, jobs and attracting investment.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani commended the crucial role played by Morocco in the stability of the Mediterranean.

In a tweet, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Tajani welcomed, during a phone talk with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, the crucial role played by Morocco in the stability of the Mediterranean, especially in the fight against terrorism.

Tajani, former president of the European Parliament and member of the government coalition party Forza Italia, was appointed last Friday to lead the Italian diplomacy.

Morocco and Italy had concluded, in November 2019, a declaration of multidimensional strategic partnership which provides for maintaining a permanent and in-depth dialogue on all sectors of common interest, including the fight against terrorism and international crime.

This instrument of cooperation also provides for deepening dialogue and cooperation in the legal and migration field.

Rome and Rabat have repeatedly stressed the quality of their relations and their shared desire to boost bilateral cooperation in various areas and give a new dynamic to exchanges.
Congolese army clashed with M23 rebels around a strategic highway in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday (27 October), following a recent flare-up between the two sides.

The M23, a mostly Congolese Tutsi group, resumed fighting in late 2021 after lying dormant for years. It has since captured swathes of territory in North Kivu province, including the strategic town of Bunagana on the Ugandan border in June. The groups resurgence has destabilized relations among Central African countries, with the DR Congo accusing its smaller neighbor Rwanda of backing the militia. The frontline between Congolese troops and M23 rebels had been calm in recent weeks until Thursday, when clashes erupted again. Last Sunday, M23 fighters captured the village of Ntamugenga located around RN2, a strategic highway leading to the provincial capital Goma, and the fighting between soldiers and the M23 has since spread to the highway itself.

The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), a respected violence monitor, also said that M23 activity had cut access to a portion of the highway. The militia is occupying at least three other settlements which all lie on the highway. The M23 first leapt to prominence in 2012 when it briefly captured Goma before a joint Congolese-UN offensive drove it out. The militia is one of the scores of armed groups that roam eastern DR Congo, many of them a legacy of two regional wars that flared late last century.

Despite official denials from Kigali, an unpublished report for the United Nations in August reportedly pointed to Rwandan involvement with the M23. The same report said the M23 plans to capture Goma, an important trade hub of about one million people, in order to extract political concessions from the Congolese government.
The Ugandan government is under pressure to bring an escalating Ebola outbreak under control, with health experts saying its response to the outbreak has been slow and inept, allowing infections to spread.

Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng announced last Wednesday that six schoolchildren in Kampala have tested positive for the virus, bringing the number of infected people in the capital city to at least 15  just days after the government had insisted there were no infections in the capital. Aceng said that the children were likely infected by a man who travelled from one Ebola-hit district to Kampala and died there. We were able to get this cluster, plus one other, because of the ministrys vigilance in contact tracing and field case management, she said.

However, health experts have criticized the governments response to the outbreak as slow and inept due to logistical failures, distrust towards the state, and reluctance to impose restrictions after Uganda endured one of the longest Covid-19 lockdowns in the world.

The government first confirmed an outbreak of the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus on 20 September in Mubende District, 145km from Kampala but the virus has since spread to seven Ugandan districts in total, infecting 109 people and leading to 30 deaths, according to Aceng.

Yet, it took Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni almost a month to finally announce a three-week lockdown on 15 October in two of the most-affected districts and put Kampala, the capital city, on high alert in a bid to contain the virus. It is the fifth time Uganda has experienced an Ebola outbreak since the turn of the century. An outbreak in the year 2000 killed more than 200 people. Experts say that the government has struggled to contain this outbreak in part due to a failure to quickly trace contacts and keep them under observation, as well as a failure to involve traditional healers in helping the authorities with early detection of sick people within communities.
The Nebraska Army National Guard has added to the atmosphere of growth in North Platte with the construction of a new vehicle maintenance shop.

The Field Maintenance Shop at the North Platte Airport brings state of the art improvements to the Guard for vehicle maintenance. The current shop was built in 1955 to support Jeeps and 5-ton trucks. The new facility will support 60 over-the-road 18-wheel trucks, 120 trailers and multiple cargo trucks and Humvees.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the facility will greatly enhance the work the Guard does for the state far into the future.

It is a culmination of at least 18 months of construction plus work before that to be able to get to this point, Ricketts said. Having just taken a tour of it, I can tell you this is a world class facility.

Ricketts pointed out the Nebraska National Guard participates in protecting American liberties around the world.

But equally important is the missions here in our state, Ricketts said. Weve seen that over the last several years.

The governor referenced Guard work during widespread flooding in 2019 and during the pandemic, applauding those efforts.

Sen. Mike Jacobson spoke about the Airport Authority Boards work to set up the opportunity for the Guard to lease 41 acres of airport property. Jacobson was a member of the board prior to being appointed to serve as the District 42 senator.

The facility is 24,800 square feet, four times larger than the currently building across from Cody Park along U.S. Highway 83. The cost to design and construct the shop was $9.6 million and was a 100% federally funded military construction project.

The building was designed not only for immediate needs, but also has the potential for future expansion, said Ryan Wittstruck, project manager with the Nebraska Military Department, Construction and Facilities Management Office.

There are six large maintenance bays able to support large trucks and trailers, Wittstruck said. The trucks will be able to pull through the maintenance bays without having to back up as they do at the current facility.

The Field Maintenance Shop is one of six in Nebraska and is responsible for Army equipment in North Platte, McCook and Broken Bow. It is additionally responsible for any Army vehicle that has maintenance requirements while traveling in their region of Interstate 80.

Davis Design did the design work and Perry Reid Construction did the construction.
On Thursday, Auburn Police arrested Kendrick Cortez Brown, 26, of Opelika, in connection to an incident that occurred in April of 2015.

Police said the investigation began on April 3, 2015, after a victim reported a sexual assault and burglary that occurred in the 800 block of West Longleaf Drive.

The case remained under investigation and police said they received the results from the forensic evidence in October 2022 which identified a 25-year-old defendant from Opelika.

Police said because the defendant was a juvenile when the crime occurred in 2015, the name will not be released. This defendant was arrested on Tuesday.

As additional evidence developed, Brown was identified as the second offender, according to the police report.

Brown and the first defendant were each charged with sodomy first degree, robbery first degree and burglary first degree.

Both defendants were transported to the Lee County Detention Center and are being held without bond.
Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world.

Putin predicted that the Wests Undivided dominance over world affairs is coming to an end.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a conference of international policy experts that the world is facing the most dangerous decade since the end of World War II.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the world faces the most dangerous decade since World War II and predicted that the historical period of the West's "undivided dominance over world affairs" is coming to an end.

Speaking on October 27 at a conference of international policy experts in Moscow, Putin said the decade ahead is "probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and, at the same time, important...since the end of World War II."

Putin laid the blame for the situation at the feet of Western countries, which he said have cast aside the norms of international affairs in order to maintain dominance and hold down countries they see as "second-class civilizations."

The Russian leader also said he had no regrets about sending troops into Ukraine and sought to explain the conflict as part of the efforts by Western countries to secure their global domination.

Putin claimed in his speech to the Valdai Discussion Club, a think tank, that the West had helped incite the conflict and also seeks to stoke a crisis over Taiwan in an attempt to enforce global dominance.

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest military conflict in Europe since World War II and driving relations with Western countries that back Ukraine and its drive to be part of the European Union and NATO to their lowest depths since the Cold War.

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 is partly a "civil war," he said, as Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Kyiv has flatly rejected both of those ideas.

The goal of what Russia refers to as a "special military operation" is to take the eastern Donbas region, Putin said, adding that in his view the region would "not have survived" on its own had Russia not intervened militarily in Ukraine

But the war has gone far beyond the Donbas region, with Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and other nonmilitary structures, killing tens of thousands of Ukrainians across the country.

Putin used the speech largely to rail against the West, saying it has nothing to offer to the world "except its own domination," and the goal of globalization "is neocolonialism to dominate the world." He said Russia is only trying to defend its right to exist in the face these Western efforts.

Putin also asserted that more and more nations refuse to follow Washington's demands and Russia will never accept the West's attempts to dominate the world.

Citing gay pride parades and the acceptance of transgender people in Western countries, Putin also defended "traditional values" and said "nobody can dictate to our people how to develop and what society we should build."

He also said Russia has never considered the West an enemy and has many things in common with it but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neoliberal elites.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Putin's speech presented no new ideas.

"We don't believe that Mr. Putin's strategic goals have changed here. He doesn't want Ukraine to exist as a sovereign, independent nation state," Kirby said.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Putin's speech can be described as "for Freud," referring to psychoanalysis founder Sigmund Freud.

"The person who invaded a foreign country, annexed its land, and committed genocide accuses others of violating international law and the sovereignty of other countries? One truth: The person who started a wind will get a storm. The storm is coming," he said on Twitter.

Answering questions from journalists after his speech, Putin reiterated the Kremlin's assertion that Ukraine plans to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory. The claim has been dismissed as false by Ukraine and its allies, who say Russia may have raised the matter because it plans to use such a bomb in Ukraine as a pretext for escalation.

"It was me who ordered [Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu to inform by phone all his colleagues about it," Putin said, adding that Russia does not need to use dirty bombs in Ukraine.

Putin also said he supported plans by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Ukraine's nuclear power plants for inspections.

"It must be done as soon and as openly as possible because we know that Kyiv authorities are now working to cover up such [dirty-bomb attack] preparations," Putin said, without giving any exact information proving the claim.

Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities after the Kremlin made its unsubstantiated claim about the preparation of a dirty bomb -- which would use the explosion of a conventional warhead to spread radioactive material or chemicals over a wide area.

Ukraine said it would welcome inspections because it had "nothing to hide."

According to Putin, Russia has never talked about the use of nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine despite his own promise to defend Russian territory with any means at our disposal" and saying his words were "not a bluff."

"We see no need for [using nuclear weapons in Ukraine]," Putin told reporters. "There is no sense for that, neither political, nor military."

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The site is now owned by Computer Power Center LLC, a crypto-mining company registered in Kyrgyzstan 2019.

For more than two decades, 80 tons of dangerous chemicals have sat in disused Kristall.

Even after he retired in 2019, chemical engineer Suidumbek Kalmurzayev remained preoccupied by the fate of his former workplace in Tash-Kumyr, a Kyrgyz city that sits at the gateway to Central Asias Fergana Valley and is known locally as the graveyard of factories.

I used to say to him: Whats it to you? Leave that factory well alone, Kalmurzayevs widow Uububyu Kalmurzayeva told Eurasianet during an interview at her home.

He would say that Tash-Kumyr was sitting on an ecological time bomb. He tried until the end to find out where all the money went.

Kalmurzayev died last year after a brief illness, leaving behind a trove of documents and press cuttings connected to the Soviet-legacy Kristall polysilicon factory where he was the last employee.

But the time bomb he referred to with regularity is still ticking.

For more than two decades, 80 tons of dangerous chemicals have sat in disused Kristall, which once transformed volatile compounds into materials for semiconductors and was slated to become one of the biggest plants in the world of its type. In the age of microchips and solar panels, its output would have been in high demand.

Instead, neglected and ignored by the government, residents fear these corrosive chemicals are now slowly leaking out into the local environment, spelling ecological catastrophe for both the city and the wider region, including the populous Fergana Valley below.

Kalmurzayev began working at Kristall as a foreman in 1985 and later became a production manager.

Over the years he saw the site constantly divided into different sections with different companies in charge as Kyrgyzstans political tides shifted, with two presidents felled within five years of each other during the second decade of independence.

The site is now owned by Computer Power Center LLC, a company registered in Kyrgyzstan 2019.

Its director, Maksat Oskonbayev, confirmed that it now hosts a crypto mining farm, although he claimed that the rigs arent currently running.

During a meeting in Tash-Kumyr, Oskonbayev claimed that he is not allowed to access the territory and that the large vats of chemicals are not the companys responsibility since they are owned by a separate firm called Tash-Komur Silicon Production CJSC (TSP), from whom Computer Power Center LLC acquired the land and building three years ago.

Everybody knows that there is poison in these tankers, residue in the pipes. We raised these questions [with the state property fund] right after we bought the plant. Everyone knows that we wont get any investors here until the issue is resolved, said Oskonbayev.

Computer Power Center LLC is Chinese-owned, Oskonbayev said, without providing details.

The shifting of responsibility for the chemicals has been a pattern at the plant, which has mostly stood idle after being prepped for privatization in the wake of the Soviet Unions collapse in the early 1990s.

According to a 2012 report by news website 24.kg assets on the territory were from 2007 onwards controlled by Belize-registered companies linked to then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyevs son Maksim Bakiyev and his business partner and former classmate Alexey Eliseev.

These years were the most productive during independence for the factory, which began producing polycrystalline silicon in line with world standards.

But at 750 kilograms in 2009, annual output was well short of the 165-200 tons that the new investors were setting as their ultimate target.

The following year brought bloody revolution, nationalization and accusations of mass embezzlement and worse aimed by the new regime at the fugitive Bakiyevs and their associates.

Kristall was declared bankrupt, placed under external administration and kept in standby mode with a skeleton staff.

Initially unaddressed was the fate of the large tanks of trichlorosilane, a clear liquid that is both flammable and corrosive enough to separate muscle from bone.

In 2011, the government under Prime Minister Almazbek Atambayev allocated 6.4 million soms ($152,000 at the time) to deal with the problem. A former colleague of Kalmurzaevs, a scientist who requested anonymity, showed Eurasianet government documents dated from May 23, 2011, that confirmed the order to dispose of the chemicals.

But the money was never used for its intended purpose.

The lifespan of the tanks is only 12 months, but theyve been standing there for 20 years, the scientist said.

There are huge risks of the rusting tanks exploding during the middle of Tash-Kumyrs summers, when temperatures regularly rise over 40 degrees Celsius, or in winter, when fierce winds batter the area, the scientist added.

If that happens, the air, earth and water will be poisoned. There will be tragic consequences not only for Tash-Kumyr and Jalal-Abad, but for the whole region.

Tash-Kumyrs new mayor, Kelsinbek Bektemirov told Eurasianet that local authorities are ready to get involved in the waste disposal effort if funds are forthcoming.

During an interview in his office, both Bektemirov and his deputy cast doubt on the crypto mining firms claim that the chemicals in the tanks are still the responsibility of TSP  the Bakiyev-linked company that was nationalized.

Computer Power Center LLC agreed to take on all assets when they concluded the deal, the officials have said.

Leaks at the site  albeit small ones with no visible effects on the surrounding area  have been reported in the past.

Back in 2017, Tash-Kumyrs prosecutor received complaints about a leak at the plant and requested government inspections. In response, the Jalal-Abad region Interdistrict Court ordered the destruction of the chemicals under specialist supervision. But no work has taken place to this day.

Bishkek-based activist and photographer Vlad Ushakov, one of the co-founders of ecomap.kg, a map of environmental stress around Kyrgyzstan, was able to enter the plant in 2020 and document what he said were signs of the leak and a slapdash attempt to fix it.

You can see from photos inside the plant the poor condition of the tanks. You can see where somebody tried to caulk the pipes. If the authorities continue to ignore the problem, Tash-Kumyr will face an ecological catastrophe, Ushakov said.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A man was taken into custody Friday evening near Elmwood Park after a safety alert was issued for the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Dodge Street campus.

Officers went to a home near the park in response to reports of a suicidal male in the area who may have been armed, Omaha Police Lt. Neal Bonacci said. Officers took the man into custody without incident.

Officers also responded to a report of an active shooter at UNO's Thompson Alumni Center but did not find anything, Bonacci said.

A public safety alert issued by UNO just before 6 p.m. stated that there was possibly a person on or near the Dodge Street campus who was armed, suicidal or both. Staff and students were urged to avoid the area. A final alert just before 7 p.m. stated that an individual was in custody and normal campus activities could resume.
Prosecutors in Texas detailed a bloody crime scene at a home in the Houston-area town of Humble a day before a 17-year-old got into a high-speed chase in Nebraska along Interstate 80 with his mothers body in the trunk.

Tyler Roenzs dad, Manfred, had come home at noon Oct. 13 to find his black Mazda 3 missing from the driveway and a human tooth and trail of blood leading from the garage to the master bedroom, where there were at least four more teeth on the carpet in a pile of blood.

Michelle Roenzs purse and cellphone were still there.

Manfred Roenz tracked his wifes phone, which showed she had come home at 10:15 a.m. But the information after that had been deleted and the phone turned off.

Thats when Manfred Roenz called 911.

The prosecutor, Harris County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Keith, said investigators found other suspicious signs. Motion-activated clips taken from video surveillance footage showed Michelle Roenzs vehicle pulling into the garage, the Mazda 3 no longer in the driveway at 11:22 a.m. and then the Mazda pulling out of the driveway at 11:44 a.m.

Investigators tracked Manfred Roenzs credit card, which had been used at gas stations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas before the vehicle plate was scanned a few minutes west of Lincoln at about 1:45 p.m. Oct. 14.

Following a law enforcement alert issued in Texas, Nebraska state troopers tried to stop the car on I-80 near Grand Island. After a high-speed chase that lasted about 9 miles, Roenz tried to slow down, but the car hit the back of a semi and left the road, hitting a tree in a ditch, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Troopers found Michelle Roenzs body in the cars trunk. An autopsy showed she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.

Tyler Roenz was taken to a hospital in Grand Island, then Omaha for his injuries, but was released last week and taken to the Hall County Jail, where hes being held without bond on a warrant out of Texas in his mothers death.

On Friday, he made his first court appearance by video, during which Hall County Judge Arthur Wetzel set an extradition hearing for Nov. 30.

Investigators believe that the violent attack on Michelle Roenz was unprovoked and that her son put her body in the trunk and headed north not knowing where he was going.
Kanye West, now known as Ye, in New York on Sept. 12, 2022. The German sportswear giant Adidas cut ties with the rapper and designer over his antisemitic outbursts and other provocations. (Nina Westervelt/The New York Times)

Again, Im hearing the exasperated buzz in the air over a long-nagging question: What are we to do about Kanye?

Except recently the question has changed in tune with the new name that Chicago-born hip-hop and fashion superstar Kanye West has legally adopted, Ye.

Advertisement

What are we to do about Ye?

Teen Vogue Editor in Chief Versha Sharma responded to that question in an early October op-ed directed to the fashion media: Stop covering Ye without criticism.

Advertisement

I know Im not alone in feeling like the not-so-new Kanye is, in many ways, a betrayal of the old Kanye, she said as an admitted longtime fan, something even he has acknowledged.

Im way older than Sharma, but you dont have to have grown up with Yes music to feel the loss.

The question was hardly a new one for journalists covering a performer as eccentric and headline-hungry as Ye. Remember how many people were upset by his breaking away during a live TV fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina to ad-lib, (George) Bush doesnt care about black people.

Not nice, I noted at the time. Even if you didnt like all of Bushs policies  and I didnt  Yes little protest struck me as whiny and ill-timed.

But Yes strange outrages had only begun.

For example, there was his interview with Forbes in 2020, in which he warned against the coronavirus vaccine, citing the bogus conspiracy theory that it could be used to implant microchips.

Later, Ye was sued for $250 million by the family of George Floyd for saying he died of a drug overdose rather than murder by cop.

But this month, his assaults against public sensibilities picked up steam. During Paris Fashion Week, he showed up wearing a White Lives Matter shirt in his runway show.

Advertisement

Whats wrong with that, you may ask? Nothing, if youve been vacationing on the moon for the past couple of years. But on this planet, the message came off as a clear attack ridiculing the movement to improve policing practices. Even the simpler message All Lives Matter sounds less like a poke in the eye of the liberal establishment, although thats probably what Ye had in mind, too.

By contrast, its not really clear what Ye had in mind with his more recent outbursts of bigoted and rambling rants on social media, in which he said he intended to go death con 3 (sic) On JEWISH PEOPLE, and during interviews on podcasts and with Fox News Tucker Carlson.

Those are worse than simply hurtful comments, particularly at a time when hate crimes are on the rise in Chicago and nationally. We need more clarity in our language about race, religion and ethnicity, not just reckless rants.

Hate crimes in Chicago are up by 71%, particularly those based on race and religion, with Black people and Jewish people the top targets, said Nancy Andrade, chair and commissioner for the citys Commission on Human Relations.

Nationally, the FBI reports that Jews, who constitute about 2.4% of the total adult population in the United States, were victims of 54.9% of all religiously motivated hate crimes, particularly for Orthodox Jews wearing visible symbols of their religions.

I take some encouragement from the erase-the-hate-style backlash that has begun to emerge, as modest as the famously cheeky marquee of the Wieners Circle hot dog stand on Chicagos North Clark Street. With more hot peppers than a fully dressed Chicago-style wiener, it said: Kanye can suck our kosher dogs.

Advertisement

To paraphrase the Temptations, I second that emotion.

What about his mental illness, many ask? Ye has been quite public in the past about his bipolar condition. Indeed, he looks and sounds like his mind is somewhere else in his offensive rants. But thats not an excuse. Its a plea for help. I hope he gets it.

Meanwhile, closer to Yes wallet, so many of his partnerships for Yeezy brand sneakers and other products fled that he lost his billionaire status, according to Forbes. Adidas ended its partnership, followed by Gap, Foot Locker and other brands totaling $2 billion worth of business. Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech, the company said.

Sure, its easy to shrug off such decisions as PR moves or, as the far-right would say, woke gestures.

But if respect for human rights and decency are good for business, thats a good reason to have more of it.

Sign up here to receive Clarence Pages columns by email as soon as they are published.

Advertisement

cpage@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @cptime
Nebraska volleyball remained at No. 3, while Creighton rose three spots to No. 18 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday.

For the eighth week in a row, Texas (14-0) remained in the poll's top spot and received all of the first-place votes. The Longhorns swept Kansas State and defeated then-No. 18 Baylor in four sets last week.

Louisville (17-1) also kept its place at No. 2 after defeating both Virginia Tech and Wake Forest in four sets.

Coming in at No. 3 for the fifth straight week, the Huskers swept then-No. 14 Penn State and Northwestern to stay atop the Big Ten standings.

Husker middle blocker Bekka Allick was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for her performances last week.

Nebraska (16-1, 8-0) returns to action this week with a Top-25 matchup at No. 12 Purdue on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast on BTN. The Huskers will also take on Illinois Saturday at 6 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. BTN will also broadcast the match.

In total, seven Big Ten teams are in this week's Top 25. They include: No. 3 Nebraska, No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 9 Minnesota, No. 12 Purdue, No. 13 Penn State, No. 25 Michigan.

After pulling off a reverse sweep against the previously highest-ranked team in the Big East, Creighton (16-3, 8-0) rose three spots to No. 18, breaking a three-week streak at No. 21.

The Bluejays took on then-No. 16 Marquette last Friday in a matchup between the Big East's two ranked teams. CU's five-set win gave the Jays sole possession of first place in the conference standings. Creighton also defeated DePaul in five sets on Sunday.

For their performances last week, middle blocker/right side hitter Kiana Schmitt and outside hitter Ava Martin received Big East weekly honors on Monday. Schmitt was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career, while Martin was named Big East Freshman of the Week. It was Martin's third conference honor in four weeks.

Creighton and Marquette remain the lone Big East teams in the Top 25. The Golden Eagles dropped three spots to No. 19.

Creighton returns to action this weekend with a match at Villanova on 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a Saturday match at Georgetown at 4 p.m.

Rankings

Ranking, school, points (first-place votes)

1. Texas, 1,600 (64)

2. Louisville, 1,530

3. Nebraska, 1,469

4. San Diego, 1,396

5. Wisconsin, 1,299

6. Ohio State, 1,281

7. Stanford, 1,225

8. Pittsburgh, 1,179

9. Minnesota, 995

10. Georgia Tech, 989

11. Florida, 927

12. Purdue, 891

13. Penn State, 766

14. Baylor, 663

15. Washington, 645

16. Kentucky, 621

17. BYU, 614

18. Creighton, 576

19. Marquette, 462

20. Oregon, 443

21. Rice, 293

22. Pepperdine, 233

23. Western Kentucky, 206

24. Houston, 117

25. Michigan, 111

Receiving votes: USC, UCF, Arkansas, Washington State, Towson, LSU.
NORMAL  Steep some tea, light some candles and pop your favorite holiday snacks.

Autumn is here, and so are all the fun fall activities. The Destihl Brewery and Beer Hall in Normal got rustling with them Saturday for its Autumn Fest.

Amanda Stephens, the brewerys event specialist, said while they run "makers markets" about once a month with around 32 vendors, Saturday was more of a festival environment for people to have fun, eat and drink. Around eight vendors attended.

She said when they planned the fest, they thought it could be cold outside, but it instead turned out to be a beautiful, warm day.

Other planned items included pumpkin painting, a costume contest, face painting by The Zoo Lady, a caramel candy apple bar and a hot dog stand, plus music by Kyle Yap.

Bloomington married couple Angela and David Raffety attended with their costumed pug named Chug, who wore a pumpkin sweater.

David Raffety said they love checking out fun events around town and trying new food. Angela Raffety said she planned to sample some apple cider slushies, and give it all a try.

While outdoor markets and festivals at Destihl are wrapping up for the year, Stephens said upcoming indoor events include a Dosvedanya Day from Nov. 18-20, and then a Christkindlmarket Dec. 10-11.

She said theyve usually just done a one-day Christmas market with vendors, but have added a second day this year, plus a hot cocoa bar and a cookie decorating station.

Fresh wick

One regular vendor returning to Destihl was Farm to Wick, which offers DIY candle-making classes. Amy Manahan, co-owner of the Stanford-based business, said they set up their tutorials at private homes or for businesses, and they work great for birthday parties, teens nights out, and teambuilding exercises.

She said theyve been in operation for about one year and have tabled other events at Crafted, Mackinaw Valley Vineyard and Rader Family Farms.

Manahan, of Shirley, said she and her best friend, Alice Long, started the business after discovering a similar one out of state, and they wanted to bring it home to Central Illinois. She said they previously worked together in the ag industry.

Long, of Stanford, said her family has been farming for three generations, and all their wax is sourced from Midwestern soybeans. She also said they ran a candle bar at a wedding reception, and the guests loved it.

They stock around 65 mixing scents for people to choose from, and price classes at $25 per person. The candles take about 40 minutes to dry after mixing scents.

Long said its exciting to see what people can mix up, from one candle to the next.

Two of Brittany Borchardts daughters, including 2-year-old Katie Borchardt, made their own candles. The Bloomington mother said she loved that there was a hands-on activity for her kids to do and take home afterward.

Sweet pops

Handmade caramel popcorn was sold at the fest Saturday by Pop of the Morning. Dahinda owner Jake Bowman said its made with a 100-year-old caramel recipe his family brought over from England.

He said they use soft caramel thats tempered at a high temperature, giving the popcorn a sheen and crunchy bite.

It also preserves the popcorn for a month, which is perfect, Bowman said.

He also stocked a caramel-apple popcorn flavor. He said its designed after caramel apple suckers he would get as a kid, even though back then, he preferred getting candy from trick-or-treating.

Now as I got older, I started to develop a taste for it, and then that's where this flavor came from, he said.

Bowman said the apple green color really pops.

Tea time

Peorias Saturday Morning Tea Co. tabled the Autumn Festival, too. Owner Misty Wilson ran her booth with sister Katrina Wilson, and served apple cider slushies as a special treat.

She said her best-selling tea mixes include Mermaid Kisses, with butterfly pea flowers that turn the water blue; a Jasmine-peach green tea; and a holiday-spiced orange tea for Christmastime.

For fall flavors, Wilson offered Pumpkin Harvest Tea with pumpkin spice.

She said theyll be at the 3rd Sunday Market at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. Wilson said her business is in its second year, and Saturday was a good day to be out.

It's been a beautiful day, she said, and we've been so lucky this season with the weather holding out through this late in the year that we can still be out.
BLOOMINGTON  On Sunday, Oct. 28, 1962, the world sighed in relief as Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev announced that the Soviet Union was removing its nuclear missiles from Cuba.

For two weeks in October '62, when the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, the United States, the Soviet Union and the Republic of Cuba were on the brink of nuclear war.

While Cuba was a player in the Cold War and eager to retaliate against the U.S. for interfering after the revolution that brought President Fidel Castro to power, Castro and his party acted mainly as pawns of the Soviet Union.

Mike Quinn of LeRoy was 18 years old and in the U.S. Air Force at the time. He was stationed in Florida at Homestead Air Force Base.

He remembers it like it was yesterday.

"Bases were immediately put on lockdown," said Quinn, now 78. What followed were 14 days of tension, protests, saber-rattling, secret negotiations and, finally, peace.

Over the years, Quinn has done extensive research into the Cuban Missile Crisis. "I do feel like it's something that needs to be brought out into the open. It's something everybody should be talking about, it really is," he said.

Background

The Soviet Union had been supplying Cuba with equipment and personnel throughout 1962. The U.S. Air Force had been flying U-2 jets, high-altitude spy planes, over Cuba and tracking equipment movements.

The equipment photographed was assessed to be Soviet surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). These weapons, according to the CIA, are used to destroy objects in the air like enemy planes or inbound missiles.

At the time, Cuba claimed it needed the sites for air defense, something the U.S. took as a threat to its U-2 flyovers.

CIA documents from the time show there were days in Oct. 10 to 13 when weather forecasts were "unfavorable" for U-2 flights over Cuba.

The U-2 flight on Sunday Oct. 14 produced the first images of Soviet mid-range ballistic missiles in Cuba.

According to a CIA memorandum, President John Kennedy's Cabinet urged swift, decisive action. Kennedy, however, wanted to know more and ordered more observation of the island.

'Touch-and-go situation'

The ballistic missiles in Cuba, once installed, would have been aimed at the U.S. and used for deterrence or retaliation in the event of an attack, according to declassified CIA documents.

In order to defend against this, the U.S. had its own missile systems meant to target enemy planes and missiles along the Gulf of Mexico in places like Florida and Alabama, Quinn said.

As part of a guided missile defense system at Strategic Air Command Florida, Quinn said, "If they wanted to fire (defensive) missiles, we had less than five minutes to get that missile up in the air."

"During the actual crisis," he said, "we had 12-man squads. We were in a bunker, underground. The place is a 12-foot square, and I sat at the front of the bunker, in front of a console."

He listed all of the surface-to-air missiles at the base: "There's Nike Hercules, Nike Zeus, Nike Ajax.

"At the time, the Nike Hercules could shoot down any missile that Russia had," Quinn said. His were the Hercules missiles.

Quinn said he was so familiar with them, "I could take them apart and put them back together in my sleep."

Ronald Baker, 89, was a pilot in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise during the crisis. The Enterprise was part of the 160-ship quarantine that surrounded Cuba, preventing any Soviet vessels from reaching the island.

"It was a touch-and-go situation at the time. Thanks to President Kennedy, nothing came of it  but very easily could have," said Baker, who left the Navy in 1964 and now lives in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Baker, part of an A4D fighter jet squadron, said they were prepared to strike their target with six aircraft. "The six aircraft were loaded (as) such: two had three napalm bombs, two had three rocket pods (24 rockets) and two had 18, 250-pound bombs."

He said, if ordered to strike, they would go in groups: napalm first, bombers second and rockets last. They were also equipped with 400 rounds each of 20 mm cannon ammunition, he said.

"Making a complete 180 turn, all six (aircraft), passing over the target again, would strafe anything that might still be a target," Baker said. "Fortunately for Cuba, we never had to go."

Quinn's missiles were nuclear-tipped. "That's why you didn't have to hit the missiles," he said, "you just have to get close. Could you imagine that?"

Baker said, "I can't remember how many times we were ordered to man our aircraft only to be told to stand down and return to the ready room.

"After a while it became a joke," he said. "We began giving ourselves medals for each time we had to man aircraft only to be told to stand down again."

'A crazy time'

John McCone was the director of Central Intelligence during the crisis. Declassified Top Secret documents written by McCone detail how the U.S. knew that the missiles were Soviet in origin, that they were nuclear and what their extreme striking ranges were.

There were missiles that could travel almost 1,200 miles, and fears there could soon be missiles capable of traveling over 2,500 miles. This would encompass all of Central America and most of North America, including most of the lower 48 states.

CIA documents show that the Soviet Union intended to move dozens of missiles onto Cuba in an attempt to destabilize American presence on a global scale, not only by creating a direct threat to national security but also to prove the United States' inability to enforce its will on the world stage.

Quinn believes that Cuba's goal was more direct. Through his research, he thinks Castro wanted to use Soviet weaponry and tactics to invade the U.S.

Quinn said schoolchildren were instructed to hide under their desks in case of a nuclear attack, but didn't see any relevance in it. "That's just to kiss your butt goodbye," he said, "because what are you going to do?"

Baker said he was also trained to deploy nuclear weapons. "We had special white helmets with a special visor that if you looked at the sun it appeared as a pinpoint of light," he said. "We had special thermal, white, insulated flight suits with white gloves and white boots."

He said, "We always had two aircraft loaded with nuclear weapons on the hangar deck while deployed and the pilots were briefed and rotated daily."

"It was a crazy time," Baker said.

Quinn said that, in order to bring the Soviet Union to the negotiating table, the U.S. needed a bargaining chip. So, on Saturday, Oct. 27, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, the president's brother, met with the Soviet ambassador.

"Kennedy was told Khrushchev would take the missiles out of Cuba if we would take our missiles out of Turkey," Quinn said.

It was highly classified information at the time that the U.S. had ballistic missiles deployed in Turkey capable of striking Moscow.

Quid pro quo. Tete-a-tete. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

"When Bobby Kennedy took that information to John Kennedy, John Kennedy said he would accept it if Khrushchev would take his planes out of Cuba, too," Quinn said. "Khrushchev agreed."

'The good lord intervened'

"You know, I fear a nuclear war," Baker said. "I fear an Armageddon. We have all seen the devastation and destruction of Japan."

In August 1945, the U.S. dropped two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The bombs built since then are hundreds of times more powerful.

Quinn said that, at the time, the world was simply grateful that war was avoided. They didn't know how, though.

"For 20 years I just figured the good Lord up above intervened because they both said 'we're not doing (backing down)'."

He said, "I spent 12 days  down in that bunker. Just waiting for something to happen."

"When Khrushchev finally said he was taking (the missiles) out, I just figured the good Lord intervened," he said.
NORMAL  Amanda Egges parents set the stage for her interest in voting by taking her with them to the polls.

Votings been a huge part of my life since I was little, she said.

Novembers election will be the first in which she is old enough to vote. The Normal West High School senior planned to register at school, through a program set up by the Normal West social studies department and the McLean County Clerks Office.

Having the chance to register at school makes the process easy and convenient, said Hannah Gaff, another Normal West senior who planned to register at school. She said she would still be finding a way to get registered if she was not able to do so at school.

Voting is very important for me; I would still make it happen, she said.

Senior Hailee Cawood also stopped by the table to register earlier this month. She was able to use online registration on her phone and said she did so because she felt it was important and that her family regularly talked about politics.

Normal West social studies teacher Tony Berardi has been a registrar for the county since the late 1990s, he said. He estimated he has helped around 200 Normal West students register to vote since then.

While they have some kids who are not interested in politics and just echo what they hear, a lot of students are invested in elections, he said. He also runs a mock election at the school, which tends to closely mirror the results of the actual election.

For the most part, most of the students find it cool, they want to do it, Berardi said.

Building lifelong habits

Parents taking their kids with them to vote is one of the best ways to help them build a lifelong habit of voting, said Harriet Steinbach, assistant director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Illinois State University. Another way is for parents to go with their kids the first time they vote.

For others, colleges and universities like ISU try to step into that role.

I like that we get to support them, we can help them with registering, Steinbach said.

Fall is a busy time for her and her staff of interns and a graduate assistant.

It was my dream that from when students come back to campus, we are talking about the election, Steinbach said.

Interns and staff from the Center for Civic Engagement have been tabling and giving presentations to help students get ready for the election.

Illinois Wesleyan University has also been getting students registered and ready for the election, said senior Rachel Williams, the civic engagement commissioner for IWUs Student Senate.

Getting students registered to vote was a big priority for us this year, she said.

The goal is to get students engaged in voting and to make it a priority.

To a lot of students, voting isnt really a priority; we have a lot going on in our lives anyways, Williams said.

Williams decided to run for her Student Senate position after seeing the work past commissioners had done, and knowing the midterms would be this fall.

At Heartland Community College, staff members want to be sure students have the information they need to decide to vote, or not, said Sarah Diel-Hunt, vice president of enrollment and student services.

We want to make sure that students feel informed not only about the issues, but also the process, she said.

It is important for a community college to encourage civic engagement because of its ties to the local community, she said.

We are obviously very interested in it because our students come from the community and stay in the community, Diel-Hunt said.

Informing students about elections goes beyond getting them registered, Steinbach said. ISU has created an online guide to help voters learn about the candidates and issues.

Really, you should be informed about who is on the ballot and what are your values, what is important for you, Steinbach said.

Learning the process

Young adults, and even high school juniors and seniors, can also get involved in the election by working as election judges and student workers.

Gaff was a student worker during the primary election and said she would encourage other students to consider doing it as well.

Its a cool opportunity for high school kids, she said.

Both the McLean County clerk and the Bloomington Election Commission said they have had young adults and high school students work on Election Day in the past. Having high school students has really just been in the past few years, since Election Day became a state holiday, said BEC Executive Director Luke Stremlau. The students have the day off anyway and get $200 for their work.

Theres no real reason not to do it, he said.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said her office sees the most interest from students during the gubernatorial and presidential elections. Her office works with schools to make sure students know about the opportunity to work as election judges.

Both election organizations have judges set for the Nov. 8 election, but welcome others to join them for the possible primary in February and the spring election next year. Illness or emergencies can create a need for substitutes as well.

We can have them do online training and be ready to serve should we exhaust our wait list, which happens nearly every election, Michael said.

Participating can be a great chance to learn more about the electoral process, Stremlau said.

Ninety percent of Americans have really no idea how an election actually happens, he said.

Heartland student Servetka Bekirovski said being a student worker during an election when she was 17 helped her learn about the voting process.

I just wanted to see what it looked like to vote, she said.

She is one of the co-presidents of Heartlands Political Science Club, along with Andria Merkle. The group wants to get people interested in the political process, club treasurer Brad Bray said.

They and other club members attended a Ballots and Bagels event last week to learn more about the election. The event was hosted by the Student Government Association and Student Leaders in Community and Civic Engagement, partnering with the League of Women Voters of McLean County.

Hunter Spencer is another member of Heartlands Political Science Club and also works in the county clerks office.

The work we do is so vital to our democracy, he said.

Those older than high school age can also benefit from learning more about the process, Stremlau said. He invites people to stop by to meet the BEC staff and learn more about elections.

Those interested in becoming election judges or student workers for Election Day can find more information on the McLean County Clerks website and the Bloomington Election Commission website.

For young people who are interested in and engaged with politics, voting can be an important marker of adulthood.

The first day I went to vote, it was the happiest day of my life, said Brandy Gomer, vice president of Heartland's Political Science Cub.
BLOOMINGTON  Following uncontested victories in both party primaries, the race for 46th Illinois Senate District in the general election is looking to be closer than years prior.

Democratic incumbent state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, has held the seat since 2006, while Republican candidate Desi Anderson is seeking office for the first time. Both ran unopposed in the June primary, with just over 11,000 votes each.

Ive enjoyed being in the Senate, said Koehler, 73. I enjoy doing constituent services, meeting people in communities (and) trying to help out; thats my role, is that Ive become the helper of the community. If people have issues with the state government, I help them get to the right place (or) help try to get somebody who will be able to answer their questions.

The district, which was redrawn in 2021, now covers portions of Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and McLean counties along Interstate 74. This a big change in a constituency that elected Koehler with almost 54% of the vote in 2020.

Anderson, 35, a former congressional intern for U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, owns The Hesed House Venue in Heyworth, together with her husband, Nick. They have a young son, which Anderson said made her motivation to run a family decision.

Anderson, who resides in Carlock, has focused her campaign on providing better services for families and issues related to tax increases, criminal justice reform and small businesses.

I think people are feeling optimism and excitement for change, and this is what we need for the 46th District, she said. The question is, after 40 years of Peoria politics, is Peoria better off? Is Central Illinois better off? And a lot of families are asking themselves that question, and theyre saying no.

Anderson said if elected, one of her first priorities would be work toward repealing the criminal justice reform legislation known as the SAFE-T Act. She noted that it has been the subject of recent lawsuits from state's attorneys in the region, including those in Livingston and McLean counties.

Lets get every professional opinion from law enforcement all the way down to the states attorney level, and lets have a say in it, Anderson said. I think thats a huge concern; people are not understanding why the SAFE-T Act is going to take place.

Koehler, who voted for the legislation, said its language to be clarified. Widespread misinterpretation surrounding the topic has caused people to worry more about crime in their communities, he said, when in reality the law would keep the worst offenders behind bars.

The federal court system doesnt use cash bail in the same way, so we need to emulate what they do, and all were talking about is that somebody ought to be risk assessed as to whether theyre a threat or whether they might flee, Koehler said. "We're trying to do some reform in a responsible way and we do need to go back and make some corrections on that, but it's a sound piece of legislation."

Koehler said Illinois economic circumstances have improved in the past four years under Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democratic majority in leadership, highlighting the states total debt of $16 billion before Pritzker stepped into office compared to today, when bills are paid on time.

We gave $1.8 billion back to taxpayers in terms of refunds; we put aside $1 billion for a rainy day fund and we havent had that for a long time, Koehler said. We paid off all the (backlogged) health care bills; we put an extra $500 million into a pension payment over and above what our normal payment was; thats going to save millions of dollars down the road.

Anderson said higher taxes and crime have made the region and the state as a whole unfriendly for businesses to start and grow.

Businesses are still trying to recover from COVID. How do we continue to provide support, and one way is by cutting the taxes, the red tape and encouraging entrepreneurship, but small (business) growth is not going to happen in a city that has high crime, Anderson said. People just want to invest, and really thats the route we need to go on.

The candidates also differ in their opinions about whether the Illinois Constitution should be amended to enshrine workers' rights to unionize and collectively bargain. The measure, known as the Workers Rights Amendment by supporters and Amendment 1 by opponents, is also on the November ballot.

Anderson said she comes from a pro-union background but does not support the amendment, which she believes would lead to higher taxes and give union leaders more power over state government.

"We have a unique position. My husband was a laborer. My father-in-law was part of the union. Were pro-union, and most people are shocked to hear that our family comes from a union background, she said. The reality is we don't want to increase our taxes, and thats what Amendment 1 really does at the end of the day, and thats my view on it, but we will continue to advocate for what is right. I believe everyones got a voice at the table.

Koehler said he is a strong supporter of the amendment and voted to have it put on the ballot as a constitutional question because it provides long-term protections for workers rights.

We are a strong union state, and the result of that is that we have a thriving economy, we have workers that make head-of-household incomes that they can feed their family and pay rent with, and we have a work-ready workforce, Koehler said. We have a good work ethic in Illinois and all that is worth protecting.

Election Day is Nov. 8, and early voting is now open. McLean County residents outside of Bloomington can find more information about early voting at mcleancountyil.gov/1226/Elections.

For Bloomington residents, information can be found on the Bloomington Elections Commission website at bloomingtonelectionsil.gov.
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Oct. 29, 1922: Miss Estella Harmel, of Pekin, and a graduate of the Wesleyan law school in Bloomington, has won the prize of a $300 set of Corpus Juris law volumes offered by the American Law Book company for answering 160 legal questions correctly. This contest was for Illinois. In recognition of this ability, the book company has offered Miss Harmel a position in the editorial department. It is further said of Miss Harmel that of 500 who took the bar examination, she passed the most creditably.

75 years ago

Oct. 29, 1947: Postmaster Carter Pietsch has ordered enough Christmas stamps to put a half-inch coating of glue on every tongue in Bloomington. Most popular with the Christmas trade are 3 cent and 1 1/2 cent stamps, and the postmaster said that he has ordered 1,000,000 issues of the former and 600,000 issues of the latter. While these stamps will also be sold for the normal mailing business during November and December, a large majority will end up on Christmas greeting cards.

50 years ago

Oct. 29, 1972: St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Chatsworth is planning its centennial celebration during the week of Nov. 6. Evidence of the founding of a congregation in Chatsworth is indicated on records that show Pastor J. Kern baptized two children in November 1871 and 30 children in 1872. The congregation was organized and adopted its first constitution in 1879; it was known as St. Martini. The name was changed and constitution revised in 1880. The constitution said only the German language would be used.

25 years ago

Oct. 29, 1997: Four Twin City organizations will help plan and benefit from a formal gala co-sponsored by the mayors of Bloomington and Normal next year. Bloomington Mayor Judy Markowitz and Normal Mayor Kent Karraker announced the Mayor's Charity Ball and its recipients  the Boys and Girls Club, The Baby Fold, the Community Cancer Center and the scholarship fund at Heartland Community College. Markowitz said the hope is to raise between $80,000 and $100,000.
CHICAGO - There are no shiny black solar panels on the roof of his condo building, but Paul Dickerson is enjoying the benefits of clean energy just the same.

Dickerson, 73, of Oak Park, has signed up for what is known in Illinois as community solar  a program in which residents subscribe to nearby solar farms, reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions and receiving discounts on their electric bills.

Brandishing charts of their electricity costs during a recent interview, Dickerson and his fellow members of the buildings green committee, Elaine Johnson and Art Spooner, said theyre all paying less with community solar, as is their 28-unit building, which is saving about $40 a month on electricity for its common spaces.

Try it, youll like it, Dickerson said. Youll save money and youll feel good about saving the planet  at least a little bit.

Increasingly popular in Illinois, community solar was pioneered on the West Coast in the mid-2000s as a way to bring clean energy to the many American households  almost 50% by some estimates  that dont have access to solar panels, often because residents cant afford them, dont own their homes or dont get enough sun on their roofs.

The solar energy in community solar doesnt actually flow into your home, but it flows into your areas power grid, providing electricity to homes and businesses in your region of the state, and you reap the benefits of government solar incentives in the form of lower electricity bills.

Community solar is gaining ground in states such as New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maine and Illinois, which in 2021 had enough community solar to power about 44,000 homes, up from 17,000 homes in 2020.

Community solar is about to explode in terms of access and truly being able to see it everywhere and in your community, said Nicole Steele, a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Energys solar technologies office. Its just another way to help in the clean energy transition, be part of the clean energy transition, and see the actual benefits.

Community solar is taking off at a time when many states and the federal government have committed to ambitious plans to move to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with solar (in all its forms) expected to eventually generate up to about 45% of our electricity.

In interviews with the Tribune, some Chicago-area early adopters complained that they receive two electric bills a month under community solar  one from ComEd and one from a solar farm  a system they find cumbersome and difficult to understand.

But those with the time and skills to drill down on the numbers said they were satisfied with what they found, and a watchdog told the Tribune that in all the Illinois cases she knows of but one  an apparent billing error  customers really are seeing financial savings.

Community solar is one of those things here in Illinois that might sound too good to be true, said Sarah Moskowitz, deputy director of the Citizens Utility Board, an Illinois consumer advocacy group. But for once, CUB is here to assure people that you can actually save money, and its a great program.

A longtime environmentalist, Spooner put installing solar panels on the roof at the top of his to-do list when he retired from his job as a manufacturing and quality manager in 2016.

Unfortunately, his home at the time had a clay-tile roof.

Seated in the carefully restored lobby of his Greek Revival condo building  a former YMCA with two-story limestone columns  Spooner chuckled at the memory.

The (solar panel) companies said they never did solar panels on clay tiles before. And its like, cmon, what kind of song and dance are you givin me? he said.

Dickerson smiled. They certainly have it in California, the retired electrical engineer said dryly.

Spooner looked for alternatives and found community solar but couldnt subscribe. The option wasnt yet widely available in Illinois.

The more I learned, the more frustrating it got, he said.

When the village of Oak Park offered a community solar option to residents, he finally got his chance. He and his wife signed up in 2020, as did Johnson, a retired school and childrens librarian, and her husband.

Dickerson and his wife opted to consider the plans available to the general public and went with Nexamp.

Spooner and Dickerson calculate theyre saving about 10% on their total electric bills, when taxes, fees and delivery charges are included.

You can see here, this is for the condo association and this is for our unit, said Dickerson, pointing to a graph he had printed out. I save between $3 and $4 a month, depending on which month it is and which 12-month period Im averaging, and the condo saves $40 a month.

Community solar plans benefit Illinois utilities like ComEd, which are required to obtain 40% of their electric power from renewable resources by 2030 and 50% by 2040. To meet those state requirements, utilities purchase certificates that represent the environmental benefits of renewable energy. Community solar farms are one source of those certificates.

Illinois offers particularly strong consumer protections for low- and moderate-income residents who sign up for community solar through the states Illinois Solar for All program. Participants in this program, who must meet income eligibility requirements, cant be charged upfront costs and must get a discount of at least 50% on the portion of their electricity covered by the credit on their ComEd bill. (The credit covers a large portion of the electricity used but generally not quite all of it due to factors such as variations in the amount of energy the customer uses and variations in the total energy produced by the solar farm.)

Higher-income people who sign up for community solar under what is known as Illinois Shines dont get a guaranteed level of savings. But they do get several other important customer protections, according to Illinois Power Agency consumer protection counsel Rachel Granneman.

Approved vendors, who are listed at the Illinois Shines website, have to meet a range of state requirements, including a standard disclosure form solar farms have to give to consumers. The form allows consumers to make side-by-side comparisons of offers from companies. In addition, contracts have to include relevant information such as prices and fees. And misrepresentations  such as overstating customer savings  are prohibited.

We have a hotline and an email address and a complaint form on our website, said Granneman. If there are issues a customer cant resolve with their approved vendor we may take disciplinary action.

The Illinois Power Agency, which administers state programs supporting the development of new solar energy, has the power to suspend community solar farms from its programs, which offer significant financial incentives.

In theory, a solar vendor could offer you a subscription that would cost you more than staying with ComEd, but in practice, Granneman and CUBs Moskowitz said they arent seeing that.

At this point, all of the community solar offers that Granneman is seeing are set up in the same way: Customers get 10% to 20% off the electricity covered by the credit on their utility bill. She isnt seeing a separate subscriber fee  although theres nothing to prevent companies from charging that additional fee, as long as they disclose that they are doing so.

Moskowitz said she has only seen one case of a person in Illinois paying more under community solar than they would have otherwise  and that was due to an apparent error in calculating the persons energy needs.

So far, so good, Moskowitz said.

In northern Illinois, community solar customers generally get an initial bill from ComEd, with a credit equal to most of the electricity they have used. You dont pay for the energy covered by the credit, just for the other portions of your ComEd bill.

Then comes step 2: a bill from your community solar company. At this point, you actually do pay for the electricity covered by the credit on your ComEd bill, but typically at a 10% to 20% discount. The difference between what you would have paid for electricity under ComEd, and what you end up paying under community solar, is your savings.

For instance, you might get a credit for $50 of electricity on your ComEd bill. You wouldnt pay ComEd for any of that electricity; instead, youd pay your solar company, but at a discount. So youd save about 10% to 20% of $50, or $5 to $10.

Find that confusing? Youre not alone.

Its not very transparent to me, said Kay Perry of Oak Park. A beamline scientist who works at Argonne National Laboratory, Perry signed up when Oak Park offered a community solar option to residents.

She said she feels good about supporting clean energy but doesnt like the two-part billing process and had trouble signing up, in part because her workplace computer is behind a strong firewall. Shed like to see community solar offered the same way wind energy was offered under a previous Oak Park program, with just one easy-to-understand bill showing the discounted electricity rate.

You have to make it as easy as possible for people if you want them to do it  lower that activation energy, Perry said.

Laurel Passera, senior director for policy and regulatory affairs at the Coalition for Community Solar Access, acknowledged that Illinois community solar model is rather complex, but she said it has its advantages, including that its less contentious and more acceptable to utilities.

We spent months and months diving into the details on this to make sure it worked for all the parties, she said of talks in 2016 and 2021 involving industry, utilities, diversity advocates and advocates for low-income consumers.

Passera added that auto-pay can eliminate the need to deal with two separate bills.

With community solar on the rise in Illinois, there are now credible online sources that can help you compare the various options. CUB, for instance, breaks down Illinois community solar offers on its website.

EnergySage, an online comparison-shopping marketplace that has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, offers customer ratings of local community solar plans.

Moskowitz said she advises those comparing community solar plans to consider the length of the contract, whether theres an exit fee if you leave early, and how much youll save on electricity. The best deals shes seeing offer 20% off the ComEd rate for electricity.

You may also want to check whether the community solar company accepts checks or electronic payments, and whether automatic billing is required.

We want people to be cautious, read the contract, and call us if they have any questions and let us know if they have any issues, said Moskowitz. We havent heard of issues, really, but if there are we want to be on top of them.

When it comes to protecting the planet, Johnson, Spooner and Dickerson are accustomed to being ahead of the curve.

Dickerson traces his commitment to protecting the natural world back to his days as a Boy Scout, when leaders emphasized that you should leave no trace in the forest.

For Spooner, the first Earth Day, in 1970, made an impression.

I was a senior in college and they said, Think globally, act locally,  recalled Spooner. I was like Well, I can kind of manage that. 

After experiences such as sorting recyclables in the 1980s (Dickerson), forgoing harmful detergents in the 1960s (Johnson) and volunteering with an interfaith environmental group (Spooner), subscribing to community solar wasnt a big leap. And even in their larger community at their condo building, the program was a fairly easy sell, Dickerson said.

Residents wanted information, he said, so members of the condo associations green committee called solar company representatives and made a chart.

The big pushback was on the issue of contracts, which can be as long as 20 years, so the condo association went with a company that allowed them to cancel their contract with no penalty.

Now, the buildings green newsletter, edited by Johnson, is trumpeting community solar savings, and the green committee is moving on to other projects, including electric vehicle chargers and composting.

As a parent and then a grandparent, its kind of like a legacy, Johnson said of this work. How could I do something thats bad for the world in which my grandchildren are going to live?
I want to take a minute and endorse Ross Webb for the McLean County Board's 10th District that covers the east side of Bloomington. I have known Ross for many years and am proud to call him a friend, a trusted business associate and a great dad. He loves and cares for this community and has and I know he will continue to work tirelessly to make this community a strong place to work and raise a family.

Ross has personally seen the struggles of the small business community during the COVID pandemic and I know he will fight every day for small business owners and to keep the economy of McLean County strong. His experience as a small business owner will be of great value as Ross steps into this role. Ross cares about people, listens with empathy and works tirelessly to help them reach their full potential.

I am glad to call Ross a friend, and am glad to have worked with him and I believe you will be too and that is why I am encouraging you to vote for Ross Webb for the McLean County Board's 10th District on November 8.

Larry Wampler, Bloomington
The Ministry of Finance has described as false reports that Presithe dent Akufo-Addo is refusing the resignation of the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.



In a statement issued on social networking site, Twitter on Friday, October 28, 2022, the Ministry said rumors about the Honourable Minister of State tendering in his resignation are untrue and should be treated with all the contempt it deserves.



The rumors have been fueled by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. In a twitter post, Mr. Ablakwa alleged that the President has refused to accept the resignation of the Minister of State.



This, the Ministry says the allegations are untrue and unhelpful urging the general public to disregard them completely.



Mr. Adu Boahen had come under pressure last Tuesday with some members of the New Patriotic Party in Parliament demanding his removal together with Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for the current economic crises.



The Majority MPs insisted that the removal of both Ministers will restore confidence in the economy.



However, after meeting the President, the Majority MPs have softened their stance accepting the Presidents plea to have the Ministers stay in office to seal Ghanas bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for the Nhyiaeso Constituency, Dr Stephen Amoah, has disclosed a major key that he believes will transform Ghana and make the lives of her citizenry better.



Speaking on Peace FM's "kokrokoo" programme, Dr. Stephen Amoah admitted that Ghana's economy is in bad shape but was hopeful with the right decisions and measures in place, the country will develop.



He argued that foreign imports are what is crippling Ghana's economy.



He was therefore of a strong conviction that Ghana will see great strides only when the nation stops the importation of agricultural produce and other items.



"People are complaining and they have the right to complain . . . the country has common areas of disturbing [I will say] interest [in quote]. We have basic problems that we have to admit, as a country, that NPP/NDC have all goofed.



"Our economy has ulcer from times immemorial till date because we import everything and that has affected employment. It has affected our currency performance. It has affected everything. Not until we get to the stage where any agricultural produce or product, we shouldn't import. We have no justification," he stated.



Dr. Stephen Amoah further noted that the development of Ghana is not contingent on the government alone but is the responsibility of every Ghanaian.



"We need revolution in our minds. We must change . . . we should be committing ourselves to the cause of this country to benefit everyone along the social stratification, whether poor or rich, young or old, dwarf or giant."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
I want to tell you all a story about how I discovered a forgotten Chicago writer in a central Pennsylvania college town, and how coincidence and connection have introduced me to what is one of the best books Ive ever read.

Setting: Early evening, the streets of State College, Pennsylvania, home of Penn State University, on a gloomy Thursday night in October. Your hero (me), is in town to deliver a talk at a conference for writing teachers the next day, but that night its just him with some time to kill, and there in the distance is just the thing hes looking for, a sign for Websters Bookstore Cafe.

Advertisement

When I travel to unfamiliar places I go to a local used bookstore and see whats doing. You wont find the same collection of used books in any two places, and college towns are among the best spots for new (to me) discoveries.

I like to start with a quick perusal of the fiction section, a surface-level scan, and what Im often looking for is a book that stands out from the crowd, usually something that I can tell is older by the style of cover design, but also something Ive never heard of before.

Advertisement

The Confession of a Child of the Century by Thomas Rogers (1972). (Simon & Schuster)

Remember, I am the Biblioracle. This doesnt mean Ive read every author around, but its actually pretty rare for me to find a book published in my lifetime by someone Ive never heard of, but there it is: The Confession of a Child of the Century by Thomas Rogers.

Published by Simon & Schuster in 1972, the back of the jacket contains blurbs from Philip Roth (I think [Rogers] is our Evelyn Waugh.) and John Cheever (When I finished at two in the morning I exclaimed: what a welcome book, what a very welcome book.).

The back flap copy says the book Provides such high and steady pleasure that it bids fair to become one of the permanent novels of our time.

High and steady pleasure is on point. I truly think The Confession of a Child of the Century is a masterpiece of seriocomic literature, or the comical-historical-pastoral as Rogers narrator, Samuel Heather describes his own story.

Heather is a protestant bishops son from Kansas City who derails his promising life by blowing up a riverbank of the Charles River near Harvard with a stray stick of dynamite, leading to his expulsion from school, fleeing justice by joining the army and winding up in a North Korean prison camp during that particular war.

This does not sound comic, but Rogers storytelling is so lively, so suffused with wit and energy, that even a harrowing chapter on Samuels first encounter with the enemy at war crackles.

I found Rogers in that used bookstore in State College because for 30 years he was a professor of literature and creative writing at Penn State, retiring in 1992. He passed away in 2007 at age 79.

The back flap prediction of The Confession of a Child of the Century as a permanent novel alas, did not come true. No one seems to remember this book.

Advertisement

Rogers was nominated for the National Book Award for his first two books, this and The Pursuit of Happiness, (which is set in Hyde Park), which should have set him up for some measure of permanence like Roth, his one-time colleague at the University of Chicago. But unlike the super prolific Roth, Rogers only published two more books in his lifetime.

I do not know, nor do I care to question what forces of fate brought me to find The Confession of a Child of the Century, but I am grateful for their existence.

John Warner is the author of Why They Cant Write: Killing the Five-Paragraph Essay and Other Necessities.

Twitter @biblioracle

Book recommendations from the Biblioracle

John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books youve read.

Advertisement

1. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

2. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

3. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

5. Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe

 Laura U., Chicago

Advertisement

For Laura, Im reaching back to a favorite of mine from a couple of years ago, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid.

1. A Brief History of Swearing by Melissa Mohr

2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

3. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

4. A Subalterns War by Charles Edmonds

5. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Advertisement

 Greg R., Perry, Ohio

A lot of range here. I think Greg will take to a novel about a unique character who chooses to reject the world he comes from and make a life uniquely his own, Suttree by Cormac McCarthy.

1. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

2. Lessons by Ian McEwan

3. Beartown by Fredrik Backman

4. Verity by Colleen Hoover

Advertisement

5. Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman

 Mina T., Chicago

For Mina, Im recommending a little gem of a novel, no more than a few hours of reading, but each one of them captivating, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.

Get a reading from the Biblioracle

Send a list of the last five books youve read and your hometown to biblioracle@gmail.com.
The Ministry of Finance has debunked reports that the Minister of State at the Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen has resigned.



Rumours about the Honourable Minister of State tendering in his resignation are untrue, and should be disregarded. Stories of this nature are unhelpful at this time, and the general public is advised to disregard them completely," the Ministry said in a statement on social media.





Rumours about the Honourable Minister of State tendering in his resignation are untrue, and should be disregarded. Stories of this nature are unhelpful at this time, and the general public is advised to disregard them completely.https://t.co/N5q5VavQ5L  Ministry of Finance, Ghana (@MoF_Ghana) October 28, 2022





The Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa had alleged that President Akufo-Addo has refused to accept the resignation of Charles Adu Boahen.



"The President continues to downplay the profound economic crisis created by his abysmal leadership", he added.





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.  Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 27, 2022

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko has criticized President Akufo-Addo for suggesting that there's no one else in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to take over from Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.



NPP MPs Threaten



Over 80 Members of Parliament of the NPP threatened to boycott government business if the President doesn't sack Ken Ofori Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



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".



According to Subin MP, Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Finance Minister is "experimenting with this country and we've had enough".



A President's Plea



President Akufo-Addo following the MPs' protest, held an emergency meeting with them and pleaded 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.



Illogical



However, Boakye Agyarko disagrees with the President.



Speaking on Peace FM's The Platform programme, he said "it doesn't make sense" to ask the Finance Minister to stay for now.



"I don't see how one person...so what are we going to do if God forbid we wake up tomorrow morning and he's no more? Are we going to ask God to wait and allow him to finish the negotiations? It doesn't make sense...it speaks ill of us"



Watch his full submission in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Spectrometer on a chip. Credit: Oregon State

Scientists including an Oregon State University materials researcher have developed a better tool to measure light, contributing to a field known as optical spectrometry in a way that could improve everything from smartphone cameras to environmental monitoring.

The study, published today in Science, was led by Finland's Aalto University and resulted in a powerful, ultra-tiny spectrometer that fits on a microchip and is operated using artificial intelligence.

The research involved a comparatively new class of super-thin materials known as two-dimensional semiconductors, and the upshot is a proof of concept for a spectrometer that could be readily incorporated into a variety of technologiesincluding quality inspection platforms, security sensors, biomedical analyzers and space telescopes.

"We've demonstrated a way of building spectrometers that are far more miniature than what is typically used today," said Ethan Minot, a professor of physics in the OSU College of Science. "Spectrometers measure the strength of light at different wavelengths and are super useful in lots of industries and all fields of science for identifying samples and characterizing materials."

Traditional spectrometers require bulky optical and mechanical components, whereas the new device could fit on the end of a human hair, Minot said. The new research suggests those components can be replaced with novel semiconductor materials and AI, allowing spectrometers to be dramatically scaled down in size from the current smallest ones, which are about the size of a grape.

"Our spectrometer does not require assembling separate optical and mechanical components or array designs to disperse and filter light," said Hoon Hahn Yoon, who led the study with Aalto University colleague Zhipei Sun Yoon. "Moreover, it can achieve a high resolution comparable to benchtop systems but in a much smaller package."

The device is 100% electrically controllable regarding the colors of light it absorbs, which gives it massive potential for scalability and widespread usability, the researchers say.

"Integrating it directly into portable devices such as smartphones and drones could advance our daily lives," Yoon said. "Imagine that the next generation of our smartphone cameras could be hyperspectral cameras."

Those hyperspectral cameras could capture and analyze information not just from visible wavelengths but also allow for infrared imaging and analysis.

"It's exciting that our spectrometer opens up possibilities for all sorts of new everyday gadgets, and instruments to do new science as well," Minot said.

In medicine, for example, spectrometers are already being tested for their ability to identify subtle changes in human tissue such as the difference between tumors and healthy tissue.

For environmental monitoring, Minot added, spectrometers can detect exactly what kind of pollution is in the air, water or ground, and how much of it is there.

"It would be nice to have low-cost, portable spectrometers doing this work for us," he said. "And in the educational setting, the hands-on teaching of science concepts would be more effective with inexpensive, compact spectrometers."

Applications abound as well for science-oriented hobbyists, Minot said.

"If you're into astronomy, you might be interested in measuring the spectrum of light that you collect with your telescope and having that information identify a star or planet," he said. "If geology is your hobby, you could identify gemstones by measuring the spectrum of light they absorb."

Minot thinks that as work with two-dimensional semiconductors progresses, "we'll be rapidly discovering new ways to use their novel optical and electronic properties." Research into 2D semiconductors has been going on in earnest for only a dozen years, starting with the study of graphene, carbon arranged in a honeycomb lattice with a thickness of one atom.

"It's really exciting," Minot said. "I believe we'll continue to have interesting breakthroughs by studying two-dimensional semiconductors."

In addition to Minot, Yoon and Sun, the collaboration included scientists from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Sichuan University, Yonsei University and University of Cambridge, as well as other researchers from Aalto University.

More information: Hoon Hahn Yoon et al, Miniaturized spectrometers with a tunable van der Waals junction, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.add8544. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add8544 Journal information: Science
Atlantic City, where flooding is still a near-daily part of life a decade post-Sandy.

A decade after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the US east coast, the seaside town Atlantic City has fortified its famous boardwalk that narrowly divides casinos and the ocean.

But in certain neighborhoods, flooded streets have become routine.

North of the city dubbed the Vegas of the East Coast, a new stretch of boardwalk is protected from crashing waves by a rock barrier and a seawall, a $60 million project completed in 2018.

Further inland stands a wasteland of sorts, where a few buildings still tower, survivors of the deadly storm's devastation.

Jim Rutala, a private planning consultant for the city, said the tens of millions in investment in the shoreline have "provided tremendous protection" and could accommodate new construction.

Founded in the 19th century as a spa resort, Atlantic City feted its golden age during the Prohibition era in the 1920s, a haven for revelers and the high-rolling mob before it later became a tourist destination thanks to its nightclubs and casinos.

'Economic generator'

The city immortalized in song by Bruce Springsteen has always benefited from its spot on the sea, but the threat of rising waters has made the area increasingly vulnerable.

On October 29, 2012, Sandywhich left more than 100 people in the United States deadcaused serious damage to nine percent of homes in Atlantic City, according to the state of New Jersey.

A plaque marking the height of the water when Sandy struck Atlantic City in 2012, seen at the Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House.

The city of some 40,000 people is "a tremendous economic generator," said Rutala, where 35 percent of residents live in poverty.

Further south, where hotels, casinos and restaurants populate the seaside, some of the shoreline was able to weather Sandy thanks to beaches and artificial dunes that the Army Corps of Engineers had constructed, with millions of cubic meters of sand washed offshore.

Without them "water would be lapping up against the boardwalk," said Kimberly McKenna, the associate director of the Stockton University Coastal Research Center.

But "at some point, we're either gonna run out of sand, or it'll be too expensive to keep up," said the geologist.

High-tide flooding

Heading a little deeper toward the back of the bay shows just how quickly the water that's made Atlantic City a tourist hotspot can become a handicap.

An aerial view of the neighborhood Chelsea Heights in Atlantic City.

"Every time it rains, any rain other than a light rain will cause a flood on this street," said lifelong resident Thomas Gitto.

The 62-year-old retiree worked for decades in the casinos, and has always lived on the same street of modest homes.

"We even have a jokeit says that if it just gets cloudy, it will flood. And it's true. Because anytime we have like a full moon, or some kind of storm coming, the water comes up through the sewer, and the street will flood all the way up to the porch and sometimes it even comes inside the house," Gitto told AFP.

The high-tide floods are likely to become increasingly common as sea levels rise due to climate change.

Atlantic City should expect to experience such inundations between 17 and 75 days per year by 2030, compared to less than once a year in 1950, according to a 2019 study by Rutgers University.

Freddie Restrepo in front of his Atlantic City home that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy a decade ago.

In the Chelsea Heights neighborhood, Freddie Restrepo and his sister Paula, immigrants from Colombia, lost both of their side-by-side homes to Sandy.

After 10 years and a number of mishaps, they have only been able to rebuild the walls and foundations that are now raised, similar to a number of properties in the area.

Today, according to Restrepo, the street frequently floods.

Streets frequently flood in Atlantic City's Chelsea Heights neighborhood, shown here.

'A lot worse'

Nearby at his tavern Vagabond Kitchen and Tap House, co-owner Elvis Cadavid says "things have just gotten a lot worse."

"We're well aware of when the flooding is going to happen," he said. "So we deal with it, we postpone openings, we sometimes close early. If it's really bad, we might close for the day, we might lose a day."

Rutala said the city, cognizant of its weak spots, started renovating its drainage system and has constructed several bulkheads bordering the interior bay.

Streets frequently flood in Atlantic City's Chelsea Heights neighborhood, shown here.

[PIC=1048718:left]

Since Sandy, more than 300 homeowners in Atlantic Cityand more than 7,000 in New Jerseyhave received aid on average of more than $120,000 to rebuild, according to state figures.

But according to Rutala, at least 200 homes are still classified as regular flood victims.

 2022 AFP
A 29-year-old Hadley woman has been arrested for allegedly participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

In a complaint filed on Oct. 21, the documents state that Katelyn Bartow was first identified via TikTok videos the FBI was made aware of on Jan. 25, 2021.

The videos, posted from Bartows account, show people inside the Capitol picking up knocked-over trash cans after it was stormed, and one contains text over the video stating, and yes, this was moments after the storming of the Capitol, according to the complaint.

Bartows account also showed videos outside of the Capitol, on the steps and near the Washington Monument prior to the crowd rushing inside.

She also responded to the comment Still stormed the Capitol ... with Sure did.

The complaint says it was also discovered that Bartow posted on her personal Facebook account on Jan. 5, 2021, that she was looking for a place in Washington to keep her horses for the night.

The court documents state she was identified in security video footage after photos from her drivers license and social media accounts were compared to stills from Jan. 6.

She was first interviewed on Feb. 1, 2021 by FBI agents and admitted to traveling to Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, and being the person who recorded the videos seen on TikTok. Bartow also admitted at that time that her brother, Travis Bartow, 31, was also in attendance.

According to the documents, in her February interview she explained she only entered the Capitols entrance and visitors center area before leaving.

(Bartow) advised that she was with a small group during her time in Washington, D.C., and although she was willing to discuss her actions on Jan. 6, 2021, she preferred not to discuss the actions of anyone else from that day, the documents state.

She has previously been in the news as a Christian missionary who survived riots in Haiti while helping with Hurricane Matthew relief in 2017. Bartow also has a profile on Backstage, an acting and modeling casting website, which lists acting and Shakespearean training from SUNY Adirondack. The profile includes firearms training as one of her skills.

I regularly act in real life and thrive on the tension of being discovered a fraud. Since no one has called my bluff for several years now, I have decided to pursue an acting career in earnest, her biography on the website states.

Her brother Travis was identified, according to the documents, by a warrant that was obtained by the FBI for the location records for the phone number registered to Travis Bartow.

 ... around the time of the incident, telephone number ending in x9026, which is associated with Travis Bartow, was identified as having utilized a cell site consistent with providing service to a geographic area that included the interior of the United States Capitol building, the documents state.

The complaint against the siblings also claims Katelyns original story of only going into the entrance area before leaving were proven false by security camera footage inside the building.

The footage appears to show a white female wearing the same black cowboy hat, and blue jacket, as depicted in the above-mentioned image posted to Katelyn Bartows Facebook account, entering the Senate Wing door on the Northwest side of the Capitol building at approximately 2:24 p.m. She was joined by Travis Bartow who was wearing a green jacket and blue jeans. Upon entering the building, Katelyn and Travis Bartow walk, with the crowd, down a hallway, which leads to the Crypt area, the court document describes.

Bartow was arrested on Thursday. According to the Times Union of Albany, Bartow pleaded not guilty to federal misdemeanor charges alleging she unlawfully entered and remained in a restricted area of Capitol and engaged in disorderly conduct during the riots that are now the subject of congressional hearings.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is closing in on $10 million raised for her reelection bid.

Of the $9.33 million Stefanik had raised as of Oct. 19, she transferred $2.9 million  about one-third  to the campaigns of other Republican political candidates and party campaign organizations, according to a new campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

This does not include money she has transferred from her separate E-PAC political action committee fund for Republican women candidates.

If Stefanik wins on Nov. 8, she will be in a position to curry favor from candidates she has funded.

If Democratic challenger Matt Castelli wins, he will be catapulted into the national spotlight for bringing down a political fundraising giant.

But he will have accomplished it virtually on his own.

Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official who lives in Glens Falls, had received just $21,000 from political action committees and national party committees, as of Oct. 19.

The level of such contributions is generally seen as an indicator of competitiveness.

In comparison, Josh Riley, the Democratic candidate in the 19th District, which is considered a toss-up race, had received $427,552 from political action committees and national party committees, as of Oct. 19.

Congressional candidates file regular campaign reports four times a year, and more frequently in the weeks directly before and after an election. The reports are required by federal law, and are intended to provide transparency about who is supporting, and potentially influencing, candidates. The reports also provide an indication of how competitive a race might be.

Stefanik, a four-term incumbent, had $2.47 million in her campaign fund as of Oct. 19, the last full campaign finance report before the election, and Castelli had $709,851 in his campaign fund.

From Oct. 1 to Oct. 19, Stefanik had $411,200 in receipts, and Castelli had $244,863.

As of Oct. 19, Stefanik had spent $6.25 million on operating her campaign, which Castelli spent $1.56 million.

Oct. 1-19, Stefanik spent $668,208, an average of $35,168 per day, and Castelli spent $478,362, an average of $25,167 per day.

Stefanik and Castelli are running in the 21st Congressional District, which includes all or portions of 15 counties, including all of Warren, Washington, Essex and Hamilton counties.

In the 20th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, had $959,565 in his campaign fund as of Oct. 19, and Republican challenger Liz Lemery Joy had $90,843 as of Oct. 19.

Oct. 1-19, Tonko raised $41,580, and Joy raised $72,625.

Tonko had spent $1.2 million on his campaign as of Oct. 19, and Joy $1 million.

Oct. 1-19, Tonko spent $74,948, an average of $3,944 per day.

Joy spent $105,442 during the same period, an average of $5,549 per day.

The 20th Congressional District includes all of Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany counties and a portion of Rensselaer County.

Election Day is Nov. 8.

Early voting runs through Nov. 6.
There are seven in-person early voting sites for the Nov. 8 general election in Atlantic County, where voters will choose their congressional representative and vote for county and local candidates.

There are no races for state Senate or Assembly this year.

In smaller Cape May and Cumberland counties, there are three early voting sites, and in larger Ocean County there are 10.

Early voting in all counties began Saturday and runs through Nov. 6, as required by state law. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. all days except Sundays, when hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting machines are different from those used on Election Day. They can be programmed to bring up any ballot in the county, so people can use any location that is convenient for them during the early voting period. On Election Day, voters must go to their specific polling place to access their particular ballot.

Displaced Atlantic County Board of Elections gets space from other county departments MAYS LANDING  The Atlantic County Board of Elections remains without a permanent home after

Voters who are on the list to receive a vote-by-mail ballot will not be able to use the machine, however, either during early voting or on Election Day. They will be asked to fill out a paper provisional ballot. The provisional ballot will only be counted after all mail-in votes are received and election officials determine the same person did not also return a vote-by-mail ballot.

The state will only reimburse Atlantic County for seven sites. Any number above seven would involve spending county money.

In April, Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo, a Republican, broke the tie of the four-member Atlantic County Board of Elections, which had split along party lines when deciding on early voting sites.

The two Democrats wanted to remove an early voting site in Buena Vista Township to create a new one in Pleasantville along with another new one in Egg Harbor Township, and Republicans wanted to keep the original six locations and add only Egg Harbor Township.

It is the goal of my office to ensure that voting routines are not disturbed, Giralo said in a news release at the time he made his decision, and maintaining these six early voting locations will help to further that goal. Giralo encouraged any voter with questions about elections or where to vote to call his office at 609-625-4011.

Below are early voting sites in The Press coverage area:

Atlantic County

ATLANTIC CITY: Quaremba Hall at St. Michaels, 10 N. Mississippi Ave. (a change of site from last year when it was in the Atlantic City Free Public Library, which cannot host as it is undergoing construction)

BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP: Martin Luther King Building, 661 Jackson Road

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP: Atlantic County Library, 1 Swift Ave.

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP: Atlantic County Library, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road

Atlantic City mayor calls proposed election changes a GOP ploy ATLANTIC CITY  Mayor Marty Small Sr. is calling a plan to move back to non-partisan electio

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP: Atlantic County Library, 40 Farragut Ave.

HAMMONTON: Family Success Center, 310 Bellevue Ave.

NORTHFIELD: Shoreview Building, 101 Shore Road

Cape May County

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE: Cape May County Library, 30 Mechanic St.

LOWER TOWNSHIP: Cape May County Library, 2600 Bayshore Road

Atlantic County clerk opts to keep last year's early voting sites, adds one in Egg Harbor Township MAYS LANDING  Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo said Thursday morning the early voting sites

UPPER TOWNSHIP: Cape May County Library, 2050 Route 631

Cumberland County

BRIDGETON: Bridgeton Public Library, 150 E. Commerce St.

MILLVILLE: Millville Womens Club, 300 E. St.

VINELAND: Landis Marketplace, 624 E. Elmer St.

Southern Ocean County

LACEY TOWNSHIP: Charles A. Smith Community Center, 15 E. Lacey Road

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP: Ocean County Library, 290 Mathistown Road

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP: Ocean County Southern Resource Center, 179 S. Main St.
A student walks by the Old Well at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a rotunda and campus landmark at the southern end of McCorkle Place, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. (Hannah Schoenbaum/AP)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  Once a bastion of segregation, the University of North Carolina now takes account of race to make up for its sordid history and to increase the number of Black students and other underrepresented minorities on campus.

Its affirmative action program, using race among many factors to build a diverse student body, is similar to plans in place at other selective public and private institutions.

Advertisement

But a Supreme Court that has twice blessed race-conscious college admissions programs in the past 19 years now seems poised to restrict their use or outlaw them altogether.

The case, following the overturning of the nearly 50-year precedent of Roe v. Wade in June, offers another test of whether the court now dominated by conservatives will move the nations policies to the right on another of its most contentious cultural issues.

Advertisement

The court is hearing two cases Monday, involving UNC and Harvard, the nations oldest public and private universities, respectively.

The challengers to the universities programs have lost at every step as lower courts have rejected their claims that the schools discriminate against white and Asian American applicants.

But Students for Fair Representation, the creation of conservative activist Ed Blum, has always pointed toward the nations highest court, more conservative now that former President Donald Trumps three nominees are among the nine justices, as the best forum to roll back more than 40 years of court rulings that allow race to be one factor among many in admissions.

North Carolinas flagship university in Chapel Hill is a curious place to make that case.

The first Black students didnt arrive until 1951, and then only under court order. Into the 1980s, students reported they were subjected to racial slurs and astonishing displays of insensitivity, including being asked to do laundry by a white classmate, according to an account by historian David Cecelski that is included in court documents.

Even now, U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs noted in her 2021 decision upholding the universitys program, underrepresented minorities win admission to UNC at lower rates than do white and Asian American applicants and minority students at the University still report being confronted with racial epithets, as well as feeling isolated, ostracized, stereotyped and viewed as tokens in a number of University spaces.

Defending its program, North Carolina wrote in its main brief to the Supreme Court that the school continues to have much work to do.

On a recent, brilliant fall day in Chapel Hill, students talked about what they see as the benefits and drawbacks of affirmative action in college admissions.

Advertisement

Christina Huang, an 18-year-old freshman from West Milford, New Jersey, who is co-director of UNC for Affirmative Action, said diversity on campus enriches the learning environment for all students, even outside the classroom.

I think theres a negative connotation of affirmative action and this idea that its a quota and its hurting Asian Americans, said Huang, a first-generation college student who is studying political science. But culture plays such a big role, especially on UNCs campus, because you walk around and theres culture everywhere. Theres people dressed up in traditional clothes, fashion shows, people dancing to their different types of music, even the foods we eat  its so meaningful. Youd lose so much if we were not to make sure we have that diversity.

Students now picnic under the billowing trees in McCorkle Place where the Confederate statue Silent Sam stood for more than 100 years until protesters toppled it in 2018.

Joy Jiang, a 19-year-old sophomore from Harrisburg, North Carolina, and co-director of the affirmative action group, said recent racial tensions on campus that she described as a backlash after the statue came down, have scared away some students of color from vocalizing their support for affirmative action.

Jacob James, 20, of Robersonville, North Carolina, recognized the value of diversity. Diversity on college campuses is good, but it shouldnt come at the expense of fairness, said James, the chairman of UNC College Republicans. Affirmative action, he said, unfairly disadvantages some individuals over other individuals based on race.

James comment meshes with the main point made by Blums group, that the Constitution forbids any consideration of race. Students for Fair Admission said it draws support from the seminal case of Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 decision that paved the way for the desegregation of the nations public schools.

Advertisement

The group told the justices that Brown rejected many of the arguments UNC is making. It argues that racial classifications make everyone better off. It warns that universities cannot discard race quite yet. And it contends that the legality of its practices should be decided by North Carolinians, not this Court. The segregationists agreed, according to the groups final Supreme Court brief.

Students for Fair Representation also makes repeated use of the June decision to overturn Roe v. Wades constitutional protection for abortion to bolster its arguments that the court should jettison its affirmative action precedents.

The abortion decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization strongly suggests the court would be willing to impose an all-out ban on considering race in college admissions, said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

The implications extend well beyond UNC and Harvard. It may very well result in a different outcome than what we have seen in the Bakke case, the Grutter case in 2003, the Fisher cases, Granberry Russell said, citing the courts earlier college admissions cases.

Blum, who has worked for years to rid college admissions of racial considerations, also was behind the ultimately losing lawsuit on behalf of Abigail Fisher, a white woman who claimed discrimination explained her rejection by the University of Texas.

That case was decided only six years ago, but the makeup of the court has changed significantly since then, with the addition of the three Trump appointees and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the courts first Black woman.

Advertisement

Jackson is sitting out the Harvard case because she was on an advisory board until recently. But she is taking part in the North Carolina case, which strongly suggests the court would use that case if it ends up making a major pronouncement on affirmative action.

Every U.S. college and university the justices attended, save one, is urging the court to preserve race-conscious admissions.

Four justices attended law school at Harvard, and two were undergraduates there. Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame and Holy Cross also have joined briefs in defense of Harvards and UNCs admissions plans.

Only Justice Amy Coney Barretts undergraduate alma mater, Rhodes College, in Memphis, Tennessee, is not involved in the cases.

Nine states already prohibit any consideration of race in admissions to public colleges and universities: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.

In California, the same electorate that gave President Joe Biden a 5-million-vote margin over Trump in 2020 handily rejected a proposal to revive affirmative action.

Advertisement

Public opinion on the topic varies depending on how the question is asked. A Gallup Poll from 2021 found 62% of Americans in favor of affirmative action programs for racial minorities. But in a Pew Research Center survey in March, 74% of Americans, including majorities of Black and Latino respondents, said race and ethnicity should not factor into college admissions.

A decision in the affirmative action cases is not expected before late spring.

Sherman reported from Washington. AP Education Writer Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.
A former Pennsylvania woman who made national headlines more than a decade ago by falsely claiming she had been kidnapped when she had actually gone to Walt Disney World has pleaded guilty to having stolen nearly $150,000 from an employer. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that 51-year-old Bonnie Sweeten of Delanco, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal wire fraud counts. The former Feasterville resident said she'd received treatment for oxycontin addiction in 2018 and had been clean ever since. Her attorney said her last crime was five years ago and she has been a productive and law-abiding citizen ever since.
A Wapello man on probation in Rock Island County in Illinois and Louisa County in Iowa was arrested by Davenport Police on Thursday for allegedly peddling meth and stealing two motorcycles.

Eric William Brewer, 31, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Brewer also is charged with violating Iowas drug tax stamp law, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

Brewer also is charged with one count each of first-degree theft for allegedly stealing a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a value of $12,000 and second-degree theft for stealing a Honda motorcycle valued at $4,000.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Cory Hughes, at 11:17 a.m. Thursday, officers spotted Brewer at 1406 W. 7th St. Brewer then got on a 2022 Honda motorcycle that appeared to have been spray painted black. Officers knew Brewer had warrants for his arrest.

Brewer drove the Honda motorcycle over to the 700 block of North Division Street. Brewer was then seen near a 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

As officers approached Brewer he walked away from the Harley-Davidson motorcycle and tried to flee on foot.

Officers were able to finally capture Brewer.

Officers seized two plastic bags that contained a total of 64.45 grams of methamphetamine from Brewer.

Police have said that the normal does of methamphetamine is one-tenth of a gram, which means Brewer had 644.5 doses of meth when he was captured.

Officers also seized $600 in cash.

During a first appearance hearing Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Ryan Beckenbaugh set cash-only bonds totaling $40,000 for the drug and theft charges.

Brewer also is wanted in Rock Island County for one count of eluding and two counts of aggravated eluding. Bond in that case is set at $40,000, cash only. His charges in Scott County will be taken care of first before he can waive extradition to Illinois to face the Rock Island County charges.

Brewer also is awaiting trial on charges in Louisa County of trespass and fourth-degree criminal mischief, and fifth-degree criminal mischief. He also is wanted for violating his probation on a Louisa County drug conviction from March of 2021.

Brewers cash-only bonds on all the charges and totals $82,250.

Beckenbaugh also scheduled a preliminary hearing in the Scott County case for November 17 in district court.

Brewer remained in the Scott County Jail on Saturday.

Brewer has been arrested and convicted of meth trafficking charges two times within the past two years.

In May of 2020, Rock Island County authorities arrested Brewer on two charges of meth delivery of less than 5 grams. Each charge is a Class 2 felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of three to seven years.

On July 19, 2021, during a hearing in Rock Island County Circuit Court, Brewer pleaded guilty to one count of meth delivery of less than 5 grams. During a sentencing hearing on Aug. 30, 2021, Rock Island County Chief Circuit Judge Frank Fuhr sentenced Brewer to 30 months on probation.

While working his way through the Rock Island County Circuit Court system, Brewer was arrested in February of 2021 by Wapello Police for allegedly selling methamphetamine out of the garage of his mothers Wapello home.

On March 25, 2021, Brewer pleaded guilty to a Class C felony charge of possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine and a Class D felony charge of second-degree criminal mischief. He was sentenced the next day by District Judge Mark Kruse to serve 10 years on probation for the meth trafficking conviction, and a consecutive five years on probation for the criminal mischief conviction.

Kruse also ordered that Brewers probation would not be terminated until all fines, fees and court costs are paid in full owed by Brewer are paid in full.
DeWitt farmer Norlin Mommsen is running to defend his seat in the Iowa Legislature. Kay Pence, a retired telephone technician and union negotiator from Eldridge, is the Democratic challenger.

House District 70 covers parts of Scott, Clinton, and Jackson counties, including DeWitt, Princeton, Maquoketa, and part of LeClaire.

Mommsen is running for his fifth term in the Iowa Legislature. He's previously chaired the budget-writing subcommittee for agriculture and natural resources and supports voluntary measures to entice farmers to adopt cover crops and other practices to hold soil in place.

The two disagree on whether the Republican-backed tax cuts that will flatten Iowa's progressive tax to a flat 3.9% will benefit the state.

Pence said the Republicans are "blowing a huge hole in the state budget" while Mommsen touted the changes and said property taxes should be the next tax addressed.

Mommsen is one House Republican who did not support Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' plan to use taxpayer funds to help families pay for private school expenses. He said he supports the philosophy of more options for students but said the governor's proposal did not have enough guidelines for how the money could be spent.

Pence does not support Reynolds' plan.

Pence also supports raising Iowa's minimum wage and funding the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Voters supported an added sales tax for the fund in 2010, but lawmakers have not approved funding.

Norlin Mommsen

Party: Republican, incumbent

Residence: DeWitt

Occupation: corn, soybean, and cattle farmer on a century farm

Age: by Election Day, 65

Prior experience: I have been on the Clinton County Farm Bureau board of directors, Clinton County Soil and Water commissioner, Iowa Center for Ag Safety and Health member, church council member, 4-H Youth board member, Clinton County Justice Coordinating commission member, Great River Threshers board of directors, Community Ambulance Service volunteer and of course being the state representative for District 97 for the past 8 years. As a legislator, I have been on the Agriculture, Transportation, Education, Natural Resources and Appropriations committees. I presently serve as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Ag and Natural Resources.

Kay Pence

Party: Democrat

Residence: Eldridge

Occupation: retired telephone technician

Age: 67

Prior experience: I have spent my life and career representing the communities I care about. Ive never been afraid of hard work and pitching in to get things done. My husband of 47 years and I raised three sons. While working full time as a telephone technician, I attended college and earned two degrees in business: a BA from Marycrest University and an MBA from St. Ambrose University.

I later worked for a union where I built my skills as a negotiator, settling differences and bringing people together. Im proud to say in all my years negotiating union contracts, we always reached an agreement, without a strike. In addition, I have volunteered with various community organizations and held elected or appointed positions: vice president of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, board member of the Partners of Scott County Watersheds, Public Policy Chair of the Davenport/Bettendorf American Association of University Women, Gov. Terry Branstad appointee to the Electrical Examining Board and president of Lake Huntington Homeowner Association.

What would be your No. 1 policy priority if elected this term?

Mommsen: Quality of life issues have been and will continue to be my No. 1 priority. In the past, I have worked with the Department of Agriculture to create a Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness program, a loan forgiveness program for veterinarians who practice in high needs areas, supported local foods programs by increasing funding and scope of these programs, and increased funding for our state parks. Also, the Legislature has worked to improve child care and mental health services. These are areas we must continue to work on to improve the quality-of-life issues for Iowans. This is essential for the future of Iowa.

Pence: Looking out for the interests of all Iowans and our shared environment, not just the rich and powerful.

What do you think needs to change, if anything, in the states budget this year?

Mommsen: As always, there are built-in increases due to past legislation, we will need to include in the new budget. The next year's K-12 funding is one of the first bills the Legislature addresses. Any legislative changes that require funding will also need to be included in the new budget. The Legislature has developed a very sound budgeting process for the state. The key is to support the needs of the state while being considerate of the family budget.

Pence: There are many permanent tax credits, exemptions and rebates in the budget. They should all come with sunset language to force a look back to verify if they are working as intended and if they should continue. We need to reform corporate tax credits to assure taxpayer dollars are used for public priorities, not as giveaways to profitable companies that do not need taxpayers help. We also need to expand work supports like the EITC and child tax credit that encourages work and helps low-paid Iowans meet a family budget. The state minimum wage of $7.25/hr. needs to be raised to a living wage that encourages work.

Are Iowans being taxed appropriately? If not, what would you support changing?

Mommsen: The last couple of years the Legislature has made major changes to the tax code. The personal exemption has been increased for everyone, taxes on Iowans' retirement funds and inheritance will be eliminated over the next couple years and the income tax rate will be reduced to 3.9%. Next, I believe property taxes need to be addressed. Recently the mental health levy was removed from the property tax rolls, but more work needs to be done in this area to make it a fairer tax for everyone.

Pence: I would flip our current upside-down tax system in which middle- and low-income families pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than wealthy families. Iowans pay three kinds of state taxes: income, sales and property taxes. The income tax was the only mildly progressive tax we had which was based on the ability to pay. Income taxes generated about half of the revenue in the general budget. And 54% of the general budget goes toward education. Iowans value our public schools. Republicans are blowing a huge hole in the state budget with the goal to eliminate the income tax. They need to explain which taxes they intend to raise to replace the revenue, or which public services they intend to eliminate.

On what policy issues can Democrats and Republicans find common ground?

Mommsen: Almost 90% of the bills lawmakers pass and are sent on to the Governors desk are passed on a bipartisan basis. The majority of the bills that are passed along party lines also have amendments from both parties included. Both sides are already working together to make Iowa a better place to live.

Pence: Reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers. As a union representative, I often had to assist pregnant workers in getting accommodations so that they could safely continue working. Sometimes, the accommodations were as simple as extra bathroom breaks, or a chair at the workstation. This legislation has bi-partisan support, yet fails to pass year after year

Iowa faces a child care crisis and a workforce crisis. In Iowa, 28% of child care businesses closed from 2016 to 2021 primarily due to staffing issues. Fixing the child care crisis would go a long way in fixing the workforce crisis. The child care assistance provider rates need to be raised. Iowa estimates that the child care shortage costs the state $935 million annually in lost tax revenue, absences, and employee turnover.

Do you support Gov. Reynolds proposal to give 10,000 families scholarships to pay private school expenses?

Mommsen: I did not support the governor's proposal for several reasons. First, it didnt contain any means to evaluate if students that participated benefited from the program. Second, few guard rails were included as to how the money could be spent. Also, the means as to which students schools would be required to accept seemed confusing. I believe more school choice options can improve the education of our children, but it must be done with the correct guidelines. It is important that we spend taxpayer money wisely and for the betterment of Iowans.

Pence: First of all, these are vouchers to be funded with taxpayer money, at the expense of public schools. Every child deserves a high-quality public education. Our schools used to be the envy of the nation. Not anymore. For the past decade, funding has not kept up with costs and it is beginning to show. Rather than abandon public schools, the state needs to adequately fund them. Iowas tax dollars should not be used to fund two separate but unequal education systems. Private schools are not required to accept every child, follow the same standards and dont have publicly elected school boards to monitor how tax dollars are spent. Great schools and a well-educated workforce attract businesses and families alike. We cant afford to leave public schools behind. The governor's vouchers leave public schools  and Iowa families  behind.

What must be done to better protect Iowas land, air, and water?

Mommsen: Iowa is a leader in protecting our natural resources. In 2014, Iowa passed the Nutrient Reduction Strategy. This is a science-based strategy. Next, a couple years ago the Legislature passed SF 512 which created a steady funding stream for the strategy. Farmers with cooperation from cities, counties and businesses have adapted many practices associated with the strategy. Practices like cover crops and edge of field practices like buffer strips, wetlands and bioreactors are being added to the landscape because of these partnerships. An indication that progress is being made can be seen in the expansion of the number of streams in the state where trout are now naturally reproducing. Water sheds, like Buffalo Creek are also coming off the impaired waters list shows progress. The Iowa system is being copied by many other states due to the sound practices developed.

Pence: First, we should follow the voters wishes and fund the Iowas Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Iowa voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment in 2010 to establish this trust fund to protect and improve Iowas water quality, soil health, outdoor recreation and economic development. Twelve years later this fund sits empty, even though there is still strong bi-partisan support for the investment.

Iowa is a leader in transitioning to clean renewable energy like wind and solar. We can accelerate Iowas transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency by expanding, improving and maintaining access to renewable energy with key policies like net metering, tax incentives, and interconnection to the grid. Incentives for energy efficiency, like replacing less efficient appliances and windows help residents save money and use less energy.

Are Iowas election laws fair? If not, what would you change?

Mommsen: Iowa election laws are fair and make it very easy to vote. This is evident in the increasing number of Iowans that participated in the last election. There are several features that are rarely talked about that help make it easy to vote. You can register the day of the election with the proper identification and if you dont have identification with you when you register, you can have another registered voter verify your identification. These are just two ways that make sure Iowans have the opportunity to vote.

Pence: Not for everyone. All absentee ballots mailed prior to Election Day need to be counted. Bar codes make it easy to verify when absentee ballots are mailed. Absentee voters should not be at the mercy of the postal service and have their ballots discarded if they arrive after Election Day. The 2020 election had record voter turn-out in part because Iowa's Republican secretary of state sent out absentee ballot request forms to all registered voters. This was especially helpful to voters without internet access or a printer. This allowed home-bound Iowans to easily request an absentee ballot. I would encourage the Secretary of State's Office to mail ballot request forms to all registered voters again.

What should the state Legislature do about abortion?

Mommsen: The Legislature has started a process by which all Iowans will have the ability to vote on the issue of abortion. I believe we should continue this process.

Pence: Make it easier for parents to choose parenthood. Pass the law to require employers to grant reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers to be able to safely continue working. Raise the minimum wage. Increase affordable housing options. Allow mothers to stay on Medicaid for a year after the birth of a child. Fund family planning services and education to avoid unplanned pregnancies. Increase funding for child care services. Lead by example and offer paid family leave for state employees. Prosecute rape cases and enforce child support orders. Avoid legislation that will drive OB-GYN doctors out of the state making prenatal care harder to find.

Trust women and their doctors to make the right decisions without government intrusion into their health care.

What should the state do to improve mental health services in Iowa?

Mommsen: The No. 1 issue I believe that needs to be addressed is cooperation between providers. The counties provide mental health services through the Eastern Iowa Mental Health region. Our schools have their own programs or can work with the AEA. A big problem I see is that these two groups do not work together at all. Mental health is more than just an individual issue and if we dont address the total problem, we will always be just trying to put out fires. By having all entities working together we can have a more coordinated system.

Pence: The Medicaid reimbursement rates for psychiatric medical institutions for children need to be increased to better reflect current costs of intensive treatment and to attract providers to Iowa.

Iowa suicide deaths are higher than the national average and have increased every year for the past decade. Almost 65% of our communities do not have enough mental health providers. Rural area are especially hard hit because it is harder to find resources for prevention and treatment is less accessible.

Former President Trump signed bipartisan legislation to launch a 9-8-8 mental health hotline and required states to implement it by July 2022. President Biden allocated $3 million to Iowa for implementation. States are responsible to provide care if the hotline caller needs more than a phone conversation and for continuing the service after the federal funds run out.

Iowa is taking a wait-and-see approach. I believe it is important the legislature act now to fund the congressionally mandated hotline number, train counselors and make more services available in our rural areas.

How can the state attract and retain residents?

Mommsen: This question relates directly to my No. 1 priority  improve Iowans' quality of life. We must promote all the things that make Iowa such a great place to live. Surveys indicate that pay isnt the No. 1 reason that a person chooses an area to work. The quality-of-life opportunities are a major factor in a residents decision to accept a job in a certain area. We must show everyone Iowa is more than corn and bean fields since we are competing against mountains and oceans.

Pence: Restore our leadership role in public pre-K-12 schools and higher education. Invest in clean water and outdoor recreation opportunities. Make Iowa a safe welcoming place for all people. A place where all can thrive.
The underside of a bridge ramp isn't typically a glamorous place, but Bettendorf and Moline are making use of land under the I-74 bridge ramps.

Bettendorf is developing an urban park that includes below-ramp walkways that connect to the Mississippi River Trail system. It will include native plants that can grow with little sunlight and, eventually, an elevator that connects the park to the I-74 pedestrian and bike path.

"It's got a winding, 10-foot recreational trail that runs through the entire path that ties into the path on Grant Street and will ultimately tie into the levee bike-front path," Brent Morlok, Bettendorf city engineer, said.

The urban park is split into two phases, with phase one including paving the trail, decorative concrete edging, and landscaping.

Morlok said a majority of the work has already been completed and the rest will be done in spring 2023, which will consist mostly of planting trees, shrubs, and native grasses.

Phase two will consist of developing everything south of the railroad tracks, or toward the river, including the elevator connecting to the I-74 pedestrian path.

Developing the land south of the tracks will largely depend on the elevator, Morlok said, so the city is looking at construction beginning in 2023 or 2024.

Bids for the elevator are tentatively scheduled to go out in February.

Moline, meanwhile, is in the early stages of preparing a detailed I-74 redevelopment plan. It may include a skate park under one of the downtown ramps. But the overall planning related to the bridge takes in a much larger area, including dozens of acres.

Community Economic and Development Director Ryan Hvitlk said the main focus at the moment is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation to obtain parcels of land in the public right-of-way of the former bridge. Work with IDOT is expected to wrap up in early 2023.

The city is preparing a request for proposals for an I-74 redevelopment plan. Part of the plan will include proposals on what should happen with the former KONE/Heritage Church property the city recently bought for $3.1 million and a feasibility study of the redevelopment of the Spiegel building.

"The intent of this plan is to have a clear implementation plan with funding needs and basic design guidelines for the redevelopment area," Hvitlk said.

The process will also include an intensive public-input process.

Demolishing the old I-74 bridge is already underway, with a majority of the bridge being dismantled piece-by-piece. Explosives will be used only on portions of the bridge.

Demolition is expected to be completed in 2024.
Stroke and cancer survivor Judy Donahues new book My Blessings Are Different, chronicles her lifelong journey through grief, multiple illnesses and faith. Donahue ultimately hopes her book will inspire and encourage other people who find themselves facing difficult or life-threatening challenges.

My Blessings Are Different will be released by next week on Kindle and Amazon. Donahue, of Rapid City, will have a launch party from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 12 at Whispering Pines Volunteer Fire Department, 7980 Clarkson Road in Rapid City. Donahue will sign copies of her book during the event.

Donahue, 62, has overcome life-threatening illnesses several times since she first battled thyroid cancer at age 14. My Blessings Are Different is a testament of how faith has given her strength and guidance to persevere. Writing the book is also a promise she made to her beloved aunt, Marcelle Effertz.

She always encouraged me to write this book. Pre-COVID was the last time I saw her. She shook her finger at me and said, You write that book! Donahue said.

Her aunt has since died. Donahue was determined to keep her promise to her aunt, and the book turned out to be a three-year project.

Im dyslexic, I have ADD (attention deficit disorder) and I had a stroke! Donahue said. I had great help and a good publisher.

Im not an author. I am a wife, mom, grandmother and friend just trying to tell my story. My goal is to give God all the glory and to help one person in their life, she said.

Lifelong South Dakota resident Donahue has dealt with loss and illness since she was a preteen. Her father was longtime Miner County Sheriff Eugene Kolbach. Her mother died suddenly days before Christmas when Donahue was 11.

Three years later, Donahue was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She successfully battled that, graduated from high school and married her high school sweetheart, Doug Donahue. This year the couple celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary.

Donahues book looks back on life choices, as well as illnesses, that were the hardest to overcome. In her 20s, Donahue was a young mother with a demanding career that ultimately pushed her to a breaking point.

I worked for a retail company out of Sioux Falls and I sold my soul to that company. I neglected my marriage, I neglected my children. I worked seven days a week, Donahue said. The money was fine but I felt like they took advantage of us. There were a lot of other people in the same boat with the same company  but I did whatever they said. You know, youre in your 20s and your dad says, You have a good job, you keep it.

When God wasnt driving my bus, I would so often go in the ditch. In my 20s, I went off in the ditch, Donahue said.

Donahue quit her job to be with her father when he was dying. She was 28. When the retail company called a year later, Donahue returned to her job and regretted it. She was 30 when the pressures of her job and grief triggered an emotional breakdown. She went to counseling, and she and her husband made a major change.

My husband and I decided this was too hard and we needed to be by family, so thats when we moved to Rapid City. My oldest sister lives in Rapid City. We wanted our kids to grow up with family, Donahue said. We moved to Rapid City jobless and homeless. It was a total act of faith and it was the best move we ever made.

Donahue said the couple is grateful for their church, neighbors and community who have continually rallied around them in the 33 years theyve lived here.

Health problems have been ongoing. Doug battled cancer in 1992, and Judys thyroid cancer reoccurred. Both the Donahues had COVID-19; Doug was hospitalized and his family was unsure hed survive. Doug is currently receiving chemotherapy to treat chronic lymphatic leukemia. Judy also is facing some ongoing health issues.

The couple has two daughters, ages 40 and 36, and a son who is 30. When her son was six weeks old, Donahue was diagnosed with a glomus jugulare tumor, a rare non-cancerous vascular tumor that wraps itself around the carotid artery.

My son has never known me not having health issues, Donahue said.

Donahue went through three cranial surgeries to treat the tumor.

With all my surgeries, I had to say goodbye to my kids. I had no idea if I was coming home or not. My kids had to grow up like that, and thats hard, she said.

When Donahue was 41 and weeks away from sending her oldest daughter to college, she was also preparing for a fourth surgery that was an attempt to uncoil and remove the tumor. The night before surgery, Donahue had a stroke. She had to relearn how to walk, talk and use her hands.

"They called it a watershed stroke, which is pretty serious among strokes," Donahue said.

She had the fourth surgery eight months after her stroke, and shes undergone radiation treatments to treat the tumor.

Her own experience and recovery prompted Donahue to help launch the Black Hills Stroke Support Group and until recently, she was a facilitator of it. The group meets on the first Saturday of every month. For information, call Dixie, 605-381-2538 or Rita, 701-799-9004, for more information.

"I just want people to know there are other people out there who are survivors. They're not victims, Donahue said.

Through their health problems, Donahue and her husband raised their own children and were foster parents to 450 others for 19 years.

We live in such a selfish society, Donahue said. We wanted to show our kids it isnt all about them. There are people that need our help, and so we started fostering.  Most of the kids we clicked with. It changed our kids. It made them better. Today, they are more compassionate and caring people because of the foster kids.

One of the messages of Donahues book is the importance of finding reasons to be grateful.

I feel like nobodys challenges are over. Somebody always has it worse off than you. (Doug and I) are so blessed to have each other still, Donahue said. I didnt ever think I would see my kids get married, let alone have five grandchildren.  My kids and my grandkids and my husband are my life.

It is hard, but you persevere and move on, she said. Gods not done with us yet. Our blessings are just different.
A Chesterfield County judge on Friday dismissed a malfeasance in office charge against a former county police detective who admitted to altering seven search warrants, after agreeing with defense counsel in a written opinion that the archaic charge is not a crime in Virginia.

On a motion from defense attorneys Steven Benjamin and Betty Layne DesPortes, Circuit Judge M. Duncan Minton Jr. dismissed the misdemeanor count against former Detective Robert W. Sprouse.

Special prosecutor G. Ryan Mehaffey, who brought the charge, noted his objection to the dismissal for reasons he previously argued, and acknowledged that with the dismissal the case is final because he has no right to appeal the decision.

Chesterfield man charged in shooting of Richmond resident Charles Vick IV, 28, was charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

In the charging document filed against Sprouse in June, Mehaffey stated that Sprouse committed an offense under common law  a reference to English common law  by willfully and knowingly performing an act officially for which there was no authority of law and no power of discretion.

But Benjamin and DesPortes countered in a motion filed with the court that malfeasance in office is a descriptor of behavior by a public official that, in Virginia, subjects the official to quasi-criminal removal proceedings, or in certain circumstances as provided by the General Assembly to a civil suit for damages.

The judge, after reviewing legal briefs prepared by both the prosecution and defense, sided with Sprouses attorneys.

While malfeasance of office may have been a Common Law Crime in England, it has not remained so in the Commonwealth [of Virginia] at present, Minton said in his three-page letter to Mehaffey and defense counsel in September. To rule otherwise would result in several instances of absurdity and redundancy in the Code of Virginia. Rather, it is a definition of misbehavior in office that can lead, in quasi-criminal proceeding, to the removal from office of the malfeasant.

The judge noted that the Virginia Court of Appeals recently ruled in Brown v. Commonwealth that malfeasance in office is not a crime that would subject the violator to arrest.

In defending his position in a court filing, Mehaffey cited Virginia case law that he interpreted as evidence that malfeasance in office has been deemed a crime in Virginia.

He also noted a legal treatise quoted in a 1923 Virginia Supreme Court decision involving a commissioner of revenue found guilty of malfeasance, which says English common law  as long as it doesnt counteract the Bill of Rights or the state constitution  shall continue in full force and be the rule of decision, except as altered by the General Assembly.

Sprouse admitted to adding language to the seven search warrants on Feb. 18  two days after they had been served  after discovering that he mistakenly omitted the information, which is required by Virginia law. The information in question identifies the scope of a search being conducted or the items authorized for seizure.

The case involved a complex narcotics investigation that sought the seizure of inherently dangerous narcotics and firearms that requires specialized teams to execute.

A Chesterfield magistrate signed each of the seven warrants on Feb. 14 without noticing the error, and the officers who later helped execute the warrants also didnt notice the missing information, according to the complaint filed against Sprouse.

The omission was essentially a clerical error. But according to the complaint, Sprouse, upon learning of his mistake, did not notify the magistrate or police supervisors. Instead, he meticulously added the required information to the face of the search warrants that had been issued by the magistrate and didnt tell anyone about the alterations.

The problem was discovered on Feb. 21, when Chesterfield Chief Magistrate Daniel Holser noticed the omitted information on a copy of one of the search warrants as part of his routine review of warrants. He then confirmed the error with the other warrants, the complaint says.

The warrants the magistrate issued were not identical to the ones Sprouse filed with the court. Copies of the warrants must be filed in the locality where the warrant was executed within three business days.

When police supervisors were notified and confronted Sprouse, the detectives demeanor changed drastically, and he repeatedly and passionately stated that he was just trying to fix a clerical error, according to the complaint.

Sprouse added that he didnt mean to deceive anyone or act in a malicious manner. His supervisors explained that a signed search warrant must be returned to the magistrate who issued it for the magistrate to correct and initial.

Upon learning of the altered search warrants, the Chesterfield prosecutors office moved immediately to withdraw all charges against the five people who were charged in the case that stemmed in part from the warrants.
Ahead of this weeks observance of Halloween, I visited Lawrence and Miriam Colemans home in Chamberlayne Farms to see The Haunt.

I arrived at the couples home in the evening hours, hoping to see a little bit of the lights that make up their haunted maze. From the ground, the maze looks beautiful, but once youre 150 feet in the air, a large tree comes into sight.

During my time there, I started to notice the same problems I had when I was photographing the Chesterfield County fair a few weeks back. The camera sensor is not big enough to capture low light.

As I spoke with the Colemans, I learned about how they started putting on a show to get to know their community.

Lawrence said he remembers the first Halloween after he moved into the neighborhood. He bought a lot of candy anticipating a lot of trick-or-treaters, but there werent any.

The following year, he added some lights in the front yard, and one person showed up.

He figured the lights werent bright enough, so he added more lights and built his first maze, which played host to about 600 people that Halloween.

Nowadays, his home sees about 1,500 visitors every day for about nine days leading up to Halloween.
Law enforcement officials gather on the street in front of Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco residence, where her husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked by an intruder earlier in the morning, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times)

Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was assaulted by a man who broke into the couples house in San Francisco early Friday morning and attacked him with a hammer, authorities said.

Paul Pelosi was violently assaulted with a hammer, police said.

Three San Francisco police officers who responded to an emergency call burst into the Pelosis San Francisco home just before 2:30 a.m. local time Friday to find Paul Pelosi, 82, and an intruder grappling over a hammer, authorities said.

Advertisement

The intruder ripped the hammer out of Pelosis grip and violently assaulted him with it in front of the officers, Chief William Scott of the San Francisco police said at a news conference.

The officers tackled the assailant and disarmed him, Scott said, before requesting backup and giving medical aid. Both men were taken to a hospital, he said.

Advertisement

A spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi, Drew Hammill, said in a statement earlier Friday that Paul Pelosi was expected to make a full recovery.

The police have a suspect in custody.

Authorities identified the attacker as David Depape, 42. Scott said Depape would be charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary and several other additional felonies.

The Capitol Police said special agents from its field office in California quickly arrived on scene. Investigators from the agencys threat assessment section on the East Coast were dispatched to assist the FBI and the San Francisco police.

The speaker was not home.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail at the time of the break-in, the Capitol Police said.

The Pelosis have owned a three-floor red brick town house in San Franciscos exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood since 1987. In January 2021, after Congress passed a stimulus bill, their home was vandalized with graffiti, and a pigs head was left on the sidewalk. The vandalism occurred before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

The motive for the attack on Paul Pelosi was not clear Friday morning, but the assailant was in search of Nancy Pelosi, according to a person briefed on the attack. Before the assault occurred, the intruder confronted Paul Pelosi in their home shouting, Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?

Since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, members of Congress from both parties have experienced a surge in threats and confrontations, including stalking, armed visits to their homes and assaults.

Who is Paul Pelosi?

Pelosi is a real estate and technology investor. He met Nancy Pelosi at Georgetown University in Washington, and they married in 1963.

Advertisement

He was also in the news in August, when he pleaded guilty to a single count of driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a car accident in Napa County, California, where the Pelosis own a vineyard. He was sentenced to five days in jail, though he did not have to serve that time, and eight hours of community service.

The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said Friday that President Joe Biden had called Nancy Pelosi and that he was praying for Paul Pelosi and the Pelosi family. The president continues to condemn all violence, and asks that the familys desire for privacy be respected, Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

c.2022 The New York Times Company
In a column that published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch earlier this week, Youngkin is collecting big business wins, the executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia, Ken Nunnenkamp, tries to make the case that Glenn Youngkin has been a springboard to Virginias economy. Spoiler alert: I dont think Ken has a future in litigation. Or in writing. Unless by springboard he means taking credit for that which others have done.

There is no question that Virginias economy has been booming for nearly a decade  and thats not a coincidence. Our last two governors  both Democrats and both of whom have experience opening small businesses  used their expertise to build a Virginia economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Not just for people like our current governor.

Virginias economic renaissance began eight years ago when Terry McAuliffe took office. He was tasked with fixing the botched cleanup at the state level of the Great Recession, which cost Virginians tens of thousands of jobs and our commonwealth billions in economic activity. Gov. McAuliffe inherited an unemployment rate of 5.4% and Virginia had barely added 1,000 jobs in Bob McDonnells final year in office.

And some of those 1,000 jobs, I think, were criminal defense lawyers for himself.

McAuliffe created more than 200,000 jobs during his tenure, leaving office having slashed unemployment to 3.7%. Not only that, under McAuliffes guidance hourly earnings and personal income increased. You dont need to be an economist to know those numbers show the success of McAuliffes efforts to build the new Virginia economy. And you dont need to be an economist to know that Glenn Youngkin is like a trust-fund baby  inheriting what he didnt create and slowly letting it dissipate.

The story doesnt stop there. It picks up. McAuliffe passed the baton to Ralph Northam in 2018, who brought in a record $81 billion in economic investment during his term. Most notably, Northam led Virginia to be the best state to do business, according to CNBC, two years running. Under Glenn Im too busy campaigning out of state to try and bring jobs back to the state Youngkin, Virginia lost that title. But he doesnt seem to want to talk about that  he only wants to pick and choose when talking about business initiatives in the commonwealth.

When Youngkin does talk about achievements, hes often taking credit for others work. Take StarKist, for example. Glenn Trumpkin was so proud of the grand opening of StarKist Co.s new headquarters in April. It seems his speechwriter forgot to include that it was, in fact, Ralph Northam who brought the Chicken of the Sea to the commonwealth. Youngkin taking credit for StarKist is like me taking credit for my own birth. I was the result of mom and dads efforts, but had nothing to do with the actual event.

And lets talk about trade missions. McAuliffe crisscrossed the globe  35 times to be exact  to bring new business to Virginia, resulting in almost $20 billion in new capital investment. Ralph Northam did the same. So did all of their predecessors dating back to before Doug Wilder. All governors in recent history have traveled both internationally and domestically to pitch Virginias assets to the rest of the world. How many trade missions has Youngkin taken? Zero. How many red vests has he given out to Donald Trump wannabe candidates? Countless. And by the way, his red vests are going to work out about as well as Lamar Alexanders plaid shirts when he ran for president.

Now, let me admit, Im partisan. But this is not a partisan piece. Its something Virginians need to know  its the truth. Business professionals from both sides of the aisle will tell you how beneficial both Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam were to Virginias economy. So Im just slightly confused about this notion that Glenn Youngkin is collecting big for Virginia. And Im also confused why the media would entertain a column littered with inaccuracies. Not every single thing has to be partisan. Isnt it enough for Glenn Youngkin to have inherited a booming economy? I guess once he got into office  an office he doesnt frankly spend much time in  his campaign talking points that Virginias economy tanked under Democratic leadership didnt actually check out.

Virginia is very blessed to have such an economy where everyone can thrive. And it is also my hope that the Richmond Times-Dispatchs editorial board, which reaches thousands of eyes across the commonwealth, will do better to deliver facts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but theres a difference between stating an opinion, and lying.
A Covington man pleaded guilty Friday to destroying news media equipment on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol after he joined a mob that overran the building in an attempt to stop a so-called stolen election.

Joshua Dillon Haynes will face up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced next year, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington D.C.

Court documents state that the 40-year-old obstructed an official proceeding when he and hundreds of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress being held Jan. 6, 2021, to certify an election won by President Joe Biden.

As the horde overpowered police officers and forced its way into the locked Capitol, Haynes crawled through a broken window at about 2:50 p.m. and spent the next two hours roaming through the building and into the office of an un-named U.S. Senator, according to a statement of facts introduced at his hearing.

After members of Congress had been forced to evacuate, Haynes emerged with a crowd that made its way to a news media staging area set up on the northeast corner of the Capitol grounds.

Wearing a black head covering pulled over his face, Haynes was seen on surveillance camera footage picking up and slamming to the ground cameras, tripods and other pieces of news media equipment as reporters fled.

We attacked the CNN reporters and the fake news and destroyed tens of thousands of dollars of their video and television equipment, Haynes wrote to a friend in a text that was among the evidence presented in court.

i Kicked the fake news ass, he wrote.

After linking the social media posts to Haynes, authorities arrested him at his Covington home in July 2021. He was allowed to remain free on house arrest, but has been in jail for the last year after being charged and later convicted in state court of domestic abuse.

Haynes traveled from Covington to Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 to attend a Stop the Steal rally, where Trump urged a large crowd of supporters to fight against an election that he claimed was stolen.

There has been no credible evidence of the widespread election fraud alleged by the former president.

Fridays guilty plea precludes any courtroom debate over what role  if any  Haynes had with an extremist group accused of helping to plan the uprising.

Prosecutors have brought seditious conspiracy charges against some members of the Proud Boys, alleging that they plotted to forcibly oppose the lawful and peaceful transfer of presidential power.

Although Haynes was not charged with seditious conspiracy, defense attorney Steven Kiersh of Washington has said in court filings that authorities may try to link him to the group. In June, he filed a motion asking a judge to exclude any such evidence.

In a response, prosecutors did not rule out the possibility of a connection.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Tessman wrote in court papers that while the government did not plan to present evidence of such an association in its case in chief, it could become relevant at trial if the defense opened the door  for example, by arguing that Haynes does not support the Proud Boys.

Haynes denied being a member of the group when questioned by the FBI during a search of his Covington home last summer.

However, he told federal agents that he attended a meeting of the Proud Boys in Fredericksburg, had dinner with several members and would have signed up if there was a chapter closer to his home, according to court records.

In the 21 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 880 people from across the country have been charged with crimes related to the breach of the Capitol, including nearly 300 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

Six of the defendants are from Western Virginia.

Two former Rocky Mount police officers and a member of the West Virginia National Guard who lives in Henry County have been convicted. Trials for the remaining two are scheduled for November.
Roanoke police said Friday that a suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting last month of a teenager.

Demarion D. Sanders, 15, was found mortally wounded outside a residence on Palm Avenue in Roanokes Forest Park neighborhood on the evening of Sept. 7.

Now Demarco C. Jackson, 23 of Roanoke, faces charges of first degree murder and use of a firearm in relation to Sanders death, a police statement said.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives identified Jackson as the suspect in this homicide, the statement said.

Jackson was located in Houston, Texas, and taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service there Sept. 24.

Jackson initially resisted extradition, but was brought back to Roanoke by city police, then formally charged and jailed, the statement said.
BRISTOL  Groundbreaking activities for the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino are expected in the coming weeks, Bristol Casino President Allie Evangelista said on Friday.

Corporate executives from Hard Rock International have been in Bristol this week and approved details of the project.

We are very excited. We will have a groundbreaking ceremony in the next few weeks. We should be starting some additional demo, potentially as early as next week. We are ready to move forward and will be opening spring-summer of 2024, Evangelista told the Herald Courier.

The formal groundbreaking ceremony is expected in November once schedules are finalized, she said.

We should see some construction equipment as early as next week. Our construction company has been on standby so they are ready to start. We should see some changes  some noise, some dust very soon, she said. Pretty much everything we communicated we were going to bring to Bristol  and some more  have been approved so we are ready to roll.

Earlier this week Evangelista was scheduled to make a presentation to the Virginia Lottery Board, but remained in Bristol to attend an event with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The information the lottery board received showed that more than half of the temporary Bristol Casinos patrons have come from within a 50-mile radius.

Players from 10 Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia localities represent more than half of the total guests at the Bristol Casino, future home of Hard Rock during its first three months of operation.

Sullivan and Washington counties in Tennessee represent 29% of the clientele and made 39% of total visits there during the period, according to information provided by Evangelista and the Virginia Lottery Board.

Nearly 40,000 individual players from all 50 states made nearly 109,000 visits to the temporary facility at the former Bristol Mall. Of that total, more than 7,500 are from Sullivan County  representing nearly one in five total players  and they made more than 30,000 visits. That represents 28% of total visits to the facility which opened July 8, or an average of four visits each.

Not having a hotel and a destination resort, we expect to be more of a locals market and people driving within maybe 100 miles is basically what were seeing the most right now, Evangelista said. That is very traditional in markets like this. Our demographic and our visits will change quite a bit once we have a hotel too.

The casino already has more than 50,000 members enrolled in its customer loyalty program.

I think where were surprised and maybe we didnt expect to be as high as the number of signups. Having 50,000 people in our database after four months of operation is very strong  about double what we expected, which is good for us, she said.

Nearly 4,000 residents of Washington County Tennessee accounted for about 10% of the casinos total players to date and they made more than 12,000 visits  an average of 3.1 apiece.

Washington County Virginia was third in the total number of players, nearly 2,200 and visits, with more than 8,600  an average of 3.97 visits per player.

The greatest concentration of visitors came from host city Bristol Virginia where 1,100 residents made a combined 4,456 visits. That represents 8% of the citys total adult population.

More than 18,300 players from elsewhere combined to make 78,490 visits to the casino.

The Bristol Casino has entertained some international guests as well, with most coming from Canada, so far, Evangelista said.

Going forward, this first winter raises some questions.

As we prepare for 2023 we try to forecast what business is going to look like, both for business, and we want to be prepared to service our guests. Not having any history makes things a little difficult because three months of history doesnt necessary mean thats what were going to see going forward, Evangelista said.

September is typically a slower month, just change of seasons, people going back to school, that type of thing. We saw a little bit of decline in visitation but very normal with other markets. Its a question mark what is going to happen in winter because its an area with a lot of options when the weather is nice. When winter comes, it limits the options of what is there to do in free time. We expect to be busy, she said.

Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons typically mean fewer visitors at casinos, she said, but they are already planning for New Years.

We get really busy between Christmas and New Years. We are really excited planning a really fun evening for New Years Eve. Lots of things are in the works so well invite our guests to spend New Years Eve with us and ring in 2023, she said.

Previously released financial information shows the Bristol Casino generated $40.3 million in adjusted gross revenue through September, with $7.2 million going to the state in taxes with $2.4 million to be split among the localities of Southwest Virginia.

The Bristol Casino also provided more than $22,900 to four local charitable causes during the period. Team members raised more than $12,800 for Habitat for Humanity, provided $6,400 in sponsorship and donations to the 911 Stair Climb Memorial, over $2,700 to the local VFW and $1,000 to the Down Syndrome Societys Buddy Walk.

In October we raised a lot of funds for the American Cancer Society and partnered with them, Evangelista said. They will be receiving a check that will include donations from our team members and raised funds. Our guests raised funds by rounding up their bills at our food and beverage outlets and donating tickets from slot machines and their change. I will have final numbers once we close out Oct. 31.

The casino plans to partner with the Feeding Southwest Virginia food bank and Salvation Army in November, she said.
Seguin, TX (78155)

Today

Cloudy with showers. Thunder possible. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Thunder possible. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
GAYVILLE, S.D. -- Law enforcement officers seized more than $100,000 in marijuana and guns in a drug bust at a Gayville home.

South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation agents, Yankton Police Department officers and Yankton County Sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant Wednesday at the house. It resulted in the seizure of 22 pounds of marijuana, 751 grams of concentrated marijuana wax, 95 Nerds Rope marijuana edible packages, Suboxone, a Ruger SR-556 rifle, a Glock 48 9mm pistol and $6,250 in cash.

The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $100,000.

Officers arrested David James Brown, who was charged in Yankton County with possession of marijuana, distribution of marijuana, violation of a drug-free zone, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.
VERMILLION, S.D.  Technology impacts every aspect of life and those who can develop and implement these systems are in high demand.

The University of South Dakotas computer science program has grown significantly over the last few years. It is also the first university in South Dakota to offer an artificial intelligence program and has been attracting students from all over the world.

The computer science program offers degrees in computer science, data science and artificial intelligence while providing opportunities for internships and student groups.

USD had a 137% increase in international graduate students this year, with almost all of the growth in the computer science program.

Demand for computer scientists is estimated to grow 21 percent from now until 2031 and the demand for data scientists is estimated to grow 36 percent over the same period, both faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Demand for artificial intelligence and machine-learning experts is expected to increase 71 percent.

KC Santosh is the chair of the computer science program and founded USDs artificial intelligence program.

In simple terms, artificial intelligence is the use of machine learning, data science, image processing, signal processing, pattern recognition and data mining algorithms, to name a few, to solve complex and difficult problems and large datasets to problem-solve.

As the world is data-driven, predictive modeling is another term, which business and market would like to call as AI-driven tool, Santosh said.

Traditionally speaking, AI technologies and tools are used when there is a complicated task that may be expensive and error-prone when done manually, Santosh said.

Santosh said the need of artificial intelligence is everywhere and can be implemented in numerous ways. He said the ability to analyze and predict what to do next is important in many industries such as healthcare, education, transportation, security, defense, farming and finance.

Data happens everywhere, they are collected over time, and regardless of the source of data, there is a strong need for AI/data analysts to interpret information, make decisions and visualize output, Santosh said. USD is meeting the demands of the industry with the AI academic programs.

Santosh is an expert in AI and started with USD in 2015. Instead of working for massive technology companies like Apple, Meta or Google, he wanted to be an academician.

He said academic researchers dont have restrictions like corporate companies do and can look 10 years into the future. For example, he said bitcoin; a cryptocurrency  based on a white paper was invented in 2008 and many years later people made it.

We are more ambitious, he said.

Santosh said he saw the potential for USD to grow. He said the state was a minimum of 10 years behind other states in terms of technological advancements. He started to look at how to prepare the workforce using an artificial intelligence program to serve South Dakota. The program was officially announced in 2020 and was first implemented in the fall of 2021.

The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in AI, as well as certificates for non-computer science majors, called a data science certificate.

AI is not only for computer scientists. The AI certificate allows individuals to build computational tools to analyze their data they produce in their respective career fields. Instead of having to hire a computer scientist to analyze the data, someone who has the certificate can do the work.

Santosh used a hat as an analogy. A students main degree or area of focus is the hat and the AI certificate is a feather.

Lets say youre biology major, thats the hat, the hat is already beautiful, he said. Having a feather in the hat makes you more powerful and confident in your work and you are different from others.

Santosh said when running a data science-related Kaggle competition, 67 percent of the participants were not computer science majors. He said it shows people are interested and motivated in learning data science, and it is not difficult.

Let us build our state together, we are not too late, he said.

The graduate program currently has 159 students and Santosh is anticipating a minimum of 70 additional students in spring 2023.

Learn the ins and outs of the latest technological developments, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, pattern recognition, data science, information retrieval, internet of things, cybersecurity and big data, according to USDs website.

Suprin Nakarmi is in his second semester of the computer science graduate program. He was attracted to the university because of the artificial intelligence specialization and the work done by Santosh.

Nakarmi said Santosh explained difficult concepts elegantly and he wanted to work with him. Most of the courses Nakarmi is taking are related to AI.

As a native of Nepal, Nakarmi said he likes the way AI could be used in low to middle-income countries to help with basic health checkups and diagnoses.

If the case is too serious, they can get faster help, he said.

Computer science and AI are high-paying jobs, with a median salary above $100,000. The top five computer science jobs and salaries are: machine learning engineer at $142,859, data scientist at $126,927, computer vision engineer at $126,400, data warehouse architect at $126,008 and algorithm engineer at $109,313.

Santosh said one student graduating from the AI program in December will work for a company making $105,000 with a $10,500 bonus every year. Another student will work for a company making $129,000 with a $27,000 bonus every year.

An internship offered $66,000 for three months of work to a student.

Computer science graduates with AI specialization make money more than anybody else on average in the state of South Dakota, Santosh said.
SIOUX CITY  There might not be another contest on this years ballot matching two candidates as familiar with the office they are seeking  and each other  as the race for Woodbury County Attorney.

Incumbent Patrick PJ Jennings, a Democrat, has held the position for 16 years and is seeking a fifth term. His challenger, Republican James Loomis, has been an assistant Woodbury County attorney for 19 years.

Both are familiar with the offices inner workings and the importance of partnering with law enforcement and other agencies to prosecute offenders. Loomis said he would improve the offices engagement with law enforcement and elected officials from all corners of the county.

Its not that the county attorneys office isnt serving people, I want the county attorneys office to serve people better, Loomis said. I dont think those things have been done well enough. Its easy to focus on Sioux City, but a lot of towns in Woodbury County feel slighted.

Loomis has pledged to meet monthly with the countys police chiefs and sheriff to discuss issues and concerns. He also plans to attend city council meetings throughout the county to hear concerns from people living in those communities.

Its an expansion of his practice of meeting regularly with Sioux City police investigators and officers to answer questions and see if he can be of help with their cases. Its helped him build trust, he said, and has led to more than 100 active and retired law enforcement officers endorsing him.

In my time as an assistant county attorney, Ive seen that works. I know that works because thats what Ive been doing, said Loomis, 45, a Winterset, Iowa, native who now lives near Bronson.

When he took office in 2006, Jennings said, he heard criticism, some of it deserved, that the county attorneys office wasnt responsive to law enforcement and other community partners such as social service agencies and community organizations. He said hes continually worked to improve the offices relationships with everyone.

On a weekly basis Im getting a note from one of our community partners thanking someone in our office for their help, Jennings said. I would reject the notion I dont have a relationship with law enforcement. We have an open door. They can come in and visit any time.

Jennings said hes worked on projects that benefit all of Woodbury County. His office was involved in the rewrite of the School Threat Prevention Guide, which applies to the whole county. He hopes to see expansion of Sioux Citys Handle With Care Program, a program he helped facilitate in which police officers identify children who witness violence and notify school officials to watch for signs of behavioral changes so counselors can step in, to all of Woodbury County.

I keep the communication lines open. There is always going to be a push and pull of what can we do better, said Jennings, 58, who lives in Sergeant Bluff and began working in the county attorneys office in 2000, after graduating from the University of South Dakota School of Law.

If re-elected, Jennings said hed like to add an investigators position to his office, someone who can help attorneys find and keep in touch with witnesses and serve subpoenas, freeing police officers and sheriffs deputies from those tasks. Hed also like to add a second civil attorney to help handle the growing number of time-consuming mental health committal cases and postconviction relief petitions filed by defendants who have been convicted, allowing prosecutors more time to focus on their current cases.

Jennings said he plans to continue to educate himself about human trafficking so the county attorneys office can be an effective partner with local, state and federal authorities in identifying and prosecuting those crimes.

Loomis wants to see prosecutors able to bring stronger cases to trial. He said meeting often with law enforcement can build trusting relationships in which officers are comfortable working with prosecutors and seeking help when investigating cases, even if they dont like the advice they receive.

The crux of it is you are developing the best case possible so you can develop the best case to move forward, said Loomis, who joined the county attorneys office after graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2003. As I look at what the county attorneys office needs to do to move forward, I think Im the best equipped for it. Ive got experience. Ive been doing many of these things for years.

Jennings said he offers voters the chance to continue the work being done by the county attorneys office and its commitment to the community.

Ive proven that Im successful at doing this job, and Ive been successful at this job for 16 years, he said. Change just for change isnt necessarily a good thing.
Elena Johannsen, of Shedd Aquarium, far left, uses a pole to guide a floating wetland into place as she and groups of community volunteers prepare floating wetlands along the South Branch of the Chicago River on Oct. 27, 2022. The goal of the floating wetlands is to diversify aquatic habitat along the South Branch. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Four years ago, the Shedd Aquarium and local nonprofit Urban Rivers wanted to breathe new life into the Chicago River, a long relic of the citys industrial history. The groups installed human-made floating islands filled with lush plants and greenery in the rivers North Branch, improving the well-being of local wildlife and Chicagoans alike.

The organizations are looking to bring these same benefits to the South Side, with plans to install a new set of floating wetlands totaling over 3,000 square feet in the river adjacent to Canal Origins Park.

Advertisement

The new project is possible through grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Pritzker Family Foundation. Organizers expect the floating wetland to be complete in the next week.

Jaclyn Wegner, director of conservation action at Shedd, said the islands are a first step in revitalizing the area. After about a year and a half of planning, Shedd and Urban Rivers are working to construct six wetlands in total, with hopes of unlocking untapped ecological potential.

Advertisement

Theres a lot living here, but they are really lacking quality habitat, Wegner said. When you look out to the river, you see a lot of hard walls. You see a lack of vegetation, things that provide food and shelter for animals.

The South Branch of the Chicago River has historically been developed for industrial needs, largely for moving goods and dumping. The floating islands will live near Bubbly Creek, which sits at the southern fork of the river. The name recalls a time when local slaughterhouses discarded animal carcasses in the water. The decaying remains would release bubbles that would rise to the waters surface.

[ $1 million project aims to restore habitats and expand conservation efforts at Bubbly Creek ]

The effects of an industrialized river run deep, according to Wegner. Steel walls, infrastructure and barges have encroached on natural riverbanks and wildlife habitats. The habitat loss and pollution continue to make the rivers unwelcoming to wildlife and people, she said.

The addition of the floating islands may help buffer these effects, using plants to help create natural habitats along the Chicago River and encourage the return of native species of fish, birds and other wildlife. These islands can also build root systems that help filter contaminated or nutrient-dense water.

Maya Kelly, from left, of the Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers, and student volunteers Erin Snyder and Kly Suquino, load up and dump several buckets of substrate onto the floating wetlands. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Were working on this floating wetland installation as kind of a first step to get there, Wegner said.

These human-made platforms float on the surface of the water and interlock to form larger islands, anchoring to the banks of the river.

The six floating wetlands will form a kind of archipelago of islands along the river. The islands come together piece by piece, almost like Legos, that can be arranged into different configurations. Some of the mats will incorporate a chained basket at the bottom for submerged plants, such as lilies. Fish and other wildlife can also use them as refuge.

For the past week, volunteers from Shedd, Urban Rivers and the community have helped construct main pieces of the islands using a combination of plastic tubing, weed mat and fencing.

Advertisement

On Thursday, volunteers could be seen forming an assembly line to toss aquarium substrate along the top of the platforms. The plants will grip onto the substrate to grow above and beneath the waters surface.

The installation process started just about a week ago, and locals have already shown interest in the work.

Weve had so many community members come by to say, What are you doing here? This seems really interesting. I want to learn more,  Wegner said. Some of them run home to grab gloves and come back to volunteer.

Northwestern graduate student Erin Snyder traveled a bit farther. She first came down from Edgewater last week to volunteer. She studies plant biology and conservation, so she felt especially excited to take part in an effort to improve Chicagos natural space.

Just seeing the amount of work that goes into this makes me excited to see it get out there, Snyder said. It makes me excited to see all the other projects that Urban Rivers and Shedd will do in the future.

Wegner said Shedd has connected with a variety of organizations around the South Branch area, including around Pilsen and Chinatown, for this project. She said Shedd wants to continue engaging with local residents to help them feel invested in improving their natural space.

Advertisement

Groups of volunteers from the Shedd Aquarium and Urban Rivers prepare floating wetlands along the South Branch of the Chicago River, adjacent to Canal Origen Park, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Were going to be doing a bunch of community engagement and programming for people to connect, to explore and really be part of improving the health of the river, Wegner said. Thats important for wildlife and also important for all of us.

Shedd and Urban Rivers first partnered in 2018 to construct floating wetlands on the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, a human-made channel along the east side of Goose Island, as part of a project known as Wild Mile.

[ Not just this thing that you dye green and you drive over: Nonprofit hopes to connect residents with Chicago Rivers wild side ]

Anecdotally, Shedd and Urban Rivers organizers saw the benefits, with residents sharing that they enjoyed the greenery and increased presence of fish, beavers and other wildlife.

Shedd, Urban Rivers and other environmental organizations have since identified unique possibilities for the South Branch.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

Preliminary research looking at fish species along the North Branch and South Branch of the Chicago River yielded unexpected results. The study showed a larger than expected variety of aquatic life on the South Side. Researchers see the area as a biodiversity hot spot that wetland islands can further cultivate, said Nick Wesley, executive director of Urban Rivers.

Its just a fantastic area. Some of these places, theyre so isolated, Wesley said. They have a lot of potential for really creating a fantastic ecosystem. These (wetlands) just kind of add more habitat and more opportunities for that to really develop.

Advertisement

A group of volunteers load up several buckets of substrate before adding plants on the floating wetlands. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

If you look at the lakefront, the development, that was very clear early on that it was first industry and then it became recreation, Wesley said. The river did not have that.

He hopes the project can help give people more access to the wildlife and ecosystems in which they live.

For people in urban areas, its hard to get good access to nature, Wesley said. The river is something that just flows through the entire city. Its kind of a connecting piece, connecting different communities together.

Wesley also sees the project as a way of envisioning a better future for those communities.

This is such a fun project, but its really part of supporting diversity, especially within a city that is really developed more for the sake of industry, Wesley said. Were trying to kind of rewind the clock, but also have a vision for what the future is going to be like.
SIOUX CITY  Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill tested election equipment Friday morning at the courthouse ahead of the Nov. 8 general election.

According to a statement from Pates office, every vote tabulator undergoes a logic and accuracy test. Sample ballots are tested on the machine to ensure the tabulators are working correctly and recording votes properly.

These pre-election audits are instrumental to ensure the ballot tabulators will produce accurate results on Election Day, Pate said. Iowans can be rest assured my office and county auditors across the state are dedicated to the accuracy of our elections and the sanctity of your ballot.

The statement said Pates visit to Sioux City was one of many across the state to provide transparency in Iowas election process.
Jones is expected to appear via video, for the Wednesday hearing, 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
Most Americans  81%  think government investments in scientific research are worthwhile investments for society over time, according to the Pew Research Centers latest survey on public perceptions of science.

A similar proportion said they have at least a fair amount of confidence that scientists act in the publics best interests: 77% for all scientists, and 80% for medical scientists. As with previous surveys, this puts confidence in scientists at about the same level as in the military  77%. Its also much higher than for any other group pollsters asked about and, unlike most groups, fairly stable over time, despite recent increasing political polarization.

Science supporters want researchers to share their insights to help address societal problems. Scientists themselves want their research to have an impact. So public judgments like those identified in the Pew report matter because of what they suggest about how Americans might see evidence-based guidance on issues such as climate change and public health.

Dont fixate on the negatives

It would be easy for the scientific community to look at this data and lament the 1 in 5 Americans who said they dont think government investments in science are important or who said they do not have confidence in scientists.

Same with the fact that confidence in scientists has retreated from a small surge that Pew surveys previously identified starting in late 2018, or the reality that Republicans appear to have increasingly more negative views about scientists and scientific investments than Democrats do.

But I suspect there are more shades of gray behind the black and white numbers themselves.

For instance, while two-thirds of Democrat-oriented respondents said they supported scientists involvement in policy debates, less than a third of Republican-oriented respondents said they share this perspective, a further decrease from the proportion of Republicans who expressed this view in both 2019 and 2020.

But consider that this specific question only gave people two choices. Respondents could say they want scientists to take an active role in policy or focus on establishing sound scientific facts.

Given the choice, I suspect many respondents from across the political spectrum would have given a more nuanced answer. Even the biggest science boosters likely want scientists to devote most of their time to research and teaching.

Within this new survey, in fact, only about a third of Republicans said scientists currently have too much influence in public policy debates and about a quarter said scientists have not enough influence. The plurality  39%  said they have about the right amount.

From my perspective, yes, it is disheartening that about 2 in 10 Republicans think scientists are usually worse at making good policy decisions about scientific issues than other people and that this proportion has doubled since 2019.

But about a quarter of Republicans still said scientists decisions are usually better than others, with about half saying scientists decisions are neither better nor worse.

And it seems possible that while current Republicans responded to the survey they were thinking about issues such as abortion or COVID-19 policies that involve medicine, but also ethics and economics and personal values. Additionally, many Republicans presumably recognize that most scientists oppose current directions in the party and may be using their poll answers to communicate their sense of alienation.

What could improve overall perceptions

Data such as those provided by the Pew Research Center point to potential problems; they dont suggest a fix. Taking a positive view, though, puts the focus on potential solutions.

As Anthony Dudo and I argue in our new book on science communication strategy, anyone who wants to be trusted  including scientists  should consider social science research about what enhances trust and perceptions of trustworthiness.

Key among these findings: people perceive others as trustworthy if they appear to be caring, honest and competent.

Looking back at the Pew Research Centers 2019 surveys on trust in science, which are consistent with other research, it seems that Americans largely perceive scientists as fairly competent. However, Americans tend to be less likely to believe scientists care about peoples best interests, are transparent about conflicts of interest or willing to take responsibility for mistakes.

These perceived characteristics help explain the chunk of the American population who dont feel confident about scientists motivations. They are also perceptions that scientists, like others, can take responsibility for through their choices about how they behave and communicate.

Further, Americans tend to see research scientists less positively than science-focused practitioners such as doctors, suggesting that they feel more distant from academic researchers.

Looking on the bright side for better results

Focusing too heavily on the minority of people with negative perceptions is dangerous for those of us who want science to play a strong role in society because attacking ones critics may exacerbate the problem.

While it might feel righteous to fight for science, being aggressive toward people who question ones trustworthiness seems unlikely to spur positive perceptions.

Unlike politicians, science supporters probably cant win by making others look bad. Just like the press, members of the scientific community want to ensure their fields long-term place in society. Research suggests that for scientists, building real relationships with other members of the public will depend on communicating and behaving in ways that demonstrate caring, honesty and expertise.

Loud griping by scientists and their supporters about how too many people just dont appreciate sciences place in society, or insults toward those who dont see its value, are bound to be counterproductive.

The stakes are high as humanity confronts a number of science-related challenges, including climate change, infectious diseases and habitat destruction. Anyone who wants scientific evidence to have a seat at the table where solutions are being discussed may need to follow the evidence on how to make that happen.

___

John C. Besley has received funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, The Kavli Foundation, the Rita Allen Foundation, SRI International, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Science Foundation.

___
Drought conditions worsened significantly across Nebraska last week, especially in areas that are experiencing extreme drought, according to the latest Drought Monitor released by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

All but a tiny sliver of the state along the Kansas border is in at least a moderate drought, and more than 83% is now in severe drought or worse.

But the biggest jump in drought conditions came in the extreme category, which now covers more than 51% of the state, up from about 42% the previous week.

Extreme drought now covers large swaths of the Panhandle, southwest Nebraska and north-central and northeast Nebraska.

The only good news was that areas in exceptional drought, the worst category, stayed steady at 11.5% of the state. Those areas remain predominantly in southwest and northeast Nebraska.

Lancaster County's situation remained pretty much the same as last week, with all but the northeastern corner in severe drought.

Lincoln has received only about 2.2 inches of rain since the beginning of August, which is more than 6 inches below normal for the period. Currently, it's the second-driest August-October period ever recorded in Lincoln.

The extremely dry conditions have wreaked havoc in a number of ways, including causing wildfires that have burned hundreds of thousands of acres across the state.

The latest were two fires in southern Lancaster County on Sunday that burned an estimated 9,000 acres, injured two firefighters and damaged numerous homes and other structures.

The drought also has been hard on agriculture in the state.

As of last week, 84% of both topsoil and subsoil were rated as short or very short of moisture, while 82% of pastureland was rated as poor or very poor.

A report released Thursday from the Nebraska Farm Bureau showed that drought is the second-biggest concern for the state's farmers and ranchers going into next year, behind only crop input costs.

Jay Rempe, the Farm Bureau's senior economist, estimated the state's farmers could lose as much as $2 billion in revenue this year just on the corn, soybean and wheat crops.

"But its likely to be worse because these estimates do not account for other crops like sorghum, sugar beets, sunflowers and dry beans, Rempe said.
A mountain lion that roamed residential neighborhoods in Springfield was sedated Friday and taken to an Indiana sanctuary that houses big cats, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said.

The young male was tranquilized by staff with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Wildlife Services branch and sent to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana, the state agency said.

Advertisement

IDNR wildlife experts, Illinois Conservation Police, the USDA and the Springfield Police Department determined the animal had entered areas of the city where he would be a threat to people or property.

The animal, which was fitted last year with a GPS collar by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, had wandered to Illinois from Nebraska. It arrived in Springfield on Wednesday, and IDNR warned residents not to disturb it while the agency tracked its movements.

Advertisement

The DNR asked people to leave the mountain lion alone because the animals are a protected species in Illinois and its illegal to kill them unless they pose an imminent threat to person or property.

Its appearance in Springfield marks the second time in recent weeks a mountain lion has been detected in Illinois. The DNR said last week that a mountain lion was struck and killed on Oct. 16 by a vehicle along Interstate 88 in DeKalb County.
As Halloween approaches, people get ready to celebrate the spooky, scary and haunted. Festivities revolve around the dead, whom some believe might actually mingle with the living on Halloween night.

Scholars often have noted these modern-day celebrations have origins in Samhain, which is celebrated by ancient Celtic cultures. In contemporary Irish Gaelic, Halloween is still known as Oiche Shamhna, or Eve of Samhain.

In 9th century Irish literature, Samhain, halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, is mentioned many times as an integral part of the Celtic culture. It was one of four seasonal turning points on the Celtic calendar, and perhaps the most important one. It signaled the end of the light half of the year, associated with life, and the beginning of the dark half, associated with the dead.

Archaeological records suggest commemorations of Samhain can be traced back to the Neolithic period, some from 6,000 years ago. Neolithic Ireland had no towns or cities, but the people did craft huge architectural monuments, which acted as seasonal gathering spots and housed the remains of the societies elites.

These megalithic (big stone in Greek) sites would at times host huge numbers of people, gathered together for brief periods around specific calendar dates. Archaeological records reveal evidence of massive feasts yet little to no evidence of domestic use. If people did live year-round at these sites, they would have been a select few.

Data from animal bones can reveal approximate time periods of the feasts, and additional data come from the monuments themselves. The monuments are not only situated in key places in the landscape but are also celestially aligned to allow the sun or moon to shine directly into the center of the monument on a particular day.

These sites connect the landscape to the cosmos, creating a lived calendar, scripted in stone. The UNESCO World Heritage monument of Newgrange, for example, is built so that a shaft of sunlight illuminates the innermost chamber precisely on the winter solstice.

Less than 30 miles away lies the hill of Tara, another massive megalithic site. The Mound of the Hostages, the oldest extant megalithic structure at Tara, is aligned to Samhain. Tara is known as the traditional spiritual and political capital of Ireland, and here too archaeologists have found evidence of mass seasonal gatherings, with the remains of feasts and great bonfires.

According to early Irish literature, as well as traditional folklore collected in the 19th century, Samhain was a time for people to come together, under a command of peace, to feast, tell stories, make social and political claims, engage in important sacred rituals and, perhaps most important, commune with the dead.

The pre-Christian realm of the dead was referred to as the Otherworld. The Otherworld was not somewhere far away but, rather, overlapping with the world of the living. The Irish beliefs about the Otherworld were detailed and complex. It is full of magic, witchcraft, speaking with the dead and seeing into the future. The dead were traditionally believed to continue to see the living, though the living could only occasionally see them. The most prominent occasion would be on Samhain itself, when lines between the Otherworld of the dead and the realm of the living were weakened.

One might encounter the dead at the megalithic sites. These sites are known in Irish Gaelic as si sites, the word "si" meaning the spirits of the mounds. This word is often translated into English as fairies, which loses a great deal of meaning. Fairies in Ireland are spirits deeply connected with the realm of the dead, the mounds and especially Samhain.

The connection can be witnessed in the figure of the banshee  or bean si, in Irish  an important mythological figure in Irish folklore, believed to be heard wailing with grief directly before the death of a family member. With bean meaning simply woman, the banshee is a female spirit of the mounds and a ruler of the realm of the dead.

The si spirits are not only spirits of the dead but are a particular aristocracy, who host the dead with feasting, merriment and eternal youth, often at the megalithic sites. In Irish lore, they are powerful and dangerous, able to give great gifts or exact great damage. They once ruled Ireland, according to folklore, and now they rule the world of the dead.

The Otherworld is always there, but it is on the beginning of the dark half of the year, the evening of Samhain  now Halloween  when the dead are at their most powerful.

As the light of summer fades, the ancient holiday of Halloween arrives to celebrate the dead mingling with the world of the living, as it has for thousands of years.
An assailantsearching for Nancy Pelosientered the House speakers San Francisco home on Friday morning, and violently attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer, before being tackled by authorities, according to San Francisco police.

The Washington Post reported that Paul, 82, suffered a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands. He underwent surgery on Friday, and is expected to make a full recovery. The suspect, who has been identified by the police as 42-year-old David DePape, is facing multiple charges, and the Capitol Police are still investigating the incident. Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., when her husband was attacked, according to Capitol Police.

The news of the assault was met, for the most part, with condemnation across the political aisle. The President is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosis whole family, the White House said in a statement, calling the attack horrible. (President Biden also spoke about it at a fundraising dinner Friday night, referring to the attack as despicable.) Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke out, both on Twitter and to reporters.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted: Horrified and disgusted by the reports that Paul Pelosi was assaulted in his and Speaker Pelosis home last night. Grateful to hear that Paul is on track to make a full recovery and that law enforcement including our stellar Capitol Police are on the case. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham also expressed his condolences on Twitter. (Axios reports that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reached out to the Pelosis to check in.)

According to police and news reports, the suspect, DePape, entered Pelosis San Francisco home early on Friday morning, shouting Where is Nancy? Police were dispatched to the home at 2:27 a.m., where they found DePape struggling with Pelosi, each man with one hand on a single hammer, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott said in a news conference on Friday.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Pelosi himself had called 911, but was unable to tell police what was happening at the home. Scott said the dispatcher was able to read between the lines and basically figured out that there was something more to this incident than what she was being told. (The Associated Press reported that a person familiar with the situation said Pelosi had escaped to the bathroom, where his phone was charging.)

Advertisement

No motive has been given for the attack, but plenty has surfaced about DePapes embrace of dangerous far-right, bigoted conspiracy theories. A blog authored under DePapes name included posts about QAnon (a dizzying conspiracy theory that holds there is a vast network of satanic elites who run child sex-trafficking rings and are working to bring down Donald Trump); pizzagate (the belief that satanic elites kept children in a D.C. pizzeria); conspiracy theories about coronavirus vaccines; and antisemitic and racist screeds. According to the Los Angeles Times, he followed a number of far-right figures who push anti-Democratic conspiracy theories, as well.

DePape is currently in custody. Pelosi is being treated at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.
Welcome to this weeks edition of the Surge, a newsletter that now has a higher market capitalization than Meta. We have more business jokes later!





The overall theme as we near Election Day remains the same as last week: Democrats be losing. Though not everywhere, Chuck Schumer tells us! But definitely in Georgia, both he and the Republicans agree, as each new abortion allegation gives Herschel Walker a fresh new spring to his step.





House progressives went really, really, really far out of their way to embarrass themselves, and a wealthy online troll bought the website on which he trolls.





But lets start with this weeks big debate.
Earlier this month, President Biden announced $60 million in funding to Puerto Rico to help with the recovery after hurricane Fiona. This is in addition to the already billions of dollars that were approved by the Trump administration to help rebuild Puerto Ricos infrastructure after hurricane Maria.

Maintaining and rebuilding a countrys electrical grid and roads is essential for its people to survive. But it is not enough for its population to thrive. A key part that is missing in these aid packages is funding to re-build scientific infrastructure in the island.

Advertisement

The iconic Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico was destroyed almost two years ago, not by the hurricane but by the progressive degradation of cables due to a combination of factors including design flaws and other extreme environmental events.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

A new, powerful radio facility in the island is one science infrastructure project that would help grow a robust scientific, engineering, and research community in Puerto Rico, thereby boosting its economy. Unfortunately, it appears that the National Science Foundation (NSF), the federal agency responsible for the Arecibo Observatory, has decided this facility will not be the site of future cutting-edge astronomical and atmospheric research, but rather just a center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. While there will be laboratory space, the research will be an afterthought.

Advertisement

For nearly 60 years, the Arecibo observatory made significant scientific contributions to the fields of astronomical, planetary, and atmospheric sciences. The first planets outside our Solar System were detected at Arecibo. Observations made with this telescope helped map the large-scale structure of the universe. As host to the world most powerful and sensitive planetary radar system, its been essential in NASAs efforts to identify all big pieces of rock that could potentially be hazardous to our planet. Research done at Arecibo has directly resulted in some of the highest honors in science, including the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.

But Arecibo was about more than just discoveries and awards. It also served as a training ground for young students and scientists, and was at the heart of extensive research and education programs that have inspired thousands of students from Puerto Rico, the U.S. and the worldincluding myself!to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and when I was growing up (and until recently) the Arecibo telescope was the biggest in the world. The impressive site was just a two-hour drive from where I lived. Great science was being done in my island, and I wanted to be part of that endeavor. This is one of the reasons why I chose to do my undergraduate studies in astrophysics at Cornell University, which back then was the institution that managed the Arecibo Observatory, and why I concentrated in radio astronomy for my graduate studies at Harvard University. Today, Im a professor at Yale where I study the physical and chemical processes that take place in the interstellar medium, where stars are formed and planets are born. The careers of many scientists from Puerto Rico were similarly influenced by this major research facility.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Since 1997, the observatory has also been home to the Angel Ramos Foundation Science & Visitor Center, which welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors a year and supports STEM education at all levels throughout Puerto Rico and beyond. The observatory and its research and education programs gave hands-on experience and training to many underrepresented minorities in science and engineering. It is hard for many of us in the science community to envision that a stand-alone STEM education center without a major research facility would influence the large number of people that the Arecibo Observatory inspired to seek degrees in science-related fields. Working side-by-side with scientists and operating powerful instruments that allow us to explore the world around us are the kind of meaningful research experiences that will make a student choose a career in STEM.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

There is no question that the Arecibo Observatory has been a source of pride to the people of Puerto Rico and to the general U.S. scientific community. Proof of the importance and influence of the Arecibo Observatory, even to those that do not work in the fields of astronomy and atmospheric science, was seen when thousands of students, scientists, engineers and the general public from Puerto Rico and around the world took to Twitter towards the end of 2020 to express #WhatAreciboMeansToMe. Moreover, a petition to the White House to rebuild the telescope, that was created by Puerto Rican college students soon after the telescopes destruction in December 2020, gathered more than 100,000 signatures in less than a month.

Advertisement

Earlier this year the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution which recognized the immense scientific, educational and economic value of the telescope to Puerto Rico, the U.S and the world, and encouraged federal agencies to study means of replacing the scientific capabilities that were lost. In addition, a report by the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine recommended that federal agencies should support studies to develop a plan for ground-based planetary radar capabilities comparable to or exceeding those of the Arecibo Observatory necessary for achieving planetary defense objectives.

Advertisement

But even though the need for a new Arecibo telescope has been made clear, the federal government has not made any commitment to build it and no funding has been assigned for it. It will be a waste of decades of labor, expertise, and millions of dollars of investment in equipment and technology if cutting-edge research is abandoned form the site. Many of us in the community are clearly upset with the recent decision by the NSF regarding the facility. We still have hope that the decision will be reversed.

Advertisement

Some might be concerned about building a new facility in a place where hurricanes can cause extensive damage. However, the previous telescope withstood hurricanes for nearly six decades, and its collapse was not due to winds from hurricane Maria. Chile experiences earthquakes relatively often, yet telescopes and high-rise buildings are built there. A new Arecibo telescope could easily be designed to withstand powerful hurricane winds.

Others might think that there is no need for the U.S. to spend money on a new facility and instead should rely on international partnerships to recover the science capabilities that were lost. However, many of these were unique to the Arecibo telescope. Moreover, having U.S. scientists depend on international facilities, especially when these are in not-so friendly nations, is not always a good idea.

It is time that government and private funding agencies support building a new, enhanced Arecibo radar/radio telescopea facility that will help better understand our universe, protect our planet, serve as a training ground for young scientists, and inspire thousands of students to pursue careers in STEM. Puerto Rico deserves it.
Update, Oct. 30, 2022, at 7:06 p.m.: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been officially declared victor of Brazils presidential election.

The first thing you should realize about Sundays runoff election in Brazil is that in normal times, all signs would point to a victory for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against his opponent, incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Lula, who last year was cleared of trumped-up criminal charges that landed him in jail, still carries ample goodwill from his two terms as president in the 2000s. His anti-poverty programs, broad-base coalition, and environmental stewardship helped make him the countrys most popular politician, with a sterling reputation that persisted even as his Workers Party confronted widespread hostility throughout the 2010s. One of the key reasons the far-right Bolsonaro had a fighting chance at the presidency in the first place was 2018s corruption probe into Lula, which helped sideline him from that years elections.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Yet in Brazil, as with everywhere else, these are not normal times. The pressures are too high on all ends. Poor, Indigenous, minority, and otherwise-democracy-inclined Brazilians realize an unimpeded Lula victory is their last chance to save Brazil from reverting to 60s-style military-managed autocracy, an explicit goal of Bolsonaros. Yet ultraconservative nostalgists for that very regime crave the former generals reelectionand are unafraid to resort to disinformation about election integrity, plus shocking violence, to support their sickly fave even as he sags in the polls. And its not just Brazilians who have so much at stake this election. In a very concrete way, the health of the entire planet rests on Sundays results. Not just for the durability of liberal democracy in the Western Hemisphere, but also for the hope of a habitable, livable Earth.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Obviously, we tend to get forecasts every cycle that this election, really, is the most important of our lifetimes. But you can really say that when it comes to Brazil, and to understand why, you have to realize whats happening with the Amazon rainforest.

More than just about any other natural habitat, the Amazon may hold singular claim as the climates most important savior. Covering a landmass of 2.1 million square miles60 percent of which lies under Brazilian jurisdictionthe rainforests ecosystem provides more than one-fifth of the worlds freshwater supply, about one-tenth of its trees, about one-tenth of its known biodiversity, and the largest number of its freshwater fish. The Earths total tree cover sucks up about 2.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to Science magazine, with the Amazons forestry making for a quarter of that total absorption. The Amazon River is the worlds second-longest river (after the Nile), its most voluminous waterway (carrying 12 times the water supply of the Mississippi), and its largest provider of discharged freshwater to oceans, in this case the Atlantic.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Those stats are only the iceberg tip when it comes to the Amazons environmental importance, but nevertheless, they help make clear the necessity of preserving this natural behemothto everyone whos not Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters, that is. Almost immediately upon taking office in 2019, Bolsonaro pursued an anti-environmental and pro-industrial program that hinged in large part on ransacking the Amazon for all its worth. After all, everything that makes the Amazon so important for the Earth whets the appetites of corporations: timber and paper companies, furniture manufacturers, agribusiness interests dependent on beef and soybeans and palm oil, biofuel manufacturers, mineral miners, wildlife traders, and water suppliers. Big business was a core supporter of Bolsonaros rise to power, as longtime Brazil-based journalist Michael Fox told me in an interview, and the beneficiaries of Amazon development are key to the presidents voting base. The more the Amazon develops, the more votes Bolsonaro gets from that regionfrom landowners and loggers, Fox said.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As a result, Bolsonaro and his friends can giggle while the Amazon literally burns. Hes gutted state environmental institutions, and hes placed environment attackers in government positions, Fox told me. Thanks to this, deforestation rates in the Amazon have skyrocketed, a sharp reversal from the Amazon-protection agenda of the 2000s. Lula was the president who battled deforestation most in the country, Fox said. He came in when deforestation rates were higher than they are now, and he was able to cut them by half, through measures to restrict development and track business interests, like those for beef, within the forest. The former presidents party was also home to key environmental activists and officials, as Brazilian historian Andre Pagliarini wrote in the New Republic. Given the fact that Lulas current campaign has emphasized green governance, while Bolsonaro encourages heightened forest-razing blitzes that ended Amazons status as a carbon sink, the voting choice for the Amazons sake couldnt be more stark. (Though it should be noted that Lulas presidential record on the Amazon, and the climate at large, wasnt exactly stellar. Politics is about imperfect choices!)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Bolsonaros hand in the Amazons fate is not just a pro-business or anti-climate callingits a racial issue, also. Isadora Moura Mota, an academic and scholar of Brazilian history, wrote to me that Bolsonaros Amazonian preferences go hand in hand with contempt for Indigenous Brazilians and their rights. Despite having rights to land enshrined in the 1988 Constitution, indigenous peoples face multiple threats to their survival: climate change, expropriation, and the unregulated exploration of natural and mineral resources, she said. The Bolsonaro government has repeatedly questioned whether indigenous-demarcated territories should continue to exist, thus encouraging miners, loggers, land-grabbers, and poachers to encroach on their territories with impunity.

Bolsonaro and his backers want to shrink Indigenous land share even further. The Catholic Church found that in 2020, the second year of the presidents term, there was a 61 percent increase in murders of Indigenous Brazilians over the previous year, and encroachments upon native lands surged by 137 percent that year. Bolsonaro doesnt seem to care. The 1988 constitution turned the tide on the dictatorships narrative that the Indigenous need to be pushed out for development, Fox said. Most governments since then have respected that with some caveats, though nothing like weve seen under Bolsonaro.

Advertisement

Advertisement

These issues are very much at the forefront of the electionto the point where Indigenous leaders are warning the world of impending ecosystem collapse, and campaigns are reaching hundreds of miles into the forests in order to turn out its inhabitants to vote. But theres even more at issue, mainly related to Brazils management of its rich commodity resources and the core conflict between public ownership and privatization. The countrys state-owned oil enterprise, Petrobras, provided ample revenue for health and welfare investment under Lulas rule; Bolsonaro, on the other hand, has been happy to auction off oil-rich land and waters to private energy interests, surrendering a revenue stream as well as control over how the regions fossil assets are explored and utilized. Lula, who wants to rein in state control of Brazilian resources, would likely handle fossil fuels more in a manner conducive to his green pledges.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Despite all this, forecasts are shaky going into Sunday. In the first round of elections earlier this month, Lula beat Bolsonaro by about 5 points. He did not make the threshold to avoid a runoff (although, notably, no election in the country has not seen a runoff since the transition to democracy), and Bolsonaros vote tabulations beat projections. Still, Lulas showing was unprecedentedhes the only presidential candidate to have ever outperformed an incumbent in the general. And now, even the third-party candidates from the first round have since campaigned for Lula and rallied their few million voters to come out on his behalf.

Advertisement

Advertisement

But there are heavy-pocketed, widespread interests working on Bolsonaros behalf. Figureheads of the international far-right, like Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, have explicitly embraced the Brazilian president as they have the authoritarian-leaning government of Hungary, and are peddling disinformation on his behalf. In August, the Associated Press reported that businesses across Brazil are bribing their employees to vote for Bolsonaro. Since the final result will probably be close, there are fears that Bolsonaro could follow the example of a recent American president and try to cast doubt on resultsand perhaps whip up violence among his supporters, as hes done in the past, to ensure he stays in power. Not for nothing has one Brazilian political scientist, Carlos Gustavo Poggio Teixeira, worried that Brazil could be in for its own version of Jan. 6, 2021.

For Lula, however, taking office from an opponent who has contempt for the electoral process might not even be the hard part. Because then hell have to go save the Amazon.
An expert on voice recognition and speech technologies responds to Ysabelle Cheungs Galatea.

When Joseph Faber invented the Euphonia, a mid-19th century analog voice synthesizer, people werent impressed. They found Fabers invention to be a strange device with little to no purpose. (It eventually found a home in P.T. Barnums circus). In an attempt to create a machine that could mimic human speech, Faber was physically tethered to his invention, manipulating its bellows, gears, and hardware to produce human-like utterancesfrom short speeches to ghostly renditions of God Save the Queenwith a flat affect. One version of the machine was designed with a feminine face attached to its bellows, hair in ringlets and fair, smooth-looking skin. The idea of a woman serving as a manifestation of a mans technological feat is nothing new. From PAT in the 1999 Disney TV movie Smart House to the synths in the Channel 4 series Humans (2015-2018), conversational feminine A.I. are embedded in many of our visions of the future. While Fabers machine might not have been successful, it serves as a reminder of humanitys fascination with creating something in our likeness and making technology do something greater than we might have originally imagined.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the 21st century, artificial intelligence avatars such as BINA48 and Sophia answer questions and interact with a quizzical and curious public. These mediations often perpetuate limited constructs of femininity as servile and pleasing to the eyes and ears. Like Fabers Euphonia, they are figures with softer, delicate facial features designed to act in service of, or to entertain, a human audience or individual. Although the mimicry might be crudenowhere near the sophistication of the humanoids in the HBO adaptation of Michael Crichtons Westworldthese machines-as-women remind us of the hidden scripts underlying technological advancements throughout history, from Siri into the deep past.

In Greek mythology, Galatea is a story about a sculptor who falls in love with his creation: an ivory statue of a feminine figure. The artists subconscious desires are brought to life in the beautiful statue, and the goddess Aphrodite grants his wish, bringing his creation to life. Drawing on this myth, Ysabelle Cheungs short story of the same name weaves together themes of mimicry, cloning, and voice with subtlety and precision. Her story provokes us to contemplate what women might desire from feminine A.I. figures originally programmed to please, entice, and serve a male-coded user. In Cheungs Galatea, the female characters, human and A.I. alike, model irreducible nuance in their utterances and speech, despite being programmed (digitally) by their creators and through (analog) social forces, gendered expectations, and norms.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The story is told in the second-person, filtering the readers experience through the perspective of the female narrator who encounters Galatea, an A.I.-powered bot, and her male owner. Over the course of an evening, the narrator begins to pick up on echoes between herself and this programmed feminine figure. The way that the narrator interprets and frames Galatea fluctuates: We initially imagine that Galatea functions more or less as a robotic sex worker, then as a domestic appliance, a sort of smart home huband later, as an unsettling recreation of the owners musical-prodigy ex-wife.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The story begins with the narrator inside the apartment of Galateas owner, a man who shes been on several dates with. The narrator points out the finer details of the home: a knockoff Noguchi table, a pair of convincing flameless candles, and the tidy symmetry of the decor. The setting calls to mind sleek, modern urban homes filled with marble and hardwood, all sharp points and edges, asserting humans ability to exert complete control over the material circumstances of our lives, no matter the messy vagaries of geography, wildlife, and weather. Specifying our needs and wants through what we own somehow might bring about satisfaction, relief, or solace.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

After discovering and interacting with Galatea, the narrators identity begins to blur; Galatea is dressed like the narrator, with a similar hairstyle, a particular instantiation of Chinese femininity. Like the owners ex-wife, who looks similar and works in the narrators office, Galatea plays the pianothe male owner assumes that our narrator also plays, which she both admits as true and resents as a stereotype. This moment provides a glimpse into how a feminine A.I. might have been programmed and coded to align with local gender norms. Whether Galatea is playing from an extensive catalog of classical piano pieces or singing songs by the Taiwanese musician Teresa Teng, her creators had a specific likeness in mind that they knew would be appealing for a particular set of customers: a stature, demeanor, and voice that one could trust and rely on. The collision and blurring among the narrator, the A.I., and the ex-wife reveals these feminine figures as subtle permutations of one another, all of them programmed and optimized to meet the needs of a partner, an owner, a (male) companion.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Unlike The Stepford Wives, a 1972 novel (and film, in 1975 and 2004) that depicts a dystopian future for women subjugated and replaced by pleasing bots in the suburban U.S., Galatea invites us to ponder whether consciousness can be transmuted from human to machine, and whether it might arise from the limited programming of companion bots. Can we envision a Galatea that gains an imagination, a mind of her own? Does the liberating turn at the end of Cheungs story signal a transcendence ofor transgression againstthe cultural expectations of Asian women that haunt the storys triad of feminine characters?

Advertisement

Advertisement

For the A.I. figure in Galatea, the inside of the home, a place of domesticity and sanctuary, is not a refuge but rather a place of continual domestic laborfrom piano performances and pleasant small talk to managing her owners networked devices while reclining silently on standby. Were already experiencing the programming of smart technologies to emit the voice of our deceased loved ones, echoing Cheungs story, in which the owners A.I. companion bears such uncanny similarity to his ex-wife. With a gentle touch or the intonation of a wake word, our feminine-coded Siris and Alexas and Cortanas snap to attentiona quasi-phalanx of helpful, cheerful A.I. women, ever-ready for our commands.

Advertisement

As a researcher focused on voice recognition and assistive technologies, I keep returning to the role that speech plays in Cheungs story. The deftness of the dialogue makes our titular A.I. seem irresistibly human, and our presumably human narrator somewhat machinic. The voices of the characters are the vehicle by which the organic and the artificial begin to mesh and meld. Galatea may move and speak with a gracefulness verging on human, but her responses to the narrators queries about how she spends her time alone and her monologue on the pianist Clara Schumann are what really beguile the narrator and the reader into thinking that she has achieved a human (or superhuman?) degree of sentience.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Through multiple readings of the story, I keep remembering a moment in Louisa Halls 2015 novel Speak. In one vignette, a man, Karl Dettman, writes a letter to his wife about her conversations with an A.I. system, MARY. He writes, Ever since you discovered my talking computer, you save your conversation for her. Have you considered how this might affect me? Coming home to such ringing silence? Its like coming home to packed bags. I can feel you leaving me. The husband is desperate to understand what MARY has given his wife that he hasnt. In Cheungs story, Galatea is similarly appealing, in an ambiguous way, to the female narrator. Cheung leaves us to interpret for ourselves both a feminine-coded A.I. that seems to have surpassed her programming and a narrator whose bond with Galatea might be based on growing fondness, or upon the recognition of an essential likeness. Those twinned questionswhether the A.I. can exceed her programmed limits, and why the narrator is so transfixed by herhover over an ending that serves as a metaphor for how we might rid ourselves of our attachments, fixations, and gendered constructs.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The first joint regional and municipal elections are over, residents of Slovak towns and villages have elected their mayors, regional governors, and councillors.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled

Most regional governors will continue in their posts after the regional elections that were held in Slovakia on Saturday.

The preliminary results of the elections of regional governors, as released by the Statistics Office, show that Juraj Droba will continue as regional govenor in Bratislava Region, Jozef Viskupic will be the Trnava regional governor for the second consecutive term, Jaroslav Baska will continue in Trencin Region, Erika Jurinova will be the Zilina regional governor and Rastislav Trnka will be the regional governor in Kosice Region.

Ondrej Lunter will be the regional governor in Banska Bystrica. He will take over after his father, who served as regional governor in the past term after defeating the previous governor.

Milan Majersky remains the regional governor in Presov Region.

Nitra Region is the only one where the incumbent governor failed to get re-elected. Milan Belica, who has been regional governor in Nitra since 2001, will be replaced in the post by Branislav Becik, who ran with the support of Hlas and Sme Rodina parties.

Elections of regional governors, preliminary results

For the first time, municipal and regional elections were held on the same day in Slovakia, on October 29, 2022.

Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement

The election day was shorter than usual, until 20:00 instead of 22:00, which was the closing time for polling stations in elections in the past. Moreover, concerns over low turnout were magnified by the timing of the elections: they took place in the middle of autumn school holidays, when people in Slovakia typically travel to visit their families and thus might not be in the place of their permanent residence.

The Statistics Office released the results of the regional governor elections first. The results of the municipal elections weren't released before 23:00 on Saturday.

You can view the detailed municipal and regional election results for your municipality here.
Two men accused of cheating en route to roughly $30,000 in prize money at a Lake Erie fishing tournament pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges on Wednesday.

Jacob Runyan, 42, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, entered their not-guilty pleas through their attorneys in a Cleveland courtroom on Wednesday. The Associated Press reports that both men remained silent during the arraignment.

Runyan and Cominsky are indicted on fifth-degree felony charges of cheating, attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools. They also face a first-degree misdemeanor charge of unlawful ownership of wild animals.

Theirs became a national story when tournament director Jason Fischer pulled lead sinkers and fish filets out of five fish that the men submitted at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail fishing tournament. Fischer was suspicious when the fish weighed in at 33.91 pounds, well over the 16.89 pounds needed to claim Team of the Year honors and the five-figure payout.

Jacob Runyan, left, and Chase Cominsky were arraigned in a Cleveland courtroom on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mark Gillispie)

The experienced fisherman expected them to weigh in closer to 15-20 pounds based on their size. He then cut one open to pull out the first of several lead weights stuffed inside the fish. He also found fish filets inside the fish, presumably to prevent the weights from clanging together and making noise.

Fury then erupted, as fellow competitors lashed out at the fishermen, with one declaring "Theyve been doing this s*** for years!

Tournament fishing is a high-stakes competition with serious competitors investing six-figures in their boats and equipment. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley addressed the felony charges facing the anglers in an Oct. 12 statement.

"I take all crime very seriously, and I believe what these two individuals attempted to do was not only dishonorable but also criminal," OMalley's statement reads.

Runyan and Cominsky have not addressed the situation publicly since they were charged. They were released on $2,500 bond on Wednesday.
https://sputniknews.com/20221028/business-goes-on-construction-exec-weighs-in-on-russian-firms-finding-alternatives-to-eu-goods-1102812506.html

'Business Goes On': Construction Exec Weighs In on Russian Firms Finding Alternatives to EU Goods

'Business Goes On': Construction Exec Weighs In on Russian Firms Finding Alternatives to EU Goods

As the XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum came to a close on Friday in Azerbaijan's Baku, the event's main takeaway turned out to be that while Russians are... 28.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-28T22:58+0000

2022-10-28T22:58+0000

2022-10-28T22:57+0000

economic forum

baku

azerbaijan

world

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/1c/1102812961_0:172:1836:1205_1920x0_80_0_0_fcc17e7d7263262abfc9c59bb556c651.png

Hundreds of entrepreneurs from Italy, Russia, Belgium, India and other nations, as well as government officials from Russia and the host country - Azerbaijan - have attended the XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in Baku. The location had been chosen largely due to Azerbaijans strategic position between the East and the West, which made it possible to maintain business dialogue amidst the current political turmoil. Despite the economic sanctions imposed by the EU authorities and by the United States government against Russia, many Italians and other Europeans did not cancel their attendance at the Baku event.Andrea Romani, a construction professional who used to work for an Italian business but has since joined Russias Incomstroy construction company as an executive director, says that he came away from the event satisfied:Incomstroy is currently working on construction projects in Moscow and in Northern Siberias Altai Republic. Romani says that even though the sanctions have made it difficult to buy some materials and equipment, many items are already being produced domestically in Russia, and local companies are already finding alternative routes for importing those that have to be brought from Europe, with growing delivery costs being the key problem.Romani has also reflected on the participation of Russias senior government officials and top business executives in the Verona forum, but noted that their European counterparts have ignored the event, opting for a low level of contact and dialogue with Moscow.Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, who took part in the Verona Forum, has slammed the EUs approach:Overchuk has also said that Russia has no shortage of cheap energy and many talented people, which will help the country to build its future.Turning eastwards, finding new partners in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the Gulf States, India or China, as well as trading in national currencies and using alternative payment methods, may very well offer new, affordable, risk-free and reliable solutions to many Russian businesses hit by European and American restrictions in the energy, financial and oil sectors.Romani says that with Russias apparent eastward turn, European businesses eyeing an eventual return to Russia may lose their share of their market to competitors from the emerging Eastern superpowers:The XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum is a two-day business event held with the aim of discussing economic cooperation in the Eurasian space in the context of the new global reality.Besides the economy, the Forums sessions were also dedicated to finance, the environment, energy and innovation.This year the event, which was held for the first time since 2004, was organized by the government of Azerbaijan, Russias Roscongress and Italys Conoscere Eurasia association.

baku

azerbaijan

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.jpg

Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Denis Bolotsky https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0b/1083128270_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_8cd81dafcbaac1c176c25141f8af1d2a.jpg

economic forum, baku, azerbaijan
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/biden-not-interested-in-dialogue-with-russia-as-us-sees-moscow-only-as-threat-scholar-says-1102822507.html

Biden Not Interested in Dialogue With Russia, as US Sees Moscow Only as Threat, Scholar Says

Biden Not Interested in Dialogue With Russia, as US Sees Moscow Only as Threat, Scholar Says

Over the past months, already-tense ties between the White House and Kremlin have been deteriorating over the Ukrainian crisis. However, during his speech... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T12:16+0000

2022-10-29T12:16+0000

2022-10-29T12:16+0000

opinion & analysis

interviews

russia

vladimir putin

valdai discussion club

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/0f/1083393986_0:122:3071:1849_1920x0_80_0_0_e28e00a5527629e15f4087d77f193363.jpg

Sputnik discussed the state of Moscow-Washington relations with Joe Siracusa, US politics expert and Professor of History and Diplomacy at Curtin University, Australia, who shared his view on the deeply-rooted anti-Russia sentiment among the American establishment and explained what the prospects are for a meaningful dialogue between the two nations.Sputnik: Why, in your view, does the West turn a blind eye to Russian statements calling for dialog?Joe Siracusa: It seems to me that the Biden administration is more ideological than practical. Even at the worst times of the Cold War and the Bolshevik era before that, the United States and Russia were able to engage in conversation. Keep in mind that it is 60 years tonight since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Even then, General Secretary Khrushchev and President Kennedy kept the phones open and they were able to have a dialog. Now, it seems to me that Joe Biden has not been interested in a dialog with Russia.I think the anti-communism that he pursued for 50 years has now been replaced by just an anti-Russian feeling. He's surrounded by people who want to talk about human rights rather than national security interests. And they're not really interested in the kind of diplomacy that I think is important. And so, I think they are pursuing an anti-Russian agenda. Why? Well, America is a business civilization, which has always pursued an open door world, that is, it wants to keep the world open on its own terms, in terms of industrial and trade capacity or reciprocity.Therefore, I think they see Russia as a threat. Now, I have been arguing on the West Coast of Australia that I thought that before President Putin went into Ukraine, I thought the President of the United States should have been able to pick up the phone and tell President Putin, "NATO is not going into Ukraine and there'll be no advanced weapons systems on their border on my watch."This is the kind of thing that President Kennedy did with Nikita Khrushchev. That is the kind of thing that Donald Trump did with Chairman Kim Jong-un in North Korea. And I don't know why he didn't. He just seems to be blinded by his own ideological blinkers.Now, there are a number of Americans who do not agree with the president's policy. But I think the anti-Russian view he's taking right now, I think it's ideological. And I think it's irrational, actually, because the absence of diplomacy is what? Its war. Nobody wants to go to war.And I've been arguing on your network and in Beijing and Istanbul that I think NATO's inability to address Moscow's concerns about creeping NATO doctrine, the NATO alliance, have probably goaded President Putin into doing some things he didn't want to do. Or there was another way to do it. There's always another way to do it, so long as diplomacy is open, okay?And why the United States has not pursued a more practical, open-minded policy is because I think it's that the anti-communism of the Cold War, the Bolshevik era, has been replaced by an anti-Russian doctrine, or at least sort of a psychology or even psychopathy.Sputnik: Do you believe we will hear some substantial reaction from the West?Joe Siracusa: I thought the speech was very moderate. It was very interesting. Washington and NATO are jumping up and down about Moscow and China. And I've said this in Beijing. I think the best thing that Moscow could do and China could do is just talk in a moderate fashion. In other words, the speech was moderated and balanced. I would take from that speech an opportunity to reengage with Russia, I think it was an opening. Its not often another nation says that after eight months of conflict. The United States and Russia are fighting a proxy war in Ukraine. There is no doubt about it. They are at war, as far as I am concerned. All right, that is what this is.I think Putin offered the olive branch, and I think Biden should have taken it. On the other hand, Biden is looking at a midterm election in about seven or eight days. I don't think he wanted to give the pro-Ukrainian forces in his party any ammunition to criticize him. I think in a way, it might have been a political decision, as well as an ideological decision not to engage. I know the Western media is not going to spend much time on President Putin's speech because they do not spend much time on anybody's speeches.They tend to, I do not know if you've noticed this, but in the last four or five years, a lot of the American media, a lot of the Western media, they don't report the news anymore. They just engage in editorials. Everything is an opinion. I mean I have to read for maybe two hours to find out what is going on someplace because the reporter is giving you an opinion. This is not right. This is baseless, etc. I mean, I am having trouble sometimes getting the straight news, if you know what I mean.Sputnik: Who are the beneficiaries of the current dangerous state of affairs between Russia and the West?Joe Siracusa: I'll tell you who the beneficiaries are. The beneficiaries are the anti-Russian leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties in Washington. This is the elite. I don't think they represent the views of the ordinary American people. A beneficiary, of course, is the military industrial complex. Who cant sell enough weaponry to the United States to combat Russia and China in this mythical world of eternal conflict.So the winners are the political leadership in Washington who have a great deal of credibility problems with ordinary Americans and the military industrial complex, who can't get enough out of the anti-Chinese and anti-Russian attitudes of the government. I don't think this would of happened so much with a Republican government. But the Biden government has been anti-Putin since day one of his administration. And I don't think it's been very open to diplomacy. It seems to me the alternative to diplomacy is war.I mean, engage in diplomacy. I told an audience yesterday that if somebody with 6,000 nuclear weapons says that he has or she has concerns about their borderlands or the territory next to it. What are we going to do about it? We don't ignore it. I mean, President Biden simply ignored Putin's request to review the problem. I think that was stupid. I get a little nervous when I see mature American politicians pursue policies for which they think there are no repercussions. You can only push Russia and China around so long before they hit back. When I saw the speech, I got the impression that Putin was offering an olive branch, saying to the West, "Look, we've got our differences and we have very different views about Ukraine, but we should have a discussion about other things, maybe about climate change, maybe about nuclear non-proliferation, a whole lot of other problems that have to be engaged by the great powers."During the Cold War, I think the Soviets and the Americans were able to compartmentalize some of these problems. When we were in Vietnam for ten years, the Russians bankrolled the North Vietnamese, but we weren't at war with Russia, if you know what I mean. There was still room for negotiations.There was still room for arms control and political innovation and the like. But right now, it seems like Washington is closed for business and the reasons are ideological and security. I noticed that the other day, President Biden released his National Security Strategy. It was as obsessed with ideology and security as President Xi's speech was obsessed with ideology and security. I pointed out to the press in this country that both of them have the same problems. They don't trust anybody. And why should they? Because no one's giving them any reason to trust them.Look, I'm a big fan of diplomacy, and I like to say to people that there's no wall or power that has ever prevented a conflict without diplomacy, and there's been no war that's ever been concluded without diplomacy. And so my money is on diplomacy, but my money is not on the Biden administration or Secretary of State Blinken or his National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.They don't seem to get it. They're pushing the human rights agenda, as if that's more important than national security. I don't think that's true, as a matter of fact. I think we've got to leave every country to do what they have to do to get things in order. We can't lecture people. And I think Putin is right about one thing and he says the same thing a lot of American intellectuals say, that the day of American hegemony is over. And the same thing with Western Europe as well. Their word is no longer dictat in the world. So they're going to have to sit down at the table. So we've gone from these superpowers to great powers, who only have one chance to get on with each other, and that's through negotiations and diplomacy. I think it is actually a good thing.Sputnik: There's only one thing to do here and that is to engage.Joe Siracusa: If President Putin says that the dialog is open, the Chinese say the same thing. I'm very angry that President Biden hasn't spoken a word to President Putin in 86 or 87 days. They haven't had a single communication with each other. And this is not a good idea. Because it sends ignorance and it sends mistakes.I know Russia and America don't go to war. But I worry about unauthorized attacks. I worry about inadvertent attacks and accidental attacks. A lot of things happen when people at the top arent talking. And I think it's in the interests of both parties to engage in a dialog. And this dialog is called diplomacy. And when one side doesn't want to talk with the other... I think the Americans right now should be engaging the Russians about the ultimate solution of the Ukrainian problem.At the end of the day, Ukraine is not going to be entering NATO and there will be no advanced weapons systems on Ukraine's border, which is what Zelensky could have had on day one. He could have had this on day one instead of going to war with Russia for eight months. It doesn't make any sense to me.Sputnik: Washington continues to blame Russia for every sin - what makes modern America unable to negotiate? What goals is it pursuing?Joe Siracusa: I think the problem is that the Democrats, led by President Biden, are sort of paralyzed by their anti-Russian mental attitude; before that, it was anti-communism. In the West, during the Cold War, American presidents played tough because they didn't want to be seen to be weak on communism. So Biden thinks that by being tough on Russia, he is burnishing or polishing his credentials. I think that's stupid because when a nuclear power wants to engage in dialog so that there are no mistakes in other places, I'm all for that. I would do that instantly.So I think the American decision and the inability to engage with Putin right now, I think it's ideological and it's mainly coming from the Democratic Party. If you ask the rank and file Americans what's going on, I think they'd have more open view. We tend to have a military view in Washington that sees the world through a rising China and a revanchist Russia.Russia is not trying to claw back the Cold War Empire, it is not interested in that. It's interested in security on its borderlands, the way the United States is interested in the security in Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. I keep saying to people that this is a security problem. What we have in the world today between Russia and the United States is an imbalance of signals; neither side wants to go to war, but the American side will not engage. And the fact that the Americans have shut out the Russians now for eight months. Well, there's a war going on over there.I was involved in the Vietnam War, my generation. And we killed over two million Vietnamese with air power. And we never apologized to anybody. And war is an ugly business. And you can't blame everybody for everything. That's a separate issue. But there are so many more issues. I mean, I'd like to see Moscow and Washington get together and resurrect some of this nuclear non-proliferation architecture. Like the INF treaty or to get back to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. There are important things they can do in this realm, but unless they're talking to each other, it can't happen. And I think it's indefensible.Sputnik: Is there anything that could change the situation?Joe Siracusa: I would like to see a change of government in Washington. I think a Republican president, not necessarily Trump, could reset the button with Moscow. I'd like to see Zelensky agree to some kind of ceasefire and we start again.The United States and Russia have had great periods of conflict and great periods of cooperation. There's a reason why this era of peaceful coexistence has to be returned, because the alternative is war. We can't afford a war. I mean, a war can be fought and it can be won. But there's going to be a lot of losers when it ends. It's not going to be the end of the world. So I think that's important.I'm looking forward to Biden being defeated. I think he will be defeated. I think part of his reasons for not dealing with Russia right now are political, more than military. I don't think Russia poses a military threat to America. It poses a political threat to the reputation of the Biden administration. I think Biden is all wrong about this. I don't like his advisers. They've got an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese twist on their foreign policy. The military industrial complex can't believe their luck, if you know what I mean.So, everybody is arming for the war that nobody wants. And I hear this story all the time: "If you don't want war, if you want peace, you have to prepare for war." Well, Im the other way, if you want peace, you prepare for peace. You didn't have to prepare for a war, if you want peace. There are other ways to do this. But I have to say, I have very strong views on this. And if Putin wants to put out the olive branch, I'll buy that. It makes sense to me, and three cheers for him.

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

interviews, russia, vladimir putin, valdai discussion club
Students walk between classes at Urban Prep Academy in the Englewood neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2022. Recently, the Chicago Board of Education voted not to renew the charter of Urban Prep, an all-male charter high school. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago Board of Education recently voted not to renew the charters of two all-male Urban Prep Academy campuses. Alfonso Carmona, Chicago Public Schools chief portfolio officer, said the recommendation was not based on campus-level performance but was a response to management by the Urban Prep Academies board of directors.

Advertisement

The Tribune reported that officials at the school and community members could not comprehend this decision since the schools are wildly successful, producing a 100% college acceptance rate for seniors for the past 13 years. One student cited in the article said that because of the school he changed from someone who engaged in immature behavior to a school leader.

Advertisement

These school officials and community leaders believe that they should be praised, not condemned, for producing results: educated young men on the way to college. They are naive. The problem with Urban Prep Academy is not that it is too bad. Its problem is that it is too good.

It embarrassed the CPS bureaucracy.

I have been dealing with bureaucracies in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois since I graduated from law school over half a century ago. It seems only occasionally do bureaucracies actually serve those they were created to assist. Too often its leadership perpetuates the internal needs of keeping the bureaucracy uncontested, undisturbed, undistinguished, unimaginative and uninspired. Bureaucracy expeditiously moves to crush those who embarrass or challenge it.

Or, as author Oscar Wilde succinctly put it, The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.

But let me get more personal. As a judge now and previously as Cook County public guardian, I have repeatedly encountered young men of various racial and ethnic backgrounds who strove to succeed while battling burdens beyond their control: poverty discrimination and a lack of male role models. Our public schools seem to be a one-size-fits-all conundrum.

These kids I once represented, and now try to assist, too often feel shoved aside. And they are. Because they learn differently or because of their backgrounds, they do not learn efficiently, or they are inconvenient. They are ignored. So they drop out. Ultimately, many lead bleak lives. Enormous potential is wasted.

While CPS bureaucracy may not be very good at educating very poor boys, it is quite astute at glossing over its inefficiencies. In the last couple of years, I have seen a number of cases in which city schools keep passing children from grade to grade who either do not attend or rarely attend school and whose report cards reflect complete failures. The bureaucracy can crow about its success while the patient dies.

The most depressing aspect of representing very poor children and, as a judge, trying to assist them is knowing they are slowly being crushed by circumstances well beyond their control. Most have the ability to become productive citizens, to lead satisfying lives, to enjoy the fruits of a bountiful society. But I fear many will not.

Advertisement

The leadership at Urban Prep seems to understand our responsibility as a society to stick by and work with these young men. Is that leadership perfect? I suspect not. In my long life, I have never met with a perfect, or even close to it, individual or institution. But despite their alleged bureaucratic idiosyncrasies, they are succeeding.

Too well. Too much.

My advice to the leadership at Urban Prep is: Forget it. Your problem is that you are concerned with challenging these young men to live up to their potential. To become productive members of society. This is not relevant to Board of Education bureaucrats.

Patrick Murphy is a Cook County Circuit Court judge. He is also a onetime Cook County public guardian and worked with the Cook County states attorneys office.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/guantanamo-bays-oldest-prisoner-returns-home-to-pakistan-1102828510.html

Guantanamo Bay's Oldest Prisoner Returns Home to Pakistan

Guantanamo Bay's Oldest Prisoner Returns Home to Pakistan

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The oldest inmate of the notorious US detention camp Guantanamo Bay, 75-year-old Saif Ullah Paracha, has been released and returned to... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T14:16+0000

2022-10-29T14:16+0000

2022-10-29T14:16+0000

world

guantanamo

guantanamo bay

guantanamo bay detention center

guantanamo prison

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/04/02/1094431603_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_f02ac4b759d2326753fee10463fad2de.jpg

The 75-year-old man was the oldest prisoner at Guananamo Bay and was held for suspected ties with al-Qaeda*, but was never charged with a crime. His release was approved in May 2021 after more than 17 years in custody.Paracha was captured in Thailand in 2003 and was held at the US base in Cuba since September 2004. Authorities believed he was an al-Qaeda "facilitator" who helped two perpetrators of the September 11 terrorist attack with a financial transaction. However, Paracha denied any involvement in terrorism, claiming he had not known that those people were al-Qaeda members.His son, Uzair Paracha, was arrested on charges of helping suspected terrorists enter the US with fake IDs before his father's arrest. In 2005, a New York federal court sentenced him to 30 years in prison, but a judge overruled witness testimony in March 2020, and he was sent back to Pakistan in 2021 after the US government decided against a new trial.* terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other states

guantanamo

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

guantanamo, guantanamo bay, guantanamo bay detention center, guantanamo prison
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/gunman-involved-in-wednesday-terrorist-attack-in-iran-dies-of-wounds-reports-say-1102826482.html

Gunman Involved in Wednesday Terrorist Attack in Iran Dies of Wounds, Reports Say

Gunman Involved in Wednesday Terrorist Attack in Iran Dies of Wounds, Reports Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A terrorist involved in the Wednesday shooting attack near the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in the Iranian city of Shiraz died of his wounds... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T12:45+0000

2022-10-29T12:45+0000

2022-10-29T12:45+0000

world

iran

terrorist attack

terrorism

shiraz

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/1b/1102758828_0:120:2304:1416_1920x0_80_0_0_ad3a977a955157970f50a0a66865f6fa.jpg

On Wednesday, Iranian media said three unidentified persons opened fire in the grounds of the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in south Iran. The Tasnim news agency reported that there was only one shooter, while the Iranian state broadcaster said that there was also a second attacker who was not far from the mausoleum. As a result of the attack, at least 13 people were killed and another 45 people were injured. The Iranian authorities accused the United States and Israel of organizing this terrorist act to further fuel instability in the country amid mass unrest over the death of a female activist.

iran

shiraz

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

iran, terrorist attack, terrorism, shiraz
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/moscow-regularly-informs-un-on-failure-to-implement-part-of-grain-deal---zakharova-1102815589.html

Moscow Regularly Informs UN on Failure to Implement Part of Grain Deal: Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

Moscow Regularly Informs UN on Failure to Implement Part of Grain Deal: Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia continues to inform the UN Secretariat about the failure to fulfill the second part of the Istanbul grain deal on a regular basis... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T02:51+0000

2022-10-29T02:51+0000

2022-10-29T04:22+0000

grain

russia

maria zakharova

stephane dujarric

the united nations (un)

russia

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/0a/1100633252_0:159:3079:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_11386d122fe289762ca9385125b724d8.jpg

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said earlier this week that commercial structures were involved in the Black Sea initiative, particularly in what concerns the sale of Russian fertilizers.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 Ukrainian 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. Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that most of the ships carrying Ukrainian grain did not make it to the world's poorest countries and ended up in Europe.Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said after Friday phone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that she hoped for the renewal of the agreement on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.Earlier in October, UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Mahmoud Abdulla said that the grain deal was likely to be extended and, possibly, expanded.According to Putin, if it becomes known that the grain supply corridors are used by Ukraine to carry out terrorist attacks, the grain deal might be revised.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that Russia had requested the UN Secretariat to provide statistics on the final recipients of the grain exported from Ukraine.

https://sputniknews.com/20220927/putin-grain-from-ukraine-doesnt-reach-poorest-countries-despite-russia-raising-issue-long-time-ago-1101269881.html

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

grain, russia, maria zakharova, stephane dujarric, the united nations (un)
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/stepanov-canada-sanctions--ukraine-bond-offer-show-allegiance-to-us-uk-anti-russia-line-1102814589.html

Canada Sanctions & Ukraine Bond Offer Show Allegiance to US, UK Anti-Russia Line: Russian Ambassador

Canada Sanctions & Ukraine Bond Offer Show Allegiance to US, UK Anti-Russia Line: Russian Ambassador

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Ottawa's new sanctions against Moscow and its announcement of new government-backed Ukrainian sovereignty bond demonstrate its... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T01:51+0000

2022-10-29T01:51+0000

2022-10-29T04:24+0000

world

russia

canada

ukraine crisis

russian ambassador

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103508/81/1035088100_0:254:4928:3026_1920x0_80_0_0_5c9acebe16134040f5b22debb260414e.jpg

Canada announced sanctions on Friday against 35 more Russian individuals, including Gazprom leaders, and six energy entities in a show of support for Ukraine. The move comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on an official visit to Canada."It's another senseless, absurd anti-Russian, hostile move by the Trudeau cabinet. It continues to mindlessly churn out symbolic sanctions in automatic mode, which cannot have any impact either on Russia or on the persons involved in these lists," Stepanov said. The timing of the steps - sanctions, bonds, and a report on how much they are doing for Ukraine's regime - are no coincidence."All these announcements, they, of course, were planned for Blinken's visit to bow in their allegiance to the common anti-Russian line that the United States and Great Britain are leading, and Canada also wants to be a member of this trio of such leaders," Stepanov said. "To some extent, it even ideologically, if not practically, runs ahead of the American steam locomotive."Stepanov went on to say that the Trudeau government is showing absolute political unscrupulousness by recklessly supporting the Kiev regime.Moreover, Stepanov continued to say, Ottawa did not condemn the terrorist act against the Crimean bridge, remained silent about the explosions on the Nord Stream and did not condemn the murder of Russian journalist Daria Dugina.At the same time Canada continues to provide military, military-technical, consulting, training and broad economic assistance to the Kiev regime, he added.Thereby Ottawa is supporting Ukraines inhuman war and the crimes that this regime commits.Stepanov also said that Moscow will respond to the latest move by Ottawa on the principle of reciprocity."Even realizing all the symbolism and absurdity of Canadian measures, it is customary in interstate relations to respond proportionately," he said. "Therefore, the answer will follow, although at the level of diplomatic communication through diplomatic channels we tell the Canadian side that 'you probably yourself understand the meaninglessness of these gestures, and you impose sanctions, we will answer you and this will continue in a circle until you stop, because we are never the first to introduce any sanctions.'"Russia, he added, only recognizes sanctions that are imposed under the mandate of the UN Security Council. "Unilateral sanctions are illegal, they are simply illegal," the ambassador said.Russia Unlike Canada Understands Regional Peace Mutually BeneficialRussia and Canada will never be allies, but Moscow, in contrast to Ottawa, understands the simple truth that regional peace and stability are mutually beneficial, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik."This, in my opinion, is some common truth for us, but not for them, apparently, at least not for the current cabinet."Russians, he added, do not judge Canadians by the actions of the political leadership. On the contrary, Russia sees Canada as its neighbor and wants the relations between the countries to be predictable.As regards the situation in Ukraine, the members of the Canadian government today act as "temporary workers" who follow the philosophy  "after us the deluge," Stepanov said and added that such "workers" can destroy Russian-Canadian relations, complicate interpersonal relations between the two nations, and then leave their posts to continue working somewhere else and not even care of what they have done.On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations.In response to Russias operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow, which includes airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting numerous Russian officials and entities, media, and financial institutions. Some foreign companies have decided to leave Russia altogether.

https://sputniknews.com/20221028/video-protesters-interrupt-blinken-event-in-canada-with-anti-war-slogans-on-ukraine-1102812258.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220709/canada-reportedly-dodges-own-anti-russia-sanctions-to-ship-nord-stream-1-turbine-to-germany-1097130861.html

russia

canada

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

russia, canada, ukraine crisis, russian ambassador
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/they-are-afraid-of-a-free-society-and-a-free-people-1102814056.html

They are Afraid of a Free Society and a Free People

They are Afraid of a Free Society and a Free People

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Jerry Lee Lewis dying at eighty-seven, and Kanye West reinstated to... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T07:32+0000

2022-10-29T07:32+0000

2022-10-29T12:33+0000

the backstory

dhs

twitter

free speech

misinformation

radio

illegal immigration

elon musk

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/1c/1102813911_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_5f2ea1793c065f91c117e9ecd300c753.png

They are Afraid of a Free Society and a Free People On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including Jerry Lee Lewis dying at eighty-seven, and Kanye West reinstated to Twitter.

Carter Laren  Co-host of Unsafe Spaces | Paypal, Questioning Elections, and Misinformation DefinedTodd Bensman - Senior National Security Fellow and Author | Terrorists at the Border, Biden Can't Hide from the New CBP Numbers, and Easy to Follow Steps by Social MediaIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Carter Laren about threats on social media, fringe viewpoints, and Twitter leadership fired. Carter talked about the official takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk and how billionaires are seen by average-income citizens. Carter spoke about Tulsi Gabbard and Paypal has confirmed fines for falsehoods.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Todd Bensman about the intelligence network of illegal immigration, the new crop of Republican candidates, and DHS head Alejandro Mayorkas. Todd discussed the record number of individuals apprehended at the Southern border and the mainstream media ignoring the new CBP numbers. Todd commented on the Republican candidates expected to win their races and Todd's opinion on what action will be taken to address illegal immigration.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

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png

Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png

dhs, twitter, free speech, misinformation, , radio, illegal immigration, elon musk
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/tokyo-could-build-prototype-submarine-deployed-with-us-made-tomahawk-missiles-reports-1102817331.html

Tokyo Could Build Prototype Submarine Deployed With US-Made Tomahawk Missiles: Reports

Tokyo Could Build Prototype Submarine Deployed With US-Made Tomahawk Missiles: Reports

TOKYO (Sputnik) - The Japanese authorities are considering the possibility of developing a prototype submarine capable of launching US-made Tomahawk cruise... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T04:48+0000

2022-10-29T04:48+0000

2022-10-29T04:48+0000

military

japan

us

tomahawk

submarine

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105239/88/1052398809_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_84afcbd10d553d0380e7126cc06d86ca.jpg

According to the report, the government was initially planning to deploy missiles on ships and aircraft, but the Japanese military voiced concerns about the danger of detection of bases by enemy forces. Experts believe that it is necessary to consider the deployment of missiles on a submarine that is much harder to track to minimize such a threat.The development of the prototype submarine could begin in the 2024 fiscal year, which will begin on April 1, 2024, and will end on March 31, 2025. Both vertical and horizontal launch systems are considered an option for the prototype. The Japanese military will asses the test results of the prototype within ten years and will make a decision on the necessity to deploy Japan's Self-Defense Forces with such submarines, the report said.On Friday, it was reported that the Japanese government is considering the procurement of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. Tokyo is exploring the possibility of using Tomahawk missiles as a deterrent and an alternative until Japan's "standoff" missiles that can attack targets from beyond the enemy range are fully deployed. The Japanese government is expected to work closely with the ruling parties and the United States so that the deal could be struck.Tokyo is currently modernizing the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 Surface-to-Ship Missile System and is planning to begin large-scale production of these "standoff" missiles, with the first deployment being scheduled for the fiscal year of 2026, or later, the report said. Modernized missiles will be able to strike targets at a range of some 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).On September 1, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced that it requested a record-high military budget for 2023 of almost 5.6 trillion yen ($41.4 billion). This sum only contains the costs that the ministry was prepared to disclose. Experts and media believe that the actual requested budget stands at 6.5 trillion yen. Japan's defense budget for 2022 is 5.4 trillion yen, which was also a record high.Media reported earlier that the undisclosed part of the budget includes "standoff" missiles with the allocation of over 30 billion yen for their development - the most costly item in this year's budget.

https://sputniknews.com/20221028/tokyo-reportedly-mulling-buying-us-tomahawk-cruise-missiles-1102787147.html

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

japan, us, tomahawk, submarine
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/uk-royal-navy-chief-orders-probe-into-submarine-service-related-sex-abuse-claims--1102823820.html

UK Royal Navy Chief Orders Probe Into Submarine Service-Related Sex Abuse Claims

UK Royal Navy Chief Orders Probe Into Submarine Service-Related Sex Abuse Claims

In late March, the UK Ministry of Defense rolled out a zero-tolerance policy, which stipulates aligning the Royal Navy, RAF, and Army under one approach to... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T11:17+0000

2022-10-29T11:17+0000

2022-10-29T11:29+0000

world

uk

royal navy

women

investigation

allegations

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105354/49/1053544917_0:294:2473:1685_1920x0_80_0_0_f06937fe1ddda8d405d405ee00cf0b30.jpg

UK Admiral Ben Key, the first sea lord and chief of the naval staff, has ordered an extensive probe into what he slammed as abhorrent claims of bullying, misogyny and sexual harassment against women in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. The first sea lord pointed out that these allegations are abhorrent, adding that sexual assault and harassment has no place in the Royal Navy and will not be tolerated.The statement comes after a UK media outlet referred to female whistleblowers who served with the submarine fleet and had come forward to expose serious claims of mistreatment up and down the chain of command.The purported abuse reportedly occurred for more than a decade after the submarine service lifted its ban on female recruits in 2011.As for the whistleblowers, they include former trailblazer Sophie Brook, who was one of the first women to join the service and served on vanguard class submarines, which carry nuclear weapons. The 30-year-old said she had decided to speak out to help other female submariners, as she accused the Navy of being an old boys club.She added that the best thing she ever did was to leave the Navy but that she is concerned over the women she had left behind. It was just a constant campaign of sexual bullying, Brook argued, citing one senior officer who she claimed licked her ear, blew on her neck and punched her in the kidney.The allegations by other whistleblowers include male crew members compiling a list that set out the order in which women would be raped in case there is a catastrophic event on board a submarine.The developments come after the British Ministry of Defense announced a new Zero Tolerance policy in late March, as part of its commitment to crack down on unacceptable sexual behavior and sexual offences.This policy aligns the Royal Navy, RAF, and Army under one approach to dealing with incidences, that will be implemented across the UK Armed Forces to enable services to better support victims and secure justice for them, according to the ministry's press release issued at the time.

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg

Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg

uk, royal navy, women, investigation, allegations
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/us-holds-world-hostage-to-its-nukes-ex-american-intel-officer-says-1102824182.html

US Holds World Hostage to Its Nukes, Ex-American Intel Officer Says

US Holds World Hostage to Its Nukes, Ex-American Intel Officer Says

Earlier this week, Pentagon released nuclear posture, which suggests that the US doesn't rule out use of the nuclear arsenal against non-nuclear threats ... 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T15:11+0000

2022-10-29T15:11+0000

2022-10-29T15:25+0000

opinion & analysis

interviews

russia

us

nuclear arsenal

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102974/62/1029746254_0:120:1024:696_1920x0_80_0_0_9ef6ea293ff5a0f6e60ba6ae22e0efca.jpg

Scott Ritter, a military analyst and former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, explained Sputnik why Washington adopted new nuclear policies and what do they mean for regular Americans. Sputnik: Why are Russia and hina to be blamed for the Biden's administration failure to reduce nuclear weapons?Scott Ritter: We have to look for somebody to blame. We can't blame ourselves. That's normally what happens. But we are solely to blame. President Biden ran on a platform that said that he would be seeking what's called the single-use policy for nuclear deterrence. And what that means is its a single-purpose policy. And the single purpose would be that the sole purpose of the US nuclear weapons arsenal is deterrence. And that's it; that we would never use nuclear weapons under any circumstance other than to respond to somebody using nuclear weapons against us; that we are here to deter a nuclear attack on the United States.He's broken that promise. The strategy that he has propagated recently is a strategy that continues the past practice of having deliberate ambiguity about the conditions and circumstances under which America could use nuclear weapons, up to and including a pre-emptive nuclear attack by the United States in response to a non-nuclear incident.Basically, the United States is holding the world hostage to its nuclear arsenal, saying that we reserve the right to use nuclear weapons any time we determine under any circumstances so that we have a broader definition of deterrence, meaning that we are deterring. But what are we deterring? You see, with a sole purpose declaration, we're deterring a nuclear attack against us. But the current nuclear strategy is to deter something that is ambiguous in nature, meaning we haven't precisely spelled it out. We're leaving the world guessing. And what we're saying is, don't mess with us, or else well nuke you.This has nothing to do with China and Russia. China and Russia have nuclear weapons arsenals. Which would be covered under the sole purpose doctrine. But this is about blackmailing the world. But we can't tell the world that we're blackmailing it. We have to blame it on China and Russia. But there's no linkage whatsoever between the nuclear posture, as published by the Biden administration, and the nuclear arsenals of China and Russia. If that was it, then we'd have a bold purpose doctrine.Sputnik: What's the reason for the West to escalate the nuclear rhetoric?Scott Ritter: That's a separate question, separate from the issue of the nuclear posture in the National Security Strategy. We have a current situation right now where Ukraine is losing this conflict. The West is recognizing that ultimately Ukraine will lose this conflict and that there's nothing they can do to forestall this defeat. And so what they've done is they have created in terms of an information warfare, propaganda driven exercise, the threat of a Russian nuclear strike against Ukraine. It makes no sense. I think Vladimir Putin addressed this in his presentation to the Valdai conference, that it makes no sense whatsoever to talk about a Russian nuclear weapon used in Ukraine. There's no reason for this. It's not part of their doctrine. It isn't going to happen.But this isn't about reality. This is about shaping perception. And so that's where this nuclear crisis is coming from today - talks of a dirty bomb, talks of a Russian pre-emptive nuclear strike, President Zelensky begging NATO to carry out their own pre-emptive nuclear strikes against Russia, NATO holding an annual exercise that trains the use of the very weapons President Zelensky asked NATO to use against Russia. NATO should have cancelled that exercise or at least postponed it to a later date, but they didn't. Russia has now responded with its own strategic nuclear exercise. Again, an annual exercise, this one testing not tactical nuclear weapons, but strategic nuclear weapons.And people are trying to make a linkage between all of this. There isn't. But this is where the heightened rhetoric and the heightened threat and the heightened crisis comes from. This is independent from the publication of the National Security Strategy. The National Security Strategy isn't designed to do anything different than what past national security strategies have done, which is to put the world on notice that the United States has a nuclear weapons arsenal, that it will use any time it determines, whether or not the threat is nuclear in nature. We're holding the world hostage, but we've been holding the world hostage for decades.Sputnik: In the 2022 NPR, the Pentagon refuses to back away from the possibility of using nuclear weapons in response to significant non-nuclear strategic attacks - what were the reasons to obliterate main agreements in the sphere of strategic security?Scott Ritter: This is not a new position by the Pentagon. This is actually a posture that emerged during the presidency of George W. Bush. That was the first time that this notion that we would use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear threat emerged.The Obama administration talked about walking away from that, but it's very difficult for presidents to disentangle their desires from the pressures of the establishment. And when we're dealing with nuclear weapons and the issue of nuclear deterrence, the establishment is extraordinarily powerful because they can always say that you're weakening. You can tell a president that you're weakening America, you're putting American lives at risk.There's an old saying in the military: when you're explaining, you're losing. You may have all the facts on your side. You may be right. But if you're standing in front of somebody explaining something you've already lost because people don't want to listen to complicated arguments, no matter how well-intended and factually-based they are. People want simple arguments that are seen as addressing fundamental issues.And so the establishment defines the problem as the world possesses a multitude of threats that can bring harm to the American people, and that nuclear weapons enable us to deter these threats and to deter not just a nuclear attack, but a chemical weapons attack, a biological weapons attack, a cyber attack against our infrastructure, a non-nuclear conventional strike that threatens national command and control.We can define any level of threat, sell these threats to the American people, and then the American people will say, well, then what are you doing to protect us? And the answer is, we have the nuclear deterrent. Nobody will do this because we can respond with nuclear weapons.That's just a fundamentally stupid approach. But when you're explaining, you're losing. And on this issue, Joe Biden and other presidents have found that they, even Barack Obama, was unable to implement changes in the nuclear posture because to do so would require them to explain to the American people why they're getting rid of the very nuclear umbrella that protects us from all of these threats that have been articulated by the establishment.You can't come out and say those aren't threats because what American is willing to take the risk? You say, yes, we're going to jump on this nuclear disarmament bandwagon and we're just going to trust that these threats really don't exist. Or are they going to say, we can't take the risk because these threats don't exist, therefore, we need this nuclear umbrella to protect us. Its very difficult for a politician to go against the stream on this.Sputnik: How much would it cost for the US economy to "catch up and overtake" in the nuclear race?Scott Ritter: It's a false premise that we can catch up and overtake. First of all, let's just break that down a little bit. Catching up means that the opponent has the initiative, because we're the ones catching up. So as we catch up, all the opponent has to do is get further ahead. And then we have to catch up. They get further ahead, and this is an endless cycle. We will never catch up unless the opponent stops seeking to get ahead. This is why arms control is so important, because arms control will create a ceiling for development. And then we can begin to work on the process of reductions. That's why we couldn't have had a strategic arms reduction treaty without first having a Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.Anybody who thinks that we can produce our way out of this problem doesn't understand history. We've already tried that once. It doesn't work. Every time we come up with something, the Russians and the Chinese will come up with something in response to that. We have to respond to that and it's an endless cycle. So, I reject the logic behind that concept. Not only will it never work, but we can't afford it. Right now, we're speaking of a modernization program for our ground launched ballistic missile deterrent, for our submarine launched ballistic missiles and for our strategic bombers. The total cost of this over the course of the next decade could very well be over a trillion dollars. And that's without even reflecting on the concept of catching up.You see, all of the weapons systems that we're talking about, a new generation of ballistic missiles, a new submarine with new missiles, a new bomber, are designed to deal with the Russian and Chinese threat as it currently exists or as it existed even five years ago, ten years ago.Russia has a whole new generation of weapons which far outperform anything we're talking about building. Right off the bat, we either have to modify our current strategic posture modernization programs - that costs a lot of money, or we build these but understand that we're going to have to build a new generation right after this. That costs even more money.We're talking trillions of dollars at a time when the American economy is under attack. The taxpayers can't afford this. You have Americans talking about, we need a trillion dollars to forgive student loans. That has a greater impact on the American public at a time when these proponents of this nuclear posture are talking about spending upwards of a trillion dollars to build weapons that will never achieve what they are intended to achieve. We need to understand right off the bat that we can't use nuclear weapons. They can never be used.That's sort of the going-in premise that the five acknowledged nuclear powers came to earlier this year: because a nuclear war can't be won, nuclear weapons can never be used.And yet we put forward a policy that says, no, we need to build newer nuclear weapons, we need to modernize, we need to do X, we need to do Y. Why? We can never use these weapons, but why are we building them as if they are a viable tool? This is why disarmament is so much better, so much more logical, and ultimately has a more humanitarian basis and national security basis than the continued pursuit of a so-called nuclear deterrent. Disarmament is the only thing that will save mankind. Continuing to pursue a nuclear deterrent could very well be the end of mankind.

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

interviews, russia, us, nuclear arsenal
https://sputniknews.com/20221029/weekly-news-wrap-up-elon-musk-takes-over-twitter-russias-a-dirty-bomb-scare-1102813683.html

Weekly News Wrap-up; Elon Musk Takes Over Twitter; Russia's a Dirty Bomb Scare

Weekly News Wrap-up; Elon Musk Takes Over Twitter; Russia's a Dirty Bomb Scare

Elon Musk has taken over Twitter and fired several Twitter executives 29.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-29T07:32+0000

2022-10-29T07:32+0000

2022-11-24T11:22+0000

the critical hour

dirty bomb

nato

haiti

elon musk

twitter

finland

radio

us africa command (africom)

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/1c/1102813537_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_63ca3d1f891386dd66052933c7c8a035.png

Weekly News Wrap-up; Elon Musk Takes Over Twitter; Russia's a Dirty Bomb Scare Elon Musk has taken over Twitter and fired several Twitter executives

Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss a dirty bomb plot in Ukraine. Russia has exposed a plot to explode a dirty bomb in Ukraine and blames the Kremlin. Also, the White House claims that only Zelensky has to determine when negotiations begin with Russia.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor of Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. The Biden administration is finalizing plans to cap Russian oil prices. Also, economic numbers are looking up but major indicators reveal that structural problems have not been addressed and fuel prices will be increasing in the coming months.Nicolas Davies, peace activist and author of Blood on Our Hands, the American Invasion of Iraq, joins us to discuss Russia. Nicolas Davies and Medea Benjamin have penned an article in rebuttal to Congressional progressives who backtracked on their call for diplomacy with Russia. Also, NATO may be looking to move more nuclear weapons close to Russia's border via Finland.Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, and Dr. Colin Campbell, DC Senior News Correspondent, join us to discuss this week's important news stories. The US is manufacturing a crisis in Haiti to justify an invasion. Also, Congressional progressives backtrack on their Ukraine diplomacy letter.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, and Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, join us to discuss this week's stories. Elon Musk has taken over Twitter and fired several Twitter executives. Also, President Biden ordered progressives to denounce themselves, and Europe is under the control of the US mafia.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

haiti

finland

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Garland Nixon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

dirty bomb, nato, haiti, elon musk, twitter, finland, , radio, us africa command (africom)
The Legacy of the Plains Museum gave the community a chance to learn about Japan and Japanese culture on Saturday morning.

The event was a partnership with Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) Coordinator Mariko Nagai, who works for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Diane Mercer, the accessions lead for the Japanese Hall and History Project and a member of the Legacy of the Plains Museum board of directors, said that Japan has been an economic and cultural partner to Nebraska for hundreds of years.

There were a lot of Japanese in the area at one time, said Mercer. The first generation, called issei, came here in the 1800s and 1900s.

Many of those Japanese immigrants started out as railroad construction workers, which led them inland from the ports at which they had entered the United States. When work on the railroad was completed, large groups became involved in the sugar beet industry.

Mercer said that it was exciting to host Nagai at the Legacy of the Plains Museum for many reasons, an important one being the significance of Japanese heritage in the area.

We wanted her to come not only because we really like her, but because of the Japanese Hall and History Project, said Mercer. This is part of our history, Japan and the relationship that Japan has maintained with the immigrants as they came over.

Nagais interest in visiting and working in the United States goes back to her high school days. Her hometown, Fukuoka, is a sister city to Oakland, California, which she had an opportunity to visit through an exchange program.

I became interested in international exchange programs and learning English, said Nagai. Then I studied abroad in Tennessee for nine months when I was a university student.

A few years later, Nagai discovered the Japan Outreach Initiative. As a coordinator for the program, she is dedicated to building stronger bonds between the United States and Japan. This includes facilitating institutional and business partnerships, working with educators as a guest speaker, and supporting community cultural events.

One of the activities Nagai introduced to attendees was a traditional dance set to a folk song from the Fukuoka Prefecture where she was born called Tanko Bushi.

Its origin is from the mine workers in my hometown area, explained Nagai.

That origin is reflected in the motions of the dance, which resemble digging and carrying things.

Other activities on the agenda included Japanese calligraphy and making onigiri, which are Japanese rice balls.

Mercer said that continuing to preserve and educate people about Japanese heritage in our area is very important as time goes on and new generations lose knowledge about their ancestors.

Im third generation, or sansei, and we didnt get to learn a lot about Japanese culture, she said. We dont know much about our history, and were very interested in it, and so are other people.

The Japanese Hall is set to reopen in its new location at The Legacy of the Plains Museum in the near future, giving everyone a chance to learn about the history of Japanese immigrants in our area.

Nagai said that her services as a JOI coordinator are available to schools and community organizations across the state of Nebraska. Anyone interested in hosting a Japan outreach event can contact her at mnagai3@unl.edu for more information.

Those interested in volunteering or donating to the Japanese Hall Project can also email japanesehall@legacyoftheplains.org for more information.

<&rule>
Senior Chinese official stresses promoting Party congress guiding principles

Xinhua) 09:50, October 29, 2022

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, speaks at a meeting on studying, publicizing, and implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Li Shulei, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official, Friday called for full strength to study, publicize, and implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress.

People working in publicity and ideological departments should fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, said Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a meeting held here.

He urged them to acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

They should align their thoughts and actions with the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and pool their wisdom and strength in fulfilling the objectives and tasks set by the congress, he said.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
Two women died and two men were injured in a three-vehicle crash at 12:45 a.m. Saturday at Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, police said.

Geneva police and Batavia and Geneva fire departments responded to the crash, which was initially discovered by West Chicago police.

Advertisement

The preliminary investigation indicates a 2016 Dodge Charger was traveling westbound on Fabyan Parkway and violated a red traffic light at Kirk Road, Geneva police said in a press release Saturday. The vehicle entered the intersection and collided with a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe heading southbound on Kirk Road, according to police.

The collision forced the Dodge Charger into a tow truck, which was facing eastbound in a left-hand turn lane on Fabyan Parkway waiting to turn north on Kirk Road, according to the release.

Advertisement

The Dodge Charger was driven by a 25-year-old Rockford woman and was occupied by an unidentified female passenger, the release stated. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A 50-year-old North Aurora man, who was driving the Hyundai Santa Fe, was airlifted to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. He is listed in critical condition, according to the release.

The tow truck driver, 31, of Batavia, was transported by the Geneva Fire Department to Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. He has since been discharged from the hospital.

No charges have been filed, and the crash remains under investigation, according to police. Names of the drivers involved in the crash will not be released until families have been notified, the release stated.
Western Nebraska Community College will move forward with its search for the colleges next president.

Members of the Western Community College Area Board of Governors members convened for a special meeting Wednesday, Oct. 26 to take action on the search. The board of governors approved the selection of a presidential search firm, formation of a search advisory committee and for human resources to select representatives to serve on a selection committee.

Two academic search consulting firms, Pauly Group Inc. and Academic Search, submitted proposals to the board. After hearing presentations from both firms, the board selected Pauly Group Inc. to support the college in its presidential search.

Within the proposal, it outlines the search preparation, applicant recruiting, board and committee assistance and contact with applicants and candidates.

The key to a successful search is to attract a wide and diverse candidate pool, the proposal reads.

It goes on to list five key steps to a successful recruitment process: position profile development, print advertising, database management and e-mail notification, individual telephone calls, connect with potential applicants via posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, and follow-up calls to encourage candidates to apply.

The first step to develop the position profile offers the specifics of the position as identified by the campus, search committee and college leaders. That will guide recruiters efforts as they solicit candidate applications. During those interactions, Pauly Group consultants will share information about the position and any interested persons are tracked throughout the recruiting process.

The board will also authorize Pauly Group to act on the colleges behalf as it conducts reference interviews. The group will also obtain written permission from the candidates to conduct these interviews. During the process, the college will approve a list of questions Pauly Group develops to help recruiters determine a candidates fit within the college system. Questions also seek to draw out information about candidates that pose detrimental consequences to WNCC if selected, the proposal states.

A reference report will be generated for the semifinal candidates after three to four reference telephone interviews. For final candidates, eight to 10 phone interviews are done with listed and unlisted references. The reports contain non-attributed quotes from sources, which are then distributed to the committee.

According to pack information, the human resources executive director will coordinate selection for the search committee among members of the executive planning team, faculty, non-faculty staff and students to serve on the search advisory committee. Pauly Group recommended that between 12 to 15 members sit on the committee, plus the committee chair.

Board secretary Susan Verbeck told the Star-Herald that the board approved search firm Pauly Group, Inc. However, the details on the timeline for the search are still in the works. Verbeck said the board hopes to name a new president in early spring 2023.

John Marrin has served as the interim president since the board accepted the resignation of then-President Carmen Simone during its Wednesday, June 16, 2021, meeting. Marrins contract was officially approved by the board at the July 21, 2021, meeting.

Minutes from the Nov. 17, 2021, WCCA Board of Governors meeting indicate the board entered executive session to discuss personnel matters. After 20 minutes, the board reconvened in regular session to discuss the college president.

Chair Lynne Klemke said the board wished to submit an addendum to the interim president contract.

The terms of the original contract employs John Marrin as the interim president for 12 months, effective June 21, 2021, through June 21, 2022. However, the length of employment may be extended if agreed upon by both parties, according to the contract.

Attorney Phil Kelly reviewed the addendum and said all other terms of the contract agreed upon in July 2021 remain the same and in effect. The addendum extended Marrins role as interim president through June 21, 2023, and the board approved it unanimously.

WNCCs strategic plan also expires this year, which inspired the college to hold numerous listening tours throughout its service area. Allison Judy, WNCCs public relations and marketing director, told the Star-Herald at that time that developing an updated plan sets up the future president for success.

It will have a plan clearly laid out for that person. So, the person will know what the expectations are, what the plan is and our ideals and philosophies, Judy said.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the board plans to embark on a new president search throughout the winter months and have the selected candidate assume the post in July, Judy said.

The next WCCA Board of Governors meeting will convene on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.
Nine people who stayed at the Toutle River Boys Ranch as teenagers in the 1980s and 1990s will receive $5 million in a settlement with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, after suing the agency for negligence.

The lawsuit, filed in Pierce County Superior Court in August 2019, alleges the state failed to protect the plaintiffs from sexual abuse at the group home, located east of Castle Rock.

The state shut down the ranch in August 1996 following an investigation into other problems, not including reports of sexual abuse, according to TDN archives. The organization moved to Longview and changed its focus to services like connecting youth to after-school programs, eventually dissolving and forming a new nonprofit as Youth and Family Link.

Link Executive Director Corie Dow-Kramer said she knew about the lawsuit, but that the organization had no involvement.

We hope any individuals who had negative experiences have been able to move forward, she said.

Darrell Cochran, attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala representing the plaintiffs, said there are many reasons to pursue a case like this, even when the alleged abuse happened years ago.

When a group of survivors recovers nearly $5 million in settlements, it shows that the stories of abuse they shared have been validated and the conditions at the ranch are every bit as depraved as they have described, he said in a statement. Its important to the integrity of our state institutions to be held accountable to an injustice of this sweeping magnitude.

The total settlement is $4.96 million and will be split between nine plaintiffs based on the severity of abuse each person experienced, Cochran said.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families declined to comment on the settlement, given ongoing legal proceedings in the case.

Case history

The lawsuit originally included 15 plaintiffs, identified by their initials, who were placed at the ranch from 1979 to 1996. The complaint states they were subjected to sexual abuse during their time at the facility.

Over the years, the home had several significant incidents of staff sexually assaulting the youth residents, as well as some residents sexually assaulting other residents, the complaint states. It was described as an on-going problem, and the State either knew or should have known that children sent to Toutle River were being abused and harmed.

The lawsuit alleges investigations into complaints brought to Toutle River Ranch staff were conducted in a grossly inadequate manner, if at all.

Supervision of the staff was laissez faire at best and at worst supervisory staff actively condoned the abuse and protected the abusers, the complaint states.

The lawsuit alleges the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Child Protective Services and Department of Children and Family Services, through negligence, created an unreasonable danger for, and caused irreparable harm to, the boys sent to Toutle River Boys Ranch.

In 2018, the powers and duties of the Childrens Administration within DSHS transferred to the newly formed Department of Children, Youth and Families.

In its response to the amended complaint, the state denied allegations of negligence. The state alleged any damages or injuries were caused by the fault of unknown nonparties not named in the lawsuit, including Toutle River Boys Ranch.

The plaintiffs wanted to name the ranch and its directors as defendants but were limited because a Washington state statute that immunizes dissolved nonprofit corporations and directors from a lawsuit, Cochran wrote in an email.

In September and October, the judge dismissed claims from four plaintiffs against the state because of the statute of limitations, but they plan to appeal that decision, Cochran said.

Two plaintiffs were not included in the settlement because they need to undergo evaluations with state experts before taking their cases to trial or discussing a settlement with the state, Cochran said.

The state continues to place thousands of children every year in foster care homes and the social workers must understand the horrible dangers that are out there and the terrible ramifications if they dont do their jobs safely, he said. Ideally, the state should shine a light on these past tragedies but most often survivors have to bring lawsuits to reveal the dreadful wrongs of the past.

Ranch history

The Toutle River Boys Ranch, which later dropped boys from its name, first opened in 1961 outside Castle Rock. Throughout the next decade, the program grew, accepting more more state money and oversight, the lawsuit states.

By 1995, the ranch had capacity to house 40 boys ages 14 to 18 at the site and oversaw a foster parent program. The state Department of Social and Health Services put a hold on new residents in July 1995 while investigating problems from a lack of staff supervision, according to TDN archives.

At the time, Executive Director Steve Watters told TDN he believed the state was making an example out of the ranch because of problems at other similar group homes.

In 1994, the state closed the O.K. Boys Ranch in Olympia after the state agreed to pay $4.3 million to 16 boys to settle lawsuits alleging they had been physically and sexually abused.

The state investigation of Toutle River Ranch wrapped up in September 1995. Less than a year later, the state shut down the ranch, immediately removing 22 residents. The agency stated the ranch failed to provide therapeutic treatment; provide adequate foster parent training and orientation; adequately supervise residents; report instances of abuse/neglect; and kept incomplete records, according to TDN archives.

Watters accused the state of holding the ranch to a higher standard than others. In December 1996, Toutle River Ranch sued the state for $2 million, alleging the state unfairly shut down the group home. More than a year later, the state settled for $325,000, maintaining it made the right call in closing the ranch but admitting contractual issues about how it terminated the contract, according to TDN archives.

Following the closure, the ranch board decided not to reopen a group home and moved to Longview, focusing on helping underserved youth and providing after-school activities through its Youth and Family Link program. The Toutle River Boys Ranch dissolved in 2000, according to OpenCorporates, an open database of corporate records.

The Toutle River Ranch registered as a nonprofit corporation in 2003 but didnt officially change its name to Youth and Family Link until 2014, according to documents filed with the Secretary of State. Link is now home to a community gymnasium and provides free programs to Cowlitz County residents, including mentoring, child wellness and drug prevention programs.
The manhunt for a 41-year-old Kalama man, who law enforcement say is on the run after breaking into a home with a rifle, continues.

Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office deputies have been searching for Kevin James Reynolds since Monday in the Lexington area. The sheriffs office claims Reynolds is wanted for allegedly breaking into a home armed with a rifle and stealing a cell phone from one of the inhabitants, according to a CCSO spokesperson Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill.

Deputies say they searched around Cowlitz Drive and Riverside Park in the unincorporated area of Lexington.

Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted county sheriffs deputies in the search for Reynolds to no avail, but they did recover a firearm during the initial investigation.

Cowlitz County Undersheriff Dave Handy told The Daily News Friday there are no updates regarding the hunt for Reynolds.

Deputies have described Reynolds as having distinctive facial tattoos, including neck tattoos and two triangle tattoos on his face, and ask the public to call 911 if spotted.

According to county court documents, Reynolds has lengthy criminal history that includes a conviction for false imprisonment in California in 2022 and another for second-degree assault in Pacific County, Washington. He is currently involved in four unresolved cases in Cowlitz County Superior Court and the charges include forgery, intimidating a witness, assault and harassing a Kelso man by making death threats.

Handy said Reynolds is the same person who, in August, also held a gun to another mans head, robbed him and stole his car in the 1400 block of Alabama Street in Longview. Kalama Police later found Reynolds in the stolen car the next day with the wallet in hand, police reports say.

In his most recent case, Reynolds posted bail on a $10,000 bond in September after he was pulled over on an alleged stolen motorcycle in Longview and arrested. Reynolds has trials scheduled for the unresolved cases in December.
Update (10 a.m. Friday): The two adults found dead in a Broken Arrow home Thursday are considered suspects in a homicide investigation, according to police.

"Preliminary details into this investigation have determined this incident is likely a murder-suicide," police said in a news release.

About 4:05 p.m. Thursday, neighbors reported a house fire in the 400 block of Hickory Avenue, northwest of Houston (81st) Street and Elm Place (161st East Avenue).

Six juvenile victims ranged from age 1 to 13, police said. They were found in one room of the house where the fire was contained, but none of the victims are believed to have died due to the fire, according to authorities.

None of the individuals have been identified, though next of kin have been notified, the release states. Medical examiners will determine cause of death.

Investigators recovered firearms from inside the home.

When asked about any previous police response at the residence, BA Police Chief Brandon Berryhill said it had been "numerous years" since the last call, which he characterized as a "very innocuous" situation.

Authorities expect to continue the investigation "for some time," according to BA Fire Chief Jeremy Moore.

The owner of the home told Tulsa World that the family has been renting there eight years, with third-party payments made through a subsidy program.

Understandably, this is a shock to Broken Arrow. Its a safe city. Broken Arrow doesnt have this kind of situation every day, said BAPD spokesman Ethan Hutchins.

The home is southwest of Broken Arrows Rose District and about 15 miles southeast of downtown Tulsa.

Were asking the community to please pray and come together because this is something that we dont experience as a city very often, Hutchins said.

BAPD says anyone experiencing distress related to the investigation is encouraged to call Mental Health Association Oklahoma's hotline: 918-585-1213.

The story below published in Friday's Tulsa World:

BROKEN ARROW  Eight people were found dead following a house fire, leading to what police described as a homicide investigation Thursday night.

Late Thursday night, police said a family of eight, two adults and six children, lived at the house. Police didn't confirm if the victims included anyone from that family.

About 4:05 p.m. Thursday, neighbors reported a house fire in the 400 block of Hickory Avenue, northwest of Houston (81st) Street and Elm Place (161st East Avenue). The eight were found inside, police said.

We do not currently believe there is an immediate threat to the public, Broken Arrow police said in a social media post Thursday night.

Understandably, this is a shock to Broken Arrow. Its a safe city. Broken Arrow doesnt have this kind of situation every day, said BAPD spokesman Ethan Hutchins.

Authorities, he said, continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding what happened here with this incident."

Its a complex scene with a lot of moving parts in the state of the house, given the fire damage, so this remains under investigation, he said.

The home is southwest of Broken Arrows Rose District and about 15 miles southeast of downtown Tulsa.

Hutchins said federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene to investigate the fire, as well as Broken Arrow police and firefighters.

And so, were asking the community to please pray and come together because this is something that we dont experience as a city very often, Hutchins said.
Suppliers for major brands like Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet are still relying heavily on fossil fuels, Greenpeace finds.

Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc. have pledged to run their own operations on 100% clean power. But their suppliers  the lesser known companies that make the key components of hit products like the Kindle, the Xbox or Pixel mobiles  remain deeply reliant on fossil fuels. Twelve of the 14 top suppliers get on average 5.4% of their energy from renewable sources or don't disclose, data from a Greenpeace report released Friday showed.

Their major clients, including HP Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Lenovo Group, Sony Group Corp., LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. share the blame, the organization said: Of 10 consumer electronics brands, only one  Apple Inc.  has designed an emissions strategy requiring its suppliers to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.

The big consumer electronics brands have not provided sufficient incentives or support for their suppliers to decarbonize, Greenpeace's researchers concluded. They have failed to set meaningful renewable energy targets where it really counts  in their supply chains.

Google, Sony and Dell declined to comment, while representatives from Microsoft, HP, Lenovo and LG didn't respond to Bloomberg's emailed requests for comment. Amazon said it plans to power its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and to zero out its carbon emissions by 2040. Samsung said it was committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

At the heart of their supply chains are Asian chip behemoths like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and SK Hynix Inc. that can guzzle as much power as entire countries to produce the advanced logic and memory chips that are now used in nearly everything. While their products are indispensable, they use fossil fuels to generate much of their power. In 2021, TSMC and Hynix reported renewable energy usage rates of only 9% and 4%, respectively.

Greenpeace said that the 10 tech companies and 14 suppliers studied used more than 170,000 gigawatt hours of power last year, on par with the annual electricity consumption of Argentina. By 2030, power used by the global tech sector is expected to be up 60% over 2020. That threatens to create severe supply issues and raises environmental concerns in manufacturing hubs.

Taiwan's TSMC is sucking up as much electricity as Sri Lanka's 21-million population and is expected to use up 12.5% of the island's annual power consumption by 2025. More than half of Taiwan's energy is generated from coal and fossil fuels. In South Korea, home to another critical chip-supplier, SK Hynix, the story is similar. The company's chip factories consume power equivalent to 1.6 million South Korean households and more than 60% of the country's power comes from burning coal and natural gas.

Apple is calling on its suppliers to address their greenhouse gas emissions, the company said in a statement Tuesday. The Cupertino, California-based company will evaluate the work of its major manufacturing partners to decarbonize their Apple-related operations  including running on 100% renewable electricity  and will track yearly progress, the firm said in the statement. TSMC is the sole producer of Apple's Silicon processors that go into iPhones, iPads and Macs, while Hynix is a key memory provider for the same devices.
NASA's Mars rovers strive for groundbreaking scientific discoveries as they traverse the Martian landscape.

Researchers have developed a new approach to balancing the risks and scientific value of sending planetary rovers into dangerous situations.

Researchers in the School of Computer Science's Robotics Institute (RI) have developed a new approach to balancing the risks and scientific value of sending planetary rovers into dangerous situations.

David Wettergreen, a research professor in the RI, and Alberto Candela, who earned his Ph.D. in robotics and is now a data scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will present their work, "An Approach to Science and Risk-Aware Planetary Rover Exploration," at the IEEE and RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems later this month in Kyoto, Japan.

"We looked at how to balance the risk associated with going to challenging places against the value of what you might discover there," said Wettergreen, who has worked on autonomous planetary exploration for decades at Carnegie Mellon University. "This is the next step in autonomous navigation and to producing more and better data to aid scientists."

For their approach, Wettergreen and Candela combined a model used to estimate science value with a model that estimates risk. Science value is estimated using the robot's confidence in its interpretation of the mineral composition of rocks. If the robot believes it has identified rocks correctly without needing additional measurements, it may choose to explore somewhere new. If the robot's confidence is low, however, it may decide to continue to study the current area and improve its mineralogical model. Zoe, a rover that for decades has tested technologies for autonomy, used a previous version of this model during experiments in 2019 in the Nevada desert.

The researchers determined risk through a model that uses the topography of the terrain and the terrain's makeup material types to estimate how difficult it will be for the rover to reach a specific location. A steep hill with loose sand could doom a rover's mission -- a real concern on Mars. In 2004, NASA landed twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, on Mars. Spirit's mission ended in 2009 when it became stuck in a sand dune and its wheels slipped when it tried to move. Opportunity carried on and worked until 2018.

Wettergreen and Candela tested their framework using real Mars surface data. The pair sent a simulated rover scurrying about Mars using this data, charting different paths based on varying risk, and then evaluated the science gained from these missions.

"The rover did very well on its own," Candela said, describing the simulated Mars missions. "Even under high-risk simulations, there were still plenty of areas for the rover to explore, and we found that we still made interesting discoveries."

This research builds on decades of RI work investigating autonomous planetary exploration. Papers stretching back into the 1980s propose and demonstrate methods that would allow rovers to move autonomously across the surface of other planets, and technology developed through this research has been used on recent Mars rovers.

Pioneering autonomous technology researchers at CMU proposed Ambler, a self-reliant, six-legged robot that could prioritize its goals and chart its own path on places like Mars. The team tested the six-meter-tall robot in the early 1990s. More rovers followed, including Ratler, Nomad and Hyperion -- a rover designed to follow the sun as it travels to charge its batteries.

Zoe began its work in harsh environments in 2004 and has traveled hundreds of miles in Chile's Atacama Desert, an environment in many ways similar to Mars. By 2012, Zoe's missions in the desert shifted to focus on autonomous exploration and the decisions behind where to go and what samples to collect. A year later, the rover autonomously decided to drill into the desert soil, and it discovered what turned out to be unusual, highly specialized microbes, demonstrating that automated science can result in valuable discoveries.

Candela and Wettergreen hope to test their recent work on Zoe during an upcoming trip to the Utah desert. The pair also see their research making valuable contributions to future lunar exploration. Their approach could be used by scientists as a tool to investigate potential routes in advance and balance the risk of those routes with the science that could be gained. The approach could also assist a generation of autonomous rovers sent to the surface of planets to conduct science experiments without the need for continuous human involvement. The rover could assess the risk and reward before charting its own course.

"Our goal is not to eliminate scientists, not to eliminate the person from the inquiry," Wettergreen said. "Really, the point is to enable a robotic system to be more productive for scientists. Our goal is to collect more and better data for scientists to use in their investigations."
You are here: Business

China on Friday issued a new catalog of industries where foreign investment will be encouraged, opening more sectors to foreign investment.



The 2022 version of catalog, jointly unveiled by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce, will include 1,474 items, with 239 new items added and 167 existing ones modified.

The revision is particularly relevant to items related to the manufacturing sector and producer services and aims to optimize the foreign investment layout.

The latest version of the national-level sub-catalog will focus more on the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector and technological upgrading.

Professional design, technical services and development are among new sectors added to the catalog. More sectors are added to the sub-catalog for central and western regions.

The expanded catalog represents a significant step for China to advance high-level opening-up, stabilize foreign investment, and optimize the structure of foreign investment, said an official with the NDRC, adding that it will boost the expectations and confidence of foreign investors.

The new catalog will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
A Russian official's threat this week to "strike" Western satellites aiding Ukraine highlights an untested area of international law.

A Russian official's threat this week to "strike" Western satellites aiding Ukraine highlights an untested area of international law, raising concerns among space lawyers and industry executives about the safety of objects in orbit.

"Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike," senior foreign ministry official Konstantin Vorontsov told the United Nations, reiterating Moscow's position that Western civilian and commercial satellites helping Ukrainian's war effort was "an extremely dangerous trend."

No country has carried out a missile strike against an enemy's satellite. Such an act during the war in Ukraine could sharply escalate tensions between Russia and the United States.

"This threat has brought us to a brink that we've never been to before," said Michelle Hanlon, co-director of the University of Mississippi School of Law's Air and Space Law program. "There's always been a sense that this could happen, but never has somebody actually said that they might do that out loud.

Ukraine's military relies heavily on Elon Musk's SpaceX for broadband internet beamed from its low-Earth orbiting Starlink satellite network. U.S. firms like Maxar are capturing images of the war from satellites in orbit. And tens of thousands of communications devices in Ukraine rely on U.S. satellite communications giant Iridium's satellite network.

"It's really irresponsible to talk about shooting anything down in space for any reason," Iridium chief executive Matt Desch told Reuters. "Space has gotten to be quite messy."

"If somebody starts shooting satellites in space, I'd imagine it would quickly make space unusable," Desch said.

Musk and SpaceX did not respond to emailed requests for comment. The billionaire briefly caused alarm this month by saying he could no longer afford to keep funding Starlink service in Ukraine, a position he quickly reversed.

Under the laws of armed conflict, a Russian strike on a private U.S. company's satellite could be seen as an act of war to which the U.S. could respond, Hanlon said.

White House spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that any attack on U.S. infrastructure would be met with a response but he did not go into detail.

"The legal aspects of all this are really murky at the moment," said Brian Weeden, a space policy analyst at the Secure World Foundation. "We don't have any examples of wartime uses of force against satellites - there's really nothing to go off of."

COMPLICATED CALCULUS

Whether a Russian anti-satellite strike would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, such as its prohibition on placing weapons of mass destruction in space, is debatable, lawyers say. The Liability Convention of 1972, to which Russia is also a signatory, stipulates that countries must pay compensation for any damage caused by its space objects.

Last year Russia demonstrated a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile on one of its old satellites in orbit, blasting it to smithereens. Since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion into Ukraine, Western officials and companies have accused Moscow of repeated attempts to hack and jam satellite internet signals over the region.

Anti-satellite missiles have been widely condemned by the West and astronomers for creating hazardous orbital debris that endangers critical space infrastructure, from crewed space stations to GPS networks that millions of consumer and government platforms around the world rely on.

The only other countries to have conducted direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests are the United States - which last demonstrated an anti-satellite weapon in 2008 - China, and India.

Vorontsov did not single out any companies in his comments to a U.N. panel on Wednesday. But SpaceX's Starlink has stood out as a persistent target for Russia, which has attempted to signal-jam the network's signals during the war, Musk has said.

A network of thousands of interconnected satellites encircling Earth like Starlink have been championed by the U.S. military as being resilient to potential anti-satellite attacks that could only target a small portion of the network without fully disabling it.

"It complicates the calculus for the enemy," Lieutenant General Philip Garrant, the U.S. Space Force's deputy chief of strategy and operations, told Reuters. "If there's lots of satellites, they don't know which one to target."

SpaceX's Starlink network consists of roughly 3,000 satellites, and there are several dozen commercial U.S. imagery satellites eyeing Russia and Ukraine.

"Destroying one or two, or even a dozen, isn't gonna have much effect," Weeden said.
Havent yet made your Halloween plans? Never fear, there are plenty of things to do around the area this weekend.

The Grand Island Free Church will host Not-Your-Normal Trunk-or-Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church 2609 S. Blaine St.

In addition to almost 40 trunks handing out treats, the event will include a live band, inflatables, face paintings, balloon animals, a hay rack ride and more. Food trucks will be on hand in case you need something more to eat than candy!

For more information, call the church at 308-382-1898.

The Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora will be the site of Halloween Spooktacular from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. This family-friendly event will include a haunted laboratory, mad scientist labs, costume contest, pumpkin chunkin and much more.

The event is free for members; admission for non-members is $8.25 ages 2 to 59, $7 for those 60 and older and free for babies younger than 2.

For more information, call the center, 208 16th St., Aurora, at 402-694-4032.

Tales on the Trail will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning west of Hastings.

Come in costume and enjoy stories told by whimsical characters along the woodland trail. Activities, games and stories are best for kids ages 3-12 with their grownups. Suggested donation is $10 per family.

Prairie Loft is located at 4705 DLD Road, west of Hastings. For more information (including directions) and a schedule of activities, check online at www.prairieloft.org or the Prairie Loft page on Facebook.

Over in Central City, the area Chamber of Commerce will host Parade of Goblins Trunk or Treat event from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Merrick County Fairgrounds.

The event promises yummy treats. fun people and family fun!

Also, the Osceola Community Action Group will host its Spooktacular Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 6 p.m. on the square in Osceola.

And dont forget, KranzMare on First Street, a Halloween haunted house, will be open Saturday at the Liederkranz, 401 W. First St., from 5 to 7 p.m. (for younger kids) and 8 to 11 p.m. (for older kids and adults). Admission is $5 per person.
I remember purchasing a $5 ticket for a Grateful Dead concert at the Pershing Auditorium in Lincoln 50 years ago, in 1972. Im sure I hitchhiked to Lincoln from Crete, where I attended Doane College, for a night of music and fun with a bunch of long-haired individuals.

I also remember looking up at the mural that adorned the side of the auditorium and thinking, That is the ugliest piece of junk Ive ever seen.

Over the years Ive seen much worse artwork and Ive even created some of my own low quality stuff that I would like to disown at my earliest convenience.

That said, I wanted to write about the removal and the repurposing of the mural that I walked under so many years ago, now that the Pershing Auditorium is in the process of demolition. I wanted to rant about the waste of time and money to save something that looked like it belonged on the bottom of a swimming pool, a mural comprised of 763,000 one-inch-square tiles designed by Nebraska artists Leonard Thiessen and Bill J. Hammond that stretched 140 feet.

And then I called Liz Shea-McCoy, chair of the preservation committee for the mural. Big mistake.

When I told her of my intent to write about this ridiculous effort, she immediately launched into a soft-sell campaign and ended with, What can I do to change your mind? She talked about creating a place where the mural would be a highlight of a park, a place where people could view the mural instead of staring at their phones. She talked about the power of public art to decorate a place and highlight certain aspects of a building. In this case she pointed out how the mural showed the variety of events hosted at Pershing Auditorium  and also areas of the state.

I decided not to complain about the simple fact that the mural neglected to feature Jerry Garcia, the inspirational bushy-haired leader of the Grateful Dead, even though he was only 10 years old when the mural was constructed. Details, details.

Liz listened patiently to my complaints. I asked about the expense of taking down the mural ($1 million) and refurbishing it (another $1 million) and installing it in a new home (another $1 million). She countered by talking about the history of the mural and how so many people walked under it without paying much attention to it.

She explained that the first million all came from private sources, from people who cared about public art in Nebraska, from people who know the value of history when they see it. The committee is still accepting donations to fund the rest of the project.

I decided to just listen and stop complaining.

Liz talked about the joy of dissecting art, of looking at it and enjoying it in so many different ways. She acknowledged the role of art in our society  to get people thinking and talking about ideas and experiences. The mural that stood for almost seven decades accomplished that goal and now will continue to inspire Nebraskans in a new home.

I reminded Liz that I didnt care for the colors of the tiles.

Ever so kindly, she listened and then gave me about 20 more valid reasons for saving the mural. She also reminded me that the Museum of Nebraska Art includes individual pieces of art in its permanent collection from both of the artists who designed the mural.

I still hate the artwork. I still think it belongs on the floor of a parking garage, but I had to admit that Liz countered each of my petty arguments with the type of gentle logic and thinking that will help to save an important piece of public art in Nebraska.

For that, I will admit defeat and donate $25 to the campaign to save the mural. For readers interested in donating, just to spite me, visit the Nebraska State Historic Society Foundations web page at NSHSF.org for details on how to give. For the ultimate insult, feel free to donate under my name.
Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a medical clinic that will be built at the corner of North Sheridan Street and Capitol Avenue.

The ceremony was headed by CHI Health in partnership with NexCore Group.

The structures location is west of the buildings at the former Grand Island Veterans Home.

The property, now a cornfield, is not far from the intersection of Custer Avenue and Capital. Plans call for Custer to be extended north.

Attending Fridays event were Dr. Randall Pritza, president and chief marketing officer of CHI Health Clinic; Ed Hannon, president of CHI Health St. Francis; Dr. Joshua Anderson, a neurosurgeon, and Dr. Shu-Ming Wang, family medicine.

CHI Health Clinic-Grand Island, slated to open in the spring of 2024, will feature 54 patient exam rooms and space for up to 31 providers. The estimated $15 million project will provide family and specialty care in a previously underserved area of the city, says a news release from CHI Health.

On March 8, the Grand Island City Council agreed to sell the 12.7 acres to CHI Nebraska for $318,575. The sale was approved on a 6-4 vote.

Investing in the City of Grand Island while increasing access to healthcare for our region was a priority when considering this new location. This ground has a long history of caring for our veterans. I see it as a perfect complement that St. Francis, another institution with a long history of caring for and giving back to our community, will honor its intent and use it to care for all, Hannon says in the news release. Hannon is a retired Navy Corpsman with 20 years of service.

The new clinic will feature the following services:

Primary care

Specialty care services including neurology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, physical medicine and rehabilitation and general surgery

Priority Care with walk-in access, available seven days a week

Integrated behavioral health

Radiology

Laboratory

Pharmacy

Physical and occupational therapy

Virtual and drive-up care

A full spectrum of family and specialized medicine conveniently located under one roof removes the strain on families having to travel to multiple locations for care, Wang says in the news release. From yearly wellness visits to preventative screenings to a full complement of specialty care, we will help make quality and accessible care a priority for everyone in the region. Its our mission to build healthier communities.
Vote for Helzer

I am writing in support of Danielle Helzer, candidate for State Board of Education District 6.

This is a nonpartisan race by virtue of our states constitution, and while there is an inevitable element of partisanship in any contest, Danielle is best suited to help Nebraska maintain its time-honored and essential nonpartisan approach to education in our democracy. I have seen how Danielle is able and ready to engage and seek educational solutions with everyone she will represent in this multi-county district. This includes you and me with our myriad of different but equally valued cultures, political and social views, faiths, family structures, educational needs and individual identities.

Danielle passionately supports and advocates for all children, parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators, school boards and general public. She is not beholden to hyper-partisan, polarizing unsupported tactics being characterized through her opponents political party and political action committee supporters against their opponents as well as Nebraskas teachers and school librarians.

Danielle doesnt work that way and it will show in her constructive approach with other members of the State Board of Education and all types of stakeholders including you and me.

I urge you to find Danielle Helzer on your 2022 general election ballot and cast your vote for her.

Steve Fosselman

Grand Island

Troubled by candidate crop

With the election only weeks away, I am deeply troubled by some of the candidates on the ballot.

Here in Nebraska we have a candidate for governor and a candidate for Congress both supported by our current Gov. Pete Rickets. We dont need more of Rickets ideals in either position.

On two different occasions early in his administration, I attempted to talk to him about something very important to me and many others in the Grand Island area, only to be told that he wouldnt do anything to change what the previous governor had done.

After this election I will be changing from a Republican to an independent. I am tired of Rickets running the party here, and Donald Trump running the party nationally.

Bob Lathen

Grand Island

Vote for Brown, Pillen, Flood and Jones

Like many of you, Ive not met Jim Pillen, Mike Flood or Sherry Jones, however, I have met and do know Doug Brown. One thing Ive noticed about all these candidates is that none of them were the first ones to run negative ads against their opponents in this election. Folks, that says a lot. We Nebraskans dont like negative ads. Trying to tear one person down to make yourself look good is not our style. All these candidates also reflect Nebraskas conservative views.

On Nov. 8, please vote. These people, and Nebraska, need your vote.

Leonard McCarty Jr.

Grand Island

Brown a man of the people

Time is running out for the voters of Grand Island to pick our new mayor. You see a lot of signs, some advertising in the paper, but I only see one candidate out and among people. One candidate is working with the public, talking with them and getting a first-hand view of whats happening. Gee, I havent seen much of the other candidate.

Doug Brown likes to be informed on all subjects. Thats why he is out in the public to see for himself. Its nice to have people helping you on certain projects, but sometimes you really should see for yourself. Thats what Doug will do.

One subject that I have a big problem with is the Soldiers and Sailors Home. Our two previous mayors did nothing to help save the home. They only did something to make themselves look good. Maybe if they wouldve served some time in the military, they would feel different. Personally, I would rather follow a veteran than anyone else. We put our lives on the live every day to make this a safe city, county, state and country to live in. They will only do what makes them look good. Some people wont like that comment, but I dont care because I served my time and I can speak freely. Thats why I like and trust Doug Brown. He has a nice smile, a strong hand shake and is always dressed like a common person. Those are the people I trust.

So please, lets select someone who has common sense and can think on his feet. I think if the people of Grand Island would read about him, watch him and listen to him, Doug will be our next mayor. You will be pleased with the outcome.

Thank you for listening and please get out and vote. The way things are going, we all have to do our part. God bless America.

Jerald Hirschman

Grand Island

The need for smarter growing, eating

Id like to believe, most people agree there are consequences to everything we say and do. As you are reading this, you are going to make a decision on whether this information has thoughtful truths you can agree with based on what I say and how I present it. My intent is to elicit critical thinking in readers to help them understand other legit perspectives.

Nebraska is known for its farmers contributions being passed down from one generation to another, all having the positive intent of being part of a system feeding the world. However, as we grow as a civilization and have readily available science supported information, we can see the negative impact of many of these systems. These systems only benefit the taste senses of a select few in relationship to the worldwide scope. Thich Nhat Hanh said, Every day 40,000 children in the world die for lack of food. We who overeat in the West, who are feeding grains to animals to make meat, are eating the flesh of those children.

In my opinion, growing genetically modified monocrops of corn and soy to feed only animals, rather than growing grains, vegetables and fruits for human consumption, is selfishly inefficient as understood reading IOP Science.

As a society, we teach our children to be responsible for their actions and efficient with their money, yet just because we have historically been farming animals we severely neglect to question if it makes world sense for a growing human population. As responsible adult humans, I feel we need to practice what we preach by objectively studying all the things we currently do and be willing to question their validity moving toward the life and world we want to create in harmony with the interest of everyone in the whole world.

Robert Rieck

Lincoln

Jones vs. Helzer

So, Ive been looking at the District 6 candidates for the Nebraska State Board of Education and it seems the choice is very clear.

One candidate only has more than eight years of teaching experience.

Sherry Jones has 35 years of teaching experience. She promotes improvement in academics in our Nebraska schools, proficiency in math, sciences and language. Shes concerned that too many of our young people are graduating from Nebraska schools without the basic knowledge needed to compete for jobs and advanced educational opportunities. As a former teacher herself, Sherry wants to protect our teachers from being forced to teach things which, in good conscience, many do not want to teach. And she feels that parents need a strong voice in their kids education.

Ms. Helzer feels it was her job to bring political activism to her classroom and has said she has a plan for teaching social justice? I guess that means shes all about the state controlling your kids education and indoctrinating them on how to be activists and protesters, you know, like those kids we see on national news smashing windows and burning police cars!

It seems to me that Sherry Jones is the only candidate who really cares about our childrens future.

Jeff White

Grand Island

Helzer the best candidate

I am writing in support of Danielle Helzer who is running for State Board of Education to represent District 6. Danielle is a former teacher and parent of two children who attend our excellent Nebraska schools. As a former teacher and teacher educator, l trust Danielle to make informed and student-centered decisions in this role. She understands that children who feel seen, safe and accepted, thrive and excel in an environment of acceptance.

Seems to me some candidates running for SBOE are being supported by a group called Protect Nebraska Children. This groups agenda is not aligned with promoting learning communities with environments of acceptance. They seek to spread fear about children and their families who do not fit into the predominantly Anglo, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual profile because that does not fit their social construct of what it means to be fully human and deserving of acceptance and respect.

For teachers like Danielle and myself, our job is to make all children and their families feel seen, safe and accepted.

Danielles goal is to bring more voices to the table by inviting teachers and citizens to serve on committees. Please choose carefully Nov. 8. Vote for Danielle Helzer, she is for protecting all children.

Sherry Dorman

Wayne
Three Grand Island businesses and one in Elba failed alcohol inspections conducted on the evening of Oct. 21 in Hall and Howard counties.

A total of 40 businesses were checked by investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol. Four of the businesses sold alcohol to a minor, producing a compliance rate of 90%.

The four businesses that sold alcohol to a minor failed to check the minors ID.

The businesses that failed the inspections were McKinneys Irish Pub, the Snack Shac and Carlos OKelleys in Grand Island and Charlies Station in Elba.

Businesses that fail the inspections are referred to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Clerks who sell alcohol to a minor are cited for procuring alcohol for a minor.

The checks were conducted with the help of a grant from the Nebraska Department of Transportations Highway Safety Office.
A Chinese team, together with scientists from American universities, has created a new strategy to resolve the limitations of single-atom catalysts and increase their potential for effective application, according to the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

Single-atom catalyst, which makes exceptionally efficient use of expensive noble metals and can bring out unique properties, is a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis, a commonly used catalytic reaction in industry.

However, applications of single-atom catalysts are usually compromised by limited catalyst stability, or too few metal sites available for reactant binding and catalysis when anchoring the metal atoms to oxide supports.

The research team, led by Zeng Jie of the USTC, said in a study published in the journal Nature this week that they anticipate that the new strategy will take single-atom catalysts a step closer to practical applications.

By confining atomically dispersed metal atoms on oxide nanoclusters or "nanoglues", the beneficial effects of anchoring can be enhanced. The metal atoms can move but remain confined to their respective nanoglue islands, which is believed to provide a new solution for solving the contradiction between catalyst activity and stability.

The idea of stabilizing the atomically dispersed active species on an isolated support nanoparticle is fascinating and extremely convincing, said Nature's peer-reviewers of this paper.
As a family climbed into the passenger area of the carriage Sunday, owner Doug Hileman asked one of the boys if he wanted to sit up front in the drivers compartment. The youngster was excited.

As Hileman drove the carriage around the grounds of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace Sunday, he explained to the boy about horses, what commands to use and about the slower pace of horse-drawn vehicles.

It was easy to see that Hileman was passionate not only about his horses and giving carriage rides, but also about sharing his enthusiasm with future generations.

For three years Hileman and his wife Beth have been providing carriage rides to special events, weddings and parades, and sharing their love of agriculture and history along the way. Hileman said it is a retirement hobby for the couple who live on a farm south of Anna.

Weve been driving horses for about six years, he explained. A few years ago we decided to try to share our hobby with others by going to small events, county festivals and those sorts of things.

He said the couple enjoys offering carriage rides at the Bald Knob Cross of Peace Fall Colors and other events including church picnics and festivals as well as special events, usually in the southernmost counties of the region. He said Santa will be a passenger in the carriage when he makes a visit to Cape Girardeau later this year.

Hileman added, however, that they are somewhat selective in the bookings they take.

We are trying to be a little bit careful. We enjoy this hobby and we dont want it to turn into a full-time business. We are both retired and we do this as much out of fun than anything, he explained.

Beth was a registered nurse; Paul worked in taxes and accounting as well as farm management for 40 years. He said he particularly enjoys teaching passengers about agriculture and horses, adding that the animals have always been a big part of both of their lives.

Beth and I dated on horseback when we were teenagers. She would ride in one direction and Id meet her from the other direction. We would go on trail rides together, he explained. Weve enjoyed riding horses for many years and a few years back decided we were getting too old to be on top, so we decided to start driving horses.

The couple has a variety of horses on their farm. At Bald Knob, Dusty and Donna  a matched set of Haflingers  pulled the carriage. The Hilemans also have a Belgian Friesian team. There is also a choice of what the horses pull. Beth jokingly said they have a fleet, but Paul said beside the wheeled carriage, they offer a bobsled (sleigh) and a corn sled.

We really enjoy seeing families get out and do things in the outdoors, experiencing a little bit of farm life. When they are on the carriage I also try to encourage people to take the time to relax, he said.

Hileman said he enjoys interacting with his passengers, especially the younger ones.

The boys and girls really get a kick out of having the chance to get up in the drivers box and help me drive the team. I allow them to hold the reins and teach them a little bit about horse driving, trying to cultivate the next generation of horse drivers, he said.

With each event and every drive, the Hilemans see themselves as advocates for horsemanship, agriculture and a living a little slower.

It seems that people are getting a generation or two away from the farm and were trying to help them connect and understand horses, he said. With this, life gets a little slower and I think its healthy for our own psyche to take a little time off and listen to the creak of the carriage and feel the wobble of the wagon.
Procuratorial organs in China have enhanced the protection of minors with all-out efforts in recent years, a report from China's top procuratorate showed.

The report was submitted by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Friday to the 37th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation.

Of all those who were indicted for crimes against minors from 2018 to September 2022, 42 percent, or 47,000 were sentenced to at least three years in prison in the first instance, said Zhang Jun, procurator-general of the SPP, in the report.

Regarding safety issues on campus, procuratorial organs in China worked closely with educational authorities and schools in improving campus safety, the report noted. In 2021, 1,062 people involved in school violence and bullying criminal cases were indicted, down 76.9 percent from 2018.

The report pointed out that comprehensive protection of minors can only be realized when protection in six aspects is in place. The six aspects are judicial protection, and protection from family, school, society, cyberspace and the government.

To ensure that protection in these areas is effective, procuratorial organs have taken multiple measures, such as developing mechanisms to rectify irresponsible parent behavior, having procurators participate in school education to raise minors' legal awareness, urging lodging service providers to enhance protection of minors, and creating a clean cyberspace for underage users.
(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.
At least one of the draft bills intended to loosen regulations for industrial electricity consumers wont make it to Wyomings legislative session early next year.

The bill wouldve allowed state and county officials to create industrial power zones by exempting some parcels of state land from existing regulations, which currently require companies to buy their electricity from regulated utilities. If successful, it wouldve given companies more options for purchasing power.

Its goal, Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, said during a joint Minerals Committee meeting on Thursday, is to provide an opportunity of, effectively, an island that can have exceptions to the regulated utility structure to address specific interests.

Cryptocurrency mining  an energy-intensive industry reliant on cheap power  is one such interest. Rothfuss believes many other industries would also benefit from targeted deregulation.

We know that in Wyoming there is no ability to produce power by one company and sell it to another company without having to go through the (Public Service Commission), he said. That is wildly limiting.

But a number of state agencies and utilities raised concerns about the legislation, including its possible ramifications for households and other small-scale customers.

I think theres a limit to how much you can isolate the risk that these particular arrangements could pose for the regulated or retail customers within the state of Wyoming, Anthony Ornelas, interim administrator of the Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate, told the committee.

If some of our larger utilities decide to take on some potential new resources to serve these unregulated loads, and then they dont turn out as they plan, theres a fairly significant risk of stranded assets, he said.

The worry, according to Ornelas, is that costs will go up for ratepayers left on the hook.

Rothfuss  and other supporters of the bill, including potential buyers of the power it would deregulate  pushed back against that idea.

Im not surprised that the regulated utilities dont like this legislation. Thats fair. Its fair of them not to like this bill. But at the end of the day ... we have large power demands and we dont have a system that is readily adapted to those demands, Rothfuss said.

By the close of public comment on Thursday, however, Sen. Jim Anderson, R-Casper, was still unsatisfied, as was the majority of the committee.

Theres not too many bills that weve spent more time on  more committee time, more time with all of our suppliers, and everything  to discuss this, to try to make it into a bill that everybody could agree on, and we still arent there, Anderson said.

The bill narrowly failed to advance. Six lawmakers voted in favor. Seven were opposed.
Casper residents will have an opportunity this week to weigh in on a proposed municipal anti-discrimination ordinance.

The ordinance is set for a public hearing Tuesday before the Casper City Council. Afterward, the council is set to take its first vote on the matter.

There is reason to believe the ordinance will receive support from the majority of the council. When the group gathered earlier this month to discuss the matter at a work session, only one council member, Ward III representative Steve Cathey, spoke in opposition. Other council members spoke favorable of the ordinance, noting friends and family had experienced discrimination in the past.

The ordinance would create enhanced penalties for certain crimes if they are motivated by animus toward another persons race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin or disability.

For example, a first-time battery offense can be punished in municipal court with a $750 fine. But under the ordinance, if its proved that discrimination motivated the crime, a judge could add jail time to the sentence, according to a memo to the council authored by City Attorney John Henley.

The ordinance would also outlaw discrimination in housing, employment and places like businesses and parks.

The ordinance was recommended by Caspers LGBTQ Advisory Committee last year. Its based off of a similar ordinance passed in Cheyenne this spring. The Cheyenne law was in turn based on one passed in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As is normally the case, the ordinance will have to pass three votes before it can become law.
Disconnection from others is proving fatal for veterans around the country and in Wyoming, with lawmakers reporting that two-thirds of vets who die by suicide have had no contact with support services.

Its the reason why scores of veteran advocates, Medal of Honor recipients and former leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs are calling on Congress and all Americans to take part in National Warrior call Day on Nov. 13. The day would mark a coast-to-coast call to action. It asks that all Americans  especially active duty and retired military personnel  make a call to a warrior, with someone who has worn or is currently wearing the uniform and connect them with supports, if necessary.

Time is of the essence to make these connections. In addition to post traumatic stress, invisible wounds linked to an underlying and undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can mirror many mental health conditions and spark isolation and suicidal ideation. In addition, the moral injury a service member might sustain  at witnessing death and damage up close and participating in it  can do the same.

Given the continuing tragic trends both in Wyoming and around the nation, National Warrior Call Day is more important than ever.

The most recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs found that, after accounting for age differences, the veteran suicide rate in Wyoming was significantly higher than the national veteran suicide rate and also significantly higher than the national general population suicide rate.

As a point of comparison, the veteran suicide rate in Wyoming is 84.1 deaths per 100,000 residents, while the suicide rate for states general population is 35.3 deaths per 100,000 and the national suicide rate among veterans is 31.7 deaths per 100,000. The national suicide rate for the general population is far lower at 17.3 deaths per 100,000.

In 2020, most recent year for data, the veteran suicide rate nationally was 57.3 percent greater than for non-veteran adults after adjusting for population age and sex differences, according to the VA. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among veterans under age 45 in that same year. In a sobering metric, more U.S. vets have died by suicide in the last 10 years than service members who died from combat in Vietnam.

For active-duty forces, suicide is growing problem. The Pentagons latest annual report on suicide from 2020 found that for active-duty troops, the rate of suicide increased from 20.3 per 100,000 in 2015 to 28.7 per 100,000 in 2020. Army marked a grim milestone as a Defense Suicide Prevention Office report revealed that the service suffered more suicides in 2021 than any other year since the Sept. 11 attacks.

And first responders also face their own suicide crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. Also, emergency medical services providers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than members of the public.

Whats more, many other deaths may not be reported or classified as suicide because the evidence doesnt support a death determination. This is a statistical gray zone, especially as society wrestles with alcohol and opioid addiction.

In addition to Rep. Liz Cheneys excellent work in Washington on behalf of veterans, Gov. Mark Gordon is taking a leadership role. Wyoming is one of 35 states taking part in the Governors Challenge on Suicide Prevention, a partnership with the VA to implement statewide suicide prevention best practices for service members, veterans and their families.

I have a governors challenge on suicide for veterans that is about ending suicide, Gov. Gordon recently said, adding that its a commitment the state of Wyoming really has to make.

By enlisting workaday Wyomingites, National Warrior Call Day should be part of that commitment. It can make a difference. It can save lives.
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.
 Flash

China urges the United States to abandon the Cold War mentality and the logic of hegemonism, pursue a rational and responsible nuclear policy, fulfill its special and primary responsibility in nuclear disarmament, and play its due role in maintaining global strategic stability and world peace and security, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing when asked to comment on the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which was released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Thursday local time.

Wang said that the U.S. 2022 NPR smacks heavily of Cold War and zero-sum mentality. It hypes up major-power competition and bloc confrontation and uses nuclear weapons as tools to advance its geopolitical agenda. "This is clearly against the world's desire to prevent a nuclear war or nuclear arms race."

Wang highlighted the fact that the United States has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and continues to upgrade its "nuclear triad" and selectively advances the international nuclear arms control process only when doing so serves to suppress the countries it sees as rivals.

"What's behind the U.S. policy is its hegemonic logic of seeking absolute military superiority, which could stoke a nuclear arms race," Wang stressed.

Wang said the United States claims it would use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear or non-nuclear strategic attack and seek to develop or forward-deploy non-strategic nuclear weapons. The United States has placed more importance on the role of nuclear weapons in national security policy and lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, which has gradually become a source of risks for nuclear conflict.

The United States has been hyping up so-called nuclear threat from certain countries, "tailoring" nuclear deterrence strategies targeting these countries and calling for "nuclear sharing" that violates the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). It has also tried to reinforce its extended deterrence commitments to its allies in the Asia Pacific, said the spokesperson.

Wang noted that the U.S. moves have undermined mutual trust between major countries, stoked nuclear arms race and confrontation, stimulated nuclear proliferation, and seriously harmed regional and international peace and stability.

The spokesperson stressed that in this latest NPR, the United States has made irresponsible remarks and accusations as well as groundless speculations on China's normal modernization of its nuclear forces. The United States has brazenly "tailored" a nuclear deterrence strategy against China. China is seriously concerned about and firmly opposed to such move.

"We have the capability and confidence to safeguard our national security interests. The U.S.'s nuclear blackmail will not work on China," Wang stressed.
There could be no doubt that the post-pandemic situation is fraught with many problems ranging from concerns for health, education, economy and personal situations.

Among these that may be prioritised according to our individual cares come the national concerns. Even then debate will range over which should be our priorities.

My view is that the greatest and most enduring problem will be our loss of effective teaching-learning time over well nigh two years.
The Alaska Native village of Shishmaref, near the Bering Strait, is home to about 600 Inupiat, or Eskimo, people. But the land is rapidly shrinking. "I see a big difference around this island where we as humans will try our best to save it but, it's not going to be enough," said Alfred Ningeulook, a lifelong Shishmaref resident. And Molly Snell, another lifelong resident and young mom, said that she fears the right storm could take out their whole island and that climate change has left them vulnerable. Jason Gleck, a Glaciologist at Alaska Pacific University, would agree with them both, "Alaska villages are susceptible to sea level rise because most of them are located not only along rivers but along the coastal areas," he said. "With climate change and a warming climate, sea ice is being impacted. A lack of sea ice is going to mean that there's no longer any protection from the fall, winter storms that come in." Due to these increased storms, which produces continued coastal erosion, the close-knit island community has voted twice to relocate. First in 2002 and again in 2016. But due to the high cost of relocating the whole village and wanting to preserve their traditions like subsistence hunting and gathering, they have decided to stay.
A woman was killed when she was struck by a vehicle while she was crossing a street in a crosswalk on Tucsons east side Thursday night.

Just before 9:30 p.m., officers found Helen Jeanette Mugford, 65, after they responded to reports of a hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian at the East Broadway and East Old Spanish Trail intersection. Mugford was pronounced dead at the scene, Tucson police said.

Detectives learned that Mugford was crossing Broadway in a south to north direction. Mugford was in a marked crosswalk with a HAWK crossing beacon, which was activated, when she was struck by an unknown vehicle traveling east.

The vehicle fled prior to police arrival.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
The historic Pima County courthouse has received a major renovation in recent years, culminating in 2021, and is now a newly vibrant public space that serves as an urban hub, an architectural gem and an economic driver for the Tucson region.

More than simply a historic restoration project, the renovation is an inventive adaptation that has breathed new life into a nearly 100-year-old building and its surrounding area within downtown Tucson. It is also one of my favorite places.

The project had been on Pima Countys radar since 2010 and involved unique community partnerships, including bringing in tourism giant Visit Tucson as a partner in 2015. An alliance with the University of Arizona further expanded the functionality of the project and enriched the depth of unconventional local involvement between various entities.

As a community hub, the historic Pima County courthouse encompasses some amazing amenities. The world-class gemological specimens housed in the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum dazzle the eye and incite the imagination. I have had a lifelong interest in gems and minerals, which makes this portion of the project even more magical to me on a personal level. Also housed within are Visit Tucsons new headquarters, as well as the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center, and the University of Arizonas Research Innovation and Impact, which houses research laboratories and expanded programs, including the RRUF Project database, which provides a global treasure trove of mineral data. Additionally, the project sits adjacent to the culturally significant January 8th memorial.

From an academic perspective, the history and architecture of the building are incredibly intriguing. The courthouse was originally designed by Roy Place and constructed in 1929, then expanded in 1954, and received its historic designation in 1978 from the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse was dubbed the most outstanding Spanish Colonial Revival building in Arizona, and locals recognize its prominent tiled dome, which is portrayed in the official Pima County logo.

Throughout its history, the courthouse has borne witness to some of the regions most significant trials, most notably the John Dillinger trial in 1934. The Dillinger courtroom has now been restored and is open to the public for the first time, including an exhibit with historic artifacts and information. Other historic aspects of note: the courthouse has been visited by celebrities such as Clark Gable (as a defendant in 1954,) and Johnny Depp (also a defendant in 1991), who would later play John Dillinger in the 2009 film, Public Enemies. This historic landmark has been featured in several blockbuster films, including A Kiss Before Dying in 1956 and A Star is Born in 1976.

In addition to the history embodied in the project, the quality and execution of the design and construction of this historic renovation are inspiring. Architects Poster Mirto McDonald did a fabulous job with their project assessment and commitment to the historic aspects of the original building, collaborating closely with historians, artisans and structural engineers. They managed to balance their dedication to the historic with utilization of new technology in the design of the renovated space to enhance its new functions. An example of this is the utilization of fiber mesh reinforcing on top of the concrete deck to support the weight of new display cases in the flooring overlay.

It also bears mentioning that the final phase of the project was built by my team at Lloyd Construction, which certainly contributes to my level of excitement about the construction. In addition to the renovation and historic courtroom refurbishment, including high-end artisanal finishes and creative millwork and plaster finishing, the museum-quality design and buildout of the attractions housed within the building merited the involvement of more specialists, including designers Ralph Appelbaum and Associates, and exhibit fabricators Design and Production Inc. Knowing the backstory behind the project and the high level of collaboration required of the design and construction team further enhances my appreciation of the building from an architectural perspective.

All in all, the functions brought together under the very iconic roof of the historic Pima County courthouse culminate in the best the region has to offer, highlighting Tucsons robust tourism industry, natural beauty and culture, and geological and academic proficiency in the area of gems and minerals.
Arizona ports of entry had the highest amount of ammunition seized on the U.S.-Mexico border for the second year in a row, an amount that more than tripled this fiscal year.

Customs officers in Arizona seized more than 300,000 bullets, magazines and gun parts in fiscal year 2022, a 231% increase over 2021, primarily at Nogales ports of entry, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protections. Of these seizures, 99% were headed from the U.S. into Mexico.

While ammunition and gun part seizures increased at Arizona ports, seizures of weapons fell by more than 38%, to 138 handguns and long arms seized, of which 86% were headed into Mexico.

Conversely, in the Border Patrol Tucson Sector, which patrols between ports of entry, ammunition seizures fell in 2022 while weapon seizures increased by 51% making it the second-highest area for weapon seizures after the Laredo Field Office in Texas.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents seized 293 handguns, 24 long arms and other firearms and more than 9,500 bullets and magazines in 2022.

The majority of these seizures are neither coming or going across the border but are legally-owned weapons of U.S. citizens encountered during human smuggling incidents, says Customs and Border Protections spokesperson John Mennell.

Human smuggling incidents and related high-speed pursuits and deadly crashes are increasing in Southern Arizona as well.

Why Arizona seizures are so high

One reason for ammunition smuggling outpacing weapons is that criminal groups in Mexico have been accumulating stockpiles of high-caliber weapons for about 15 years, says Javier Osorio, assistant professor in the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy.

It seems that criminals have sufficient armed capabilities to fight their rivals, said Osorio, who has been studying organized crime in Mexico for over a decade. What they need now is to keep their fire capacity by accumulating ammo. By its nature, ammunition is ephemeral. It is useless to have fire weapons without bullets. That is why they need to keep an active fighting capacity. The high levels of ammunition indicate that levels of violence in Mexico may further increase.

Sonora is primarily controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel. The large amount of ammunition being smuggled suggests they are increasing their fire capacity to engage criminal organizations in other parts of Mexico, Osorio says. The high levels of ammunition seizures compared to gun seizures also indicates that they already have abundant arsenals to fight other groups.

The level of ammunition seizures at Arizona ports is nearly four times higher than any other enforcement area on the U.S.-Mexico border.

A couple of reasons the smuggling from Arizona is so high is because of the two larger cities close to the border  Tucson and Phoenix  and the easy access to guns and ammunition, says Scott Brown, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix.

There are more places that are selling guns and ammo and more anonymity when youre buying guns and ammo because youre doing it in a larger market, he said. So were a little more convenient, frankly, for the cartels.

He said Californias gun laws impact that states sale of firearms ammunition as well, making Arizonas neighbor state less appealing to smugglers.

Weapons smugglers now are often U.S. citizens, with loose ties to Mexican cartels, who are hired to buy firearms in the U.S. and take them across the border. Having U.S. citizens who can legally possess the firearms draws less scrutiny, Brown said.

Another big reason for the huge increase in ammunition seizures is because there were several very large seizures in 2022. There were 13 seizures of between 12,000 to 41,000 rounds each that added up to more than 300,000 rounds  almost 97% of the years 313,970 rounds and gun parts seized at Arizona ports.

On Friday, federal prosecutors announced the indictments of 22 people from Tucson who they say were illegally purchasing firearms in the United States and smuggling them into Mexico, some of the most recent of many such indictments in the U.S. District of Arizona Court.

As well, legal cross-border traffic is increasing as the pandemic is waning, and the smugglers recognize they can more easily blend in, Brown says.

There are also more seizures because U.S. agencies have increased their efforts and collaboration, with each other and with Mexico.

Its in our interest if we can help the government of Mexico be more stable and less outgunned, Brown said. It makes them a better law enforcement partner to us for all the other cross-border crimes that impact Arizona and our nation.

When Mexican law enforcement or the Mexican government as a whole is being outgunned by the cartels, that makes them less effective in combating fentanyl smuggling, combating human smuggling, he said. So when the cartels are better armed, it is a contributor to the increases we see in all those other crimes.

In Mexico, levels of violence between both criminal organizations fighting for turf and confrontations between criminal groups and the Mexican National Guard have continued to increase, says Osorio, with the UA.

Across the entire Southwest border ammo and gun-part seizures have increased by more than 92% since last fiscal year, according to federal data. Weapons seizures fell by almost 9%.

Mexico cant do much on its own

The majority of firearms used in Mexico, where gun control laws are very strict, are bought in the U.S, experts agree.

Of more than 14,000 firearms recovered in Mexico in 2021, 67.5% were traced back to the United States, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives trace data.

The government of Mexico said that between 70% to 90% of guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico were trafficked from the U.S., in a 2021 lawsuit where it sued numerous U.S. gun manufacturers, seeking billions in damages, saying the companies have negligent and irresponsible practices that allow their firearms to wreak havoc in Mexico.

A federal judge just dismissed the case at the end of September, citing the broad protection provided to gun manufacturers by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passed in 2005, according to the Associated Press. The law protects gun manufacturers from damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm.

Mexico filed a notice of appeal in the case earlier this week.

Mexico also filed a suit against five Arizona gun shops, earlier this month, three of which are in Tucson: Diamondback, SnG Tactical and The Hub.

Collaboration between the U.S. and the government of Mexico on this issue has increased in recent years, even as firearms seizures on the U.S.-Mexico border increase.

Gun trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico is a bilateral issue, much like drug trafficking from Mexico to the U.S. is, and will take committed U.S. cooperation, Osorio says.

Unfortunately, without committed U.S. cooperation, there is little the Mexican government can do, he says.

The sustained increase in ammunition seizures indicates that criminal organizations are preparing for a long and violent campaign, Osorio said. It is hard to tell if the Sinaloa cartel is behind this high level of demand in preparation for a major military effort against its rivals. In any case, the unprecedented flow of ammunition is an ominous indication that violence is not likely to decline in Mexico.
On a recent Wednesday, University of Arizona student Chantal Lesmeister shoveled rhinoceros poop, helped conduct a behavioral study on Chilean flamingos, learned about giraffe nutrition, evaluated bloodwork on an elephant and performed a physical exam on a ferret.

And that was all before noon.

Lesmeister is one of three UA veterinary students who will spend a month learning and getting hands-on experience working with exotic animals, thanks to a one-of-a-kind internship at the Reid Park Zoo.

While many zoos offer internships for students after theyve graduated, Reid Park Zoo officials arent aware of any other program that offers this type of experience for doctoral students. And with zoo medicine being highly competitive, early exposure improves a students chance of entering the field.

The UAs College of Veterinary Medicine Oro Valley campus opened in 2020, is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. The inaugural class of students began its final year in August, with 107 students slated to graduate in 2023.

During the third and final year of the program, students participate in eight four-week elective rotations gaining on-site, practical experience in a variety of settings and with a range of species. In addition to the zoo, students can spend time learning in veterinary practices, with state and federal wildlife agencies and more.

With this year being the first year of the schools third-year curriculum, the zoo internship program is still in its early stages, with the first cycle of students coming through in August. Two to three students rotate through at a time, with the small group size giving each intern ample opportunities to practice skills and work closely with zoo veterinarians and animal behavior specialist.

Reid Park Zoo, which is accredited through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has an on-site teaching hospital, tucked away behind-the-scenes. The zoo can do in-house lab work and can perform full surgical procedures and other diagnostic testing.

Were set up to do pretty much anything and everything, said Dr. Alexis Roth, the zoos head veterinarian.

During their rotation, students shadow Roth as she oversees care for the hundreds of animals housed at the zoo. Zoo medicine is a competitive field and the earlier students can get hands-on field experience, the better their chances are of securing a job, Roth said.

Its an experience you wont get anywhere else in veterinary medicine, she said. "Them getting to rotate through and see what I do on a daily basis really helps them decide if this is something they can do realistically. Zoo animal medicine is very different than dog and cat.

They also get to learn from zookeepers, animal wellness specialists and more about behavior and the training required to perform basic medical tasks on large animals. Reid Park Zoo uses a positive reinforcement model and trains their large and powerful animals to associate exams, blood draws and other routine veterinary tasks with a reward. This means, Roth said, that no animal is subjected to any procedure barring emergencies unless it wants to be there.

During a typical rotation, students will review ongoing cases with Roth and discuss lab work, medications, nutrition, toxicology and more. Theyll also learn how to perform physical exams on animals and observe some of Roths other duties.

If I happen to be doing a procedure that day, theyll shadow me through that procedure, she said.

Roth has been head veterinarian at the zoo for almost 16 years. Several years ago she developed a rotating intern and extern program, with graduated veterinary students shadowing Roth year-round, often times in preparation for a residency in zoo medicine.

I really love sharing what I do with these folks, she said. The UA reached out to us, I think, because they recognize that and saw what a unique experience it is.

Three days in, UA vet student Adina Bronshtein was already excited about all theyd be learning.

Ive always been interested in zoo medicine, but its a really hard field to get into, Bronshtein said.

In the first three days, the three students had already assisted with physical exams on the zoos squirrel monkeys, including x-rays, ultrasounds, blood draws, vaccinations and administering nasal COVID-19 tests. They also learned about behavioral training with the zoos herd of elephants. Intern Lesmeister said being so close and personal with the majestic animals made her a little teary-eyed.

Intern Paola Calderon wants to work with birds post-graduation. She already spent a previous rotation in Walnut Creek, California, interning at a wildlife center, but the rare experience of spending time working with flamingos and other exotic birds is not lost on her.

Zoo officials call the new program a natural extension their longstanding partnership with the UA.

A lot of zoos will host students, and although a lot of colleges have relationships with local zoos, Im not aware of one that has as much involvement, said UA College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Julie Funk. For students to have this opportunity right in their backyard is incredible.

With more than 100 students participating in clinical rotations across the state this year, Funk said now is a great time to recruit exceptional talent into Arizona clinics, shelters and other veterinary practices.

Interest in the program has grown in the colleges three years. There were 550 applicants for the inaugural class, but the school received more than 2,000 applications for the class that will begin next fall.

Were a new college, but were also incredibly innovative in how we approach veterinary medicine, Funk said. Im so excited and so grateful for our partnerships with Arizona businesses and the Reid Park Zoo for providing these great opportunities for our students.

Even in students dont want to pursue a career in zoo medicine, the skills theyll learn during the rotation will be useful no matter where they practice, Funk said.

And if youre interested in a zoo or wildlife career, the opportunity to have close engagement with all of those species is invaluable, she said.

Roth said the interns that have rotated through have been surprised to learn how much it takes to care for the various species, since most of them havent spent time around zoo animals.

An essential thing they learn here is where to find the information they need that is valuable to be able to make the clinical decisions that they need to make, she said. Theres all sorts of information out there, but youve got to be able to access it and thats hard with some of these zoo animals.

With some animals, there may only be one resource and that might be a phone call to a person thats in another country. While students are able to refer to a textbook or website for information about dogs or cats, its not quite as simple with zoo animals, Roth said.

In zoo medicine, no two days are ever the same, but Roth says thats one of her favorite parts of the job.

I may have my day planned out, but sometimes animals dont have the same plan as I do, she said.

Photos: ZooLights 2021: Holiday Magic at Reid Park Zoo ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights ZooLights
A statewide network of public school supporters is asking Oklahoma voters to keep education front and center when casting their ballot in the upcoming election.

As part of a nonpartisan online town hall Thursday night hosted by the Oklahoma Parent-Teacher Association on public schools needs going into the Nov. 8 election, a panel of educators and parents repeatedly urged listeners to be more supportive of educators both at the ballot box and beyond to help shore up the states teacher shortage.

When we support our teachers, were supporting our kids, said 2022 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson, calling the states teacher shortage a crisis. We need to send them (teachers) reminders of how important they are.

We need to lock arms as Oklahomans and tackle this crisis together.

According to results published in September from the Oklahoma State School Board Associations annual back-to-school survey, the states public schools started the year with more than 1,000 vacant teaching positions.

To date, the Oklahoma State Board of Education has granted emergency certifications for more than 3,000 teachers for 2022-23.

That need for support extends beyond sending kind notes, said Jason Perez. Perez is the superintendent of Deer Creek Public Schools, which serves students in Edmond and far northwest Oklahoma City.

Along with developing ways to address the statewide struggle to attract and retain teachers, Perez said needed supports include properly compensating teachers for their time and efforts both during the school day and beyond school hours, such as attending professional development sessions during the summer or sponsoring after-school activities.

He also called on the state Legislature to be more mindful of what educators can realistically accomplish during the work day.

They (legislators) need to back off on new initiatives, he said. Every year, there are new pet projects that require more of our teachers time: professional development, writing and developing new curriculum, lesson planning. These activities often have to take place outside of the contract day because theres no time to get them done.

We simply have to start taking mandates off teachers plates.

Featured video: Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Must-watch Oklahoma state superintendent debate
BROKEN ARROW  Two adults found dead at the scene are now considered the primary suspects, authorities said, in a likely murder-suicide that claimed the lives of six children.

At a news conference Friday morning, Broken Arrow police and fire officials updated their investigation into the case, which began Thursday after they responded to a burning home where eight bodies were recovered.

Many details are preliminary due to the nature of the fire that engulfed the home, Police Chief Brandon Berryhill said.

He said the eight bodies were from one family, with the children ranging in age from 1 year to 13 years old. The identities were still being withheld Friday, though next of kin had been notified, according to a news release.

Berryhill said the adults were being investigated as suspects due to the nature of where they were found and where the juveniles were found.

This is an ongoing investigation, he added. Updates will be given as details are confirmed.

Broken Arrow fire crews responded shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday to a reported fire at the residence, located at 425 S. Hickory Ave. in the Meadow Heights neighborhood.

The fire was contained to the room where it started, a rear bedroom.

It became obvious to all the fire personnel on scene that this was a crime scene, Fire Chief Jeremy Moore said. So once the initial fire was knocked down, our crews moved to preserve the evidence.

None of the victims are believed to have died from the fire, though the official causes of death remains to be determined.

Officials said firearms were recovered from inside the home.

The two adults were found in the front of the house, which property records list as a three-bedroom, 980-square-foot residence. The children were found in the rear bedroom after the fire was extinguished.

Property owner Kris Welch said the couple were renting the home from her.

Welch, who owns several properties in Broken Arrow, said they had been her tenants for the past eight years.

I feel like Im going to throw up, she said Friday, looking on as investigators continued to go over the house, where a child-size trampoline was visible in the backyard.

Welch visited the home occasionally for routine inspections, she said, most recently about a year ago.

Overall, the occupants seemed like a regular family.

But I did get some weird vibes from him, she added. He wore some T-shirts that were kind of dark and strange. And she was quiet. She hardly ever spoke, honestly. I always wondered about that.

Traci Treseler said she has lived a couple of doors down from the family for two years. She was in tears Friday as she recalled the children.

I just dont understand how someone could do that to their babies, she said.

They were nice kids, but they always kept to themselves, Treseler said, adding that she thought the family had only three children and was surprised to learn of three more.

Treseler, who has a 4-year-old and a baby of her own, said she invited the children to her daughters birthday party last year. But they told her they couldnt come and turned down some gift bags of candy she offered.

We had some candy left over after the party, she said. But they respectfully declined. They said that they couldnt accept anything from anybody. It came across as a little weird to me at the time. But then I thought maybe its just about safety. My mom always taught me that.

Police said the homicides are Broken Arrows first of 2022.

In a city where homicides are rare, many said their thoughts turned to the 2015 Broken Arrow case in which two teen boys stabbed to death their parents and three of their siblings.

Two sisters survived the attacks, a 2-year-old and a 13-year-old, whose testimony was critical to the case. The brothers, Robert and Michael Bever, were convicted of the slayings and given life sentences.

Moore said authorities appreciated the outpouring of support that has followed Thursdays events.

To arrive on scene yesterday and see the looks on my firefighters faces absolutely broke my heart, he said. So we appreciate the prayers. We want to keep the families, as well as our first responders, the entire community, in our prayers. Thank you so much for that great outpouring.

Berryhill said: I am proud of our staff that took the 911 call, responded to the scene and remain at this moment continuing the difficult task of piecing together the moments of last night.

This is an extremely difficult time for our city and our departments, he added. As we move this investigation forward it will continue to be a difficult time. We pray that healing will follow this.

Staff Writer Ashley Jones contributed to this report.
A Tulsa teen sought since September in a 2021 murder case was arrested in Texas last week.

Jakyree Butler was 16 when police allege he gave 22-year-old Shermiya Breed the address of a vacant home and planned to rob her during an illegal drug sale but shot her instead.

Breed died the night of Nov. 9, 2021, shortly after neighbors found her suffering a gunshot wound to her midback in a crashed car in the 4000 block of North Elgin Avenue.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing someone with a gun run toward a nearby creek, but the case remained unsolved for nearly a year.

During a canvass of the neighborhood, Butlers grandparents told police he wasnt home at the time of the shooting, but detectives later realized that a police supervisor had earlier escorted the teen from the same address after he said he needed to go to his aunts house.

After learning that Breed regularly sold marijuana, investigators found messages on her Instagram account between her and Butler scheduling a sale that night, but upon another search warrant, they found the conversation had been deleted from Butlers account, the affidavit alleges.

Butlers account did, however, show a conversation with another person about the same time in which Butler asked whether they wanted to hit a likk, which is slang for robbery, the affidavit states.

Detectives interviewed Butler in late June, according to the document, and he denied any involvement in the shooting but became visibly upset when told the Instagram account he denied ownership of had the same email address as the Facebook account he claimed. Free to leave, he walked out.

Prosecutors filed charges against Butler in September, and investigators were aware he might be out of state; the teen had mentioned having a girlfriend in Texas during his interview with detectives.

Wichita Falls, Texas, police arrested Butler on his warrant Thursday, and the now 17-year-old, who court records indicate sometimes goes by the last name of Harris, will be returned to Tulsa to face charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication.

Online records said Butler was being held in the Wichita County Jail on Friday in lieu of $1 million bond.
In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire podcast, we preview the midterm elections that will be held on Nov. 8.

Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight.com is a news site that uses statistical analysis to tell stories about elections and other topics. As of the morning of Oct. 28, FiveThirtyEight ranked the Senate as a toss-up and gave Democrats only a slight edge of maintaining control, winning 53 out of 100 simulations. Thats significantly down from mid-September when the forecast gave Democrats about a 70% chance of holding onto control of the chamber.

FiveThirtyEights forecast looks even bleaker in the House of Representatives for Democrats, where the GOP has a roughly 80% chance of taking control of the chamber according to its model. Based on the data, the question isnt whether Republicans will retake the House, but by how much.

Historically, midterm elections do not favor the incumbent president and with Joe Bidens disapproval rating at about 53% according to FiveThirtyEight, a red wave in November is not unexpected.

For a portion of the summer, it appeared Democrats might reverse recent trends following the ruling by the Supreme Court to strike down the right to abortion under Roe vs. Wade. However, with prices high and many Americans feeling the pinch in their wallets, voters appear to be favoring Republicans' economic policies.

In the first segment, Associated Press correspondent Ed Donahue hosts a discussion previewing some of the key races that will be decided on Nov. 8. Donahue is joined by AP correspondent Marc Levy, AP national political reporter Meg Kinnard and AP national political reporter Bill Barrow.

In the second segment, well listen to recent news reports covering the midterm elections:

Legal challenges have already begun and the U.S. is warning about foreign efforts to sway voters.

According to a poll, most Americans say voting is vital despite a dour outlook.

President Biden vows abortion legislation is his top priority next year if Democrats retain control of Congress.

Biden recently touted his infrastructure policies.

And Bidens White House Chief of Staff has been warned about a violation of the Hatch Act.

 Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports
Tulsa Run celebrates its 45th year this Saturday with races for runners from beginner to advanced competitor.

The Tulsa Run is really Oklahomas most historic road race, said Matt Stockman, race director. This is our 45th anniversary this year. Were really excited to welcome back nine all-year runners that have run all 45 events in a row.

Race distances include the 2k (a little over a mile), 5k (3.1 miles) and 15k (9.3 miles), as well as an option to run both the 5k and 15k.

There really is something for everybody having the three different distances, plus we also have the wheelchair divisions as well, Stockman said. So really anybody of any physical level is able to participate.

The first race of the morning is the wheelchair 5k starting at 7:20, followed by the 5k at 7:30, the 2k at 8 and the 15k at 8:30. The start line is located near Third and Main streets.

Runners will navigate a new course from last year. It will keep the Riverside leg from 2021 and return to the midtown neighborhoods before ending with the Boston Avenue finish.

Each race finisher will receive a medal. All males finishing the 15k Tulsa Run in less than an hour and all females finishing the 15k Tulsa Run in less than 70 minutes will receive a mug.

Awards will be given to the top three finishers in the 15k and 5k for both male and female divisions separated by age group ranging from 6 to over 75. the first three male and female 5k and 15k finishers in wheelchairs will also receive awards.

This really is the communitys run, Stockman said. It has been a part of Tulsa history and running heritage for so long, and its great to see this long-standing event is still going on. Its exciting to see how its still supported and celebrated by the community.

Tulsa Run began in 1978. Today, it has more than 150,000 finishing the 15k. Eight of the original finishers from the first race will be at the starting line in 2022, ranging from ages 69 to 82.
Oklahoma voters are encouraged to give Sen. James Lankford another term in the U.S. Senate, but we make this recommendation with reservation.

When Lankford first entered the U.S. House, representing Oklahomas 5th Congressional District, he came with the fiscal and social conservative bona fides making him attractive to many constituents.

He also brought something more. From the beginning, Lankford made a point to reach out to Democrats and to communities and constituencies that might not always be warm to the entreaties of Republicans.

While holding fast to his conservative principles, Lankford gained a reputation as a voice of reason while the adversarial rhetoric of the Tea Party ramped up. He took up the broken nature of the nations immigration system by backing bipartisan, but unsuccessful, reform proposals.

Upon his election to the Senate, Lankford followed the late Tom Coburns legacy as the taxpayers watchdog and continues that commitment to eliminate wasteful federal spending. He is believed to be the first to speak of the Tulsa Race Massacre on the floor of the Senate when he commemorated its 95th anniversary. He held town halls in north Tulsa and encouraged Solution Sundays, a time for people of different races to share a meal.

In 2017, he wrote an op-ed denouncing the Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying he was disheartened to see an Oklahoma 46 flag among the crowd.

With U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe leaving the Senate in January, Lankford will gain the role of Oklahomas senior senator and, with that, a great opportunity to continue to do the work for Oklahoma that Inhofe performed for decades.

We make our endorsement in considering Lankfords early performance as a lawmaker and the influence he could wield should he win reelection. We have endorsed him in his previous campaign.

But we would be remiss if we didnt point out how his demeanor has changed to embrace more wedge issues.

Lankford has been quick to pose at Americas southern border, lamenting the ease of illegal immigration but offers no new comprehensive immigration reform. Thats making noise to satiate his political base.

He was among those amplifying voices that questioned the legitimacy of Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. While Lankford says he recognizes Biden as the elected president and merely wanted time to address questions about the election in certain swing states, he only added to the chorus that goaded a violent mob to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Lankford is opposed by Democrat Madison Horn, a cybersecurity professional who is advocating for more education funding, increased health care access, reproductive rights and workforce development.

We believe Lankford could hold an important place in the U.S. Senate, and it is with that potential in mind we make our endorsement. But our hope is that we see the bridge builder of Lankfords past rather than the incarnation weve seen in recent years.

Congress doesnt need more lawmakers bashing the other side. We need more politicians dedicated to building relationships and finding common ground, and we believe Lankford could be among those leaders.
I decided to vote for Joy Hofmeister because she was honest to me on Twitter.

I had asked her, during the worst parts of the pandemic, if they could keep my kids safe in school from this dangerous respiratory illness. She said no, without sugarcoating or deflection.

A week later, she switched to the Democratic Party and announced her candidacy. I saw immediately that Joy's brand of no-nonsense policy expertise and focus on public education would resonate with Oklahoma voters.

Gov. Kevin Stitt is supposed to be a law and order guy, but crime remains high during his watch. His policies continue to drive our state into the bottom ten on metrics like health care (46th), education (45th), and the worst state in the union for women.

Spurred by the governor, the state Legislature fights culture wars and attacks doctors and children rather than working on improving our health and lifting families out of poverty.

From taxpayer subsidies for Stitt's bank, to misuse of state funds and rewarding unqualified supporters important positions in his administration, Stitt's tenure will go down as the most corrupt in Oklahoma in living memory.

Rewarding this behavior with another term will lead our state down a dark path. I love Oklahoma, will never leave it, and will never stop working to bring back the rule of law and sanity to state government. I strongly endorse Hofmeister as the right leader to right the ship and make Oklahoma strong.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter.
Vietnam is taking steps to ensure all input materials used in its timber value chains are legal and meet sustainable development requirements, with a view to become one of the worlds leading centers for processing wood for exports, a Vietnamese official has said.

Pham Van Dien, deputy director general of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, was speaking at the Forum on Sustainable and Legal Timber Value Chain in Vietnam, which took place in southern Binh Duong Province on Friday.

The event, with an attendance of 150 delegates, was organized by the VAF, a multi-party core group within the framework of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Vietnam is exporting timber to many markets such as the U.S., the EU and Japan, among others, all require the legality of exported items, so Vietnam aims to meet two criteria on legality and sustainability for its wooden exports, Dien said.

The official emphasized that Vietnam is endeavoring to become one of the worlds leading centers for processing wood for exports, with an export turnover expected to amount to US$25 billion by 2030.

To achieve this goal, we need to build and operate a system to ensure that Vietnam's timber is legal in accordance with international commitments and agreements, thereby ensuring that 100 percent of input materials used in all the countrys timber value chains are legal, Dien said.

It is essential to strengthen forest management to help boost timber origin tracing and promote sustainable timber trade, the Vietnam News Agency cited Oemar Idoe, Group Coordinator of GIZs projects on environment, climate change and agriculture in Vietnam, as saying.

Rui Ludovino, First Counselor of the EU Delegation to Vietnam (EUD) and in charge of matters on climate action, environment, employment and social policy, emphasized the need to ensure the legality and sustainability of timber and timber products.

The EU-Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) signed in 2018, which aims to address illegal logging, improve forest governance and promote trade in legal timber products, Ludovino said.

Under the agreement, wood exploitation must not cause deforestation, forest degradation, or loss of biodiversity or natural resources, the counselor said, calling for the implementation of the agreement as soon as possible to benefit businesses of both sides.

Diep Bao Tri, financial director of Minh Duong Furniture Corporation in Binh Duong, said that in order to expand the market, his company will continue complying with both Vietnamese and international requirements in ensuring legal and sustainable timber supply chains.

According to the results of the enterprise assessment and classification under the VPA/FLEGT, the company has been classified into the Group 1 that include those fully comply with the criteria of the Vietnams Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), Tri stated.

After a timber exporter with such classification gets a FLEGT license, expected by the end of 2023, it will have its exports cleared immediately upon arrival at the destination port without having to additionally report about timber legality, the director said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
MANILA -- The Philippines has recorded 72 deaths from Tropical Storm Nalgae that caused floods and landslides in southern provinces, the country's disaster agency said on Saturday.

Maguindanao province was the most affected with 67 people dead, while two were killed in Sultan Kudarat, another two in South Cotabato and the rest of the casualties spread across the Visayas region in central Philippines, agency spokesperson Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro told the DZMM radio station.

There were also 33 injured and 14 missing persons, he said.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescuers carry a retrieved body following flooding and landslides due to Tropical Storm Nalgae, in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, October 28, 2022. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters

The tropical storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometres (59 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 160 kph (99.4 mph), made landfall in the eastern Catanduanes province early on Saturday.

It will bring heavy and at times torrential rains over the capital region and nearby provinces on Saturday as it cuts through the main Luzon island and heads to the East Vietnam Sea, the state weather agency said in its latest bulletin.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescuers evacuate residents from their flooded homes due to a tropical storm, locally named Paeng, in Maguindanao province, Philippines, October 28, 2022. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters

On Friday, search and rescue teams pulled bodies from water and thick mud after Nalgae triggered flooding and landslides.

"We are now gathering all rescue teams and will conduct a briefing before deployment," Nasrullah Imam, disaster agency official at Maguindanao province, said. "It's no longer raining so this will help our search and operation."

An average of 20 tropical storms hit the Philippines annually.
Tien Giang Province in Vietnams Mekong Delta region has upheld a nine-year suspension of sand mining activities in the locality in order to prevent riverbank erosion and protect the local environment.

Still, despite the suspension, illegal exploitation is carried out across the province, with few, if any, measures taken to deter illegal mining.

After dark, boats, and barges appear on the Tien River to suck sand from the riverbed. Photo: Mau Truong / Tuoi Tre

Th., a Tien Giang local, lives along the provinces Cua Dai River, where he has spent years watching barges and boats travel the waterway, hauling illegally mined sand.

According to Th., sand miners used to only visit the area sporadically. This year, however, river traffic seems to be picking up, with about ten large barges each carrying thousands of tons of sand cruising down the river each night.

Every night, dozens of small wooden boats pull up alongside these barges to pump sand into their iron-hulls.

Once full, the boats retreat down small channels.

Despite both locals and journalists catching the practice on video, authorities seem to have made little headway in solving the problem.

Th. said that he had reported the problem to local authorities at all levels of the municipality, district, and province, but little progress seems to have been made.

"After receiving my report, [authorities] sent staff to investigate the situation. They even slept at my house to observe the river and promised to solve the problem. Still, the issue persists," said Th.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) reporters recently visited Th. and several other Tien Giang locals.

Over a period of several days at the end of September and beginning of October, these locals took the reporters out on the river to record as dozens of small wooden boats pumped massive amounts of sand onto large iron-hulled barges.

Failure to act

Le Tran Ngoc Lam, chairman of the Phu Thanh Commune People's Committee, told Tuoi Tre that the local government is well-aware of the issue and has taken steps to act against illegal exploitation in the area.

"We have dealt with the problem through proper procedures, including reviewing the situation and asking locals not to engage in illegal sand mining," said Lam, adding that the local governments lack of personnel and vehicles make it difficult to gather enough evidence to prosecute illegal miners.

Complicating the issue, as the large barges merely carry the sand and do not dredge it themselves, their legality falls into a grey area.

When authorities do approach barges to check their records, the owners typically produce invoices declaring that the sand came from other localities, such as Dong Thap and An Giang Provinces.

Though regulators could, in theory, crack down on the small wooden boats that siphon sand onto the larger barges, tracking these boats down is far beyond the capacity of the local government.

"Currently, wooden barges quickly suck up the sand and then speed off. Because they move so fast, it is impossible for us to catch them red-handed," explained Lam.

According to Bui Thai Son, chairman of the Tan Phu Dong District People's Committee, the local government understand the concerns of its residents, but the fact that the waterway runs through several provinces makes the issue extremely complicated.

Currently, there are no sand mines in Tien Giang, but the provincial government has once again begun issuing sand mining licenses after a nine-year hiatus due to the current sand shortage.

Nguyen Van Du, the deputy chief inspector of the Tien Giang Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, told Tuoi Tre that the department has submitted a plan to the provincial Peoples Committee to explore and evaluate the Tien River sand reserves.

Once the evaluation process is complete, the department expects to propose a plan to the provincial People's Committee to hold a tender for sand exploitation.

In an area of the Tien River that runs through Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province, boats illegally suck sand from the riverbed on the evening of September 30, 2022. Photo: Tien Trinh / Tuoi Tre

Economic police in An Giang Province recently announced that they have cooperated with relevant law enforcement units to arrest 54-year-old Nguyen Huu Phuoc from Tan Thanh Commune, Thanh Binh District, Dong Thap Province, for illegally buying and selling fake invoices. The suspect was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City and then transported to Dong Thap where he was tried. According to a police investigation of the incident, from October 2018 to May 2020, Phuoc established Tien So Thuong one member limited company in Thuong Thoi Tien Commune, Hong Ngu District, Dong Thap Province. Phuoc managed five companies, all of which were registered to other individuals. Phuoc issued 997 fake invoices showing nearly two million cubic meters of sand had been sold to Thanh Van Tan Chau Company, operated by Le Thanh Van, 41, who lives in Tan Chau commune, An Giang province. In reality, no sand had been traded. The amount shown on the invoices totaled nearly VND102 billion (US$4.1 million). Phuoc and Van earned VND3 billion ($121,334) and VND1.9 billion ($76,845), respectively, from selling these fake invoices.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Song Da Water Investment JSC (Viwasupco), Hanois water supplier, has announced a scheduled 19-hour service cut this weekend in the capital city for new pipework connection.

The pumps from Viwasupco to its customers in Hanoi will be completely closed starting 8:00 pm on Saturday until 3:00 pm on Sunday.

We will temporarily shut down the water supply to connect the old water main to a newly completed water pipe, said Nguyen Xuan Quy, general director of Viwasupco.

The company noted that residents should store water for use during the service outage and it may take more time for clean water to reach residences in high and downstream areas after the water supply is restored.

This is not the first time that Viwasupco, which is supplying water to residential areas in Ha Dong, Thanh Xuan, Nam Tu Liem Districts and a part of other districts in Hanoi, has cut its service.

Last month, an oil leak incident forced the company to halt its supply, upsetting the daily life of hundreds of thousands of people in the capital city.

In 2019, another waste oil problem disturbing Viwasupcos upstream resource caused water pollution and also led to the suppliers temporary service cut.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
American broadcaster CBS has pulled The Real Love Boat from broadcast after four episodes, and will finish its run on Paramount+.

The show launched on October 5 with 2.4m US viewers but fell 2m overnight viewers for its subsequent three episodes.

Paramount announced both US and Australian productions with separate casts on the same cruise liner.

The US show is hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Jerry OConnell with captain Paolo Arrigo, bartender Ezra Freeman and cruise director Matt Mitcham.

In a sea of dating show, there appears to be not enough point of difference in this format, other than a free plug fo a cruise line.

Produced by Eureka Productions, the Australian series was also bumped from its original timeslot but was announced as returning in 2023.

Source: Deadline
The Press Council has ruled the Sydney Morning Herald breached the Councils General Principles relating to privacy

in a June item on Rebel Wilson.

The article, published in the Private Sydney (PS) column, reported that Rebel Wilson had posted on Instagram to announce she was in a relationship with American-based fashion designer Ramona Agruma.

Received complaints raised concerns that Andrew Hornerys request for a response within 2 days about Ms Wilsons same-sex relationship could be perceived as a threat to out her as gay. The complaints also raised concerns that Ms Wilson was forced to out herself on social media due to the request and that the article criticised her for not responding to the request.

The newspaper initially defended the article before later retracting it from its website and offering an apology by Hornery and a note apologising to its readers by editor Bevan Shields.

The Council noted the steps the publication took and the publications concession that it failed to take reasonable steps to comply with the Councils Standards of Practice concerning privacy and avoidance of harm.

While Council acknowledged that public figures may have a reduced expectation of privacy it found the tenor of the communications with Ms Wilson concerning a deeply personal matter and the associated commentary on a matter which had no apparent connection to her public activities, intruded on her reasonable expectations of privacy.

It found insufficient public interest to justify such an intrusion and was likely to cause substantial offence and distress.

As a result, the newspaper breached General Principles 5 & 6.
Three pregnant women and 55 children, including a one-month-old baby, were among those rescued by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) this week.

The organisation says some 371 people could have drowned if it wasn't for its five missions that helped lift scores of migrants to safety from Malta's waters.

Footage filmed by MSF on Thursday showed rescuers distributing life jackets to migrants on their boat before they were transported to the Geo Barents vessel.

The organisation Alarm Phone alerted the authorities and private rescue missions that boats were spotted departing Libya earlier this week.

But Doctors Without Borders says authorities have not done enough to help migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.

The rescued people remain onboard the MSF ship Geo Barents as they await a safe port to disembark.

Meanwhile, violent clashes have erupted at Cyprus's Pournara migrant centre following a dispute over a mobile phone charging cable.

Congolese and Nigerian residents reportedly started throwing rocks and objects at each other. Several tents caught fire while some twenty residents and security guards were injured in the fight.

Anti-riot police fired tear gas and evacuated the camp, three people were taken to hospital for treatment.

Hundreds left the facility and headed to the nearby village of Kokkinotrimithia.

Located some 22 kilometres from the capital Nicosia, over 2000 people are now living at the camp in cramped conditions. The camp can hold 1000 people at full capacity.

Cyprus is struggling to cope with an influx of asylum seekers from Syria and African countries while the mayor of Kokkinotrimithia, Christakis Meleties, stressed that the situation has escalated more than ever and spoke about a new "Moria", a reference to the migrant camp in Lesvos, Greece.

Story continues

"We said it at the House of Representatives, both to the interior committee and the ad hoc committee for demographics, that we will very soon face a situation similar to Moria so it's here today.

"It didn't take that long to happen, two or three months after we stressed out about this situation, it happened," he said.

Officials say the families have now returned to the camp after calm was restored.

Cyprus' police chief Stylianos Papatheodorou attributed the violence to the camp's overcrowded conditions and said police have stepped up measures to guard against such incidents.

Authorities in Nicosia last week said this year alone, 17,000 people had entered their jurisdiction through irregular channels. There were 12,285 in the whole of 2021.
NASA said Friday that its Psyche mission (named after the asteroid the mission is targeting) has been rescheduled to October next year. The news comes just a few months after the agency announced that it would definitively miss its planned 2022 launch attempt. The delayed schedule is due to late delivery of key components of the spacecraft, including the flight software and testing equipment. The launch window for this year concluded on October 11.

NASA conducted an internal review to determine whether the mission could launch next year, in addition to a separate independent review commissioned by the agency to examine the failures that led to missing the launch window. It appears that the review determined that next years launch is a go.

While the launch window has changed, NASA said the flight profile will be similar: The spacecraft will use Martian gravity in 2026 to propel the spacecraft toward the asteroid Psyche. If the mission does move forward next year, the spacecraft is targeted to arrive at the asteroid in August 2029.

The mission, which is being led by Arizona State University, will explore the metal asteroid dubbed "Psyche" located between Mars and Jupiter. It was chosen for exploration because scientists believe it is the nickel-iron core of an earlier planet, making it a rich target for understanding how our own planet came to exist. Folks with asteroid mining ambitions, of course, undoubtedly also have their interest piqued.

Total mission costs, including launch, are $985 million; of that, $717 million had been spent as of June. Two additional projects were scheduled to launch with Psyche: a NASA mission called Janus, to explore a twin binary asteroid system, and a technology demonstration of high-data-rate laser communication data. The latter has already been integrated with the Psyche spacecraft and will launch with it, but NASA is still exploring options for Janus.

In February 2020, NASA announced it had awarded the launch contract to SpaceX for a value of $117 million. The agency booked a ride on a Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket currently in operation and which has only flown three times in its history. (The fourth could take place as early as next week.)
Teesside graduates Joe Hilton, left, and Nathan Marr launched their business venture with help from the universitys FUEL programme

Semester Student Planner, founded by Teesside University graduates Nathan Marr and Joe Hilton, designs and produces bespoke student planners which promote personal growth and wellbeing.

Not your average diaries, they encompass all of the practical necessities of a planner with additional features on goal setting, reflection, tasks and employability to teach students techniques which will help them to manage their work effectively and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Nathan and Joe, both 31 and from Billingham, launched the business with the help of Teesside Universitys FUEL programme in connection with its business incubator, Launchpad.

The pair of entrepreneurs benefited from design, planning and sales workshops, mentoring, training sessions, and support from experienced industry experts during the seven-week programme, which culminated in them winning funding from FUEL and an additional supporter to help kickstart their business.

Read more: Record turnover as profits soar for North East logistics firm

Nathan said: The FUEL programme was a massive help; it allowed us to create the foundations  set up the website, start on the marketing of the product and network, as well as giving us access to funding.

Its normally people who have already faced struggles who then need to discover something to pick themselves back up. We want to flip the script and bring it forward by enabling people to learn personal growth and wellbeing skills through a product thats easy to follow right at the very start, so its more proactive rather than reactive.

Weve used these techniques to great effect in our own lives and were getting really positive feedback  people are feeling more organised, their wellbeing is improved, and they feel like theyre doing more within their lives that they enjoy.

Starting so fast, getting the investment  it all happened because of Launchpad, and thats why weve based ourselves here. It has great offices and there are loads of other fantastic business based here too, which makes it a hive of activity.

Story continues

Joe said he is is proud to be making a difference to students wellbeing and development, adding: The tools weve put in the planners for students are exactly what were using in running our business  setting goals, planning for the future and looking at our next steps  so theyre universally helpful.

You cant put a price on when you make a positive impact on someones mental health and wellbeing. If one student takes this and maximises their potential by improving their mental health and learning new skills to benefit their studies or future careers, that to us is a major win because its intrinsically rewarding.

The FUEL programme has been amazing, not just with the financial aspect of the business, which has obviously been a huge help for our start-up, but also with the resources and the guidance that weve had from them as new business owners. We wouldnt be where we are now without FUEL, so Id definitely recommend it.

The Northern Echo: Inside the Victoria Building, home to Launchpad, Teesside Universitys business incubator

Inside the Victoria Building, home to Launchpad, Teesside Universitys business incubator

Semester Student Planner is now based in Launchpads contemporary, on-campus working space housed in the Victoria building, which provides access to state-of-the-art facilities as part of the Universitys 5.6m Enterprise Zone.

Steve Dougan, Head of Enterprise at Teesside University, said: The FUEL programme is dedicated to helping students, staff and graduates to realise their entrepreneurial potential and bring their innovative business ideas to fruition.

Its excellent to see how Nathan and Joe have progressed since embarking on their FUEL journey a year ago, and were proud to have supported them along the way.

We have recently accepted our new FUEL cohort and, looking at the success of previous participants, we are excited to see where their burgeoning businesses will take them with the help of Teesside University.

Read more here:

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as 1.25 a week. Click here
Erling Haaland missed Manchester City's game at Leicester City on Saturday after the Norway international's early midweek substitution in the Champions League.

The former Borussia Dortmund striker left the action at half-time against his former club, with manager Pep Guardiola subsequently stating the striker was nursing a foot problem and a fever.

Haaland, who has scored a breathtaking 17 Premier League goals in 11 games already this term, had hoped to pass a late fitness test to feature for his side's trip to the King Power Stadium.

But with the teams in, it was revealed the 22-year-old had lost the battle to feature, with Guardiola instead favouring a front three of Julian Alvarez flanked by Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.

Phil Foden and former Leicester player Riyad Mahrez were on the bench for visitors City, who were looking to jump ahead of league leaders Arsenal.

Victory for the visitors would see them vault to the top of the table, to increase the pressure on Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who face Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
FILE PHOTO: Airbus logo at the Airbus facility in Montoir-de-Bretagne near Saint-Nazaire

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus confirmed on Friday it is negotiating a new bribery settlement with French authorities over past dealings in Libya and Kazakhstan on top of record fines agreed in 2020.

The disclosure in accounting notes published on Friday came after prosecutors said earlier this week they were in talks with Airbus to settle unspecified matters similar to the earlier case, involving widespread bribes paid over several years.

In notes with quarterly results, Airbus repeated it was co-operating fully with French authorities on investigations related to Kazakhstan and Libya.

In Friday's update, it added these two probes had evolved into talks over a new settlement, which it described as a "limited extension" of matters that led to the 2020 fine of 3.6 billion euros ($3.58 billion), including 2.1 billion in France.

The French part of the 2020 settlement cited corruption of foreign officials, fraud and money laundering.

It followed a four-year probe which originated in Britain and later expanded to France and the United States, shedding light on a network of middlemen and disguised payments through public statements agreed between Airbus and prosecutors.

Airbus said the new settlement would have no adverse impact on the earlier deal, which laid down conditions and compulsory monitoring for three years in exchange for suspending charges that would have barred the company from public contracts.

People familiar with the new case said it involves the sale of jets to Libya under Muammar Gaddafi in 2007 and helicopters, satellites and a satellite control centre to Kazakhstan in 2009.

Airbus and prosecutors declined to comment on details.

Airbus said it had been questioned on the Kazakhstan case as an "assisted witness," an intermediary status which under French law means it is suspected of committing a crime but which falls short of being formally charged.

The planemaker has undergone sweeping management changes

Story continues

since the original probe began in 2016 and says it now has a

state-of-the-art compliance and whistleblower system. It remains under supervision by outside monitors until early next year.

It also faces civil claims in the Netherlands, where it is legally based, alleging that it failed to inform investors about its use of intermediaries. Airbus said it had a "solid" defence.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Susan Fenton and Jane Merriman)
In South Americas lithium triangle, where pools of turquoise blue spangle the white salt flats, residents are yet to feel the benefits of the worlds new metal rush.

Lithium is a key component of the batteries used in electric cars. The "white gold" is found in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia in quantities larger than anywhere else on Earth.

As the world seeks to move away from fossil fuels, lithium production has skyrocketed in recent years. But at what cost to the communities near lithium plants, many of whom live in poverty?

We don't eat lithium, nor batteries. We do drink water.

"We don't eat lithium, nor batteries. We do drink water," said Veronica Chavez, 48, president of the Santuario de Tres Pozos Indigenous community near the town of Salinas Grandes in Argentina's lithium heartland.

Why is lithium so bad for the environment?

With around 2.2 million litres of water needed to produce one ton of lithium, the extractive industry is increasingly compromising the environment - and locals chance of a liveable future.

"No to lithium, yes to water and life, reads a poster that meets visitors to Salinas Grandes.

Unlike in Australia - the world's top lithium producer that extracts the metal from rock - in South America it is derived from salars, or salt flats. Here, saltwater containing the metal is brought from underground briny lakes to the surface to evaporate.

But there are growing concerns about the impact on groundwater sources in regions already prone to extended droughts, with recent evidence of tree and flamingo die-offs.

How much is lithium worth?

An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the SQM lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. - Ivan Alvarado/REUTERS

About 56 percent of the world's 89 million tonnes of identified lithium resources are found in the South American triangle, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The world average price rose from $5,700 (5,730) per tonne in November 2020 to $60,500 (60,780) in September this year.

Story continues

Chile hosts the westernmost corner of the lithium triangle in its Atacama desert, which contributed 26 percent of global production in 2021, according to the USGS.

The country started lithium extraction in 1984 and has been a leader in the field partly because of low rainfall levels and high solar radiation that speeds up the evaporation process.

But Chilean law has made it difficult for companies to gain concessions from the government since the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet declared the metal a "strategic resource" for its potential use in nuclear bombs.

Only two companies have permits to exploit the metal - Chile's SQM and American Albemarle, which pay up to 40 percent of their sales in tax.

In the first quarter of this year, lithium's contribution to the public coffers surpassed those of Chile's mainstay metal, copper, for the first time, according to government records.

Yet, the environmental costs are starting to stack up, and locals fear there is worse to come.

Lithium mining is hurting flamingos and trees in Chile

Lithium mining is forcing flamingos to flee the Atacama. - REUTERS/Cristian Ruddolffi

This year, a study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B found a link between lithium mining and a decline in two flamingo species in the Salar de Atacama.

"The development of technologies to slow climate change has been identified as a global imperative. Nonetheless, such 'green' technologies can potentially have negative impacts on biodiversity," said the study.

In 2013, an inspection at the SQM site - which reported using nearly 400,000 litres of water per hour in 2022 - found that a third of carob trees in the area had died.

A later study pointed to water scarcity as a possible cause.

"We want to know, for sure, what has been the real impact of the extraction of groundwater," said Claudia Perez, 49, a resident of the nearby San Pedro river valley.

She was not against lithium, said Perez, provided there are measures to "minimise the negative impact on people."

Argentinian communities fear they are being sacrificed to save the planet

Across the Andes in Argentina, the salt lakes of Jujuy host the world's second-largest lithium resources along with the neighbouring provinces of Salta and Catamarca.

With few restrictions on extraction and a low tax of only three per cent, Argentina has become the world's fourth-biggest lithium producer from two mines.

With dozens of new projects in the works with the involvement of US, Chinese, French, South Korean and local companies, Argentina has said it hopes to exceed Chilean production by 2030.

But not everyone is sold on the idea.

The lithium companies say that they are going to save the planet. They may save the planet, but by sacrificing us.

"It is not, as they say, that they [lithium companies] are going to save the planet, said Chavez, of Santuario de Tres Pozos in Jujuy province. Rather it is us who have to give our lives to save the planet.

A neighbour, 47-year-old street food seller Barbara Quipildor added fiercely: "I want them to leave us alone, in peace. I don't want lithium... My concern is the future of my children's children."

Will Bolivian locals ever benefit from lithium mining

About 300 kilometres north of Jujuy, the salar of Uyuni in Bolivia holds more lithium than anywhere else - a quarter of global resources, according to the USGS.

Half of the residents in the region - which is also rich in silver and tin - live in poverty, household surveys show.

The country's former leftist president Evo Morales nationalised hydrocarbons and other resources such as lithium towards the start of his 2006-2019 mandate and vowed Bolivia would set the metal's global price.

Bolivian President Evo Morales holds up the first samples of lithium carbonate in 2009. - AIZAR RALDES/AFP

In Rio Grande, a small town near the Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) lithium plant, Morales' plans were met with excitement.

In 2014 Donny Ali, a lawyer now aged 34, opened a hotel with the expectation of an economic boom.

He called it Lithium.

"We were expecting major industrial technological development and more than anything, better living conditions," he told AFP. "It didn't happen."

When the boat comes, "will lithium extraction benefit Bolivians?"

Hoping to boost the struggling lithium sector, the government opened it up to private hands in 2018, though domestic legislation has not yet denationalised the resource, and no private extraction has yet begun.

"Some think that Bolivia will 'miss the boat' of lithium," said economist Juan Carlos Zuleta. "I dont think thats going to happen."

The real question, he said, is: when the boat comes, "will lithium extraction benefit Bolivians?"

The three countries are now looking towards battery manufacturing - possibly even building electric cars - as a way to turn the natural lithium bounty into a modern-day industrial revolution.

"There is a concrete possibility for Latin America to become the next China," said Zuleta.

In the meantime, the Hotel Lithium stands empty.

Watch the video above to learn more about lithium production in South America.
Sunak denies COP27 dodge is 'massive failure of leadership' (Image: PA)

RISHI Sunak has denied his absence from the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month is a massive failure of leadership, as Labour have claimed.

Despite the UK hosting COP26 in Glasgow last year, the Prime Minister will not attend the follow-up conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, and claimed it was right for him to focus on "depressing domestic challenges" instead.

However he is planning to go to the G20 meeting in Bali immediately before the Chancellors crucial autumn statement on November 17.

The UN this week warned the world's continued high emissions of greenhouse gases would lead to a catstrophic climate changes.

Despite countries promising in Glasgow to aim for no more than a 1.5C rise in temperatures above pre-industrial levels, the projection is still 2.5C.

Speaking to the media during a hospital visit in south London, Mr Sunak said he was really proud of the UKs record on tackling climate change, citing COP26 in Glasgow.

Put to him that Labour has said his non-attendance in Egypt was a massive failure of leadership, he said: No. The leadership that we have shown on the climate is unmatched almost along the world.

During the summer Tory leadership content, Mr Sunak often claimed his young daughters raised the issue of climate change with him, and it was a key priority for him too.

He said: Its important to me that as Prime Minister we leave behind an environment that is better for our children and grandchildren. Im very passionate about that. Im very personally committed to it.

I just think, at the moment, its right that Im also focusing on the depressing domestic challenges we have with the economy. I think thats what people watching would reasonably expect me to be doing as well.

Downing Street also said the UK Government remained absolutely committed to leading international action on climate change despite Mr Sunaks absence from Cop27.

A spokeswoman suggested the public would expect Mr Sunak to be in the country dealing with the serious economic challenges facing the UK, rather than at the summit in Egypt.

Story continues

Asked about former culture secretary Nadine Dorries saying it was wrong for Mr Sunak not to attend, she said: The Government remains absolutely committed to leading international and domestic action to tackle climate change and to protect nature.

We are facing serious economic challenges. The Prime Minister is focused on dealing with those issues, and the public, I think, would also expect him to be in the country dealing with those and ahead of the autumn statement.

But were also very clear that the public should also judge us by our actions and we are forging ahead of many other countries on net zero, for example.

We will, of course, also be represented at senior ministerial level with the Foreign, Business and Environment Secretaries all due to attend alongside the Cop President.

The spokeswoman also said it was unanimously agreed by Buckingham Palace and the Government under Liz Truss that the King would not attend COP27.

She said it was agreed it was not the right occasion for King Charles to visit in person.

She added that she was not aware that the advice had changed under Mr Sunak.

As is standard practice, Government advice was sought and provided under a previous PM, and it was unanimously agreed that it would not be the right occasion for the King to visit in person, she said.

Im not aware that that advice has changed but obviously any confirmation of the Kings travel would be for the Palace.

Asked if there are any plans for the conversation between the Palace and the Government to reopen, she said again that she was not aware the advice has changed.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said the UK would show global leadership on climate change, and that didnt rely on Mr Sunak attending a gathering of people in Egypt.

She said she expected to be at COP27 for a couple of days.

She told BBC Breakfast: I think were still working out the programme, but there are events that happen for a variety of ministers, whether its about energy or water, or the combination with nature. I think, me personally, I think Im going to be there for a couple of days. Its my understanding other ministers will be there because the days in a Cop tend to have themes.

She told LBC later: The politically big significant things happen every five years.

The Government has postponed the medium term fiscal plan until November 17, I know that the Prime Minister is very keen to work with the Chancellor very closely on this important element, and so hes prioritising that.

While at the same time, of course, the UK continues to show global leadership, as opposed to just a gathering of people in Egypt.

She refused to say whether climate change or Vladimir Putiin posed the greater threat.

She said: We need to continue to address challenges for our country  climate change is a longer-term process. The immediate threat from Putin is very concerning.

Pressed again, she said: Im not going to say which is the greater threat. Theres an acute threat right now from Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine. Weve already seen the impact (of) that in terms of our economy, in terms of energy supplies, and its very worrying about what is there now. But that is now for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary to continue to address.
Former president Donald Trump has announced a flurry of rallies across the country for the final days of the 2022 midterm campaign. That in and of itself is nothing new; presidents often stump for down-ballot candidates at crunch points in midterm cycles, and Trump enjoys going out on the campaign trail  in part for the benefit of GOP candidates, but mostly for himself.

What makes this next batch of Trump rallies peculiar is his choice of states. He did announce he would go to Latrobe, Pennsylvania to stump for his anointed Senate candidate Mehmet Oz (fresh out of his debate with Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman) and for gubernatorial Doug Mastriano, who is significantly trailing Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro despite (or because of) his MAGA credentials.

But other than that visit to a crucial swing state, Trumps itinerary will take him to mostly Republican areas.

While he campaigned for Blake Masters and Kari Lake earlier this month in Arizona, he has yet to announce another jaunt to the state, where Masters, while still struggling, is putting up a competitive fight against incumbent Senator Mark Kelly. He visited Nevada this month, but seems less than focused on the ultra-competitive contest there even as Adam Laxalt tries to build on Trumps gains with Latino voters in 2020.

And 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 these vital races, then, Trump is focusing on states where he can brag about being undefeated in primary endorsements.

Next Thursday, he will head to Sioux City, Iowa, to stump for Governor Kim Reynolds and long-serving Senator Chuck Grassley. Reynolds seems to be cruising to re-election. But there are signs that Grassley  currently the longest-serving Republican Senator  might in fact be in trouble. A Civiqs poll showed him beating his Democrat opponent Mike Franken, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, by just eight points  and a survey earlier this month by J Ann Selzer, the states most revered pollster, showed the octogenarian Senator in his tightest race in decades.

Story continues

Grassleys announcement of Trumps visit to the state didnt mention the president at all, aside from a lukewarm headline (Grassley campaign statement on Trump visit to Iowa). That is a big departure from last year, when Grassley hopped onstage with Trump and gleefully accepted his endorsement in Des Moines.

Trump is also headed to Ohio  specifically Vandalia, not far from Dayton. Like Iowa, the Buckeye State has long moved on from its swing state days, and GOP Governor Mike DeWine has an easy path to re-election. But Trump-backed Senate candidate JD Vance is struggling.

Though some recent polling shows he might be pulling slightly ahead, Vance only has a prayers chance against Democratic Representative Tim Ryan. Thats not because of anything Trump has done, but because of the work of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, whom the former president despises more than any other Republican, and whose Senate Leadership Fund has been carpet-bombing the Ohio airwaves.

Besides these, Trump will campaign in his adopted home state of Florida alongside Senator Marco Rubio, the man he once dubbed Liddle Marco. Florida has become decisively more Republican in the past few years and Rubio, who is beloved by the Cuban-American community in Miami, where the event will take place, seems relatively untroubled by the challenge from his Democratic rival, Congresswoman Val Demings.

But one person is not yet billed to appear with Trump: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his most likely 2024 Republican primary challenger. Despite an awkward debate performance this week, DeSantis is expected to decisively win his own race  and to become the first Republican candidate for governor in two decades to win Miami-Dade.


Here's the thing I can't get past this year. God tells Noah that the human experiment has failed. Humanity has become corrupt and lawless. So God instructs Noah to build an ark and use it to rescue his own family and all the animals of the earth. And after some description of what the ark is supposed to look like, Torah tells us, "Noah did so; just as God commanded him, so he did."

Why would I have a problem with Noah doing exactly what God told him to do? Imagine a great environmental crisis is coming, and all living beings on Earth are going to perish. So you build a spaceship and you take a genetic seedbank and your own family and you set off into space. But what about all of the other human beings? (And for that matter, the other beings on Earth, too?)

Later in our ancestral story we'll meet Avraham. And God tells Avraham that God plans to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gemorrah. (We'll talk another week about their fundamental sin, which seems to have been a combination of selfishness, violence, and rape.) Hearing this, Avraham argues with God. He bargains: what if I can find you 50 good people? 45? 35? Even 10!

Avraham pleads with God to find a way to spare a couple of towns. In contrast, Noah learns that God is going to wipe out literally every other human being, animal, and plant on the surface of the earth, and he doesn't say a thing. And maybe this is why our sages argue about what Torah means when it says that Noah was a righteous man in his generation. Personally I like Rashi's second theory:

 IN HIS GENERATIONS  Some of our Rabbis explain it (this word) to his credit: he was righteous even in his generation; it follows that had he lived in a generation of righteous people he would have been even more righteous owing to the force of good example. Others, however, explain it to his discredit: in comparison with his own generation he was accounted righteous, but had he lived in the generation of Abraham he would have been accounted as of no importance (cf. Sanhedrin 108a).

This may be one reason why we don't consider Noah to be the first Jew, though Noah heard directly from God and followed God's instructions to a T. To be a Jew is to question, to argue, to push back when something is unethical. To be a Jew is to be Yisrael, a Godwrestler -- one who wrestles with the Holy, with our texts and traditions, with what's right and what's wrong: not a silent follower.

To be clear, I don't believe that the climate crisis is a punishment for human wickedness the way Torah says that the Flood was. The climate crisis is the natural consequence of generations of collective human choices made by the industrialized world. We broke it, and we're going to have to fix it. But I do believe that the story of Noach has something to teach us today, to wit: don't be like Noah.

Noah protected his own family. I have empathy for that. It's natural to want to save our own loved ones. But that should be the start of our work, not the whole of it. And I believe that Judaism asks of us much more than that. Torah calls us to pursue justice, literally to chase it or run after it. And in the words of my friend R. Mike Moskowitz, justice can't be for "just us".

R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev teaches that that because Noah was so bad at tochecha -- rebuke, as in telling one's fellow human beings that they are acting unethically -- Noah's soul was reincarnated into Moses... who spent most of his life wandering in the wilderness with the children of Israel, grousing at them for being stiff-necked and stubborn, rebuking them every time they made a poor choice!

I love the idea that our souls return to this world as many times as they need, to learn the things they most need to learn. Have you ever heard someone say, "What did I do in my last life to deserve this?" It's a kind of pop culture version of karma. Jewish tradition frames repeated lifetimes not as punishments (e.g. "I screwed up last time so now I gotta do it again") but as opportunities for growth.

What are the qualities we need to strengthen, the patterns we need to shed -- and how can we each use that spiritual curriculum in service of helping each other? Noah could have argued with God, or urged his fellow human beings to make better choices, or helped other people build boats too -- but he built a boat for his own family and the menagerie, and kept to himself. I believe we can do better.

In this era of climate crisis and misinformation, we have to do better. The mitzvah most oft-repeated in Torah is "love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Torah tells us to feed the hungry, to pay fair wages, to meet the needs of the disempowered. So no, building a boat (or a spaceship) just for us isn't sufficient. Our task is to care about each other -- to care for each other.

And in so doing, together we can build a better world.

This is the d'varling I offered at Shabbat morning services at Congregation Beth Israel of the Berkshires (cross-posted to the From the Rabbi blog.)

Shared with extra gratitude to the Bayit Board of Directors for Torah study this week.
On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Turkiye on Saturday (29 October 2022), Viet Nam News presents an article written by Ambassador of Turkiye to Viet Nam Haldun Tekneci.

It is a great pleasure for me to address the readers of Viet Nam News on the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkiye. I would like to present our warmest greetings to the Vietnamese people as well as their leaders.

Today, we celebrate the 99th anniversary of our Republic with great joy and pride. After almost ten decades of progress thanks to the founding principles set forth by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkiye - our country now stands focused on stability with a developing economy.

The geographical proximity of Turkiye to three different continents provides a unique advantage to enrich and prosper our nation in cultural, historical, and economic ways. In 2021, the highest export figure in the history of our Republic was attained with a value of USD225.4 billion. This trend in our exports was maintained in the first seven months of 2022 by reaching USD144.4 billion, an increase of 19%. The Turkish economy, at the same time, grew by 11% in 2021, while it grew by 7.3% in the first quarter of 2022.

Since the day it was founded, Turkiye has been at the forefront of establishing and maintaining regional and international prosperity, stability and peace. In line with this purpose, Turkiye has been actively taking place in peacekeeping and mediatory efforts, which have come into prominence more than ever as the world is currently dealing with multiple security issues and asymmetric threats, by following the motto Peace at home, peace in the World of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

As being one of the values stemming from its history and culture, Turkiye also has a strong tradition of humanitarian aid with the belief that sharing enriches. Regardless of race, religion, language, or gender, Turkiye contributes to international efforts by supporting countries that are in a difficult situation due to several causes like natural disasters, war, poverty, and social clashes.

Dear readers,

Next year, we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of our Republic, as well as the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Turkiyes diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Turkiye and Vietnam have been steadily developing their friendly and cooperative relations since 1978. Over the years, we witnessed the strengthening and enrichment of our relations in different areas. Our trade volume reached more than 2 billion dollars in the last decade. In addition, there is an increase in the number of Turkish companies which are interested in the Vietnamese market. Last year, one of our companies operating in the field of fast-moving consumer products initiated its operations in Vietnam with a sizeable investment. We foresee that Turkish companies, including the ones in technology and white goods sectors, will enhance their presence in the Vietnamese market in the coming period.

Furthermore, Turkish Airlines, our national flag carrier that has been contributing to the development of our economic and commercial relations, continued its activities in Vietnam without a break even during the pandemic period. I believe the increasing passenger and cargo flights will continue to have a positive impact on consolidating relations between the two countries.

During the past two years, the world has suffered the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the significance of working in solidarity to overcome challenging situations. In such difficult times, our humble, yet crucial mutual efforts with Vietnam were the manifestation of our potential future endeavors.

Turkiye and Viet Nams educational, social, cultural and tourism-related ties have also been growing. Each year, we provide to an increasing number of Vietnamese students the opportunity to study in our country with Turkiye Scholarships. This year alone, seven Vietnamese students were granted scholarships. Our inter-institutional cooperation with Vietnamese authorities is also maintained with a number of education and training programmes. Besides that, social programs run by Turkiye aim to support the well-being of friendly Vietnamese people.

We recently observed that Turkish TV series broadcasted in Vietnam gained popularity among the public, which paves the way for bringing our nations closer, enhancing the interest in between the two countries and enabling tourism development. To this end, the cultural events to be organized next year both in Viet Nam and in Turkiye, in honor of the establishment of our relations, will further contribute to the strengthening of the bonds of Turkish and Vietnamese people.

Turkiye and Viet Nam have evolving friendly relations both bilaterally and in the international fora with significant potential. Our Sectoral Dialogue Partnership in ASEAN, as well as our common roles with Vietnam in other international platforms create opportunities for furthering our ties and enjoying cooperation in multiple areas based on our common interests and objectives. I sincerely believe that deepening of our relations will bear fruit in various fields in the coming period. VNS
This year marks the sixth edition of SLINGSHOT, attracting over 3,600 startup applicants from more than 150 markets including leading startup hubs such as Israel, Germany, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

Asia as a whole saw increased participation this year, accounting for 55 per cent of applications as compared to 31 per cent in 2021.

The top 50 finalists went through an intense three-day final, culminating in a final live pitching session by the top 10 in front of a judging panel comprising renowned international players from venture firms such as Antler, East Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Vertex Ventures.

The grand winner

Peter Ong, chairman of Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG)  a judge at the grand finals and gave out the prizes  said, The finalists we saw today offered innovative solutions that have the potential to address important industry and societal concerns. To help them and more startups execute their innovative solutions, we must work together with partners to give them the right resources and support. With upcoming global headwinds and a more cautious investor climate, access to financing, talent, and connections will be particularly important.

At SWITCH 2022, the startups had opportunities to understand the landscape in Singapore and gained access to potential investors, corporate partners, and community enablers across the ecosystem.

These included private sector enablers such as Amazon Web Services, Baker McKenzie, Catapult at Rochester Commons, Google, deep tech VC SOSV, and key associations such as Action Community for Entrepreneurship, and SGTech, as well as government agencies such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research and JTC.

Organised by EnterpriseSG, SLINGSHOT is the marquee deep tech startup pitching competition that provides startups with an international platform to profile themselves to corporates, industry veterans, and investors.

Since 2017, the top 40 SLINGSHOT winners have gone on to raise more than S$560 million (over $395 million) in investments.

Winners of SLINGSHOT 2022

Singapore startup Peptobiotics, competing in the Environment, Energy & Green Technologies domain, was the winner of the grand prize at the finals.

Standing out for its innovative synthetic biology alternative to livestock antibiotics, the startup aims to leverage advances in both human medicine and synthetic biology to create an antibiotic-free agricultural system.

The Grand Winner took home an additional S$200,000 ($141,000) Startup SG grant on top of the domain prize and 18 months of rent-free space at JTC Launchpad.

The first runner-up was E3A Healthcare and the second was Wasna, which both competed in the Healthcare & Biomedical challenge domain. E3A Healthcare received an additional S$150,000 ($106,000) Startup SG grant, while Wasna received an additional S$100,000 (almost $71,000). They also received 12 and 6 months of rent-free space at JTC Launchpad respectively.

The top 10 domain winners were awarded a S$50,000 (just over $35,000) Startup SG grant each. All the winners stand to get support from EnterpriseSG to expand their business operations in Singapore.

Two domain winners were awarded for their outstanding solutions across each of the challenge domains:

i) Manufacturing, trade and connectivity

ii) Health and biomedical

iii) Environment, energy and green technologies

iv) Transformative digital technologies

v) Consumer media, goods and services

Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022  themed innovation and digital transformation solutions for the business community  will contribute to attracting investment in Vietnam in a sustainable way, creating favourable conditions for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to join the value chain.

Vietnam startup 4.0  connecting for new opportunities The Vietnam Startup 4.0 Forum was held on October 19, bringing an opportunity to increase connectivity and cooperation in the future.

Boosting the national startup ecosystem Returning after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Vietnam Startup 4.0 Forum 2022 has provided an opportunity to connect passions, promote creativity, and increase investments in startup projects in Vietnam.
A distemper threat has prompted the Waco Animal Shelter on Circle Road to close the next two weeks, as one dog has been euthanized and 40 remain in isolation with symptoms, the shelter announced Friday.

The shelter will not accept animals from the public or animal control officers during this period, hoping to reduce the possibility of exposure or spread, city Animal Services Director Trey Buzbee said in an interview.

Distemper can be deadly, shelter veterinarian Dr. Michael Vallon said in a press release. Closing intake to the shelter is essential in preventing the further spread of the virus.

Buzbee said several dogs have experienced symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, including cough and runny nose, and staff suspected two animals were suffering from neurological problems related to distemper. Tests on the two proved positive for the virus, and Buzbee said one in which the disease progressed rapidly was euthanized.

No cure exists for canine distemper. Treatment typically means caring for the animal, preventing secondary infections and controlling symptoms. Buzbee said antibiotics have been prescribed for some animals.

Distemper has an asymptomatic incubation period lasting anywhere from one to four weeks, Vallon said in the press release. It can also show itself several weeks after symptoms have subsided, meaning that dogs at the shelter who have not shown symptoms or could possibly never show symptoms or have already cleared up from previous symptoms could still infect incoming dogs.

This only prolongs the cycle of the virus, adding additional cycles of infection and recovery.

Asked if the shelter may have unknowingly sent an animal suffering from distemper out for adoption, Buzbee said he is not aware of such an occurrence. He said shelter animals without distemper shots receive them before being released to the public, but boosters after 30 days are recommended.

The Humane Society of Central Texas, which manages adoptions from the city-run shelter, supports the Citys decision to close shelter operations to protect the health and safety of dogs housed at the shelter, Humane Society board President Patricia Meadows said in the press release. We will work with shelter staff to maintain optimal conditions for the animals in the shelter for their safe recovery.

As of Friday, the shelter was holding 196 dogs and 13 cats, and no cats were showing signs of the disease, according to the press release.

Buzbee said the shelter has seen days when it accepts 40 animals, others when only 10 arrive. The average runs between 15 and 20 daily.
Waco Independent School District trustees voted down for a second time Thursday a call to change the design of three new schools under construction to harden the glass walls of interior classrooms against potential armed attack.

Board members voted 5-2 against Trustee Jeremy Davis motion to amend the design of the new Waco High School, G.W. Carver Middle School and Tennyson Middle School to replace glass walls with ballistic resistant materials. The vote mirrored a similar decision in the boards Aug. 25 meeting when Davis and Trustee Keith Guillory urged their colleagues to vote for similar changes at the three schools.

The three schools floor plans and designs, created by Austin architectural firm OConnell Robertson, use glass walls on classroom sides facing a hallway, part of a contemporary educational approach to enhance interaction with instruction outside the classroom and bring more light into classrooms.

Some trustees had questioned whether students would be distracted from in-class instruction and a few had raised security issues when the designs were initially brought before the board for approval months ago. Trustees approved the floor plans for all three schools with unanimous votes, but the Uvalde school shooting on May 24 brought the security question back with intensity, particularly for Davis and Guillory.

Voting Thursday night to deny the classroom wall changes for the three schools were trustees Stephanie Korteweg, Jose Vidana, Jonathan Grant, Emily Iazzetti and Angelo Ochoa. Jeremy Davis and Keith Guillory voted for the change.

Discussion at Thursdays board meeting raised similar concerns heard at earlier meetings, although updated by the hoax shooting incident at Waco High School on Sept. 13 and the St. Louis, Missouri, school shooting this week.

Guillory, a Waco Fire Department lieutenant, said law enforcement strategies for handling an active shooter in a public building such as a school have shifted in recent years. The Citizen Response to an Active Shooter Event approach that the Waco Police Department offers training in advises a progressive approach of Avoid, Deny and Defendan approach Guillory said was successfully used in St. Louis where students and teachers barricaded classrooms with a shooter on site.

Having glass classroom walls that provide a view into a classroom would negate that strategy, Guillory said.

Theres no (law enforcement) entity that will be in favor of this, he said.

Davis said he brought up the issue again because of constituents concern about safety and his firm belief the current designs are flawed.

I still believe floor-to-ceiling glass windows on a hallway is not safe, he told fellow board members.

Trustee Jonathan Grant again said no design would ever eliminate risk, and the terrible reality is that if a student with a gun gets in a school, there are no good outcomes.

Board President Stephanie Korteweg said colleagues and listeners should not frame the questions as trustees for and against student safety.

We all want our students to be safe and that its of utmost importance that it happens, she said.

She said she supports how the three schools security planning employs the concept of time layers, entries and hallways intended to slow an intruder and buy time for escaping students and teachers and arriving law enforcement.

She called Davis motion for a vote, and after a 5-2 vote to support her call, trustees voted 5-2 to defeat the motion.

No trustees or administrators presented information during the discussion on how making classroom glass walls ballistic-resistant would affect the construction timeline or final cost of the three secondary schools under construction.

Gloria Barrera, the districts chief of facilities and operations, explained on Friday the process a design change would take.

If a design change is required at this stage, we would need to identify materials that were acceptable to the board and readily available, she said in an email. We would revise the design based on those materials and it would more than likely need to go back to the board for approval, if over $100,000.

Superintendent Susan Kincannon cautioned board members in an Aug. 25 agenda memo that an increase in construction costs for Waco High, Carver and Tennyson could mean a reduction in the money available for Kendrick and renovation work at South Waco Elementary also included in the bond. Construction changes also could mean delays in those schools projected opening dates, the memo said.

Jarrod Sterzinger, principal architect for OConnell Robertson, which has designed the four schools in the bond package, said Friday that the three schools under construction total roughly 150 core classrooms, most of which have glass for an interior wall. Ballistic-resistant glass tempered to protect against a high-velocity weapon can cost 10 times the expense of regular glass, though a cheaper measure is an impact-resistant film applied to glass that can slow lower-velocity bullets, he said.

The design plans for all three schools include mini-blinds or curtains for each classroom that can be pulled down to block outside views into the classroom, he said.

Increasing costs already had forced a design alteration for the new Waco High to keep that project within budget, with a projected cost of $157 million, still higher than the $151 million originally estimated.

Guillory and Davis each said Friday they would continue to press for improved protection against school shooters.

Guillory said he hopes local law enforcement will have a chance to see and comment on the yet-unapproved design of Kendrick Elementary School, the fourth new school in the $355 million bond package approved last year by voters.

Davis said the current discussions on safety against school shooters should shape Kendricks design.

I would hope these conversations would make a better decision at the elementary school level, he said.
In nearly every city in the United States, and many around the world, bulldozers are busy making dreams come true: leveling land for a single-family home on a lot.

Who doesnt want a lovely home with a nice bit of land on some tree-lined street? It is the American Dream manifested in bricks and mortar.

Trouble is that dreams can morph into nightmares. A growing nightmare across the nation is the incursion of homes onto farmland  land that will be out of production essentially forever.

All around Washington, I watched year after year for decades lovely farms in adjacent Maryland and Virginia being turned into suburbs  sometimes 70 and more miles from the city center.

It has been a simple tradeoff: There has been a relentless demand for single-family homes and builders see farms, usually family-owned, as ripe fruit ready for picking. When age is an issue, they almost always sell. Farming is a tough, 365-days-a-year undertaking, and a fat check at the end of a farming career is irresistible.

No villains here, but there are consequences. Mark Twain said, Buy land, they arent making it anymore. Sadly, Twain didnt take his own advice and instead invested in the tech world of the day: He lost a fortune in a company that was trying to perfect the typewriter.

Farmers are special to me. They are the real renaissance men and women. They know a lot about a lot, from being able to gauge the pH levels of soil on their tongues to how to birth a calf, repair a tractor or raise a barn.

They also know a thing or two about how the government works and filling out forms. They are regulated but have no guaranteed rate of return. They are as subject to the weather over their own land as floods around the world.

Businesses talk about being rewarded for taking a risk. Farmers take a risk with every seed they plant  and the returns arent guaranteed.

But, as Gail Chaddock, host and producer of No Farms, No Future, a podcast of the American Farmland Trust, said, You cant blame the farmers, and you cant blame the developers. But the land well need for food production in the future is being taken.

What is happening is the irreversible destruction of millions of acres of prime farmland every year. A reverence for farmland needs to enter the culture, she said.

No longer, however, is it just developers buying up farms. Farmland is now being sought by another kind of developer: renewable energy companies. They are buying it for large solar arrays. They also contract with farmers to install windmills which, while not taking so much land out of agricultural use, cumulatively take a lot.

But it is solar farms that are the real problem. Britain is thinking of legislating to prohibit the use of agricultural land for energy production. Other countries are waking to the realization that a field of shining solar collectors is not the same as a field of waving wheat or even lowly cabbages.

As over time we exported our manufacturing, we also have exported our food production. What was once raised on truck farms around the cities is now raised in neighboring Canada and Mexico, or as far away as Chile and South Africa.

There is no compelling reason to cover huge acreages with solar panels. Roofs, rights of way and urban parking lots could be pressed into service. Railroad tracks cry out for a solar canopy.

Just because energy or housing is a higher economic use for land today doesnt mean that it wont have a higher future value, feeding future generations.
The second- and third-floor exterior walkways of the north Lincoln apartment building had been on the citys radar for years.

Housing inspectors ordered the owner of 4501 Tranquility Drive to replace the stair towers nearly a decade ago. And during their annual inspections, they monitored the rot and deterioration of the wooden beams supporting the concrete platforms.

In the last year, its been getting progressively worse and were starting to get real concerned, said chief housing inspector Sean Stewart. We gave notice to the owner at the time that we need to address this and get them shored up.

The owner hired an engineer, who determined repair was no longer an option. Theyd have to be replaced.

Which led to 13 families on the second and third floors getting alarming news from the property manager at the beginning of October.

Thanks for renting with Century, the letter began. We are writing to inform you of the need to move from your apartment for the demolition of balconies and stairwells.

The deadline: 5 p.m. Nov. 4.

Failure to move out could result in legal action, including an eviction, the letter concluded.

Both the letter and Chad Blahak, director of Building and Safety, said the property manager and the city tried to find a way to keep the upper apartments accessible during the $90,000 project, but there was no safe way to do that. The work wont displace first-floor renters, Blahak said.

In the two-bedroom apartment she shares with her daughter on the second floor, Stacey Messman did the math in her head.

Moving to a new apartment isnt cheap: First and last months rent, plus the security deposit and application fees can easily require an initial cash layout of $2,500 or more.

Many of her neighbors live paycheck to paycheck and dont have that kind of money available, she said. Many dont know what to do.

Some of us are on a fixed income, some of us are disabled. Its a vicious circle; a month ago, we didnt think wed have to come up with all this money and find a place to go in days.

There are other barriers. Some of the residents, like Messman, rely on federal Section 8 housing subsidies to help pay their rent, but not all landlords accept them, further narrowing their options.

Some dont have the qualifying credit score required by landlords.

And even those who can afford it are having trouble finding a comparable apartment on short notice.

Kenny Harris lives in a three-bedroom, third-floor apartment with his wife, Lisa Marie, two teen daughters and a disabled sister-in-law.

Most of their belongings are boxed up, waiting to move. But they still havent found anywhere to go.

We can pay for a place. We have no problem paying the bills. We just need someone to let us in, he said.

He estimated theyve spent hundreds of dollars on nonrefundable application fees; most landlords require one for every adult, and they have three under their roof. Even Century Sales and Management, who they already pay rent to, charged them application fees for possible units in its other properties, Harris said.

The Century Sales and Management official handling 4501 Tranquility could not be reached for comment.

Messman doesnt blame anybody for the failing structures. The building is nearly 45 years old. The stairs wobble. The walkway leans.

But she questions the timing. If the problem was apparent for years, why give such short notice?

Youre going to wait to tell us just before the holidays? Im frustrated.

Messman took inventory this week, knocking on her neighbors doors. Of the 13 displaced apartment tenants, three had found new housing  including one family moving to an empty unit on the first floor.

That left 10 families with just about a week to find and sign a new lease, she said.

Messman called the mayors office. She called the city ombudsman. And she might have found a source of hope she hadnt known existed.

She was pointed toward the Displaced Tenant Assistance Program, administered by Community Action Partnership and funded by Building and Safety and the Health Department.

The nonprofits Jessie Hedrick declined to describe the help the program provides, or whether anyone from Tranquility Drive had already applied. But she urged those living at the apartment building to call Community Actions Sarah Fentress at 402-875-9392 if they need help.

With the deadline to move out approaching, Messman was hoping the program would help her. If not, she and her daughter still didnt know where theyd be in a week.

Century did offer them use of an empty garage to temporarily store their belongings, she said.

We dont know what were going to do anymore. Are we going to end up living in my car?
Drop kicked daily and smashed around by DDoS attacks against various parts of the website. Yet, the biggest issue of comments has been removed and stops the real damage. I would love to have comments, yet, that is the weak spot of a website. So sorry. for this site does not beg for money like 99% of them do. We do not get funding from any source that equates to manipulation of what is posted and we keep turning it out under all the attacks. This site is solely maintained and operated by an American and a Russian Sweetpea all on their own in Russia

Google has delisted WtR and I mean it has tossed the bathwater out with the baby. Yet, Chinese search engines have grabbed WtR and sent it to the top in the East. Baidu, Chinas number one has replaced Google as the search king for WtR and it is climbing as you read this

I call this, The sign of things to come!

So the birth of a new era has its ups and downs. Sometimes as with morning sickness it gets rough, a little uncomfortable to carry that child and sometimes it is overwhelming, but the baby is going to be beautiful and has the potential of immense and fantastical powers and wonderment

Hang on and stay alive in these days

You are watching in real time moves of the Eastern Masters in Geopolitics and we will be amazed before it is over

   as the description says in English, The quieter you go the farther you get  is how I run it now

I keep putting it out there and thousands return daily and thousands find us for the first time each day. They come by and silently read, silently notice the truth and silently leave. Most spend an average of 60 plus minutes on the site and everyone finds that they need coffee, several cups in fact, to read time and time again

So come and read and then go and think!

It is all we ask of you, Think

WtR
One can react in two ways to the degenerates from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who demand compensation from Russia for military losses.

Or prepare them an account for everything that the USSR transferred to Poland during the period of socialism. And thats hundreds of billions of dollars.

Or tell them to wipe themselves with their filthy calculation. It is known that due to sanctions, toilet paper in the EU has risen in price.

Medvedev

WtR
BEIJING, Oct. 29 (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).

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud extended his most sincere congratulations and best wishes to Xi, wishing the friendly Chinese people steady progress.

Highly appreciating Xi's endeavors to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro voiced high confidence that bilateral relations will achieve greater development.

Alassane Ouattara, leader of the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace of Cote d'Ivoire and the country's president, congratulated Xi on behalf of his party as well as in his own name, wishing China prosperity and progress.

Lazarus Chakwera, president of the Malawi Congress Party and the country's president, said Xi's election reflects the trust of the Chinese people in him and the firm confidence in China's prosperity under his leadership.

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, president of the Union for the Republic of Togo and the country's president, expressed his confidence that the CPC will lead the Chinese people in advancing the great cause of building a modern socialist country in all aspects.

Ilham Aliyev, chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party of Azerbaijan and the country's president, said that Xi's election fully demonstrates the trust of all CPC members in and their support for him. He expected the ruling parties of the two countries to make new contributions to the friendship and friendly cooperation between the people in both countries.

Senegalese President Macky Sall said that he would like to work with Xi to strengthen bilateral relations and firmly defend the common position of the two sides in international affairs.

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki expressed his belief that under Xi's leadership, China will make greater achievements and continue to contribute to building a fair and just international order. 
It is the USA that is playing the Nuke game and it is not Russia. Since the USA is the #1 terrorist country in the world. We should all be worried when a psychotic country acts even more psychotic

Better wake up

WtR

Update: (After I posted this article this morning!)

WASHINGTON, October 29. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov has called on Washington to return the nuclear weapons that it deployed to other countries back to the US. Source: Russian envoy calls on Washington to return nuclear weapons back to US territory  Russian Politics & Diplomacy  TASS
Zegna, Thom Browne sales surge on Europe, the U.S. and Middle East growth By



Benjamin Fitzgerald Published

Oct 29, 2022

Italy's Group announced on Friday revenues for its recently ended third quarter surged 27.5%, on the back of growth across all geographies for Zegna and , particularly in Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East.







Ermenegildo Zegna - Spring-Summer 2023 - Menswear - Milan -  PixelFormula



The Milan-based company posted third-quarter revenues of 357 million, bringing revenues for the first nine months of the year to 1.09 billion, up 22.9% year-over-year.



By segment, Zegna, which includes Zegna branded products as well as the textile and third-party brands product lines, continued to show "robust growth," with revenues for the third quarter totalling 289 million, up 27.2% year-over-year.

Zegna branded products revenues grew 18.6% year-over-year, reaching 224 million for the quarter ending September 30, while textile revenues for the quarter reached 30 million, up 33.3%, with growth across Lanificio , Bonotto, and Dondi. Third-Party brands revenues grew 64.2%, reaching 32 million, thanks to strong contributions from Tom Ford and Gucci, the latter having more than doubled, compared to the prior-year quarter.



Likewise, Thom Browne continued to be a "significant growth driver for the group," with revenues for the quarter reaching 69 million, up 29.5% year-over-year. Womenswear continued to grow faster than menswear, and now accounts for almost 30% of the U.S. brands revenues.



Growth across the Thom Browne brand was held up by strong wholesale demand; e-commerce growth through T-Mall in the Greater China region, and four new store openings during the quarter.



By geographic region, Zegna Group revenues in the Greater China region amounted to 116 million for the quarter, up 3% year-over-year; APAC was up 13.7% for the quarter, with revenues reaching 153 million; and the EMEA region clocked the strongest growth for the quarter, up 42.8% to reach 119 million. Of that, 16 million came from the Middle East and Africa region, for 86.4% growth year-over-year. The UK also continued to grow, with revenues for the quarter up 61.6% year-over-year to 15 million.



By distribution channel, revenues from the groups directly operated store network, including e-commerce, were 217 million for the quarter, up 20.7%, while wholesale revenues grew 32.2% to reach 139 million.



This quarter was one of our strongest yet thanks to exceptional performance by both Zegna and Thom Browne in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., as well as a rebound in the Greater China Region. We achieved a number of milestones this quarter as we continue to execute on our strategy and commitments while remaining true to the values that have guided us for 112 years" said Ermenegildo Gildo Zegna, chairman and CEO, Zegna Group.



As always, caring for the natural world around us continues to be a bedrock of everything we do. Last month, we launched Oasi Cashmere, a significant step on our road to traceability. I am also very proud that Oasi Zegna, which is promoted by Zegna Group, received this years Biodiversity Conservation Award at the CNMI (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana) Sustainable Fashion Awards."



Looking ahead, the group confirmed its full-year revenue guidance of mid-teens growth.
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.
China, Tanzania host conference on China-Africa cooperation

Xinhua) 10:00, October 29, 2022

Tanzanian Minister for Trade and Industrial Development Omar Shaaban (C, Front), Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian (2nd L, Front) and other delegates pose for a group photo during a conference on China-Africa cooperation through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 27, 2022. Delegates to a one-day conference on China-Africa cooperation through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) agreed that the forum has helped in bolstering friendship and cooperation between China and Africa. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Delegates to a one-day conference on China-Africa cooperation through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) agreed that the forum has helped in bolstering friendship and cooperation between China and Africa.

Opening the conference on Thursday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Tanzania's Minister for Trade and Industrial Development Omar Shabaan said FOCAC, established in 2000, is helping Africa to realize industrialization.

The FOCAC was an effective platform and multilateral mechanism for China and African countries to conduct collective consultations and carry out pragmatic cooperation.

"FOCAC is raising African countries' status in the global industry and supply chains," Shabaan told the conference jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the Center for International Policy - Africa (CIP), a regional think-tank that analyses pressing global challenges and contributes to actionable steps that leaders and citizens can adapt to address them.

Shabaan said Africa's trust in Sino-African cooperation is a result of China's favorable and deliverable policy toward the continent, which is based on sincerity, equality, mutual benefit and common development aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Chinese ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said the FOCAC is a successful example of mutual assistance and common development among developing countries.

Chen said since the establishment of the FOCAC, Chinese enterprises have built more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 1,000 bridges, nearly 100 ports, and a large number of hospitals and schools in Africa, which have made outstanding contributions to improving infrastructure and enhancing independent development capacity in Africa.

"The FOCAC is an important pillar for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era," said the Chinese envoy.

She said in 2021, China-Africa trade volume was 254.2 billion U.S. dollars, and China's stock of direct investment in Africa exceeded 56 billion U.S. dollars, 25 times and 100 times that of 2000, when the forum was established, respectively.

Wu Peng, the Secretary General of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC and Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said over the past 22 years, with the continuously enabling mechanism and enriching content, FOCAC has become a flag of China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.

Speaking in a video message, Wu said China firmly believed that developing countries should be more confident to blaze a new pace suited to their national conditions toward modernization.

Wang Huiyao, President of the Centre for China and Globalization, said in his video presentation that China-Africa relationship is heading for a direction of prosperity and richness.

"China-Africa has achieved fruitful cooperation in terms of trade, investment, infrastructure, construction and many more," said Wang.

The African Union (AU) Permanent Representative to China, Rahamtalla Osman Elnor, said in a video presentation that the 8th FOCAC ministerial conference held in Dakar, Senegal, announced initiatives and commitments for new important development for the African continent.

Elnor said it was important for African governments, businesses to digest the initiatives and commitments and ensure implementation of what has been agreed.

President and CEO of the CIP Omar Mjenga said China-Africa friendship has not been an overnight achievement, nor has it been gifted from on high.

"The friendship has been fostered throughout the years when China and Africa supported and stood alongside each other in trying times," said Mjenga.

He added that "it is during these trying and difficult times, when none was ready to support the continent, when China came to the heed of many African countries despite of its poor economic situation at that time."

Indeed, China and Africa have stood together in success and adversity, setting an example for building a global community of a shared future, said Mjenga.

Delegates to the conference included former Tanzanian ambassadors to China, ambassadors and high commissioners representing their countries from the African continent and representatives from international organizations, especially the United Nations.

(Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun)
NICOSIA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of asylum seekers returned to an overcrowded reception center in Cyprus after fleeing from violent clashes and fires, which destroyed 24 tents on Friday, the Police said on Saturday.

Police spokesman Christos Andreou said that arrest warrants have been issued against five persons who have been identified as being among the instigators of the clashes.

"The instigators have fled and they are sought by police. The situation is now calmed down and most asylum seekers returned to the facility overnight on Friday and on Saturday morning," Christou said.

He added that police have increased their presence at a police station next to the reception center and more reinforcements will be sent there after a special police force will be set up in a few months.

Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou said on Friday a large force of regular and anti-riot police officers was trying to contain the situation at the overcrowded Pournara reception center, some 20 km west of the capital Nicosia.

Videos beamed by television stations showed more than 20 people attacking each other with iron rods and sticks and throwing rocks, while thick smoke billowed from burning tents.

Cyprus has repeatedly claimed that it hosts the largest concentration of asylum seekers in relation to its population of less than one million.

Authorities said months ago that the ratio of asylum seekers to the local population was 4 percent, as all other European Union countries each hosted less than 1 percent if migrants in relation to their population.

They said that the influx of irregular migrants picked up this year, with 17,000 asylum seekers arriving in the eastern Mediterranean island up last week, double the number of irregular migrants in the same period of last year. 
A school bus driver reportedly told police he was tired from working two jobs when he crashed a bus full of children into parked cars Thursday morning in Northeast Albuquerque.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said there were no serious injuries in the McKinley Middle School bus crash near Montclaire and Candelaria NE.

He was cited for careless driving. There were no signs of intoxication, Gallegos said.

He said the driver told investigators he was tired from working two jobs and admitted he caused the crash.

Monica Armenta, an Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman, said the driver is still employed and wouldnt say what, if any, discipline the driver is facing.

Yesterdays incident is still being investigated. All employees are guaranteed due process, she said Friday.

Meanwhile, officials were dealing with another school bus crash on Friday afternoon, this time involving a Rio Grande High School bus in the South Valley, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office.

Armenta said the bus was rear-ended and BCSO said on Twitter there were no major injuries reported in the crash, which happened on Arenal SW at Atrisco.

BCSO did not elaborate or give any other details.
Carly Feddersen spent 100 hours weaving her basket Coyote and the Monster That Ate Everyone.

Based on a traditional Plateau story, the 8-by-6-inch piece depicts Coyote brandishing a torch as deer, bears, fox, butterflies and rattlesnakes flee the monster.

Feddersen is one of 13 Native artists chosen to exhibit in Self-Determined: A Contemporary Survey of Native and Indigenous Art now open at Santa Fes Center for Contemporary Arts. Through film, installation, photography, sound, beadwork and more, the artists explore environmental themes and mythologies, using both tradition and technology as tools of preservation.

Co-curated by executive director Danyelle Means (Oglala Lakota) and Kiersten Fellrath, the exhibition draws its political title from a Nixon-era policy, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1975. The measure gave federally-recognized tribes the ability to make decisions for themselves. It marked the first governmental policy not based on assimilation or genocide.

The show reinterprets self-determination as an act of reclamation and revolution, as well as self-expression.

Their parents or community werent able to do that until the late 60s or early 70s, said Means, CCA executive director. That came in various ways.

Feddersen learned her woven waxed linen technique from her uncle, Joe Feddersen, a Colville sculptor, painter, photographer and mixed-media artist.

A 2016 Institute of American Indian Arts graduate, Carly Feddersen focused on metallurgy and jewelry making. She will return for an Institute of American Indian Arts residency this month.

Her monsters triangular teeth encircle the top and the bottom of the basket.

Its the story of Coyote slaying the monster, she said in a telephone interview from Wenatchee, Washington. Feddersen is of Okanogan, Arrow Lakes, German and English heritage. In the back, youre looking into the monsters mouth; you can see his teeth. Coyote is directing everyone to run.

She spent about an hour weaving each round.

A lot of our Coyote stories are about making the world better, Feddersen explained. Sometimes, its about watching Coyote make mistakes. It teaches people what not to do. It teaches them also to be brave.

Dyani White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) brought film capturing 24 women speaking their Indigenous language.

She wanted to create a chorus of Native languages, Means said. There are no captions, there are no titles. Youre eavesdropping without understanding. This was happening in the U.S. with hundreds of Native languages. Can you distinguish Lakota from Tewa? These languages have developed for millennia. People were not allowed to speak or teach them.

Photographer Jeremy Dennis (Shinneock) brought four still shots of Sunksquaw, A Return to Female Leadership from his RISE series.

The central figure is zombie-like.

Dennis is using humor and pop culture references as metaphors.

Erica Lord (Tanana Athabascan, Inupiaq, Finnish, Swedish, English and Japanese), an instructor at Santa Fes Institute of American Indian Arts, turned microscopic disease patterns into woven beadwork.

Fascinated by traditional tribal burden baskets and baby straps, she applied them to her own life.

My burden that I carried was diabetes, she said.

A friend who was a microbioloist began showing her pixeled, gridded images of disease. Then Lord discovered square, 4 mm glass beads.

It made sense to translate that, she said. I had one of those few Aha moments.

Unable to find a bead loom big enough for her sometimes 8-feet-long pieces, she hammered one together using materials from Home Depot.

I just built one, she said. My background is sculpture.

Lord most recently created a series of sled dog blankets in tribute to the canines who carried medication to Nome, Alaska during the diphtheria epidemic of the 1920s.

Lord grew up in the tiny village of Nenana, Alaska. She drove her first dog sled at the age of 3. Her mother made woven rugs.

Even now, I dont know where I got the idea of being an artist, she said.

Both Lords and Feddersens work will be featured in Sharing Honors and Burdens at the Renwick Museum in Washington, D.C. in May 2023.
New Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC) director Pollyanna Nordstrand is Hopi by blood.

But she grew up in Sonoma County, California, where her mother made sure she was involved in Native American cultural activities, although the family traveled regularly to the Arizona pueblo to visit family.

Its really hard to practice Hopi culture without the community, but we did connect with Native people where we lived, Nordstrand said in a telephone interview from the San Bernardino area. Being Native was part of my life without really understanding it as a kid.

Nordstrands Norwegian father was a painter and sculptor, so art was all around her. The family regularly visited the now-shuttered American Indian Contemporary Arts Museum in San Francisco, where she landed her first job as a receptionist.

Nordstrand comes to New Mexico with extensive museum experience, including curator of Southwest art at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Museum at Colorado College and associate curator of Native art at the Denver Art Museum.

She comes to Santa Fe from Arkansas, where she was appointed the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts first curator of Native American art.

Nordstrand first caught the museum bug at Stanford University when she joined a team curating a collection of photographs by the late Kiowa photographer Horace Poolaw. The Oklahoma-based Poolaw was considered one of the most prolific Native American photographers of his time.

The understanding of objects grew into a personal passion.

I really had no idea there were careers in that, Nordstrand said.

Nordstrands approach to museums has been shaped by the increasing collaboration between tribes and institutions. She applied to the MIAC position when she had been working at Crystal Bridges for just eight months, never expecting to receive an offer.

I have 30 years in the field and a number of friends of mine are museum directors, Nordstrand said. I thought it was a great opportunity to work at a museum already invested in our museum practices  getting Native people involved in planning and in curating.

Nordstrand has regularly traveled to Santa Fe for Indian Market and symposiums at the Institute of American Indian Arts, especially when she was working in Colorado Springs.

I feel like there is a responsiveness to the concerns of Native people, she said. Theyre very engaged with what is currently happening.

Nordstrand has produced several solo exhibitions of contemporary artists, including Nora Naranjo Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo), Christine Howard Sandoval (Chalon Nation), Anna Tsouhlarakis (Navajo/Creek/Greek) and Melanie Yazzie (Navajo). The Andy Warhol Foundation and Ford Foundation have both supported her scholarship. Museums calling for her expertise have included the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.

She is a believer in community engagement and deeply committed to achieving buy-in from stakeholders, especially from the people whose art and culture are being interpreted and exhibited, said Debra Garcia y Griego, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

Nordstrand will begin her position on Nov. 14.
In the period of less than a week last month, Albuquerque police shot and injured two men  one who allegedly threw a softball-sized rock at an officer and the other who officers say pointed a gun at them.

Authorities released details and videos of the two incidents on Friday.

The shootings were two of 15 by Albuquerque police officers this year. Of those, seven people were killed, three were injured and in five cases the officers missed  although in one of those incidents the man killed himself right before the officer fired.

Last year there were 10 shootings total.

We know that local jurisdictions in the metro area have seen an increase in officer-involved shootings this year and I forecast that it will continue, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told a news conference. This goes along with an increase in homicides, increases in assaults on officers, and increase in a lot of other areas.

Nationwide, there have been about the same number of fatal shootings by law enforcement as there were this time last year, according to a database from The Washington Post. The numbers are slightly above where they were in previous years. Non-fatal shootings are not included.

All shootings by APD are investigated by the Multi-Agency Task Force and Internal Affairs Force Division and go before a Force Review Board, which reviews the investigation and looks for policy clarifications.

Chase escalates

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Sept. 21, officers were called to the area of Carlisle and Candelaria NE for reports of gunfire. When they arrived they found a man  later identified as Gabriel Garcia, 47  who appeared to be breaking into a DK convenience store.

Deputy Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock, with APDs Criminal Investigations Division, said the officers followed Garcia for several blocks  in their vehicles and on foot  before finding him in the parking lot of a nearby strip mall. He said the officers later reported that because shots had been heard and Garcia kept reaching for his waistband they were worried he had a gun.

Garcia did not have a gun but Officer Quan La reported he threw two soft ball-sized landscaping rocks at him. Thats when La  about 60 feet away  fired several times, striking Garcia in the shoulder.

Garcia ran off and officers set up a perimeter. He was found about 40 minutes later.

Mr. Garcia was interviewed at the hospital and he simply stated he cannot remember anything about the incident except for officers putting a tourniquet on his arm, Hartsock said. And that he had used methamphetamine and fentanyl prior to the incident.

La has been with APD since 2015 and has not been involved in any other shootings. He is not yet back on duty.

Garcia was booked into the county jail the following day on charges of aggravated assault on a peace officer, possession of burglary tools and more. He is being held pending trial.

His attorney, Samuel Awad, said we are glad Mr. Garcia was not killed in this encounter with law enforcement.

Apartment call

Six days later, around 11 p.m. on Sept. 27, officers were called to the Whispering Sands apartment complex on Central SE near Southern by a woman who reported her upstairs neighbor was angry and shooting his gun because she had parked in his parking space.

Officers Adam Portillos and Benjamin Daffron arrived and tried to get Oron Newson, 26, out of his apartment for over an hour. He could be seen drinking alcohol and heard running the slide of a handgun, Hartsock said, and it appeared as if he was loading it.

Mr. Newson would reemerge from the apartment, produce the handgun from his pants pocket and, according to the officers, point it towards them, he said. Officers discharged their patrol rifles at Mr. Newson, striking him at least once.

Both officers lapel cameras were almost entirely obstructed during the shooting so the action cannot be seen, only heard.

After being shot in his right side Newson returned into the apartment. About an hour and 45 minutes later he exited and laid down on the landing.

The SWAT team took him into custody almost two hours after he was shot.

During the interview Mr. Newson stated he knew police officers were on-scene, Hartsock said. He did raise his gun towards officers, according to him, but he didnt think they would shoot so quick.

Newson remains at the hospital in stable condition and has since been evicted.

Hartsock said he will be booked into jail upon his release. Its unclear who his attorney will be. Both

Officers Portillos and Daffron have been with APD since 2007 and have not been involved in any other shootings. They have returned to work.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A cannabis sucker looks like any other tasty lollipop to a kid.

That can be especially dangerous for a child 5 or younger, particularly if the sucker contains 50 milligrams of THC, the psychoactive chemical in cannabis.

You cant teach them to not eat candy  its not possible at that age, said Susan Smolinske, director of the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of New Mexico. Its up to the parent to keep things safe for the little ones.

Health officials decided to make their concerns public ahead of the Halloween weekend in response to a rash of cannabis exposures over the past two weeks.

A 2-year-old New Mexico boy was hospitalized Friday after eating part of a chocolate bar containing THC, said Smolinske, a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Pharmacy.

The boy was one of 11 New Mexicans  including eight children  with reported cannabis exposures from Oct. 17 through Friday, she said. All those cases resulted from exposures to edible products.

Im concerned with the weekend coming and its Halloween that we be a little more vigilant about keeping our medical or recreational cannabis out of reach of kids, she said at a news conference Friday. They are going to be reaching for all kinds of candy right now.

Legalization unleashed the creative energies of cannabis manufacturers, who began marketing a wide variety of edible products.

A selection of edible products on display at the news conference showed that manufacturers often use chocolate and sugar to market their wares.

A bar of cannabis-infused chocolate  divided into 10 servings  contained a total of 100 milligrams of THC, or the equivalent of about 10 marijuana cigarettes, Smolinske estimated.

A pair of cannabis suckers didnt look different from each other, but one contained 5 milligrams of THC and the other 50 milligrams.

Young children react to cannabis differently than adults, she said.

The risk of exposure depends on the age of the child, Smolinske said. When you get to 5 and under, those are the ones who end up in a hospital or on a ventilator. In serious cases, some of those kids have seizures.

Children exposed to cannabis can appear drowsy and lethargic.

Kids get unsteady on their feet, she said. They just want to sit down or they stumble or fall. Its just different for kids.

Parents also need to be vigilant about goodies their kids bring home from school. At least one of the children with a recent cannabis exposure got the product at school.

Health officials listed some steps parents can take to protect children.

If you have kids in the house, make sure to keep cannabis products out of reach, and out of sight.

If they can see it, they will try to reach it, said Jacqueline Kakos, a health educator at the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center.

A good measure is to keep edibles in a lockbox or a locking bag, she said.

Keep edibles in the original packaging, which by law bears labels explaining the contents and dosage, Kakos said. Once out of the package, edibles may be indistinguishable from ordinary candy and gummies.

Also, talk with kids about cannabis products in the house, as you would with prescription drugs, and warn kids to stay away.

If a child is exposed to cannabis, but is not showing symptoms, visit the poison centers website at webpoisoncontrol.org for advice.

If a child has clearly consumed cannabis, call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
When a correctional officer found a handmade, tightly-braided rope tucked into Michelle Morgans sock during a search at the Metropolitan Detention Center in May, she gave it back to her.

Later that evening another correctional officer watched country music concert videos on YouTube and left the unit unattended for extended periods without checking on people locked in their cells.

During that time, Morgan  a 40-year-old woman who had been charged with stabbing her boyfriend to death  hanged herself in her cell.

These allegations are included in a lawsuit Morgans 18-year-old daughter has filed against Bernalillo County commissioners, Corizon Health and the two officers for negligence and civil rights violations. The lawsuit also alleges that first one automated external defibrillator and then a second one was too low on battery power for medical crews to use them to save Morgan.

Faulty equipment is an issue Bernalillo County was made aware of through prior inmate deaths and resulting lawsuits, and an issue that remains unaddressed, according to the lawsuit.

This situation has had heartbreaking consequences, the lawsuit states. In this case, Bernalillo County employees disregarded Michelle Morgans signs of suicidal intent, were not present when she attempted suicide, and deployed inoperable equipment when attempting to save her.

It asks for Morgans family to be compensated for damages as well as attorney fees and costs.

Hers was the second suicide at the county jail in a little over two months.

In response to questions, Larry Gallegos, a county spokesman, said its practice is not to discuss pending litigation.

As for whether the officers mentioned in the lawsuit have been disciplined, the jail is still completing the investigation for policy violations and any discipline is still yet to be determined, Gallegos said.

Representatives from Corizon Health  now called YesCare  said they cannot comment on any potential or pending litigation.

Morgan leaves behind her two daughters, as well as sisters who she was close with.

Everyone in the family just wishes they could have Michelle back, said Jason Wallace, an attorney representing Morgans daughter in the lawsuit. But, you know, short of that the best that they can look forward to is justice.

Volatile relationship

In the years before Martin Miera was stabbed to death, he and Morgan had a handful of arguments that ended with police being called and one or the other being charged with misdemeanor battery of a household member. No one was seriously hurt in any of the cases but court documents paint a picture of a volatile relationship that often got physical.

A case in which Morgan was charged in December 2019 was dismissed pending further investigation. Two others  in September and October 2021  where Miera was facing charges were pending at the time of his death.

On May 1, officers were called to the apartment the couple shared on Jefferson near Alameda NE after Morgan knocked on her neighbors door, covered in blood, and asked her to call 911. When officers arrived they found 60-year-old Miera dead on the bathroom floor. He had been stabbed many times and both of his Achilles tendons had been severed.

Detectives interviewed Morgan and she told them that she and Miera had been at the Sandia Casino earlier in the day and then La Luz trail. She said an argument culminated in her leaving him at the trail.

Later that evening he came back to the apartment, and once inside she said he retrieved a knife from the kitchen, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

The detectives said that there were numerous inconsistencies in the stories she told about how the struggle ensued.

Eventually Morgan said that she was the one who grabbed the knife from the kitchen and she slashed Mieras Achilles tendons in order to immobilize him, according to the complaint. She said she was overcome with rage and adrenaline and could not remember how many times she stabbed Miera.

Morgan was charged with second-degree murder and booked into jail.

Once there a licensed professional counselor employed by Corizon Health noted that Morgan said she had been subjected to ongoing issues of physical and emotional abuse by Miera and she requested counseling, according to the lawsuit.

She was not taken to her scheduled appointment several days later due to a shortness of staff, the lawsuit states.

It seems to us that after suffering abuse she had an altercation where she probably snapped, and then, you know, couldnt live with the reality of what had occurred, said Shayne Huffman, another attorney on the case. So she was in an incredibly vulnerable state by the time she was booked into MDC.

Prosecutors had filed a motion for Morgan to be held pending trial but she killed herself before the hearing was held. She had been in jail for 13 days.

Found unconscious

On the night of May 13, correctional officer Matthew Martinez filled out a log saying he did a welfare check on the inmates every hour and all inmates were alive and breathing.

But when an MDC captain reviewed the video he saw that four of those eight welfare checks had not been completed at all. In one case Martinez only checked the bottom cells and in another an officer passing out medication did the check, according to an email from the captain obtained by the Journal.

Although Martinez wrote in a report a couple of days later that he had conducted a head count at 11 p.m. and saw Morgan look up at him from her bunk as he passed, the captain wrote in an email that Martinez did not complete this check and instead left the unit at 10:55 p.m., according to the lawsuit.

Two officers who took over at 11:30 p.m. found Morgan unconscious during their first welfare check of the shift. The rope she had used to hang herself is believed to have been the same one that correctional officer Salinarae Chavez had found in her sock and let her keep earlier in the day, according to the lawsuit.

Corizon medical staff were called to Morgans cell, but the automated external defibrillator they brought with them was low on battery and could not be used, the lawsuit states. A backup AED was also low on battery.

EMTs arrived and tried to save Morgan but she was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

Low staffing at jail

MDCs security staff vacancy rate is at 52%, and has been at or above 50% for several months.

Guards, attorneys, inmates, medical professionals and more have been sounding the alarm about critically low staffing over the past couple years, saying a lack of personnel has created dangerous conditions and resulted in inmates being on lockdown for days.

In total, 17 people have died at the jail since the beginning of 2020  including four by suicide and one by homicide. Three months after Morgans death a man died at the jail while withdrawing from fentanyl, according to reports released to the Journal.

A little over two months before Morgan killed herself, Brian Korth  who was awaiting extradition to California  hanged himself in his cell.

At the time of the March 6 incident inmates were on lockdown and one officer was tasked with watching two pods at one time, according to incident reports released to the Journal in response to an Inspection of Public Records Act request. The day before, 32-year-old Korth had broken the window in his cell because he was denied more detox medication.

The report states that video shows Korth appear to manipulate a sheet, kneel down and lean forward around 11:20 p.m. Four hours passed before he was found dead.

He was going through fentanyl withdrawal and was having a difficult time. He was letting everyone know that he was having a difficult time and he wasnt getting an appropriate response, said attorney Kari Morrissey, who is representing Korths mother and 10-year-old son. He hung himself in his cell and his dead body wasnt found for four hours. How you dont see a guy for four hours that you know is in acute distress  I dont know.

Morrissey, who is also representing the family of the man who was beaten to death in his cell last year, said her office has requests out for additional information and once she gets the records she plans to file a lawsuit. But she acknowledged that a lot has to change before things will get better at the facility.

Its been one of the worst jails west of the Mississippi since Ive been a lawyer and thats over 20 years, Morrissey added.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  James Hallinan  the former campaign spokesman who in 2019 accused Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of sexual misconduct  said this week he believes the governor and her campaign staff have violated the terms of a settlement reached to resolve the allegations.

He also said he has faced threats on social media  one of which said watch your mouth the desert is very large  and filed a State Police report seeking protection.

But the governors campaign denies Hallinans claims the settlement terms have been breached, with a spokeswoman on Friday citing a statement that both sides had agreed to as part of the agreement. In part, that statement includes Lujan Grishams denial of any wrongdoing.

The governor and the campaign stand by the statement  agreed to by Mr. Hallinan  and deny that there is any merit or truth to his allegations, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Delaney Corcoran told the Journal.

The settlement has emerged as a key issue during the closing stages of this years race for governor, with Republican Mark Ronchetti launching TV ads attacking Lujan Grisham for paying $150,000 out of her reelection account to settle allegations that she grabbed Hallinans crotch while laughing in a 2018 campaign meeting.

Ronchetti also pressed the governor on the issue during a recent debate, describing her as a hypocrite who has never come clean on the issue.

Lujan Grishams campaign has strenuously denied both Ronchettis and Hallinans allegations, with the governor saying the settlement had been publicly disclosed. The settlement was intended, the campaign said, to avoid a drawn-out legal fight during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign developments  and their fallout on social media  led to Hallinan speaking publicly about the settlement, as he had previously declined comment through his attorneys.

During a series of interviews with Journal reporters this week, Hallinan said his life had been turned upside down. He spoke from Philadelphia and Phoenix, where he now lives.

Its obviously taken a toll on me, said Hallinan during one interview, while adding the experience has been absolute hell.

Hallinan contends the terms of the settlement require the two sides to say only that they had agreed to resolve the dispute and said comments made by the governor and her campaign staffers might lead to arbitration.

Shes blown it a million times, Hallinan told the Journal.

The Lujan Grisham campaign on Friday cited language agreed to by both sides saying the settlement was reached to resolve numerous dubious and disputed potential claims made by Mr. Hallinan arising from his employment in 2018 with the campaign organization and his subsequent search for employment.

The governor and other members of the campaign strenuously deny that there is any merit or truth to Mr. Hallinans claims including his claims about difficulty finding or keeping work after the campaign, the shared settlement language also said.

Hallinan, for his part, has sparred with critics on social media.

He has shared and responded to tweets that he said represent threats and urged people to treat him like a human being.

Hallinan also has dished out harsh criticism of his own, slamming a number of public officials in New Mexico and Arizona.

New Mexico State Police released a police report and audio recordings Friday outlining Hallinans call to a dispatcher Wednesday morning.

The report filed by Lt. Kurtis Ward described Hallinan as seeming extremely agitated and unable to speak in complete sentences during the dispatch call.

Ward said that when he called Hallinan back later that morning, Hallinan described death threats on social media from someone named Angel but was difficult to follow.

Because he was unable to complete a single sentence dedicated to a single topic, Ward said, it was nearly impossible to understand what he wanted a police report about.

He said Hallinan talked over him when he asked questions, began ranting about the governor and cursed.

Hallinan accused Lujan Grisham in late 2019  about a year after he left the campaign  of pouring a bottle of water on his crotch and then grabbing his crotch through his clothes as she laughed, an incident he said took place in front of other campaign staffers during a meeting in 2018.

A former Attorney Generals Office spokesman who now runs his own communications and public relations company, Hallinan told the Journal at the time he was talked out of reporting the incident by Lujan Grisham campaign manager Dominic Gabello, who went on to work in the Governors Office before stepping down to work as a political consultant.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

One of New Mexicos most intense legislative races is playing out in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque, where negative attacks are filling mailboxes as voters weigh whether to return Democratic Rep. Marian Matthews to the Roundhouse.

She faces Robert Godshall, a Department of Homeland Security retiree, in a rematch from 2020, when she defeated him by 2 percentage points.

The district  redrawn after the census  is one of the most evenly divided in the state, with a slight Republican lean, according to an analysis of voting trends by Research & Polling Inc., the states redistricting contractor.

Matthews and Godshall each describe themselves as well-suited to represent a district where crime and economic growth are critical issues for voters.

Matthews, a retired lawyer who has started and owned businesses, worked as a prosecutor for the state Attorney Generals Office and taught entrepreneurship at Central New Mexico Community College.

She describes herself as a moderate Democrat who isnt afraid to challenge members of her own party. In this years 30-day legislative session, for example, she carried legislation that sought to make it easier to keep certain defendants accused of a crime behind bars while they await trial  a bill defeated, at least in part, due to opposition from Democratic legislators.

My political party doesnt send me to Santa Fe, Matthews said. My constituents send me to Santa Fe.

She said she hopes to carry revised anti-crime legislation in next years session.

Godshall, who owns part of a small brewery, retired from a career in federal law enforcement, including work for the Border Patrol and as a special agent dealing with immigration.

Crime, a burdensome tax system and over-dependence on government benefits, he said, have created a very sad state of affairs in New Mexico.

It seems to be building to a crescendo  the number of people who are thinking about leaving this state or are going to leave this state unless theres a change in political leadership, Godshall said.

He said he would bring first-hand experience to the debate over policing and crime.

If youre engaged in enforcing laws, youre going to have to use force, he said. Its a fact of life.

Each candidate has faced negative mailers. Godshall said he has been targeted by ads that distort his position on abortion.

For the record, he said, he supports abortion restrictions at 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and isnt convinced there should be exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

Im against killing babies, Godshall said. How can I punish the fetus for something its not responsible for?

But he said he was open to an exception in cases where a mothers life is at risk.

Matthews, in turn, said mailers have misstated how she voted on some bills, among other inaccuracies.

In one case, she said, they had me voting for a bill that was passed almost a year before I was a legislator. The bill dealt with occupational licenses for sex offenders, and it was voted on before she became a legislator.

House District 27 covers a chunk of the far Northeast Heights, including parts of the Tanoan Country Club and Academy Hills area.

Matthews has represented the area since 2020.

She has had a substantial financial edge over Godshall during the campaign.

Her campaign reported a $109,000 cash balance in a report filed Oct. 11, while Godshall had $29,000.

Democrats held a 45-24-1 edge in the House in this year. Republicans last held a majority in the House during the 2015-16 sessions.
Twitters newly minted owner, the self-described free speech absolutist Elon Musk, is about to get a crash course on global content moderation.

Among his first moves after completing his $44 billion takeover Thursday was to fire the social media platforms top executives, including the woman in charge of trust and safety at the platform, Vijaya Gadde.

He also posted a conciliatory note to wary advertisers, assuring them he wont allow Twitter to devolve into a free-for-all hellscape.

The problem is, not even the worlds richest man can have it both ways.

Lightly moderated free speech sites such as Gab and Parler serve as cautionary tales of what can happen when the guardrails are lowered. These small, niche sites are popular with conservatives and libertarians fed up with what they see as censorship of their viewpoints on mainstream platforms like Facebook. They are also full of Nazi imagery, racist slurs and other extreme content, including calls to violence.

Some conservative personalities jumped on Twitter Friday after Musks takeover to recirculate long-debunked conspiracy theories in an apparent attempt to see if the sites policies on misinformation were still being enforced.

Advertisers dont want to promote their products next to disturbing, racist and hateful posts  and most people dont want to spend time on chaotic online spaces where they are barraged by racist and sexist trolls.

On Friday, GM announced it would be pausing advertising on Twitter while it figures out the direction of the platform under Musk. But Lou Paskalis, former head of media for Bank of America, said Twitters most loyal advertisers, many Fortune 100 companies, believe in the platform and probably wont leave unless some really untoward things happen.

But its not just ads and jokes that are at stake.

Eddie Perez, a former Twitter civic integrity team leader, said Musk seems to consider Twitter a digital public square where everyone has equal voice. Its a quaint idea of the modern-day version of the town square, Perez said.

But thats not how the major social media platforms work. They have instead become powerful tools of asymmetric warfare, and many of their users dont realize they are being manipulated with disinformation by nation states and bad domestic actors  many with significant resources.

The danger here is that in the name of free speech, Musk will turn back the clock and make Twitter into a more potent engine of hatred, divisiveness, and misinformation about elections, public health policy, and international affairs, said Paul Barrett, deputy director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

Though hed been expected to reinstate banned accounts  ranging from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  Musk said on Friday that no decisions on content or reinstatements will be made until a content moderation council is put in place. The council, he wrote, would have diverse viewpoints, but he gave no further details.

Musk may be starting from scratch, but Twitter has spent years building up its content moderation system, which is still far from perfect. As such, experts have expressed grave concerns about Musks efforts  after all, the Tesla CEO has little experience navigating the temperamental and geopolitical world of social media, even if he is a constant and wildly popular user of the site he just bought.

I am most concerned about Musks decision to summarily fire Vijaya Gadde, Twitters head of legal policy, trust, and safety  a senior executive who was trying, however imperfectly, to keep the platform from spreading even more harmful content than it does, Barrett said.

Many are looking to see if he will welcome back a number of influential conservative figures banned for violating Twitters rules  speculation that is only heightened by upcoming elections in Brazil, the U.S. and elsewhere.

I will be digging in more today, Musk tweeted early Friday, in response to a conservative political podcaster who has complained that the platform favors liberals and secretively downgrades conservative voices.

Former President Donald Trump, an avid tweeter before he was banned, said Friday he was very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands but promoted his own social media site, Truth Social, that he launched after being blocked from the more widely used platform.

Trump was banned two days after the Jan. 6 attacks for a pair of tweets that the company said continued to cast doubts on the legitimacy of the presidential election and raised risks for the presidential inauguration that Trump said he would not be attending.

Another task for Musk: delivering on his promise to clean up the fake profiles, or spam bots that have preoccupied him and bedeviled Twitter since long before he expressed interest in acquiring it.

The bot count matters because advertisers  Twitters chief revenue source  want to know roughly how many real humans they are reaching when they buy ads. Its also important in the effort to stop bad actors from amassing an army of accounts to amplify misinformation or harass political adversaries.

___

Associated Press writers Frank Bajak, Jill Colvin and Mae Anderson contributed to this story. Follow APs coverage of Elon Musk: https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk
WINDHOEK, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- As Namibia struggles with waste management, single mothers from Namibia's capital Windhoek are being trained by the non-profit making organization, Mammadu Trust, to upscale plastic bags and crochet accessories.

The women who are from poor backgrounds are using plastic bags or plastic yarn, made from strips of plastic bags that are looped together to form a continuous strand, which they crochet into a variety of products which include fruit baskets, handbags, table mats as well as rugs.

This craft has lifted 47-year-old Belinda Kaaronda out of poverty, exposing her to a different lifestyle where she is now able to fend for herself and her six children from the income she makes when the bags are sold to tourists and abroad.

"Plastic bag weaving has saved my life. It has been a lifeline at a point when I had lost all hope. Before I started doing this, my life was very hard. I am now finally earning an income and able to take care of my family. I am grateful for the training I have received," a hopeful Kaaronda said through a translator.

When Kaaronda first joined the group of women being trained at Mammadu Trust In 2017, she had no idea how this would change her life, not only financially but also by igniting a dream she has had since she was a child.

"Growing up I had dreams of becoming a fashion designer. I trained as a tailor but my dream did not go far. Through crocheting accessories, I get to tap into my design side and come up with some unique one of kind items. Whether it is the structure, colours, or patterns, each item is always unique," she said.

The mother of six is still keeping her dream alive and hopes to expand and venture into dressmaking.

"I want to have the capacity to produce more and one day be able to see my products in local stores. I have big dreams," she said laughing.

Admittedly, the process and the amount of work it takes from looking for plastic bags to finishing a product is a lot but Kaaronda said she would not trade it for anything.

In the past five years, Kaaronda has turned plastic bags into more accessories than she can count with hopes of making even more in the future.

According to Domenica Deiure, Manager at Mammadu Trust, the project started in 2015 as an initiative to generate income for mothers and other women from the neighbourhood. Since 2015 helps more than 50 women out of poverty.

"There is usually no cost for the material as it is all recycled material so there is a 100 percent profit for the woman who produces the object. This not only helps her financially but it also gives the women a sense of empowerment and self-esteem," she said.

Mammadu not only trains the women but also helps with marketing and sales where most of the items are sold internationally.

Silpha Pujatura is also one of the women who has benefited from the training offered by Mammadu Trust and is doing very well compared to when she had no income.

"My life was very poor before I started doing this but my life has changed drastically. I even moved from a corrugated iron shack where I lived to a nice house," she said.

Pujatura was one of the first women to receive training in 2015 and is now training other women in her community while she has also expanded her craft and is using old clothes to make pot plants.

"I am venturing into other crafts to reach a bigger market. I want to grow my business," a passionate Pujatura said.

Women are playing a small but substantial role in helping the country manage waste which is a problem for Namibia which grapples with illegal dumping in many areas.

In 2019, the country launched a revised solid waste management strategy containing guidelines for waste disposal sites on how to dispose of waste to ensure the environmentally sound management of waste

In a previous interview, Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said waste management had become a pressing national issue posing a significant threat to human and environmental health.

According to Shifeta, the country faces waste management concerns such as a lack of waste collection services in many areas, widespread littering, and inappropriate management practices at waste disposal sites.

As the women continue to turn trash into treasure, they hope to train more unemployed women to take up the craft and make a living from it just like they are. 
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia announced Saturday that it will immediately suspend its implementation of a U.N.-brokered grain deal that has seen more than 9 million tons of grain exported from Ukraine during the war and has brought down soaring global food prices. Ukraine accused Russia of creating a world hunger games.

The Russian Defense Ministry cited an alleged Ukrainian drone attack Saturday against Russias Black Sea Fleet ships moored off the coast of occupied Crimea as the reason for the move. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that the Russians mishandled their own weapons.

The Russian declaration came one day after U.N. chief Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the grain export deal, which was scheduled to expire on Nov. 19. Guterres also urged other countries, mainly in the West, to expedite the removal of obstacles blocking Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

The U.N. chief said the grain deal  brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July  helps to cushion the suffering that this global cost-of-living crisis is inflicting on billions of people, his spokesman said.

U.N. officials were in touch with Russian authorities over the announced suspension.

It is vital that all parties refrain from any action that would imperil the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which is a critical humanitarian effort that is clearly having a positive impact on access to food for millions of people, said Guterres spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Russian move predictable. He accused Moscow of blockading ships carrying grain since September. Currently, he said, 176 vessels are backed up at sea, carrying more than 2 million tons of food.

This is a transparent attempt by Russia to return to the threat of large-scale famine in Africa and Asia, Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly video address. He called for a tough response against Russia from international bodies like the U.N. and the G-20.

Ukraines Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Russia of playing hunger games by imperiling global food shipments.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the suspension was regrettable and urged all parties to keep this essential, life-saving Initiative functioning.

Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry, Blinken said in a statement Saturday night. In suspending this arrangement, Russia is again weaponizing food in the war it started, directly impacting low- and middle-income countries and global food prices, and exacerbating already dire humanitarian crises and food insecurity.

Russias Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused British specialists of being involved in the alleged attack by drones on Russian ships in Crimea. Britains Defense Ministry had no immediate comment on the claim.

In connection with the actions of Ukrainian armed forces, led by British specialists, directed, among other things, against Russian ships that ensure the functioning of the humanitarian corridor in question (which cannot be qualified otherwise than as a terrorist attack), the Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of civilian dry cargo ships participating in the Black Sea initiative, and suspends its implementation from today for an indefinite period, the Russian statement said.

Ukraines Ministry of Infrastructure said that Ukraine has never threatened the Black Sea grain corridor which is exclusively humanitarian in nature, and would continue to try to keep shipments going. It said since the first ship left Odesa on Aug. 1, more than 9 million tons of food have been exported, including more than 5 million tons to African and Asian countries. As part of the U.N. World Food Program, it said, 190 thousand tons of wheat have been sent to countries where there is hunger.

Russia also requested a meeting Monday of the U.N. Security Council because of the alleged attack on the Black Sea Fleet and the security of the grain corridor, said Dmitry Polyansky, Russias first deputy representative to the U.N.

Russias agriculture minister said Moscow stands ready to fully replace Ukrainian grain and deliver supplies at affordable prices to all interested countries. In remarks carried by the state Rossiya 24 TV channel, Dmitry Patrushev said Moscow was prepared to supply up to 500,000 tons of grain to the poorest countries free of charge in the next four months, with the help of Turkey.

Earlier Saturday, Ukraine and Russia offered differing versions on the Crimea drone attack in which at least one Russian ship suffered damage in Sevastopol, a key port on the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a minesweeper had minor damage during an alleged pre-dawn Ukrainian attack on navy and civilian vessels docked in Sevastopol, which hosts the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet. The ministry claimed Russian forces had repelled 16 attacking drones.

The governor of the Sevastopol region, Mikhail Razvozhaev, claimed the port saw a massive attack by air and sea drones. He provided no evidence, saying all video would be seized for security reasons.

But an adviser to Ukraines Interior Ministry claimed that careless handling of explosives had caused blasts on four warships in Russias Black Sea Fleet. Anton Gerashchenko wrote on Telegram that the vessels included a frigate, a landing ship and a ship that carried cruise missiles used in a deadly July attack on a western Ukrainian city.

In other developments on Saturday, Russian troops moved large numbers of sick and wounded comrades from hospitals in Ukraines southern Kherson region and stripped the facilities of medical equipment, Ukrainian officials said as their forces fought to retake the province.

Kremlin-installed authorities in the mostly Russian-occupied region have urged civilians to leave the city of Kherson, the regions capital  and reportedly joined the tens of thousands who have fled to other Russia-held areas.

Zelenskyy said the Russians were dismantling the entire health care system in Kherson and other occupied areas.

The occupiers have decided to close medical institutions in the cities, take away equipment, ambulances. just everything, Zelenskyy said.

Kherson is one of four regions in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed last month and where he subsequently declared martial law. The others are Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

As Kyivs forces sought gains in the south, Russia kept up its shelling and missile attacks in the countrys east. Three more civilians died and eight more were wounded in the Donetsk region, as Russian soldiers try to capture the city of Bakhmut, an important target in Russias stalled eastern offensive.

Russian shelling also hit an industrial building in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region.

In the latest prisoner exchange, 50 Ukrainian soldiers, including two former defenders of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, and two civilians were released Saturday as part of a swap with Russia, who received 50 Russian soldiers, both sides reported.

___

This version has been corrected to show the Russian Defense Ministry said one ship, not two, was slightly damaged in Crimea port.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Today we will learn about two things. First, Princeton University. Second, student loans. The link? Basket weaving, or the lack thereof.

Princeton University is in Princeton, New Jersey. Nassau Street is a main boundary for the west end of the campus. Nassau Hall fronts to Nassau Street.

The British Army once occupied Nassau Hall. This army was defeated at the Battle of Princeton, as its soldiers marched south to confront the Continental Army that had just won the second Battle of Trenton.

At that time, the school in Princeton was called the College of New Jersey. That name lives on in another school now located in nearby Ewing, New Jersey, also in Mercer County.

Hugh Mercer was an officer and trusted advisor to Gen. George Washington. He was killed at the Battle of Princeton.

Mercer Countys seal bears the Mercer Oak, reputed to be the final resting place of Hugh Mercer on the Princeton battlefield.

The United States was recognized as an independent nation when the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783. The Confederation Congress got word of this while housed in Nassau Hall, making Princeton the (then) capital of the new country.

Yeah, Princeton University is a pretty big deal. It is often ranked as the top undergraduate institution in the country.

Princeton has no law school, no business school, and no medical school. It offers degrees in many fields, including music and philosophy, but none in basket weaving.

Great universities can, and do, offer degrees in the humanities. I know of no university that offers a degree in basket weaving.

I mention this because certain creatures of the species politician blame students for accumulating debt while pursuing useless basket weaving degrees.

If no one graduates with a basket weaving degree, these politicians must be ill-informed. Their real intent is to disparage those who earn degrees in the same fields that many Princeton undergraduates do.

If I ran the world, I would not have supported the broad student loan forgiveness program adopted by the Biden administration.

But in my world, we would also not fault the beneficiaries of this program. Or disparage the humanities with allusions to basket weaving.

As Bob Dylan said in his song Idiot Wind, an appropriate title for the rantings of many of our politicians, I cant help it if Im lucky.

Topic two is the tax treatment of those lucky souls who benefit from student loan forgiveness.

Borrowing money is not a taxable event. The borrower is expected to repay the debt. Therefore, assets and liabilities offset.

If the loan is forgiven net assets rise. The tax law requires the borrower to report income. There are exceptions for things like insolvency, bankruptcy, certain farm or real property business debt, and others.

Congress makes the tax law, so Congress makes the exceptions. The same Congress that, in an earlier day and form, met in Nassau Hall.

The COVID-inspired American Rescue Plan Act says that qualifying forgiveness of student loans will be excluded from the borrowers income through 2025. This exclusion covers the beneficiaries of the new Biden plan.

There is also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and a Total and Permanent Disability forgiveness program.

A borrower may apply for an income-driven repayment plan. There are four variations of this. Loan repayments may be stretched out over 20 years (undergraduate) or 25 years (graduate) and be structured based on income.

When the applicable payment term expires, the loan balance is forgiven. Income-driven loan plan debts that are forgiven before 2026 are also excluded from income.

The federal tax treatment of Biden-plan loan forgiveness is clear. IRS tells lenders not to issue a 1099-C for student loan forgiveness. Any uncertainty is at the state level.

New Mexico follows federal income tax treatment. This means New Mexico borrowers will also qualify for exclusion from state tax.

If you like a little U.S. history with your tax column, hopefully you wont fault a student, like the many Princeton undergraduates, who majored in the humanities. Even if they cant weave a basket.

I dont support a broad-based loan forgiveness. Hey politicians, just say that simple statement, not like an Idiot Wind, blowing every time you move your mouth.

James R. Hamill is the director of tax practice at Reynolds, Hix & Co. in Albuquerque. He can be reached at jimhamill@rhcocpa.com.
The man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis California home and severely beating her husband with a hammer appears to have made racist and often rambling posts online, including some that questioned the results of the 2020 election, defended former President Donald Trump and echoed QAnon conspiracy theories.

David DePape, 42, grew up in Powell River, British Columbia, before leaving about 20 years ago to follow an older girlfriend to San Francisco. A street address listed for DePape in the Bay Area college town of Berkeley led to a post office box at a UPS Store.

DePape was arrested at the Pelosi home early Friday. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said she expected to file multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, burglary and elder abuse.

Stepfather Gene DePape said the suspect had lived with him in Canada until he was 14 and had been a quiet boy.

David was never violent that I seen and was never in any trouble although he was very reclusive and played too much video games, Gene DePape said.

He said he hasnt seen his stepson since 2003 and tried to get in touch with him several times over the years without success.

In 2007, I tried to get in touch but his girlfriend hung up on me when I asked to talk to him, Gene DePape said.

David DePape was known in Berkeley as a pro-nudity activist who had picketed naked at protests against local ordinances requiring people to be clothed in public.

Gene DePape said the girlfriend whom his son followed to California was named Gypsy and they had two children together. DePape also has a child with a different woman, his stepfather said.

Photographs published by The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday identified DePape frolicking nude outside city hall with dozens of others at the 2013 wedding of pro-nudity activist Gypsy Taub, who was marrying another man. Taub did not respond Friday to calls or emails.

A 2013 article in The Chronicle described David DePape as a hemp jewelry maker who lived in a Victorian flat in Berkeley with Taub, who hosted a talk show on local public-access TV called Uncensored 9/11, in which she appeared naked and pushed conspiracy theories that the 2001 terrorist attacks were an inside job.

A pair of web blogs posted in recent months online under the name David DePape contained rants about technology, aliens, communists, religious minorities and global elites.

An Aug. 24 entry titled Q, displayed a scatological collection of memes that included photos of the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and made reference to QAnon, the baseless pro-Trump conspiracy theory that espouses the belief that the country is run by a deep state cabal of child sex traffickers, satanic pedophiles and baby-eating cannibals.

Big Brother has deemed doing your own research as a thought crime, read a post that appeared to blend references to QAnon with George Orwells dystopian novel 1984.

In an Aug. 25 entry titled Gun Rights, the poster wrote: You no longer have rights. Your basic human rights hinder Big Brothers ability to enslave and control you in a complete and totalizing way.

The web hosting service WordPress removed one of the sites Friday afternoon for violating its terms of service.

On a different site, someone posting under DePapes name repeated false claims about COVID vaccines and wearing masks, questioned whether climate change is real and displayed an illustration of a zombified Hillary Clinton dining on human flesh.

There appeared to be no direct posts about Pelosi, but there were entries defending former President Donald Trump and Ye, the rapper formally known as Kayne West who recently made antisemitic comments.

In other posts, the writer said Jews helped finance Hitlers political rise in Germany and suggested an antisemitic plot was involved in Russias recent invasion of Ukraine.

In a Sept. 27 post, the writer said any journalists who denied Trumps false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election should be dragged straight out into the street and shot.

___

AP Global Investigative Reporter Michael Biesecker reported from Washington and Breaking News Investigative Reporter Bernard Condon from New York. Reporters Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles, Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco and news researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
MANILA, Philippines  Flash floods and landslides set off by torrential rains left at least 50 people dead, including in a hard-hit southern Philippine province, where as many as 60 villagers are feared missing and buried in a huge mudslide laden with rocks, trees and debris, officials said Saturday.

At least 42 people were swept away by rampaging floodwaters and drowned or were hit by debris-filled mudslides in three towns in Maguindanao province from Thursday night to early Friday, said Naguib Sinarimbo, the interior minister for a five-province Muslim autonomous region governed by former separatist guerrillas.

Eight other people died elsewhere in the country from the onslaught of Tropical Storm Nalgae, which slammed into the eastern province of Camarines Sur early Saturday, the governments disaster response agency said.

But the worst storm impact so far was a mudslide that buried dozens of houses with as many as 60 people in the tribal village of Kusiong in Maguindanaos Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Sinarimbo told The Associated Press by telephone, citing accounts from Kusiong villagers who survived the flash flood and mudslide.

Army Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, who went to the mudslide-hit community Saturday, said the muddy deluge buried about 60 rural houses in about 5 hectares (12 acres) section of the community. He gave no estimate of how many villagers may have been buried in the mudslide, which he described as overwhelming.

At least 13 bodies, mostly of children, were dug up Friday and Saturday by rescuers in Kusiong, Sinarimbo said.

That community will be our ground zero today, he said, adding that heavy equipment and more rescue workers had been deployed to intensify the search and rescue work.

It was hit by torrents of rainwater with mud, rocks and trees that washed out houses, Sinarimbo said.

The coastal village, which lies at the foot of a mountain, is accessible by road, allowing more rescuers to be deployed Saturday to deal with one of the worst weather-related disasters to hit the countrys south in decades, he said.

Citing reports from mayors, governors and disaster-response officials, Sinarimbo said 27 died mostly by drowning and landslides in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, 10 in Datu Blah Sinsuat town and five in Upi town, all in Maguindanao.

An official death count of 67 in Maguindanao on Friday night was recalled by authorities after discovering some double-counting of casualties.

The unusually heavy rains flooded several towns in Maguindanao and outlying provinces in a mountainous region with marshy plains, which become like a catch basin in a downpour. Floodwaters rapidly rose in many low-lying villages, forcing some residents to climb onto their roofs, where they were rescued by army troops, police and volunteers, Sinarimbo said.

The coast guard issued pictures of its rescuers wading in chest-high, brownish floodwaters to rescue the elderly and children in Maguindanao. Many of the swamped areas had not been flooded for years, including Cotabato city where Sinarimbo said his house was inundated.

The stormy weather in a large swath of the country prompted the coast guard to prohibit sea travel in dangerously rough seas as millions of Filipinos planned to travel over a long weekend for visits to relatives tombs and for family reunions on All Saints Day in the largely Roman Catholic nation. Several domestic flights have also been canceled, stranding thousands of passengers.

The wide rain bands of Nalgae, the 16th storm to hit the Philippine archipelago this year, enabled it to dump rain in the countrys south even though the storm was blowing farther north, government forecaster Sam Duran said.

The storm was battering Laguna province Saturday night with sustained winds of 95 kilometers (59 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 160 kph (99 mph) and moving northwestward  just south of the densely populated capital Manila, which had been forecast for a direct hit until the storm turned.

More than 158,000 people in several provinces were protectively evacuated away from the path of the storm, officials said.

About 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippine archipelago each year. It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region along most of the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur, making the nation one of the worlds most disaster-prone.

___

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report.
Pivotal elections in Brazil and the United States will present an early test to Twitters new owner Elon Musk and his promise to ease up on the platforms policies on misinformation.

Voters in both nations have already faced a torrent of misleading claims about candidates, issues and voting. That torrent could become a deluge if Musk makes good on his vows to roll back Twitters rules just as millions of voters prepare to cast a ballot.

This is the most critical time for this work, right before an election, said Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at Harvard Law Schools Cyberlaw Clinic who has been monitoring the online response to Musks purchase. Were going to see a test run with the election in Brazil this Sunday, when well see how bad things get.

Even if Musk waits until after the elections to make changes, his decision to fire the executive in charge of content moderation raises questions about the companys ability to combat misinformation and extremist content linked to deepening distrust in democracy.

Musk, the worlds richest man, hasnt detailed his plans for Twitter, which he purchased this week for $44 billion. But he has called himself a free speech absolutist and has said the platform should tolerate any content that is legally permissible.

Thats a threshold that varies widely among countries. In the U.S., it would cover misleading content about vaccines or elections as well as Holocaust denialism and hate speech.

Hes also said he disagreed with Twitters decision to banish Donald Trump after the ex-presidents lies about the 2020 election helped spur the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Yet Musk has also signaled that hed consider some level of moderation, as he did this week when he said he didnt want Twitter to become a  free-for-all hellscape.

On Friday, Musk announced the creation of a committee to review Twitters policies on content moderation and the reinstatement of suspended accounts. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes, Musk tweeted.

One of Musks first moves as Twitters owner was to fire top leaders at the platform, including chief legal counsel Vijaya Gadde, who had overseen Twitters content moderation and safety efforts.

Gaddes departure is not only a blow to Twitters current election efforts, but a sign of where Musk may take Twitter, Caraballo said. Musk is also reportedly considering deep layoffs at the company.

Twitter began preparing for the elections in Brazil and the United States months ago. Over the summer, the platform rolled out a series of policies designed to stop the spread of election-related misinformation while also making it easier for users to find trustworthy sources.

Despite sometimes inconsistent enforcement, Twitter at least had rules in place prohibiting hate speech and the most harmful kinds of misinformation. Those guardrails have been shown to be necessary, according to Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a New York-based literary and human rights group.

Our politicians have learned that trafficking in disinformation can pay off big time, Nossel told the AP. Hopefully he (Musk) takes this seriously. Hopefully hes listening and asking questions. If he makes good on some of his more outlandish promises we could be in trouble.

Misinformation can have an even greater impact when delivered right before an election, when officials and independent journalists have little time to push back. Sometimes misleading claims about voting can be part of an intentional campaign to confuse or frighten people into staying home. Other times, it can mislead voters about results.

Brazilians have been bombarded by false political claims ahead of this weekends presidential election between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Similarly, theres been a significant increase in misleading and deceptive content about the election in the U.S. next month, which will decide control of Congress.

Long-time critics of social media moderation cheered Musks purchase of Twitter and said it heralded a new day for unfettered online communication.

He has stated he intends to do away with content moderation  that more speech, not censorship, is the best way to arrive at the truth, said Jenin Younes, litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance.

Eager to test the rules under Twitters new owner, some conservative and far-right Twitter users on Friday posted conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or the 2020 election. In many cases, however, the content was already permitted even under Twitters old rules.

I can finally speak the truth on Twitter. Joe Biden did not win the 2020 Election, comedian and far-right commentator Terrence K. Williams tweeted. Yet on Jan. 6, 2021, Williams posted that the election was rigged and blamed liberals for staging the Jan. 6 insurrection. That post remains up.

Musk will have to weigh many factors before deciding how to moderate content on his new platform, said A.J. Nash, vice president for intelligence at ZeroFox, a cybersecurity firm that tracks misinformation. Advertisers, for example, could become reluctant to place ads on the platform if it becomes too extreme, he said.

Musk may also learn that running a platform with 240 million daily users in dozens of nations is harder than criticizing it from the sidelines, Nash said.

Its easy to do that from the stands, Nash said. Lets see what happens now.

___

Follow APs coverage of Elon Musk: https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk

Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics

Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms.
LOUISVILLE, Ky.  Police saw Carmon Tussey walking briskly toward a crowded Louisville bar carrying a semi-automatic weapon.

With people running away, officers moved in, service weapons drawn. They put the 26-year-old in handcuffs and confiscated his gun. Tussey was later charged with terroristic threatening, wanton endangerment and disorderly conduct, prosecutors said, and could face up to 20 years in prison.

His lawyer says he was engaged in perfectly legal behavior in the incident last year, raising a relatively new legal argument in the United States that now stands before the courts to settle.

Thats because Kentucky made it legal in 2019 to carry a gun in public without a permit, joining what is now a majority of states with similar laws.

Many celebrate the end of the bureaucracy erected around what they consider every Americans constitutional right to carry any firearm they want. But permitless carry laws have created a dilemma for officers working the streets: They now have to decide, sometimes in seconds, if someone with the right to carry a gun is a danger.

Kentucky is one of the states that allows a citizen to open carry  meaning it is perfectly legal to walk down a public street carrying a loaded gun out in the open, said Tusseys attorney, Greg Simms.

Louisville prosecutors say it was more than just the gun that led police to detain Tussey. The type of weapon, how he carried it, and where he was headed also mattered. A witness also told officers that Tussey was returning to the bar after a verbal altercation.

After he was detained, Tussey told police he was returning to shoot the people he fought with, according to the arrest citation. Those comments came later. Simms argued in court that he had given police no legal reason to take him into custody when they did.

The judge hasnt been persuaded by that argument so far, saying in a preliminary ruling on evidence that police had other reasons to arrest Tussey at the time. But Simms says he thinks he can convince a jury that Tussey didnt commit any crimes, in part because of Kentuckys new law. His next hearing is Nov. 2.

Advocates say permitless carry makes people safer. Opponents say it makes it more dangerous for ordinary people, and for police officers.

Its no secret why so many law enforcement leaders are speaking out against permitless carry laws, said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. Allowing anyone to carry a gun anywhere makes the job of a police officer harder and more dangerous.

Gun violence is up nationwide. There have been 35,000 deaths in the U.S. so far this year, following 45,000 deaths in 2020 and the same in 2021. About 79% of the killings in 2020 involved a firearm, the highest percentage since at least 1968.

Earlier this year, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed an Indiana law removing the permit requirement for carrying a handgun in public even though Indianas state police superintendent had weighed in against it. The new law took effect July 1.

Were still expected to enforce our laws and take those guns off the streets and make sure people that arent supposed to have them dont, Indiana State Police spokesman Capt. Ron Galaviz said recently. Its just an extra couple of steps in that process.

Under the new law, Galaviz said, officers cant immediately grab a gun or ask to see a permit when they pull someone over.

Complaints about armed people in public settings can have a range of outcomes.

In Boise, Idaho, police got multiple man with a gun calls about 27-year-old Jacob Bergquist, who took a firearm to places they werent allowed, like a store, a hospital and a mall, according to The Idaho Statesman.

Idaho passed permitless carry in 2016, but the state allows property owners to ban them in specific locations. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said his officers never had grounds to arrest Bergquist under Idaho law.

Lee made that comment after Bergquist entered the Boise Towne Square Mall and fatally shot a 26-year-old security guard and a man, and wounded four others.

Bergquist, who died after exchanging gunfire with police, promoted gun rights on a YouTube channel.

In Houston, Guido Herrera walked into a mall in February with a rifle in one hand and a Bible in the other, wearing a leather mask and a shirt with the Punisher logo.

His lawyer, Armen Merganian, argued that Guido Herrera was just a gun-loving Texan who meant no harm. Jurors convicted him of a misdemeanor, disorderly conduct. Its legal to carry loaded guns in public in Texas, but not in a manner calculated to alarm.

Cops just like to assume that everyone is a bad guy and everyone is there to cause harm and thats not necessarily the case. Some people just really enjoy their Second Amendment rights, Merganian said.

In Florida, Michael Taylor films himself with guns and a fishing pole walking to piers and other spots to cast a line. He says hes trying to educate people about Florida gun laws, which dont allow a person to carry a gun without a permit but make exceptions if someone is hunting or fishing.

Sometimes Taylors actions lead to discussions about state gun laws. Other times they prompt man with a gun calls to police.

Officers in Clearwater stopped Taylor last year as he walked down a crowded beach with a fishing pole, a Dont Tread On Me flag and a loaded semi-automatic weapon, according to a video he posted to social media. Police ask what hes doing and he tells them hes going fishing and isnt breaking any laws.

Sir, youre scaring everybody walking down the beach, one officer says.

After cuffing him, the officers move him to a less crowded area, question him further and release him. He heads on down the crowded beach to the pier.

Shannon West, a training supervisor at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training, which trains some 300 recruits a year, said that when responding to an armed person in public, officers have got a very quick decision to make  as to whether or not to intervene, when to intervene, and how.

In one rare case this year, an Indiana man fatally shot a gunman who killed three people at a mall days after permitless carry took effect in the state. Authorities said the man who shot the gunman was legally armed and praised his actions for saving others lives.

Thats the type of scenario that gun rights advocates point to when they argue that the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to have a good guy with a gun on the scene.

But that still can create a dilemma for police when they arrive.

It used to be if someone was carrying a firearm and they had a concealed carry permit, it would be less suspicious for them to have a firearm, said UCLA law professor Adam Winkler, an expert on gun policy. But when you eliminate the permit requirement, then anyone can carry a firearm on the streets and it becomes harder for police and for others to figure out whether that person has bad intent or not.

___

Staff writers Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington and John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia contributed to this article.
SANTA FE  President Joe Biden will join Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for a Thursday rally in Albuquerque aimed at energizing supporters in the final run-up to the general election, a Lujan Grisham campaign spokeswoman confirmed.

The White House said two days ago that Biden would be visiting New Mexico this coming week for events with Lujan Grisham and other state officials, but details on the presidents planned activities or location had not been previously disclosed.

While the exact time and location of the Albuquerque event have not yet been released, the governors campaign said Saturday it would be hosted by the state Democratic Party and feature speeches from Biden, Lujan Grisham and others.

At least some members of New Mexicos congressional delegation are also expected to attend.

The grassroots event will highlight the choice voters will face in November up and down the ballot, said Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Delaney Corcoran, who added details on how to attend the event would be forthcoming.

The presidents visit to New Mexico comes in the final stanza of an expensive and closely-watched election cycle that features Lujan Grisham trying to fend off a spirited challenge from Republican Mark Ronchetti to win reelection to a second term.

Democrats are also hoping to oust incumbent Republican U.S. Rep Yvette Herrell in a race that could have national implications amid a GOP effort to win back control of the U.S. House.

Earlier this week, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made a quick visit to Albuquerque to attend a private fundraiser with Lujan Grisham and take part in a moderated discussion about reproductive rights on the University of New Mexico campus.

But prominent Republicans have also attended campaign events in New Mexico, with three GOP governors  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey  all traveling to the state to stump for Ronchetti.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also campaigned for Ronchetti this month at a private event in Roswell.

A total of 216,694 New Mexico residents  or about 16% of all registered voters  have already cast ballots via early or absentee voting.

Early voting runs through Nov. 5, with Election Day set for Nov. 8.
Sprite has joined ThumsUp and Kinley as one of Coca-Cola Indias top soft drinks brands. The carbonate brands sales surged by 41.7% to 1.3 billion liters in 2021, rebounding from a dip in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With most of the pandemic restrictions lifted by June this year, the brands sales have taken off and are set to cross 1.5 billion liters in 2022. With this estimated increase in sales, Sprite will contribute 23.4% of Coca-Cola Indias overall soft drinks volumes in 2022, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Bobby Verghese, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData comments: The key success factor for Sprite is its lime-lemon flavor, which is a crowd favorite in India, where nimbu pani (lemonade) is a traditional summertime drink. Sprite has also gained a lead over rival PepsiCo Indias lemon-lime carbonates brands, 7 Up and Mountain Dew. The sales of 7 Up are expected to reach an estimated 520 million liters, and Mountain Dew is set to cross the one-billion liters mark in 2022*.

Coca-Cola India achieved this feat by rolling out Sprite in smaller packaging sizes. The mass-market pricing appeal of these small packs boosted the consumption frequency of the carbonates brand. For instance, a 250ml bottle of Sprite that retails at INR20 ($0.24) and a 300ml can at INR40 ($0.49) is perceived to be more affordable to the price-sensitive masses. Moreover, the small serve portions meet the consumers needs for on-the-go consumption and calorie control.

Swati Polavaram, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, notes: Sprite has always relied on brand campaigning tactics that engage consumers with a simple yet effective message that it is the go-to drink for the hot Indian weather. Cola-Cola India has expanded and penetrated more relevant sales channels, allowing Sprite to gain a dominant position with a 35% share in Indias non-cola sparkling soft drinks segment, far ahead of its competitors*. The Indian non-cola sparkling segment is expected to grow by 29% in 2022 year-on-year, driven majorly by Sprites performance in Q3 2022*.
The Walt Disney Company announced a $1 million grant to Florida A&M Universitys (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication (SJGC), over the next five years, for the establishment of the Disney Storytellers Fund at FAMU.

The grant is part of the Disney Future Storytellers program, an initiative aimed to increase access to careers in storytelling and innovation for individuals from historically underrepresented or marginalized communities. Over the course of five years, the donation to SJGC will provide the selected students with tuition and housing scholarships, a stipend, specialized programming, mentoring, leadership development and more.

Across Disneys iconic brands, we are committed to increasing representation, inclusive storytelling and opportunity, said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, The Walt Disney Company. The Disney Storytellers Fund at Florida A&M Universitys School of Journalism and Communication will help empower the next generation of Black journalists, news and media executives while also building on the rich legacy of creativity and innovation that the University has cultivated for decades.

The announcement was made by ABC News President and FAMU alumna Kim Godwin on behalf of Disney during the Universitys Homecoming Convocation. Established in 1982, FAMUs School of Journalism & Graphic Communications (SJGC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout the year.

Florida A&M University changed my life. I first set foot on campus as a shy 16-year-old girl, but graduated as a confident journalist prepared to tackle the biggest news stories, said Godwin. FAMU gave me the tools I needed to get to where I am today, and I am truly grateful. I hope that this donation from The Walt Disney Company will allow the next generation of bold, straightforward journalists to uncover their potential and achieve their dreams too.

For 135 years Florida A&M University has been in the business of innovation and transformation through teaching, research, and service. From 2 instructors and 15 students on October 3, 1887, to nearly 10,000 enrolled today, student success continues to be our primary focus. Establishing partnerships that provide support for our students and expose them to the world through internships and employment will ensure that our tradition of Excellence with Caring extends well into the future. I am tremendously grateful for this generous gift from the Disney Company and to have them as a key partner with us in changing lives, creating new opportunities, and producing tomorrows leaders, said Dr. Larry Robinson, President, Florida A&M University.
ZEE Ganga, Indias favourite Bhojpuri GEC, is upping the ante on the Chhath festivity with back-to-back, power-packed programmes to entice the Bhojpuri audience in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and beyond. The channel will commence the holy occasion with the star-studded event Jai Chhathi Mayi, which will air on 30 October at 7pm. The day will also be marked by the consumer connect campaign titled Chhath Online Aaragh.

ZEE Ganga has brought in a never-seen-before bundle of Chhath content this season; a fiction show titled Acharva Chathi Mayi Ke, a mega Chhath event titled Jai Chathi Mayi, and a unique on-ground initiative called Chath Online Aaragh. Furthermore, the channel will broadcast two days of back-to-back Chhath celebrations the biggest and wholesome offering on the regional festival till date.

A complete medley of devotional songs, staggering performances, and a great storyline await the audience with Jai Chhathi Mayi, which will feature Bhojiwood superstars Shubhi Sharma, Pradeep Pandey Chintu, Akshra Singh, Amarpali Dubey, Yash Mishra, Arvind Akela Kallu, Rakesh Mishra, and Ankush Raja. The storyline has a post-pandemic backdrop in which a young man returns to his village with his fiancee, an orphan, to meet his parents. Upon reaching home, he faces strong opposition from his mother because of his fiancees family status. Worsening the situation is his fathers Covid-induced paralysis. Braving all odds, the young lady keeps her first Chhath vratt for the well-being of her father-in-law. Aided by her would-be grandmother-in-law, her devotion impresses Chhathi Maayi, who heals the paralytic patient by divine intervention.

Besides on-air content, Zee Ganga is slated to tug at the heart strings of their Bhojpuri viewership through Chhath Online Aaragh, an on-ground consumer connect campaign scheduled at the ghats of Ganges. Ensuring that the global Bhojpuri audience gets to offer prayers, the campaign will involve ZEE Ganga celebs, who will conduct rituals for Chhath puja on behalf of devotees who are unable to participate in the festivity on their own. Engaging viewers on-ground and digitally, this campaign will be conducted live from ZEE Gangas Facebook page.

Commenting on the Chhath-special line-up, Amarpreet Singh Saini, Chief Channel Officer, ZEE Ganga, remarked, ZEE Ganga attends to every minute sentiment of our beloved Bhojpuri viewer base, and Chhath Puja hogs the spotlight amongst all Bhojpuri festivals because of the divine power of Chhathi Maayiaa. Chatth puja is no longer a regional festivity, as people from across the country take part in it. This years Chath is special, as it is happening after two years of pandemic. On this note, Zee Ganga ensures the biggest bonanza of celebration with hand-picked, relatable fiction shows, events, Chath roadblocks, on-ground events and a star-loaded offering that glorifies Bhojpuri culture, rituals, and spirits. With such a strong line up Zee Ganga will be engaging across age groups and social strata to ensure no one misses the grand Chath festive this year.

Tune in to your most loved Bhojpuri GEC ZEE Ganga and witness the biggest event of region Jai Chhathi Mayi on Oct 30, 7:00 pm.
by Peter Mertz

DENVER, the United States, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) offered earlier this week a reward of 5,000 U.S. dollars over the disappearance of an old Native American woman who has been missing since June 2021.

Ella Mae Begay, 64, came from the Navajo Nation, the largest land area held by a Native American tribe in the country. According to the FBI, Begay was reported missing after her truck was seen driven away from her home before daybreak.

On the anniversary of Begay's disappearance this summer, her niece, Seraphine Warren, started walking on foot some 3,700 km from the Navajo Nation to Washington D.C. to bring attention to the case, which has turned out to be not at all isolated.

In fact, Begay's disappearance has reflected a broader problem in the United States concerning the country's Indigenous peoples, especially Native American women and girls.

For decades, Native American communities have struggled with high rates of assault, abduction and murder of women. No one knows for sure how many Indigenous women and girls have gone missing in recent years, as there is no reliable single source of such information.

According to the National Crime Information Center, in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls. However, the U.S. Department of Justice's federal missing persons database only logged 116.

The matriarchal Navajo Nation, home to around 170,000 tribal members, has seen increasing disappearances and probable abductions, reaching as many as 200 in the past decade, CNN reported recently.

"Every day it just seems like there's somebody missing again, and it's getting frustrating not just only for me now it's a lot of families that have experienced it," Warren told reporters during her walk. "I lost hope many times because of the amount of time a lot of these families are waiting for justice, and missing loved ones."

On hearing the new reward in Begay's case, Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton from Arizona, sent an emailed statement to local TV 12News, urging the federal government to "do more to solve this epidemic," as "the crisis of missing Indigenous women is an enduring tragedy."

Native American women are the most raped, stalked and murdered in the country. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the murder rate for women living on reservations is 10 times higher than the national average.

Family members, including Warren, whose lives have been torn apart by the abduction, murder, or outright disappearance of loved ones, have grown desperate in their attempts to seek accountability and action. They have pointed the finger of blame at both their tribal police departments and the federal government for failing to act.

"Everything's at a standstill," the Arizona Republic newspaper said last week of "the search for Ella Mae Begay."

Warren's criticism of law enforcement, including local police and the FBI, shed light on her experiences with law enforcement agencies, which seemed to work separately from one another, creating more obstacles when it comes to missing-persons cases.

The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people has spurred the U.S. government and other institutions into action by creating databases of missing Native Americans.

However, due to a combination of multiple reasons including inaccurate and incomplete information about the missing people, the lack of awareness and investigation, and the long-time neglect by the government, there is still a long way ahead to solve the problem.

"The crisis is centuries in the making, and it will take a focused effort and time to unravel the many threads that contribute to the alarming rates," said U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. 
The Biden administration confronts potential enemies in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East -- the key power centers of the Eurasian landmass. Yet, its recent National Security Strategy emphasizes climate change as the worlds greatest existential threat.

The last time the United States was engaged in a war being fought in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the worlds oceans, a relatively unknown professor at Yale University named Nicholas Spykman wrote a book that addressed the fundamental geopolitical factors that underpinned Americas strategy in world politics. Someone in the Biden administration should read it.

Americas Strategy in World Politics: The United States and the Balance of Power, was written 80 years ago as the United States was in the first full year of the Second World War. Americas global enemies were on the move in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and East Asia and the western Pacific. Germany, Italy, and Japan were allied but they did not coordinate their war strategies. But the geopolitical reach of their aggression threatened to consolidate huge parts of the Eurasian landmass as a resource-rich base from which to strike at the Americas.

Spykman at the time was professor of International Relations at Yale. Before the war, he had written articles in the American Political Science Review that discussed the importance of geographic factors to national security policy. He told a colleague at Yale in the late 1930s that the Roosevelt administration was ignoring the security threat posed by the separate aggressive expansionist policies of Germany and Japan. And he wrote Americas Strategy in World Politics to combat the idea that the United States could safely retreat behind a sturdy Western Hemispheric defense. (Full disclosure: I porvided the indtroduction to the 2007 reprint edition.)

Spykman wrote that the debate on intervention versus isolation was the oldest issue in American foreign policy. President George Washingtons policy of neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain was opposed by Thomas Jefferson and his followers who pressed for U.S. intervention on Frances side. In the lead-up to the War of 1812, many in Congress opposed President James Madisons call for war against the British. The Monroe Doctrine was the countrys first expression of hemispheric defense. It warned the nations and empires of the Old World to refrain from any further attempts to colonize territories in the New World.

The outcome of the Spanish-American War again brought the issue to the surface in a debate over whether to assume control of the Philippines and Guam. Since then, the debate has seesawed between international engagement and an emphasis on hemispheric defense.

Spykman wrote that during the interwar years of the 1920s and 1930s, America forgot that throughout its history the balance of power in the Old World affected its national security interests. And the industrial revolution meant that the world was effectively becoming smaller. The oceans were less of a geographic barrier for us than ever before. The balance of power in Europe and Asia was more important than ever to Americas security.

In Americas Strategy in World Politics, Spykman traced the evolution of U.S. foreign policy in terms of geographical position and power politics. He drew on the geopolitical ideas and concepts of Alfred Thayer Mahan and Halford Mackinder, and anticipated the realist analysis of global politics by Hans Morgethau in Politics Among Nations. For Spykman, justice, fairness, and morality took a back seat to the struggle for power among nations. The struggle for power is eternal. There is no end to history. The best outcome of U.S. strategy is a balance of power that favors our security interests. And this means paying careful attention to geography and other power factors.

In World War II, America faced the prospect of a Eurasian landmass dominated by a hostile alliance of powers (Germany, Japan, and to a lesser extent Italy). We were fortunate that Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet Pact and invaded Soviet Russia, and that Russia did not withdraw from the war (as it had in World War I at Brest-Litovsk). We won the war in North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. But Spykman in 1942 knew that after the war, the power struggle would continue and that American statesmen would need to continue to pay attention to -- and, if possible, shape -- the postwar balance of power. He predicted that both the Soviet Union and China would challenge the balance of power after the war.

Spykman suffered an untimely death in 1943 at the age of 49. The next year, his research assistant Helen Nicholl edited Spykmans notes and research to publish The Geography of the Peace, a geopolitical sequel to Americas Strategy in World Politics. Spykmans ideas in both books helped shape American postwar policy, but they gradually faded from view until Colin S. Gray brought them back to scholarly and policy-making circles in 1977 with his short monograph The Geopolitics of the Nuclear Era. Gray showed at the height of the Vietnam Syndrome when America was retreating under the failed leadership of Jimmy Carter, that Spykmans ideas still resonated; that geopolitics still mattered.

Eighty years after the publication of Spykmans masterpiece, we desperately need a Spykman-like assessment of Americas strategy in world politics for the 21st century -- a strategy based on geography and power politics instead of climate change, human rights, and the promotion of democracy. We face potential enemies in Europe, the Far East/Pacific, and the Middle East, just as we did in World War II. China, allied with Russia, Iran, and North Korea, potentially poses a greater threat to U.S. security today than Nazi Germany or Japan did in World War II. And we are led by an administration that makes Jimmy Carter look good by comparison.

Geopolitical equilibrium in the form of a politically-divided Eurasian landmass remains essential to American security. Spykman would not have understood an American foreign policy that for two decades engaged and in some instances fueled a rising and expansionist China while simultaneously and unnecessarily antagonized Russia, leading to the re-formation of the post-World War II Sino-Russian bloc that cost America so much blood and treasure.

Spykman concluded Americas Strategy in World Politics with a reminder to American statesmen that a balance of power in Europe and Asia is an absolute prerequisite for the independence of the New World and the preservation of the power position of the United States. There is no safe defensive position on this side of the oceans. Hemispheric defense is no defense at all.
The decline in the study of undergraduate English proves the proposition that the Left ruins everything it touches There has been a precipitous drop in the number of English majors across the country, and our "progressive" professors have only themselves to blame.

The National Center for Education Statistics publishes its annual Digest of what undergraduates study. In 1970 there were roughly 840,000 undergraduate degrees conferred in the United States. Of these approximately 64,000 were degrees in English Literature and Language. This made it the fourth most popular major across the country.

Since 1970 there has been a vast increase in the number of undergraduate degrees conferred: over two million in 2020. Yet, despite this huge influx of students, the number of degrees in English has dropped to just over 38,000 in 2020.

If confronted with this decline in student interest, the professors would no doubt point to economic and vocational concerns and to our crass American culture. The unstated premise for this rationale, which is ludicrous on its face, would be that there were no economic or vocational concerns then, and that American culture was somehow less crass in 1970. The professors would shrug their shoulders and say, "It's not our fault."

When we were undergraduates at Kenyon College, it had an English Department as formidable as any. The professors were serious about literature, its criticism, and the quality of our written expression. They weren't interested in nurturing resentment, grinding axes, psychotherapy, or the creation of like-minded political cadres. The materials were chosen based on what Mathew Arnold called "the best that has been thought and said in the world." We read the best and worked to understand the authors as they understood themselves. English was a very popular major.

Once upon a time, more than a dead white male (public domain image)

By the late 1970s, the barbarians were at the gates in English departments across the country. The invasion of the likes of Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Paul de Man was well underway. English majors were subjected to mind-numbing theories of literature and criticism such as deconstruction, queer and racial theories, and those have now evolved into the cult of "diversity, equity, and inclusion." When choosing the materials to be studied, what now matters most is the race, ethnicity, gender, and gender-bending qualities of the author instead of the quality of the work itself; trendy political points, not beauty and aesthetic accomplishment. You can now get that degree without bothering with the profundities and beauties of the likes of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Twain, or Faulkner.

Here is what now passes as a semester course in English literature (English 214) at Kenyon: ( Trigger Warning : Take a deep breath and try to get through this; it won't be easy.)

"How do you read gender? How do you read sexuality? How and in what ways have gender and sexuality been written and rewritten? This course serves as an introduction to queer and transfeminist theories and practices in gender and sexuality studies. Conceptualized through its intersections with race, ethnicity, coloniality, class, and ability, the sex/gender system of oppression has long served as a taxonomizing apparatus. And yet, the literary, in league with anticolonial, civil rights, and LGBTQ social movements, not only sheds sharp light on how gender and sexuality are regulated and troubled, but also animates the liberatory potential of imagining embodied relations otherwise. At once world-building and world-shattering, representations of gender and sexuality can leverage critiques against normativity in the same gesture as they bow to reproducing it. Taking our transnational cue from subjugated knowledges and intersectional epistemologies, well constellate the diverging genealogies and methodologies that have shaped the politics and aesthetics as well as the ethics and affects (sic) of gender and sexuality. Against the traffic of binary opposition, well index the possibilities of intimacy and performativity that determine desiring subjects and their objects. As a class collective, our aim will be to read and reread as well as write and rewrite texts that interrogate and complicate how gender and sexuality, as contested sites of pleasure and pain, are embodied and experienced. The geographic and generic focus of this course may vary; for more information, students should contact the instructor. This counts toward the methods requirement for the major and an elective for the women's and gender studies major. Open only to first-year and sophomore students. Prerequisite: ENGL 103 or 104."

Given that the course is open to only freshmen and sophomores, it must be considered an important introduction to the study of English by the warrior geniuses who created the department's curriculum. This course evidently creates the lens through which the rest of the English curriculum must be viewed. Otherwise, why limit it to the youngest students?

The course obviously has little or nothing to do with literature, English or otherwise. A place in the abnormal psychology curriculum might be more appropriate. To the extent that there is anything offered remotely resembling literature, it is merely a prop for asserting grievances and raising a peculiar consciousness. When considering this class, and assuming that a student can wade through the stupid academic jargon, what awaits that student but a taste of Maoist re-education. One imagines this professor aping Strother Martin's prison warden in Cool Hand Luke ordering the inmates, "you gonna get your minds right!"

The likes of Kenyon's renowned figures John Crowe Ransom, Randall Jarrell, Peter Taylor, Robert Lowell, and Charles Coffin must be rolling in their graves at the thought of literature as "leverag[ing] critiques against normativity," or serving "the taxonomizing apparatus." We will bet they never "constellate[d]" or taught a "class collective." (Lefty activists just love that word, "collective.") But those former professors actually cared about literature.

Annual tuition at Kenyon is approaching $80,000. Assuming that this course is one-eighth of a student's studies for that year, sitting and listening to this twaddle would cost the parents approximately $10,000 (assuming no student loans that Biden can forgive and fob off on some poor factory worker). That the College would be proud to highlight this trendy course on its website, among its courses that feed racial and ethnic strife, says a lot about the reigning orthodoxies on the country's campuses. There is no mystery why students now avoid this major; and they are right to do so. Can it be long before we should say the same thing about what used to be a wonderful liberal arts curriculum?
Farmers across the world are desperate to grow genetically modified crops (GM) in their fields. So much so that in some countries farmers have bypassed existing bans on these crops and even made harvests from them.

Why do these farmers risk being prosecuted, and what compels them to grow GM food crops? The answer is straightforward: GM crops give higher yields, are resilient to deadly plant diseases, and can withstand tough environmental conditions.

Optimum Environmental Conditions Meet Advancement in Science

Conditions for food crops around the world are the best in all of human history. Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and warmer temperatures have greened the earth since the end of the Little Ice Age in the 17th century.

GM crop varieties are proven to be disease resistant, drought tolerant, and high yielding. This means more efficient farming and more food, at lower prices, for the world. GM crops also protect poor farmers against crop loss or excessive financial expenditure in purchasing pesticides and insecticides.

However, accessing these crop varieties is very difficult for farmers, as countries are still very slow in allowing their commercial cultivation.

Today the world produces more food crops than ever before. But we must not get complacent. Utilizing scientifically advanced GM food crop varieties will ensure global food security in the coming decades, helping us maximize the advantage of existing global climatic conditions -- but only if governments permit them.

Propaganda Against Science

Many middle- and low-income countries have yet to approve GM crops despite them being declared safe by the world's leading food regulatory bodies. Additionally, a wave of anti-GMO activism disrupts their adoption.

Sad to say, some citizens who mistakenly think GM crops are dangerous -- including some Christians who think genetically modifying plants means playing God with nature -- pressure governments to outlaw their use. Yet mankind has been modifying crops genetically for thousands of years, first through low-tech hybridization (cross-breeding), now through high-tech hybridization (physically moving some genetic material from one string of DNA and placing it in another). The result is the same in principle, but more predictable because we know which genes will be transferred. There is no basis in Christian ethics to oppose this. Rather, it is a valid enactment of mankinds mandate in Genesis 1:28 to subdue and rule the earth and everything in it. And over 100 Nobel laureates have signed a statement vouching for GM crops safety.

Then there is propaganda, says a representative of Uganda Biosciences Information Centre. Too many people, some of whom dont even understand science, speaking against the technology. All these are blocking transition.

One reason why GM food crops is banned in some countries is ill-informed activism that wrongly claims GM crops cause cancer. They do not. Some of the top food safety and regulatory bodies across the world have approved various GM crops for commercial cultivation. This includes the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S., Health Canada, and Australias Department of Health and Aged care. The claim that these are carcinogenic contradicts available scientific conclusions by experts. Indeed, more than a hundred Nobel prize-winning scientists and economists have signed a declaration calling for enhanced use of GM crops.

In the book Starved for Science -- with a foreword by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize-winning agriculturalist Norman Borlaug -- author Robert Paarlberg notes that poor African farmers are denied access to productive technologies, particularly genetically engineered seeds with improved resistance to insects and drought. He traces this obstacle to the current opposition to farm science in prosperous countries. Having embraced agricultural science to become well-fed themselves, those in wealthy countries are now instructing Africans -- on the most dubious grounds -- not to do the same.

But there is a growing rebellion among farmers.

The GM Rebellion by Farmers

In 2017, a small farmer in a remote part of India was caught by surprise when government officials visited his farm and took samples of his eggplant crops for lab testing. Later, the farmer was told that his crop -- a disease-tolerant variant of eggplant -- was illegal. The farmers crops were destroyed, causing immediate loss.

The farmers intention was to save his crops from diseases, reduce the cost of using pesticides, and make sure he had reasonable profit to make a living. An average eggplant crop requires spraying pesticide more than 30 times.

This farmer is not alone. In 2019, 1500 farmers in India orchestrated a civil-disobedience movement. They planted herbicide-tolerant cotton variety (HTBt Cotton) and disease-tolerant Brinjal (eggplant) varieties in open defiance of the ban by the government. Planting illegal GM crops can result in a five-year jail term and a fine of $1200. But it is estimated that HTBt cotton has already been going on illegally in the country in about 30 per cent of the area.

Increasingly, it is the farmers, who bear the daily risks of agriculture, who are now speaking up in support of technologies that could reduce their risks and improve their wellbeing These brave farmers are demonstrating their capacity to take on the risk society is imposing on them by denying them access to new technologies, including GM crops, writes Barun Mitra, Director of the Liberty Institute.

Farmers in India lose billions of dollars in crops each year due to diseases and drought. This includes millions of farmers who live below poverty line. They deserve access to disease-resistant, and drought-tolerant GM crop varieties that reduce their risk of lost livelihood.

Besides, adopting GM crops will also improve the food security of a country whose population will be the highest in the world by 2030. Indias staple lentil variety, pigeon pea, can now be grown more easily and made more affordable if the country approves the disease-resistant and higher-yielding GM variant. Millions of childrens vitamin A deficiency can be avoided if the country approves vitamin-A fortified golden rice varieties already used in many countries.

Across the Indian Ocean, farmers in Africa have expressed similar intentions to use GM crops. African people are keen on utilizing some of the most amazing advancements in crop technology.

Currently in development are drought-tolerant maize (WE2115), banana that is resistant to bacterial wilt, a salt-tolerant rice that can survive low nitrogen and low water levels, blight-resistant potatoes, and a cassava variety (NASE 14) resistant to brown streak and mosaic diseases.

All are staple food crops in Africa and would bring immense benefit to the continent. They can be life-altering for millions of small-scale farmers in Africa who depend on their backyard crops to have food on their plates.

Any meaningful progress in strengthening global food security cannot be made without the use of scientifically advanced and efficient GM crop varieties. They will provide immediate relief to families who are below the poverty line, meet specific nutritional needs, and are a solution to long-lasting food security. Public policymakers need to know this -- and they need to know voters know it.

Vijay Jayaraj is a Research Associate at the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, VA. He holds a masters degree in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia, UK and resides in India.

Image: William Murphy
If you believe that there was significant electoral fraud in the 2020 election, the big question you have today is: Whats changed? What will make the 2022 midterms any different from 2020? This is even more pressing in places where there is any question of fraud in the primaries.

Its late, but there is still time to address the problem, as we must if we wish to avoid seeing our representative republicin which voters choose their representativessuffer a fatal blow.

We write as citizens who have published a book filled with hard, physical evidence that the 2020 election was stolen.

We released The Parallel Election: A Blueprint for Deception on August 9, 2022, describing in detail who, what, when, where, and how the massive election fraud was perpetrated. We have proof that approximately 70,000 real mail-in ballots were secreted away, and approximately 120,000 fake mail-in ballots were injected into the election in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Tens of thousands more votes were fraudulently infused, to unilaterally deliver the approximately 80,000 votes used to declare Joe Biden and an equally corrupt undercard, the winners in the 2020 election in Pennsylvania. We called this phenomenon, whereby fake ballots were substituted for real ones, a Parallel Election. We have further documented this on the social media platform https://www.patriot.online/.

We have the receipts, affidavits, documents, video and audio admissions by election officialsand even the admissions in opposing lawyers' own court filings and responsesthat the election was stolen, and at a minimum should be decertified in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, we have two ongoing lawsuits in the appellate trajectory making this point.

We believe that the same actors did the exact same thing, in the exact same way, in the May 2022 primary in Pennsylvania; so much so, that it is impossible to even know who all the beneficiariesand losersare anymore.

With unreconciled, fraudulent returns of 109% of registered voters counted in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvanianot the expected 20%-25% that normally turn out to vote in a midtermthe 2022 primary was a quagmire of deception and ineptitude that will likely be repeated for the upcoming November 2022 election in Pennsylvania.

The way the election fraud and parallel election is done can be summarized as:

Real citizen votes are not counted, and fake ballots are filled in for them.

Tens of thousands of real ballots are removed from the counting process and fake ballots are inserted in key counties and states.

Hundreds of thousands of electronic votes are infused in key swing states and counties, using removable storage devices, (vDrives and SD drives) where mail-in ballots alone are insufficient in creating the desired outcome.

We reported last week on Emerald Robinson: The Absolute Truth that in Delaware County, and counties around Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots were sent out without testing the machines that will process themagain. When those mail-in ballots and ballots at targeted polling locations cannot be readagainthey will be stuffed in boxes and bags, ostensibly for curation and remediationagainand thrown awayagainand fake ballots will be insertedagain.

Given the callous disregard of election law by local Boards of Elections, your mail-in ballots will quite possibly not be the ones countedand the votes of anyone who shows up in person may be negated after election day by electronically adding votes to achieve the desired outcome of bad actors.

Every citizen needs to vote. And if the people charged with processing and counting your votes perform their lawful duties, as we expect many will, then the level of difficulty for stealing the election by a relative handful of bad actors will (hopefully) be too high to overcome.

We have recommended some fixes that will take a commitment from the citizenry and the candidates to implement:

1. All citizens should vote, preferably in person, but by postmarked mail at least several days before the election.

2. Certified poll watchers and candidate attorneys, by law, can challenge the pedigree and validity of every ballot. They must immediately inspect unsealed election returns on the eve of the election.

3. Candidates should file immediate lawsuits and seek injunctions to make their respective Boards and Bureaus of Elections comply with the law and cure the Logic and Accuracy testing mess they have made by mailing millions of ballots that have not been tested.

4. Candidates and their attorneys then need to proactively obtain court orders documenting the mail-in and removable electronic media procedures, and provide them to poll watchers, precinct Judge of Elections, and Counting Center Clerks of Elections.

5. Every mail-in ballot envelope must be verified against the voter listevery single one. The ballot that is extracted from that verified envelope must be physically observedeyeballs onto the scanner that will record the vote.

6. For USB vDrives and SSD (Solid State Drives) electronic devices that will be inserted in tabulation servers, a strict chain of custody required by law, must be enforced.

7. Candidates should demand, through their attorneys, and the courts, that passive ethernet cable sniffers be deployed to check for any network traffic that is not local, or otherwise anomalous.

8. Candidates should also consider emergency injunctions and demand that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared (IR), and RF sniffers should be placed in all central counting centers, and actively monitored for anomalous activity, and procedures established if such activity is observed.

9. For centralized counting centers, which are public locations, poll watchers should be specifically allowed to video anything that does not expose or connect a voter to a ballot.

10. The 2020 election spawned a new class of observers, not defined by any previous election laws or code without any rights. Election lawincluding litigation like In Re: Canvassing Observations ruled on by the Pennsylvania Supreme Courtrestricted the rights of observers but left the rights of candidates, candidate attorneys, and the candidates certified poll watchers intact. Citizens who want to get involved need to become certified poll watchers.

11. Good men and women, who have sworn oaths to serve our nation, states, and communities, as law enforcement officers must put our Republic first, and enforce the law, or are simply hired guns that serve some local boss.

Lastly, have faith, have courage, and be brave. Do that for yourselves, your conscience, your humanity, and our Republic.

Gregory Stenstrom and Leah Hoopes are the authors of The Parallel Election: A Blueprint for Deception, which was released this year.

Image: Book cover, from authors
From the queen's June 4, 2022 jubilee celebration, marking her extraordinary seventy years on the throne in England, to her September 19, 2022 funeral, my feelings toward her grandson, Harry, underwent a drastic change (leaving aside the machinations of Madame Diva Meagan Markle). The pettiness and cruelty displayed by the royal family toward him went from churlish at the jubilee to total destruction at the funeral. The world essentially witnessed a psychological snuff film.

How else can one explain what manner of people these are? His father, now King Charles, and his consort, his older brother, the heir now known as Prince William, and wife Princess Kate totally ignored Harry and his wife. Kate, who was once like a sister to Harry, now looked upon him as a leper with her pursed lips and steely, hateful gaze.

The put-downs and attempts at humiliation never stopped. From the onset, Harry was not informed in a timely fashion that the queen, his beloved grandmother, was dead; from their ghosting and non-communication to being seated in the equivalent of the cheap seats, to the petty insults of not allowing Harry to wear his military uniform, to finally allowing him to wear the uniform for a brief time (albeit with Her Majesty's initials removed), to not being allowed to salute the queen's coffin even though he had served in the military for a decade, to being uninvited to a private reception after purportedly having been invited in error, the king knives were definitely out.

Throughout, Harry's visage was one of profound grief, Markle's stoic. But they never raised a word of complaint and bore their humiliation with quiet dignity.

Thus, the announcement of Harry's book, Spare, is well understood by Anglophiles. For years, Harry's older brother Prince William was called the heir, and Prince Harry was known as the spare. All attention was lavished on William as the future king, and Harry was treated as the back-up  the spare just in case something happened to William. Harry was not treated with respect for himself personally, but just as a spare battery in case the battery in the remote control died. And yet despite his wild child years, Harry went on to live a life of valor and dignity. He served in the military for ten years with two spells in Afghanistan and founded the Invictus Games, an Olympic-style event for athletes with disabilities.

Making the facts of birth rank and royal succession more painful for Harry was the constant buzz about his parentage. His father Charles had a thing with now-wife Camilla Parker Bowles from a young age. But Camilla wasn't one to wait forever and married someone else, with whom she had children. That union seemingly damned her forever as ineligible to subsequently marry Charles. Charles went on to marry the innocent, unblemished, virginal, and beautiful Diana, of whom his parents approved.

Although they had two children, their marriage was doomed from the start because Charles was unwilling to part with his obsession for Camilla. Eventually, Diana knew the truth and, after bearing the heir and the spare, sank into a depression from which she finally broke out and became a global icon. Charles, a two-timer and jealous, could not compete with Diana's beauty, charm, empathy, and warmth. Moreover, aware of Charles's duplicity, Diana began a series of her own affairs, one of which to this day causes titters regarding Harry's paternal genesis, a conflict that might contribute to Charles's hateful behavior toward his own son, as Harry bears a striking resemblance to one of Diana's lovers, James Hewitt. But historians swear that Diana didn't meet Hewitt until two years after Harry's birth.

Regardless, Harry's choice of book title shouts volumes. He appears to be addressing the hurt of forever being called the spare, of seeing photos on his grandmother's and father's desks of Queen Elizabeth; Prince Charles; Prince William; and William's first son, Prince George.

Any child would be hurt by such omission  a hurt multiplied exponentially on the world stage. One hopes the book will provide Harry a catharsis of sorts and the facilitation of new paths to explore and conquer.
Back in September, American Oversight, a group that brands itself a government watchdog, claimed to be in possession of emails that showed Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas and Florida governor Ron DeSantis ate together on June 23.

This was purportedly a day before Thomas and other conservative Supreme Court Justices struck down Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion across the U.S.

News outlets such as Raw Story, Yahoo News, MSN news, and The Independent reported this news to cause much outrage in the liberal ecosystem.

The implication was that DeSantis had somehow influenced Thomas in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The notion that a conservative Supreme Court justice had lunch with a Republican governor was unacceptable to liberals across the U.S.

The Supreme Court is expected to be apolitical and is supposed to adjudicate based on the laws and previous cases. Even the perception of bias was unacceptable.

Being political is a privilege that is available only to liberal Supreme Court justices.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was applauded for being political for calling Donald Trump the worst person on Earth. The New York Times reported about Ginsburg having a quiet lunch with then-president Barack Obama in his private dining room in July 2013, as if it were normal.

Unfortunately for the peddlers of the DeSantis-Thomas story, facts presented themselves to burst the inflating balloon of propaganda.

The inconvenient fact here was that Justice Thomas had lunch with DeSantis, on June 23, 2021, and not on June 23, 2022. The lunch took place a year before and not a day before Roe v. Wade was overturned.

This mistake reveals how little various media personnel understand about the functioning of the Supreme Court.

Did they really think that DeSantis persuaded Thomas over lunch and Thomas subsequently convinced his conservative colleagues and they overturned Roe the very next day?

Did these media personnel, some of whom are well educated and have years of experience, think Roe was overturned via a tweet?

The Supreme Court issues a lengthy document to elucidate its rationale. This is a drawn-out process that involves discussions, consultation, and documentation. A great deal of thought had been put into this effort.

So how did the media react when facts were presented?

Raw Story stated the following in its correction:

"A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Clarence Thomas had lunch with Ron DeSantis one day before the controversial Dobbs decision. The lunch was scheduled for June 23, 2021, not June 23, 2022."

The headline was altered from "Clarence Thomas had lunch with Ron DeSantis one day before abortion rights struck down: emails" to "Emails reveal communications between Clarence Thomas and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis."

The Independent retracted its story.

Eric Michael Garcia, the author, who works at MSNBC, issued an apology on Twitter.

I am legitimately so sorry. I was not trying to mislead. I am legitimately embarrassed and humiliated. I never wanted to do anything malicious. I am so apologetic. I should have double-checked the dates. https://t.co/bDoYdUYGtF  Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 28, 2022

But the propagandists at Occupy Democrats were unmoved by facts. They demanded an investigation and claimed that Justice Thomas was "exposed":

BREAKING: Justice Clarence Thomas is EXPOSED as leaked emails reveal that he had a shady meeting with MAGA Gov. Ron DeSantis the day before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade  raising serious questions about what was discussed. RT TO DEMAND A FULL INVESTIGATION!  Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) October 27, 2022

Impervious to facts, the same group even recommended the impeachment of Justice Thomas.

If you support impeaching Justice Clarence Thomas after he was just EXPOSED by leaked emails revealing that he had a shady meeting with MAGA Gov. Ron DeSantis the day before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade  please retweet and follow us!  Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) October 27, 2022

Hey, Occupy Democrats. I think y'all are the biggest purveyors of misinformation already. But I retracted the story. Take this down. Now. https://t.co/4bWa2oRTzR  Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 28, 2022

How did this happen?

This fake story is a symptom of what has become of the mainstream media.

A lot of people presume that the media are influenced by the Democrats. That supposition is erroneous because it assumes that the Democrats and the media are separate entities. The fact is that the mainstream media are the propaganda wing for the Democrats and hence should be seen as a department within the party.

This explains why, on any given day, they all have identical opinions and even phraseology to describe any given incident.

Liberals often proclaim support for diversity. This usually is the diversity of background, religion, sex, sexual orientation, race, etc. But alas, the most important kind of diversity is abhorred: the diversity of ideological proclivities, political persuasion, and general worldview, because it causes discord in the echo chambers.

Hence, when a story such as the one in question appears on their desk, they are all consumed by the desire for it to be true. Consequently, they either purposefully or unknowingly overlook the important details and publish the story anyway.

If there were real diversity in the newsrooms, there would have been conservative fact-checkers who would have had the motivation to debunk the story. They would have spotted the obvious mistake.

But that will never happen.

Some of these news organizations offer paid subscriptions. The subscribers are an extension of the liberal echo chamber. They pay to have their biases confirmed. They would probably prefer fake news that confirms their bias rather than factual news that violates their preconceived notions.

The news had become a product from which customers expect predictability.

The news organizations also know that there will seldom be any consequences for peddling fake news. In fact, they receive awards.

In 2018, both the New York Times and the Washington Post were awarded the Pulitzer "for deeply sourced, relentlessly reported coverage in the public interest that dramatically furthered the nation's understanding of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and its connections to the Trump campaign."

The Russian collusion hoax has been debunked, but the Pulitzers haven't been revoked.

A major conflict of interest was revealed in the Pulitzer jury. Among the members of the Pulitzer Board was past Pulitzer-winner Carlos Lozada, non-fiction book critic and associate editor at the Washington Post.

But it hardly matters. The ecosystem or echo system doesn't care about being factual or objective or neutral; they are blatant propagandists and no longer care to hide it.

As a consumer, you have two choices: presume that what you read is false until proven true, or consume news only from carefully selected news organizations.

Photo credit: Official portrait.
Airbus's continued purchase of Russian-produced titanium, a critical metal in airplane manufacture, is one more reason why the United States Air Force (USAF) should reject Airbus participation in the USAF's tanker fleet modernization.

Last September 30, the United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed new sanctions on Russia after it claimed to annex four Ukrainian districts. Analysts predict that global sanctions against Russia will wipe out Russia's economic growth of the last 15 years.

Still largely unscathed from these sanctions is the Russian firm VSMPO-Avisma, the world's largest titanium producer. Titanium and its alloys' special characteristics include lightweight, very high strength-to-weight ratios, and excellent resistance to heat and corrosion, making titanium useful for aircraft engines, airframes, and landing gear. Accordingly, the Airbus A350XWB is 14 percent titanium by weight, while the Boeing 787 is 15 percent titanium.

While Boeing ended Russian titanium purchases in March 2022, Airbus officials the following month rejected boycotting Russian titanium. "Sanctions on Russian titanium would hardly harm Russia, because they only account for a small part of export revenues there. But they would massively damage the entire aerospace industry across Europe," an Airbus spokesperson said. Concurring, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury did not "think sanctions on imports will be appropriate," a response befitting Airbus's increased purchases of Russian titanium following Russia's seizure of Crimea in order to stockpile.

Airbus's dependency on Russian titanium doubtless influences company decisions, as Airbus relies upon Russia for half of the firm's titanium needs. By contrast, Russia covers an estimated third of Boeing's requirements. Boeing years ago began to diversify its titanium supply chain among the world's suppliers and producers, a process Airbus is only beginning.

Precisely to avoid such dependencies upon Russia, the American military generally discourages contractors from using Russian raw materials, yet Airbus is now offering its A330-MRTT ("multirole tanker transport") to the USAF, currently seeking to replace its aging air-to-air refueling tanker fleet, which contains KC-10 tankers (first fielded in 1981) as well as larger and more numerous KC-135s. First entering USAF service in 1957, the KC-135 is based on Boeing's 707 commercial jetliner, a plane no longer in service.

The USAF has already purchased 179 Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tankers, a transport that first flew in 2015 and is based upon Boeing's 767 jetliner, for which parts are likely to be widely available for years to come. In the 2011 contest for this initial tanker order, the KC-46 emerged as the "clear winner" against the A330-MRTT. Now the USAF proposes to acquire an additional 140160 tankers, and Airbus is trying to enter the competition again with the A330-MRTT.

Aerospace analyst Loren Thompson has analyzed the numerous reasons why a USAF shift midstream from the KC-46 to the A330-MRTT would be a bad idea. For starters, the USAF "has spent $1.6 billion flight-testing Pegasus, and it is now certified to refuel the vast majority of combat aircraft in the joint fleet," he writes. For the A330-MRTT, the USAF would have "to repeat this costly and protracted process."

Even if the USAF held "a competition for the next lot of tankers, the outcome isn't likely to be different from the matchup a decade ago," Thompson writes. In "one instance where bigger isn't better," the A330-MRTT is 40 percent heavier than Pegasus and requires almost 50 percent more space on the ground while also having a bigger turning radius (150 feet versus KC-46's 129 feet). In many "places like the Pacific, usable air bases are often severely constrained in terms of space, so a bigger plane means less tankers on the ramp, or (even worse) less room for fighters and bombers," he writes. In the air, the A330-MRTT's size inflicts 30 percent more drag than the KC-46, causing the A330-MRTT to consume an extra 1,000 fuel gallons an hour, with a dramatic increase of "operating costs over a 30-year service life."

Moreover, the USAF "has repeatedly stated that it needs to reduce the number of aircraft types in its fleet to save money," because otherwise "economies of scale are lost," Thompson notes. By contrast, the A330-MRTT means "adding another aircraft type to the fleet" with "new training programs for pilots and maintainers, unique stores of spare parts, construction of hangers that can house bigger aircraft, and other costs." Additionally, the KC-46 has a "dedicated assembly line, whereas the Airbus tanker is built on a commercial assembly line and then modified at a different location," a process "likely to generate unusual engineering challenges."

Eric Peters concludes that the KC-46 would "leave the Air Force with just one made-in-America refueling platform," creating American jobs. Meanwhile, the A330-MRTT "is made  partially  in Europe and shipped partially assembled to America. It requires Airbus-specific parts and crews trained to work on that type of aircraft." His Buy America argument makes particularly good sense in an era where American policymakers are increasingly worried about foreign dependencies in national security supply chains.

Airbus offers the USAF a bad deal, and the firm's flouting of sanctions against a common threat to Western security only makes matters worse. Additional sanctions against Russia should ban its foreign business partners from contracting with the American government, including the Pentagon. Airbus should take its Russian titanium and fly away.

Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
On Thursday, shortly after Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake held a news conference excoriating the local press for going heavy with her opponent Katie Hobbs's ludicrous attempt to tie Lake to a break-in at her campaign, the television station Lake used to work for aired a graphic saying Hobbs won the election with 53% of the vote.

This has led to certain questions.

The station, KSAZ Fox10 in Phoenix, explained that the graphic was only on air for about 30 seconds, that it was a simple mistake made during a testing effort, and that the graphic was generated by the Associated Press.

HOLY CRAP



Fox10 in PhoenixKari Lakes former stationjust displayed a graphic showing Katie Hobbs won the Arizona governors race 12 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION pic.twitter.com/2Gxq09rfo7  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 28, 2022

Suffice it to say that Lake was miffed by the episode and, considering her appropriately brutal dominance of a press corps she was once a member of, wondered out loud how, um, coincidental the event was.

During her run, Lake has used her skills as exlocal anchor to incredible effect, a fact the local media have not at all taken kindly to  hence the raised eyebrows.

But exactly how did this happen? Here are a few media background nuggets that could have played a role:

Media organizations create a surprising amount of "not yet" news. For example, the obituaries of famous people are pre-written so they are ready to go the instant the person, well, goes. They are filled with "B-material," like when they got their Nobel Prize, that time they got drunk and threw a drink at Gore Vidal, how many kids they admitted to having, etc.

They are then quickly "topped" with date and time and manner of demise and published. If they are really famous, a follow-up piece usually appears with quotes from family and friends and enemies talking about their time with the person, like "I told her years ago when she got them that those monkeys were bad news, but I never thought they would actually eat her," and so on.

And then there are other types of stories being held, some for rather nefarious reasons, like timing the release to have the maximum political impact against an opponent or having something ready to go to make sure the other side doesn't get any traction in the on-going debate  see here.

So, back to the Lake situation  yes, the AP has created sample graphics and chyrons and such and does need to test them before the election, as that night is exceedingly hectic. It's like when you walk into a wedding and a zillion champagne glasses are already filled and on the table at the entrance to the tent  you know you've got that covered (at least until drunken Uncle Desmond shows up and throws the count waaaaay off).

Not only does the AP do this, but government agencies do it as well. Your local Registrar of Voters (or clerk or secretary or whatever) is right now making sure his computer systems work by loading fake results into templates.

But unlike the AP, registrars and any responsible news outlet don't use actual numbers that look like real results. They use asterisks or ampersands or zeroes or, for example, they put a single vote in a precinct if the system input interface requires a number, or, worst-case scenario, they use larger numbers but make sure every contest is a tie.

They also are very, very, very careful, when testing, to, well, not hit "send." Or they firewall the test. Or they run the whole thing through a beta protocol. Or really worst-case scenario, they do at 3 in the morning, after putting a giant red "TESTING" warning at the top of the website and leave it up for 11 seconds. Or whatever they can do to make sure that what happened in Phoenix never, ever happens at all.

It would, though, be fascinating to get a gander of the entire national AP "test" list and see exactly how many of the races are "tested" using wishful thinking numbers, as was done in the Hobbs/Lake race, because Kari is going to win, and it's not going to be even that close.

If every other race is 53-47 and has the same voter turnout number, then maybe the AP has an excuse  a bad one, but an excuse. If the numbers vary from race to race, though, at the very least, the AP staff are almost assuredly projecting their hopes and dreams and wishes and their personal political viewpoint into their work. This, of course, we all know already, but it's always nice to have another chunk of objective fact when people try to claim that the media are not biased or manipulative or dismissive or collaborationist.

Or I could be wrong, and the AP is very very up to something very very bad. Imagine for a moment if Hobbs does in fact "win" 53% to 47%.

Oh, my God.

Thomas Buckley is the former mayor of Lake Elsinore, Cal. and a former newspaper reporter. He is currently the operator of a small communications and planning consultancy and can be reached directly at planbuckley@gmail.com. You can read more of his work at https://thomas699.substack.com.

Graphic credit: Twitter video screen grab (cropped).
Like most, I am saddened, shocked, and take no joy in the scary attack on Paul Pelosi, but I must ask, will his wife, Nancy, support his alleged attackers immediate release with no bail? Californias 2018 law, SB 10, according to California Courts:

Senate Bill 10 (Hertzberg, Stats. 2018, ch. 244) authorizes a change to Californias pretrial release system from a money-based system to a risk-based release and detention system. SB 10 assumes that a person will be released on his or her own recognizance or supervised own recognizance with the least restrictive nonmonetary condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably assure public safety and the defendants return to court.

Source: California Courts

Moreover, if, as reports indicate, David DePape is mentally ill, then shouldnt we just get him counseling, especially if this is his first offense?

If San Francisco locks DePape up pretrial, why would he be treated worse than most other alleged criminals in San Francisco? And shouldnt that concern the ACLU and all people of good conscience?

Where I live, in Illinois, come January 1, unless he was deemed a flight risk, he would be released under our (unsafe) SAFE-T Act. Remember, it's called "equity" and progress, right?

The tragic irony is the defund police and bail reform crowd "led" by Pelosi now has a new poster boy: DePape.
Australia owes many of its former convicts, who, through their ability and determination, made substantial contributions to the development of the colony and the nation as a whole. Among these was Francis Greenway, an architect by profession, who arrived as a convict in 1814 for the crime of forging documents. He soon came to the attention of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and became the first government architect of New South Wales. Francis Greenway is credited of producing some of the finest colonial buildings in Australia including St. James Church and Supreme Court in Sydney City and St Matthew's Church in Windsor.

Francis Greenway on the first Australian 10-dollar note.

Greenway was an architect of some eminence in Bristol, until his firm went bankrupt. Under great financial stress, Greenway took a desperate step that he shouldnt havehe forged some documents. In 1812, Greenway was found guilty and sentenced to death, as was typical at that time. This sentence was later commuted to transportation to the colony of New South Wales for 14 years.

On arrival in the colony in 1814, Greenway presented letters of recommendation and a portfolio of his work to the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie. During the initial meeting Macquarie sought to test Greenway and asked him to copy a design of a town hall and courthouse from a pattern book. Greenway was offended at the request and replied that his deigns were superior to those in the book. Nevertheless, Greenway offered to copy the drawing as requested, but lectured that it is rather painful to my mind as a professional man to copy a building that has no claim to classical proportion and character.

Photo: Wikimedia

Macquarie then called upon Greenway to report on the Rum Hospital, that was being built at the time. Greenway was critical of the building techniques and design, and suggested extensive and expensive alterations. Impressed by Greenways mettle, Macquarie appointed Greenway the civil architect and assistant engineer in 1816. His first work for the government was the design of a lighthouse, known as the Macquarie Tower, on the south head of Port Jackson. Macquarie was so pleased with it that he presented Greenway with conditional pardon.

After the success of this project Greenway went on to build many significant buildings in the new colony. His works included Hyde Park Barracks, extensions to First Government House, St Matthew's Church in Windsor, and St James' Church in Sydney, among others. In 1819, after he had designed a large female factory at Parramatta and a large barracks and compound for male convicts, Macquarie presented Greenway with full pardon.

Maquarie Lighthouse.

Although Greenway was a talented architect, he was not an amiable person. His arrogance made him fell out of Macquaries favor and he made many enemies. When Commissioner John Thomas Bigge was sent to Sydney to look into the affairs of the colony, Bigge was critical of the amount of time and money wasted on overly ambitious and unnecessary public works. He cancelled many of Greenway's projects as being too extravagant, and interfered with others. Macquaries successor as Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, eventually had him dismissed from his position in 1822.

Greenway continued in private practice, but without the patronage of Macquarie, he never recovered his former prominence. He remained bitter about his treatment and wrote several articles and letters for the local press. Desperate for work, Greenway started appealing the public. An advertisement in the Sydney Gazette in 1835 read: Francis Howard Greenway, arising from circumstances of a singular nature is induced again to solicit the patronage of his friends and the public.

Hyde Park Barracks. Photo: Wikimedia

Greenway died of typhoid in 1837, and was buried in an unmarked grave in East Maitland.

Despite his tragic end, Greenways legacy lives on in the dozens of buildings that he designed around Sydney, including the James Church, which was chosen as one of Australias only two man-made treasures by Dan Cruickshank in the BBC series Around the World in 80 Treasures.

In 1966, when Australia changed their currency from the pound to dollar, on the first Australian $10 note printed, Greenways face was shown along with public buildings he helped construct. This was quite the irony because Greenway was a convicted forger. Greenways image on the banknote remained until 1933, when he was replaced by Banjo Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore on new polymer notes.
An MSP who resigned from a ministerial post over her opposition to controversial gender legislation has thanked the hundreds of people who have contacted her to offer support.

Ash Regans surprise resignation from the position of community safety minister was announced shortly before MSPs began debating the first stage of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

Writing to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday, Ms Regan said: My conscience will not allow me to vote with the Government at the stage one of the Bill this afternoon.

In the stage one debate of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, the legislation passed by 88 votes to 33, with four abstentions.

I wish to thank the hundreds of constituents and others across Scotland who have contacted me, supporting my stance. This is an issue of a deep concern to many and I am touched that some have shared their experiences of trauma with me and their need for safe spaces.  Ash Regan MSP (@AshtenRegan) October 29, 2022

The Bill will remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria when seeking a gender recognition certificate (GRC), 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.

The minimum age for applying will be reduced from 18 to 16.

Groups representing women and girls have raised concerns over safety if the Bill is passed in its current form, but proponents  including Scottish Government ministers  have rejected the claims.

In a tweet on Saturday evening, Ms Regan said: I wish to thank the hundreds of constituents and others across Scotland who have contacted me, supporting my stance.

This is an issue of a deep concern to many and I am touched that some have shared their experiences of trauma with me and their need for safe spaces.

A total of seven SNP MSPs broke with the whip to vote against the Bill: Stephanie Callaghan, Fergus Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Ruth Maguire, John Mason, Michelle Thomson and Ms Regan while two SNP MSPs abstained, Annabelle Ewing and Jim Fairlie.

Ms Regan set out her position in her letter to Ms Sturgeon on Thursday, writing: 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.

Responding to Ms Regans resignation, Ms Sturgeon 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 leader of the Scottish Lib Dems has said Scotland is in the end game of the clash of nationalisms as he launched his partys campaign for the 2027 council elections.

In his first conference speech as leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton made overt entreaties to Scottish Green voters, launched a commission on male violence  to be chaired by deputy leader and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain  and announced plans to return 150 councillors in the next local government elections in just under five years time.

Striking an optimistic tone after the party increased its seat tally in Mays council poll a year after dropping to four MSPs at Holyrood, Mr Cole-Hamilton said: We will lift our vote across the country and in each of the coming parliamentary elections by starting our campaign for the 2027 council elections right here, right now.

He added: We will grow from the 87 councillors we won in May and return 150 or more in just four years time.

Weve identified the wards, we just need people to fill them.

He also predicted a shift away from the focus on the constitution that has ruled Scottish politics since before the 2014 referendum.

I believe that we are at last in the end game of the clash of nationalisms that has held this country back for so long, he told the assembled delegates in Hamilton on Saturday, alluding to both the SNP and the Tories.

We may finally be nearing a time where the constitution no longer suffocates our politics.

But with the Scottish Government pursuing a case at the UK Supreme Court which could see Holyrood found to have the powers to hold a referendum and Nicola Sturgeons commitment to run the next general election as a de facto referendum if the parliament cannot call another vote, independence looks set to continue to be a leading issue in Scotlands political life in the coming years.

Despite his partys opposition to independence, that does not mean they are comfortable with the status quo, the leader said, laying out the partys long standing support for a federal UK.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said he predicts there will be common ground between he and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on the issue.

Success for the party has, in recent years, been out of reach, the leader told party activists, with the Lib Dems spending most of the past decade fighting for survival after their time in coalition with the Conservatives at Westminster.

But, he added, change is coming.

The Lib Dem leader was addressing his first conference as leader (Lesley Martin/PA)

The old order of things is falling away and that better Britain is sight, we only have to reach for it, he said.

Our renewal has already started, we should leave this place with growing confidence in our message, our candidates, and in our strategy.

The Lib Dem leader also pushed for Green voters who do not believe in independence to migrate to his party, saying: I want to say something to the thousands of green voters who feel abandoned.

Who care about social justice and sustainability, but reject the idea that the answer to any of the global problems we face can be found in a border or a flag.

Look to the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you have a home with us.

Mr Cole-Hamilton told the conference he had written to Ms Sturgeon, urging her to issue another appeal for hosts for Ukrainian families fleeing the Russian invasion, calling for all refugees to be given free bus travel and increasing council funding to improve the infrastructure of placing families in Scottish homes.

SNP MP Pete Wishart said: People in Scotland havent forgotten the catastrophic damage the Lib Dems inflicted in coalition with the Tories  imposing devastating austerity cuts that continue to harm public services and hammer household incomes.

While the Lib Dems have ditched their opposition to Brexit, and are itching to get back into bed with the Tories at Westminster, the SNP will continue to offer people in Scotland the opportunity of a fairer and more prosperous future in Europe as an independent country.
Trevor Noah says he did not claim the entire UK is racist, as he sought to clarify remarks he made on The Daily Show following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister.

In a video posted on Twitter from his US satirical news programme, the South African comedian alleged there were people saying now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain.

His comments received a backlash online from many UK politicians including former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, who said they were simply wrong.

Cmon Piers youre smarter than that. I wasnt saying The entire U.K. is racist, I was responding to the racists who dont want Rishi as PM because of his race. Thats why I said. Some people https://t.co/QQgEQ45wJU https://t.co/bhurdPvsE8  Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) October 28, 2022

Talk TV host Piers Morgan also criticised The Daily Show and other US media outlets for falsely portraying Britain as a racist country.

Responding to Morgan on Twitter, Noah said: Cmon Piers youre smarter than that.

I wasnt saying The entire UK is racist, I was responding to the racists who dont want Rishi as PM because of his race.

Thats why I said. Some people.

In his monologue, titled Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak, he described seeing a backlash following Mr Sunaks appointment.

What I mean by that is this, you hear a lot of the people saying Oh, theyre taking over, now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain and whats next?

And I always find myself going So what? What are you afraid of?

Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak #BetweenTheScenes pic.twitter.com/MJNPgv5APK  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 26, 2022

He added: I think its because the quiet part a lot of people dont realise they are saying is We dont want these people who were previously oppressed to get into power because then they may do to us what we did to them.

Underneath the video, which has more than 850,000 views, social media users also questioned Noahs comments with some accusing him of projecting American views on race on to Britain.

Former chancellor and health secretary Mr Javid shared 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 was born in Hampshire, south-east England, to Indian migrant parents (Leon Neal/PA)

Asked whether Mr Sunak believes Britain is a racist country, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: No he doesnt.

Mr Sunak was born in Hampshire, south-east England, to Indian migrant parents  a pharmacist mother and a GP father  and is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of billionaire Indian IT giant Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy, with whom he has two young daughters Krishna and Anoushka.

When he was appointed as Prime Minister on Tuesday, the 42-year-old became the UKs first Hindu PM, the first of Asian heritage and the youngest for more than 200 years.

Last month, South African TV presenter Noah announced he will be stepping down as host of The Daily Show after seven years at the helm.
Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

The average Social Security benefit for retired workers is $1,548 per month. That comes out to $18,576 in annual benefits for a single person, or $37,152 per year for a couple -- about $31,500 less than the U.S. median household income of $68,703, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Find Out: 8 Purchases Retirees Almost Always Regret

Learn More: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals

Living on a fixed income basically means you're solely or almost entirely dependent on funds such as Social Security, pensions and inheritance, with little to no flexibility in the amount you're paid each month. Unstable costs, such as a volatile housing market, can be especially challenging to deal with on a fixed income.

If you rely mostly -- or solely -- on a fixed income, click through to see the best places to live in your state.

Chris Pruitt / Wikimedia Commons

Alabama: Jasper

Alabama might be the best state to retire on a fixed income, especially if you want your retirement nest egg to stretch the furthest. Jasper has a stable housing market, making it a safe choice for those on a fixed income. Home values increased by 4.84% year over year, but rents dropped. Additionally, homes are relatively affordable, with the median home value at $126,233.

Pictured: Decatur, Alabama

Take Our Poll: Are You Struggling To Keep Up With Your Utility Bills?

lippyjr / Getty Images

Alaska: Fairbanks

Alaska is an income-tax and sales-tax-free state, making it one of the best places to retire on a fixed income. Home values in Fairbanks increased about 12.09% year over year, and the median home value is $255,438 -- below the national median of $287,148. And there is good news for renters, as the median rent in Fairbanks decreased about 2.3% year over year.

Tim Roberts Photography / Shutterstock.com

Arizona: Sierra Vista

If you're thinking of buying a home on a fixed income, consider Sierra Vista -- but act quickly. Home values in Sierra Vista rose over 12% year over year, making it one of the cities with the largest increase in the past 12 months. Average rents also rose by $12 to $994 a month, but they still are less than the national average.

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Arkansas: Little Rock

Rent prices in Little Rock went up $57 a month year over year, and the current median rent is $953. Little Rock is one of the more affordable places to own a home, though, with the median home value coming in at $165,027.

Armona / Wikimedia Commons

California: Delano

Zillow lists the price of a typical California home at $668,300, but a median-valued home in Delano is much less at $257,342. Home values rose 12.09% in the past year, above the California average of 10.9% Rents also increased by 2.64%.

Pictured: Hanlon, California

chapin31 / iStock.com

Colorado: Pueblo

The median home price in Pueblo is $244,009 but going up fast, increasing about 17.90% year over year. Rent prices have remained stagnant, even decreasing less than 1% year over year to $908 a month.

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Connecticut: Hartford

Real estate prices in Hartford increased 15.23%, with the median home value going up to $188,305. Rent prices went up even more -- by about 10.2% -- to $1,392 a month.

Robert Kirk / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Delaware: New Castle

Delaware is one of the few states that doesn't levy a state sales tax. It also does not tax Social Security benefits, which makes it one of the best places to retire in the U.S. In the past year, New Castle home values rose about 11.88% to a median of $264,884, while rents increased 2.79%.

VisionsbyAtlee / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Florida: Kissimmee

Home values in Kissimmee went up 7.37% year over year, with a median home value of $264,884. Rents also rose 5.70% over the same time span to an average of $1,457 per month.

ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com

Georgia: Statesboro

Home prices in Statesboro are flat, increasing 1.20% year over year to $162,557. Rent prices grew 1.43% in the same span but remain on the low side at $837 per month.

Pictured: Augusta, Georgia

steinphoto / iStock.com

Hawaii: Pahoa

In uber-expensive Hawaii, Pahoa is an affordable option. Zillow puts the typical home prices in the 50th state at $718,095, but the median home value in Pahoa is just $217,858. That's up 13.88% year over year. The average rent is close to $1,500 a month, up 3.52% year over year.

Pictured: Hilo, Hawaii

B Brown / Shutterstock.com

Idaho: Pocatello

In Pocatello, home values increased almost 18% in the past year, making it one of the biggest gainers in the study. The median home value now is $231,035, which is still about $56,000 less than the national median. Rents went up about 1.54% to $872 per month.

James R. Martin / Shutterstock.com

Illinois: Galesburg

The median home value in Galesburg is the lowest in the GOBankingRates study: $73,009. That makes homeownership more accessible for people who live on a fixed income. The average rent also is affordable at $715, and both housing and rental prices remained virtually the same year over year.

Shutterstock.com

Indiana: Richmond

Home prices in Richmond increased about 5.25% year over year to a median value of $99,402. And rent prices also remained stable, with about a 1.2% increase year over year -- good news for renters living on a fixed income.

EJ_Rodriquez / iStock.com

Iowa: Burlington

Burlington has stable housing and rental markets: Home values increased about 2.69% year over year, and rent prices increased about 4.45%. The median home value in the city is $96,243, making it one of the most affordable cities on the list.

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Kansas: Manhattan

In Manhattan, the location of Kansas State University, the median home value is $225,182, up 3.85% year over year. The average rent fell substantially, dropping about 7.2% to $1,023 a month.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kentucky: Bowling Green

Bowling Green is a good place for renters on a fixed income to live, but prices are rising. The median rent is $928, up about 3.3% over the past year. A median-priced home costs $192,853, which is almost $95,000 less than the national median but is less than a 1% rise year over year.

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Louisiana: Pineville

Home values in Pineville have remained steady, with about a 1.06% increase over the past year to $145,066, while rent decreased 2.70%. Median rent in the city is $858.

Pictured: Lafayette, Louisiana

jiawangkun / Shutterstock.com

Maine: Bangor

Home values in Bangor increased a whopping 20% over the past year, but with a median home price of $197,690, homes there are still much more affordable than the national median of $287,148. And rent prices are increasing as well: They went up about 5.88% year over year.

Eric Fischer / Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 2

Maryland: Salisbury

Home prices in Salisbury increased about 9.60% year over year, but the median home value is affordable at $182,212. Rent costs also rose slightly, by 2.08%, with the average rent at $1,131.

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Massachusetts: West Springfield

The median home value in West Springfield is $275,707. Although this is nearly $12,000 below the national median value, it's much less than the median home price in the state of Massachusetts as a whole, which is $508,232, according to Zillow.Home values in the city increased about 10.81% year over year.

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Michigan: Mount Pleasant

Rent in Mount Pleasant increased 5.87% year over year to $834. Home values increased 6.75%, however, and the median home value is now $155,448.

Pictured: Lansing, Michigan

nikitsin / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Minnesota: Winona

Homebuyers on a fixed income can benefit from Winona's relatively stable housing market: Home values increased about 6.50% year over year to $186,452. Rent decreased by $3 month to an average of $808.

Pictured: Minneapolis, Minnesota

sshepard / Getty Images

Mississippi: Starkville

The median home price in Starkville is $189,873 -- appealing to those on a fixed income. Home value increased by 3.84% and rents by 3.65%.

Shutterstock.com

Missouri: Joplin

Home and rent prices are both well below the national median in Joplin: The median home value in the city is $130,466 and rent is $814. The home values rose by 7.38%, and rents went up 8.24% year over year.

Pictured: Springfield, Missouri

Christopher Boswell / Shutterstock.com

Montana: Butte

Renters with a fixed income in Butte shouldn't have to worry too much about rent hikes: Prices went up less than 2% in the past year to an average of $888. The median home price, however, rose about 10.13% to $166,952.

marekuliasz / Getty Images

Nebraska: Kearney

Housing costs in Kearney are about $50,000 below the U.S. median. Home values showed nearly a 5.35% growth year over year, bringing the median value in Kearney to $236,999.

CrackerClips Stock Media / Shutterstock.com

Nevada: Pahrump

Rental costs in Pahrump, in the northern part of the state, dropped about 3.4% year over year to $918. The median value of a home is $279,920, about $7,200 below the national figure.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

New Hampshire: Rochester

Home values in Rochester were among the biggest risers year over year, increasing by about 17.63% to $280,307. Rent prices barely budged, however, rising just $2 to an average cost of $1,472 over the same period.

Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto

New Jersey: Franklin Township

The median home price in pricey New Jersey is $287,148, according to Zillow, but in Franklin Township it is $265,843 -- up nearly 8% year over year. Rent prices dropped about 1.5%, but they are the highest in the study at $1,801 on average per month.

Pictured: Jersey City, New Jersey

Jasperdo / Flickr.com

New Mexico: Alamogordo

Alamogordo is one of the best places to live on a budget, but prices are rising. The median housing price is $145,479, up about 4.85% year over year. The change in rental price was even higher at 4.3%.

Kim Carpenter / Flickr.com

New York: Town of Orchard Park

The median value of a home is $255,916, more than $30,000 below the national average. Home values have increased by about 8.81% year over year and rents have gone up over 9%.

traveler1116 / Getty Images

North Carolina: Raeford

Home values are rising while rents are dropping in Raeford. Home values increased about 3.47% to $175,012, while rents increased less than 1%. Still, the average rental cost is $860 per month.

Pictured: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Tim Kiser / Wikimedia Commons

North Dakota: Fargo

Home values in Fargo increased about 7.56% over the past year. The rent rose about 4.4%, bringing it to an average of $988 per month.

Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ohio: Findlay

The median monthly rent in Findlay is $900 which is nearly 5.96% more than it was a year ago. Home values in the city skyrocketed more than 9.25% to a median value of $176,012.

Pictured: Toledo, Ohio

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Oklahoma: Stillwater

In Stillwater the median home value is $184,821, and the median monthly rent is $924. Both increased year over year, however, with home values going up about 3.03% and rents about 4.88%.

will_snyder_ / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Oregon: Roseburg

The median home price in Oregon is $536,921, according to Zillow, but in Roseburg it's $272,470. The market is shifting, though, with about a 14.29% year-over-year increase in home values. Rents went up nearly 2% to $1,216.

Flickr.com

Pennsylvania: Williamsport

Rents in Williamsport went up more than 4.24% over the past year to $909, while home values rose about 2.73%. The median home value is $156,817-- more than $130,000 less than the national figure.

Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com

Rhode Island: Woonsocket

The cost of living in the nation's smallest state, Rhode Island, can be high, but Woonsocket is a more affordable locale for residents on a fixed income. The median home value is below the national average at $108,731, and the cost of rent is about $197 higher than the U.S. price at $1,219.

Pictured: Woonsocket, Rhode Islans

Kruck20 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

South Carolina: Orangeburg

South Carolina doesn't tax Social Security benefits. Orangeburg is the best place in the state for people on a fixed income because home prices are relatively affordable, with the median home value at $108,731. The rental market also rose 6.10% year over year, with the average monthly rent now $779.

Pictured: Columbia, South Carolina

H2O2 / Wikimedia Commons

South Dakota: Aberdeen

Rent is increasing at a clip of nearly 4.44% in Aberdeen, but the average monthly rent is still just $810. Meanwhile, the year-over-year increase in home values was about 3.17%, bringing them to $177,917.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Tennessee: Shelbyville

People living on fixed incomes can benefit from the relatively low home values in Shelbyville. The metro area's median home value rose nearly 10% year over year. Another money-saver for fixed-income residents is rent cost. The median rent in Morristown increased about 1.27% year over year from 2020 to $831.

Pictured: Nashville, Tennessee

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Texas: Alice

Alice's relatively low housing costs could be beneficial to someone on a fixed income. Home values rose by less than 5% year over year but is still among the most affordable cities, with a home value of $93,507 though rents increased. The average monthly rent is $913.

Pictured: Corpus Christi, Texas

Ken Lund / Flickr.com

Utah: Cedar City

The increases in median home value is steeply climbing in Cedar City year over year, at 15.17%. The median home value in Cedar City came in at $278,919, less than $1,000 over the national average, with rent at $830.

Pictured: St. George, Utah

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Vermont: Rutland

The median home price in Rutland is about $83,000 less than the national median. The housing market is growing here, but not too fast, at 9.27% for home value. Rent actually decreased by a bit more than 1%, with average rent at $1,018.

Shutterstock.com

Virginia: Martinsville

The median home value in Martinsville is just $82,335 making it a very affordable option for those wishing to live on a fixed income in Virginia. It's also a stable housing market: Values increased about 4.84% over the past year.

Pictured: Lynchburg, Virginia

Erhoman / iStock.com

Washington: Moses Lake

Home values are on the rise in Moses Lake, increasing nearly 18% to a current median of $273,071. That's the second highest year-over-year rise in the study. Rents, however, have been on the decline, with the average rent decreasing about 2% to $888 per month.

Pictured: Wenatchee, Washington

matejphoto / iStock.com

West Virginia: Huntington

Home prices in Huntington are among the lowest compared with the other cities in this study, with the median home value at $89,994, with only a 3.32% year over year increase. Rent also is among the cheapest at $854 per month, and prices decreased year over year by nearly 3%.

Pictured: Parkersburg, West Virginia

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Wisconsin: Racine

Home values in Racine rose nearly 8.14% over the past year to $138,222. Rising home values can help retirees on fixed incomes, especially if prolonged costs wipe out retirement savings, leaving their home as their only financial asset.

Mr. Satterly / WTFPL

Wyoming: Gillette

Home values in Gillette are increasing, while rent costs are decreasing. Rents dropped less than 1% over the past year, bringing the median rent price to $1,074. The median home price rose less than 1% to $278,763.

More From GOBankingRates

Jami Farkas and Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: In order to find the best city in every state to live on a fixed income, GOBankingRates first looked at every city with both Zillow home value data for May 2020, February 2021, and May 2021 available as well as county fair market rent for both 2020 and 2021 sourced from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's data. With all these data points sourced GOBankingRates then parsed down the list to only include cities that met the following criteria: a size rank according to Zillow of 2,000 or less and a May 2021 home value less than the national average of $287,148.

For these qualified cities, GOBankingRates found: (1) the quarter-over-quarter percent change in home value; (2) the year-over-year percent change in home value; and (3)the year-over-year percent change in rent by county. Those cities with negative values for factors (1) or (2) were then eliminated. With the remaining cities GOBankingRates scored and combined all three factors with the lowest score being best. The city with the lowest score from each state was included in our final rankings. These factors were chosen because changes in home values serve as a proxy for measuring the volatility of a housing market, with large increases posing a threat to those living on fixed incomes, while a negative change in value means money is being lost in depreciating house values. However, decreasing rental prices benefit a household on a fixed income.

For Utah and Vermont the size rank criteria had to be enlarged to 3,000 and up to 5,000 for Hawaii. All data was collected on and up to date as of June 17, 2021

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only and may represent the nearest large metropolitan area.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Best Places in Every State To Live on a Fixed Income
The Government has been urged to launch an urgent investigation following reports that Liz Trusss phone was hacked.

The breach was discovered when then-foreign secretary Ms Truss was running for the Tory leadership in the summer, but details were suppressed by then-prime minister Boris Johnson and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, The Mail on Sunday reported.

Spies suspected of working for Russian president Vladimir Putin gained access to sensitive information, including discussions about the Ukraine war with foreign officials, the newspaper said, citing unnamed sources.

It also claimed private conversations between Ms Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng criticising Mr Johnson fell into the hackers hands, potentially leaving them at risk of blackmail.

Opposition parties are demanding a probe into the alleged attack, which will raise questions about the UKs cyber security, as well as the judgment of Mr Johnson and Mr Case.

Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: There are immensely important national security issues raised by an attack like this by a hostile state which will have been taken extremely seriously by our intelligence and security agencies.

There are also serious security questions around why and how this information has been leaked or released right now which must also be urgently investigated.

It is essential that all of these security issues are investigated and addressed at the very highest level and we need to know that the Government recognises the gravity of this and the importance of fully protecting our national security.

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran said: We need an urgent independent investigation to uncover the truth. Was Liz Trusss phone hacked by Russia, was there a news blackout and if so why?

Liz Trusss personal mobile was hacked by agents suspected of working for Vladimir Putin https://t.co/2DFqErXLuP  (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) October 29, 2022

If it turns out this information was withheld from the public to protect Liz Trusss leadership bid, that would be unforgivable.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, told Sky News: I have seen these reports. I dont know the value or the sources and so forth. It is something for the sister committee, the Intelligence and Security Committee I think to investigate further.

A UK Government spokesperson said: We do not comment on individuals security arrangements.

The Government has robust systems in place to protect against cyber threats. That includes regular security briefings for Ministers, and advice on protecting their personal data and mitigating cyber threats.

Reports on the hacking come as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is resisting demands to launch an inquiry into Suella Braverman for her security breach.

He reappointed her as Home Secretary just six days after she was forced out after sharing a sensitive document with a Tory backbencher from a personal email without permission.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  If a president's most precious commodity is time, there is no place more valuable politically for the White House this midterm year than Pennsylvania.

An energized President Joe Biden returned Friday to the Keystone State, his 15th visit since he took office, this time to attend a fundraiser with Vice President Kamala Harris and other leaders to boost Democratic Senate nominee John Fetterman, gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats.

The president laid out the stakes immediately, cautioning the Nov. 8 midterm elections were not a referendum, its a choice, a choice between two vastly different visions of America.

Democracy is on the ballot this year," he went on. "Along with your right to choose, and your right to privacy. And the amazing thing is theyre saying it out loud.

The Pennsylvania seat has for months been the most likely pick-up opportunity for Democrats in the evenly-divided Senate, but as prospects darken for Democratic incumbents elsewhere, a win here is becoming an even more urgent insurance policy for the party to cling to Senate control.

Its not hyperbole to suggest all eyes are on Pennsylvania," Biden said.

The White House has showered attention on the Keystone State  Biden's birthplace  in the final weeks before the election, and officials are preparing for another visit next week. Harris told the crowd the party needs to pick up just two more seats to pass major Democratic agendas on abortion rights and voting rights.

Two more seats, Harris said, putting up two fingers. Just two more seats. One of them, right here.

The Friday event came three days after Fetterman  recovering from a stroke earlier this year that he says nearly killed him  had a shaky showing in his sole debate against Republican Mehmet Oz. He spoke smoothly before the crowd in his trademark hoodie and jeans, saying he wanted to bring all Americans the same kind of quality health care that saved his life.

So I may not say everything perfectly sometimes, but Ill always do the right thing if you send me to Washington, D.C., he said to a standing ovation.

The dinner at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is the state partys biggest fundraiser of the year, and party officials said the $1 million raised is the most ever for the dinner. Attendees included U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, for whom Biden headlined a virtual fundraiser earlier this week.

In his remarks, Biden focused his attacks against congressional Republicans, honing in on GOP plans to raise prescription drug costs, cut Medicare and Social Security, and pass a nationwide abortion ban. Republicans, if they win, will get rid of the Affordable Care Act and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions, energy tax credits and the corporate minimum tax of 15%, he warned.

Thats their plan, among other things. Its reckless, its irresponsible, itll make inflation much worse. It will badly hurt middle class Americans, the president said.

In the Senate race, polls show a close race between Fetterman and Oz. The Democrat's debate performance shocked some viewers and sowed concerns among party leaders. A day later, he delivered a smooth 13-minute stump speech in Pittsburgh as his campaign tried to downplay Tuesday's performance, saying Fetterman has always been lousy at debates and that the closed-captioning system he used as an aid was faulty.

Ravi Balu, a dentist who is the partys vice chair in Westmoreland County, in western Pennsylvania, heard from a number of friends who were worried or surprised by Fettermans performance. He said he told them that, whatever Fettermans lingering issues from the stroke, that he will recover and will always be more relatable to regular people than Oz.

Its a thing he took a big risk on, Balu said. But I also think he got a lot of the sympathy from people.

The White House stressed again this week that Biden - through his personal conversations with the lieutenant governor - believes Fetterman is physically capable to serve in public office, and cited analyses from independent medical experts who have said his halting speech did not indicate an issue with his cognitive functions.

John IS Pennsylvania, Biden said Friday, adding: John leaves nobody behind.

Biden viewed parts of the Tuesday night debate and thought Lt. Governor John Fetterman did great, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in an e-mail Friday.

In the meantime, Fettermans campaign and national Democratic groups are directing attention elsewhere and pouring money into TV ads with a debate clip of Oz in which he says I want women, doctors, local political leaders to decide the fate of a womans right to an abortion.

The statement  which spread rapidly across social media immediately after the debate  was meant to frame Oz's opposition to a federal ban that would pare back abortion access in Pennsylvania, even though he opposes abortion. But Democrats say it's proof that Oz wants politicians in doctors offices and exam rooms with women.

Biden brought up the moment on Friday, and his puzzled look over the comments were greeted with a huge laugh from the crowd.

You heard it right: local political leaders, he said. Look the bottom line is this, if Republicans gain control of Congress and pass a national ban on abortion, I will veto it. But if we elect to the Senate two more Democrats and keep control of the house, we're going to codify Roe v. Wade in January so it's the law of the land."

Bidens approval ratings are sagging in Pennsylvania similarly to the rest of the nation, begging the question of whether his presence is good for Democrats in a year when Republicans have political winds at their back.

But Biden won heavily in 2020 in Philadelphia and its four suburban collar counties  including winning over Republican moderates  and that boosted him to victory over former President Donald Trump.

The Democratic president likely remains popular there.

Democratic political strategist Mark Nevins said that energizing voters in Philadelphia and its heavily populated suburbs  home to one in three registered Pennsylvania voters  is a cornerstone to a Democratic win in Pennsylvania in the Senate race and in the governors race, and frankly in some of these suburban races as well.

Even if there is some debate about whether Biden can help on the campaign trail, the one area thats a constant is his ability to help raise funds. Presidents can help there. Theres no debate that theyll take the help of a president in fundraising in these very costly races, said Christopher Borick, a political science professor and pollster at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.

Biden also has treated Pennsylvania as something of a home base.

Its where he spent part of his childhood, its where hes campaigned countless times for himself and other Democrats and its where Democrats called him Pennsylvanias third senator during his 36 years in the Senate from next door in Delaware.
The video opens in a dimly lit room, smoke billowing from a desktop ashtray as two actors portraying Chinese Communist Party intelligence officers discuss a California congressional candidate.

"He's one of us, a socialist comrade who even supported Bernie Sanders for supreme leader," one man says, a photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping on the wall behind him.

The words "Jay Chen. He's perfect for Communist China" flash in white letters across the screen as the men throw their heads back and erupt in maniacal laughter.

The 30-second ad is the latest in a series of attacks, using doctored images and video and inflammatory language, that Republican Rep. Michelle Steel has focused on Democrat Jay Chen, who is challenging her in a competitive Orange County district. Chen, an intelligence officer in the Naval Reserve, is Taiwanese American; Steel is Korean American.

"There is an ethical issue to using these kinds of tactics and negative advertising that crosses into malicious campaigning," said Long T. Bui, an associate professor of global and international studies at UC Irvine. "The racially charged messages reinforce stereotypes of all Chinese people as spies and permanent foreigners."

In a midterm election that's largely been centered on abortion rights, inflation and crime, Steel has tried to keep voters focused on China. In the 45th District, which is centered on Little Saigon where one-third of voters are Asian American and half of those are of Vietnamese descent. There's a deep distrust of communism among many in the community.

Steel, who in 2020 became one of the first three Korean American women elected to Congress, has sent out mailers in Vietnamese and English against Chen including one heavily manipulated flier that purports to show him holding the Communist Manifesto while teaching a class full of children. At the same time, in recent advertisements, she has portrayed herself as a watchdog against China.

But fallout from Steel's campaign materials is putting her on the defensive with some Asian American Pacific Islander groups.

Zig Jiang, 48, of Hacienda Heights, speaks during a protest outside of Rep. Michelle Steel's campaign office in Buena Park on Saturday. (Hannah Fry / Los Angeles Times)

On Saturday, demonstrators from various Asian American Pacific Islander organizations stood along Beach Boulevard outside Steel's campaign office in Buena Park to protest the congresswoman's advertisements and what they called "McCarthyist tactics" being used in the race. Protesters held signs that read "stop Asian hate" and "red-baiting is race-baiting" as they called for Steel to apologize.

Zig Jiang, 48, waved an American flag as he yelled "stop dividing our communities" into a microphone. The Republican, who lives in Hacienda Heights, was angry when he saw Steel's latest campaign video, which he said reinforced stereotypes of Asian Americans.

"Michelle Steel is using conspiracy theories and Cold War ideologies to further her campaign," he said. "This put our communities in danger because she labeled Asian Americans, particularly Chinese Americans, as spies."

A supporter of Rep. Michelle Steel yells into a megaphone as protesters walk past the congresswoman's campaign office in Buena Park on Saturday. (Hannah Fry / Los Angeles Times)

In a counter demonstration,Steel's supporters stood in front of her office doors holding American flags and campaign signs, which read "lower taxes" and "stop inflation." La Palma Councilman Nitesh Patel, who attended the demonstration in support of the congresswoman, said he's been impressed by her engagement with the community.

"She actually represents the diversity and what America truly stands for," he said. "I mean ... she doesn't look at race. She doesn't look at gender. She's out there making sure that she's fighting for Americans."

The two groups, which largely remained separated, converged for about five minutes as protesters marched toward the front of Steel's campaign office. A man standing with Steel's supporters shouted "communists" at the protesters as they passed.

"Shame on you," a woman yelled back.

The Committee of 100, a New York-based nonprofit led by prominent Chinese Americans, this week issued a statement criticizing Steel's ads for portraying "harmful and inaccurate stereotypes" that could fuel anti-Asian hate and calling on her to "focus on the issues."

A congressional race between two candidates of Asian descent should be an opportunity to highlight the diversity and achievement of the Asian American community, said Zhengyu Huang, president of the Committee of 100. "Instead, one candidate is using racist attacks and advertisements to question the patriotism and loyalty of an American military veteran.

Chen, who says his grandmother fled to Taiwan from China under communist rule, called Steel's latest video "over the top" and said it's "ridiculous" for her to accuse him of being a communist.

"I served in the Middle East and I've served on the Korean peninsula to confront communist aggression," he said. "I think what she's doing right now is really dangerous. The fact that a sitting member of Congress would try to incite this kind of anti-Asian hate to try to further the stereotype that Asians cannot be trusted when she herself is Asian  an immigrant from Korea  it just baffles the mind."

At the heart of Steel's advertisement is a vote Chen made in 2010 while sitting on the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District board to bring a free Chinese language and culture class to a middle school in the district. The program, known as Confucius Classroom, was paid for by the Chinese governments Chinese Language Council International and was popular across the nation at the time.

The program sparked debate in the district, with some questioning whether it promoted propaganda from China. The board scrapped the program later that year.

Chen said in an interview with The Times on Wednesday that all the teaching materials were reviewed by the districtand "there was never any communist infiltration into our classroom." He added that he stands with the State Department assessment 10 years after the school board vote that designated the organization overseeing the institutes as a foreign mission.

Lance Trover, a spokesperson for Steel's campaign, declined to comment on the latest attack ad, or whether the campaign is still running it. The ad, which was first seen late last week on Twitter, has largely disappeared from social media.

Trover instead reiterated the campaign's claims that Chen supports "propaganda infiltrating our schools" and denied critics' assertions that the attacks were racist or problematic.

In 2020, the U.S. State Department under the Trump administration called the Confucius Institute U.S. Center a propaganda arm of the Chinese government. The designation didn't force class centers to close, but required the institute to report information on U.S. personnel and operations to the State Department, according to the agency.

"The China of that time is very different from the China of today," Chen said of the 12 years that have passed since his school board vote. "The State Department has revised its outlook. I understand the threat of Communist China very well, and my views remain aligned with the State Department. That has never changed."

Steel also used anti-communist messaging in her 2020 race against Democratic incumbent Rep. Harley Rouda. Her campaign mailed a flier showing Rouda with a drawing of Mao and text alleging he was soft on China.

In a district where many Vietnamese American voters, particularly those who came to the United States as refugees, harbor deep resentment toward communism depicting a challenger as a sympathizer is clearly a strategic move, said Pei-Te Lien, a political science professor at UC Santa Barbara who specializes in Asian American politics.

But the tactic may hurt Steel in the long run with younger voters who are becoming more politically active in the district, she added.

"She must not be very confident in terms of her record to go to these extremes," Lien said. "Of course it hurts the Asian American image as a whole. We have been fighting so hard against the perpetual foreigner image and this is just re-evoking it."

The tone of the race has been heated for months.

Early in the campaign, Steel accused her rival of mocking her accent when he said people needed an interpreter to figure out exactly what shes saying. Chen responded with an op-ed titled I didnt mock Michelle Steels accent and said he was referring to her convoluted GOP talking points.

Now, in addition to the mailers and videos the Steel campaign has put out to try to paint Chen as untrustworthy, red and yellow signs affixed to poles and fences across the district label Chen as "China's choice."

Another mailer recently sent to voters in the district says Steel is "standing up to racist attacks" alongside a photo of her smiling with two other Asian American women.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates, right, who is up for reelection, with Huntington Beach City Council candidates Tony Strickland, left, and Gracey Van Der Mark, center, at Old World Village. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

After he was elected city attorney of Huntington Beach in 2014, Michael Gates went to war.

He booted a nudist group that had been renting a city pool and gym.

In the name of local control, he fought state officials on zoning laws and immigration.

At first, his right-wing combativeness was relatively popular. But as more Democrats won elections in a city still famous for its conservatism, he became increasingly isolated.

Now majority Democrat, the city council has discussed hiring outside law firms as a check on Gates' office. A related measure is on the Nov. 8 ballot.

And the brawny former high school wrestler is running for reelection against a former employee who won a $2.5 million age discrimination settlement against the city.

"I'm offering a different vision of what the city attorney's office can be about," said Gates' opponent, Scott Field, a Democrat and former deputy city attorney. "Fighting losing battles isn't a good strategy. You have to be selective."

Gates, 47, was politically aligned with Tito Ortiz, who ascended to the Huntington Beach city council in 2020 as a former UFC champion and hardcore Trump supporter.

At the height of the pandemic, Ortiz flouted mask rules, appearing bare-faced at council meetings.

While this appealed to the crowds that gathered at the Huntington Beach pier to protest pandemic rules, Ortiz resigned after six months, citing personal attacks and unrelenting negative press.

To replace him, the council appointed Rhonda Bolton, Huntington Beachs first Black council member, creating a Democratic majority for the first time in recent memory.

After that, the council began discussing hiring outside law firms, which would report directly to them.

I'm definitely a target, and there is a partisan cause against me," said Gates, a lifelong Republican.

Republicans maintain a 9% voter registration advantage over Democrats in Huntington Beach, with 22% listing no party preference. The coastal city of nearly 200,000 is majority white, but Latinos at 19% and Asians at 13% are significant minorities.

Dan Kalmick, a Democrat who was elected in 2020 to the city council with Ortiz and another Democrat, Natalie Moser, said the issue is not ideology but staying on the right side of the law.

We don't live in the Republic of Huntington Beach, he said. We have to follow state rules.

In most California cities, the city attorney is appointed by the council.

While their ethical obligation to follow the law may occasionally put them at odds with council members, appointed city attorneys are unlikely to adopt an agenda that is fundamentally opposed to the council's aims.

Huntington Beach is the only city in Orange County and one of 11 statewide  including large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco  with an elected city attorney.

"There's more accountability, in theory, to the voters since to maintain the job, the city attorney must run for reelection," said Pamela Fiber-Ostrow, a Cal State Fullerton political science professor. "[But] most voters are not familiar with the position, what it requires and what the norms of office are."

In his early days as city attorney, when Gates was still in step with the city council, one of his biggest battles involved a council decision to defy a state-approved development plan for affordable housing.

The Kennedy Commission, an Orange County affordable housing nonprofit, sued.

Gates argued that Huntington Beach had broad control over zoning. An appellate court agreed. In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that required charter cities like Huntington Beach to comply with state housing laws.

Last year, a judge awarded the Kennedy Commission $3.5 million in attorney fees.

Gates remains defiant, asserting that his office will win on appeal.

Gates also pushed back on immigration, suing the state because he did not want to comply with the so-called sanctuary state law, which restricted police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Residents and activists flooded city council meetings to speak in favor of the lawsuit.

Sincerely, it was about local control, Gates said. If we don't fight, then the state eventually will control everything  every matter, every aspect of local governance. What will be the point of local city councils?

An Orange County Superior Court judge sided with Gates before an appellate court overturned the ruling, finding that the state law does not intrude unnecessarily into municipal interests.

Hes trying to frame these issues as just a political fight about charter control, Kalmick said of Gates. What are the issues that he wants to maintain control on? Theyre right-wing issues not in the mainstream of California.

Gates moved to Huntington Beach from Cincinnati as a young boy after his father took a defense industry job.

His family attended Mass every Sunday and revered President Ronald Reagan. Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher became a household name.

Gates excelled at football and wrestling at Marina High School. As a law student at Chapman University, he joined the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group.

He became a partner at a Santa Ana law firm before beating a 12-year incumbent for the Huntington Beach city attorney post.

Scott Field, a former deputy attorney for the city of Huntington Beach, is running against city attorney Michael Gates in November. Field formerly worked under Gates but sued, alleging age discrimination. The lawsuit was settled for $2.5 million. (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)

Field, Gates' opponent, earned a law degree from UCLA, and moved to Huntington Beach in 1989 with his wife and two children.

He served as the city attorney of Temecula and Mission Viejo before becoming a deputy city attorney in Huntington Beach in 1995. It was a "dream job," he said  until Gates arrived.

In the age discrimination lawsuit, Field, 66, alleged that Gates created a hostile workplace where older or disabled attorneys were pushed out or replaced in favor of younger hires. After being promoted to assistant city attorney in 1999, Field was demoted twice under Gates.

Field, who retired after the lawsuit settled, alleged that Gates reprimanded him for taking time off to treat his cataracts.

According to Gates, the previous city council considered the lawsuit frivolous, while the Democrats elected in 2020 pushed to quickly settle it.

The council later ordered an audit of how the city attorneys office and an outside law firm handled the case.

The 69-page audit found that Gates was overly aggressive in asserting the authority of his office but concluded that Gates broke no laws.

Field said the audit's findings prompted him to run for city attorney.

"I've worked in that office for almost 25 years under two prior city attorneys," he said. "Nobody ever questioned the principle that the attorney has a fiduciary relationship with the city council, because they are the client."

Gates has raised more than $100,000 for his reelection compared to Field's $37,500.

Four city council seats are open in next months elections, meaning the balance of power is in play.

Gates is campaigning with a slate of four council candidates who, like him, are endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County.

All appeared at a victory rally this week at the pier, pledging to save Huntington Beach from Sacramento's "destruction."

A big banner displayed a "contract" with Huntington Beach voters that was signed by the four council candidates, who pledged to give Gates the authority to fight state mandates on Day 1.

Gates also headlined a private event Monday at Basilicos Pasta e Vino, an Italian eatery that gained notoriety by refusing to serve masked patrons during the pandemic.

I'm going to continue fighting for the city no matter what our leadership is, Gates said. Whether its on the wrestling mat or in court, that's what I do is I fight.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hoisting a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket

When a commercial rocket blew up seconds after lifting off the Virginia coast in 2014, no one got hurt, and NASA replaced the necessary supplies bound for the space station.

Few people realized then, though, the cascading fallout of that explosion. The future of human-led Mars exploration hung in the balance: Without that rocket, NASA's Langley Research Center no longer had a ride for testing its $93 million inflatable heat shield in space  the hardware under development for landing astronauts on Mars in the 2030s, Joe Del Corso, the project manager at Langley, told Mashable.

"We got shut down," he said.

But someone outside of the U.S. space agency had been paying attention. Bernard Kutter, then-chief technologist for rocket builder United Launch Alliance, offered a solution to keep the experiment afloat. Now the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator  LOFTID for short  is expected to launch on a ULA Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base as early as Nov. 9. Though it's not the only reason for this launch  a new weather observatory for tracking storms worldwide is also on board  NASA will be able to use the flight to perform a crucial demonstration for the Martian landing hardware.

"This only happened because he approached us right after Orb-3 [exploded] and said, 'I got an idea. We can use this. If we give you a ride, can you show it works?'" Del Corso said. "We said, 'We'll do it.'"

SEE ALSO: NASA just inflated its new-age spaceship heat shield for Mars

Assembling the LOFTID inflatable heat shield

NASA will test its $93 million inflatable heat shield project, hardware that could help land astronauts on Mars in the 2030s. Credit: NASA / Greg Swanson

Kutter, an engineer who many in aerospace technology have described as a visionary, died on Aug.12, 2020, before he could see through the mission. His family never got clear answers on why his heart suddenly stopped that morning. He was 55.

Little-known to the public, the NASA inflatable heat shield test that will soon travel around Earth over the North and South poles will also fly some of Kutter's cremated remains, fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams to travel in space. The Latin words ad astra, meaning "to the stars," are written on the capsule holding his ashes.

Kutter will be among the few people whose ashes have traveled in space, sometimes referred to as a "space burial." Sixteen years ago, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft lifted off on the first journey to Pluto with the ashes of Clyde Tombaugh, the man credited with discovering it a century ago.

"'If we give you a ride, can you show it works?'"

Space 'burials'

But as the commercial space economy expands with more companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, space memorials could become a lot more common, particularly if the cost of spaceflight continues to drop, said Charles Chafer, CEO of Celestis, a private company that has conducted 18 such missions since 1997. Celestis has provided these services for about 1,500 deceased individuals, including the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and expects that number to rise to 2,000 by the end of this year.

The ashes hitch rides on rockets as secondary payloads, meaning they aren't the main reason the mission is flying. Celestis used to average one flight every 1.5 years. Now it has five flights scheduled in the coming 14 months. Chafer attributes the surge in demand to the increased ease in accessing space and the steady growth in cremation as a burial alternative.

The company serves people who usually fall into at least one of three groups: They love space, they have a spiritual desire to become one with the cosmos, or their families want to give them a gigantic send-off.

"What I tell people is you'll never see as much cheering and high-fiving at a funeral as you do at our services," Chafer told Mashable.

"What I tell people is you'll never see as much cheering and high-fiving at a funeral as you do at our services."

Bernard Kutter

Bernard Kutter, former chief technologist for United Launch Alliance, is credited with saving NASA's inflatable heat shield project by offering the experiment a rideshare on a rocket. Credit: United Launch Alliance

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter today.

A suborbital flight that would bring the ashes back to surviving family members starts at $2,500, and a flight into Earth's orbit, which would end with the contents eventually vaporizing upon re-entering the atmosphere, starts at $5,000. A mission into deep space would run upward of $12,500, according to the company's website.

Celestis has never "released" ashes into space the way sailors scatter them at sea, nor does it want to.

"We are space-sustainability freaks here, if you will," said Chafer, emphasizing their aversion to introducing more debris in space. "Once you start releasing stuff in orbit, it's all going 17,000 miles an hour, so it can do a lot of damage."

For Kayla Kutter, NASA and ULA's tribute to her father will mean attending her first rocket launch. Despite his career in rockets, she and many of her family members have never been to one before. Kayla, her husband, brother, mother, uncle, and grandmother plan to be in California for the event to see off the mission that also has been formally named after Kutter.

When her dad was three, he watched the television broadcast of the first Apollo moon landing with his mother. Not understanding the unprecedented significance of the moment, he asked her if she had ever been there before. Of course, she told him she hadn't. From then on, he had his heart and mind set.

"His dream was to take his mom to space," she said.

Why an inflatable heat shield

Inflating a heat shield

The inflatable heat shield is composed of a stack of inner-tube-like rings strapped together. Its synthetic material is 15 times stronger than steel and able to withstand temperatures over 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: NASA / Greg Swanson

Before Kutter died, his work concentrated on finding new ways to make space travel more affordable. From afar, he watched what NASA's Langley was doing with the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, or HIAD project, knowing it could be a valuable technology for ULA.

Since the first uncrewed Viking mission to Mars over 50 years ago, engineers have used the same rigid heat shield to land spacecraft on the Red Planet. Even NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, which landed in 2012 and 2021, used a hard shell for their heat shields, a design limited in size by the rocket's nose cone.

But the bigger the heat shield, the more drag it can pull out of the Martian atmosphere to land heavier loads of cargo  and, one day, astronauts  on the surface. That same technology could help ULA achieve its goals of bringing back heavy cargo from low-Earth orbit and salvaging some of its most expensive hardware.

If an inflatable heat shield could allow the company to reuse rocket engines, Kutter knew that would be a gamechanger. He had already started penciling in where an inflatable heat shield would go on the new Vulcan engines the company was using, Del Corso said.

As Kutter mulled how to lead the company into the future cislunar economy, the evolving marketplace between Earth and the moon, he rarely talked about such things with his family. At home, he was more focused on how to support his children and their interests.

"He was always very present with us," Kayla said. "Whatever role he had at ULA or his job or stressors, he didn't bring that to us."

This story has been updated to reflect the LOFTID mission's new launch window. It will not launch on Nov. 1 as previously planned.
A poster for the movie "Till" is displayed near a portrait of John F. Kennedy at a high school named for the late president in Mound Bayou, Miss., on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. Hundreds of people turned out for a screening of the movie at the school. The feature film is going into wide release across the U.S. this weekend after being in limited release since Oct. 14. (AP Photo/Emily Wagster Pettus)

MOUND BAYOU, Miss. (AP)  The tiny, all-Black town of Mound Bayou became a safe haven for Emmett Till's mother as she traveled to Mississippi to testify in the murder trial of two white men who lynched her son in 1955.

Hundreds of people  a good portion of Mound Bayou's 1,500 residents  turned out Thursday evening to watch the movie Till. The feature film is going into wide release across the U.S. this weekend after being in limited release since Oct. 14.

This place, this city, is very sacred to the story of Emmett Till, one of the filmmakers, Keith Beauchamp, told the mostly Black audience in the gymnasium/auditorium of Mound Bayou's John F. Kennedy High School.

The screening happened days after a bronze statue of Till was unveiled about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) away in Greenwood, Mississippi.

Beauchamp is one of the producers and writers of Till," which largely focuses on Mamie Till-Mobley's reaction to the loss of her only child and her evolution into a civil rights leader. Her 14-year-old son had traveled from Chicago to Mississippi to visit relatives in August 1955, and white men kidnapped, tortured and killed him after accusations that he flirted with Carolyn Bryant, a white woman working in a country store.

Till-Mobley, who was named Mamie Bradley at the time of her son's death, insisted on an open-casket funeral in Chicago so the world could see her son's brutalized body. Jet magazine published photos.

An all-white, all-male jury in Tallahatchie County acquitted the shopkeepers husband, Roy Bryant, and his half brother J.W. Milam just weeks after Tills body was pulled from a river. The two men later confessed in an interview with Look magazine.

Mound Bayou was founded by formerly enslaved people in the cotton-growing Mississippi Delta in 1887 as a freestanding community where Black people could thrive amid the hostility of the Jim Crow era.

NAACP leaders, including Mississippis Medgar Evers, coordinated with Dr. T.R.M. Howard, a physician and entrepreneur in Mound Bayou, to provide safety and security for Tills mother in the town. Mound Bayou also provided shelter for Black journalists who covering the trial 35 miles (56.3 kilometers) away in Sumner.

The lynching of Till galvanized the civil rights movement, and it has reverberated for generations with Black parents who tell their children to be careful in a country that has not shaken racism.

One of the Till relatives who attended the screening Thursday was 65-year-old Joe Stidhum, born two years after Till was killed. He said his grandfather and Tills mother were brother and sister.

Stidhum said his mother was always strict on him as his 10 siblings as they were growing up in Mound Bayou, but she didn't tell us her side of it until we got older. He said he was about 12 or 13 before he learned about Till's violent death.

Once we got up into teens, thats when my mom kind of explained to us why she was so protective of us," Stidhum said after the movie.

The closest cinema to Mound Bayou is more than 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) to the south, in Greenville, Mississippi.

Nobody has ever been convicted in Till's lynching. The U.S. Justice Department has opened multiple investigations starting in 2004 after receiving inquiries about whether charges could be brought against anyone still living.

The Justice Department reopened an investigation in 2018 after a 2017 book quoted Carolyn Bryant  now remarried and named Carolyn Bryant Donham  saying she lied when she claimed Till grabbed her, whistled and made sexual advances. Relatives have publicly denied Donham, who is in her 80s, recanted her allegations. The department closed that investigation in late 2021 without bringing charges.

Deborah Watts, another cousin of Till and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, was among the people who found an unserved 1955 arrest warrant for Mrs. Roy Bryant" earlier this year in a courthouse basement. In August, a Mississippi grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict Donham. Watts said Thursday that she still wants officials to serve the arrest warrant on Donham.

Justice delayed since 1955 is justice denied, Watts told The Associated Press. "Without any hate, malice or violence, we want the same thing any victim's family would want, and that is that those that were responsible be held accountable. No one should be above the law.

In March, President Joe Biden signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act. After the movie screening, Beauchamp told the audience that he is all for honoring Till's memory, but he wants more.

If we're looking for racial reconciliation in this country, it's not going to happen with a statue or a law," Beauchamp said. "We have to have truth and justice.

Some in the crowd, sitting on blue plastic chairs and bleachers, nodded and said: Alright. Alright."

____

Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.
By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) - Challenges to election results are not new in the United States. But former President Donald Trump and his allies took things to an extreme in 2020, falsely alleging widespread voter fraud and claiming the presidential contest was stolen.

This year, Trump-aligned candidates such as Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor in Arizona, and Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, refuse to say whether they will accept the results of November's midterm elections, citing the same conspiracy theories about 2020. That has raised fears among election experts that 2022 will see a wave of baseless rejections of vote tallies.

Here's how challenges to November's elections could play out:

RECOUNTS

Vote recounts are relatively common in the United States, particularly in local elections where results can often be close, but they rarely alter the outcome, according to one study.

In 22 states and Washington, D.C., a recount is automatically triggered if the margin of victory is sufficiently narrow, often 0.5%, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In 41 states and Washington, a candidate or voter can request a recount, though some require the vote totals to be within a certain margin. A handful of states do not allow a recount by law; a candidate's only remedy is to file a lawsuit asking a court to order one.

A study by Fair Vote, a nonpartisan group, in 2019 found there had been 31 statewide recounts between 2000 and 2019 out of nearly 6,000 contests, and that just three had changed the outcome.

In 2020, Georgia recounted its votes three separate times, confirming President Joe Biden's statewide victory each time. In Arizona, a Republican-led audit  criticized by experts as methodologically flawed  confirmed Biden's victory nearly a year after the election.

LITIGATION

Post-election lawsuits are a frequent occurrence in the United States, often focusing on procedural issues such as whether mail-in ballots were missing information or arrived on time. But in 2020, Trump allies sought to weaponize the court system even when there was little factual basis undergirding their claims.

Dozens of courts rejected Trump's allegations. But the sheer scope of the effort could encourage Trump-aligned candidates to attempt similar litigation in 2022.

"Because this election denialism has been embraced by so many candidates running for these top state positions, I think we can expect to see a similar barrage of baseless claims of fraud and misconduct in 2022," said Bo Dul, senior counsel at the nonpartisan States United Democracy Center.

Election experts all emphasized that the court system held firm in 2020; indeed, some of Trump's lawyers, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have faced professional punishment for their role in advancing false claims.

CERTIFICATION

Election results are not formal until election officials have certified them, usually weeks after Election Day.

Unlike many other Western countries, U.S. election administration is highly decentralized. The process of certification varies from state to state, but local authorities such as county boards or city officials certify their results first before state officials  typically the secretary of state  certify statewide totals.

That decentralization, election experts said, is a two-edged sword. There are multiple points where a rogue official could disrupt the process  by refusing to certify results, for instance. But the lack of a central authority also makes it difficult for any single actor to alter the outcome.

Then, too, the court system provides a crucial check on malfeasance, the experts said.

Earlier this year, New Mexico offered a preview of what could happen in November. Following the primary election, a Republican-controlled county commission refused to certify the results, citing unfounded conspiracy theories about voting machines.

The commission relented only after the state Supreme Court ordered them to certify the election at the request of New Mexico's secretary of state.

In Pennsylvania, three counties would not certify the May primary election when they refused to count undated ballots, despite being told to do so by the department of state. In August, a state court ordered them to certify. But litigation over the issue of undated ballots is pending before the state Supreme Court.

THE FUTURE

Several election experts said they are more concerned about the 2024 election than 2022, given how many Trump-inspired election deniers are running for key positions this year. A Washington Post analysis found more than half of Republican candidates for Congress and key statewide offices have questioned the 2020 results.

"I'm going to be very scared in 2024 if we have a bunch of these election deniers elected to office," said Rachel Orey, associate director of the elections project at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Some Republican lawmakers have sought to increase their control of election administration. The Supreme Court is scheduled in December to hear a case in which Republican legislators in North Carolina have asked the justices to prevent state courts from reviewing any election changes made by lawmakers.

While that case will not be resolved in time for the 2022 election, civil rights groups warn that a ruling in North Carolina's favor could theoretically permit state legislatures to throw out presidential results in 2024.

Even if attempts to reverse legitimate election results fail once again, experts said the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and growing distrust among voters demonstrate how damaging claims about voter fraud can be to American democracy.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)
A police car blocks the street below the home of Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco on Friday. Paul Pelosi was attacked and severely beaten by an assailant with a hammer who broke into their San Francisco home early Friday, according to authorities. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

It was early Friday morning when someone broke through the rear door of a large hillside home in San Francisco's exclusive Pacific Heights neighborhood.

The home belonged to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and her husband, Paul, and police allege the man who broke in, David DePape, 42, was on a mission.

Nancy Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., with her protective detail. But Paul Pelosi was home.

New details are emerging of what happened next, an attack that left Paul Pelosi seriously injured in what police say was an intentional act and left many stunned at yet another display of political violence.

According to police, DePape allegedly entered the house and at some point confronted Paul Pelosi.

Pelosi told the intruder that he had to use the bathroom, then made a surreptitious 911 call on his cellphone and left the line open, sources familiar with the attack told The Times. Dispatcher Heather Grimes could hear Pelosi talking to his attacker and alerted officers to the scene.

In a communication between a dispatcher and a police car, the dispatcher says "there's a male in the home and that he's going to wait for his wife. The dispatcher said the man on the line "doesn't know who the male is, but he advise that his name is David and then [said] he is a friend." The caller, she added, "sounded somewhat confused.

A law enforcement source in San Francisco said officials believe Pelosi was intentionally giving coded information because the intruder knew Pelosi was on the phone and wanted to signal to the dispatcher that something was wrong.

At a press conference Friday, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott praised Grimes quick thinking.

She had to interpret what she was being told, he said at the news conference. And based on her experience and intuition, she basically figured out that there was something more to this incident than what she was being told. Her actions, in my opinion, resulted in both a higher-priority dispatch and a faster police response.

It took police about two minutes to get to the house.

When officers arrived and knocked on the front door, Scott said, someone inside opened the door. The officers saw Paul Pelosi and DePape, each with one hand on a single hammer, he said.

After officers ordered both men to drop the hammer, DePape immediately pulled the tool from Pelosi and violently attacked him with the hammer, Scott said.

Police tackled the assailant, grabbed the hammer and took him into custody before calling for backup and beginning first aid.

A source who was briefed on the attack said the assailant confronted Paul Pelosi and shouted, Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy? before the assault occurred.

DePape was booked Friday afternoon on suspicion of attempted murder, first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, threatening a family member of a public official, elder abuse, battery with serious bodily injury, dissuading a witness and injuring a wireless device.

A Times review of his online accounts show David DePape had been drifting further into the world of far-right conspiracies, antisemitism and hate.

In a personal blog that DePape maintained, posts include such topics as Manipulation of History, Holohoax and Its OK to be white. He mentioned 4chan, a favorite message board of the far right. He posted videos about conspiracies involving COVID-19 vaccines and the war in Ukraine being a ploy for Jewish people to buy land.

DePapes screeds included posts about QAnon, an unfounded theory that former President Trump is at war with a cabal of Satan-worshipping elites who run a child sex ring and control the world. In an Aug. 23 entry titled Q, DePape wrote: Either Q is Trump himself or Q is the deepstate moles within Trumps inner circle.

Paul Pelosi, 82, is recovering from surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to repair a skull fracture and serious injuries to his right arm and hands, said Drew Hammill, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosis office. He is expected to recover fully.

Authorities praise him for his quick thinking when the intruder entered.

It is really thanks to Mr. Pelosi having the ability to be able to make that call and truly the attention and instincts of that dispatcher to realize that something was wrong and to make the police call a priority, San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins told CNN.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that his government will not yield the countrys statehood, sovereignty and independence to anyone under any circumstance. Speaking at his Civil Contract Partys congress, he said that the ruling party must defend the independence, sovereignty and statehood of the country.

He noted the achievements which his administration recorded over the course of the Civil Contract party being the ruling party, and also noted that there is one global issue which is capable of shadowing all their successes. That disaster, that tragedy is known to everyone, it is the 44-Day War of 2020, our numerous victims, martyrs, our losses and our tragedy, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said that the Civil Contract Party has remained committed to its program, however there are cases when being committed to the program led to success, while there are some that led to failures, and the case of the NK conflict is one of them. Why did that happen? Because we never thought of the Karabakh issue of being an issue which we should use to remain in power or solve domestic political affairs. And just like we tried to go on the path of re-establishing the foundations of our statehood in terms of internal politics  in accordance to the party program  we similarly approached the NK issue. And our biggest objective was to approach the NK issue solution within the framework of the content of our statehoods foundation, he said.

Pashinyan argued that the fact that the biggest criticism hes received in the post-war period is that he had declared Artsakh is Armenia, period, shows that the foundations of the Armenian independence have consistently eroded and collapsed since the first day of regaining independence.

Because after the first day of adoption of the declaration, in fact, a consistent abandoning from this program took place at a time when in 1991 NK was declaring independence, when a total abandoning of this program took place in the negotiations process and when in 2007, by accepting the Madrid Principles as basis of negotiations, the then-ruling power in Armenia basically destroyed the legal grounds of Nagorno Karabakhs declaration of independence, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan added that upon coming to power and facing this situation his party tried to do whatever depended on it to repair the foundations of Armenias statehood.

And we, essentially, recorded that Armenia, on the level of state government, had consistently abandoned and destroyed the states foundations from 1998 to 2018. Then we found out that even we are no longer able to restore it with all our efforts. And it turned out that no one wants to restore, otherwise this criticism wouldnt be voiced with that emphasis, Pashinyan said.

Speaking about the Civil Contract Partys founding program, he quoted it as saying: the implementation of any program of settlement of the Karabakh issue is possible only through the restoration of NKs status of a full party to negotiations, without the consent of which no option of settlement can be considered as de-jure accepted.

After I was elected prime minister, my initial efforts were aimed at the restoration of NKs status as a negotiator. And we remained committed to our statements here too. But as a result it turned out that all these stories are already out of Armenias control, because as a result of thirty years of negotiations Armenia lost all control in terms of the NK issue. It turned out that Armenia doesnt decide anything in that regard no more, and the only thing it can decide is to obediently fulfill the decisions made elsewhere, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said that his administrations mistake was not obeying those decisions.

We acted like that not only in context of the NK issue, but we did so by realizing that otherwise wed lose sovereignty and statehood. We understood that actually perhaps the Karabakh issue isnt the whole story. And the rest of the story pertains to Armenia, its independence, sovereignty. And I want to record that just like our partys founding documents stated, today also our supreme goals are Armenias independence and sovereignty. And today we must loudly and clearly declare that we will not yield our statehood, sovereignty and independence to anyone under any circumstance. And we are a party that must defend independence, sovereignty and statehood, Pashinyan said.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement as a very important document which stipulates several important issues  the existence of Nagorno Karabakh and the deployment of the peacekeepers.

First, the existence of Nagorno Karabakh is recorded, the existence of the Nagorno Karabakh line of contact, the deployment of peacekeepers as guarantor of security, the existence of the Lachin corridor as the connection between NK and Armenia, the agenda of unblocking is recorded, the rights of refugees and so on, Pashinyan said at his Civil Contract Partys congress, emphasizing that it is another matter how and in what manner this trilateral agreement is being implemented.

Pashinyan said that some forces have described the 9 November 2020 to be a capitulation of Armenia. Now these very same forces are strongly defending the November 9 statement, saying that we cant lose the achievements in the document. And today, those who were accusing us of signing a capitulation on November 9 in 2020 are saying that I am preparing to sign a capitulation soon. History hasnt seen the same government or country sign a capitulation twice or three times. Meaning, if the November 9 document is a capitulation, it means thats it, theres no way to sign another capitulation. If there is, then the November 9 document is not a capitulation, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan proposed to record the following: All those who are saying that I am preparing to sign a capitulation should apologize from the public before saying so for having called the November 9 document a capitulation. This is an issue of simple literacy, but if these people are not apologizing then they dont have the right to terrorize the public about new capitulations because a capitulation happens only once in the history of a country or moreover a government. I say again, our oppositionists should make up their mind in this matter.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with the ethnic Armenian Member of Parliament of Turkey Garo Paylan whos arrived in Armenia to participate in the 1st Global Armenian Summit.

The Prime Minister welcomed Paylan, attached importance to his participation in the summit dedicated to the discussion of issues of the pan-Armenian agenda and his willingness to contribute to the solution of these issues.

Paylan presented the current state of the Armenian community of Turkey and issues pertaining to the community life, the Prime Ministers Office said.

Ideas were exchanged around the Armenia-Turkey normalization process.
Musk's comments came a day after he completed the USD 44 billion acquisition of the social media giant

New York: Twitter's new owner billionaire Elon Musk has said the social media company will form a content moderation council and any major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen after such a body has convened.

Musk's comments came a day after he completed the USD 44 billion acquisition of the social media giant.

Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes, Musk, 51, tweeted on Friday.

To be super clear, we have not yet made any changes to Twitter's content moderation policies, he added.

Musk has not yet offered details about how his content moderation council will work.

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, legal executive Vijaya Gadde, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal and General Counsel Sean Edgett were ousted as Musk's acquisition was completed.

Within hours of taking over the reins at Twitter, the Tesla CEO posted a series of tweets. The bird is freed, Spoiler Alert. Let the good times roll, Living the Dream. Comedy is now legal on Twitter.

After initially agreeing to buy the company in April, Musk spent months attempting to get out of the deal, first citing concerns about the number of bots on the platform and later allegations raised by a company whistleblower.

Agrawal, 38, was appointed Twitter CEO in November last year after the social media site's co-founder Jack Dorsey had stepped down.

As the Twitter account of former US President Donald Trump was permanently suspended in January last year, Hyderabad-born Gadde was at the forefront of this dramatic decision undertaken within days of the attempted insurrection by pro-Trump supporters at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone thanked Agrawal, Segal and Gadde for their "massive contribution" to the business.

"Thank you to @paraga, @vijaya, and @nedsegal for the collective contribution to Twitter. Massive talents, all, and beautiful humans each!" Stone tweeted.

Musk arrived at the company's headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday and had been meeting with engineers and advertising executives. Musk also updated his Twitter description to Chief Twit.

Musk has promised to transform Twitter by loosening the service's content moderation rules, making its algorithm more transparent and nurturing subscription businesses, as well as laying off employees.

In April, Twitter accepted Musk's proposal to buy the social media service and take it private.

However, Musk soon began sowing doubt about his intentions to follow through with the agreement, alleging that the company failed to adequately disclose the number of spam and fake accounts on the service.

When Musk said he was terminating the deal, Twitter sued the billionaire, alleging he refuses to honour his obligations to Twitter and its stockholders because the deal he signed no longer serves his personal interests.

Earlier in October, Musk said he wanted to pursue his acquisition of Twitter at the original price of USD 54.20 a share if the social messaging service dropped its litigation.

Twitter's lawyers said that the Tesla CEO's proposal is an invitation to further mischief and delay.

A Delaware Chancery Court judge eventually ruled that Musk had until October 28 to cement the Twitter deal or head to trial.

On Thursday, Musk wrote a message to reassure advertisers that social messaging services wouldn't devolve into a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences!

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 said in the message.

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.
by Giorgio Bernardelli

At the General Conference of the Churches of Asia-which concludes tomorrow in Bangkok-the issue of growing conflicts challenges the continent's bishops' conferences. Mumbai Card. Gracias: "Let us not stop at words, let us animate civil society for reconciliation." Pope Francis' envoy Card. Tagle: "The Gospel tells us that God acts through the little ones. Even being a minority is a mission."

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - At a time when conflicts are growing dramatically, how can churches become a sign of peace? This is one of the most discussed issues at Fabc50, the General Conference of the Churches of Asia being held in Bangkok. Tomorrow this meeting that has seen 226 delegates from Catholic communities from as many as 29 countries in Asia come together will see its conclusion with a Eucharistic celebration presided over in the Cathedral of the Assumption by Card. Luis Antonio Tagle, special envoy of Pope Francis.

A message from the Churches to the peoples of Asia will also be released during the rite, while the final synthesis document on new ways forward together will see the light of day in a few months.

One of the challenges he will have to deal with is precisely that of the conflicts that are bloodstaining not only Europe. How to stand as Christians before the violence of war? This question also emerged during the press conference held today by Card. Tagle together with the three presidents of the General Conference: card. of Yangon Charles Bo, president of the Fabc, card. of Mumbai Oswald Gracias and card. of Bangkok Francis Xavier Kriengsak.

"Many voices in the Church today," commented Card. Tagle - call for dialogue, diplomacy to resolve conflicts. Every Sunday the pope at the Angelus reminds nations of the world where there is a thirst for peace, inviting the parties to come together and talk to each other. But the question becomes, what can we do when then it doesn't happen? We make appeals, either with the loudest voice or the humblest tone. But then it's up to the political leaders to listen or not."

"Even in Asia conflicts, violence, fundamentalism are growing," echoed Card. Gracias -And it is important that as a Church we do not stop at appeals, that we work for peace, reconciliation, harmony. To speak in the name of Christ, of truth, of justice, without inferiority complexes. We must reflect on this, take a stronger role, animating civil society and showing that peace works, is progress. While war only means steps backward."

"There are, however, moments when there is no dialogue," Card. Bo noted "as is happening with us today in Myanmar. The conflicting parties do not even talk about it anymore. In these contexts we men of faith, and Catholics in particular, are left with the task of continuing to pray for peace, so that when the time is ripe we can really build it."

"The gesture of Pope Francis kissing the feet of the leaders of South Sudan," added Card. Kriengsak - was an effective example in this sense. The whole world saw that gesture and wondered. Then, of course, the witness is left to those who are called to receive it. Knowing, however, that things change one step at a time, not in one day."

For his part, Card. Tagle also invited us to reflect with an evangelical gaze on the minority condition of the Churches of Asia. "On the continent where two-thirds of the world's population lives," he recalled, "numerically we are a minority. Even within our own institutions: in Thailand out of 300,000 students in Catholic schools only 2 percent are Christians. But the parables of the Kingdom reveal to us how God always acts through the little ones. Being on the margins, unheard, does not prevent the Church in Asia from living out its mission. And we need to remind ourselves of this even in the Philippines or East Timor, where we are a majority: the Kingdom is built in humility, in compassion, in solidarity with the little ones in society."

Finally, the pro-prefect of the dicastery of Evangelization raised the question of the challenge posed to the Church by the new digital avenues traveled during the time of the pandemic, which today must be traveled with increasing insistence but also without confusion. It also makes Asia think about the decline in attendance in the Churches after Covid19.

"Social media will remain in our society," Tagle commented, "as a Church we must fully become aware of it. Remembering, however, that sacramental reality passes through visible signs such as water in baptism, bread and wine in the Eucharist. Once the emergency is over, normal life must begin again for the Church as well. The challenge is to learn from the pandemic: in addition to online celebrations, there have been many catechesis, biblical paths, forms of accompaniment. We have to start from there and ask ourselves how really the digital world can become a tool to promote truth, care for others, and the transformation of society."
Today's headlines: 72 dead in the Philippines in tropical storm; Nearly 90% of Taiwanese against Xi Jinping's recent words on reunification; Japan wants to buy attack missiles from the US; India puts Twitter in its sights after Elon Musk's takeover; Armenia opens to border dialogue with Azerbaijan.

ISRAEL

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is one seat away from having a majority in next week's general election, his fifth in less than four years. The latest polls reveal this. Predictions see his Likud gaining 60 seats in coalition with three other parties; 53 would be won by the anti-Netanyahu bloc and four by the Hadash-Ta'al Arab list.

PHILIPPINES

So far 72 people have died in the country due to the passage of tropical storm Nalgae. The south-eastern areas were mainly affected, with floods and landslides. Maguindanao is the province with the most victims (67).

TAIWAN

Nearly 90% of Taiwanese reject Xi Jinping's statement that China will never renounce the use of force to retake the island. More than 79% of the respondents in the survey are against the 'one country, two systems' formula proposed by Beijing (and already used for Hong Kong and Macao).

JAPAN

Tokyo is considering buying Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. They would serve to strengthen the country's ability to strike enemy bases in the event of a response to an attack (from China or North Korea). Japan's pacifist Constitution restricts the use of offensive weapons.

INDIA

As already stated by the European Union for its own legislation, the Indian government expects that after the Elon Musk takeover Twitter will comply with the new national rules on web platforms. The Modi administration has already asked the well-known social network to take measures against accounts that praise an independent Sikh state.

RUSSIA

The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berl Lazar, criticised the article by Security Council Deputy Secretary Aleksej Pavlov in Argumenty i Fakty, in which he raged against the 'neo-pagan cults' of Ukraine, asking for official clarification. The list also includes the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic movement, which "offends the majority of the Jews of Russia".

ARMENIA-AZERBAIGIAN

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan confirmed his participation in the meeting in Soci on 31 October with Azerbaijani President Aliyev, at Putin's invitation. During the course of the year, the two have met other times with EU mediation. The Azerbaijani leader's confirmation is awaited to try to resolve long-standing border issues between Yerevan and Baku.
Email Newsletters

Get the best of The Aspen Daily News in your inbox. Our newsletters are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
EV

As you are aware, Elon Musk bought the company on October 27. One of the Tesla CEOs first acts as chief twit was to send a letter to Twitter advertisers to say the company aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world. Musk even said that Twitter would strengthen brands and grow enterprises. However, that did not seem to convince GM  at least not coming from the CEO of themaker it wants to beat.CNBC discovered that by anticipating the embarrassment that Elon Musk owning the social media would cause and by asking Tesla competitors about it. GM answered that they were engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership. Meanwhile, the company suspended all paid advertising there. It still interacts with consumers and fans on Twitter , but that is about it.Ford told CNBC that it does not advertise on Twitter. When it was presented with a promoted tweet from Jim Farley, the companys CEO, the automaker said it could not confirm when was the last time it paid for anything on the platform. Like GM , it will continue to engage with customers there. CNBC has tried to ask Stellantis the same question but did not get an answer before publishing the article. We are talking about Jeep, Chrysler, RAM, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, to name a few. Rivian and Alphabet also did not answer. We are not sure if Amazon advertises with the social media, but if it does, it would not surprise us if it also stayed away from Twitter. Musk and Jeff Bezos frequently make fun of each other  not in a friendly way.Ironically, Tesla and Elon Musk have always bragged about never spending a dime on marketing to sell the companys EVs. Although that is not true, other carmakers may have been convinced to try the same, starting with Twitter. Musk may need to build the most respected advertising platform in the world exclusively with companies that do not sell cars.
After such a big success, and with Halloween around the corner, it seems the billionaire musk party. Perhaps drunk with happiness that the Twitter mess he created is finally over, or simply because, like other humans out there, he likes to dress up in scary characters and feel like a kid again.And it would seem that the mood for celebration is over the top with this one, as according to Romanian news outlets, Elon Musk is going to the Bran Castle to celebrate this years Halloween in a huge, secret get-together of billionaires.For those of you who dont know yet, Romania was centuries ago the birthplace of a ruler who is now known as Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes or Vlad Dracul in the local speak). This guy inspired Bram Stokers Dracula character and, as it happens, one of Vlads residences from long ago, the Bran Castle, came to be associated with the blood-sucking monster as well.Knowing this, Romanians make the most of it and do rent the place for Halloween-hungry Westerners to throw parties there. Circling back to how we started all this, it would seem this year the place was rented for a huge secret party, to be attended by some of the worlds richest.Romanias outlet MediaFlux claimed earlier on Saturday to have learned about the party. According to them, Elon Musk is perhaps the biggest name to attend the Bran Castle gathering, but not the only one. Hell be accompanied, were told, by actress Angelina Jolie, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, SpaceXs Steve Jurvetson, and PayPals Peter Thiel, whose arrival in Romania was snapped on camera by local paparazzi Although the source who seems to have uncovered the party scheduled for Sunday in Transylvania makes no mention of this, other local sources claim Musk is paying for everything. We were unable to verify that information, but we'll come back on the story if and when we learn more about it.Update (October 30) on Musk's party can be found here
FIA plans to phase them out by 2024, and this decision put them, yet again, under attack from both the drivers and experts. This season, the temperature has already been decreased, from 100 degrees Celsius up front and 80 in the rear to 70 all around, with a further 20 degrees decrease planned for 2023.This was evaluated at the last test in Austin during the practice session along with the 2023 Pirelli tires. The Mexican GP was also supposed to have a 50 degrees Celsius tire test, but that seems to have been scrapped.Even so, the Austin GP showed more than enough about the reduction in temperature for the tire blankets. The current world champion Max Verstappen told the media that he almost crashed in the pit lane during that practice session due to the tires not being heated to the optimum temperature. The Red Bull driver also said that he thought there would be a lot more crashes with the rule changes.He went on to say, Your tire degradation is going to be completely different because your tires are very cold, youre sliding around a lot in the first few laps, your tire pressures are going to go through the roof, so your tires are going to dig a lot more. At the moment I dont really enjoy it, but a lot of drivers say the same and we have to of course find a solution to that. Austin is still a track where you can easily switch on the tires because of the high-speed corners. But if you go to a track like a street circuit, like Monaco, can you imagine half-and-half conditions, I think its going to take like half the race before you have temperature in your tires. McLaren driver Lando Norris has echoed Maxs concerns with an emphasis on safety. The Brit remarked, This was like the best possible conditions to have these tires: super-warm, hot track temp, high-speed first sector to get the temp in. And they were not nice. So easy to front lock, so easy to rear lock, completely unpredictable. Imagine going to a much colder race track, or if its a little bit damp or something. Everyones going to shunt the car at some point. No driver wants it, basically.He also went on about how the current Formula 1 car design was not compatible with this goal, saying that, To drive a current era Formula 1 car, which is designed so specifically with all the aero and stuff, in a way not made to go out on cold tyres, its not like a Formula 2 or Formula 3 car where you can just throw it about and do whatever.He also points out that there have already been discussions between the drivers and the stakeholders, with the most vocal arguments coming from drivers that have experienced the lighter cars and better tires from the previous generations of cars.More experienced drivers like Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen are also opposed to the idea. They both think it simply cannot work with either the current tires or the ones Pirelli plans to introduce in 2023. Magnussen has gone further and said that he thinks the decision comes from a lack of understanding, with the people pushing for it not having driven a Formula 1 car.All Formula 1 drivers seem to be worried about the safety of their cars. It is something that has evolved immensely throughout the years. The teams and the FIA have worked hard to make this possible, with the introduction of features like the halo and robust materials. Why then would they insist on banning the tire warmers when they appear to be crucial to how the tires perform on track?
EV

The first unit was delivered to Gachaco Inc., a battery-sharing service created as a joint venture between the Japanese oil and energy company Eneos and motorcycle manufacturers Yamaha , Suzuki, and Kawasaki. The company is based in Tokyo and is receiving support from the city's government to meet its goal of eliminating gasoline from all new motorcycles by 2033.Honda is also looking to reach carbon neutrality for all its products and corporate activities by 2050. By expanding the use of renewable energy, Honda hopes to contribute to the acceleration and expansion of electrification. This phenomenon is already happening worldwide. To be fully adopted, several key factors need to be addressed  short range, long charging time, and high battery costs.So, how does the battery swapping station work? It charges multiple units of Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP e:). Each battery pack comes with a 1,314 Wh capacity and takes around five hours to juice up.The users of EVs equipped with the MPP e: will have access to fully charged batteries, which enables the efficient use of electrified mobility products. No more need to wait for your battery to charge when you can just stop by the station, quickly swap the MPP e:, and go on about your business.Gogoro is a Taiwanese company that's been promoting and using this technology for years. Back in 2015, the company released its first scooter and used the Gogoro Network to power it. More than 2,000 battery charging stations are located around Taiwan , where riders can replace batteries with fully charged ones. The process takes about two minutes; it's even faster than pumping gas.So, this technology has been proven to work in Taiwan. Honda has decided to take on the mobility giant by creating a technology of its own. It might have taken some inspiration from Gogoro as its battery-swapping station has a similar design to Gogoro's station. Basically, it looks like some sort of vending machine, only instead of snacks and drinks, you have a bunch of battery packs that slide in and out of slots. Its straightforward exterior design has been purposely chosen to fade into the background of public spaces. Moreover, it uses the Honda Power Pack Cloud system to centralize and manage all the necessary information.In case of a power outage, a single charged battery can power the entire exchanger station  this way, commuters won't get trapped there.Let's imagine you have anwith an MPP e: battery pack. The first step is to sign up for Honda's system, and you will receive a unique IC card. You are riding around town, and you notice that your battery is running low. Pull up to the nearest station and walk up to the touchscreen monitor. Once the system identifies your IC card, you can pop out your discharged battery and swap it for a fully charged one. Honda plans to expand into other counties - it has already set up a subsidiary company in India to sell electric tricycle taxis, also known as rickshaws. The vehicles are using the battery-sharing service.All in all, this type of service might be the future of urban mobility. It's easy to use, contributes to the realization of a low-carbon society, and eliminates the stress of long charging times and running out of battery. Even though two-wheeled vehicles aren't as popular in other parts of the world, if everything goes well in the countries where battery-sharing is possible, we might see global implementation in the near to mid-future.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Italian automaker investigated the aforementioned problem through September 2022, putting the blame solely on the supplier, namely Aptiv Services Deutschland GmbH. The investigation revealed that a batch of infotainment systems was delivered to Lamborghini, and the condition was identified on three field cases. The main unit in the center console may become damaged when the driver turns off the vehicle. Upon the next startup, the infotainment system would simply refuse to start up as well.Although it may not seem like a safety risk at first glance, an infotainment system that doesnt work goes against federal motor vehicle safety standard 111 for rear visibility. Therequires the rearview camera image to be displayed when selecting reverse, which isnt the case for the 48 affected utility vehicles.On the upside, Lamborghini isnt aware of crash or injury reports related to this problem. Every single one of the affected vehicles, namely 2022 models produced between September 16th and September 23rd last year, will receive brand-new infotainment units produced at the correct specifications. The supplier introduced a measure to change the resistance at the voltage regulator to lower the input voltage sometime in late 2021.Dealers will be informed of this recall on December 9th, whereas known customers will be notified by first-class mail on December 16th. The part numbers for the recalled infotainment systems and remedy units are the same, listed as 4ML035092 and 4ML035136 in the recall report below.Twinned with the Bentley Bentayga and Volkswagen Touareg, the Urus has just entered the 2023 model year with a well-deserved facelift. Lamborghini first introduced the performance-oriented Performante in August 2022, then the Urus-replacing Urus S in September 2022. Both of them develop 666 metric horsepower, a.k.a. 657 mechanical horsepower.
Over the years, I learned that every machine you see on the streets happened to start as nothing more than an idea. From there, pen to paper or tablet, concepts like Honda Shen's Dual e-scooter take flight. Sometimes, these projects even take off and become real EVs. Let's see if the Dual is one machine we may be riding around in the future.Now, not much information on the creator behind this concept is available. Nonetheless, a couple of details we can extract from his or her Behance page is that they are from New Taipei City, Taiwan, and by the looks of it, vehicles are a strong point.With that in mind, the Dual gets its name from the ability to be two different vehicles in one. What do I mean? As I explored all that this design has to offer, I learned that it's both an electric scooter and an electric moped. Because of the way a seat is integrated into the frame when you first see it in its scooter form, there's no way you'd ever think a chair is hidden there.Let me break things down a bit. Starting with the front of the Dual, let's look at the overall composition of the shapes we see. According to the project page, the inspiration behind Dual came from nothing more than another vehicle that, by the looks of it, is a Cake two-wheeler. Cake is that electric two-wheeler manufacturer from Sweden that's been all over the news recently.The modern steering column breaks away from traditional scooters that unite the handlebars to a central pole, so what we're given is that central blue pillar that holds the bars angled slightly towards the rider. Turning the handlebars inward for something like a bicycle may be a good idea, but in my experience riding e-scooters , a flat bar makes this type of two-wheeler more maneuverable. For bicycle mode, sure, this is perfectly fine.Speaking of "bike mode," to activate this feature, let's say, after a long day at work, all you have to do is reach down to the base of the footboard and grab that U-shaped piece of metal. Yes, this is where the seat is hidden, and all you have to do is pull it upward and, voila, rest your gluteus while making your way home.

As you extend your arm downward to grab the seat, you will notice another bar that looks suitable for taking hold of. Well, the feature is integrated into the battery pack as it's a removable one; take it out of your Dual so that it doesn't get stolen or anything like that, but also to recharge as you type away at your desk or whatever it is you do for a living.I also noticed that the headlight can be adjusted vertically by sliding within that blue portion of the scooter, large tires for riding over obstacles, and what could be a rear suspension integrated into the footboard, a feature common in modern e-scooters. Oh, and judging by that model riding a Dual, we can also tell that it's going to be rather bulky, so maybe it's designed for more than just urban riding.Whatever the Dual may have been built for doesn't really matter. In the end, it's nothing more than an exploration into one direction urban mobility may be headed . Even if not as a whole, maybe some manufacturer will fall in love with this design and whip out a Dual soon. Maybe they read this article.
Yes, folks, as though to celebrate the recent acquisition of Twitter, Elon Musk has called for a gathering. An all-out Halloween bash at none other than one of, if not the most famous castles in the world, Bran Castle, the same one that Bram Stoker turned into a legend with his tale of Dracula.Actually, if we consider that first fortress as the starting point for this castle's history, it's been around for around 1000 years; the Teutonic Knights were driven out of Bran in 1226 but finished the fortress before then. I'm sure Musk's millions help him get his hands on some pretty neat information, and possibly celebrating the 1000th anniversary of such a place is sure to be an attraction point. What if...Nah, they wouldn't. Ok, so maybe there won't be any seances at this party, but according to Romanian news sources, this congregation will be huge.How huge? I'm talking about some of Hollywood's most notable faces, like Angelina Jolie, Google co-founder Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. Oh, Peter Thiel has already landed in Romania, according to Media Flux . Between 40 and 50 of the world's richest will be popping corks and dinking crystalware. Some sources place the number of guests at over double the previously-mentioned figure. If there's a costume party, I wonder if anyone will dress up like Musk. It should be one of those parties where you go as yourself, considering you're already a notable human.But why the hell Bran Castle. Maybe hell has something to do with it. I'm just kidding. If you've ever been out to that neck of the woods, you'd know it's a very beautiful place to visit. Countless tours visit this fabled dwelling year-round, so clearly, there's something magical about it. And now, if you ever happen to take one of those tours yourself, you can have lunch or enjoy some tea in the same place as the world's richest human , currently.Now, Bran Castle is currently selling Halloween Tour tickets on their website for 70 Ron for adult entry. That's almost $15 to visit this mysterious and historical landmark. Night tours sell for 100 Ron, so a tad over $20. However, Musk's visit is sure to change any and all plans that property management may have had for the average Joe. Considering that the party plans are in full swing as you read this, it seems like the price was right.If you're wondering why Musk would ever spend a few nights with the humans on his most wanted list, do check out the images in the gallery. Not only is Bran Castle one spooky place - I've been lucky enough to visit  but it's been used and is used in countless movies and flicks.Nonetheless, imagine that inner courtyard filled with tuxedo-wearing billionaires drinking it up, blasting music so loud it can be heard resonating through the mountains surrounding the castle. After a long night of doing what countless cash allows for, the guests will be able to catch the rising sun over a mist-filled forest. How cool is that? There's even a director invited to the bash, entrusted to put on a true "Dracula experience." True may just take on a different meaning when you're the world's richest man.Speaking of Dracula, to set things straight for those that may be new to the story of Bran Castle , most folks attribute this story to a late ruler of the region, Vlad Tepes, most notably known for his gruesome way of dealing with enemies and lawbreakers, death by impalement. Although, Tepes' encounter with the region was as brief as a passing-through Bran on his way to Brasov to resolve some conflict that came about due to taxation. Taxes man. I'm telling you, they're the real problem , not fantastic tales of blood-sucking humanoids with wings that can shapeshift and hide in the mountains of Transylvania; Stokers' doing.
London-based manufacturer of bespoke Range Rover vehicles Overfinch has returned to FLIBS to showcase their Heritage collection. This is the first time the company is bringing this range to a North American exhibition.FLIBS is a long-standing favorite amongst our customers. Its a show that celebrates the luxury lifestyle: from sunglasses to superyachts and everything in between, Alex Sloane, VP of Overfinch North America, has said . Were thrilled to be part of the event again: only this year weve decided to focus on our Heritage division and exhibit some truly exceptional vehicles.For those unfamiliar with the British tuner and its customized builds, Heritage is Overfinchs restomod division, which focuses on restoring classic Land Rovers and reinventing them to meet todays standards. Vehicles in this unique collection harmoniously blend the appeal of classic design with modern technology in terms of performance and comfort.Each new project starts with a Land Rover of outstanding provenance that turns into a blank canvas for the companys technicians and engineers to showcase their extraordinary craftsmanship. The resulting restomods are fully restored and remastered vehicles that stand out through personalized color schemes, exquisite detailing, new and updated powertrains, and luxury finishes.Overfinch also sources brand-new Range Rovers straight from the Land Rover factory and then applies its magic to create builds enhanced to customers specifications.Were not privy to the exact models that Overfinch plans to showcase at the FLIBS, but we expect to see a representative selection of their classic Defender range with supercharged V8 engines and carbon fiber details. The convenient size and timeless aesthetic of the Defender turned it into an enduring favorite among Land Rover enthusiasts from all over the world.
In case you were wondering, all is well in the world, in the sense that nothing much has changed, even after the supposedly-crushing wave of sanctions that should have crippled the finely-tuned machine made up of Russian oligarchs, which is funneling cash into President Putins war in Ukraine. A report from earlier this week seems to bring confirmation of that, as well as of the fact that, when it comes to multi-millionaires, they simply live in a different universe than the rest of us.Case in point, Roman Abramovich and his fleet of luxury yachts , an impressive collection that comprises at least four vessels worth well over $1.3 billion. Abramovich was, prior to the war in Ukraine, one of the UKs favorite public figures and investors, but he immediately became persona non-grata when he was included on sanctions lists here. Since then, hes also been sanctioned in the U.S. and the EU, which means that he, like many other billionaires before and after him, had to stow away whatever luxury assets he still had, to keep them from falling into the wrong hands.Among these luxury assets is Solaris, his newest and most spectacular megayacht. Valued at well over $610 million and delivered last year, the Lloyd Werft-built Solaris barely got the chance to show Abramovich around the world before it had to rush to safety. Moored in Barcelona, Spain, at the start of the war, it sailed to Montenegro and Bodrum, Turkey, where its still docked to this day , off-site in Yalikavak Marina.Abramovich has all four vessels in Turkey, according to reports: Solaris, Eclipse, and the much smaller Halo and Garcon . But its just Solaris thats making the news again, with a port source telling the New York Times that its still being resupplied every week, because theres a 20-person crew onboard. Every day, the crew makes sure that Eclipse has fresh supplies of water and electricity, and removes all onboard waste.Food provisions are delivered weekly by a catering company, with the insider snidely noticing, Twenty cases of asparagus  what would you do with so much asparagus? Eat it would be the obvious answer, were it not for the unspoken question of why conditions onboard Eclipse are kept to fully-functional standards, when its clearly going nowhere.The reason why this bit is making the news is to be found in the context of the larger discussion on how sanctions arent really returning the results governments thought theyd have. In April this year, rumors claimed that Abramovich was so broke (in the sense of lacking liquidities, not really broke) that he was trying to borrow money from friends to pay his weekly bills on his superyachts, private planes and the many real estate properties in his portfolio. While funny, that report appeared to confirm that, for a while at least, sanctions against Russian oligarchs were working.So much for their efficacy, or for talk of Abramovich being broke . As a general rule, regular maintenance on a yacht is 10% of its value a year, so for the 460-foot (140-meter) Solaris, Abramovich will pay at least $61 million a year, which would include basic maintenance and running costs, and port fees. If the man can afford to keep it resupplied daily as if it could sail away at a moments notice, hes clearly not broke  and something about sanctions is clearly not working.
Even though some people see Toyota as a generic and perhaps boring brand, it has grown into so much more, especially with the GR vehicles. The line-up consists of four standalone GR models  the GR86, the GR Supra, and the GR Yaris; the GR Corolla will also be joining starting next year. GR Sport upgrades are also available for other Toyota vehicles.Meet the Family is the name of one of the commercials from the campaign. It starts with a man telling us, This is not your typical family. We see the three beasts, GR Corolla, GR Supra, and GR86, patiently sitting in a garage, lights on and ready to go.The cars then exit the garage and set the right example as all three signal before turning.We then see a glimpse of a manual transmission  in case you didnt know, the manual transmission was highly sought after for the new Supra model. Since it was revealed in January 2019, people have constantly asked for a manual version. Toyota listened and went to great lengths to deliver on the request. Finally, it has announced this year that a stick shift option will be available for the 2023 model. Even though only 500 units will be available to U.S. customers, those lucky 500 will enjoy an extremely fun-to-drive vehicle.Next up in the commercial, we see a woman standing near a popped hood, telling us, This is our family gathering. In the background, youll immediately notice the Toyota Gazoo Racing poster, basically telling us this is their playground. Smoke is in the air, probably from burnt tires, and people are gathered around cars. If youre into older Toyota models, youll probably recognize the AE86 in the background.As we find out next in the spot, racing is how the GR family settles disputes. The video cuts to a GR Corolla drifting alongside a GR Supra on a closed course. If every family chose to resolve conflicts this way, it would probably reach an agreement sooner.The next scene occurs in Toyota Gazoo Racing, where two mechanics work around a GR86 with a popped hood. One of them says, We may not be related, and the other replies, Or not. Its clear that whatever your background is, it doesnt matter once youre part of the GR family.In the following scenes, we see a racing engineer testing a racing-focused GR Supra GT4 and a GR Corolla drifting on a dirt track. Surprisingly, we even see a short anime part, a reference to Initial D, a Japanese street racing manga series.In the end, Toyota says that it doesnt matter how loud or messy things get, youre welcome to the GR Family if you can keep up. The marketing department has done an excellent job with these new commercials for the GR, as it highlights the cars capabilities while also showing us a bit of Toyotas personality. You can check out the other newly-released commercials on the Toyota USA YouTube channel
Poonch's saviour Mali Bi

Srinagar

When in September Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha signed an order to rename the Government Degree College in Mandi, a small town in Poonch, on the Line of control, after Mali Bi, he was giving the due honour to the memory of a hero whose timely alert had prevented a major attack by the Pakistan Army to take over Poonch city during the 1971 war.

As has happened with many real heroes of J&K, Mali Bis contribution to national security was never recognized by the State government. Mali BI became the first Gujjar to receive the Padam Shri in 1972. Interestingly, the Indian Army had recommended a Vir Chakra, the highest wartime bravery award for her but the government settled for something less. Mali Bis timely information to the Army about the presence of Pakistani troops on snow-clad peaks had helped prevent a major covert operation of Pakistan to take control of Poonch city.

Mali Bi was in her late forties when she spotted Pakistani soldiers in a dhok, temporary mud houses used by the nomadic Bakerwal tribesmen while moving with their cattle. She first spotted smoke coming out of an abandoned dhok and then she quietly peeped in and saw unformed soldiers cleaning their guns and cooking.

At that time, Mali Bi lived in the village of Arai in Tehsil Mandi, Poonch with her brother. She was a child bride and later discovered her husband was mentally deranged. She returned to her home. During summers, she used to take the cattle to higher areas like Jabbi and Pillanwali for grazing and it made her familiar with the routes.





Mandi Degree College will be renamed after Mali Bi

On December 13, 1971, she had gone to Pallanwali to pick a stack of fodder when she saw the smoke and spotted the Pakistanis.

She gathered her wits and kept her cool lest she is spotted by the intruders and ran through the knee-deep snow. She first tried to speak with the ITBP men stationed at Mandi but failed to convey to them since she could only speak Gojri.

First, she returned home and tried to seek the help of her brother. The family too dismissed her fears.

Pictures of Mali Bi and she receiving Padam Shri on display in her house

Col Lalit Chamola, who had met Mali Bi in the late nineties in her house write about her in a Jammu-based newspaper Daily Excelsior.

..she saw smoke coming from some Dhoks. It was an unusual activity as nobody used to come to these areas during the winter. She became suspicious and hence with utmost caution and stealth approached one of the Dhoks.

She heard some voices and peeped through the crack in the door of the dhok. She saw a few soldiers sitting and cleaning their rifles. She was frightened but did not panic. She realized that these soldiers were not of the Indian Army and thus very intelligently and without making any noise, she with utmost care but at top speed in knee-deep snow took another route to quickly reach Arai.

Mali met the village Sarpanch, Mir Hussain who first thought she was unwell and needed medical help. Mali told him what she had seen.

They took a snow-covered and shorter route towards Kalai where an ITBP detachment was posted. They took her to the nearest Army post.

With the help of the interpreters, Mali conveyed to the soldiers what she had seen.





Vir Chakra

In the darkness of the night, Mali sat in the Army vehicle to guide the troops to the dhok where 30 Pakistan troops were readying for the attack.

The Infantry Units quick actions resulted in the killing and capture of a platoon that captured 20 to 30 Pakistani soldiers. Their quick interrogation revealed that a Battalion-sized force was infiltrating through the Nalas and jungles between Doda and Saujian and was to attack Poonch from the rear, Col Chamola writes.

Poonch was an important target for the enemy during the war. In 1965, Pakistan lost the strategically important Hajipur Pass and was now planning to capture Poonch.

The entire Brigade was mobilized and the infiltrating columns of the Pakistan army were neutralized before they could reach their launch pads. Thus a grave threat to the Poonch garrison and the ammunition as also logistic depots of our Army were saved. The courageous and deeply patriotic acts of Smt Mali saved hundreds of lives and the prestige of the Army and country. The brave act of the lady was duly recognised by the Army.

Col Chamola, who met Mali Bi in 1999 says she was not physically too well and was not being looked after by the State. She lived off her Rs 60 monthly pension.

ALSO READ : What made Kashmiri youth lose memory of horrors of kabali raid?





The Colonel who had taken charge of the area, says on his recommendation she started getting free rations from the Army and financial help from the government.

On meeting Mali Bi in 1999, Col Chamola writes: I felt honoured to be standing in front of a real warrior and true daughter of this country. I immediately came out and told the Young man Mohd Azam the nephew of Smt Mali that I wanted to meet the Lady. She was very hesitant to come out and meet the Fauzis, but I kept insisting. As soon as she came out, I instinctively saluted her because I was overwhelmed by the presence of a lady who had staked her life, not bothered by the difficulties she would face in her village and community, and walked a long distance in thick snow and inclement weather to save the lives of people and honour of the country.

It may be recalled the Gujjar tribe has been in the forefront of fighting Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J&K. While joining the army is a passion among the youth, women like Kausar Bibi of Rajouri have fought with terrorists.